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khaleesimod93's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Unlike book 1, this one I had such a hard time getting into it. There was a lot of characters introduced right off the bat with no rhyme or reason as to why. But, once I got past that, about 40 to 50 pages in, things got better.
I do have issues with the characters themselves, except for Louisa and Guy, which was my issue in book 1. The Mitford girls, while somewhat tolerable in book 1, annoyed the heck out of me in this one. Nancy was young and spoiled in book 1. I could deal with that, but I was hoping, that in this one, she had grown some. She in fact did not grow one ounce. She was shallow and just down right annoying.
Louisa made some dumb decisions in this one, but I still loved her. She really is the main character. I can't believe how she keeps getting involved in these crazy murdery mystery plots.
Not only is she involved in this, but Guy Sullivan is too. Except there's another added layer than the death of Adrian Curtis. It has to do with a female version of Aladdin and the 40 Thieves. I absolutely love that aspect of the story. I'm unsure if I'll finish the rest of the series just because the books are ok except for some funny quirky and mysterious aspects. Makes it difficult to really gage what I'm going to do about the others
I do have issues with the characters themselves, except for Louisa and Guy, which was my issue in book 1. The Mitford girls, while somewhat tolerable in book 1, annoyed the heck out of me in this one. Nancy was young and spoiled in book 1. I could deal with that, but I was hoping, that in this one, she had grown some. She in fact did not grow one ounce. She was shallow and just down right annoying.
Louisa made some dumb decisions in this one, but I still loved her. She really is the main character. I can't believe how she keeps getting involved in these crazy murdery mystery plots.
Not only is she involved in this, but Guy Sullivan is too. Except there's another added layer than the death of Adrian Curtis. It has to do with a female version of Aladdin and the 40 Thieves. I absolutely love that aspect of the story. I'm unsure if I'll finish the rest of the series just because the books are ok except for some funny quirky and mysterious aspects. Makes it difficult to really gage what I'm going to do about the others
smithyreads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5! Was a little lost on how they came to some of the conclusions tbh but it ended nicely :)
pauline_b's review against another edition
3.0
A mash-up between Downton Abbey and a classic Agatha Christie mystery. I enjoyed the setting, though the resolution of the mystery was not overly surprising. Enjoyable read :)
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This was a bit slower to start than the first one but it picks up in the middle. I enjoyed it. I really like this cast of characters!
This was a bit slower to start than the first one but it picks up in the middle. I enjoyed it. I really like this cast of characters!
ali2444's review against another edition
3.0
Secondo capitolo della serie "I delitti Mitford", può essere letto anche da solo. Alcuni personaggi/comportamenti sono un po' esasperati, ma nel complesso è un libro scorrevole e piacevole.
jo_bookworm's review
4.0
This is the second in the series of books which takes us with the next Mitford Sister playing a strong role, but of course the others especially Nancy heavily predominant in the first book make an appearance as well.
However the story is related round Louisa Cannon who went to work for the Mitford's in the first book escape her unpleasant Uncle. She works mainly in the nursery and becomes a chaperone for the sisters as they reach a certain age but she is till seen helping round the house in whatever role is necessary. A maid of all work I suppose.
I really feel you need to know this background to Louisa as well as her sometime friend Guy Sullivan, a policeman wanting to make a name for himself. Without this prior knowledge i feel that you would be lost for the first third or so of the book - I was and had to go and do a quick recap of who was who. Once I had done this I settled into the book much easier.
This time the focus is centred on Pamela Mitford the second sister, turning 18 and rather to be found out in the fields with horses, returning with no care for her appearance she is in contrast to her older sister Nancy who has embraced the 1920s and is certainly one of societies Bright Young Things.
To bring Pamela into this circle, nancy arranges for one of her infamous treasure hunts to take place but it results in tragedy.
One of the Bright Young Things; Adrian Curtis is found dead. Perhaps not well liked, but certainly no reason for him to have died.
The killer is Dulcie a maid and an associate of Louisa Cannon.
It all seems clear-cut until you start to find out about these Bright Young Things, their relationships and their connections to Alice Diamond.
