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vesper1931's review against another edition
1.0
Initially published in 1864 the story introduces us to the first professional female detective in British fiction.
I was really looking forward to reading these stories but I found the narrative to be too wordy and the mysteries not that interesting. A disappointment.
A NetGalley book
I was really looking forward to reading these stories but I found the narrative to be too wordy and the mysteries not that interesting. A disappointment.
A NetGalley book
artk_bookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
flowerbob's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a book to read because it's interesting and significant rather than because it's brilliant, but it remains very readable once you have accustomed to the language. I found it fascinating.
lsneal's review
3.0
Interesting for its historical significance, for the most part, and for explicitly acknowledging the private spaces to which a woman would have access that a man would not. Also interesting as a perfect encapsulation of the early Victorian versions of what constitutes a "happy" (or at least satisfying) ending...inconvenient children not born to the appropriate parents under the appropriate circumstances die young before they can inherit; legal but morally suspect heirs drop dead (apparent cause of death: too much sin-iness) and divert the course of succession into more appropriate channels, and, of course, law breakers with justice but not the law on their side commit honorable suicide before they can be taken to jail in disgrace. Happy!
lucyturnsthepage's review against another edition
3.0
Short stories have never really been my cup of tea and here was no exception. I would have enjoyed one long story where characters were met properly and The Female Detective became better known to the reader than she was here.
fellfromfiction's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting simply from a position of historical and literary importance, but I just can't get on board with the style of the time.
pageturner92's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it. It was great reading a detective story from the perspective of a female detective because it's something I've never read before, but I did have a few issues with it.
1. there were a couple of stories that were't particularly captivating and made it a little slow at times - the second to last story in particular.
2. Sometimes the font in my edition was hard to read. It's great that the publisher kept it as a typewriter font for authenticity but when the lettering had irregularities or was too bold/faint it was a little difficult deciphering some of the letters.
However, it is still a good tome and I do recommend it to anyone who likes detective stories!
1. there were a couple of stories that were't particularly captivating and made it a little slow at times - the second to last story in particular.
2. Sometimes the font in my edition was hard to read. It's great that the publisher kept it as a typewriter font for authenticity but when the lettering had irregularities or was too bold/faint it was a little difficult deciphering some of the letters.
However, it is still a good tome and I do recommend it to anyone who likes detective stories!
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