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122nd out of 738 books
—
1,613 voters
Whom the Gods Love (Julian Kestrel Mysteries #3)
by
Kate Ross
Although Alexander Falkland excels at everything he turns his hand to, all of his God-given talent cannot save him from a bloody, brutal end. Hired to find the killer, Julian Kestrel soon discovers that the fair-haired Alexander had more than his fair share of enemies.
Paperback, 382 pages
Published
May 1st 1996
by Penguin Books
(first published 1995)
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Ross’s detective is Julian Kestrel, a rake who, with the help of Dipper, a reformed pickpocket, solves crimes that leave the Bow Street Runners (Scotland Yard’s predecessors) baffled. Naturally, I wanted to read the earlier Kestrel novels and I’m pleased to report that Ross’s first novel, Cut to the Quick (both in the paperback collection) lived up to my expectations. Julian has been invited to be best man at the wedding of Hugh Fontclair. He soon realizes something is amiss. The wedding is a fo...more
Number 3 in the doomed Julian Kestrel series. I've already said that #4 is my favorite of the series, and maybe it is, but depending upon the day, Whom the Gods Love is actually my favorite, and not just because it was the last one I read. I thought this book was the most poetic in its structure and had the best mystery of the series. It's the one I want to read again the most, but every time I go to start it, I feel too sad at the thought that there are no more books in the series and stop.
Picking books off the shelves in the used bookstore often leads to great discoveries. I have a quibble or two with the plot that keeps me from giving the book 5 stars, but overall it was excellent. Julian Kestrel is a fascinating viewpoint character/investigator, the later Regency setting is well realized without larding on extra detail for its own sake, the cast in general is very interesting and well-drawn, and the basic writing is very fine indeed.
It's the third volume in a series, but that d...more
It's the third volume in a series, but that d...more
This novel was a great sequel to the two earlier novels focusing on the detective talents of Julian Kestrel. I figured this one out about three-quarters of the way through, but that did not detract from the plot or the discussions taking place among the characters. Like the best 18th and 19th century hostorical novelists, she focuses on the good points and the bad points (the extremes in this case) of society. What makes this work better than most historical romances is that the hero (Julian) ca...more
An interesting book, with the characters standing out in particular. One thread of the mystery is almost ridiculously easy to work out, so easy that you may feel the lead character, Julian Kesrel, is a little dense because he doesn't until three quarters of the way through.
Kestrel himself is an awkward character, not helped by a certain unevenness in the writing between him being the POV character and there being an omniscient narrator. Given that I don't normally pick up on that kind of thing,...more
Kestrel himself is an awkward character, not helped by a certain unevenness in the writing between him being the POV character and there being an omniscient narrator. Given that I don't normally pick up on that kind of thing,...more
I read the series all out of order, so this turned out to be the last one I read. And it is perhaps the best, though I do mean to reread #4 The Devil in Music just to make sure.
Julian Kestrel, regency dandy turned detective (though really this is much better written than one would think from the description) investigate the murder of society´s golden boy. And wow, I loved this book - the plot is complex and very strong ( I did see one small plot point, but then again there was no way around tha...more
Julian Kestrel, regency dandy turned detective (though really this is much better written than one would think from the description) investigate the murder of society´s golden boy. And wow, I loved this book - the plot is complex and very strong ( I did see one small plot point, but then again there was no way around tha...more
The beautiful, young and charming Alexander Falkland, toast of the ton, has been murdered and in the middle of one of his famous parties. His grief-stricken father recruits Julian Kestrel to investigate. As Julian peels back the layers of the mystery it is clear that all is not as it seems.
