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A review by marlan
The Affair of the Porcelain Dog by Jess Faraday
4.0
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle meets Anne Rice (without the vampires). The Affair of the Porcelain Dog is a mystery set in 19th century London, with a twist of having a gay main character, and all the apprehension that comes from being gay in that time and place. I love Sherlock Holmes (I grew up watching Mystery! on PBS) and historical fiction, and I've always had an interest in LGBT culture and history. So this book hit a sweet spot of many of my interests.
I also like that it's historical fiction that gets into the dark underbelly of the world, with prostitution and opium trade and other criminal activities. I loved the grit of the characters who have all been through tough times and made morally gray choices.
The story has a nice balance of fast-paced plotting, intriguing mysteries, and internal conflict and character development. There's a wry sense of humor present throughout, as well. A great book for Sherlock Holmes lovers who are looking for a new variation on the genre. The LGBT romance is present but relatively light, so it's also a good introduction to LGBT fiction.
Note: I experienced a technical issue on my mobile where the last line would be missing every few pages. This issue disappeared when I reset my background from black to white.
Second note: be careful when reading other reviews - some reviewers reveal mysteries without putting in spoiler tags.
I also like that it's historical fiction that gets into the dark underbelly of the world, with prostitution and opium trade and other criminal activities. I loved the grit of the characters who have all been through tough times and made morally gray choices.
The story has a nice balance of fast-paced plotting, intriguing mysteries, and internal conflict and character development. There's a wry sense of humor present throughout, as well. A great book for Sherlock Holmes lovers who are looking for a new variation on the genre. The LGBT romance is present but relatively light, so it's also a good introduction to LGBT fiction.
Note: I experienced a technical issue on my mobile where the last line would be missing every few pages. This issue disappeared when I reset my background from black to white.
Second note: be careful when reading other reviews - some reviewers reveal mysteries without putting in spoiler tags.