Reviews

2022 Mad March Mystery Reading Challenge
Prompt: a historical mystery

Well...this is certainly...a way to start a mystery series.

Look, I'm not a historical fiction fan to begin with and I chose this novel because I remember reading another Gaslight Mystery novel a long time ago, but WOW was this novel a lot. Not only were most of the characters annoying at best and intolerable at worst (except for Sarah), but the setting did not appeal to me nor did the "high society" bullshit. Yes, I get that this is how people behaved (to a certain extent), but my brain was working overtime trying to remember all these fucking arbitrary rules and etiquette that are beyond fucking dumb. Not to mention that by the time I actually got to the "big reveal," I just didn't care anymore. On top of that, I understand that there has to be some revelation during the big reveal to explain the mystery, but there were SO MANY FUCKING REVELATIONS during this reveal that I gave up trying to keep track of them all. Considering how well paced most of the novel was, this reveal was a clusterfuck of fucked up shit that only made me want to finish this book faster so I could move on with my life.

This was a pretty disappointing read considering how much I remember liking her other book I read, and I doubt I'll read anymore in the future. Give it a read if you want, maybe you'll enjoy it more than me, but I'm done.

avadra's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

chelle493's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? No

1.75

avreereads's review

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4.0

NOW THIS IS MY KIND OF FICTION!

Admittedly, I don’t dabble in much fiction as I’m the kind of reader who typically reads for erudition and prefers non-fiction and textbooks. But if a fictional story can also teach me interesting facts and history then sign me up! I also like how I’ve been learning a lot about turn-of-the-century NY and the Gilded Age and this story put into practice some of the surroundings, customs, and history of the time that I’ve learned about and weaves it into context. I enjoy reading fictional stories that supplement the non-fiction books I've read on a given subject.

Book #1 of this Gaslight Mystery series by Victoria Thompson has definitely piqued my interest and I plan to continue onto book #2 “Murder on St. Mark’s Place” in the very near future.

I really enjoyed the audio version of this book and I look forward to traversing turn-of-the-century Manhattan with Sarah Brandt again real soon...from ramshackle dank tenements, to cobblestone streets teeming with urchins, to the upscale marble row (mansions on Fifth Avenue, between 57th and 58th Streets). I also liked hearing about her nosey neighbor’s crazy superstitions and waiting to see if they would "come true" or not. I also hope to see more of Malloy in subsequent books. I do fancy a visit back there again real soon!

I will say the story had some very predictable moments but that’s part of the fun of reading, to see if you can pick up on the author’s clues and exercise your deduction skills. I don’t get angry that a book can be too predictable…I look at it more as I pay attention to details and fancy myself a good sleuth. ;)

Just to reiterate…if a history buff such as myself was going to spend any time in fiction…this is the exactamundo series for me! It’s got history and mystery!! My FAVORITE things!

Thank you, Melisa
for making me aware of this series. That’s what I love about GR is you connect with people of similar reading interests and get ideas from what they’re reading or have reviewed.