This is my favorite of this series thus far with excellent pacing and lots of twists and turns. Kate Ross was great at weaving lots of minor mysteries into the larger mystery keeping the reader guessing. With...more
This is my favorite of this series thus far with excellent pacing and lots of twists and turns. Kate Ross was great at weaving lots of minor mysteries into the larger mystery keeping the reader guessing. With...more
Yet another stirling example of the late Ms. Ross' command of prose. She brilliantly conveyed the depths of human depravity and despair and the heights of virtue and hope. Even one of the most dastardly characters was, in the end, redeemable though lost. However, the true villain of the piece was utter despicable. Chapter 31 made me cry. The characters, as ever, are vivid and tangible. Julian is a master stroke of creation; admirable but imperfect and the dialogue is never stilted or unbelievab...more
Whom the Gods Love is filled with literary allusions and death. The book picks up a small while after the activities of A Broken Vessel finding Julian and Dipper back into the normal pattern of life. That is, until Julian is approached by Sir Malcolm Falkland, father of the deceased Alexander Falkland. Sir Malcolm is distraught, the Bow Street Runners have run into a dead end and the Quality won’t fully participate in the investigation. Sir Malcolm approaches our amateur sleuth to piece together...more
London dandy Julian Kestral is fast becoming known as a successful amateur sleuth. He has already solved two separate murder cases. However, those murder cases were cases that Julian took upon himself to solve. This time, he is actually being sought out to solve a murder.
Sir Malcolm Falkland has reached out to Julian to help solve the murder of his son, Alexander, who was found with his head smashed in by a fire poker in his own study. Julian is hesitant, not sure if Sir Malcolm will be able to...more
Sir Malcolm Falkland has reached out to Julian to help solve the murder of his son, Alexander, who was found with his head smashed in by a fire poker in his own study. Julian is hesitant, not sure if Sir Malcolm will be able to...more
The only thing I didn't like about this third installment in the Julian Kestrel series? Knowing that there's only ever going to be one more. Authors should never be allowed to die young.
The plot definitely stands alone in each book, but why not read them in order? Start with Cut to the Quick. Julian is something of a mysterious character, and I was relieved to see that Ross includes a few more judicious details about his family and background in this book. I was starting to be afraid that she wo...more
The plot definitely stands alone in each book, but why not read them in order? Start with Cut to the Quick. Julian is something of a mysterious character, and I was relieved to see that Ross includes a few more judicious details about his family and background in this book. I was starting to be afraid that she wo...more
The strongest of the Kestral mysteries I've read so far, which makes the fact that there's only one more left that much more depressing (the author passed away several years ago due to cancer). We get an intricate plot and a little more background on Julian's character, as well as an intriguing look at a seedier side of London's elite. Julian's reparte with an older society woman and a beleagured fellow dandy is hilarious, and while the plot is certainly convaluted, it does keep the reader guess...more
Brilliant - I love when the complexities of a classic mystery are overshadowed by the complexities of the characters. Excellent dialogue, with delicious and subtle dialogue, with a slowly unraveled mystery with a solution that is only revealed once all the secrets of the characters are uncovered. I'm rather in love with Julian Kestral, and hoping that the next novel reveals even more of his history. A great read.
I enjoy these books, but somehow I'm more aware of the craft of them than I should be. I notice little bits of exposition that I know are supposed to "quietly" inform me so the ending won't come as a surprise. It's like seeing a painting and being a little too aware of the brushstrokes. Still, I enjoyed this one, and we got a little more of a look at what makes Julian Kestrel tick.
Alexander Falkland was favored by the gods. Beautiful, rich, intelligent, admired by everyone (so far as is generally known), Alexander suitably dies young. Not so suitably (apparently), Alexander is bashed in the head the night of a big party. Julian Kestrel must unveil Alexander, otherwise it would be hopeless to find his murderer. An excellent if somewhat padded tangle of personalities surrounds the Falkland family.
I think this is my favorite yet. Letters, secret identities, hidden compartments, private madhouses, lots of obscure quoting- what more can you ask in a mystery? The fourth and last book is coming soon from the library. I wish I had even a smidge of writing ability. I would so totally do Julian Kestrel fanfic as it seems the thing to do these days.
This plot is not new: the beautiful and charming man who after his death is found to have a very dark side; however, Ross does this story very well. There are lots of plot twists and heartbreak. I read this out of order, but I don't think it will matter. The books I have read so far do not rely on previous ones to understand the story.
A good page turner with plenty of plot twists. The mystery is set in England in 1825. Upper crust amateur sleuth Julian Kestrel has a valet whose former occupation was pickpocket which means that together they have access to all strata of society. This makes for an interesting view of the era in addition to a good yarn.
