Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
93rd out of 786 books
—
1,640 voters
A Broken Vessel (Julian Kestrel Mysteries #2)
by
Kate Ross
No detection team was ever more mismatched: Julian Kestrel, the debonair and elegant Regency dandy, and Sally Stokes, a bold and bewitching Cockney prostitute and thief. But one night Fate throws them together, giving them the only clue that can unmask a diabolical killer. It all starts in London's notorious Haymarket district, where Sally picks up three men one after the...more
Paperback, 289 pages
Published
June 1st 1995
by Penguin Books
(first published 1994)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,223)
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Our Dandy detective Julian Kestrel discovers his manservant sneaking a prostitute into the house - only the prostitute is Dipper’s sister, who’s just been beaten up by a client and who has just stumbled across a Mystery. (Busy night.) Julian becomes unaccountably interested in both the girl and the Mystery, and detecting hijinks ensue.
This is a pleasant enough read, but it lacks the charm of the first book. Julian has less personality here and we are not given any further insight into his charac...more
This is a pleasant enough read, but it lacks the charm of the first book. Julian has less personality here and we are not given any further insight into his charac...more
In this volume, Ross visits the seamy underside of London society - the world of prostitutes, thugs, and reformers. In the 1830s, it's never far away from the 'high society' that lives just down the road.
Much of the point-of-view is not Kestrel's but of Sally Stokes, his valet's sister. The three of them work to unravel the mystery of a letter that Sally, er, found. As usual, the truth is complicated, and arrived at partly by accident, with side issues and more than one tragedy unfolding.
Ross...more
Much of the point-of-view is not Kestrel's but of Sally Stokes, his valet's sister. The three of them work to unravel the mystery of a letter that Sally, er, found. As usual, the truth is complicated, and arrived at partly by accident, with side issues and more than one tragedy unfolding.
Ross...more
In some ways a lot stronger than her first Kestral novel (Cut to the Quick), in other ways weaker. Julian and co. have to deal with yet another anonymous dead woman, only this time they're aided by Dipper's sister Sally, who, while feisty and clever, ultimately embarks on a very unbelieveable romantic relationship with Julian. There's more action and actual sleuthing rather than parlor-room theoretical discussions, which makes this plot work a lot better than the somewhat exposition-heavy Cut to...more
Jun 13, 2012
Mary
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-detective,
historical-fiction
I enjoyed this for the characters and for the cant. Julian Kestrel is a dandy with a reformed pickpocket (Digger) as his valet. Digger's sister turns up. A prostitute who also practices a little light finger work, Sally starts the mystery off with a letter from a damsel in distress that she has acquired along with the handkerchiefs of 3 of her evening customers. Solving the mystery keeps Kestrel entertained for the length of the novel. There is a lot of 'telling' in this book. The story is advan...more
Mar 29, 2012
Wealhtheow
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of Dorothy Sayers
Shelves:
historical,
victorian
Julian Kestral is such a dandy that his style is copied everywhere, but his true gift is in sleuthing. When his valet's sister stumbles upon a chilling letter, he takes the case. The mystery is twisty and dark, and solved through a combination of legwork, wit and courage. I love the dialog in these books, which is snappy but always feels natural. The relationships between characters are my favorite part. Dipper and his master, Kestral, live together in a wonderfully symbiotic way, and his sister...more
Meh. The mystery was OK, but I really didn't buy the relationship between our hero, Julian, and Sally, the prostitute sister of Julian's valet. It seemed kind of icky all around, given the power and class differential. And the part where the valet figured out they had slept together, and was HAPPY about it because it made him and his boss kind of like blood-brothers in some way? Eww. I'm also not a big fan of the Dr. MacGregor character. He's too much a caricature, and he doth protest too much (...more
A lovely mystery, by a writer who died of breast cancer at 41. It sares many of the virtues and defects of the best historical mysteries. The research is scrupulous, the characters are charming, derivative but unique, and the mystery is complex and interesting. The trouble is the ending. So much has been unraveled that to tie it all back together again requires, in this case, fifty pages of more or less unbelievable exposition. It's not that the "solutions" are bad, it's that they go on forever....more
As much as I love these books, there is something inherently sad about reading them. I know that with each passing book--as I am falling more and more in love with this series--I am getting closer and closer to the end.
