Audible Book Review: A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde

I did like this Victorian mystery.
A Useful Woman
A Rosalind Thorne Mystery, Book 1
By: Darcie Wilde
Narrated by: Sarah Nichols

Series: Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
Release date: 01-10-17
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Historical Mystery, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, this new mystery series set in 19th-century London introduces the charming and resourceful Rosalind Thorne, a woman privy to the secrets of high society - including who among them is capable of murder.
The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society's most influential women, who rely on her wit and discretion. So when artistocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in London's most exclusive ballroom, Almack's, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer from a list of suspects that includes Almack's powerful patronesses and her former suitor Devon Winterbourne, now Lord Casselmain.
Torn between her old love and a growing attraction to a compelling Bow Street runner, Rosalind must unravel the mysteries surrounding Jasper's death, and the mysteries of her own heart as well.
©2016 Darcie Wilde (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Rosalind Thorne is the daughter of a baronet and minor heiress who is fully part of London society until her father abandoned the family leaving her mother and Rosalind to face the debtors. Rather than retire from society, Rosalind makes herself a ‘useful’ woman by helping to manage affairs of society’s most influential women, making their parties successful, helping them to avoid scandal, and guiding opinion through manipulating news and gossip.

While Rosalind is helping her godmother, one of the patronesses of Almack’s, Rosalind peaks into the ballroom at Almack’s and finds aristocrat Jasper Aimesworth dead below the music balcony. The Almack’s patronesses are quick to label the event as a tragic accident but Rosalind suspects something more nefarious. Rosalind herself may be suspected as is the young man’s best friend, Rosalind’s former suitor, now Lord Casselmain.

Casselmain is about to become engaged to the dead man’s sister who usually has no time for Rosalind. The sister, convinced this was no accident, seeks Rosalind’s help to find the killer. Rosalind is hoping to protect Casselmain while agreeing to help the dogged Bow Street detective weave the narrow paths of society. Day by day Rosalind realizes that everyone seems to be hiding secrets that she needs to break through to find the truth.

I liked Rosalind’s character, particularly for standing firm and persevering through traumatic and difficult circumstances. This wasn’t as light as some historical mysteries, but my attention was engaged by the good twists as Rosalind uncovers clues and secrets to discover motives and reveal the killer. The story is rich with detail of the era and navigating the haut ton. I also like that there was no sex but just a nice potential for closer relationships for Rosalind. I will look to read (listen to) more in the series. I recommend this to fans of Victorian mystery.

Audio Notes: Sarah Nichols provided good accents although the voices of male and female could have been more distinct. She did manage to convey the heroine’s aside thoughts fairly clearly. Audio makes it easier for me to get through the story considering my work and life schedule, so I was okay with the narration.

Source: December 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Alphabet goal.

#NetGalley Book Review: The Woman in the Veil by Laura Joh Rowland

I really liked this Victorian mystery which has strong descriptions.
The Woman in the Veil
by Laura Joh Rowland

File Size: 1591 KB
Print Length: 314 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (January 7, 2020)
Language: English
ASIN: B07QDJNBJC
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Historical Mystery, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland is back with the fourth in her critically acclaimed Victorian mysteries where the case of a mutilated "Sleeping Beauty" washes ashore in London.
London, June 1890.
Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O'Reilly are crime scene photographers for the Daily World newspaper. After solving a sensational murder, they're under pressure to deliver another big story. On a foggy summer night, they're called to the bank of the river Thames. The murder victim is an unidentified woman whose face has been slashed. But as Sarah takes photographs, she discovers that the woman is still alive.
The case of "Sleeping Beauty" becomes a public sensation, and three parties quickly come forward to identify her: a rich, sinister artist who claims she's his wife; a mother and her two daughters who co-own a nursing home and claim she's their stepdaughter/sister; and a precocious little girl who claims Sleeping Beauty is her mother. Which party is Sleeping Beauty's rightful kin? Is someone among them her would-be killer?
Then Sleeping Beauty awakens--with a severe case of amnesia. She's forgotten her name and everything else about herself. But she recognizes one of the people who've claimed her. Sarah is delighted to reunite a family and send Sleeping Beauty home--until one of the claimants is murdered. Suddenly, Sarah, her motley crew of friends, and her fiancé Detective Sergeant Barrett are on the wrong side of the law. Now they must identify the killer before they find themselves headed for the gallows.

