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sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
4.0
In 1812 London Giselle Barrington finds herself going to ground as a chef after the murder of her travelling academic/aristocrat/spy father. Her unusual upbringing means that although she's a society lady, she's also well prepared for a life undercover as she tries to uncover her fathers killer and deliver the important documents left to her by her father into safe hands. The novel is set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars; the war doesn't play a substantial role in the story itself but provides a crucial historical context to both the characters and plot.
I love historical novels that are witty and clever!! It's so rare to come across one that's not under the guise of historical romance. While Banquet of Lies definitely has substantial elements of romance, it's truly a traditional historical novel. The historic details are very accurate and give credence to the plot line without taking away from the story, which is actually very insulated from the historical events of the time - a device I found very refreshing in comparison to many historical novels, that concentrate more on the history than the plot.
The characterisation is also lots of fun. Giselle is a strong, independent heroine with a mind of her own. I really appreciated that her upbringing more than explained her sometimes out-of-time character - she's not a modern heroine in a historical time, but a historical heroine with an unusual (but completely believable) upbringing. Lord Alridge, the central male character, also has fantastic characterisation. His back story is not as complete as Giselle's, but it still fits perfectly with the traits he demonstrates through the novel. The switching narrative between Lord Alridge and Giselle was extremely well done and it was great fun seeing the story unfold between them; both because of the male perspective and the bird's eye view we get as the two characters cross wires.
On the whole Banquet of Lies is a charming romp through Napoleonic London. The story and (non-historical figure) character driven plot is refreshing in a historical novel. The characterisation is solid as a rock, with a fun and fitting story.
4/5 stars. Richly detailed and compelling. This is the first time I've come across Michelle Diener - now I'm looking forward to investigating her backlist!
I love historical novels that are witty and clever!! It's so rare to come across one that's not under the guise of historical romance. While Banquet of Lies definitely has substantial elements of romance, it's truly a traditional historical novel. The historic details are very accurate and give credence to the plot line without taking away from the story, which is actually very insulated from the historical events of the time - a device I found very refreshing in comparison to many historical novels, that concentrate more on the history than the plot.
The characterisation is also lots of fun. Giselle is a strong, independent heroine with a mind of her own. I really appreciated that her upbringing more than explained her sometimes out-of-time character - she's not a modern heroine in a historical time, but a historical heroine with an unusual (but completely believable) upbringing. Lord Alridge, the central male character, also has fantastic characterisation. His back story is not as complete as Giselle's, but it still fits perfectly with the traits he demonstrates through the novel. The switching narrative between Lord Alridge and Giselle was extremely well done and it was great fun seeing the story unfold between them; both because of the male perspective and the bird's eye view we get as the two characters cross wires.
On the whole Banquet of Lies is a charming romp through Napoleonic London. The story and (non-historical figure) character driven plot is refreshing in a historical novel. The characterisation is solid as a rock, with a fun and fitting story.
4/5 stars. Richly detailed and compelling. This is the first time I've come across Michelle Diener - now I'm looking forward to investigating her backlist!
xjennoe's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-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
4.75
bmg20's review against another edition
2.0
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After Giselle witnesses the death of her father, she’s forced to go into hiding in order to find out more about the document for which he was killed for. The document that her father entrusted to her right before he died. She takes a position as a French cook in the house of Lord Aldridge yet she struggles in this position, not used to being a lesser servant. Once she discovers that it’s a political document that could very well change the fate of England she seeks to get it into the right hands but that’s easier said than done.
I loved the concept of the plot yet the characters were damn near unbearable, most especially Miss Giselle "Gigi" Barrington. Yeah, that’s a mouthful. Instead of being a charming and funny lady that struggled with her temporary change in social class she was snooty, pretentious and completely unlikable. At one point she wakes up to go down into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee only to discover the coffee that was in the house had gone bad so she practically demands that coffee be purchased even though Lord Aldridge was not a coffee drinker.
