Silent in the Sanctuary

by Deanna Raybourn

Silent in the Sanctuary

book data

293 ratings, 5.00 average rating, 114 reviews (more data...)

edit

published

January 1st 2008 by Mira

binding

Paperback, 498 pages

characters

Lady Julia Grey, Nicholas Brisbane

setting

The United Kingdom

isbn

0778324923 (isbn13: 9780778324928)

description

Fresh from a six-month sojourn in Italy, Lady Julia returns home to Sussex to find her father's estate crowded with family and friends— but dark ...more

find at: Amazon | Half.com | Barnes & Noble | Abebooks | compare prices…

Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.

new topic
discuss this book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

lists with this book

Best books of 2008

41apoocbqsl

416pfgglm0l

41aq%2bfbcrwl

41oa8ovgwzl

41lj%2bcoxs9l

367 books | 1108 voters

Best Historical Fiction

930

5043

51grhnmustl

41pxcsx5akl

18405

518 books | 1326 voters

More lists...

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 484)

All ratings | 5 stars (115) | 4 stars (157) | 3 stars (58) | 2 stars (9) | 1 star (1) | avg 5.00

all | this edition

Chelsea

Chelsea rated it:

09/25/07

bookshelves: 2007, advance, historicalfiction, mystery, own

Read in September, 2007

I really enjoy the main character - Lady Julia Grey. I'm not a big fan of mysteries, and I'm more than willing to admit to being a snob when it comes to the excess of bad mystery series available today, but I really enjoyed this.

The mystery itself isn't as twisted as in the first book, Silent in the Grave, but the characters, especially the supporting ones, are more fun this time around.

Lady Julia is from a family of infamou...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

add a comment

Angie

Angie rated it:

09/01/08

bookshelves: belovedbookshelf

Read in August, 2008

Given how much I loved Silent in the Grave, I felt a tingle of thrill and anxiety as I cracked open the sequel. The first book had what I consider to be a "perfect" ending. I couldn't have asked for more and wouldn't have wished it different in any way. Such endings are rare and to find one at the end of the first book in a series is rarer still. So, could Silent in the Sanctuary live up to its predecessor? I reall...more Given how much I loved Silent in the Grave, I felt a tingle of thrill and anxiety as I cracked open the sequel. The first book had what I consider to be a "perfect" ending. I couldn't have asked for more and wouldn't have wished it different in any way. Such endings are rare and to find one at the end of the first book in a series is rarer still. So, could Silent in the Sanctuary live up to its predecessor? I really, really hoped it could.

The second volume picks up several months after the end of the first. Lady Julia is on vacation in Italy, attempting to recover from the traumatic events of her investigation into her husband's death by basking in the Tuscan sun. Her recuperation is cut short, however, when she and her brothers (the delightfully named Plum and Lysander) receive a summons home to England for the Christmas holidays. At the last minute, they decide to take along a young Italian count who has become a friend to all three, but who also seems to have formed a rather strong attachment to Julia. Hmm. Back in England, all of Julia's hilarious and quirky family members are present and accounted for while a few unexpected Christmas guests round out the mix, including a few cousins, an uncle, a dubious clergyman, and one Mr. Nicholas Brisbane.

What follows reminded me of a wonderfully late night game of Clue. All the players are charming and suspect in turn and the murder even takes place in the sanctuary with the candlestick! And it remains Julia's and Brisbane's task to ferret out the identity of the killer. May I just say, I continue to love these two reluctant partners. Julia, in all her incorrigible intrepidity, serves as the perfect foil for Brisbane and his ruthless pursuit of the murderer. This second volume includes a few more tantalizing insights into the darkness that is Brisbane, as well as some cracking good repartee between our two lead characters. I went in with the highest of expectations and Silent in the Sanctuary more than lived up to them. This series is right on track to become an all-time favorite. Seriously, it has everything you could ask for. Charmingly dry-humored heroine? Check. Tortured and broody hero? Check. Humor, danger, genuine creepiness? Check, check, check. I'm recommending them left and right and can't wait to get my hands on the third installment, Silent on the Moor, due out in March....less

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

add a comment

_inbetween_

_inbetween_ rated it:

04/10/08

Read in April, 2008

recommended to _inbetween_ by: alex

I can't stand that woman. I tried. She should be a favourite, but Lady Julia Grey isn't just too Mary Sue (see author's photo) but a priviledged bitch with nine awesome siblings and one awesome rich father, so Brisbane has to be put down for his one kiss (still not described, while Julia being kissed by a few others in the meantime always was - and while I'm bored with purple prose, SOMETHING would have been preferable rather than the feeling a whole paragraph was missing), and Brisbane's bride ...more I can't stand that woman. I tried. She should be a favourite, but Lady Julia Grey isn't just too Mary Sue (see author's photo) but a priviledged bitch with nine awesome siblings and one awesome rich father, so Brisbane has to be put down for his one kiss (still not described, while Julia being kissed by a few others in the meantime always was - and while I'm bored with purple prose, SOMETHING would have been preferable rather than the feeling a whole paragraph was missing), and Brisbane's bride is suddenly out of the blue a chatterbox while Julia gets to abuse him and then cry and be the tortured heroine?! For what! Just as the debut was NOT evocative, this is another case of the wrapping being better than the content - nice cover, same annoying 3 blank pages and one stupid proverb between every short chapter, same modernisms, same pseudo-liberalness combined with rich, careless priviledge with a heroine that, when it comes down to it, is plain boring. The genuinely stupid ones in gothic novels this one quotes at least didn't pretend and at least had genuine reasons to be afraid or worried. Julia just has lots of support. As with the non-kiss, the non-denouement of the first novel is here referred to as tragedy, as her heavy burden, again something never seen, and I wish I had never mistaken her as an original, unusual character when her coolness over her dead husband had been meant to indicate weakness (cp. the UK article "What a Carve up" about authorial intent sometimes being bad after all).

ETA: and the book just gets worse. While I still like Brisbane, the further praise of hashish and lack of mention of his second sight, which was a crap idea but just leaving it out now doesn't make anything any better, is insufferable, but nothing is as bad as that damn Julia. What should have been the hightlight, her kissing him, feels as contrived and stupid as the whole book - Raybourne keeps TELLING us she evolved while I never saw a single indication she had been any different at the start of the first book than she is now. None. And she walks into the murderers room again, and men chiding her for once does not make me angry at them but at that stupid bint who then flounces off to cry when yes, she had been stupid and no, I've never seen her exhibit any intelligence. Or anything making her better or more interesting. This is such a waste! Oh, and the font is now bigger and the lines are spaced wider apart to bolster it even more. And I might have to read one more to see if she ever lets them fuck, or if she's going to pull a Beaton since she's unable to do Sayers or Chase.

To have her father tell her she really is his favourite only made me hate her more and him to boot. Why?! She then weeps a bit more. The poor thing. Coz he loves her most and gave her a house and Brisbane risks his life again for her. I can't even like the two evil women - or any character really. They are all truly repellent to me, and they will keep cropping up, if the gipsy Marge is any indication. And since one of the criminals they let escape killed again (as TOLD in the incredibly long epilogues), she plans on and endless eries.
To think that the first novel at least had some vague promise that is now all gone in fake tales about Brisbane that Julia cannot know, not having known him before or seen him since, and the unsufferable superiority of heroine and author.

No, really, such generally unpleasing characters - not because they are dark and dreary but because they are meant to be colourful and all seem like backstabbing housewives. It's one thing to have them be humans, not black and white, and another to never have any reason fro their changes EXCEPT that it fit whatever Raybourne wanted to tell the reader. It's not Perry or Hern she tries to immitate, it's that boring Jane Austen as Detective series by Barron, which has another string-along non-romance that at least historically never came to anything (some excuse there).

Seriously annoying hot air.

ETA-FIFTEEN: she has a blog. My claim she was a Mary Sue is further supported by her other photographs, where she's decked out like her heroine, down to the pendant. Read her entries. I was making CLAWs with my fingers talking about her and how I'd have to wait another two years to read if she let J and B do the carnal thing, since it still seems marketed as romance and readers actually consider the bare bones of nothingness in this self-lauding drivel romantic. I fell for it when she once didn't describe a thing, preferring understatement, but having done it again this time, I think fade-to-black was less coy. And I really need to stop fuming now :)...less

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

add a comment

ScottK

ScottK rated it:

02/27/08

Read in February, 2008

Took me a bit longer to get into than Silent in the Grave but I did finally get into it. I think part of the problem wiht this book is she brought in way too many new characters right away, then had to give them all a backstory so we would like them,or at least feel comiserate with them. The actual murder doesn't take place until almost the halfway mark. Having said that, I will say that I love her characters, the new as well as the old stand bys, and am glad that alot of the same people are in ...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

