So, I have been visiting Deanna Raybourn’s blog for absolutely ages; it’s one that I look at almost every day, and I always find something of interest there. But until now I hadn’t actually read any of her novels, and I’m sorry that I waited because Silent in the Grave is very enjoyable indeed.
Our heroine is Lady Julia Grey, and she is widowed at the very outset of the story when her husband collapses during a party at their home; this isn’t a total shock as he has a congenital heart problem and none of the men in his family live terribly long. However, one of the people present at Sir Edward’s death, Nicholas Brisbane, tells Lady Julia that he had been retained by her husband who had received some threatening letters, and that he believes this was murder. So we have our set up, and things really take off from there. I don’t really want to say much more about the plot as it’s nice and twisty with lots of satisfying red herrings
I loved this for all sorts of reasons: Lady Julia herself; Brisbane, tall, dark, handsome and mysterious; Julia’s eccentric family; the servants in the Grey household; and the setting in the London of 1886. It’s well written, pacy and I found the mystery quite fascinating.
I had one of “I wonder if X is the murderer” moments, and turned out to be right purely on guesswork with no idea as to the motive, but frankly it wouldn’t have made much difference if I’d worked it all out completely as I enjoyed the experience of reading this so much that I bought the sequel as soon as I had finished this one!
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August 10, 2009 at 4:57 am
Marg
Brisbane is one of my favourite male characters after having read the three books so far. I didnt like the second book quite as much, but the third was excellent.
August 16, 2009 at 4:31 am
nadia278
Lady Julia Grey is my favorite.
I found the mystery quite fascinating.
Bridal Phrases
August 23, 2009 at 3:35 am
Danielle
I really enjoy this series, too. The books are so entertaining and Lady Julia so fun. I have the newest one still to read, but I may not be able to hold off much longer. I love the author’s blog, too.
October 27, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Silent in the Grave, Deanna Raybourn « Jenny's Books
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