"...trying to deny her coffee, was a declaration of war."
Oh, shut up, Gigi and come off your high horse. Now I’m all about my caffeine too so I get it but I’ve never reached the point where I was about to go all Napoleon on everyone just because I didn’t get a cup. Plus, it’s like she was constantly forgetting WHY she was in the situation she was in. I mean hello, you watched your father get stabbed to death just a few short weeks ago and that same man is searching for you yet you’re waging war over coffee. Priorities, my dear. So this story could have been vastly more interesting if Giselle wasn’t such a stuck up snob.
The romance between Gigi and Lord Aldridge was something that was completely unnecessary and only added to the overly dramatic flair this book had going on. The two knew each other when they were children but it was mentioned that Gigi was always ignored in favor of her gorgeous mother and that Lord Aldridge was always flirting with her even though she was almost twice his age. Yeah, that doesn’t set up some major awkwardness. You never noticed me when I was younger because you were too busy flirting with my mother? Oh gross, no thanks. So because of his complete lack of awareness of Giselle in her earlier years, he doesn’t even recognize her now so she’s able to slip into the position as Cook in his household. Oh, but naturally there’s something intriguing about her that interests him. Maybe because she’s grown up and looks more like her mother?
Bottom line, I loved the political aspects and the espionage and the fact that Giselle was introduced as a headstrong and confident woman but anything interesting about this book slowly dissolved the more snooty Giselle got and the more ridiculous Lord Aldridge got over the crush on his cook. Simply didn’t work for me unfortunately.
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After Giselle witnesses the death of her father, she’s forced to go into hiding in order to find out more about the document for which he was killed for. The document that her father entrusted to her right before he died. She takes a position as a French cook in the house of Lord Aldridge yet she struggles in this position, not used to being a lesser servant. Once she discovers that it’s a political document that could very well change the fate of England she seeks to get it into the right hands but that’s easier said than done.
I loved the concept of the plot yet the characters were damn near unbearable, most especially Miss Giselle "Gigi" Barrington. Yeah, that’s a mouthful. Instead of being a charming and funny lady that struggled with her temporary change in social class she was snooty, pretentious and completely unlikable. At one point she wakes up to go down into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee only to discover the coffee that was in the house had gone bad so she practically demands that coffee be purchased even though Lord Aldridge was not a coffee drinker.
"...trying to deny her coffee, was a declaration of war."
Oh, shut up, Gigi and come off your high horse. Now I’m all about my caffeine too so I get it but I’ve never reached the point where I was about to go all Napoleon on everyone just because I didn’t get a cup. Plus, it’s like she was constantly forgetting WHY she was in the situation she was in. I mean hello, you watched your father get stabbed to death just a few short weeks ago and that same man is searching for you yet you’re waging war over coffee. Priorities, my dear. So this story could have been vastly more interesting if Giselle wasn’t such a stuck up snob.
The romance between Gigi and Lord Aldridge was something that was completely unnecessary and only added to the overly dramatic flair this book had going on. The two knew each other when they were children but it was mentioned that Gigi was always ignored in favor of her gorgeous mother and that Lord Aldridge was always flirting with her even though she was almost twice his age. Yeah, that doesn’t set up some major awkwardness. You never noticed me when I was younger because you were too busy flirting with my mother? Oh gross, no thanks. So because of his complete lack of awareness of Giselle in her earlier years, he doesn’t even recognize her now so she’s able to slip into the position as Cook in his household. Oh, but naturally there’s something intriguing about her that interests him. Maybe because she’s grown up and looks more like her mother?
Bottom line, I loved the political aspects and the espionage and the fact that Giselle was introduced as a headstrong and confident woman but anything interesting about this book slowly dissolved the more snooty Giselle got and the more ridiculous Lord Aldridge got over the crush on his cook. Simply didn’t work for me unfortunately.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
4.0
I finished the book in a day, I just read and read, and then I read some more. I almost did it in one sitting too if I had not had to go grocery shopping.