Review:
Sarah is a brave female photographer working with a past of secrets and a misfit team. Lord Hugh has been cut from his former society crowd after being caught in a gay scandal. Mick is a teenaged street urchin who has joined with Sarah realizing that he can better himself through education. The team came together as a private detective agency after solving a high-profile case involving the Ripper. Now they serve as a crime scene photograph team hired by a wealthy banker who has taken over The Daily World.

The team is called out to photograph a murder scene of a naked woman lying on the banks of the Thames. The team begins to investigate, examining the site and interviewing witnesses but as Sarah is photographing the woman, she realizes the victim is alive. The woman’s face has been viciously slashed, and no one knows who she is. When she wakes from the coma she apparently has amnesia.

Sarah’s fiancé, Detective Sergeant Barrett often steps in to help the team or to keep them in line. He allows Sarah to sit in as he interviews people who have come forward claiming to know “Sleeping Beauty”. Three particular parties are the most likely relatives. But Sarah and her friends worry that Sleeping Beauty may be in danger if she returns to a home where she has already escaped violence.

Sarah and Barrett disagree on whom they think Sleeping Beauty is which creates tension. Meanwhile, Barrett’s recent promotion is resented by a rival who takes every chance to go after Barrett, Sarah, and their friends. When one of the possible relatives ends up dead at the house where the team is staying, Sarah becomes the prime suspect. The investigation intensifies as the team realizes they must solve the mysteries that remain if they want to save Sarah from prison or the gallows!

I quickly liked these distinct characters with their difficult pasts. Ms. Rowland doesn’t shy away from the dark and messy details of the era as her descriptions create scenes of smell and sound as well as sight. The story has good mystery and tension that kept me pushing to discover who committed the crimes and how things would work out for the beleaguered team. The author wove in an introduction to the characters, so this read fine as a standalone although it did raise my interest in book 1, The Ripper. I recommend this as an engaging read to fans of mystery and Victorian history.

Source: NetGalley 2019. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020NetGalley goals.

Audible Book Review: The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #1) by Laurie R. King

This was very engaging and fun!

The Beekeeper's Apprentice
(Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #1)
by Laurie R. King
Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins
Published July 1st 2005 by Recorded Books
(first published January 15th 1994)
Genre: Detective Mystery, Historical Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Long retired, Sherlock Holmes quietly pursues his study of honeybee behavior on the Sussex Downs. He never imagines he would encounter anyone whose intellect matched his own, much less an audacious teenage girl with a penchant for detection. Miss Mary Russell becomes Holmes' pupil and quickly hones her talent for deduction, disguises and danger. But when an elusive villain enters the picture, their partnership is put to a real test.

Review:
Mary Russell has lost her family and is living in her country home with her difficult Aunt. Mary spends most of her time with her nose in a book… even as she walks the meadows. She is surprised to stumble upon a man in the pasture who is studying bees. When she realizes the neighbor is none other than the renowned Sherlock Holmes, Mary is intent on becoming his pupil.

Holmes has become mostly reclusive and didn’t expect to take on a pupil/protégé – especially a young female! He helps hone Mary’s abilities especially during the summers and holidays when she leaves her school in Oxford to visit her friend in the country.

Holmes and Russell team together to rescue a kidnapped child. Several years into their relationship, Holmes and Russell find themselves dodging bomb attacks. They have to go into hiding to gather the evidence to uncover and fight the assailant.

I totally enjoyed this story told from the view of Mary Russell as a brilliant mind jousting with the legendary acumen of Sherlock Holmes. I admit it has been some years since I read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (once as a teen/college student and again as a mature adult over 40), but I remember always loving the details and the plodding discovery of clues and deductive reasoning towards solving each mystery. I liked that Ms. King’s retired Sherlock is not quite as tainted or drug loving as he was when younger. His mind is just as keen and sharpened by the perceptive intelligence of young Mary. I am inclined to pick up more books in the series. This was an engaging read/listen and I highly recommend it to Sherlockian fans.

Audio Notes: Jenny Sterlin does a great job with the narration. She provides distinct voices with accents that fit the story and characters. Her narration helped me become immersed in the story.

