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rosannelortz's review
4.0
When the Duke of Penrith’s provincial steward dies, Raif Jarrett comes north as the duke’s agent to sort out the tangle of mismanagement and malfeasance on the duke’s estate. Raif’s own military background is some preparation for the assortment of bullies and blackguards that he meets, but when he crosses a powerful man in town, he finds himself thrown in gaol for murder. With the help of the enigmatic Miss Henrietta, Raif manages to extricate himself from accusations and begins his own investigation into the dastardly deeds occurring in the town of Woolbridge.
This book was a slow starter. The prose was dense and there were lots of mysteries surrounding the main character that felt overdone. With that said, the main character himself was a memorable one–a gentleman (possibly the illegitimate son of the duke?), a soldier, an artist, and a fisherman. I also enjoyed several of the minor characters–the friendly poacher, the hunchbacked dowager, the benevolent innkeeper’s wife. The ending did not wrap up cleanly enough for my tastes, but I suppose that one positive of that is that I’m very interested in reading the next book in the series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opnions expressed in this review are my own.
This book was a slow starter. The prose was dense and there were lots of mysteries surrounding the main character that felt overdone. With that said, the main character himself was a memorable one–a gentleman (possibly the illegitimate son of the duke?), a soldier, an artist, and a fisherman. I also enjoyed several of the minor characters–the friendly poacher, the hunchbacked dowager, the benevolent innkeeper’s wife. The ending did not wrap up cleanly enough for my tastes, but I suppose that one positive of that is that I’m very interested in reading the next book in the series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opnions expressed in this review are my own.
beecycling's review
3.0
This was quite enjoyable, but not as good as I hoped it was going to be. There was Point of View confusion a couple of times. It's in third person omniscient, which is fine, except when it's a bit confusing. Also, too much felt unresolved at the end.
Some of the supporting characters were kind of cliche, but the main characters are interesting and the hero Jarrett is generally likeable. There's a good sense of place and I didn't spot any obvious historical innacuracies to pull me out of the story.
So it gets an okay, but didn't exactly set me on fire.
Some of the supporting characters were kind of cliche, but the main characters are interesting and the hero Jarrett is generally likeable. There's a good sense of place and I didn't spot any obvious historical innacuracies to pull me out of the story.
So it gets an okay, but didn't exactly set me on fire.
gawronma's review
4.0
It was very good book. The characters were great and I hope someday Ms. Jenkins will write more adventures for her characters.
vesper1931's review
4.0
Captain Frederick Raif Jarrett has returned from war and while recuperating from an injury he has taken the task of an agent to the Duke of Penrith. He is on his way to Woolbridge to investigate the death of the Duke's steward and possible pilfering of funds. But he becomes intangled in the death of a young female.
I really enjoyed this mystery, a well-written one, slowly starting but which increased its pace as the story continued. With a good selection of characters portrayed.
Overall a good solid start to what I presume is to be a series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Sapere. All thoughts and opinions are my own
I really enjoyed this mystery, a well-written one, slowly starting but which increased its pace as the story continued. With a good selection of characters portrayed.
Overall a good solid start to what I presume is to be a series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Sapere. All thoughts and opinions are my own
robinwalter's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
A very well-crafted Regency mystery, evoking the sense of time and place exceptionally well. An extra quarter point for the very realistically "untidy" wrap up of the core mystery.
smcleish's review
3.0
Originally published on my blog here in September 2000.
Like [a:Anne Perry|6331|Anne Perry|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1216671529p2/6331.jpg]'s Victorian novels, but not to the same exaggerated extent, The Duke's Agent presents something of the disreputable side of a historical period, in this case Georgian England. Here we have absentee landlords, dishonest magistrates, and the unpleasant tallyman, who was basically an unscrupulous debt collector who preyed on the poor.
When his steward there dies, the Duke of Penrith orders an audit into the estates he owns in the North East of England. He sends his remote kinsman Raif Jarrett, who soon discovers that something dishonest has been going on, though he cannot work out what as the account books have been stolen. A young woman is killed, and a fairly clumsy attempt is made to frame him for murder (though it is nearly good enough to make Jarrett the victim of a lynch mob). Thus he ends up trying to discover what happened to Sal Grundy as well as sorting out the Duke's affairs.
Basically a competent if not particularly complex detective story, The Duke's Agent has interesting characters and a well realised background. It is a pity that the publisher seems to feel that Rebecca Jenkins needs to be sold by mentioning her famous relatives - she is the daughter of that Bishop of Durham who notoriously denied the virgin birth of Christ - as The Duke's Agent is a strong enough novel to be allowed to stand on its own merits.
Like [a:Anne Perry|6331|Anne Perry|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1216671529p2/6331.jpg]'s Victorian novels, but not to the same exaggerated extent, The Duke's Agent presents something of the disreputable side of a historical period, in this case Georgian England. Here we have absentee landlords, dishonest magistrates, and the unpleasant tallyman, who was basically an unscrupulous debt collector who preyed on the poor.
When his steward there dies, the Duke of Penrith orders an audit into the estates he owns in the North East of England. He sends his remote kinsman Raif Jarrett, who soon discovers that something dishonest has been going on, though he cannot work out what as the account books have been stolen. A young woman is killed, and a fairly clumsy attempt is made to frame him for murder (though it is nearly good enough to make Jarrett the victim of a lynch mob). Thus he ends up trying to discover what happened to Sal Grundy as well as sorting out the Duke's affairs.
Basically a competent if not particularly complex detective story, The Duke's Agent has interesting characters and a well realised background. It is a pity that the publisher seems to feel that Rebecca Jenkins needs to be sold by mentioning her famous relatives - she is the daughter of that Bishop of Durham who notoriously denied the virgin birth of Christ - as The Duke's Agent is a strong enough novel to be allowed to stand on its own merits.
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