Category: Victorian Era (1837-1901)

In the history of the United Kingdom, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardian period, and its later half overlaps with the first part of the Belle Époque era of continental Europe.
Preceded by: Regency era
Followed by: Edwardian era
Monarch: Victoria

Crooked In His Ways by S.M. Goodwin

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Crooked in His Ways (Lightner and Law Mystery #2)Barbara’s Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Lightner and Law Mystery #2
Publication Date: 9/7/21
Period: New York, 1857
Number of Pages: 336

This series is based on the delightful premise of pairing a wealthy, aristocratic, proper, stuttering son of an English Duke with an Irish-American partner who was raised in an orphanage in the slums of New York. While it sounds like a recipe for failure of the partnership – oil and water don’t mix – it turns out to be quite engaging and a great pairing of complementary strengths and talents. I did not read the first book in the series, and while I don’t feel that it detracted from this story, I do think it would have provided a better foundational understanding of Lightner’s being in New York. Still, I didn’t need that to enjoy the story.

There is definitely a LOT going on in the story and you’ll have to pay close attention as you read or you won’t keep it all straight. We have multiple victims and hundreds of suspects. The victim who sets the case in motion is found in multiple pieces – packed with salt – in a crate on a New York City dock. With nothing on the body to identify the victim, Lightner and Law start out behind the eight-ball. When they finally identify him, they discover what a despicable man he was and discover a list of people he has been blackmailing. Any one of the people on the list could be the murderer – or it could be someone they’ve not even heard of yet. Then, there are more bodies of people associated with the case that turns up. Uh-Oh — busy times ahead!

While the investigation continues, we meet some really unsavory characters as suspects. While we root for one or all of those unsavory people to be the culprit, we also root for those very likable characters to find happiness after they are out from under the thumb of the blackmailer. Lightner and Law’s lives are at risk multiple times – and that is particularly dangerous for Lightner who was severely injured in the Crimea and now has a metal plate in his head and holes in his memory.

I enjoyed watching Lightner and Law become closer friends and seeing their respect for each other grow. I loved Paisley, Lightner’s valet, as well as his cook, a freed slave named Mrs. Freedman. I thought the addition of the street urchin/pickpocket, John Sparrow, to the household was a great idea. I thoroughly enjoyed his character and I think he’ll be a marvelous addition to the series. One character I didn’t care for – and I hope he disappears from the series, is the ‘boss’, Captain Davies.

I chose not to read the first book of the series because – and this is totally a personal flaw – I don’t usually seem to enjoy books set in New York City – especially during the time this book takes place. However, I heard so many good things about the first book that I decided to give the second one a try. I’ll quickly admit I still did not enjoy the setting – but I did enjoy the writing, the story, and the characters. It was a bit darker and grittier than I normally enjoy, but it had a bit of lightness woven into it since Lightner is assigned a dog-napping case. The dog in question is owned by one of the richest men in New York and he has personally requested that Lightner handle the case.

I can recommend this book to you if you don’t mind darker, grittier reads. If you require a bit of romance with your mysteries, I can tell you this series doesn’t have any – at least not yet. I really enjoyed the characters, but I didn’t enjoy the turbulence in New York City while the story was unfolding. Yes, I understand that is what was happening at the time, it just isn’t my prime choice. All of that said, I will probably go back and read the first book in the series and then I’ll decide if I’ll want to read more. Again, this is a personal thing because it is darker than I normally like and set in a place/time I don’t normally care for. The writing is excellent and the story is fast-paced and well-delivered.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)3 Comments

Barbara’s Rating:  4 of 5 Stars

Series: Hell’s Belles #1

Publication Date: 8/24/21

Period:  Victorian London – 1838

Number of Pages:  384

I almost passed on this book because the advertising said it was “unapologetically feminist” and from other books I’ve read with that same advertising, I expected to find a shrewish, man-hating, overbearing, unlikable female lead along with a weak, milquetoast, doormat of a male lead. I am so glad that wasn’t what I found. Sesily Talbot is strong, independent, intelligent, has a totally wicked sense of humor, is very caring, and has a devil-may-care attitude that people either abhor or admire. While she chafes at Caleb’s protectiveness, she doesn’t belittle him, she understands where he is coming from and then quietly teaches him to trust her abilities. They are both much better people in the end because of that exchange of values, ideas, and abilities.

I understand both lead characters and many of the supporting characters have been introduced in other books, but I haven’t read any of those. That said, I don’t feel as if that was much of a problem when reading this book since it gives plenty of background and mentions the most pertinent facts that we’d need to know. I also loved that the author’s notes included information on the real-life group on which the Hell’s Belle’s were based.

Lady Sesily Talbot is a walking scandal and has been for her entire life. Her entire family has set the ton on edge since her father won his title from the Prince Regent – in a card game no less. Sesily and her sisters have a couple of collective sobriquets associated with them – one of them is the Soiled S’s (all five of the sister’s names begin with S). Sesily is also referred to as Sexily when they don’t think she is listening.

Two years earlier, Sesily was approached to join a ‘team’ whose mission was to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves from those with more power. Their network is wide-ranging in both rank and gender. That invitation came at just the right time for Sesily because she was growing bored and restless with what life had to offer and the group, Hell’s Belle’s, gave her a purpose. Sesily, along with new friends Miss Adelaide Frampton, Lady Imogen Loveless, and their leader, the Duchess of Trevescan work tirelessly to right the wrongs of society. Think A-Team in silk skirts.

Caleb Calhoun, a 35-year-old American, is the only man who has ever been able to withstand the charms of Sesily Talbot. Granted, he had to leave England and put an ocean between them before he could do it, and even then, the pull was constantly there. Caleb has to resist Sesily because he has secrets – deep, dark secrets – that won’t allow him to have a home and family – or anyone he cares about. His caring will put them in grave danger.

The book begins with Caleb trying his darndest to protect Sesily – and it goes that way through most of the book. Sesily repeatedly shows him she is strong, smart, and can defend herself. His respect for her abilities constantly grows and he cannot continue to fight the attraction. When his enemy makes a discovery of his secret, it puts Sesily in grave danger. Caleb intends to protect Sesily at all costs – even his own life – but Sesily and her crew have other plans. They’ll save Caleb despite himself.

This book was witty, entertaining, filled with lively banter, and had a wonderfully supportive cast of secondary characters. Those supporting characters will be getting their own books in the series as well. I rated the book a bit lower because the book seemed to slow down in the middle. That was probably to do with quite a bit of angsty internal monologue with the characters, but it did drag and I didn’t have any trouble putting the book down for a while before picking it up again. That said, I can definitely recommend this highly entertaining book if you don’t mind a much more modern take on things.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.