Scan barcode
khaleesimod93's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I did enjoy this one marginally better. The plot twist was significantly better and it had me reeling. I also love seeing Diana as an adult and her getting married. But my love sort of ends there.
I found the time jumps distracting and in some cases, it wasn't needed. I feel that I missed a lot because of those jumps. I think I also have an issue with this authors writing style because in every book I've had an issue with the pacing. I'm not sure why I'm not enjoying them fully, but it is becoming a more major issue.
Now, seeing Louisa again, is always a treat. Though I'm sad she struggled to become a detective as she is so good at deducing mysteries and finding the true culprits. I do want more of her but not enough to finish another 3 books. I think I'll happily end my read of this series on a higher note.
I found the time jumps distracting and in some cases, it wasn't needed. I feel that I missed a lot because of those jumps. I think I also have an issue with this authors writing style because in every book I've had an issue with the pacing. I'm not sure why I'm not enjoying them fully, but it is becoming a more major issue.
Now, seeing Louisa again, is always a treat. Though I'm sad she struggled to become a detective as she is so good at deducing mysteries and finding the true culprits. I do want more of her but not enough to finish another 3 books. I think I'll happily end my read of this series on a higher note.
jeo224's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
strong charactors and plotting, excellent narrator
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this. It felt a bit disjointed at time but I think that was down to the time span this novel captured. Diana was perfectly horrid. I have to admit that I find the Mitfords mostly detestable but Louisa grows on me with each book.
jo_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
It is 1928 - Diana Mitford has turned eighteen and she has the whole world and society at her feet. The Guinness' are holding a glamorous party where you need to be seen.
It is 1928 - Louisa Cannon is at the glamourous party too, not wanting to be seen as she supplements her meagre income as a seamstress with work as a maid at these parties.
On that fateful night many things happen-
A maid plunges to her death.
Bryan Guinness proposes to Diana Mitford and she accepts.
The maid's death is recorded as an accident.
Diana and Bryan marry and embark on a honeymoon in Paris. But Diana wants to take Louisa Cannon away with her as her ladies maid. Louisa not keen but seemingly always drawn to the Mitford sisters as they grow agrees.
In Paris they are not alone, all societies up and coming people and some not so, including Evelyn Waugh as well as Diana's own sister Nancy, still not yet married are also there.
Then another death occurs and Louisa cannot help that although two years have past since the death of that maid, there is something familiar about it.
Back in London, Guy Sullivan, now a Detective Sergeant is looking into the possible disappearance of a maid who was also at the party in 1928. His investigations take him to Paris as well. Is there a possibility of a link.
The third in the series, which combines fascinating fact with fiction - the murders luckily are all fiction but a number of the events covered in the book are based in truth, which is why I enjoy them immensely and the fascination keeps me hooked right to the end.
A captivating book which concentrates on Diana, the third Mitford sister, all of them are mentioned and Nancy and Pamela the two elder are more prominent than the younger ones. But this book really sees the character of Louisa Cannon our main protagonist in this series develop into a stronger character. Her detective and reasoning skills are developing as is her relationship with Guy Sullivan.
The book is well plotted, well written and totally in keeping with what you would expect from a Golden Age Mystery - I am sure at some point Poirot is going to appear!
I look forward to the next in this series and cannot wait to be totally immersed in this true and fictional world that Jessica Fellowes has wonderfully created. If they could be adapted into the small or even big screen I think it would be wonderful!
It is 1928 - Louisa Cannon is at the glamourous party too, not wanting to be seen as she supplements her meagre income as a seamstress with work as a maid at these parties.
On that fateful night many things happen-
A maid plunges to her death.
Bryan Guinness proposes to Diana Mitford and she accepts.
The maid's death is recorded as an accident.
Diana and Bryan marry and embark on a honeymoon in Paris. But Diana wants to take Louisa Cannon away with her as her ladies maid. Louisa not keen but seemingly always drawn to the Mitford sisters as they grow agrees.
In Paris they are not alone, all societies up and coming people and some not so, including Evelyn Waugh as well as Diana's own sister Nancy, still not yet married are also there.
Then another death occurs and Louisa cannot help that although two years have past since the death of that maid, there is something familiar about it.
Back in London, Guy Sullivan, now a Detective Sergeant is looking into the possible disappearance of a maid who was also at the party in 1928. His investigations take him to Paris as well. Is there a possibility of a link.
The third in the series, which combines fascinating fact with fiction - the murders luckily are all fiction but a number of the events covered in the book are based in truth, which is why I enjoy them immensely and the fascination keeps me hooked right to the end.
