agmaynard's review
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Assured, accomplished debut. If you’re lamenting there are no more Georgette Heyer murder mysteries, try these. Regency flavor and cant, a background romance, and an appealing, competent amateur detective in Julian Kestral, who also has help from his valet Dipper and a crusty local doctor. Sadly, Ms Ross wrote only 4 before her untimely death. Going to track down the other three!
elusivity's review against another edition
3.0
Julian Kestrel is a Regency dandy with a mysterious past, fine intellect, and empathetic heart. Hugh Fontclair is being forced into marriage with Maud Craddock, but invites Julian as best man after meeting the young man once and in gratitude for saving him from a gaming hell.
At Bellegarde, everyone is harboring one large secret, and smaller secrets of their own.
An extremely-intricate plot which unravels with reason and clarity, lightly but comfortably Regency. Hugh is a sympathetic main character. However, I found the whole thing rather bloodless -- the horrifying lacking horror, the sweet lacking sweetness. A good read for a leisurely afternoon.
Recommended.
At Bellegarde, everyone is harboring one large secret, and smaller secrets of their own.
Spoiler
When an unknown young woman is found murdered in Julian's bed, Julian swears he would suss all these secrets out in order to save his man Dipper from the gallows. The big secret is, Hugh's uncle, the Colonel, revealed military secrets to his French mistress during the war, who then sold it for money. Mr. Craddock found these letters at a pawn shop, and blackmails the Fontclairs into asking for his daughter's hand in marriage. The young woman turns out to be mistress of the Colonel's son, Guy; yet also, the daughter of the French mistress, who had idolized the Colonel and traveled to England to seek out when her mother died. She is killed by Isabelle, the poor-relation, because she is desperately in love with Guy and hated all his women.An extremely-intricate plot which unravels with reason and clarity, lightly but comfortably Regency. Hugh is a sympathetic main character. However, I found the whole thing rather bloodless -- the horrifying lacking horror, the sweet lacking sweetness. A good read for a leisurely afternoon.
Recommended.
thunguyen's review against another edition
5.0
When I learnt that the amateur sleuth of this series is one of the dandy set, I know I must read this. I've had enough of brooding heroes and dangerous gentlemen in my life (of reading historical romance mystery), and I especially don't like strait-laced dukes, thank you very much, now give me a peacock who can solve a murder.
Having said that, the only disappointment for me in this book was the lack of description of Julian Kestrel's clothing. His rakish life style, his easy flirting, his being barely a gentleman, his witty conversation, everything is what I was expecting, all I need to complete the character is a little bit more about his clothing, every single time he dressed for dinner.
That wasn't meant to be a sarcasm. I really wish there was more description of him being a dandy.
To the murder mystery, I'm surprised the writing turned out to be quite true detective style, with a doctor's examination of the body, crime scene investigation, establishment of all suspects' movements during the time window of death. These parts were written with quite some details, in lots of conversations and lengthy reasoning, not glossed over in a few sentences. There was cozy drawing room activities, but our protagonist didn't waste time going on picnics or dancing waltz, he was all focused on investigation.
The victim was a Jane Doe. The murder was in a closed house. The list of suspects was determined from the start. No one claimed to know who's the victim was. Everyone lied about something. It took 2/3 of the book to identify her. By then, a lot more family secrets were revealed as misdirection from the true killer. In the end, though I guessed the killer at the same time Julian did, it's still a surprise to learn of their motive.
Another thing unexpected about this book is how touching it feels on the subject of murder and life and death, mostly through Julian's eyes. While it's exciting to read smart and cool characters, ultimately it's their kindness that win my reader's heart.
Definitely keep reading the series.
Having said that, the only disappointment for me in this book was the lack of description of Julian Kestrel's clothing. His rakish life style, his easy flirting, his being barely a gentleman, his witty conversation, everything is what I was expecting, all I need to complete the character is a little bit more about his clothing, every single time he dressed for dinner.
That wasn't meant to be a sarcasm. I really wish there was more description of him being a dandy.
To the murder mystery, I'm surprised the writing turned out to be quite true detective style, with a doctor's examination of the body, crime scene investigation, establishment of all suspects' movements during the time window of death. These parts were written with quite some details, in lots of conversations and lengthy reasoning, not glossed over in a few sentences. There was cozy drawing room activities, but our protagonist didn't waste time going on picnics or dancing waltz, he was all focused on investigation.
