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lauraellis's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second [novel in the] Regency series featuring Julian Kestrel. A new character, who will recur I gather, is the housemaid Sally (also sister to Julian’s valet, Dipper), who infiltrates the home for reform(ing) fallen women, aka prostitutes, and also seduces, sort of, Julian. It started out slow, I thought, but then it became engrossing. I would have preferred to see more of Julian in his role as a dandy.
2020: Alas, this author died young so we only have four of the Julian Kestrel mysteries.
2020: Alas, this author died young so we only have four of the Julian Kestrel mysteries.
alesia_charles's review against another edition
3.0
In this volume, Ross visits the seamy underside of London society - the world of prostitutes, thugs, and reformers. In the 1830s, it's never far away from the 'high society' that lives just down the road.
Much of the point-of-view is not Kestrel's but of Sally Stokes, his valet's sister. The three of them work to unravel the mystery of a letter that Sally, er, found. As usual, the truth is complicated, and arrived at partly by accident, with side issues and more than one tragedy unfolding.
Ross seems to believe that most murderers are somewhat deranged - not an unreasonable position, I think, but from a narrative perspective not entirely satisfactory. Perhaps one of these days I'll figure out why that is.
Much of the point-of-view is not Kestrel's but of Sally Stokes, his valet's sister. The three of them work to unravel the mystery of a letter that Sally, er, found. As usual, the truth is complicated, and arrived at partly by accident, with side issues and more than one tragedy unfolding.
Ross seems to believe that most murderers are somewhat deranged - not an unreasonable position, I think, but from a narrative perspective not entirely satisfactory. Perhaps one of these days I'll figure out why that is.
lsneal's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. The mystery was OK, but I really didn't buy the relationship between our hero, Julian, and Sally, the prostitute sister of Julian's valet. It seemed kind of icky all around, given the power and class differential. And the part where the valet figured out they had slept together, and was HAPPY about it because it made him and his boss kind of like blood-brothers in some way? Eww. I'm also not a big fan of the Dr. MacGregor character. He's too much a caricature, and he doth protest too much (about everything) every time he makes an appearance, which I think his supposed to make him lovably irascible, but ends up just making him seem whiny.
ladyhighwayman's review
4.0
Another gem; I loved it almost as much as Cut to the Quick.
One night, a prostitute name Sally Stokes picks up three separate men. She swipes a handkerchief from each of their pockets in the hope of selling them later. After a bad run-in with John #3, whom she refers to as 'Blinkers', she runs into her brother, who just happens to be manservant to one Mr. Julian Kestrel.
Kestrel discovers a letter hidden in one of the handkerchiefs. Problem is, he's not sure which handkerchief it came from and, of course, there is no name on the letter (that would be just a little too easy, wouldn't it?). The letter is a desperate plead from what is clearly a woman in trouble. The woman is soon tracked down, but there's another problem: she's dead. Her death is written off a suicide, but Kestrel thinks otherwise. With the help of Sally and his manservant Dipper, Kestrel tries to discover who had the letter and what their connection was to the mysterious woman, and more importantly, who was the killer?.
A Broken Vessel was a great fast-paced historical mystery novel. There were so many twists and turns that you're not sure which way is up until the very end. Just when I think I have down the culprit, my mind is soon changed, and I'm suspecting someone else.
So far, this is a strong series and hopefully it'll just get better.
One night, a prostitute name Sally Stokes picks up three separate men. She swipes a handkerchief from each of their pockets in the hope of selling them later. After a bad run-in with John #3, whom she refers to as 'Blinkers', she runs into her brother, who just happens to be manservant to one Mr. Julian Kestrel.
Kestrel discovers a letter hidden in one of the handkerchiefs. Problem is, he's not sure which handkerchief it came from and, of course, there is no name on the letter (that would be just a little too easy, wouldn't it?). The letter is a desperate plead from what is clearly a woman in trouble. The woman is soon tracked down, but there's another problem: she's dead. Her death is written off a suicide, but Kestrel thinks otherwise. With the help of Sally and his manservant Dipper, Kestrel tries to discover who had the letter and what their connection was to the mysterious woman, and more importantly, who was the killer?.
