I totally paused!

Title: The Dark Enquiry
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Pages: 392
How I Read It: Paperback purchased by me.

Synopsis: The spirits speak of secrets…

Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London.  But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets, and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane’s private enquiry business.

Among the more unlikely clients: Julia’s very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case.  Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved – if eccentric – family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation.

It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Seraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall.  From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust.

Shocked to find their investigation spun into salacious newspaper headlines, bristling at the tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall.  For Bellmont’s sake – and more – they’ll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets, the kind men kill to keep…

My Review: The latest installment of the Lady Julia series is perhaps the most thrilling yet.  As is the case with all the others, I had a very hard time putting this one down and read it in a couple of days.  I’m always dying to know what kind of trouble Julia will get herself into, and what her crazy family will do next!

Now that Julia and Brisbane are married, the romantic tension between them has dissipated and has been replaced by the professional gap that currently exists.  Julia naturally wants to be more involved in her husbands work, as it fascinates her and she feels a sense of purpose while helping investigate along with him.  Yet she still has a very competitive nature, and can’t seem to set that aside when it comes to something potentially dangerous, a frustration both Brisbane and I share.

This novel started out with what seemed like a pretty simple investigation, and I was fascinated by how complex it became as the plot progressed.  What seems like a simple “fix this situation for Bellmont” turns into something quite sinister, and the entire thing seemed so believable I wouldn’t be surprised to see an actual historical account of something similar.

Most of our favorite characters are back in this one, including Portia, Plum, and even a small appearance from Valerius.  I am enamored of Julia’s siblings, and anything involving them makes me happy.  Portia is settling into motherhood, and she’s at a bit of a loss at times.  Plum, who I find quite dashing, finally manages some romantic interest, and I wish there had been more about it in there!  In fact, as much as I love the Julia books, it would be awesome if Deanna Raybourn would do some spinoffs with Julia’s siblings.

The stakes are raised in this one for all our main characters, with Julia’s “leap before you look” attitude proving more dangerous than they have in previous novels.  She knows just enough to get into trouble, but isn’t cautious enough to get out of it, which is as exciting as it always is!

Read this book if: Totally continue reading this series.  If you haven’t started it yet, GET ON IT!

My Rating: 5/5 – Did I say cool? Make that awesome!

Title: Dark Road to Darjeeling
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Historical Mystery
Pages: 388
How I Read It: Paperback purchased by me

Synopsis: For Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane, the honeymoon has ended…but the adventure is just beginning…

After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more.  At the urging of Julia’s eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish.  Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband’s family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child – and with discovering the truth about her husband’s death.  Was he murdered for his estate?  And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?

Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish.  The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies.  In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly.  The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.

My Review: Oh my, what a story!  I was expecting this one to be great, and I think my expectations were exceeded by a long shot.

We pick up with Julia and Brisbane en route to India, along with two of Julia’s siblings, Portia and Plum – Portia being the only one who really wants to make the journey.  This, of course, sets the stage for much tension and arguing between Julia and her new husband, because these books would be nothing without the banter between the two of them.

Julia soon learns that the little valley, fondly known as The Peacocks, is full of secrets and mysteries of a whole different kind.  Between inquisitive children, ailing relatives, and hidden romances, there is plenty to enjoy all around and keeps one wondering for quite awhile.  Oh, and not to mention a killer tiger and a potential murderer lurking about.

No one is who they seem, despite the relatively small population of The Peacocks, and we encounter quite a bit of tragedy along the way.  There were numerous times during this book that I wept openly, so many touching scenes that I doubt will leave many with dry eyes.  By the end, I don’t think anyone was left unscathed by all the events that took place.

I can’t review a book in this series without more comment on the relationship between Julia and Brisbane – how frustrating!  There were times when I wanted to slap both of them silly, to make them see reason and tell them to just talk to one another!  Of course, it wouldn’t be them without all of that, which absolutely keeps me coming back, but I do wonder sometimes how either of them can put up with the other.

Read this book if: On the whole, a very satisfying continuation of this overwhelmingly lovely series.  I highly encourage you all to pick it up!

My Rating: 5/5 – Did I say cool? Make that awesome!

Synopsis: “Let the wicket 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 long standing 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.