Donna

Donna rated it:

06/23/08

Read in June, 2008

The gothics I used to read years ago in middle and high school seem like such light weights compared to the Lady Julia Gray mysteries. Ms. Raybourn creates such an atmosphere that makes it truly hard to put her book down. In this second mystery, Lady Julia Grey and her brothers have been summoned from their Italian vacation by their father for Christmas at home. Home is a de-consecrated abbey that has housed her family for generations. Her father has invited extra houseguests as well, one in...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

1 comment

BunWat

BunWat rated it:

03/14/08

Read in February, 2008

What a bummer. I really liked the first one in this series and was excited about finding a new author. But this second one seems incoherent in places. I liked the plot but I was really irritated by several instances when people basically failed to react or respond to fairly dramatic events. Or accepted patently absurd statements without challenging or asking any questions at all. How odd. And I know real people do ramble and change their minds while they are talking but honestly, more than ...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

2 comments

Spaceyplum

Spaceyplum rated it:

11/30/08

bookshelves: historical-mystery, read-2008

Read in November, 2008

OMG... I love this one even more than the first one!

Lady Julia returns from her sojourn to Italy after a summons from her father that she and her recalcitrant brothers are expected to spend the Christmas holiday at their homestead. Once she arrives at Belmont Abbey she is surprised to find the mysterious Nicholas Brisbane is one of her fathers guests along with his new betrothed! Luckily Lady Julia has brought along the young Italian Count Fornacci and quickly decides that she will fight fi...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

AzuresHeart

AzuresHeart rated it:

09/15/08

Read in September, 2008

recommends it for: Victorian Age Mystery fans

I found this one much faster to get through... and felt that the relationship between Julia and Brisbane moved forward enough that I hope something more happens next time! I think I have found another type of novel to enjoy! Now I have to wait until March 2009 for the next one!

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

1 comment

Laura

Laura rated it:

12/24/07

bookshelves: favorites, mystery

Read in December, 2007

I love the characters in this series! The relationships are wonderful. These books have become keepers.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

Donna

Donna rated it:

09/22/08

bookshelves: historical, library, mystery, shopping-list

Read in September, 2008

Lady Julia returns to her family home along with her brothers, her new sister-in-law, and a charming young man who helped to show her around during her time in Italy. She arrives at her father's country estate to find that Nicholas Brisbane is also one of the guests, and that he's there with another woman.

Julia settles in among the various siblings, cousins, and family friends, but can't resist making the occasional jab at Brisbane. Then she and the private detective discover a body in the c...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Tina

Tina rated it:

06/28/08

bookshelves: mystery

Read in May, 2008

After the events of the previous book 'Silent in the Grave' where Lady Julia Gray helped uncover the murderer of her husband and almost lost her life in a fire, we find Julia recovering in Italy while visiting her brothers. Plum and Lysander, having been abroad for some time have rented a villa on lake Como.

Julia spends the time wallowing in the warm climate, eating the unfamiliar food, flirting with the young and extremely aristocratic count Alessandro Fornacci, and navigating through famil...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Diana

Diana rated it:

05/02/08

Read in May, 2008

This is a murder mystery set in the 1800s on a manor in the English countryside. The heroine, Julia Grey, is the daughter of a wealthy landowner and is an amateur sleuth.

The story takes place one winter at the family's sprawling home, an old abbey that's full of hidden passages, numerous rooms, and, as it turns out, many secrets. Needless to say, someone ends up dead (don't worry I won't reveal who) and someone winds up caught (also, no worries, I won't let it slip).

After the murder, Jul...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Sue

Sue rated it:

07/02/08

Read in June, 2008

recommended to Sue by: Amazon, second in a series
recommends it for: fans of historical fiction/mysteries, romance fans

I enjoyed this second entry in the series even more than the first, which I admit did drag a bit in the middle. But I was glad to see Lady Julia's family plays a larger role in this book, which I think is one of the strengths of Raybourn's series - her interesting characters. I still feel there is something lacking in her relationship with Brisbane - you know they are attracted to each other, but as in the first book, I feel there is too much exposition of his character/motives from other charac...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Babbling

Babbling rated it:

11/29/08

Read in November, 2008

from my review @ http://babblingbookreviews.com

Julia and her brothers Lysander and Eglamour - Plum - are summoned home from Italy by their father, the Earl March. They arrive in time to spend Christmas at Bellmont Abbey, the family seat. However, before the festivities can begin, there is a murder. As with the previous volume, the book introduces other members of the eccentric March family, this time on home turf. And course N...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

