leavingsealevel's review against another edition
2.0
Promising Maisie Dobbs readalike! So "promising," in fact, that I'd be feeling a bit ripped off by Mirabelle were I Maisie. Let's review...both series plots seem to contain:
Young female character. Postwar. Did something heroic and unconventional during the war. Kinda traumatized by it. Had slightly unacceptable love affair during said war. Ended tragically. Now back in England. Trying to do something totally different. Solves mysteries. Past creeps back. Has diversity sidekick.
About that diversity sidekick. I'll gladly read a few more of these, but Vesta had better be given an actual *personality* sometime soon, in addition to only being being The Black Friend Who Illustrates How English Society Is Racist and Helps Solve the Mystery.
Young female character. Postwar. Did something heroic and unconventional during the war. Kinda traumatized by it. Had slightly unacceptable love affair during said war. Ended tragically. Now back in England. Trying to do something totally different. Solves mysteries. Past creeps back. Has diversity sidekick.
About that diversity sidekick. I'll gladly read a few more of these, but Vesta had better be given an actual *personality* sometime soon, in addition to only being being The Black Friend Who Illustrates How English Society Is Racist and Helps Solve the Mystery.
corkykat's review against another edition
3.0
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair review.
I want to start off by saying that the cover for this book is beautiful. It's the only thing that I absolutely would not change.
The characters are also pretty good. They're interesting, each with their own strengths and flaws. I think that the character development was the main thing that pulled me through this book.
But that almost wasn't enough. Man, was this book slow. I don't know what it was. The plot was fairly interesting. The main issue, I think, was the writing style itself. There were run on sentences, comma issues, and other unpleasant grammar slips. I found the writing to be boring, and the perspective changes were unsuccessful and confusing. The book took me far too long to read, and I wish that I had enjoyed it more. This book probably rests at about 2.5 stars for me.
Luckily, the end picked up a bit, but I was overall disappointed with the pace and writing quality in the novel.
I want to start off by saying that the cover for this book is beautiful. It's the only thing that I absolutely would not change.
The characters are also pretty good. They're interesting, each with their own strengths and flaws. I think that the character development was the main thing that pulled me through this book.
But that almost wasn't enough. Man, was this book slow. I don't know what it was. The plot was fairly interesting. The main issue, I think, was the writing style itself. There were run on sentences, comma issues, and other unpleasant grammar slips. I found the writing to be boring, and the perspective changes were unsuccessful and confusing. The book took me far too long to read, and I wish that I had enjoyed it more. This book probably rests at about 2.5 stars for me.
Luckily, the end picked up a bit, but I was overall disappointed with the pace and writing quality in the novel.
atlantic_reader_wannabe's review against another edition
3.0
This book was an interesting one. Taking place in Brighton, England after the end of WWII, this story gave the reader something to be interested in. While it was a quick read, it didn't disappoint. Worth reading in my opinion.
*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
lumbermouth's review against another edition
3.0
This seems like a lighter, fluffier Mary Russel-type. More overt misogyny and racism, but enjoyable hijinks. The librarians suggested this as an "if you liked that try this" and they kinda nailed it.
gquintana's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. This does not in any way affect my review.
This was a nice light read. Of course, the characters almost completely ignored proper police procedure, but that is basically expected in this kind of novel. I liked Mirabelle and Vesta, they are both interesting woman. Mirabelle worked in intelligence during the war, and Vesta is a black woman doing the best she can in these racist times. They aren't puddles, is what I'm getting at here. It's very easy to keep your characters shallow, but these women do have some depth to them.
The plot was appropriately twisty, and kept me engaged. There were some questionable leaps of logic, but what mystery doesn't have those? Still, there were some connections that felt tenuous at best. Still very enjoyable though! I did like the double-trouble female team. I felt the two of them balanced eat other out, and they each picked up on parts of the mystery the other couldn't to help paint the bigger picture.
A solid three stars!
Review also available on my blog.
This was a nice light read. Of course, the characters almost completely ignored proper police procedure, but that is basically expected in this kind of novel. I liked Mirabelle and Vesta, they are both interesting woman. Mirabelle worked in intelligence during the war, and Vesta is a black woman doing the best she can in these racist times. They aren't puddles, is what I'm getting at here. It's very easy to keep your characters shallow, but these women do have some depth to them.
The plot was appropriately twisty, and kept me engaged. There were some questionable leaps of logic, but what mystery doesn't have those? Still, there were some connections that felt tenuous at best. Still very enjoyable though! I did like the double-trouble female team. I felt the two of them balanced eat other out, and they each picked up on parts of the mystery the other couldn't to help paint the bigger picture.
A solid three stars!
Review also available on my blog.
vsbedford's review against another edition
2.0
This one gets a big, "Nah, son." for 1) an heroine whose meddling is both irritating and inept and 2) a mystery that is incomprehensible in its twists and turns but ultimately uninteresting. Two stars for a new type of location/era (Brighton in the 1950s) and for active women; I"ll revisit the series when our detective has a few more cases under her belt.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
lizabethstucker's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book. Hell, I wanted to love it! A gorgeous cover on the second book had me searching out the first in the series. I'm anal about reading series in order, always have been. This had an equally lovely cover. The synopsis was intriguing. It started off well. And yet...
I thought at first that I was just being distracted from the book, but when I read, I usually can do more than one thing at a time during a book's slower parts. When the book grabs me, the world disappears. Not this time.
The premise appealed to all my favorite bits: set after World War II (1951); in England (Brighton); a woman with history (Mirabelle Bevan); a prostitute with an agenda of her own, a POC sidekick (Vesta Churchill ~ no relation). Everything should be perfect. And yet...
The characters are flat, the intelligence is lacking, and the mystery’s is not only telegraphed early, it is shouted over a megaphone. *sigh*
I tried, but I don't think I'll be visiting the next in the series. Thank heavens I didn't buy it when I saw it in the bookstore. Especially as it was hardback and much more money. A bland 3 out of 3.
I thought at first that I was just being distracted from the book, but when I read, I usually can do more than one thing at a time during a book's slower parts. When the book grabs me, the world disappears. Not this time.
The premise appealed to all my favorite bits: set after World War II (1951); in England (Brighton); a woman with history (Mirabelle Bevan); a prostitute with an agenda of her own, a POC sidekick (Vesta Churchill ~ no relation). Everything should be perfect. And yet...
The characters are flat, the intelligence is lacking, and the mystery’s is not only telegraphed early, it is shouted over a megaphone. *sigh*
I tried, but I don't think I'll be visiting the next in the series. Thank heavens I didn't buy it when I saw it in the bookstore. Especially as it was hardback and much more money. A bland 3 out of 3.
slc333's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. I enjoyed the setting of post WW2 Brighton and I liked how Mirabelle's curiosity gradually draws her out to the depression she was in after her lover's death. It was on track for a 3 star rating when two things happened near the end