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The Dark Enquiry (Lady Julia, #5)
by Deanna Raybourn (Goodreads Author)
by Deanna Raybourn (Goodreads Author)
For some reason Raybourn's last book, Dark Road to Darjeeling, stayed in my TBR pile for a long time and it was only recently that I read it. Now I'm happy that I waited that long because the events that take place in that book have an impact in this latest and it was nice to have it all fresh in my mind.
Lady Julia and her husband Nicholas Brisbane have returned from their honeymoon and are settling into married life. Well, perhaps settling isn't the right word because when it comes to this partnership nothing will ever be truly settled. An uneasy truce might be the better description - especially as it pertains to Brisbane's work and Julia's attempts to become a part of that work. Because of his concern for her safety, Brisbane has decreed that Julia has to learn the tools of the detecting trade. To that end she is learning about guns and gunpowder (with the occasional inadvertent explosion) and has taken up photography so that she can be of help. When Brisbane attempts to lure Julia out of town with the promise of an investigation of her own, she becomes suspicious. Instead of following his plans for her, Julia follows Brisbane and discovers that he is working on a case involving Julia's brother, Lord Bellmont. Since Bellmont and Brisbane cordially dislike each other, Julia is concerned. What could possibly bring Bellmont to Brisbane for help? Julia's efforts to uncover the problem place her right in the middle of murder and espionage and at loggerheads with Brisbane.
As usual the ongoing development of Julia and Nicholas's relationship is well done. Though they have supposedly achieved their happy-ever-after by falling in love and getting married, Raybourn proves that there is story yet to tell for these two (and probably will be for many books to come, fingers crossed). The mystery is well-constructed and lays out possibilities for future story threads. Well done.
If you're wondering about the 4/5 star rating, I think it came down a bit in my estimation because of the permanent result of the penultimate scene. Trying to avoid spoilers, but I felt like that development was somewhat forced.
Lady Julia and her husband Nicholas Brisbane have returned from their honeymoon and are settling into married life. Well, perhaps settling isn't the right word because when it comes to this partnership nothing will ever be truly settled. An uneasy truce might be the better description - especially as it pertains to Brisbane's work and Julia's attempts to become a part of that work. Because of his concern for her safety, Brisbane has decreed that Julia has to learn the tools of the detecting trade. To that end she is learning about guns and gunpowder (with the occasional inadvertent explosion) and has taken up photography so that she can be of help. When Brisbane attempts to lure Julia out of town with the promise of an investigation of her own, she becomes suspicious. Instead of following his plans for her, Julia follows Brisbane and discovers that he is working on a case involving Julia's brother, Lord Bellmont. Since Bellmont and Brisbane cordially dislike each other, Julia is concerned. What could possibly bring Bellmont to Brisbane for help? Julia's efforts to uncover the problem place her right in the middle of murder and espionage and at loggerheads with Brisbane.
As usual the ongoing development of Julia and Nicholas's relationship is well done. Though they have supposedly achieved their happy-ever-after by falling in love and getting married, Raybourn proves that there is story yet to tell for these two (and probably will be for many books to come, fingers crossed). The mystery is well-constructed and lays out possibilities for future story threads. Well done.
If you're wondering about the 4/5 star rating, I think it came down a bit in my estimation because of the permanent result of the penultimate scene. Trying to avoid spoilers, but I felt like that development was somewhat forced.
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