This Side of Murder

I enjoyed this historical mystery more than I thought. The writing was tight and the plot well thought-through. The only reason it didn't hit five stars for me was because the romantic elements verged on oversentimental, particularly in the second half of the book. For all the nuance in a certain relationship, I would have preferred more restraint. Also, the mystery could have involved a bit more fair play, more of a puzzle to solve. Other than that, I am excited to read the next one. I've read the first four of the Maise Dobbs novels, which take place in the same time period, and after reading this one I think this series has the potential to be better. It may be a matter of taste, but having read some of the other authors Anna Huber has been compared to in reviews (Elly Griffiths, Jacqueline Winspear, etc.) I think she measures up better.