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A review by sarah_moynihan
A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder by Victoria Hamilton
1.0
DNF at 60%, and not for lack of trying.
The Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder had a slow start, not for a lack of interesting things happening. But because I didn't feel like we got to really know the main character very much I wasn't interested or invested in what was happening to her and the things that were concerning her.
This book focuses on men of the upper classes using their power and money to abuse those vulnerable to them. Mostly pedophilic men raping the young women in their employ. This is a very dark subject matter and it was jarring to find this to be focus of a cozy mystery. It didn't seem fitting for the genre. Plus they are fighting for this horrible cause and all the characters are so casual about it.
I was so disappointed by this book for a few reasons. Partially because it didn't seem very in keeping with the time period and partially because it was so dreary and slow-paced without even an enjoyable main character to make the reading worth it. But mainly because I have read the 3-part mystery series from when she was writing under the name 'Donna Lee SImpson,' The Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, which she recently republished under Victoria Hamilton. I loved that series, so when I found she had started a new mystery series I was looking forward to starting this book. But this new book doesn't hold any resemblence to her past writing. I didn't find the characters engaging or intruiging and although the premise was good, I wasn't invested. In all honesty I found the main characer to be distinctly unlikeable.
I have tried several times to get into this book, but I simply can't. The author again and again summarizes what you've already read so that you know where the mystery stands, but it was just so repetitive and I was bored. I did not feel a connection for any of the characters, I didn't like Emmeline. She was very modern for a woman of her time and she had a very dim view on life. Choosing to fight the battles she does, her outlook is understandable. But... I'm not here for it.
I will not be finishing this book and am upset that I purchased it. This is the first of a series, but I will not be continuing with the series and I do not recommend it to others.
The Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder had a slow start, not for a lack of interesting things happening. But because I didn't feel like we got to really know the main character very much I wasn't interested or invested in what was happening to her and the things that were concerning her.
This book focuses on men of the upper classes using their power and money to abuse those vulnerable to them. Mostly pedophilic men raping the young women in their employ. This is a very dark subject matter and it was jarring to find this to be focus of a cozy mystery. It didn't seem fitting for the genre. Plus they are fighting for this horrible cause and all the characters are so casual about it.
I was so disappointed by this book for a few reasons. Partially because it didn't seem very in keeping with the time period and partially because it was so dreary and slow-paced without even an enjoyable main character to make the reading worth it. But mainly because I have read the 3-part mystery series from when she was writing under the name 'Donna Lee SImpson,' The Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, which she recently republished under Victoria Hamilton. I loved that series, so when I found she had started a new mystery series I was looking forward to starting this book. But this new book doesn't hold any resemblence to her past writing. I didn't find the characters engaging or intruiging and although the premise was good, I wasn't invested. In all honesty I found the main characer to be distinctly unlikeable.
I have tried several times to get into this book, but I simply can't. The author again and again summarizes what you've already read so that you know where the mystery stands, but it was just so repetitive and I was bored. I did not feel a connection for any of the characters, I didn't like Emmeline. She was very modern for a woman of her time and she had a very dim view on life. Choosing to fight the battles she does, her outlook is understandable. But... I'm not here for it.
I will not be finishing this book and am upset that I purchased it. This is the first of a series, but I will not be continuing with the series and I do not recommend it to others.