Silent In The Grave
by Deanna Raybourn
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Book Reviews of Silent In The Grave
Book Review: England, 1886
Summary: 4 Stars
Upper class Lady Julia Grey, firmly ensconced in her snobbish world, is a frequently used type in the mysteries we've covered. What gives the story its pizzazz is her linkup with the enigmatic private inquiry agent, Nicholas Brisbane. Julia's first encounter with Brisbane is one of the more captivating opening sentences of a book. "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."
Raybourn's use of Brisbane to explore the world of the Roma (Gypsies) is well done, as is her use of Julia's forays into the reasons for Edward's murder a way to reveal Britain's deep class divisions. Julia's eccentric family is interesting too. One member is a sister whose lesbian affair is apparently tolerated; another is a brother whose desire to become a surgeon, an occupation considered beneath his class, is not.
Although the story often strays into the genre of romance literature, Raybourn writes well and with humor. And it is Lady Julia Grey after all whose unsatiable curiosity leads her to track down the culprit.
This is the first of a promised series featuring Lady Grey and Nicholas Brisbane as they form an unlikely crime solving team.
Book Review: Decent Read But the Killer is Too Obvious
Summary: 3 Stars
I read a LOT of mysteries. I read them for relaxation as well as entertainment, so I'm not going out of my way to solve the murder before the writer tells me. When I do figure it out, I'm always a little disappointed, and that's what happened with "Silent in the Grave". In this case - the unmistakable clue was on page 310 of a 534 page book. As the book is a little wordy, lots of talking to herself, for example, this made the last half of the book a little tedious. Not a bad read, though; it's just not a super read. I like historical mysteries, but I like them to be decently true to the times. In this case, this book let me down a little, too. The protaganist, a docile aristocratic widow in the 1880's, finds her independence including instant acceptance of an intelligent prostitute and traipsing off to a gypsy camp in men's clothing. This does a disservice to the true independent women of the time (and there were many) who trudged through jungles, etc., while wearing their petticoats - an altogether more amazing and believable scenario than that which the books depicts. But, that said, this was a nice first effort by Deanna Raybourn. I read it because I decided to always start out with the first-in-a-series when approaching a new author.Book Review: An exceptionally well-done historical mystery
Summary: 4 Stars
It's 5 am and I've just finished this wonderful historical mystery/romance. Hard to believe that this is the author's first book as she has done a really stellar job with the mystery (like other reviewers, I'd guessed part but not all of it), the depth and variety of characters and the portrait of Lady Julia's society. I'm not really a fan of Victorian mysteries as others I've read have a tendency to hit the reader over the head with too much detail of the period. Ms. Raybourn works in the details of the time in a natural way, and with some subtlety, whether it is the heroine's father's relationship with Queen Victoria or the lack of opportunities for women. I liked the very nuanced portrait of Lady Julia, as the author tells the reader what she is thinking and demonstrates how others see her - which is not how she sees herself, although that changes by the end of the book.
The rating is not five stars because the author has a tendency to be redundant, reviewing what has happened in each chapter at the beginning of the next. That slowed the book down a little. However, it is an excellent read and I definitely look forward to the next book in the series.
Book Review: Compelling Characters Make This a Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Following the death of her husband, Julia Grey is approached by Nicholas Brisbane a private inquiry agent. When Brisbane tells he suspects Sir Edward Grey's death was the result of murder instead of the tragic but predictable end of a long-standing illness, Julia scoffs. However, when she finds a threatening note in her late husband's effects, she's convinced Brisbane was correct.
Though a year has passed and the trail is cold, Julia hires Brisbane to help he investigate Sir Edward's death.
Deanna Raybourn's Silent in the Grave is a spellbinding historical mystery that takes place in upper class Victoria England. It is filled with twists, turns, and compelling characters. Lady Julia Grey struck a chord within me. A proper lady in a quirky family, she balances he need for bland normalcy with the desire for self discovery. She evolves in this book, growing form a timid girl to a complex character I want to know more about. The enigmatic Nicholas Brisbane and a host of fascinating secondary characters promise the sequels to this book will be equally entrancing. I look forward to picking them up.
Book Review: A complete waste of time.
Summary: 1 Stars
Silent in the Grave is not the worst book I have ever read, but it is a close runner up. The book reads painfully slow. About half-way through the book I seriously considered just chucking it aside. Some reviewers are outraged due to a certain "controversial" aspect of the book. The author was clearly trying to shock her readers. Well, she failed shocking this reader. One of my favorite books, Through a Glass Darkly, by Karleen Koen was based on something similar. The problem with this book is that it was horribly written. Silent in the Grave is a Victorian mystery, yet it hardly has the feel of the Victorian era. It looks like the author did some minor research and then just sprinkled a few of her findings here and there. She didn't really bother with character development and did a poor job with description. There is just nothing to compell the readers to keep reading. I have only ever given up on one book, but this book seriously tested me.