The victim was a Jane Doe. The murder was in a closed house. The list of suspects was determined from the start. No one claimed to know who's the victim was. Everyone lied about something. It took 2/3 of the book to identify her. By then, a lot more family secrets were revealed as misdirection from the true killer. In the end, though I guessed the killer at the same time Julian did, it's still a surprise to learn of their motive.
Another thing unexpected about this book is how touching it feels on the subject of murder and life and death, mostly through Julian's eyes. While it's exciting to read smart and cool characters, ultimately it's their kindness that win my reader's heart.
Definitely keep reading the series.
roshk99's review against another edition
4.0
The first Julian Kestral mystery, he is a very entertaining main character and this book has the right amount of complexity to be an easy read yet still interesting.
awin82's review against another edition
4.0
I first read this book 20 or so years ago. I decided to re-read it and I'm glad I did. This is a very good historical mystery.
ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
4.0
Cut to the Quick is book #1 in the Julian Kestrel mysteries, set in 1824 London. I have been dying to read this series, after I first learnt about it from Deanna Raybourn's blog. I was afraid that I had built up these books too high in my mind, but I can say that that wasn't the case with Cut to the Quick.
Kestrel is an almost Beau Brummell type figure, but with more brains. One day he receives an invitation to be best man at a wedding, the wedding of Hugh Fontclair and Maud Craddock. Problem is, he only met this Hugh fellow once, weeks ago when he helped him out of a jam at a gambling house. He has no idea why he of all people is asked to be best man, but to escape boredom, he accepts the invitation.
When Kestrel arrives he immediately senses tension between the Fontclairs and Mr. Craddock, Maud's father who arranged the wedding. Craddock, a former employee of the Fontclairs, is holding something over the Fontclairs' head, but Kestrel stays out of it, until...
He finds a dead body in his bed! A young lady, at that, and one whom he has never seen before. And she's not sprawled out across the covers, she is neatly tucked in, like she's taking a nap.
All hell breaks loose, and Kestrel figures that this other mystery between the Fontclairs and Craddock has something to do with it, so he decides to play detective and find out what the deuce is up.
This was a perfect mystery, in my opinion. An unruly set of characters, an old sprawling home and a surprising ending you'd never see coming. Julian Kestrel is one of the better amateur sleuths I've read in the historical mystery genre and I can't wait to find out what he comes across next.
Kestrel is an almost Beau Brummell type figure, but with more brains. One day he receives an invitation to be best man at a wedding, the wedding of Hugh Fontclair and Maud Craddock. Problem is, he only met this Hugh fellow once, weeks ago when he helped him out of a jam at a gambling house. He has no idea why he of all people is asked to be best man, but to escape boredom, he accepts the invitation.
When Kestrel arrives he immediately senses tension between the Fontclairs and Mr. Craddock, Maud's father who arranged the wedding. Craddock, a former employee of the Fontclairs, is holding something over the Fontclairs' head, but Kestrel stays out of it, until...
He finds a dead body in his bed! A young lady, at that, and one whom he has never seen before. And she's not sprawled out across the covers, she is neatly tucked in, like she's taking a nap.
All hell breaks loose, and Kestrel figures that this other mystery between the Fontclairs and Craddock has something to do with it, so he decides to play detective and find out what the deuce is up.
This was a perfect mystery, in my opinion. An unruly set of characters, an old sprawling home and a surprising ending you'd never see coming. Julian Kestrel is one of the better amateur sleuths I've read in the historical mystery genre and I can't wait to find out what he comes across next.
alissabar's review against another edition
3.0
This was a solid Victorian England mystery. I enjoyed getting to know Kestrel and his servant, Dipper. It was a little tedious at times, but overall an enjoyable mystery.
vae's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining and absorbing mystery that wears its period setting lightly. Nice twists and intertwining plot threads. May well come back to more in the series just for more of Julian and Dipper!
winters's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
wynwicket's review against another edition
3.0
A quiet little mystery set in Regency England. Intriguing characters, especially Our Hero, Julian Kestrel, but it took a while to get anywhere.