I am now halfway finished and am trying to decide: should I rush forward and buy the next book, or should I wait awhile and try to draw out concluding this series as long as possible?
This book itself is every bit as charming as its predecessor. I thought Sally was a delightful cha...more
I am now halfway finished and am trying to decide: should I rush forward and buy the next book, or should I wait awhile and try to draw out concluding this series as long as possible?
This book itself is every bit as charming as its predecessor. I thought Sally was a delightful cha...more
(3.5 stars) The second book in the Julian Kestrel series involves the sister of Julian's valet, Dipper. Sally has been estranged from her brother, and has been working as a prostitute. She meets her brother again after being with 3 clients one evening, one of whom beats her. Dipper takes her back to Julian's home to help her recover. Sally likes to take "souvenirs" from her clients to sell and earn extra money, particularly handkerchiefs. She finds a note among her takings, from a woman who is i...more
Another gem; I loved it almost as much as Cut to the Quick.
One night, a prostitute name Sally Stokes picks up three separate men. She swipes a handkerchief from each of their pockets in the hope of selling them later. After a bad run-in with John #3, whom she refers to as 'Blinkers', she runs into her brother, who just happens to be manservant to one Mr. Julian Kestrel.
Kestrel discovers a letter hidden in one of the handkerchiefs. Problem is, he's not sure which handkerchief it came from and, of...more
One night, a prostitute name Sally Stokes picks up three separate men. She swipes a handkerchief from each of their pockets in the hope of selling them later. After a bad run-in with John #3, whom she refers to as 'Blinkers', she runs into her brother, who just happens to be manservant to one Mr. Julian Kestrel.
Kestrel discovers a letter hidden in one of the handkerchiefs. Problem is, he's not sure which handkerchief it came from and, of...more
Ross, Kate – A Broken Vessel – G+
Julian Kestrel, the Regency dandy, teams with Sally Stokes, a cockney prostitute who helps him solve a clever and devilish murder. One night, as is her custom, Sally steals a handkerchief from each of her three clients. In one, she finds a letter from a woman being held against her will and begging for help. A concerned and frightened Sally runs into her brother, a reformed pickpocket and Kestrel's valet. Soon she and Kestrel are matching wits to find the owner o...more
Julian Kestrel, the Regency dandy, teams with Sally Stokes, a cockney prostitute who helps him solve a clever and devilish murder. One night, as is her custom, Sally steals a handkerchief from each of her three clients. In one, she finds a letter from a woman being held against her will and begging for help. A concerned and frightened Sally runs into her brother, a reformed pickpocket and Kestrel's valet. Soon she and Kestrel are matching wits to find the owner o...more
I so enjoyed both the Kate Ross books that I happened onto. They fit so well in the best tradition of the historical romance. I liked them better than Georgette Heyer, which is saying a lot. So I picked up the next two inthe series. Unfortunately, there are only two more, since Kate Ross died of cancer befoer she could write any more. Anyone who has read and loved C. S. Harris's Sebastien St. Cyr series will see a well-done predecessor to her hero in Julian Kestrel.
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it. I know that Kate Ross is known for getting the slang and other language right, but I felt like it got in the way of the storytelling. It felt like she wanted to show off all her words, to the point that it was hard to understand what anyone was talking about. I think the first book had a little bit of this problem, but since Dipper was the only one who talked like that, it was easier to stay with the flow of the book.
That said, it was a well-plotted m...more
A fantastic follow-up to Cut to the Quick, with a very different mystery and setting, but even more of the inimitable Julian Kestrel. Julian's getting more into the swing of things, as a detective, and now he's on his own turf in Regency London. He is thrown out of his element a bit by the introduction of Dipper's sister, Sally, who brings a crime his way and provides him with an often hilarious counterpart. I'm curious to see how Sally figures into the later books, but I'm trying not to gobble...more
A satisfying mystery told from the point of view of 19th century London prostitute. There is a fair amount of old time English slang but it is fairly easy to catch on to what it means. It starts with a mysterious letter hinting at a women in distress with more questions developing, seemingly in unrelated directions. The answers are revealed in a satisfying finale.
