If I Were You by Lynn Austin

If I Were You by Lynn Austin ISBN-13: 9781496437297 Paperback: 464 pages Publisher: Tyndale Fiction Released: June 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1950. In the wake of the war, Audrey Clarkson leaves her manor house in England for a fresh start in America with her young son. As a widowed war bride, Audrey needs the support of her American in-laws, whom she has never met. But she arrives to find that her longtime friend Eve Dawson has been impersonating her for the past four years. Eve is frantic that she's going to lose everything again because Audrey now wants a life that she once literally threw away.

1940. Eve and Audrey have been as different as two friends can be since the day they met at Wellingford Hall, where Eve's mother served as a lady's maid for Audrey's mother. As young women, those differences become a polarizing force . . . until a greater threat--Nazi invasion--reunites them. With London facing relentless bombardment, Audrey and Eve join the fight as ambulance drivers, battling constant danger together. An American stationed in England brings dreams of a brighter future for Audrey, and the collapse of the class system gives Eve hope for a future with Audrey's brother. But in the wake of devastating loss, both women must make life-altering decisions that will set in motion a web of lies and push them both to the breaking point long after the last bomb has fallen.


My Review:
If I Were You is a Christian historical set in 1931-1950 in England and then America. Eve's family is poor because her father died in World War I. Her mother works as a lady's maid for Audrey's mother. Eve struggles to better herself, starting as a scullery maid, then working as a typist, then working as an ambulance driver during the war. But Eve's first love interest can't overlook her low origins. She envies Audrey her wealthy, high-class, easy life. Audrey envies Eve because she so easily makes friends, is loved by many people, and is so brave. They're supportive, best friends that build each other up until a series of choices leads to Eve impersonating Audrey until Audrey's arrival forces her to face her sins and find forgiveness.

The characters were all complex, realistic people. I cared about what happened to Audrey and Eve and to the people they cared about. Historical details about what life was like during and after World War II in England were woven into story. Audrey and Eve witnessed some of the major events that happened in England during the war. The story was mostly about their teenage years up to the end of the war with only the wrapping up of loose ends happening in 1950. All of the choices made earlier culminated in 1950 as they faced the various consequences of their choices.

Initially, Eve was the one who believed in God, but she blamed God for allowing so many people she cared about to die. Eve's faith sparked Audrey's belief in God, and she increasingly turned to God through the hard times and grief. Of course, the Good Shepherd seeks out the lost lamb, Eve. There were no (graphic) sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written, touching historical fiction.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Guarded by the Soldier by Laura Scott

Guarded by the Soldier by Laura Scott ISBN-13: 9781335402929 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: July 7th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
After months of searching, security expert Ryker Tillman finally finds Olivia Habush and her young son—just as they are attacked by armed mercenaries. Now safeguarding Olivia, her unborn child and little Aaron is the former special ops soldier’s new mission. But to save the family that he's come to care for, Ryker must figure out why someone wants them dead…


My Review:
Guarded by the Soldier is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Ryker's girlfriend and her daughter were killed while he was away at war, so now he's determined to save Olivia and her son. Olivia's husband and brother had become criminals who were killed by Ryker and friends in the last book (though this book works as a standalone). She's hiding from the mercenary group that they worked for, and Ryker finds her right before the mercenaries do. Olivia no longer cared for her husband as he treated her badly. She falls in love with the compassionate, considerate, and handsome Ryker. He stunned by her beauty (even though she's in late pregnancy), which further endears him to her.

There was suspense from the mercenaries repeatedly tracking them down because they wanted something from Olivia. The problem for me was that we never learned how they kept tracking Olivia down. The good guys went to extreme lengths to prevent themselves from being tracked, and they never figured out how the bad guys kept finding them. But they also didn't spent much time trying to figure that out. The ending sequence also didn't work for me. One guy wanted what she had (though circumstances should've clued him in that she wouldn't have it on her), but what he did was attack her like he was trying to kill her. Shortly afterwards, the good guys simply believed a bad guy's claim that the main bad guy was dead and also assumed all of the mercenaries had gotten word to stop attacking her. So they left her unguarded. It just seemed like the good guys suddenly had to make stupid decisions so the bad guys could have one more chance at her.

