Silent in the Grave

I read this for Vaginal Fantasy Hangout reading group/book club.

This book is not a cheesy romance but a witty, murder mystery. The characters where well developed. Julia jumped to conclusions rather quickly which Almost confused me at times. Like I missed something reading. Brisbane was hard to get a hold of which seems proper after the reader finds out about his past.
Some of his actions I think I'm still confused about.
You may guess who the murder is before the book ends but the motives did surprise me.

The best way to describe this book would probably be as a historical mystery romp. I found myself comparing it to early Anne Perry novels (before they got all same-y), but maybe a better comparison would be one of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody novels. Well researched in the historical details, but the characters have pretty modern sensibilities — I know that annoys a lot of people, but I love it.

The novel opens with the death of Lady Julia Grey's husband, presumably of natural causes, but quickly jumps to a year later when evidence comes to light that maybe it wasn't quite as natural as all that. With the help of Nicholas Brisbane, a “private inquiry agent”, she investigates the murder.

It's the first in a series and I'll definitely read more. There's a hint of paranormal-ish goings-on (not vampires or werewolves, more like Gypsy highjinks) in this one, so I'll be interested to see if she digs deeper into that aspect.

Quote that I read to everyone in close proximity: [First line] To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor.

This was a great read. I loved the fallible main character. Sometimes she was stupid but I could see why, her sheltered life, her innocence. It was rather painful to have the ‘whiteness' of her life removed one dirty layer at a time however, I enjoyed the book immensely. Brisbane was a bit too good to be believable but I love me a too good to be true hero so it did not bother me too much. I would definitely recommend. Planning on hitting the library tomorrow for the second book.

the Writing of this book really pulled me in and I found it overall to be a good long mystery that kept me slightly confused and full of vague guesses. It has been many years since I have read much mystery, and I did enjoy this one. As a basic Victorian English Mystery novel it was quite fun. The characters were likable and I do plan to read the future novels in the series.

This is not a series for everyone. It is very “worldly” and liberal with homosexuality and affairs. After all the murder weapon was for use on a phallus. This is definitely an adult novel. Part of me feels that they mystery could have gone a completely different way. It was not until late in four hundred pages that it even appeared to have the “lovers” and method of death. I am quite disappointed as to where it went, because those are definitely not my taste, and it is just plain blah. It was just annoying at first that her sister earlier displayed a leaning tendency toward her Jane, but it just went too far really. The writing is good, and such a better story could be told with the talent without being so sexual.

For you historical fiction writers looking for a first-person narrative, this book is a great example from which to learn. Julia is impetuous, frank, and conflicted, all great character traits for a narrator. For those of you writing in the High Victorian era (i.e. late Victorian era, from 1870's-on), read this book to learn how to drop details about society, class restraints, and aristocratic assumptions without taking away from the story.

Unfortunately for me, I read too much, so many stories start to seem similar and I guess things before I should, like who the killer might be. I did not, however, guess the motive at all and I give Raybourn props for that. An entertaining read, similar in theme to Tasha Alexander's A Poisoned Season. I'm wondering whether I shouldn't switch my 1880's novel to a first-person narrative in which a young woman loses her husband before she really knew him, thus freeing her to walk about Society the way an umarried woman cannot, and solve mysteries in a Nancy Drew sort of way.

Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/10/book-silent-in-the-grave/