Category: Barb’s Reviews

Review: Deadly Curse by Carla Simpson

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Deadly Curse (Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #11)Barbara’s rating: 3.7 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #11
Publication Date: 1/28/25
Period: Victorian London – 1892
Number of Pages: 226

In 1892, the whole world was enamored with exploring ancient Egypt. Archaeologists and Egyptologists are thick on the ground digging for antiquities. Sir Nelson Lawrence is one of the few who doesn’t want to exploit Egypt for personal gain. He wants to show their ancient history to the world and teach others to love it as he does. It’s too bad he won’t ever get that chance since his body has been discovered at the base of a large floor-to-ceiling statue of Ramses II. Is it due to a curse? Or a rival archaeologist? Or a collector who wants the artifacts for himself? Or a family member who feels he’s been cheated? Or . . .

The tension mounts as more bodies turn up and Mikaela is attacked. They check out clue after clue and learn little – but just enough to move them forward by a single step. Then, things get even more stirred up when a leader in London’s underworld offers assistance. Is his information good or is he leading them into a trap? If his information is good and proves helpful, what will he want in return?

I always enjoy Mikaela and Brodie along with their entire ensemble cast. We had a couple of new characters added this time and I wonder if they will have recurring roles or if this was a one-and-only for them. First, we had Inspector Todd with the Metropolitan Police. He seems as nasty as Chief Inspector Abberline but with less power. The other new addition was the underworld boss, Mr. Brown, who appears to have a grudging respect for Brodie – but his interests seem entirely self-serving. So, two somewhat interesting characters appeared and it will be interesting to see if they reappear.

While this was an interesting story and the mystery was good, it was not my favorite book of the series. I found it to be more plodding and less exciting than the other books – probably more like a real-life investigation would be. 😊

If an ancient Egyptian curse runs shivers down your spine, you should give this book a try.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Review: My Inconvenient Duke by Loretta Chase

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series3 Comments

My Inconvenient Duke (Difficult Dukes, #3)

Barbara’s rating: 3.4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Difficult Dukes #3
Publication Date: 1/21/25
Period: Georgian – 1832
Number of Pages: 384

This long-awaited final book in this author’s Difficult Dukes series was both a letdown and entertaining. The second book in the series was published four years ago in 2020, and I had to go back and skim-read it to refresh myself. This book is most definitely my least favorite of the series, but perhaps that is because I had such high expectations for it.

In the previous two books, Giles and Alice are already married but estranged. In this book, I expected to learn the reason for the estrangement and their resolution. That isn’t what I got (at least not to me). I never really felt the romance in this story nor the sad emptiness when the two are apart. It was just presented as business-as-usual because – well – it was business-as-usual. Each put their friends, their projects, etc. before their marriage and romance. Even at the end when Giles does such a sweetly romantic thing, it doesn’t have that heart-quivering, exciting, uplifting feel of romance.

There were many moments of entertaining, witty humor – especially in Giles’s internal dialogue, but that wasn’t enough for me to believe in the romance. For me, we could have done with less page time skipping around the countryside looking for lost urchins and brothers and more time on the romance time between the two main characters. Many parts of the story just felt slow and a tad draggy.

The opening chapter is excellent and sets the stage for Alice’s sudden decision to participate in London’s Season and find a husband. The chapter gives us an excellent feel for the dynamics between the three friends but doesn’t give a reasonable explanation for them (especially Giles) continuing to (at nearly 30) cling to decisions made in their teens. One would have to believe that the three would have some intellect and moments of clarity to run their vast estates and see them profitable. However, all actions described would make us believe they did nothing but drink, carouse, party, gamble, and participate in debaucheries. Personally, I had a hard time meshing the two attributes.

I am a huge fan of this author and always appreciate her wit and humor, which are displayed in her characters and situations. I especially enjoyed Giles’s internal dialogue in this book, but had a hard time translating those internal dialogues into actions on the romantic front. We were introduced to two new characters (or maybe they were in the previous books and I’ve forgotten) who would make good MMCs for future books. I really liked the Duke of Doveridge and the Earl of Lynforde and would love to see them find their HEAs in a truly romantic story. Another thing this book lacks – especially as the series end – is an epilogue that brings all of the couples and their HEAs into focus for us. The last chapter might have been meant as an epilogue, but I don’t think so and if it was, it missed the mark for me.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews