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booksteacupnreviews's review
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Quality of Mercy was intriguing cozy mystery, set in 1920s London, revolved around two murder cases that Evelyn’s new detective agency solved. It was about dysfunctional family, secrets and scandals, fallibility of humans and their complex nature, friendship, and love.
There were layers along with them main theme about impact of war on people and businesses, how it changed them, class differences, unemployment, upper class drama, fault in justice system and Christianity. Streets of London, difference of East and South and West London was as important as everything else in the book.
The twist and turns were brilliant. In case of Devlin’s case, I thought the prologue gave the idea why Devlin was murdered and I was sure I know the name of the culprit at 50% of the book but I was totally wrong about it. As for West case, it was clear Wilkin was innocent but I couldn’t figure out what he was hiding and who the real culprit was until it was revealed. Climax was surprising. I couldn’t guess what happened in last 20% of the book. The end, after harrowing revelations and encounter, was sweet with a wedding and announcement of upcoming wedding. I can say this won’t be the end of the series so I hope author don’t prove me wrong in that case.
Overall, it was fun and compelling cozy mystery that captured 1920s London and culture aptly with fascinating characters and mysteries to solve.
Read full review on my book blog by following this link - https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/09/09/bookreview-the-quality-of-mercy-a-lady-evelyn-mystery-5-by-malia-zaidi-thequalityofmercy-ladyevelynmysteries-maliazaidi-damppebbles-damppebblesblogtours/
There were layers along with them main theme about impact of war on people and businesses, how it changed them, class differences, unemployment, upper class drama, fault in justice system and Christianity. Streets of London, difference of East and South and West London was as important as everything else in the book.
The twist and turns were brilliant. In case of Devlin’s case, I thought the prologue gave the idea why Devlin was murdered and I was sure I know the name of the culprit at 50% of the book but I was totally wrong about it. As for West case, it was clear Wilkin was innocent but I couldn’t figure out what he was hiding and who the real culprit was until it was revealed. Climax was surprising. I couldn’t guess what happened in last 20% of the book. The end, after harrowing revelations and encounter, was sweet with a wedding and announcement of upcoming wedding. I can say this won’t be the end of the series so I hope author don’t prove me wrong in that case.
Overall, it was fun and compelling cozy mystery that captured 1920s London and culture aptly with fascinating characters and mysteries to solve.
Read full review on my book blog by following this link - https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/09/09/bookreview-the-quality-of-mercy-a-lady-evelyn-mystery-5-by-malia-zaidi-thequalityofmercy-ladyevelynmysteries-maliazaidi-damppebbles-damppebblesblogtours/
stephbookshine's review
5.0
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and to Emma Welton of damppebbles blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Whilst this is book five in the Lady Evelyn Mystery series, I am going to break my usual mould and state that this book stands perfectly well alone and can hook in a new reader as easily as it will delight a regular fan. That’s no reason not to go ahead and read the whole series anyway though… you won’t regret it!
To say that this series harks back to the cosy mysteries of the golden age of crime is actually to undersell what Malia Zaidi has created here.
The bones of the murder mystery itself – the murder, the victim, the suspects – all do fall into that pattern of a ‘nice little puzzle’ for the grey cells of both sleuth and reader to unravel, however that skeletal outline has been fully fleshed out and clothed in some incredibly well-written historical fiction that encompasses touches of romance and humour, along with deeper commentaries on the social and political issues of England in the 1920s.
Lady Evelyn Carlisle is an endlessly fascinating main character, as she is constantly evolving, not just from book to book, but from chapter to chapter. It is her curiosity and sense of justice that lead her to get involved in murder investigations in the first place, but also that lead her to look at the social injustices around her and attempt to learn and adjust her attitudes and behaviours accordingly. She is also perfectly poised between the old and new, as her modern sensibilities and ambitions war with her familiarity with the more traditional mores and morals of upper-class society.
This is particularly noticeable here as there are actually two murder mysteries to solve: one, a wealthy factory owner who has made himself generally disliked; the other, a poor man, broken by war, debt, pride and addiction. The parallel cases, with their similarities and differences, allow Zaidi to explore the class system of the period, and her characters’ reactions to the results.