A Broken Vessel was a great fast-paced historical mystery novel. There were so many twists and turns that you're not sure which way is up until the very end. Just when I think I have down the culprit, my mind is soon changed, and I'm suspecting someone else.
So far, this is a strong series and hopefully it'll just get better.
sstallryan's review
5.0
I really liked this mystery novel. I haven't read the first Julian Kestrel book so I cannot compare them. I thought Ross did a fine job of weaving a story that kept us guessing and thinking. This was a very fun vacation read!
octavietullier's review
3.0
Construite de manière plus habile que dans le premier tome, l'intrigue de A Broken Vessel repose tout autant sur une série de coïncidences rocambolesques.
Paradoxalement, si le second tome est plus ambitieux, l'auteur semblait plus à l'aise dans le quasi huis-clos du livre précédent. Une fois la fascination pour l'intrigue assouvie, et malgré une lecture très agréable, il reste un certain dépit face à des personnages secondaires creux, caractérisés à l'emporte-pièce et dont les motivations sont parfois difficiles à concevoir.
Plus embêtant, le protagoniste principal, si original à sa création, est en danger de tomber dans la caricature durant les prochains opus. L'avenir le dira.
Paradoxalement, si le second tome est plus ambitieux, l'auteur semblait plus à l'aise dans le quasi huis-clos du livre précédent. Une fois la fascination pour l'intrigue assouvie, et malgré une lecture très agréable, il reste un certain dépit face à des personnages secondaires creux, caractérisés à l'emporte-pièce et dont les motivations sont parfois difficiles à concevoir.
Plus embêtant, le protagoniste principal, si original à sa création, est en danger de tomber dans la caricature durant les prochains opus. L'avenir le dira.
julieputty's review
2.0
Horrible dialogue that sounds like it was assembled with constant reference to a Cockney thesaurus, and a mystery that requires such a level of coincidence that it made my eyes roll.
stellar_raven's review
5.0
As much as I love these books, there is something inherently sad about reading them. I know that with each passing book--as I am falling more and more in love with this series--I am getting closer and closer to the end.
I am now halfway finished and am trying to decide: should I rush forward and buy the next book, or should I wait awhile and try to draw out concluding this series as long as possible?
This book itself is every bit as charming as its predecessor. I thought Sally was a delightful character and the interactions between her and Julian were both humorous and sweet.
Dipper as always was a delight.
*sigh* And my question above, should I wait or should I keep reading?, is one I probably shouldn't have even asked. I'm likely to be on my way over to AbeBooks to try to find the next in the series as soon as I post this 'review'.
I am now halfway finished and am trying to decide: should I rush forward and buy the next book, or should I wait awhile and try to draw out concluding this series as long as possible?
This book itself is every bit as charming as its predecessor. I thought Sally was a delightful character and the interactions between her and Julian were both humorous and sweet.
Dipper as always was a delight.
*sigh* And my question above, should I wait or should I keep reading?, is one I probably shouldn't have even asked. I'm likely to be on my way over to AbeBooks to try to find the next in the series as soon as I post this 'review'.
renc7c69's review
3.0
Not as entertaining as the first book. Mostly because the POV was split between Julian and Sally, and I couldn't stand Sally. Her relationship with Julian felt all kinds of forced. I kept hoping (rather uncharitably) that she'd be bumped off. And Julian spent a good part of his chapters talking with Dr. MacGregor, who's incredibly whiny and annoying. His gruff doctor shtick was tolerable while Julian was in the country, but it made no sense for him to show up in London just so Julian can bounce theories off him. That role could have been filled by Dipper just as well.
Call me a snob, but I like Regency novels because of their portrayal of a glitzy world, and this book was too low-class. Plus, now that I think of it, the resolution of the mystery was a bit of a cop-out.They had the letter all along, so they could have figured out who the mystery Mary was two weeks ago! Good writing, terrible characters and events. Next book is apparently better, so fingers crossed.
Call me a snob, but I like Regency novels because of their portrayal of a glitzy world, and this book was too low-class. Plus, now that I think of it, the resolution of the mystery was a bit of a cop-out.
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