Miss Grimsley’s Oxford Career (2012) Carla Kelly Set in England, indeterminate time during the Napoleonic wars. Ellen Grimsley is frustrated–she would love to study at Oxford, but instead her brother Gordon is sent, and he wants nothing to do with Oxford but wants instead to be fighting in Spain. James Gatewood, Lord Chesney, is expected […]
Widow’s Gambit (1998) Tracy Grant The Neville girls are of good family, but impoverished, and after their father’s death are left to make their way as best they can. Claudia is the most beautiful (and Diana is not yet of age) so Livia decides to do whatever it takes to give Claudia a Season, and […]
The Mayfair Affair (2015) Tracy Grant Set in London in 1818. Malcolm and Susanne Rannoch have had a difficult three months, after Malcolm finally learns that Susanne had been a French agent. But when their governess is accused of murder–found on the scene in fact, they hope the tenuous peace between them won’t be shattered […]
The Black Hawk (2011) Joanna Bourne Set in London in 1818, with flashes back to Paris 1802 and other times and places. This is the fourth book in the series, the story of Adrian Hawkhurst (aka Hawker) and Justine DuMotier, who we met in previous books, Adrian as an adult, Justine as a child (and […]
The Custom of the Army (2012) Diana Gabaldon Why do I like Lord John so much? “The world is chaos and death and destruction. But people like you— you don’t stand for that. If there is any order in the world, any peace— it’s because of you, John, and those very few like you.” And […]
Lord John and the Hand of Devils (2007) Diana Gabaldon This is a collection of three stories–novellas, really rather than short stories: Lord John and the Hellfire Club, Lord John and the Succubus, and Lord John and the Haunted Soldier. “Lord John and the Hellfire Club” Set in London in 1756, prior to Lord John […]
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (2007) Diana Gabaldon Set in London in 1758. This is not my favorite Lord John story, although events that happen here are both the culmination of past mysteries, and the impetus for events in later stories. “But your brother is not now Duke of Pardloe?” Despite himself, […]
Lord John and the Private Matter (2003) Diana Gabaldon Set in London in 1757. This is the first Lord John book; his first novella is “Lord John and the Hellfire Club” which you can find in Lord John and the Hand of the Devils. This is a re-read for me–something about Lord John’s stories just […]
Foxglove Summer Audible Version (2015/2015) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith OMG I LOVE KOBNA HOLDBROOK-SMITH SO MUCH! (SWOON) ahem. I love this series, but I love Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s narration EVEN MORE. Peter Grant is somewhat despondent about the events that occurred at the end of the last book (not that he’ll admit it) so […]
Dead Men’s Boots (2007) Mike Carey The last book ended with Castor being booted out of his living quarters by Pen, and the Stranger giving him 30 days to find somewhere else for Rafi, or they were sending him to Jenna-Jane Mulbridge–a fate even worse that his current miserable situation, timesharing his body with the […]
Who Buries the Dead (2015) C.S. Harris Set in London in 1813. “In my experience, people who view others as social or financial assets rarely do accumulate close friends.” A body is discovered at Bloody Bridge–its head sitting on the brick wall, the body lying nearby in the grass. At first, there seems to be […]
Vicious Circle (2006) Mike Carey Felix Castor can’t stay out of trouble. He’s taking some consulting work for the police, to bring in some money, but when parents as him to find their daughter–who is a ghost–Felix gets in bigger trouble than even he expected. There’s just something about the writing in these books. Felix […]
The Devil in Music (1997) Kate Ross Set in 1821 and 1825. This story is told in two parts. The first in 1821 is the story of Orfeo, a young Englishman studying music in Italy, and of Lodovico Malvezzi, an Milanese. The second part, set in 1825, is how Julian Kestrel, traveling in Italy, searches […]
Whom the Gods Love (1995) Kate Ross Set in 1825 This is the third Julian Kestrel mystery, and finds Julian called to the grave of a Alexander Falkland, by his father, Sir Malcom. Alexander was brutally murdered at a party in his own home, Bow Street has no clues, and is (for the most part) […]
These Old Shades (1926) Georgette Heyer There is so much to delight in, in this story. Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon, is unrepentant about his deserved reputation as Satanas–the Devil. I never have intentions. That is why mothers of lovely daughters eye me askance. He has done pretty awful things, and isn’t particularly sorry about […]
The Devil You Know (2008) Mike Carey Felix Castor is an exorcist, a job that has been quite in demand since the dead starting coming back in the late 90s. (T)he Bible is strangely coy on the subject of the were-kind, hedges its bets on demons, and draws a big fat blank on ghosts, so […]
London Falling, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police) I really liked the audible version of London Falling. Detective Inspector James Quill is heading the investigation (which includes undercover officers Costain and Sefton) to take down crime lord Rob Toshack. Intelligence analyst Lisa Ross has personal reasons for wanting Toshack […]
