Reviews

The Palace Guard by Charlotte MacLeod

omegabeth's review against another edition

Such a lovely series!

Nobody nice dies a horrible death, the Boston setting is spot-on, and the Macleod isn't afraid of using the right word, even if it's not a common one.

crimsonpermanentassurance's review against another edition

2.0

I have a feeling this isn't this author's best work. I found it at my local Little Free Library, and will return it thence.

slferg's review against another edition

5.0

This book introduces Theonia's romance. Brooks Kelling, another of Sarah's numerous relatives, is filling in for a guard at the Madam's Palace, when Sarah and Max, on a date to a concert, when a guard falls off the balcony. Max begins to investigate and Sarah insists on accompanying him during some of the investigation. Things begin to get kind of wild. More development of Sarah's and Max' romance. She is still running the boarding house and Theonia is helping out at the boarding house at times.

pinoncoffee's review against another edition

4.0

Macleod does fun characters and laugh-out-loud moments so well. This is the one with the over-the-top painter of genuine Byzantine icons, Countess Lydia Ouspenska, and all the art theft shenanigans over at the Madam’s palazzo in Boston.

Sarah and Max fall a little deeper in love, but are they actually going to make a thing of it??? (Spoiler: there is no actual doubt here. We’re just along for the ride.) I wish I could be comfortable handing this series to my tween, but it’s just a little dirty still.

verityw's review against another edition

2.0

My first book in this series (and from this author) and after a promising start, I got a bit lost - I went back and started over to see if that helped, but it didn't really. I love the idea - maybe it just wasn't the right book for me at the moment.

abookandaspotoftea's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ssejig's review against another edition

4.0

Max and Sarah have been spending a lot of time together. He has a lot of free passes to various events (at least that's what he's telling Sarah) so they've been stepping out. Too bad an evening of music at Madam's (a building the Kellings have a fraught history with the building's original owner) is ruined when one of the security guards plummets off a balcony to the floor below. One of Sarah's many cousins is substituting in as another guard. He is able to tell them some of the behind the scenes information. When another guard dies though, this time by paint remover put into the alcohol bottle he kept hidden in his locker, it all starts to get very, very serious.
A quick read - we get to learn more about Max and Sarah and the mystery is sound. Unfortunately, there is some casual racism in the book which made me uncomfortable and I'm hoping it doesn't continue in future books.

avidreader999's review against another edition

5.0

This is the third Max and Sarah book and more murder, mayhem and detecting ensue. In this case a guard at an art museum dies falling off the roof and there are many page turning twists before reaching a satisfying reveal. Light and enjoyable cosy mystery read

harrietnbrown's review against another edition

2.0

There's much that's clever in these books. But my God, there's also so much blatant, gratuitous fatphobia. Characters are described not just as fat but disgusting, grotesque, obscene, etc. I won't read any more of this author.

julieputty's review against another edition

4.0

Perfectly easy, witty entertainment, with funny characters and goings-on.