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angengea's review against another edition
3.0
There were a lot of things that I really loved about this book, and the plot's twists and turns were so engaging that I sat down and read it in a single sitting. I thought Gallagher's decision to include so much of Becker's family life in amongst the meat of the real plot was very interesting, and I particularly liked the change of situation from rich/upper middle class detectives to someone who was in tight financial circumstances and cognizant of needing to remain employed. The characters were a little bland, and some of the side plots seemed, at times, unnecessary distractions from the main story, but my real problem with the book was the fact that in spite of the intricate technical details about steam machines and early photography and automobiles, this book did not read like it was set in 1912 at all. In fact, the book's dialogue and many of its plot points read SO modern to me that the "period" details were jarring and felt out of place. I think the author and his editors need to have worked harder to ensure that the overall tone and writing mixed better with the period setting. All in all, it was a very intriguing read, but I'm glad it was a library book because I don't think I'd be compelled to read it again.
maggienack's review against another edition
3.0
I really shouldn't read anything which has been described as a "thriller." It wasn't bad, but it wasn't my kind of thing. Too much sinister evilness. Too many mad, violent characters.
lyerin's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this and will read more of the Sebastian Becker mysteries.
iam_griff's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe I should've read the description of this book better. There really wasn't much of the two mystery here, there wasn't much in the way of suspects, & both crimes were interesting, just not a lot of suspense to either. The end of the book felt really rushed & Mr Gallagher just grabbed a random character & made him one of the killers just to tie up the subplot & no explanation of the killer's motive for performing the crime. The main plot was a bit predictable & again not much suspense, but at least we get a motive this this killer. I know that this was a book 2 in a series so I don't know if Sebastian Becker's background was explained in real depth in it, but I found his frustration with his 18 year old son with whom is either had autism/Asperger's syndrome to touch very close to home as being a father in a similar situation.
kbmertz's review against another edition
3.0
Ended too quickly with not enough resolution - just left you to draw conclusions. Overall an interesting book, exciting in parts, and a good story.
organchordsandlightning's review against another edition
4.0
One-sentence synopsis: Becker is a detective that investigates people's mental standing for a lawyer; he is summoned to investigate an author and becomes entrenched in a mystery that involves the murder of two children.
I thought the premise for the book was really well done, it's nice to have a backstory more interesting than a generic 'private detective' take. Becker himself is kind of flat, though. I thought the 'what actually happened in that trek through the jungle' subplot was also interesting, and found myself captivated by both the journal entries and narration by various members of the party.
Towards the end, though, I found myself a little disappointed about the ending. I'm glad it didn't completely boil down to 'Sir Owain was nuts', but the Big Bad seemed to come out of nowhere and it didn't quite sit right with me. However, it was still great to get through.
I thought the premise for the book was really well done, it's nice to have a backstory more interesting than a generic 'private detective' take. Becker himself is kind of flat, though. I thought the 'what actually happened in that trek through the jungle' subplot was also interesting, and found myself captivated by both the journal entries and narration by various members of the party.
Towards the end, though, I found myself a little disappointed about the ending. I'm glad it didn't completely boil down to 'Sir Owain was nuts', but the Big Bad seemed to come out of nowhere and it didn't quite sit right with me. However, it was still great to get through.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
The subtitle is a bit confusing: this is a novel as much as it is a mystery (and this goes back to the question I've been asking for the past year or so - why are we using "a novel" as a subtitle? is there the risk we can't tell fact from fiction?).
There are two intertwined questions here, the first being "who killed the two little girls, and how is this related to the assaults on Grace and Evangeline years ago?" and "is Sir Owain insane?". Our hero is, of course, concerned that perhaps the answers to one lead to the other. Sebastian Becker works for the Crown in the role of Visitor in Lunacy, helping determine whether someone is capable of handling his (or her) affairs or needs to be put in "Bethlam" (aka "St. Mary Bethlehem Hospital" or Bedlam). His previous training, however, was as a Pinkerton detective, and he uses this to help Steven Reed figure out what's happening in Arnmouth.
The two questions do appear to be related, and Sebastian's investigation leads to some interesting characters, including the aforementioned Evangeline, now a suffragette working in the Inns of Court. The two, along with Sebastian's son Robert (whom I thought had Down's Syndrome, given the name of his doctors, but it's more ASD-like) try to determine the truth of the ill-fated Amazon trip that Sir Owain led, and whether he is now mad as a result.
The ending is a little rushed yet nonetheless satisfying. The questions are answered and were not telegraphed way in advance - always nice in a mystery. The descriptions of the Amazon, medicine 100 years ago and the suffrage movement make add to the atmosphere in an organic way (in other words, they don't feel tacked on to the mystery to give it a setting).
ARC provided by publisher.
There are two intertwined questions here, the first being "who killed the two little girls, and how is this related to the assaults on Grace and Evangeline years ago?" and "is Sir Owain insane?". Our hero is, of course, concerned that perhaps the answers to one lead to the other. Sebastian Becker works for the Crown in the role of Visitor in Lunacy, helping determine whether someone is capable of handling his (or her) affairs or needs to be put in "Bethlam" (aka "St. Mary Bethlehem Hospital" or Bedlam). His previous training, however, was as a Pinkerton detective, and he uses this to help Steven Reed figure out what's happening in Arnmouth.
The two questions do appear to be related, and Sebastian's investigation leads to some interesting characters, including the aforementioned Evangeline, now a suffragette working in the Inns of Court. The two, along with Sebastian's son Robert (whom I thought had Down's Syndrome, given the name of his doctors, but it's more ASD-like) try to determine the truth of the ill-fated Amazon trip that Sir Owain led, and whether he is now mad as a result.
The ending is a little rushed yet nonetheless satisfying. The questions are answered and were not telegraphed way in advance - always nice in a mystery. The descriptions of the Amazon, medicine 100 years ago and the suffrage movement make add to the atmosphere in an organic way (in other words, they don't feel tacked on to the mystery to give it a setting).
ARC provided by publisher.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
A truly great book. The portrait of the era is wonderfully done, the characters are lively and interesting, and the mystery engaging and the end surprised me.
And even if this belongs to a series, it can be perfectly read as a stand-alone. I did, and I didn't feel that there was something amiss or missing.
The narration was superb.
And even if this belongs to a series, it can be perfectly read as a stand-alone. I did, and I didn't feel that there was something amiss or missing.
The narration was superb.