Olivia was a new Christian and prayed to God. Ryker didn't like that God had let his girlfriend and her daughter die. There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Rocky Mountain Revenge by Rhonda Starnes

Rocky Mountain Revenge by Rhonda Starnes ISBN-13: 9781335402950 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: July 7th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Temporarily home to help at her family’s vet clinic, Grace Porter has no intentions of staying—but someone’s determined she won’t live long enough to leave. With both Grace and her sister in the crosshairs, her ex-boyfriend, Police Chief Evan Bradshaw, must protect them. But can the single dad lawman uncover the truth about why a killer’s out for vengeance before time runs out?


My Review:
Rocky Mountain Revenge is a romantic suspense novel. Grace moved away from her small hometown because she didn't like how everyone knew her business. She's only returning because the vet clinic she co-owns with her sister needs a vet now that her sister is divorcing her husband, the current vet. Grace arrives just in time to stop a deadly attack on her sister, but the attacker leaves Grace's sister in critical condition. Grace and her old flame, the police chief, work together to uncover who is attacking the sisters and why.

Since Grace saw the face of the attacker, they fairly quickly identified the man. There were moments of high suspense where Grace and her sister were in danger. But there's also a fun scene where Evan and Grace put on disguises and went to a race where their suspect would be so that Grace can identify him for the FBI. I liked that they were proactive and tried to set up traps for the bad guys rather than simply run from them until the very end.

The characters reacted realistically to events and were likable. Grace prayed to God for help on several occasions. Evan wasn't talking to God because he felt guilty about his wife's death, but he talked with Grace about what happened and started praying to God again. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun, exciting suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Dangerous Language by Sulari Gentill

A Dangerous Language by Sulari Gentill ISBN-13: 9781464212611 Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: June 9th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When Rowland Sinclair--a well-heeled artist and amateur sleuth--volunteers his services as a pilot to fly the renowned international peace advocate, Egon Kisch, between Fremantle and Melbourne, he is unaware of how hard Australia's new Attorney General will fight to keep the "raging reporter" off Australian soil. In this, it seems, the government is not alone, as clandestine right-wing militias reconstitute into deadly strike forces. A Communist agent is murdered on the steps of Parliament House and Rowland finds himself drawn into a dangerous world of politics and assassination.

A disgraced Minister, an unidentified corpse and an old flame who will not be denied all bring their own special bedlam. Once again Rowland Sinclair stands against the unthinkable with an artist, a poet and a free-spirited sculptress by his side.


My Review:
A Dangerous Language is a mystery/suspense set in the late Fall of 1934 in Australia. This is the eighth novel in a series. You don't have to read the previous books in order to follow this one, and this book did not spoil the previous books. Murders seem to happen whenever Rowley and his friends are around, so the first part of the story involved trying to solve the murders. The mystery was a clue-based. Rowley and his friends asked questions, followed up on clues, and passed on information to the police.

A second thread in the story was that Rowley's determined to get a foreign journalist to a speaking engagement on time. This journalist has seen what's happening in Nazi Germany. No one's listening to Rowley's warnings, but maybe they'll listen to the journalist. However, there are a lot of people who don't want this man to even enter Australia. Rowley and his friends worked together to keep the man alive so that he had a chance to be heard. Interesting historical details (especially surrounding this man's arrival in Australia) were woven into the the story. The main characters were interesting, engaging people. There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, suspenseful novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Death in White Pyjamas & Death Knows No Calendar by John Bude

Death in White Pyjamas Death Knows No Calendar by John Bude ISBN-13: 9781464212871 Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: June 7th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Two mysteries:
Death in White Pyjamas: At the country home of Sam Richardson, a group of actors have gathered along with their somewhat sinister producer Basil Barnes, and a playwright whose star is rising in the drama scene. With competitive tension in the air between the three actresses, Clara, Angela and Deirdre, the spell is broken when Deirdre is found murdered in the grounds wearing, for some unknown reason, white pyjamas.

Death Knows No Calendar: A shooting in a locked artist's studio. Four suspects; at least two of whom are engaged in an affair. An exuberant and energetic case for Major Boddy.


My Review:
Death in White Pyjamas is a mystery that was originally published in 1944 and is set in England. This mystery took up the first half of this book. The murder didn't occur until later in the book, so the reader got to see everything leading up to the murder. This included strong clues about whodunit. For the reader, it was more about working out how the murder was done. The detective didn't initially have these clues, so he asked questions, checked alibis, and looked for clues, but he and his sidekick mainly speculated about who might have done the murder and how. They talked out several possible scenarios, and it took a while to unravel the truth because they weren't especially smart. However, it was an interesting mystery with entertaining characters. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language.

