Sunday, April 29, 2018

Sidetracked Sunday #4 - A London Mystery


So we have my friend Stormi to thank for this month's choice.  I've had a digital arc of this book since before it was released.  She kept telling me I'd love it and you know what, she was right.  So thanks Stormi and on to the review!


TITLE: Murder on Black Swan Lane (A Wrexford & Sloane Mystery #1)
AUTHOR: Andrea Penrose
PUBLISHER: Kensington
PUBLISHING DATE: June 27, 2017

FROM GOODREADS: In Regency London, an unconventional scientist and a fearless female artist form an unlikely alliance to expose unspeakable evil . . .

The Earl of Wrexford possesses a brilliant scientific mind, but boredom and pride lead him to reckless behavior. He does not suffer fools gladly. So when pompous, pious Reverend Josiah Holworthy publicly condemns him for debauchery, Wrexford unsheathes his rapier-sharp wit and strikes back. As their war of words escalates, London’s most popular satirical cartoonist, A.J. Quill, skewers them both. But then the clergyman is found slain in a church—his face burned by chemicals, his throat slashed ear to ear—and Wrexford finds himself the chief suspect.
 

MY THOUGHTS:  There were many things I enjoyed about this book.  One of London's most infamous clergyman is found dead and while there is not a shortage of suspects, the Earl of Wrexford is the prime suspect.  His innocence is further questions because a popular cartoonist, A.J. Quill keeps publishing artistic pieces which puts Wrexford's character under more and more scrutiny.  So Wrexford, knowing the local police want nothing more to arrest him and put the case to rest, ventures out to solve the case for himself and along the way, he finds the most unusual of allies.  

I though the mystery in "Murder on Black Swan Lane" was well done and quite complex.  I was pretty much unable to figure out the identity of the real culprit, which made me devour the book that much more quickly.  I also really liked the characters in the book as well as their relationships with each other.  Sloane, a struggling widow who plays prominently in the book, has taken two devilish youngsters under her wing named Raven and Hawk and I loved them as well as how they looked out for Sloane and always seemed to know what was going on in the underbelly of the city.  Finally, Penrose's writing flows easily and is quite enjoyable.  The book is full of banter and quick wit which I love.

If you love London setting and Victorian mysteries, don't wait as long as I did to pick this book up.  Also, the second installment was recently released and yes, I plan on reading it much sooner than I did "Murder on Black Swan Lane."

RATING: 4 PAWS

11 comments:

  1. This sounds original and thrilling. Since you both loved it I'm going to check it out!

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    1. It's a really good read and hey, if you like it, the sequel is already out.

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  2. This sounds pretty cool and I like that it kept you guessing right to the end.

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  3. Isn't it funny when you put off reading a book and then you wind up really enjoying it? The cover reminds me of The Humbug Murders.

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    1. They are similar aren't they (just took a look)?

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  4. I love Victorian mysteries as well, sometimes it's nice to take a break from all the sci fi and present days settings that I read, and this sounds really good.

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    1. Yea, I think that's why I rarely get in slumps - I'm such an eclectic reader.

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  5. I'm always putting off books that I end up loving but it's usually to do with too many books to choose from!

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    1. Yea, I didn't intentionally put this one off, others just ended up jumping ahead of it.

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  6. This does sound good! Right now I'm a little burned out on murder mysteries after stupidly reading several in a row but eventually I'll have an urge for another.

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