LJ rated it:

02/05/08

bookshelves: amateur_sleuth, england, female_author, historical, mystery, victorian_1837-1901

Read in January, 2008

SILENT IN THE SANCTUARY (Mystery/Historical-Lady Julia Grey/Nicholas Brisbane-England-Victorian- VG
Raybourn, Deanna – 2nd in series
Mira, 2008, US Trade Paperback – ISBN: 0778324923

First Sentence: “Well, I suppose that settles it. …”

Lady Julia Grey and her two brothers, along with her oldest brother’s new Italian wife and a friend, are summoned back to England and their country home, a former monastery, for Christmas by their father Earl Marsh. Once there, Julia is con...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Kit

Kit rated it:

02/11/08

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

it's been such a long wait since the first book! the characters have certainly not dimmed any in my regard, and the mystery is an entirely enjoyable one too. i was a bit annoyed with brisbane during several scenes, especially the ones involving his fiance in any way, but julia holds her own against him. although not quite as shocking as the first ending, there were several unexpected turns throughout that i wouldn't have seen coming a mile away. this seems to be her forte.

and.. well, i knew ...more it's been such a long wait since the first book! the characters have certainly not dimmed any in my regard, and the mystery is an entirely enjoyable one too. i was a bit annoyed with brisbane during several scenes, especially the ones involving his fiance in any way, but julia holds her own against him. although not quite as shocking as the first ending, there were several unexpected turns throughout that i wouldn't have seen coming a mile away. this seems to be her forte.

and.. well, i knew who the villain was for one of the crimes from about halfway through the book and on. it wasn't all that hard to guess, but the turns she puts into this is quite impressive in itself. she manages to distract attention from the most significant details (or lack thereof) by some other mundane matter, so much that it seems completely natural, not a hair out of place. only when you look back will you say oh, now there's a detail i missed. definitely worth much in terms of reread value, for me at least. and i cannot remember the last time i actually laughed out loud reading a book. i've finally discovered that humor is a huge deal with how i grade a book. all my favorites have had an endearing moment with me or two. that, or they'd really have to be beautifully written, which i don't come across very often anymore. maybe i should move onto a wider variety of genres?

on another note, i felt extremely sorry for the murderer--julia doesn't seem to share my sympathy, but she is raised in quite different surroundings. in the end, julia speaks of a wrong that cannot be undone, and i couldn't help but think of the murderer who was to hang, and the perpetrator who was untouched. there is more than can be said about this ending, and i'm wondering if the next book might touch on this, or if brisbane might come to know of it--or whether her father would, in any case. julia definitely seems to take center stage in this book more, and while on one hand that's refreshing, i was quite looking forward to more insight into brisbane. and what a mysterious way to introduce the next book! i really wonder what mischief her sister is up to. and a way for julia to save brisbane from himself, hopefully? i simply can't wait for the next one....less

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Diva

Diva rated it:

04/07/08

bookshelves: challenges-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Jennifer

Jennifer rated it:

10/05/08

bookshelves: mystery

Read in October, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Cecilia

Cecilia rated it:

09/17/08

Read in September, 2008

recommended to Cecilia by: mary miller
recommends it for: mystery lovers -- historical

OK -- I LOVED the first one -- Silent in the Grave -- and this one is good, but somehow, it didn't captivate me the first novel did. This one also features Lady Julia Gray and her PI cohort Brisbane -- who have sort of a Victorian Maddie Hayes/David Addison relationship...meaning they are civil to each other at time, argue at times, claim they can't stand the other and really just want to sleep together. This time, Julia, Brisbane, members of her family and some friends are snowbound in a cast...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Margaret

Margaret rated it:

08/15/08

bookshelves: historical, mira, pines, suspense-thriller

Read in August, 2008

recommended to Margaret by: Novel Journey
recommends it for: mystery readers

This book was definitely better than the last. To a point I did enjoy Silent in the Grave, but the solving point I felt ruined what could have been a perfectly great mystery. But that's enough about that. I really enjoyed this one. This was not just one mystery, but several wrapped up in one. There was some romance and extreme feelings between various persons and trying to see them was a task. I enjoyed this story, and it makes me an...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 24 25 next »

recent status updates | recommend it | blog it