Death Knows No Calendar is a mystery that was originally published in 1942 and is set in England. The murder was made to look like a suicide, so it was an amateur sleuth who decided to look into how the murderer could have been committed and who had motive. Again, whodunit seemed pretty obvious to me. The sleuth worked through the motives and alibis fairly quickly to come to the same conclusion. Then it was simply tracking down enough clues to convince the police and figuring out how the clever, locked room murder was done. Unless you happen to have lived at that time, you're unlikely to figure out the answer of how it was done. The sleuth kept that information to himself to reveal at the end. The characters were interesting and entertaining. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book (both stories) to fans of historical mysteries from this time period.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

A Proper Charade by Esther Hatch

A Proper Charade by Esther Hatch ISBN-13: 9781524412319 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: May 1st 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Lady Patience Kendrick was born to a life of privilege, and with the London Season looming, she finds herself facing unprecedented pressure to adhere to the rules of society. Unfortunately, the lighthearted young woman is anything but proper. Patience's elder brother, a former military man, accuses her of incurable frivolity. Determined to prove her brother wrong, Patience undertakes a drastic experiment: she will disguise herself as a maid and demonstrate her ability to work as hard as anyone.

Taken on as household staff by her brother's former general, Patience soon learns that willingness and ability are two very different things. While her plan sounded promising in theory, the reality is that she is out of her depth - and the son of the house only makes things worse when he asks her to pretend to be a lady. Patience soon finds herself embroiled in a charade far more complicated that she imagined. With both her pride and her heart at stake, she is determined to prove her brother wrong - even as her plans spiral delightfully out of control.


My Review:
A Proper Charade is a romance set in the mid-1800s in England. The historical setting was a loose backdrop for the action as it's improbable that the events in the story would ever have happened in reality. Still, it's a fun, sweet romance. Lady Patience isn't spoiled but she's never been required to do much for herself or others. Her very serious brother, now a Duke after the death of their father, wishes that she had a way to learn to appreciate how much the servants and others do for her. She doesn't want to be ungrateful or thought poorly of by her brother, so she's determined to become a servant in the house of the general that her brother served under. The son of the general notices her manners and asks her to pretend to be a lady that he's interested in to prompt the parents of the lady that he's courting to accept his suit.

The tone of the story is lightly humorous due to silly mistakes Patience makes while learning to be a servant and her generally lighthearted view of life. The hero is somewhat oblivious to social cues, which gets him in trouble when trying to win the lady of his choice and also means he doesn't question why Patience has the manners of a lady even though he notices them. He helps her to learn some of the servant jobs and also appreciates how she brings joy into his household. As they spend time together and come to appreciate each other, they become friends that help each other and build each other up. Due to the difference in their rank, their growing love is more one of yearning than lust.

The characters were likable, and I cared about what happened to them. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this to fans of sweet romances.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden

A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden ISBN-13: 9780764232121 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: June 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's worried that her twin brother will face execution for treason.

Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline due to her brothers treason, despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.

Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.


My Review:
A Gilded Lady is a Christian historical romance set in America in 1900 to 1901. This is the second in a series, but it works as a standalone novel. The historical details about the events and politics of the time were woven into the story and affected everyone's lives. The main story was Caroline dealing with her job as secretary to a difficult First Lady and Nathaniel dealing with setting up proper security for the president. They spent time together while doing their jobs, first becoming good friends and then romance developed. They built each other up and supported each other. They admired each other's character and personality as well as their looks, yet it was their personalities that led to problems in the romance. Nathaniel's completely dedicated to his job and kept putting off his relationship with Caroline, which didn't make her feel very good.

A lesser element in the story was Caroline's efforts to use her political influence to free her twin brother, who has been imprisoned in Cuba for treason. While this was a constant stressor in her life, she wasn't really involved with untangling Cuban politics or proving his innocence. The characters reacted realistically, were complex, and I cared about what happened to them. The Christian theme was Nathaniel's realization that God loves and forgives him. (Since Nathaniel felt guilty over mistakes, not sin against God, it's really that Nathaniel must learn to let go of the guilt that's driving him.) There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written, interesting historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Closer Than She Knows by Kelly Irvin

Closer Than She Knows by Kelly Irvin ISBN-13: 9780785231868 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: June 9th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Teagan O’Rourke's job as a court reporter, she has written official records for dozens of real-life murders. She’s listened to hours of chilling testimony. But she’s never known the smell of death, and she never thought she might be a victim.

