6/10 Despite being a little shorter (I read it in 2 evenings), this book felt quite disjointed. It seemed as though Pitt & Narraway missed some obvious6/10 Despite being a little shorter (I read it in 2 evenings), this book felt quite disjointed. It seemed as though Pitt & Narraway missed some obvious areas of investigation and Charlotte was relegated to a bystander role. The author seemed inclined to spend a lot of ink on religious/spiritual rumination. Not one of the better ones in this series. ...more
6.5/10 A well-crafted story, a tad predictable but still good鈥攌ept my interest while listening during my walk. The double meaning of the title was a ni6.5/10 A well-crafted story, a tad predictable but still good鈥攌ept my interest while listening during my walk. The double meaning of the title was a nice touch....more
8.25/10 Another layered mystery from Anne Perry, with apparent murders & mutilations, real or feigned love affairs, definite deceptions, and treason al8.25/10 Another layered mystery from Anne Perry, with apparent murders & mutilations, real or feigned love affairs, definite deceptions, and treason all in the mix. No one character dominated鈥攅veryone had a hand in figuring things out: Thomas & Charlotte, Stoker, Narraway, Aunt Vespasia, & Emily. This was a good one!...more
8.25/10 A complex thriller. I found it a little hard to follow at times, mostly because I had trouble keeping some of the secondary characters straight8.25/10 A complex thriller. I found it a little hard to follow at times, mostly because I had trouble keeping some of the secondary characters straight. But it was absorbing and a fast read overall....more
6.5/10 I figured out the mystery or guessed several of the 鈥渢wists鈥� relatively early on, but still, the story moved right along. The author did a good 6.5/10 I figured out the mystery or guessed several of the 鈥渢wists鈥� relatively early on, but still, the story moved right along. The author did a good job of evoking the fear, tension, and relief that the main character felt at various times....more
6/10 The author says, in her Acknowledgments, that this book (before revisions) was 鈥渆ither brilliantly bizarre, or just bizarre.鈥� I would go with the 6/10 The author says, in her Acknowledgments, that this book (before revisions) was 鈥渆ither brilliantly bizarre, or just bizarre.鈥� I would go with the latter. Very contrived, pretty creepy, no likable or 鈥渘ormal鈥� characters other than Paul (Laurel鈥檚 ex) & his wife Bonny and maybe Ellie. Still, it was compulsively readable, and the changes in POV and voice (first or third person) were used very effectively....more
9/10 This book wraps up Elliott鈥檚 Crossroads Trilogy, and while I have a few quibbles, overall it was excellent. What I liked: complex characters who ke9/10 This book wraps up Elliott鈥檚 Crossroads Trilogy, and while I have a few quibbles, overall it was excellent. What I liked: complex characters who kept evolving (leading to some surprises!), a balance of action & calm (reflection, domesticity, humor, plotting), several interrelated plot lines. The characters were mostly realistic, with blurred lines between 鈥済ood guys鈥� and 鈥渂ad guys鈥� and mixed motivations for most of them. What bothered me: I would have liked more information/interaction with the races other than Humans: Firelings, Delvings, Wildlings, Lendings, Merlings, Dragonlings, & Demons. We see a bit of the Firelings, Lendlings, & Wildlings and glimpses of the Delvings, and I admit, the books were already pretty long without adding anything, but my curiosity was certainly piqued! I also would have liked a fuller picture of the people who were corrupted Guardians beyond Night & Lord Radas. We do see some more details of Yordenas & Brevard, but I wanted more on how they were corrupted. And of course, what happens at the end? (view spoiler)[Four cloaks are united with Guardians (Marit, Joss, Kirit, & Jothinin, with Jothinin being a longtime Guardian, then Marit, Kirit, and Joss as the newbie). But the other 5 cloaks are free to find new Guardians鈥� and I so wanted to know who was chosen , etc. (hide spoiler)] I鈥檝e read that Black Wolves was meant to start a new trilogy set in the same world, but after the first book came out, the publisher cancelled the rest. I would have definitely read those!...more
7.5/10 First, two quibbles鈥擨 can find no connection between the title and anything that happens in the book., and Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould has gotte7.5/10 First, two quibbles鈥擨 can find no connection between the title and anything that happens in the book., and Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould has gotten about 20 years younger since she was first introduced in the series! (I need to learn that trick!) Beyond that, a good mystery, with a complex plot of revenge and fear and a heavy dose of social commentary on rape. Sad to say, many attitudes have not changed all that much since 1896....more
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