Alice Diamond is well-known and well-regarded amongst certain elements of the underworld in London in fact she is the Queen to the Forty Thieves. Rarely caught her method of distraction and working the shops as if she was as well-regarded as the Queen means that she is a name everyone knows.....especially Louisa.
Again, Fellowes brings the fact into fiction and weaves it into a believable tale which had me intrigued how the criminal were flirting with the high society and getting away with it, until the day that Pamela and Nancy along with Louisa help reenact the evening of the murder to see if they can solve it.
Aside from the slow start when you have to know who is who, once you get going this book moves along at a quite a pace and you see Pamela start to blossom and stand out from Nancy's shadow.
A great murder mystery which adds the elements of well-known people - both the Mitford's and Alice Diamond (google her I had to - she did exist!) and creates a book worth reading and buying for all fans of good old-fashioned golden age murder mystery.
I look forward to seeing where we go next as chronologically it should be Thomas Mitford and who else I learn about in the process.
However the story is related round Louisa Cannon who went to work for the Mitford's in the first book escape her unpleasant Uncle. She works mainly in the nursery and becomes a chaperone for the sisters as they reach a certain age but she is till seen helping round the house in whatever role is necessary. A maid of all work I suppose.
I really feel you need to know this background to Louisa as well as her sometime friend Guy Sullivan, a policeman wanting to make a name for himself. Without this prior knowledge i feel that you would be lost for the first third or so of the book - I was and had to go and do a quick recap of who was who. Once I had done this I settled into the book much easier.
This time the focus is centred on Pamela Mitford the second sister, turning 18 and rather to be found out in the fields with horses, returning with no care for her appearance she is in contrast to her older sister Nancy who has embraced the 1920s and is certainly one of societies Bright Young Things.
To bring Pamela into this circle, nancy arranges for one of her infamous treasure hunts to take place but it results in tragedy.
One of the Bright Young Things; Adrian Curtis is found dead. Perhaps not well liked, but certainly no reason for him to have died.
The killer is Dulcie a maid and an associate of Louisa Cannon.
It all seems clear-cut until you start to find out about these Bright Young Things, their relationships and their connections to Alice Diamond.
Alice Diamond is well-known and well-regarded amongst certain elements of the underworld in London in fact she is the Queen to the Forty Thieves. Rarely caught her method of distraction and working the shops as if she was as well-regarded as the Queen means that she is a name everyone knows.....especially Louisa.
Again, Fellowes brings the fact into fiction and weaves it into a believable tale which had me intrigued how the criminal were flirting with the high society and getting away with it, until the day that Pamela and Nancy along with Louisa help reenact the evening of the murder to see if they can solve it.
Aside from the slow start when you have to know who is who, once you get going this book moves along at a quite a pace and you see Pamela start to blossom and stand out from Nancy's shadow.
A great murder mystery which adds the elements of well-known people - both the Mitford's and Alice Diamond (google her I had to - she did exist!) and creates a book worth reading and buying for all fans of good old-fashioned golden age murder mystery.
I look forward to seeing where we go next as chronologically it should be Thomas Mitford and who else I learn about in the process.
sandracabanes's review against another edition
5.0
Al igual que la primera parte, encuentro que es una novela que (salvo contados detalles) se podría leer por sí sola. Sigo viéndole ciertas semejanzas con Agatha Christie, aunque es evidente que la autora tiene su propio estilo y forma de entremezclar los misterios. En la segunda parte nos adentra en la década de 1920 capturando muy bien el ambiente y la sociedad (especialmente de aristócratas) con los clubs, las flappers y el jazz. Partiendo del asesinato que sucede durante una búsqueda del tesoro en Asthall Manor, tanto Louisa como Sullivan van uniendo caminos hasta dar con toda una red de delincuentes. No quiero desvelar mucho más, pero es una lectura muy amena que sabe mantener las dudas hasta el final. También me gusta mucho de esta saga que aparezcan personas reales, como la familia Mitford y Alice Diamond. Espero que sigan traduciendo los siguientes libros porque querré leerlos sin duda alguna.
actafabulaest_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
becca_todaro's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75