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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
Scarlet Sails (2013) TS Rhodes This is a short story–a prologue to a series, featuring a female pirate captain. So I had to check it out. It’s 1717. Scarlet McGrath is a pirate–captain of her own ship. And she has a problem–they’re low on grog. It’s a short story, and I’d be very curious to […]
A Plague of Zombies (2012) Diana Gabaldon This was originally published in the anthology Down These Strange Streets, and is the story that made me look for other Lord John stories. Lord John (now Lieutenant-Colonel Grey) is sent to Jamaica to look into the unrest there. The governor had requested the military after a rebellion […]
The Custom of the Army (2012) Diana Gabaldon Another re-read. After a duel at an electric eel party (These used to be a Thing! Fascinating!) Hal decides it’s best if Lord John puts himself out of the way for awhile, so when his presence is requested in the Americas, to testify in a Court Martial, […]
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (2007) Diana Gabaldon This novel falls between the novellas Lord John and the Succubus and Lord John and the Haunted Soldier. Which makes for slightly complicated reading if you want to read in order, since the two novellas are in the same book. There are two story […]
Lord John and the Hand of Devils (2007) Diana Gabaldon Another re-read. I enjoyed these the first time around, and I’m enjoying them just as much the second time around. This is NOT a novel, this is, instead, three novellas. Because, apparently, this is as close to a short story as Diana Gabaldon can get. […]
Lord John and the Private Matter (2003) Diana Gabaldon I’m in another mood where I don’t know what I want to read, so I instead chose to re-read something I enjoyed. This time it was Lord John and the Private Matter. Lord John Gray is a Major in the British Army. Additionally, as next oldest, […]
Lady of Quality (1972) Georgette Heyer Annis Wychwood is twenty-nine and an old maid. Her beauty led to previous offers for her hand, but she turned them down, none from a man for whom she was willing to give up her independence. Of course, she is still young enough she must keep someone with her, […]
Cotillion (1953) Georgette Heyer Another re-read, because there’s nothing quite like foolish young people to distract from the real, modern world. Kitty Charing was adopted by the very rich and very unpleasant Matthew Penicuik. When he makes his will, he states that she will inherit his entire fortune–if she marries one of his great-nephews. The […]
These Old Shades (1926) Georgette Heyer This was a reread. I got so depressed by the news I needed something comforting, and this is what I ended up reading. Some of the bits are somewhat horrifying–and probably not the bits that were originally so. More the whole fact that Alistar will not–cannot even!–marry anyone so […]