Dark Angel (1994) Tracy Grant Set in 1813 Adam Durward is the son of a English father and an Indian mother, and as such has never felt comfortable anywhere, but does have the ability to blend in throughout Europe as needed, which serves him well as a spy. Caroline is a spoiled and irritating woman […]
Tales from the Nightside (2015) Simon R. Green The Nightside. “Where all your dreams can come true, especially the really bad ones. This is a collection of Nightside stories, many of which I have read before, and a previously unpublished novella. If you’re a Nightside fan, then you’ll want this. If you’re not sure if […]
The Forbidden Rose (2010) Joanna Bourne Set during the French Revolution Marguerite de Fleurignac is on the run. The Jacobeans have burned her home and tried to kill her. But she has far greater worries than the loss of her home–if her secrets are learned, many lives could be threatened. William Doyle–going by the name […]
My Lord and Spymaster (2008) Joanna Bourne There is so very much to like about this book. Jess Whitby was a thief, but is now the daughter of one of the richest traders and is a genius at accounting. “I am England’s expert on skullduggery in accounting.” And she is desperately searching for the traitor […]
Rightfully His (1998) Tracy Grant The conclusion to the Lescaut Quartet. This is a historical mystery with boinking. But not tons of boinking. Set in 1822 This book was set up at the end of the last book, but you shouldn’t need to read the previous books in the series. Of course, reading this book […]
Shadows of the Heart (1996) Tracy Grant This is another boinking book that is an excellent mystery. Set in 1817. Paul Lescaut is the unrecognized bastard son of a French Marquis, Daniel de Ribard, and his childhood wish was for revenge. Unfortunately, as we see in the prologue, his revenge was not what he was […]
Shores of Desire (1997) Tracy Grant This is a boinking book, but it is also a marvelous historical mystery. Set in 1815. Robert Melton and his son are traveling to Scotland to try to discover why his wife was murdered. Because he is a French spy, he is traveling under a false name and not […]
A Broken Vessel (1994) Kate Ross The second Julian Kestrel mystery. Which means I’m now halfway through the series. Julian Kestrel is once again pulled into mystery and murder when his manservant Dipper runs into his sister, and she inadvertently brings a mystery to them. This book takes a deep and unpleasant look at prostitution […]
Cut to the Quick (1993) Kate Ross I was out of sorts and couldn’t decide what I was in the mood to read when I realized THIS was what I wanted to read. Or rather re-read. “I try to be interested in very nearly everything. I always think boredom is to some extent the fault […]
The Spymaster’s Lady (2008) Joanna Bourne You’re getting the alternate cover here, because I really don’t care for the cover that came with my version. In fact, I hesitated to read the book because the (other) cover made the book seem like something that wasn’t particularly for me. I was wrong. This book was for […]
Foxglove Summer (2014) Ben Aaronovitch When dealing with the law, having a mysterious past is contraindicated. I love this series so much. We return again to Peter Grant, police constable and apprentice wizard. He is still trying to deal with the results of the last case he worked–the one where his co-apprentice and friend Lesley […]
How to Catch a Wild Viscount (2009) Tessa Dare This story is currently free, and for that price it wasn’t a bad story. But I can’t say it was my thing, either. Cecily Hale has been in love with Luke for years, but after Luke came back from war, he’s a changed man who seemingly […]
Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (1988) Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer I had somehow managed to forget how marvelous this story is. Kate and Cecy are two young ladies in Edwardian England–where there is magic. Kate has been sent to London for her Coming Out during the Season, while her cousin […]
The Devil You Know, Audible Version (2006/2007) by Mike Carey and narrated by Michael Kramer I fear I am becoming an audio book snob. All my recent favorites have been full of British accents (few of which are posh, which makes it all the better). I read the Felix Castor series years ago, and had […]
Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover (2014) Sarah MacLean The final book in the Rules of Scoundrels finally sees us learning the identity of Chase, the owner of the Fallen Angel and the most notorious in the group. Everyone wants to know Chase’s identity, but few have seen him. Or rather, as the end […]
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (2013) Sarah MacLean This is the third Rule of Scoundrels book, and tells the story of how Temple ended up fighting in the basement of the Fallen Angel, despite being a Duke. Can’t say this was my favorite. The characters were fin, but nothing amazing, and although we eventually saw […]
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (2013) Sarah MacLean This one a really liked. Lady Philippa Marbury is engaged to Lord Castleton, who is very kind, but according to all the ton, very stupid. Pippa’s sister and brother-in-law have both encouraged her to break the engagement, but Pippa made a promise, and she intends to […]
