embroidery_by_booklover's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A wonderful start to a historical mystery series! I love an independent women, and a romantic interest who accepts the FMC as she is. 

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deidrelj's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0


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eugbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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hazelgirl21's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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gialuna2's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I really liked this book. But for such a short book, I did not expect it to be medium (maybe even slow?) paced. The plot only really started ramping up at the 75% mark and I feel that more could have been done to create more twists and turns. I found the murderer predictable, though the twist to do with their identity was a pleasant surprise. 

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mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was a solidly okay book- nothing groundbreaking, but very listenable on audio (except how the narrator has an English accent…despite the main character being an American heiress…)

I thought the mysteries were compelling, everything wrapped up neatly in the end, and there were numerous romantic angles to look at through various characters. Nothing too saucy, but it was fun!

Veronica Speedwell has ruined me for these kinds of stories, but this series is a good stand in as I’m waiting for the newest Speedwell novel. 

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crownoflaurel's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75


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nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

1.5


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readerette's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I was really hoping to love this, as a story about an independent woman who loves her family and wants to find a place for herself after the death of her husband. However, the quantity of drama included in this story made it somewhat unbelievable, and the characters kept behaving contrary to their apparent natures.
The brother-in-law, aloof at first, becomes vicious while trying to take Frances' money, then almost kindly after his wife tries to kill Frances. The sister goes from spoiled to incisive in seconds. Alicia vacillates between insipid and sophisticated. George "proposes" to Frances but why? He barely seems interested in her besides a bit of a neighborly crush.
The intent may have been to make it harder to tell "whodunnit" but the odd traits/behaviors felt forced. It's too heavy for a romance, too frivolous for a good mystery or drama, and too old-fashioned for a fresh take on a period piece. I also found the climax odd, as the threat the attacker made seemed unlikely to stand up to any scrutiny.

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