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

A Ruse of Shadows by Sherry Thomas – Release Day Blitz

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Release Day Blitz, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

A Ruse of Shadows (Lady Sherlock, #8)

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Lady Sherlock #8
Publication Date: 6/25/24
Period: Victorian Paris and London
Number of Pages: 368

When I purchased the first book of this series eight years ago, I knew I liked the author, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about the description given for Charlotte Holmes or even the series. OMGoodness! There is nothing to worry about there – I still love the author – and absolutely adore Charlotte and the series. Charlotte is smart, quirky, cunning, and brave with few of the social ‘graces’, but everybody comes to love her. Well, everybody except those she outsmarts and brings to justice. I just looked back and I have given every book a 5-star rating so far – and this will get one as well.

I was fully engaged and invested in this story from the very first page and stayed that way until I let out a huge sigh at the last word on the last page. There is never a dull moment as Charlotte masterminds a massive blow to Moriarty and he never sees it coming! While she’s doing that, she’s solving a decades-old case for Inspector Treadles and outwitting Lord Bancroft Ashburton who rears his ugly head again. What does she do in her spare time? She shows some phenomenal character growth from the woman (girl really) we met in that first book.

I thought the author’s way of telling this story was interesting because I could see the events unfolding almost as if it were a movie or an old newsreel. We begin with Charlotte being interrogated by Chief Inspector John Talbot who believes she murdered Lord Bancroft Ashburton. The story alternates between the interrogation with her answers and the actual events that took place. That was an intriguing way to put the timeline together and to help us easily follow all of the events – even though the reader won’t really have it all pieced together until the end.

There is the full complement of recurring characters with integral parts to play and a couple of new characters that we may or may not see again. All of the unique parts of the story work seamlessly together to present the reader with an unforgettable reading experience. If you love complex mysteries with equally complex characters, you will love this book and this series. I can highly recommend this book – especially if you love books by Anna Lee Huber, Andrea Penrose, Ashley Weaver, Will Thomas, or C.H. Harris. Happy Reading!

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

An Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman

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An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #7)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Countess of Harleigh Mystery #7
Publication Date: 6/25/24
Period: Victorian – (Paris)
Number of Pages: 300

This was yet another fun, entertaining, and exciting mystery from this author. This time, we got to visit Paris during the Exposition and it was so much fun to picture all of the excitement of the time and the marvelous things that were displayed. Oh – and while we were there, we got to solve a couple of murders.

Frances was just mentioning to George that their lives were getting a bit ho-hum when they received a missive from George’s Aunt Julia requesting him to come to Paris and investigate the death of Paul Ducasse – a renowned French artist. Though she is very secretive about her reasons, they want to help if they can – and – well – Paris.

If they thought there was little information in the missive they received, that was nothing compared to the tight-lipped Aunt Julia they met when they arrived. Julia had totally changed her mind and wanted them to leave it alone, yet she seemed nervous and out of sorts. Had she seen, heard, or learned something that made her fearful?

Almost as soon as they arrived, Aunt Julia was murdered. Surely the two murders were connected, but how and why? It seems anyone who might be a suspect had an alibi for one murder or the other. Should they back away and let Inspector Cadieux of the Sûreté investigate? Surely, they could help from the background!

Lady Julia Hazelton had been estranged from her family in England for many years. It wasn’t that there had been a disagreement, it was that Julia had secrets – deep secrets – that she wanted to keep from them. Only a couple of her relatives knew her secrets and they had kept them for her. Was her murder because of some of her secrets? There are many suspects, but none of them fit both murders. What connects them?

Oh! What tangled webs we weave when we practice to deceive. This was a delightful, entertaining mystery with more suspects than you could imagine – but not so many motives. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Frances and George flit all over Paris looking for suspects and motives while unraveling clues and getting in the way of Inspector Cadieux.

If you enjoy a light and entertaining mystery with lovely characters that invite you into their lives and make you love them, then you’ll enjoy this book. I surely did! However, Aunt Julia’s death made me really sad because of the daughter she left behind and I wish there had been another way to accomplish the same plot line.

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