A Rogue by Any Other Name (2012) Sarah MacLean Borne is a rake and a rogue. Ruined by the loss of his estates, taken at the gaming tables by the man who had been his guardian, the father of the boy who had been his best friend. Now, part owner of one of the most […]
The Mask of Night (2011) Tracy Grant Again, a reminder that this is a somewhat confusing series to read, as the publication order and chronological order are not related. The main portion of this book is set in 1820, but there are flashbacks going back to 1809, which provide bits and pieces of the back-story. […]
Beneath a Silent Moon (2003) Tracy Grant This series is somewhat confusing, as the author has published it under two different names (Tracy Grant / Teresa Grant) and the main characters have two different names (Charles & Melanie Fraser / Malcom & Suzanne Rannoch). It is, however, the same series. Additionally, the books were written […]
Whispers Under Ground Audible version (2012/2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith I am enjoying listening to this series so much. I tore through all the available books when I first came across the series, and have been waiting impatiently for the next book in the series, but the narration by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is such […]
A Study in Seduction (2012) Nina Rowan I picked this up 1) because it was on sale and 2) because the heroine is a genius mathematician. I really liked the idea of a female mathematical genius, so I decided I’d try it. There was boinking, which, you know, not my thing. And I saw the […]
Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (2013) Agatha Christie From The Thirteen Problems (1953) The Tuesday Night Club The Idol House of Astarte Ingots of Gold The Bloodstained Pavement Motive v. Opportunity The Thumbmark of St. Peter The Blue Geranium The Companion The Four Suspects A Christmas Tragedy The Herb of Death The Affair at […]
The Paris Plot (2014) Teresa Grant I actually read this back in August, but had forgotten to review it. Set in Paris, in 1816, this novella finds Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch awaiting the birth of their second child. However, events from the past have come back to haunt them, when a thrown rock with the […]
The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (2014) Alan Bradley The previous book ended with the news that Harriet de Luce had been found. This book opens with Harriet’s body returning to Buckshaw, in all pomp and circumstance–none of which does Flavia and her sisters and father much good, since their home is still up for […]
Speaking from Among the Bones (2013) Alan Bradley The wolves are no longer at the door. Her father can no longer keep up with the creditors, and they’re out of money. Meanwhile, the vicar is excavating the bones of Saint Tancred, on the 500th anniversary of his martyrdom. But as much as some people want […]
Midnight Riot (2011/2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith I’ve had audio books that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed before, but until now, I’d not had the experience of a reader making a book better. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith did that. He is amazing. He did various accents that made each character distinct and they all sounded different. Even […]
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (2011) Alan Bradley It’s almost Christmas, and Flavia has grave suspicious about St. Nick. How he really come down the chimney to leave gifts? And if he does, can he be caught? Unfortunately, the de Luce household is in an even greater uproar than normal, since Father is allowing a […]
The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan This is the first(ish) book in the series, and the third book I read. Wilhelmina Pursling has a past she is desperately hiding from. She’s changed her name and hidden with obscurity with her two great-aunts, and pushed down everything she once was, to avoid any whisper that might […]
The Heiress Effect (2013) Courtney Milan The is book two of the Brothers Sinister trilogy, and the second book I read, however, I started with book three. So, backwards. Miss Jane Fairfield is a wealthy heiress who is supposedly seeking a husband, however, she’s doing everything she possible can to let any man get close […]
The Countess Conspiracy (2013) Courtney Milan I absolutely was not expecting to enjoy this anywhere near as much as I did. I thought it would be a nice diversion, instead, I found myself sucked in and really wanting things to work out well for both characters. Despite knowing this was a romance and so there […]
A Fatal Waltz (2008) Tasha Alexander The third Lady Emily book finds Emily engaged to Colin Hargreaves, however, his work has caused their wedding to be put off, and now Lord Fortescue is doing everything he can to break their engagement for he doesn’t like Emily, and believes Colin’s work is too important for him […]
A Poisoned Season (2007) Tasha Alexander The second Lady Emily mystery finds Lady Emily Ashton still trying to find her place in society as a widow, and battling her mother’s domineering attempts to get Emily remarried. Emily is still refusing Colin Hargreaves offer of marriage, but not because she doesn’t love him, but because she […]