Somewhat disappointing second book in the series. I'd hoped for more development of the two main characters in this one - individually and their relationship - but instead there's a mostly uninteresting side character who does much of the detecting. I still liked it, but I don't think it's even as good as the first, let alone better.
Another enjoyable story about Julian Kestrel. Nice to see him meet his match, and what an unlikely pair! But then, I can't imagine anything less for Kestrel. For me, the plot had a few twists in it, but everything seemed to follow logically. Nice to see a little background for Dipper, and a chink in the armor of Julian Kestrel.
I really enjoyed this mystery set in London in the Regency period. Strong characters, a complex mystery with a satisfying enough solution, and the cockney wordplay was a lot of fun.
I have a hard time finding mysteries I enjoy. The genre, to me, seems to be too often short on characters worth caring about, and high on cliched situations. But this book was an exception, and I definitely plan to read others in the Julian Kestrel series.
I have a hard time finding mysteries I enjoy. The genre, to me, seems to be too often short on characters worth caring about, and high on cliched situations. But this book was an exception, and I definitely plan to read others in the Julian Kestrel series.
Julian Kestrel has a valet, a former pickpocket, who has a sister, a prostitute. Sally likes to steal keepsakes from her clients, and one night her haul includes a letter from a lady in distress. She, Dipper, and Julian would like to help the lady, but Sally doesn't know which man she stole the letter from. Sally lights up the usual intricate psychological plots enjoyed by Kestrel and his readers. I'd call this my favorite mystery read so far this year.
I dearly needed a novel and this filled the bill. But lordy, what an anachronistic bundle of romance among the Dickensian grime. The dialogue is handled well. But the characters in this strictly proscribed historical social setting seem to have very little awareness of class or morality.
Set in Regency England, Julian Kestrel is a dandy slightly modeled after Beau Brummel. He's not rich and not a member of the aristocracy, just well known for being extremely well-dressed and witty. He's also a bit bored and has a habit of trying to solve mysteries. In A Broken Vessel, he hooks up with his valet (and former picket pocket) Dipper's sister, a prostitute names Sally. Together the three characters work to solve the mysterious letter Sally stole from one of three men she serviced the...more
A very readable mystery - Julian Kestral is a rather delicious Victorian dandy, and the addition of Sarah Stokes, a rather plucky prostitute, as a co-detective is truly inspired. The book is enlivened by rather soft spots of humour throughout. Really a fun read.
I wish I could give this book 3.5 stars. It was a vast improvement over the first entry in the series (Cut to the Quick), but I still find Kestral a bit one-dimentional. I will keep reading the Ross's other efforts if I come across them.
A mystery featuring Julian Kestrel--Julian, a debonair and elegant regency dandy is solving a mystery with the help of Sally Stokes, a bold and bewitching cockney prostitue and thief. Together they unmask a diabolical killer.
I really liked this mystery novel. I haven't read the first Julian Kestrel book so I cannot compare them. I thought Ross did a fine job of weaving a story that kept us guessing and thinking. This was a very fun vacation read!
Combine a Coventry Garden prostitute and a society dandy to look into the oddity of an anonymous stolen letter and you get A Broken Vessel. I was willing to suspend belief to read this one, but doubt I'll try others
Kate Ross does an excellent job with this series. Julian Kestrel is a marvelous addition to the ranks of gentlemen detectives. Ms. Ross was taken from us way too soon. More books would have been very welcome.
An unlovely topic handled in the usual Kate Ross manner. The writing is good, the subject not so savory. Human trafficking and prostitution underlie the murder Julian Kestrel must solve. Uncomfortable read.
Great mystery and great characters, composed by a great writer -- and an absolutely fabulous main character in Julian Kestrel! It's too bad the author passed away after writing only four J.K books!
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
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
More about Kate Ross...
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
