hannahcathie's review against another edition
Good mystery. Love the victorian setting.
shoelessmama's review against another edition
3.0
This was just as enjoyable as the previous installments of this series but I found the ending a bit jarring. Totally unexpected and sad. On to the next...
chaifanatic18's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
3.0
Caroline Ellison, mother of Charlotte Pitt [our amateur sleuth who is the wife of a policeman], sends a frantic note to her daughter asking for help with a disturbing "event." When Charlotte arrives at her parents' house, she finds her mother nervous and upset over the loss of a small locket. After much difficulty in getting straight answers from Caroline, Charlotte finally learns that the locket contains a somewhat compromising photograph...of a man who is not Edward Ellison. Caroline has also felt like she's being watched, perhaps by someone biding their time before trying a spot of blackmail. She asks her daughter to help her get to the bottom of the matter.
In the course of paying social calls, Charlotte soon learns that others have had items come up missing as well. Is it just petty thievery or is there more going on? When Mina Spencer-Brown dies of a belladonna overdose, it looks like there is something much nastier going on in Rutland Place--especially when it is proved that she couldn't have taken such a large dose by accident, nor that she had access to the poison. Mina was a woman who like to hint that she knew more than others about certain "mysteries" and "scandals" among her neighbors. Did she hint once too often and to the wrong person? Would the Charringtons kill to keep the secret of their daughter Ottillie's death from being known? Would Theodora von Schenck kill to prevent anyone from finding out where her extra funds come from? Are there other, even more desperate secrets worth killing for? And what do the thefts and Caroline's locket in particular have to do with it all?
There is a bit of a dark streak to this one--the reasons behind the deaths are somewhat disturbing, especially the second one. But there are some very fun moments to this one as well--Charlotte's excursion to the music hall is particularly good. I did enjoy watching Emily maneuver her father into paying more attention to his wife--which is just what Caroline needed to get her mind off a silly infatuation. It was a shame that we didn't see more of Pitt and there is not the urgency in the investigation that we found in the previous book. But overall, a solid mystery and good afternoon's read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
In the course of paying social calls, Charlotte soon learns that others have had items come up missing as well. Is it just petty thievery or is there more going on? When Mina Spencer-Brown dies of a belladonna overdose, it looks like there is something much nastier going on in Rutland Place--especially when it is proved that she couldn't have taken such a large dose by accident, nor that she had access to the poison. Mina was a woman who like to hint that she knew more than others about certain "mysteries" and "scandals" among her neighbors. Did she hint once too often and to the wrong person? Would the Charringtons kill to keep the secret of their daughter Ottillie's death from being known? Would Theodora von Schenck kill to prevent anyone from finding out where her extra funds come from? Are there other, even more desperate secrets worth killing for? And what do the thefts and Caroline's locket in particular have to do with it all?
There is a bit of a dark streak to this one--the reasons behind the deaths are somewhat disturbing, especially the second one. But there are some very fun moments to this one as well--Charlotte's excursion to the music hall is particularly good. I did enjoy watching Emily maneuver her father into paying more attention to his wife--which is just what Caroline needed to get her mind off a silly infatuation. It was a shame that we didn't see more of Pitt and there is not the urgency in the investigation that we found in the previous book. But overall, a solid mystery and good afternoon's read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
nuitpieta's review against another edition
5.0
Not my favorite of the series, but still very good. Happy reading!
lady_ness's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tlsouthard's review against another edition
4.0
3 1/2 stars. I liked this one a great deal. I know some have questioned how desperately Caroline wanted a locket back - but that is judging with today's eyes. Her "indiscretion" could have cost her a great deal in Victorian times.
I liked that the mystery revolved around who *else* in the neighborhood had something to hide, turning up all kinds of interesting secrets - some of which were quite amusing. But the secret that led to the murder was awful and sad and infuriating.
Perry gave us more clues in this one - little things that you look back on and think, "Oh, yes. THAT."
I liked that the mystery revolved around who *else* in the neighborhood had something to hide, turning up all kinds of interesting secrets - some of which were quite amusing. But the secret that led to the murder was awful and sad and infuriating.
Perry gave us more clues in this one - little things that you look back on and think, "Oh, yes. THAT."
thekinkykid's review against another edition
4.0
Anne Perry es la maestra de misterio victoriano
En esta quinta entrega Anne Perry nos vuelve a demostrar la maestría con la que teje sus historias, al final ningún cabo queda suelto. Pero lo que hace mas interesante sus libros es la manera en como desmenuza la época victoriana y la posición de las mujeres en ese tiempo. En este relato no defrauda. Muy bueno
En esta quinta entrega Anne Perry nos vuelve a demostrar la maestría con la que teje sus historias, al final ningún cabo queda suelto. Pero lo que hace mas interesante sus libros es la manera en como desmenuza la época victoriana y la posición de las mujeres en ese tiempo. En este relato no defrauda. Muy bueno
saragalisteo's review against another edition
4.0
La verdad es que la ambientación de esta serie es siempre impecable, aunque tampoco conviene leerlos muy de seguido porque acabas con sobredosis de misterios, alta sociedad odiosa y demás. Pero si los espacias un poquito son muy buenas lecturas
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
It all starts with a series of thefts in various houses in Rutland Place, home to Charlotte's parents. Then a murder occurs. Because of the nature of the society, Charlotte and her sister Emily help Pitt in his investigation.
An entertaining Victorian mystery
An entertaining Victorian mystery