A young police officer is murdered just inches away from her, and then a man calling himself a serial killer starts leaving Teagan notes, signing each with the name of a different murderer from her favorite mystery novels. Teagan's friend Max Kennedy is determined to protect her. Max longs for more than friendship with Teagan, but he fears she’ll never trust someone with a past like his. He wonders if he’ll be able to keep Teagan alive long enough to find out.

As Teagan, Max, and Teagan’s police officer father race to track down the elusive killer, they each know they could be the next victim. Desperate to save those she loves, Teagan battles fears that once haunted her in childhood. No matter what she does, he seems to be getting closer . . .


My Review:
Closer Than She Knows is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Police detectives (which included family members) were officially investigating the murders, but we got little detail about their progress. Teagan and her retired police officer father decided to investigate a serial killer that was in prison whom the current serial killer seemed to be mimicking. Instead of following up clues like "who is close enough to Teagan to know the details that are ending up in the letters?", they investigated the background of a serial killer who could not be doing the current killings. Not surprisingly, they made no progress on identifying the current killer until Teagan's kidnapped. Still, it seemed very obvious to me who the bad guy was from the moment we met him, so Teagan didn't come across as smart. There were also some loose ends that were never explained.

I also had problems with Teagan as a character. I think she was meant to be complex, but it seemed like she two distinctly different people. Sometimes Teagan was completely disillusioned with all humans due to her job and the knowledge of what horrible things people can do. This is why she refused to have children or a relationship with Max, who wanted children. On the other hand, we have a completely naïve Teagan who is certain that none of her neighbors or friends can be the murderer because they're just so nice and normal – even though she knows that the serial killer that's in prison was considered a nice, normal man to everyone who knew him (except his victims). The other characters seemed more realistic, and I did care about what happened to them.

Max was a youth pastor, and several people talked with Teagan about trusting God with the future and the people that she loves. This issue wasn't really resolved, just kind of skipped over to get the happy ending. There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Spy, Spy Again by Mercedes Lackey

Spy, Spy Again by Mercedes Lackey ISBN-13: 9780756413231 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: DAW Released: June 9th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In this third novel of the Family Spies series, set in the bestselling world of Valdemar, Heralds Mags and Amily's youngest child must follow in his parents' footsteps to protect both his family and the realm.

Prince Kyril and Mags and Amily's son Tory "share" the Gift of Farsight—although neither of them are Chosen. Tory Gift is the Farseer—Kee's Gift is to extend his range beyond a few dozen feet. Currently, their shared Gift only allows them to see what is happening with their family members.

Their Gifts become crucial when Mags gets a desperate message from his cousin Bey, the head of the enigmatic assassin-tribe, the Sleepgivers. Bey's eldest daughter, Sira, has been kidnapped by a mutual enemy and is being held prisoner in the heart of that country. He's calling in the debt Mags owes him to find his daughter before it's too late. Tory and Kyril agree to accompany Bey's son and use their Gift to help him find where his sister is located. But that will mean traveling out of Valdemar and into extreme danger.


My Review:
Spy, Spy Again is a fantasy novel with four teenaged main characters. This book is the third in a series, but it can work as a standalone. The author spent a lot of time describing the different cultures, especially the Sleepgivers, and she provided any background from the previous stories needed to understand the various relationships. The world-building created a unique and interesting setting for the story, but there was more information provided than was strictly necessary to tell the story so it did slow the pacing a little at the beginning.

Tory and Kyril are best friends and bound together by their shared Gift. But things start to change as they leave Valdemar and new experiences begin to shape them into adults with different future paths...if they can survive their rescue mission. Half of the story was told from Tory's viewpoint as his group worked to find and rescue Sira, and the other half was from Sira's viewpoint as she fought off her captors from her cell but struggled to discover how to escape through an army worth of guards. The characters were noble, likable, and grew through their experiences. There was suspense after Sira was captured since the characters faced great danger from soldiers and demons.

There was no sex. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable fantasy adventure.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Unravelled Knots: The Teahouse Detective by Baroness Orczy

Unravelled Knots: The Teahouse Detective by Baroness Orczy ISBN-13: 9781782275886 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Pushkin Vertigo Released: October 24th 2019 (first published 1926)

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
It has been twenty years since Polly Burton last saw the Teahouse Detective, but one foggy afternoon she stumbles into a Fleet Street café and chances upon the cantankerous sleuth again. The years have not softened his manner, nor dulled his appetite for unravelling the most tortuous of conspiracies, shedding light on mysteries that have confounded the finest minds of the police.

