Silent In The Grave
by Deanna Raybourn
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Book Reviews of Silent In The Grave
Book Review: Good, solid storytelling with fantastic characters and only a few bumps.
Summary: 4 Stars
(This review refers to all three books in the series.)
Unfortunately dressed in pseudo-romance covers by the publisher, the books are actually mystery novels set in Victorian England with just the slightest hint of a possible romance to keep things interesting. The female protagonist, Lady Julia Grey, starts off a boring, gentrified wife of the era, but upon discovering that her late husband's death was possibly a murder, she gradually succumbs to her eccentric March family heritage as she investigates. A plot synopsis can be found on Amazon.
Silent in the Grave starts off with some stilted writing and a distracting habit of quoting Shakespeare at the beginning of each chapter. Written in the first person, Lady Julia even contradicts herself a few times in an effort to offer background at each new character's introduction. It's a little off-putting, but doesn't totally impede the flow and by chapter four I found myself invested enough in the characters to overlook the foibles of the narrator. The Shakespearean quotes actually do serve a purpose, though it won't become clear until about halfway through. Also, I'm pleased to say that the writing soon smooths out and doesn't trip up again in either of the next two books.
The characters really carry this book. Lady Julia Grey, née March, comes from a large, eccentric, noble family; in a clan of black sheep, she appears to be the only white one with her quiet acceptance of a marriage of convenience and the life that entails. But with the addition of the private inquiry agent, enigmatic Nicholas Brisbane, and the support of her beloved sister and father, Lady Julia begins to show her mettle as a smart, dogged, and adroit young widow. The thing I really loved about this book, and then about the entire trilogy, is that the author truly develops Lady Julia as a character. Who we see at the end of Silent on the Moor is a fully fleshed, grown-up, confident version of the character we meet at the beginning of Grave. There aren't that many books/characters I can say that about in modern fiction, so I find it impressive.
The supporting cast doesn't get the opportunity to develop very much, but they're colorful enough to keep them imminently likable. More so in Silent in the Sanctuary, where a manor house full of Christmas guests snowbound with a corpse lends itself to an Agatha Christie type feel. Or a game of Clue. The description is clear and evenly paced; Victorian London - the noble portion, anyway - looks appropriately lush without getting lost in the filigree. The characters fit their historical stations but with a refreshingly modern immediacy that a novel truly out of that era would be lacking.
Thoroughly enjoyable escapism which I highly recommend.
Book Review: Angieville: SILENT IN THE GRAVE
Summary: 4 Stars
Finding SILENT IN THE GRAVE turned out to be one of those beautiful, stumbling across the perfect book to fit your mood moments. Here I am, staring down the barrel of this pregnancy, willing the last few days to pass faster, and this absolutely delightful Victorian mystery proves just the thing to take my mind off the all-too-slowly ticking clock. Even better, it's the first in a series with the second one already out and the third due to hit shelves in March.
SILENT IN THE GRAVE starts out with one of the best opening lines I've read in ages:
"To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor."
Ha! Honestly, who wouldn't want to continue reading after that? Does she care? Does she not care? Is she as calm and composed as she sounds? And just who is this Nicholas Brisbane and why is he significant? You have to find out. Each question is answered, but slowly and carefully, spread across the rest of the novel. After her husband's untimely collapse, Lady Julia Grey finds herself a young and surprisingly wealthy widow. Having suffered from a heart condition his entire life, his sudden demise was not altogether unexpected. That's why, when confronted with an unusual and mysterious private investigator's claim that her late husband employed him to find out who was threatening to kill him, Julia dismisses the notion as preposterous and sends Mr. Nicholas Brisbane on his way. Nearly a year later she (naturally) comes across a clue leading her to believe dear Edward was, in fact, murdered. Managing to track down Brisbane, she apologizes and convinces him to reopen the case. Intrigue and mayhem ensue and it's all just perfectly delicious.
I so enjoyed Julia and her measured narration, her bizarrely large but loving family, and her cautiously fresh observations on the world and the people around her. It is as though her husband's death removes a film from her eyes, and she is unnerved to realize she hardly recognizes where she is and who she has become. One of my favorite lines is Julia reflecting on her oldest and most pompous brother who is scandalized to hear she intends to manage her inheritance herself.
"He had nothing to call his own except dead men's shoes, and I think the highly Oedipal flavor of his existence sometimes proved too much for him."
As you can tell, I was completely taken with the characters and Deanna Raybourn's well-paced writing style, both of which made for an incredibly absorbing, enjoyable read. I'll be picking up the sequel ASAP. Recommended for fans of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell books.
Book Review: Slow, but worth it....
Summary: 4 Stars
The mystery begins when Sir Edward Grey, husband of Lady Julia, dies at their home during a party. Because he has long suffered from a hereditary heart condition, it is immediately assumed that he has finally succumbed and the burial arrangements are promptly made. Shortly after the funeral, Lady Julia receives a visit from the mysterious Nicholas Brisbane, and is outraged when he suggests that Edward was murdered. Weeks after Brisbane's visit, Julia finds a threatening note in Edward's office and is convinced that Edward was indeed murdered. As it is too late for an autopsy, Brisbane and Julia must slowly piece together the clues that ultimately lead to the killer.