Source: September 2011 Audible purchase. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: A Quiet Life in the Country by T E Kinsey

This is a nice, cozy historical mystery.
A Quiet Life in the Country
A Lady Hardcastle Mystery, Book 1
By: T E Kinsey
Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

Series: Lady Hardcastle Mysteries, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-04-16
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery, Historical
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Lady Emily Hardcastle is an eccentric widow with a secret past. Florence Armstrong, her maid and confidante, is an expert in martial arts. The year is 1908 and they’ve just moved from London to the country, hoping for a quiet life.
But it is not long before Lady Hardcastle is forced out of her self-imposed retirement. There’s a dead body in the woods, and the police are on the wrong scent. Lady Hardcastle makes some enquiries of her own, and it seems she knows a surprising amount about crime investigation…
As Lady Hardcastle and Flo delve deeper into rural rivalries and resentment, they uncover a web of intrigue that extends far beyond the village. With almost no one free from suspicion, they can be certain of only one fact: there is no such thing as a quiet life in the country.
Revised edition: This edition of A Quiet Life In The Country includes editorial revisions.
©2016 T E Kinsey. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:
Flo has been lady’s maid and companion to Lady Emily Hardcastle for many years. They fled China after Lady Emily’s husband was murdered and lived in India before returning to London. Now they have moved to the country expecting to live quietly. Only a few days into settling in Lady Emily and Flo go for a walk in the near by woods and stumble upon a death scene. A local young man is hanging from a tree. At first look the police may think this is a tragic suicide until Emily starts to point out the details that show this is really a crime scene.

Lady Emily decides to help the local authorities. Mistress and maid decide to become detectives like Holmes with sidekick Watson. They continue to visit socially while doing questioning. They are invited to attend a local birthday celebration which ends up with trouble. A man is found dead the morning after the party. Inspector Sunderland is addressing the death while the party hostess pulls Lady Emily aside and asks for her help. Knowing that Lady Emily and Flo are doing amateur sleuthing the hostess asks if they can investigate a special jewel that has gone missing.

Lady Emily and Flo are busy if not quiet. They have a lovely relationship that is unusual for the aristocracy in 1908. There is a little mystery to their history which adds to the intrigue of the story. Flo is skilled in martial arts so she is confident she can protect them for the most part. Both Lady Emily and Flo are quick to discern crime clues and are adept at subtly questioning witnesses. Although the initial reaction with the Inspector is hesitant, he soon recognizes their helpful input and they develop a nice friendship. The country setting presents an opportunity to portray village life.

I enjoyed the combination of historical setting, unusual character friendships and busy mystery. The tongue in cheek relationship between mistress and maid/companion adds nice humor. I would pick up more titles in the series when I am looking for a nice historical mystery. I recommend this to readers who enjoy historical, cozy mystery.

Audio Notes: Elizabeth Knowelden does a lovely job with the narration. She provides distinct voices for the characters and captures the unique British humor. The narration enhanced my enjoyment in this story.

Source: July 2017 Audible Sale $4.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: The White City by Grace Hitchcock

This is a very sweet historical romance.
The White City
by Grace Hitchcock

File Size: 810 KB
Publisher: Barbour Books (March 1, 2019)
ASIN: B07HYKQBDP
Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World’s Fair
Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.
Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

Review:
Winnifred Wylde is the nineteen-year-old daughter of a top Chicago police inspector. After the death of her mother when Winnie was ten, her Aunt Lillian stepped in to help guide the family. Winnie wants to enjoy her reading and visits to the Chicago World’s Fair, but Aunt Lillian wants Winnifred to decorously attend social events and secure a marital match. Inspector Wylde is happy to leave the socializing to Aunt Lillian as he is determined that Winnie marry someone other than a law man.

Winnie is at the Fair when she sees a young woman taken off by a man. Her father isn’t willing to call the police out to investigate because she made a previous allegation that turned out groundless. Inspector Wylde agrees to allow Winnie to continue to visit the Fair but only with a police guard, a new man on the staff, Jude Thorpe. Jude has a good reputation from New York and has secretly come to Chicago to investigate the death of his brother-in-law.

Winnie soon spots the man she suspects and wrangles a job interview so she can learn more undercover. Jude has already been on hand to ‘rescue’ Winnie from the drudgery of a suitor she wants nothing to do with. Now he is standing by to protect her if needed as she works undercover. As they share time together investigating, their easy friendship grows. Assuming Winnie can come through the assignment safely, is there any chance for a continued relationship with family (and boss) set against them?

I liked the characters right away. They are cheery, bright and imaginative. Winnie loves books and gets to meet her favorite author in a surprising element of the story. The mystery plot develops slowly, but this allows the relationship, with conflicts, to develop. I found the author’s afterward interesting as she explained this story was based upon a true crime event.

The author uses fun quotes from Jane Austin books and others to introduce the chapters. I also liked the light scripture and faith references. During a frightening situation, Winnie pulls on her memory verses for support. The story reads easily and moves along at a good pace. There is a good mix of mystery, suspense and romance. I would like to read more in this series and recommend this to readers who enjoy clean, historic romance/mystery.

Source: NetGalley 2019. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.