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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.
a_chickletz's review against another edition
4.0
This book was delightful! What I really enjoyed about this book was that the detective in question wasn't really a detective at all, but someone on a mission to see to it 'justice was served' and that his name was cleared. I adored Julian Kestrel, and so, I am looking forward to reading more of the adventures that the late Kate Ross wrote of him.
I encourage those who are looking for a good regency, mystery, or overall well written book to start this series! You will be glad you did!
I encourage those who are looking for a good regency, mystery, or overall well written book to start this series! You will be glad you did!
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so glad I picked this one up, in spite of the off-putting cover (which isn't even accurate! She was stabbed in the back!) Julian Kestrel bears some resemblance to a young Lord Peter, minus the sobering effects of World War I. Julian is a bit of a dandy, and we get to see him gradually take on a more substantial life. I can't wait to see where the other books take him. The book is the perfect combination of character-driven mystery (although the plot wasn’t too shabby), period setting, snark, and the occasional moving, touching moment. Quite nicely told.
“You’re cynical. I thought you would be. Can you sneer?”
“With terrifying effect.”
“You’re cynical. I thought you would be. Can you sneer?”
“With terrifying effect.”
quietjenn's review against another edition
4.0
A complete delight. Very absorbing historical mystery, super well done.
tita_noir's review against another edition
4.0
"You're cynical. I thought you would be. Can you sneer?"
"With terrifying effect."
Hugh Fontclair finds himself drunk and seriously out of his depth at a gaming hell where he is taken by his feckless cousin to celebrate his engagement. He is rescued by a gentleman of the dandy set named Julian Kestrel and is sent home safe and sound. Thankful, Hugh invites Julian to his family home, a gorgeous mansion & estate that dates back to Elizabethan times, for a house party to celebrate his nuptials.
Julian, bemused at the idea of becoming a groomsman to a young man he's just met, nevertheless accepts and finds himself thrust in the middle of a polite family war and old secrets. It seems Hugh's fiancee, a young woman by the name of Maud Craddock is the daughter of a wealthy cit who has some hold over the Fontclairs and is forcing the marriage. To preserve the Fontclair honor, Hugh must marry Maud.
For Julian, at first the houseparty is an amusing lark. He is able to observe the various members of the Fonclair family: Serious patriarch Robert; his doting and correct wife, Lady Fontclair; the old war hero uncle the Colonel; his son the lazy, bon vivant Guy; Isabelle, the beautiful, contained orphan cousin; and Lady Tarleton, a dragon of an aunt who is vocal in her disdain of the Craddocks and in her fierce pride in her family past. But soon enough the clashing personalities and viperous duelling between Mr. Craddock and Lady Tarelton are cast in the shade when an unknown woman is murdered in Julian's bedroom.
Things turn even grimmer when Julian's valet Dipper is quickly singled out as the likely suspect. Julian decides that he must clear Dipper's name and his own honor by finding out the identity of the the killer.
Julian Kestrel is just the type of character I love to read about in a book that is set in a time and place that I enjoy visiting. Set during the Regency period, this book features introduces and new amateur detective, Julian Kestrel. He is an Exquisite. A handsome dandy with polished boots, impeccable clothing and who has some reputation as being a 'Top of the Tree' in London. He is also witty with great conversation. But that is just surface. He is also very intelligent, observant and very honorable. He treats Maud with chivalry and respect when the others at the houseparty either ignore her or treat her with a mild contempt. He is considered a great gun by the younger set and manages to win over the mistrust of the village's Doctor (who dismisses Julian as a coxcombe upon first sight) with his shrewd insights, piercing observations and probing questions of the murder.
I like how the story unfolded. Julian wasn't just some bored aristocrat who decided to be nosy and try to solve a murder. His motives for doing it had everything to do with clearing his valet's name and his own when it seemed like they would both be likely scapegoats. They were the outsiders where suspicion would fall on first. Luckily, Julian himself had an airtight alibi and his polite and obviously gentlemanly demeanor wins over the elder Fontclairs and allows him to take a lead in the investigation.
The mystery was also satisfying. As it turns out there wasn't just a murder mystery but also other smaller mysteries that involves Julian ferreting out the huge secret at the heart of the whole engagement in the first place and even the identity of the victim. Are these all connected? Possibly.
The writing was crisp and lively with a style that was very close to Georgette Heyer's.
"With terrifying effect."
Hugh Fontclair finds himself drunk and seriously out of his depth at a gaming hell where he is taken by his feckless cousin to celebrate his engagement. He is rescued by a gentleman of the dandy set named Julian Kestrel and is sent home safe and sound. Thankful, Hugh invites Julian to his family home, a gorgeous mansion & estate that dates back to Elizabethan times, for a house party to celebrate his nuptials.
Julian, bemused at the idea of becoming a groomsman to a young man he's just met, nevertheless accepts and finds himself thrust in the middle of a polite family war and old secrets. It seems Hugh's fiancee, a young woman by the name of Maud Craddock is the daughter of a wealthy cit who has some hold over the Fontclairs and is forcing the marriage. To preserve the Fontclair honor, Hugh must marry Maud.
