A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn. I was not terribly impressed by the first in this series, but I liked this one better. Evidently, the publication has now been moved back to 2017, so I will save a review for later.
Excerpt from the blurb:
"London, 1887. Victorian adventuress and butterfly hunter Veronica Speedwell receives an invitation to visit the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women. There she meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Accused of the brutal murder of his artist mistress Artemisia, Ramsforth will face the hangman's noose in a week's time if Veronica cannot find the real killer. "
I'm not sure why the publication date was changed, but perhaps some of my quibbles with content will be ironed out with further editing. Some of what I found off-putting in the first Veronica Speedwell book has been improved upon in this second book. Neat cover, huh?
NetGalley/Berkeley Publ. Group
Historic Mystery. Jan. 10, 2017. Print version: 352 pages.
Shadow Over the Fens is set in the Lincolnshire Fens, an area the author obviously cares for deeply. I haven't read the first book in the series, but evidently DI Nikki Galena's last case was a tough one--requiring her to live in another town in the fens. Coming home, Nikki feels able to shed some of the hard-nosed image that she acquired in that case. She is still a tough and competent officer, but she is back in a familiar community.
Even as she settles in, however, a neighbor she cares for commits suicide. Nikki finds everything about the situation "wrong," but there is no doubt that her friend jumped to his death.
At the same time, her DS Joseph Easterly believes he sees a man from his past and isn't sure if he is imagining it.
I liked the complexity of the characters and the setting very much. Joy Ellis has created a situation where the people and the place feel real to me. Nikki Galena and Joseph Easterly seem to be revealing themselves a bit at a time; at least, from what I read about the previous novel, it appears that Ellis is allowing her characters to grow and develop.
This is a series that I intend to keep an eye on. :)
NetGalley/Joffe Books
Mystery/Police Procedural. June 30, 2016. Print version: 255 pages.
I wasn't that impressed with the first Veronica Speedwell mystery either; I'm glad to know that the second one is better. Maybe I'll give it a try...whenever it finally comes out. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm still not crazy about the series, but I did like it better than the first one. ;p
DeleteSHADOW OVER THE FENS looks good, though I'd likely search out the first book. And I think I'll do that. Love the picture.
ReplyDeleteI know I will look for the next in Ellis's fens series, and probably for the next in Raybourn's series as well--although, since it won't be published 'til January, it will be a long wait!
DeleteI had the first series on my wishlist, but I don't know enough about it yet, to determine whether to pick it up. I do now want to read the Fens series. It sounds like the type of books that I'm familiar with and enjoy :) Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am glad the second Speedwell book turned out to be better. I have the first on my TBR shelf to read. Joy Ellis is new to me, but it sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI didn't care much for the first Speedwell, but the second one seems much better put together and omits the huge emphasis on Veronica's sex life that the first one hammered on. No details, just over and over remarks about how experienced she was. A Perilous Undertaking concentrates on the mystery.
DeleteJoy Ellis is new to me, too, but I hope to read more of her books!
I enjoyed Raybourn's first series quite a bit but always found it more of a romance/mystery mix. Did you read that one? Hopefully this one will get better. Now the Joy Ellis book sound exactly like something I would enjoy. Thanks for sharing that one!
ReplyDeleteI loved the first Lady Jane Grey (partly because of the opening sentence), but the rest of the series became so bland.
DeleteI think you'd like the Joy Ellis book, Iliana.
I think I've one Deanna Raybourn book in my pile; can't remember the title but it definitely fits the one Iliana mentioned, with a romance/mystery mix.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the second book is better and as for the publication delay, I know I'll be annoyed if it's one of my favourite author's book. ;)
I suspect a lot of people were upset about the delay. Sometimes, an author must feel rushed to meet publication demands. I wonder if the delay had to do with the author or the publisher....
DeleteI did have questions about the way Princess Louise was presented, and personally feel that the royal connection is not a strength. However, that is a story arc that Raybourn introduced in the first of the series and will no doubt continue.