Silent In The Grave
by Deanna Raybourn
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Book Summary Information
Author: Deanna RaybournEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-12-01
ISBN: 0778325245
Number of pages: 544
Publisher: Mira
Book Reviews of Silent In The Grave
Book Review: A romance, not a mystery
Summary: 2 Stars
OK, if you like romances, you will probably like this book. If you like mysteries, look elsewhere.
Lady Julia Grey is widowed in the opening sentences, where she meets the enigmatic, dark eyed and wild haired Nicholas Brisbane for the first time. He glares at her with contempt and dislike for no reason that she can fathom. Edward Grey, the deceased, has retained the private inquiry agent, Brisbane, to find out who was threatening him, but dies before the inquiry has started. Lady Julia, nee March, is a somewhat drab woman and craving a conventional life as a relief from the truly unconventional March family. At the end of her required year of mourning, her sister helps transform her from the dowdily dressed matron into a lovely and stylish figure. About this point, Julia realizes that it is her duty to find out who killed the husband whom she liked, but never loved and who rarely sought her bed. There is little compelling reason for her to figure out the 'mystery' and is takes many chapters to figure out the murderer may well be someone within her household, and thus may present a danger to herself. Of the 41 chapters, perhaps 10 deal with clues or red herrings. Clues are eventually unearthed, the potential murderer identified and exonerated with scant reason, and the next clue turns up, and the cycle is repeated until author Raybourn more or less runs out of likely suspects. Meanwhile, her heart beats hard, and her palms grow clammy when the mercurial Brisbane is around, despite the fact he treats her abominably. There is no sex unless you count a kiss that is better remembered later than described at the time. There is no violence, unless you count one boxing match. There is no suspense unless you count...well, no, there is no suspense. Brisbane is, of course, attracted to Julia for her intelligence. Evidence on that issue is very scant, as Julia makes decisions largely on her hunches and being "certain" that the latest suspect could not have done the foul deed...
This is a romance and should be classified as same. Brisbane has shocking (sort of) secrets and Julia, predictably, finds a strength she never knew she had. The relationship is not consummated physically or in any other way surely because there is a sequel (Silent in the Sanctuary). The sequel is the second is a series that begin with "Silent in the ____". I am not going to read the sequel so I don't know if Julia and Nicholas will ever go beyond briefly pressing his hand meaningfully against the small of her back. There are some good characters (her sister Portia and her lover; her father,the Earl of March, and Fleur the Madam) and Ms. Raybourne can turn a graceful phrase, which is why this has 2 stars rather than just one.
This is a romance in the style of boy meets girl, boy and girl can't stand each other, boy and girl are thrown together through circumstances and find themselves drawn to each other, boy has mysterious past, girl leaps to unfounded conclusions left, right and center, boy and girl are separated, and girl pines. They meet again, and but for the passing of time, the familiar tension is in the air, except that some of boy's secrets are revealed. If you have read other romances, this should sound familiar.
Did I mention I am not a fan of romances? I prefer my mysteries to be mysterious and with unexpected suspects and real clues. If you like historical romances, read this book. If you like mysteries, keep looking.
Summary of Silent In The Grave
"Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.
Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a longstanding physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.
Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.
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