The mystery unfolds very slowly, with every scene holding a piece to the puzzle. It all comes together nicely, and shockingly, at the end. I often figure out the culprit very early in mysteries, but I was certainly shocked at the outcome here. And while the end holds answers for Lady Julia, they are painful discoveries and I truly felt for her. The murder mystery is the prominent theme of the novel, but it is also a tale of self discovery. Lady Julia married very young, and is only now free to discover who she will truly become. She begins with an outward change, cutting her hair and purchasing daring new clothes. By the end of the book, her internal change is evident as well. There is also considerable time spent developing the characters of her eccentric family, including the Ghoul, an aunt who travels from funeral to funeral musing about constipation. Lady Julia also has an interesting cast of servants, including the devoted butler Aquinas, the fiery Gypsy Magda and the reformed prostitute/personal maid Morag.
This book is very well written, and the story was well developed. I was surprised to learn that this was Raybourn's debut novel. The problem is that the first half was slow to read, sometimes painfully so. There was a superfluous amount of description for everything and everyone. There were several build ups that turned out to be anticlimactic. Rather than hoping there was more, I found myself wishing it would be over at times. But even so, once I made it past the first half of the book, it was delightful. The question now is whether the first half was worth the enjoyable ending? I believe that it was, and I've already started the sequel, Silent in the Sanctuary. It may take some effort to get through the slow buildup but the ending was worth it, in my judgment. I would recommend it, but not if you're looking for a quick read.
Book Review: Wonderful Historical Mystery!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great book & I give it highest recommendations. Ms. Raybourn writes with a delicate sense of humor and a deft turn of phrase. This is an intelligently written book for the intelligent reader. For one thing, I love that each chapter begins with a quote or bit of poem or old proverb that gives the slightest forshadow of the chapter to come.
As for the setting, the reader gets a good solid understanding of the environment of 1880's London, England, i.e., lifestyle, clothing fashions, food, customs, etiquette, etc., without being beat over the head with heavy-handed explanations and/or descriptions.
The two leading characters - Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane - are simply marvelous. The tension between them is palpable and very well developed. The intellectual tension between them is every bit as fun and intriguing as the physical attraction. Both characters are multi-layered and Ms. Raybourn does an excellent job in showing us glimpses of the past experiences, background, hopes, failures, etc. that motivate them and make them who they are.
And the book is peppered with a supporting cast of characters that is second to none and enhances the book's overall charm, warmth and depth. Included are Lady Julia's nine eccentric and wildly different siblings, her father (who is delightful), her aunts (one of whom is referred to as the Ghoul), Brisbane's manservant/confidant, and his former mistress and now dear friend of Lady Julia's.
But don't think for a minute this is a light-hearted, slapstick kind of book. Quite the contrary. Ms. Raybourn weaves a tight plot with several intertwining threads that all reach a very satisfying conclusion ... although one that leaves the reader wanting more ... which Ms. Raybourn supplies in the sequel - Silent in the Sanctuary.
Historical mysteries are favorites of mine and I have read books by many authors within this broad genre, including such authors as Patricia Finney (aka P.F. Chisholm), Will Thomas, Jacqueline Winspear, Rhys Bowen, Victoria Thompson and Priscilla Royal. I happily rank Ms. Raybourn among the top two or three.
From setting to characters to plotline(s) to dialogue, I just can't find too much wrong with this book. Ms. Raybourn writes with a confident grace and style that is never forced and very enjoyable to read.
Book Review: excellent beginning to a satisfying trilogy
Summary: 4 Stars
The Julia Grey books are hybrid mystery-romances set in the Victorian period, best suited to readers who enjoy both genres. Mystery is the dominant element in each book, but the romance between Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane is the backbone to the trilogy. The slow, methodical development of the mysteries is nicely counterbalanced by the tempestuous relationship that develops between Julia and Brisbane. The writing is elegant and rich, very immersive.
SILENT IN THE GRAVE introduces us to our heroine, Lady Julia Grey, and begins with her husband's murder. As the winning first line of the novel tells us: "To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor." Julia had been quiet, obedient, and dull all her life - widowhood is the making of her. Her bold, warm nature flourishes as she embraces her independence.
When Julia realizes her husband was murdered, more than a year after he died, she is determined to find the killer - no matter how cold the trail. To succeed, she needs the help of Nicholas Brisbane, the private investigator her late husband hired before his death to investigate a series of ominous threats. Brisbane is the kind of dark, dangerous hero who's as abrasive as he is seductive. I occasionally found him difficult to like - while helplessly turning pages, anxious to find out what he'd say or do next.
I devoured the whole trilogy. The atmosphere of each book is wonderfully distinct and Raybourn does a wonderful job setting the scene - it's full of rich period detail, and everyone has a story to tell. The whole cast of characters is magnificent, including every single member of Julia Grey's rather large family - she's one of ten children. Although I sometimes solved the whodunit a little early in the story, there were plenty of details I couldn't guess and had to read on to discover.
I started the trilogy expecting something along the lines of Dorothy Sayers, but the homage was really towards the Bronte sisters, Gothic mysteries, and maybe a dash of Sherlock Holmes. All in all, highly recommended.