There is a lightness over the writing that makes the pages fly on by. And then there is the suspense/mystery/drama that just makes it impossible to put it down. Here it's cos the heroine, Giselle is hiding from the man who killed her father and she has important information too. It's a cat and mouse game, and it's thrilling.
If I compare it to the other regency book she has written then yes I did love The Emperor's Secret a bit more. But that was cos of the heroine's past and the heartache it left me in. Still this book was awesome and it was not as dark when it came to certain things. It also made me want so much more, and I already know someone she totally should write about. But then that is how ES left me too. Wanting so much more, so please, write more :D
Honestly I had the best sentence in my head, it would have made the review. Alas now it's gone but that is how a good book usually leaves me unable to write a coherent review.
Giselle was great, brave and even if she said she was a mouse, then she certainly was a courageous mouse. Jonathan was in a way a sort of beta hero, dunno why I say that really. But in the best possible way. She was the heroine in the book after all.
A cat and mouse game in a rich setting. Danger and romance is promised. And it makes Michelle Diener the go to woman for these sort of books. A good book makes you want more, but a great book makes you crave more. And this one was great.
There is a lightness over the writing that makes the pages fly on by. And then there is the suspense/mystery/drama that just makes it impossible to put it down. Here it's cos the heroine, Giselle is hiding from the man who killed her father and she has important information too. It's a cat and mouse game, and it's thrilling.
If I compare it to the other regency book she has written then yes I did love The Emperor's Secret a bit more. But that was cos of the heroine's past and the heartache it left me in. Still this book was awesome and it was not as dark when it came to certain things. It also made me want so much more, and I already know someone she totally should write about. But then that is how ES left me too. Wanting so much more, so please, write more :D
Honestly I had the best sentence in my head, it would have made the review. Alas now it's gone but that is how a good book usually leaves me unable to write a coherent review.
Giselle was great, brave and even if she said she was a mouse, then she certainly was a courageous mouse. Jonathan was in a way a sort of beta hero, dunno why I say that really. But in the best possible way. She was the heroine in the book after all.
A cat and mouse game in a rich setting. Danger and romance is promised. And it makes Michelle Diener the go to woman for these sort of books. A good book makes you want more, but a great book makes you crave more. And this one was great.
lynseyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Truth and pies
What a fun, fun book! Fantastic premise, great execution and full of vivid, lively characters! You know, if she'd just thrown in a bit more romance—a sex scene or just a bit more mushy stuff towards the end—this would have been 5 stars for me. Easily.
BANQUET OF LIES is a character-driven novel built upon a thrilling, suspense-filled storyline. It kicks off straight away with the murder of Giselle's father over the whereabouts of a political document. The only way she knows how to hide from the killer whilst still keeping an eye on who's snooping around her London home, is to pose as chef for her neighbour, young (and rather handsome) Lord Aldridge. Luckily, she doesn't have to fake her cooking skills. She's always loved to be in the kitchen, working recipes with her family's French chef, which is not the norm for a lady of quality, as Giselle is. Which was the other very entertaining part of the book—her posing as "the help" when in fact she's a lady born and bred. The way she handled this deception was to adopt a French accent and a haughty, superior attitude and attempt to bluff her way through it. She's been surrounded by temperamental, demanding chefs all her life, and knew this would be better than trying to skulk around and stay small and unnoticed. Well, let me tell you, it was all highly enjoyable watching not only the other staff members as they stood agog when she breezed through the door, but also Lord Aldridge's own reaction! Just pure fun.
There are several twist and turns as you'd expect from this kind of book, and it was nigh unputdownable. Like I said earlier, the only thing I would have wished for more of would be romance. That's not to say there wasn't any, but it was clean, subtle and only promised what's to come for the couple rather than showing it to us... Unless there's a follow up book? One could only hope. But I loved it anyway!
