August 2018 reread: Just as good as I remembered it to be! ( )

This has to be the best historical mystery I have read in a long time. The characters are good, the story is interesting, and though I was pretty sure I'd figured out who the murderer was, I couldn't figure out why they did it. I liked that the detective is left a bit of a mystery--more to discover if I can ever find the next book in the series! I think that what I liked best, though, was the treatment of the historical setting. Most historical mysteries bombard the reader with historical details to the point that the mystery and characters are buried. It's like looking at costumes in a museum rather than reading about the people who wore them. Please don't get me wrong, I love history and used to be a history major. I enjoy historical detail. I just think that in a mystery it is important to focus on whodunnit rather than on what everyone's shoes looked like, what the latest society gossip was, and why this particular kind of tea was so expensive (unless those things actually have bearing on the story). I like historical mysteries where the people are people, no matter what the setting, and this is definitely one of those. I really hope I can find the next volume! hehe a warning though, if you read this you may find yourself thinking in Dipper's weirdly charming criminal slang for quite some time! ( )

I thought it was a great start to the series. Normally, it seems like the first books arent always as good as books written further along in the series because the author is still developing but I thought this book was really well written. It also had a who-dun-it flair to it that I really liked especially combined with the Regency era. I know that I could really like Julian Kestrel and I already really hate that I only have him for four books but as the saying goes some is better then none.... ( )

I read this years and years ago and remember liking it a lot, but I don't remember any of the plot or characters (apart from Julian K.). I picked it up again as part of a buddy read on Twitter and was a little apprehensive. But no need, it holds up beautifully.

I'll save the details for our group discussion, but I really enjoyed the reread. Ross did a terrific job integrating a Regency Historical writing style with a murder mystery. There are a few Americanisms sprinkled through the text, but not many, and overall it's far more historically authentic feeling than the AU/"Recency" books that are all over historical romance today. Julian remains a wonderful, complex character. Astonishingly assured for a debut novel written by someone with a demanding day job, and I'm reminded all over again how much we lost with Ross's death at a young age.

One caveat: the women characters occupy pretty stereotypical roles (although they aren't cartoons by any means) and the plot turns on the murder of a very pretty, petite, woman. So a bit of fridging. If you are avoiding these types of plots, you might want to take a pass.

Otherwise: Highly recommended. ( )

A few months after Julian Kestral, a fashionable lounger, helps Hugh Fontclair out of a scrape, he's invited to be best man at Hugh's wedding. Kestral is surprised--he's only met Hugh that once--but intrigued. He travels to the Fontclair estate, hoping for a restful vacation in the country, only to find that the family members are all at each others' throats. Then someone is found murdered. First because he's curious, then because he's worried for his manservant, Kestral insists on investigating.

The mystery itself is meaty and delightfully difficult. I guessed a few hints of it, but the resolution was a total surprise to me. But although her plot is excellent, where Ross really shines is her characters. The supporting cast is unique and interesting, each a well-rounded character in their own right. (The women are particularly good. Every single one of them was someone I'd have read an entire book about.) But Julian Kestral is the one that truly shines; he's like a Regency-era Peter Wimsey, but without the education or blue-blood. He's too smart and perceptive for his own good, and far too tender-hearted to do well in the maneuvering Regency society.

I love him beyond all reason, and hanker for more. ( )