A captivating book which concentrates on Diana, the third Mitford sister, all of them are mentioned and Nancy and Pamela the two elder are more prominent than the younger ones. But this book really sees the character of Louisa Cannon our main protagonist in this series develop into a stronger character. Her detective and reasoning skills are developing as is her relationship with Guy Sullivan.
The book is well plotted, well written and totally in keeping with what you would expect from a Golden Age Mystery - I am sure at some point Poirot is going to appear!
I look forward to the next in this series and cannot wait to be totally immersed in this true and fictional world that Jessica Fellowes has wonderfully created. If they could be adapted into the small or even big screen I think it would be wonderful!
lamensolatraboccante's review against another edition
5.0
Il primo libro della saga sulle sorelle Mitford. Un ottimo inizio direi! Ho divorato in pochi giorni tutta la storia.
È un misto tra un giallo stile Agata Christie e la serie TV Downton Abbey. La maggior parte del romanzo serve più a presentare la famiglia Mitford, mentre il fronte investigativo si concentra più sul finale con un bel colpo di scena!
È un misto tra un giallo stile Agata Christie e la serie TV Downton Abbey. La maggior parte del romanzo serve più a presentare la famiglia Mitford, mentre il fronte investigativo si concentra più sul finale con un bel colpo di scena!
jennie_cole's review against another edition
3.0
The Mitford Scandal is the third in a series by Jessica Fellowes. Louisa Cannon is the former nurse maid to the Mitford sisters and now she finds herself back in their employ as Diana Mitford's (now Guinness) lady's maid. In 1928 their is a terrible death during a party at the Guinness's house. A maid falls through a skylight to her death. A year later while the Guinnesses are on honeymoon in Paris a friend dies after a night out with them of an apparent sesame allergy. Then almost exactly one year later another friend dies on their anniversary trip to Venice of an opium withdrawal.
Are these all connected or just a series of tragedies? If they are related how. Louisa Cannon starts to suspect something is wrong so she reaches out to Guy Sullivan for assistance.
I did not read the first two novels in the series and the only major benefit that I think they would provide is some background on the relationships in the book. The previous instances are mentioned when in reference to a previous meeting of the characters but they might help with the history of Louisa & Guy's relationship.
I am vaguely familiar with the Mitford sisters but this book's timeline only just touches the beginning of my knowledge (i.e. Oswald Mosley enters their world). I found this book enjoyable and it falls into my guilty pleasure murder mysteries, nothing psychological or life threatening just a good old fashioned high society death to investigate.
Are these all connected or just a series of tragedies? If they are related how. Louisa Cannon starts to suspect something is wrong so she reaches out to Guy Sullivan for assistance.
I did not read the first two novels in the series and the only major benefit that I think they would provide is some background on the relationships in the book. The previous instances are mentioned when in reference to a previous meeting of the characters but they might help with the history of Louisa & Guy's relationship.
I am vaguely familiar with the Mitford sisters but this book's timeline only just touches the beginning of my knowledge (i.e. Oswald Mosley enters their world). I found this book enjoyable and it falls into my guilty pleasure murder mysteries, nothing psychological or life threatening just a good old fashioned high society death to investigate.
disperazione_arancione's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
novelesque_life's review
3.0
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2019; Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press
I changed my rating for this novel from 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars to rounded down to three. My reasoning in changing this rating is the pacing of this novel. I felt like someone kept pressing fast forward and suddenly it was years later. It made sense in some cases, but at times for the cases it felt like too much time had gone by. I was listening to this on audio and thought I had nodded off a few times. I would rewind it a bit to realize that time in the novel had moved. In this book, I just did not get into the characters. They felt a bit distant and more like names than traits. I do like Guy and Louisa and I was happy to see more of them in this novel. I am looking forward to the next installment and hope the timeline doesn't zoom ahead too much.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2019; Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press
I changed my rating for this novel from 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars to rounded down to three. My reasoning in changing this rating is the pacing of this novel. I felt like someone kept pressing fast forward and suddenly it was years later. It made sense in some cases, but at times for the cases it felt like too much time had gone by. I was listening to this on audio and thought I had nodded off a few times. I would rewind it a bit to realize that time in the novel had moved. In this book, I just did not get into the characters. They felt a bit distant and more like names than traits. I do like Guy and Louisa and I was happy to see more of them in this novel. I am looking forward to the next installment and hope the timeline doesn't zoom ahead too much.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***