Not that the author forces a morality tale! Entertainment is certainly not forgotten either, as Evelyn attempts to get her new detective agency venture up and running, dodge a double-wedding with her formidable aunt, juggle various admirers, help her friends and employees, plan her own wedding, and somehow fit in solving two murder cases as well. And all with her delightful blend of quick wits and kindness.
The Quality of Mercy is a slow-paced mystery – thoughtful and well-mannered – which immerses the reader thoroughly in the place and period, and unfolds a story that is as much about deeper issues and character relationships as it is about a detective plot. I hope this series runs on and on, and continues to go from strength to strength. I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Turning away from Pall Mall, I head north to King Street. It is a quiet area and I wonder whether I’ve made a mistake, looking for a place here. The Carlisle Detective Agency will have to build its base by word of mouth, I think, rather than bold-faced advertisement. I trust many clients will be soothed by these lovely surroundings and if I am being entirely honest with myself, I must acknowledge that only those with some means will think to contact a detective agency in the first place. I am not so naïve as to believe I will be solving the secrets of the East End gangs – nor do I wish to, I might add!
– Malia Zaidi, The Quality of Mercy
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/09/02/blog-tour-the-quality-of-mercy-malia-zaidi/
Whilst this is book five in the Lady Evelyn Mystery series, I am going to break my usual mould and state that this book stands perfectly well alone and can hook in a new reader as easily as it will delight a regular fan. That’s no reason not to go ahead and read the whole series anyway though… you won’t regret it!
To say that this series harks back to the cosy mysteries of the golden age of crime is actually to undersell what Malia Zaidi has created here.
The bones of the murder mystery itself – the murder, the victim, the suspects – all do fall into that pattern of a ‘nice little puzzle’ for the grey cells of both sleuth and reader to unravel, however that skeletal outline has been fully fleshed out and clothed in some incredibly well-written historical fiction that encompasses touches of romance and humour, along with deeper commentaries on the social and political issues of England in the 1920s.
Lady Evelyn Carlisle is an endlessly fascinating main character, as she is constantly evolving, not just from book to book, but from chapter to chapter. It is her curiosity and sense of justice that lead her to get involved in murder investigations in the first place, but also that lead her to look at the social injustices around her and attempt to learn and adjust her attitudes and behaviours accordingly. She is also perfectly poised between the old and new, as her modern sensibilities and ambitions war with her familiarity with the more traditional mores and morals of upper-class society.
This is particularly noticeable here as there are actually two murder mysteries to solve: one, a wealthy factory owner who has made himself generally disliked; the other, a poor man, broken by war, debt, pride and addiction. The parallel cases, with their similarities and differences, allow Zaidi to explore the class system of the period, and her characters’ reactions to the results.
Not that the author forces a morality tale! Entertainment is certainly not forgotten either, as Evelyn attempts to get her new detective agency venture up and running, dodge a double-wedding with her formidable aunt, juggle various admirers, help her friends and employees, plan her own wedding, and somehow fit in solving two murder cases as well. And all with her delightful blend of quick wits and kindness.
The Quality of Mercy is a slow-paced mystery – thoughtful and well-mannered – which immerses the reader thoroughly in the place and period, and unfolds a story that is as much about deeper issues and character relationships as it is about a detective plot. I hope this series runs on and on, and continues to go from strength to strength. I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Turning away from Pall Mall, I head north to King Street. It is a quiet area and I wonder whether I’ve made a mistake, looking for a place here. The Carlisle Detective Agency will have to build its base by word of mouth, I think, rather than bold-faced advertisement. I trust many clients will be soothed by these lovely surroundings and if I am being entirely honest with myself, I must acknowledge that only those with some means will think to contact a detective agency in the first place. I am not so naïve as to believe I will be solving the secrets of the East End gangs – nor do I wish to, I might add!
– Malia Zaidi, The Quality of Mercy
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/09/02/blog-tour-the-quality-of-mercy-malia-zaidi/
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