4 Stars! ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What a fun, fun book! Fantastic premise, great execution and full of vivid, lively characters! You know, if she'd just thrown in a bit more romance—a sex scene or just a bit more mushy stuff towards the end—this would have been 5 stars for me. Easily.
BANQUET OF LIES is a character-driven novel built upon a thrilling, suspense-filled storyline. It kicks off straight away with the murder of Giselle's father over the whereabouts of a political document. The only way she knows how to hide from the killer whilst still keeping an eye on who's snooping around her London home, is to pose as chef for her neighbour, young (and rather handsome) Lord Aldridge. Luckily, she doesn't have to fake her cooking skills. She's always loved to be in the kitchen, working recipes with her family's French chef, which is not the norm for a lady of quality, as Giselle is. Which was the other very entertaining part of the book—her posing as "the help" when in fact she's a lady born and bred. The way she handled this deception was to adopt a French accent and a haughty, superior attitude and attempt to bluff her way through it. She's been surrounded by temperamental, demanding chefs all her life, and knew this would be better than trying to skulk around and stay small and unnoticed. Well, let me tell you, it was all highly enjoyable watching not only the other staff members as they stood agog when she breezed through the door, but also Lord Aldridge's own reaction! Just pure fun.
There are several twist and turns as you'd expect from this kind of book, and it was nigh unputdownable. Like I said earlier, the only thing I would have wished for more of would be romance. That's not to say there wasn't any, but it was clean, subtle and only promised what's to come for the couple rather than showing it to us... Unless there's a follow up book? One could only hope. But I loved it anyway!
4 Stars! ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
greenldydragon's review against another edition
5.0
WHY DID THIS BOOK HAVE TO END? I vote this becomes a series if that isn't already part of the plan. Like now. Can I have the second book please?
Part spy drama, part victorian mystery, part historical romance - Gigi aka Miss Barrington aka Madame Lavéel sees her father murdered during a ball in Stockholm by a traitor searching for the confidential document - that she holds in secret. She's catapulted into hiding, pretending to be a cook in London and trying to find a person she can trust to pass the document on to and to help her find the killer. I read it in one day - and may reread it to enjoy it again.
Part spy drama, part victorian mystery, part historical romance - Gigi aka Miss Barrington aka Madame Lavéel sees her father murdered during a ball in Stockholm by a traitor searching for the confidential document - that she holds in secret. She's catapulted into hiding, pretending to be a cook in London and trying to find a person she can trust to pass the document on to and to help her find the killer. I read it in one day - and may reread it to enjoy it again.
tawnyad2004's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book several years ago and thought highly of it. I re-read it and was sadly a little let down. It still has a fun story line but it’s this constant struggle for Gigi to decide what to do. Who to trust, who to give this document to. I don’t really understand that. She’s with a man (her employer) she says she trusts yet she doesn’t turn to him. Instead she turns to a man she met once (at her employers house so they are obviously friends) and things is the infamous “D” bc that’s what his last name starts with
marget_orange's review against another edition
5.0
Good book!
I came into fading romances low these many years ago with Georgette Heyer's regency romances. These are nothing like her books. However, they are making me love the genre again.
I came into fading romances low these many years ago with Georgette Heyer's regency romances. These are nothing like her books. However, they are making me love the genre again.
slc333's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the heroine Giselle. She is smart, brave and strong without being opinionated or annoying (a common failing made by some authors when trying to show a historical heroine is strong). I would really have like to see Edgars get his comeuppance though. I loved the scene in the jail with Georges, Whittaker and Aldridge. Very amusing.
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
4.0
"Giselle Barrington, living in London in 1812, has just witnessed her father's murder. Forced to go into hiding to uncover the killer, she disguises herself as a chef in Lord Aldridge's, a man who also wants to solve the murder, house. As the two individually work to figure the mystery out, sparks fly between them, and they will have to realize that only working together will get them the answers they want." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=42857