How did Prince Orsoff disappear from his railway carriage in-between stations? How could the Ingres masterpiece be seen in two places at once? And what is the truth behind the story of the blood-stained tunic that exonerated its owner? From the comfort of his seat by the fire, the Teahouse Detective sets his brilliant mind to work once more.


My Review:
Unravelled Knots: The Teahouse Detective is a collection of short story mysteries that was originally published in the early 1900s. Those short stories are framed around the amateur detective telling a reporter about his solution to various mysteries (not only murders) which baffle the police. He investigates the details and attends the trials, but he doesn't give the solutions to the police because he admires the cleverness of these criminals. He wants to brag to someone, though, so he tells the reporter in the teashop the details of the case, the clues, and his solution. Occasionally, one of the short stories is told primarily by her and gives the details that she picked up in reporting about the case.

These were clue-based puzzle mysteries. There were enough clues that the reader can guess his solution, especially since the clues were obvious due to the shorter format. I didn't find the solutions very difficult to guess. They were interesting scenarios, though. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this collection to fans of puzzle mysteries.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Deadly Connection by Lenora Worth

Deadly Connection by Lenora Worth ISBN-13: 9781335402844 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: June 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
On her way to question US Marshal Emmett Gage about a DNA match that implicates his relative in a cold case and a recent murder, Officer Belle Montera’s attacked. Now she and her K-9 partner must team up with Emmett to find his cousin and the person after Belle. But can they figure out who’s targeting her without becoming murder victims themselves?


My Review:
Deadly Connection is a romantic suspense novel. It's the third book in a series, but each novel can be read as a stand alone. K-9 police officer Belle is attacked by someone claiming she ruined his life. Since she saw his face, it didn't take long for them to determine who the attacker was, but it was more difficult to track him down to arrest him. US Marshal Emmett saved her life in the initial attack, but Belle was able to hold her own in other attacks with the help of her dog partner. Because she's investigating Emmett's cousin, they worked together and both were endangered by the repeated attacks.

The suspense stayed high as attacks kept coming one after another. The characters reacted realistically to events and were likable. Belle and Emmett quickly came to admire the others character as well as their looks. Both were competent at their jobs. Emmett sometimes had trouble (in his mind) with letting Belle do her job even though he knew she was trained for it, partly because he cared for her. Since Belle recently got out of a controlling, manipulative relationship, she would only accept a relationship with someone who supported her and built her up. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Willow Marsh Murder by Karen Charlton

The Willow Marsh Murder by Karen Charlton ISBN-13: 978-1916292802 kindle: 381 pages Publisher: Famelton Publishing Released: February 1st 2020

Source: Amazon Unlimited.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Cambridgeshire, September 1813: Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods are lured to an isolated estate in the deadly marshland surrounding Ely, to investigate a murder. But nothing is as it seems at the mysterious Willow Marsh Manor. They soon realise they’ve come across this feuding family before – in the direst of circumstances. With no dead body and no sign of the woman who summoned them, Woods fears someone has planned a murderous revenge. Meanwhile, Lavender dreads the disclosure of his greatest secret. A secret that, if revealed, will destroy both his career – and his relationship with Woods. Haunted by ghosts from the past, Lavender and Woods must tread a careful path through this watery and dangerous terrain in order to solve one of the most perplexing mysteries of their career.


My Review:
The Willow Marsh Murder is a mystery novel set in 1813 in England. It's the sixth book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. However, the short story "The Death of Irish Nell" is included in this story as a series of flashbacks, so there's no need to read both that story and this one.

It was a clue-based mystery, though more of a suspense than a murder mystery. Lavender was suspicious about why he was asked to protect the daughter of a man he had previously investigated. Someone seemed bent on revenge against the detective even as he worked to discover who was trying to kill the woman. He had to uncover and sort out the complicated, scandal ridden past of the family.

The detective was clever, and his assistant constable had skills that complemented the detective's. They asked good questions. I cared what happened to the main characters. They were engaging, interesting people and had realistic reactions to events. The vivid historical and setting details made the story feel unique to that time and place yet didn't slow the pacing down. There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.