My Review: This was my second reading of Silent in the Grave, and I was a little worried that perhaps it wouldn’t live up to my remembered expectations.  I don’t really know why I worried about this, because I’ve loved every other book written by Deanna Raybourn, and this book is just as lovely the second time around as it was the first.

There were a lot of details I didn’t necessarily remember were in this particular book – some discoveries feel like they came later in the series, so it was wonderful to read it and reacquaint myself with the origin of Lady Julia’s story.  The changes you get to see in Julia from the beginning of this book to the point the series is at now are just lovely.  I adore seeing Julia grow to the point where she embraces her “Marchness”, she really becomes the woman she was always meant to be.

One of the things I love about rereading a book is seeing details I felt like I had missed originally, and one of the things that really struck me in this read is how much I love the March family.  I wish I had some of them as my own relatives!  The relationship between Julia and her brother Valerius is so loving and engaging – I wanted Val to leap off the page and come be my own brother!  As the series progresses, we get to see more of Julia’s siblings, but this is such a lovely introduction that I want to know them all.

I don’t think I can ever speak highly enough of this book, I simply adore it.  This quickly became one of my favorite series from the start, and I think any lover of historical fiction would enjoy it.  You’ve got a setting in Victorian times, mystery, romance, a gorgeous leading man in Nicholas Brisbane…what more could you ask for!  And can I just say that this book is totally the reason I want a raven as a pet?

Read this book if: The only reason you *shouldn’t* read it is if you’re crazy.  And even then, you still should!

My Rating: 5/5 – Did I say cool? Make that awesome!

Synopsis: A husband, a family, a comfortable life: Theodora Lestrange lives in terror of it all…

With a modest inheritance and the three gowns that comprise her entire wardrobe, Theodora leaves Edinburgh – and a disappointed suitor – far behind.  She is bound for Rumania, where tales of vampires are still whispered, to visit an old friend and write the book that will bring her true independence.

She arrives at a magnificent, decaying castle in the Carpathains, replete with eccentric inhabitants: the ailing dowager; the troubled steward; her own fearful friend, Cosmina.  But all are outstripped in dark glamour by the castle’s master, Count Andrei Dragulescu.

Bewildering and bewitching in equal measure, the brooding nobleman ignites Theodora’s imagination and awakens passions in her that she can neither deny nor conceal.  His allure is superlative, his dominion over the superstitious town, absolute – Theodora may simply be one more person under his sway.

Before her sojourn is ended – or her novel completed – Theodora will have encountered things as strange and terrible as they are seductive.  For obsession can prove fatal…and she is in danger of failing prey to more than desire.

My Review: Those of you who are familiar with Deanna Raybourn’s work know how she can create a gripping story that easily pulls you in, and this one is no exception.  For those who have not yet read her novels, I hope to persuade you to do so as soon as you are able.

When I first heard that Deanna was going to write a novel that did not feature her beloved Lady Julia Grey, I was disappointed to say the least.  I should not have allowed myself to doubt her, because this is certainly on par with a Lady Julia novel.  While it started off a little more slowly, I soon found myself wrapped up in the characters and unwilling to put the book down.  I even once looked over at my empty water glass, and though I was thirsty, I didn’t want to take the time to fill it.

True to her style, Deanna manages to keep you reading through an immense build up – are there really vampires and werewolves in this land?  Who will their victim be?  What is real and what is sprung from myth?  No joke – a third of the novel had passed with nothing but legends of the land, yet I was still so tense I had to take small breaks to calm myself.

Count Dragulescu is as mysterious and dangerously sexy as a leading man, and you want to warn Theodora away…mostly so you can have him for yourself!  Their romance is forbidden and exciting, one of those slowly moving seductions I love to read about.  You never quite know – is he in love with her?  Or is he just trying to ensnare her for some overlying evil scheme?

This is a great mystery and romance all wrapped up into one.  I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next – both around the castle and between Andrei and Theodora.  As an independent woman with a romantic heart, Theodora must make choices that will shape the rest of her life – which may be shorter than she had ever imagined…

Read this book if: You like mystery/romance novels set in the Victorian period, or have read any of Deanna Raybourn’s other books.  This is definitely one you won’t want to miss!