annieb123's review
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Peril at the Exposition is the second book in a historical mystery series by Nev March. Released 12th July 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 12 hours and 11 minutes and is capably narrated by Safiyya Ingar and Vikas Adam. The sound and production quality are high throughout.
This is such a richly imagined and well written historical mystery. The titular protagonist, Captain Jim Agnihotri, is a half English, half Indian officer and investigator who leaves India to take up a job in America with his young wife. He deals with racism because of his upbringing and skin color as well as being an Englishman in the US.
The relationship between Jim and his wife Diana is refreshingly honest (and modern). She's intelligent and headstrong, if naive. Both of them have a distinct honesty that's refreshing to read. The mystery is well constructed and the prose is nuanced and enjoyable. I did however find myself bumped out of my suspension of disbelief by some outlandish plot elements (a naive young woman of color out to save the city on her own, endangering everyone). The action moves the plot along quickly and the denouement and resolution are satisfying and fair play.
There are some very light romance elements, but not nearly to the degree of the first book. Readers who prefer strong romance subplots in their books will not find it here. There are some sweetly romantic moments between the (married) protagonists, but it's all euphemistically described and all "dancing" occurs off-page.
Four stars. An amazingly well written follow-up for a new and very promising writer.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Peril at the Exposition is the second book in a historical mystery series by Nev March. Released 12th July 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 12 hours and 11 minutes and is capably narrated by Safiyya Ingar and Vikas Adam. The sound and production quality are high throughout.
This is such a richly imagined and well written historical mystery. The titular protagonist, Captain Jim Agnihotri, is a half English, half Indian officer and investigator who leaves India to take up a job in America with his young wife. He deals with racism because of his upbringing and skin color as well as being an Englishman in the US.
The relationship between Jim and his wife Diana is refreshingly honest (and modern). She's intelligent and headstrong, if naive. Both of them have a distinct honesty that's refreshing to read. The mystery is well constructed and the prose is nuanced and enjoyable. I did however find myself bumped out of my suspension of disbelief by some outlandish plot elements (a naive young woman of color out to save the city on her own, endangering everyone). The action moves the plot along quickly and the denouement and resolution are satisfying and fair play.
There are some very light romance elements, but not nearly to the degree of the first book. Readers who prefer strong romance subplots in their books will not find it here. There are some sweetly romantic moments between the (married) protagonists, but it's all euphemistically described and all "dancing" occurs off-page.
Four stars. An amazingly well written follow-up for a new and very promising writer.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
bookwrm526's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
librarygirlreads's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rants_n_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
visorforavisor's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Nev March writes excellently. A second mystery for Jim and Diana Agnihotri, this one set in the States.
Diana’s voice is a really fun narration. Her view of Jim is really fun to get after spending the first book in his head, to see how others see him. The occasional inclusion of a chapter from his point of view was fun too.
Without giving too much away, there’s a trans character in this. It’s not a book in which I expected to find a trans character, nor one written with such compassion — murder mysteries set in the 1890s aren’t typically full of queer rep — but I loved her very much.
The exploration of whether the anarchists are right and who the capitalism of America really benefits was, I thought, interestingly done.
I’ll be very interested to read the next installment.
Diana’s voice is a really fun narration. Her view of Jim is really fun to get after spending the first book in his head, to see how others see him. The occasional inclusion of a chapter from his point of view was fun too.
Without giving too much away, there’s a trans character in this. It’s not a book in which I expected to find a trans character, nor one written with such compassion — murder mysteries set in the 1890s aren’t typically full of queer rep — but I loved her very much.
The exploration of whether the anarchists are right and who the capitalism of America really benefits was, I thought, interestingly done.
I’ll be very interested to read the next installment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Transphobia
zoeewalker's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
marcirenee1974's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a great book! I love this series and read the 1st book in the series Murder In Old Bombay and immediately started this one b/c I loved it so much! I love the relationship that Diana and Jim have together and that she is not a shrinking violet. She kicks ass and takes names! I can't wait for the next book in the series!
dmsreader09's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0