For Julian, at first the houseparty is an amusing lark. He is able to observe the various members of the Fonclair family: Serious patriarch Robert; his doting and correct wife, Lady Fontclair; the old war hero uncle the Colonel; his son the lazy, bon vivant Guy; Isabelle, the beautiful, contained orphan cousin; and Lady Tarleton, a dragon of an aunt who is vocal in her disdain of the Craddocks and in her fierce pride in her family past. But soon enough the clashing personalities and viperous duelling between Mr. Craddock and Lady Tarelton are cast in the shade when an unknown woman is murdered in Julian's bedroom.
Things turn even grimmer when Julian's valet Dipper is quickly singled out as the likely suspect. Julian decides that he must clear Dipper's name and his own honor by finding out the identity of the the killer.
Julian Kestrel is just the type of character I love to read about in a book that is set in a time and place that I enjoy visiting. Set during the Regency period, this book features introduces and new amateur detective, Julian Kestrel. He is an Exquisite. A handsome dandy with polished boots, impeccable clothing and who has some reputation as being a 'Top of the Tree' in London. He is also witty with great conversation. But that is just surface. He is also very intelligent, observant and very honorable. He treats Maud with chivalry and respect when the others at the houseparty either ignore her or treat her with a mild contempt. He is considered a great gun by the younger set and manages to win over the mistrust of the village's Doctor (who dismisses Julian as a coxcombe upon first sight) with his shrewd insights, piercing observations and probing questions of the murder.
I like how the story unfolded. Julian wasn't just some bored aristocrat who decided to be nosy and try to solve a murder. His motives for doing it had everything to do with clearing his valet's name and his own when it seemed like they would both be likely scapegoats. They were the outsiders where suspicion would fall on first. Luckily, Julian himself had an airtight alibi and his polite and obviously gentlemanly demeanor wins over the elder Fontclairs and allows him to take a lead in the investigation.
The mystery was also satisfying. As it turns out there wasn't just a murder mystery but also other smaller mysteries that involves Julian ferreting out the huge secret at the heart of the whole engagement in the first place and even the identity of the victim. Are these all connected? Possibly.
The writing was crisp and lively with a style that was very close to Georgette Heyer's.
faintingviolet's review
4.0
I’m gullible when it comes to mysteries. Every red herring will throw me off the scent. Cut to the Quick by Kate Ross brings a new set of mysteries and a new amateur sleuth from the Regency period into my life to continue confusing me for a few books. The sleuth in question is Julian Kestrel, the reigning dandy of London in the 1820s, famous for his elegant clothes and his imperturbable composure.
The only authorial problem I had with the novel was the very beginning. The book opens with a Mr. Craddock congratulating himself on tricking Mr. Hugh Fontclair into having to propose marriage to his daughter. The engagement happens and in the next chapter Hugh is sowing his wild oats at a gambling establishment and we are introduced to Julian Kestrel who rescues him from public embarrassment. In the third chapter we are with Julian as he receives a surprise invite some weeks later to be Hugh’s best man and house guest. It’s all very choppy and with so many of the characters introduced in quick succession it made it difficult to keep track of everyone.
When Kestrel goes to stay with the Fontclairs at their country house, he is caught in the crossfire of the warring families, as the Craddocks are already arrived. Once settled into the dynamic and expecting Julian Kestrel to discover what blackmail is forcing the Fontclairs to agree to the wedding a dead body shows up. Kestrel sets out to solve the crime, since the body was found in his bed. The strength of this book is the twining of the two mysteries, which was compelling and well-plotted. As for Julian Kestrel, he's fairly good company although I prefer his manservant and the local doctor. It should be said that all the supporting characters, more than ten, are well developed. Overall an enjoyable and quick read. I’ve already requested the next Julian Kestrel novel, A Broken Vessel, from my library system.
http://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/cut-to-the-quick-cbr4-36/
The only authorial problem I had with the novel was the very beginning. The book opens with a Mr. Craddock congratulating himself on tricking Mr. Hugh Fontclair into having to propose marriage to his daughter. The engagement happens and in the next chapter Hugh is sowing his wild oats at a gambling establishment and we are introduced to Julian Kestrel who rescues him from public embarrassment. In the third chapter we are with Julian as he receives a surprise invite some weeks later to be Hugh’s best man and house guest. It’s all very choppy and with so many of the characters introduced in quick succession it made it difficult to keep track of everyone.
When Kestrel goes to stay with the Fontclairs at their country house, he is caught in the crossfire of the warring families, as the Craddocks are already arrived. Once settled into the dynamic and expecting Julian Kestrel to discover what blackmail is forcing the Fontclairs to agree to the wedding a dead body shows up. Kestrel sets out to solve the crime, since the body was found in his bed. The strength of this book is the twining of the two mysteries, which was compelling and well-plotted. As for Julian Kestrel, he's fairly good company although I prefer his manservant and the local doctor. It should be said that all the supporting characters, more than ten, are well developed. Overall an enjoyable and quick read. I’ve already requested the next Julian Kestrel novel, A Broken Vessel, from my library system.
http://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/cut-to-the-quick-cbr4-36/
cmcahill's review
4.0
Julian Kestrel, young dandy in London circa 1820, is a most intriguing sleuth. Who is he? What is his story? He is as interesting as the crimes he solves.
Reread in May 2014
After Sherlock Holmes (Conan Doyle) and Laurie King, these books are my favorite comfort read.
Reread in May 2014
After Sherlock Holmes (Conan Doyle) and Laurie King, these books are my favorite comfort read.