The 3rd Kate Ross book. Another tight mystery. Julian connects two seemingly unrelated events to solve two murders. With his urbane questioning, he solves the death of the well-liked, charming son of a high powered English lawyer. Who could have done such a terrible thing and left the wife so distraught?
Maybe it's that I came to this book with low expectations after not enjoying the first two. Maybe Ross really does get better. Or maybe this is truly a good book. Whatever the case, although I guessed most of the answers before they were revealed, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
More like a 3.5 -- not my favorite of the Julian Kestrel books, but definitely enjoyable enough that I grabbed it for a re-read when I came across it at the library. I think I need to go find the other three books and do a proper read-through of these again.
A good read; I liked this more than the second book, and I look forward to the last one. There are sadly only four of these, as the author died young.
Kestrel is a late-Regency dandy who has acquired curiously strong reputation as a detective after solving two murders amidst the English aristocracy. The mystery is a decent one, if a touch melodramatic, but it would have worked better for me if I hadn’t recently read another book with a very similar plot twist.
The writing is quite good and Kestrel...more
Kestrel is a late-Regency dandy who has acquired curiously strong reputation as a detective after solving two murders amidst the English aristocracy. The mystery is a decent one, if a touch melodramatic, but it would have worked better for me if I hadn’t recently read another book with a very similar plot twist.
The writing is quite good and Kestrel...more
I've read three of Kate Ross's Julian Kestrel mysteries in the past week, and they're really growing on me. I hadn't read a good mystery in a while and this is reminding me why I spent so much time on them before.
Kate Ross does an excellent job with this series. Julian Kestrel is a marvelous addition to the ranks of gentlemen detectivies. Ms. Ross was taken from us way too soon. More books would have been very welcome.
The strongest thus far of the Julian Kestrel series. The reader gains more insight into Kestrel's mysterious background while being taken through a well developed and detailed story with plenty of interesting twists toward the end. Once again I really enjoyed Ross' vivid use of Regency period details in conversation and description.
A very impressive mystery. I was interested and involved and had really no idea what the outcome would be. Unlike the first two books in the series, this one goes further into social commentary than most mysteries. This one had the feel of Dorothy Sayers to me.
I was wondering why there are only 4 novels in this fascinating series -- just read that she died in 1998. *sigh* Too young. Wonderful book, btw. Solid research, careful attention to detail...
This is second book I have read by this author. It is more involved than her first one. I'm sorry to find out that the author of this series died young and only wrote four books because I would love to read more about Julian Kestrel and the Regency period.
An excellent murder mystery, well crafted and meticulous in detail. It had me wondering and second guessing over and over again about who did it! Julian Kestrel, Regency London dandy of dubious lineage has made a name for himself as a solver of murder mysteries. Here he is enlisted by the victim's father to solve the murder of London's beloved Alexander Falkland who was found bludgeoned to death by a poker in his study. With a wealth of suspects, Julian sifts through the details and little evide...more
This second Julian Kestrel mystery was even more intriguing than the first, for me. Julian's character is slowly developing more and more and this book revealed snippets of his vague past. It was a well-written mystery and had plenty of twists and turns at the end, although I did figure out one of the major plot twists. Sadly, I was wrong about the other theories I had -- actually, I'm glad I didn't figure it all out. Too much Agatha Christie as a teenager spoiled me for easy mysteries. It's a s...more
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Kate Ross, born Katherine Jean Ross, was an American mystery author who wrote four books set in Regency-era England about dandy Julian Kestrel. The novels in the series are Cut to the Quick (1994), which won the 1994 Gargoyle award for Best Historical Mystery, A Broken Vessel (1995), Whom the Gods Love (1996), and The Devil in Music (1997), which won the 1997 Agatha Award for Best Novel. The Lulla...more
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“I think you’re extremely rude! And you’re doing it on purpose!”
“Of course. One should never be rude except on purpose.”
…”Why?”
…”Because one should never appear to anything without intent. It’s the secret of poise.”
—
4 people liked it
“Of course. One should never be rude except on purpose.”
…”Why?”
…”Because one should never appear to anything without intent. It’s the secret of poise.”
“I highly recommend cleanliness. It pleases women and annoys men, which are two excellent ways to get on in society.”
—
3 people liked it
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Jun 24, 2012 02:32pm