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kirkw1972's review
4.0
This is an historical crime story that follows our two intrepid investigators as they try and track down the wife of businessman Selwyn Byng. I really liked the two detectives and the way they bounce off each other. I also liked that most of this is set in or against a Victorian Thames. It made for a different story line than I've read n a while. It's a really wonderful portrayal of 19th Century London. The twist wasn't too original but I still enjoyed it. I also lost track of who some of the police were. There are a lot of characters in here.
Overall though I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Overall though I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next one.
vesper1931's review
3.0
September, 1873 and private enquiry agents Matthew Grand and James Batchelor have been apprached by a distraught Selwyn Byng to find his kidnapped wife. Meanwhile lunatic William Bisgrove has escaped from Broadmoor looking for his lost love. Added to this the river police are finding parts of female bodies in the river Thames.
This is my first read of a book in the series, and it was a satisfying read but nothing more. The two main characters didn't really stand out as personalities enough for me.
A NetGalley Book
This is my first read of a book in the series, and it was a satisfying read but nothing more. The two main characters didn't really stand out as personalities enough for me.
A NetGalley Book
annarella's review
4.0
I love historical mystery and this was a very good one.
The plot reminded me of an Anne Perry's mystery and it was really good and engaging.
I loved the cast of characters and the well researched historical setting.
The plot was good, it kept me hooked till the last page.
As this is part of a series I think it would be better to read the other books as it will surely help to understand the characters and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
The plot reminded me of an Anne Perry's mystery and it was really good and engaging.
I loved the cast of characters and the well researched historical setting.
The plot was good, it kept me hooked till the last page.
As this is part of a series I think it would be better to read the other books as it will surely help to understand the characters and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
deearr's review
4.0
I’m a sucker for a good Victorian detective novel, and M. J. Trow’s “The Ring” seemed like it would fit the bill. Batchelor and grand are “enquiry agents,” a term they insist others adhere to, a profession they feel is more honorable than if they were performing the same duties for the police.
Mr. Trow paints a wonderful picture of London in the 1870s, helping the city come alive for me. Although this is Book 5 in the series, I had no trouble reading it as a standalone. The author provided enough of a backstory to give me enough knowledge of the characters. Truthfully, I felt the descriptions of London and how the major and minor characters interacted with the city were 5-star elements in this story.
This is not a deadly serious story. There is plenty of wit to go around here, some of the humor of the tongue-in-cheek variety. While the characterizations were not deep, there was enough displayed to keep the story interesting. In truth, the minor characters inserted much charm into the story, and even though they might have been on the one-dimensional side, the traits shown helped make the story interesting and kept it moving.
The detecting aspects of the story were good, and the ending was somewhat unexpected. The author does a good job leaving both clues and red herrings about, making it difficult to accurate determine the truth about the murders that have been occurring. While the ending felt a bit forced, it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Recommended reading. Four stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an advance complimentary ebook of this title.
Mr. Trow paints a wonderful picture of London in the 1870s, helping the city come alive for me. Although this is Book 5 in the series, I had no trouble reading it as a standalone. The author provided enough of a backstory to give me enough knowledge of the characters. Truthfully, I felt the descriptions of London and how the major and minor characters interacted with the city were 5-star elements in this story.
This is not a deadly serious story. There is plenty of wit to go around here, some of the humor of the tongue-in-cheek variety. While the characterizations were not deep, there was enough displayed to keep the story interesting. In truth, the minor characters inserted much charm into the story, and even though they might have been on the one-dimensional side, the traits shown helped make the story interesting and kept it moving.
The detecting aspects of the story were good, and the ending was somewhat unexpected. The author does a good job leaving both clues and red herrings about, making it difficult to accurate determine the truth about the murders that have been occurring. While the ending felt a bit forced, it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Recommended reading. Four stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an advance complimentary ebook of this title.
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