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Liberty Lane #2
Death of a Dancer
Duelling, derring-do, and dastardly deeds are all in a day's work for Liberty Lane, a new heroine for fans of Georgette Heyer and Sarah Waters's Victorian novels. The Augustus theatre likes to put on a good show. But when a public spat erupts between two dancers on the London stage, it comes to a dramatic conclusion that definitely wasn't part of the one dead, the other arrested for murder. As far as the jury's concerned, it's an open-and-shut case, but Liberty Lane believes otherwise. Soon she's leading her own investigation, in a desperate race against the hangman's noose. And while the criminal underworld may be no place for a lady, there's no place for a criminal to hide once Liberty's on the case...
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Caro Peacock
25 books51 followersAka Gillian Linscott.
Caro Peacock grew up in a farmhouse that, for most of her childhood, contained half a dozen brothers, sisters and cousins, twice as many cats and dogs, no central heating and one bathroom that stopped working every time the spring that supplied it water silted up. This possible bred the habit of curling up in a quiet place with a book, and later, a passion for travel that led to a rather disrupted education. Somewhere along the line, she acquired a great interest in Victorian history––which she considers a much misunderstood period––and particularly the part played in it by independently minded women. Caro rides horses, climbs, trampolines and spends some time every year studying wild flowers in the Alps.
Caro Peacock is a pseudonym for Gillian Linscott.
Caro Peacock grew up in a farmhouse that, for most of her childhood, contained half a dozen brothers, sisters and cousins, twice as many cats and dogs, no central heating and one bathroom that stopped working every time the spring that supplied it water silted up. This possible bred the habit of curling up in a quiet place with a book, and later, a passion for travel that led to a rather disrupted education. Somewhere along the line, she acquired a great interest in Victorian history––which she considers a much misunderstood period––and particularly the part played in it by independently minded women. Caro rides horses, climbs, trampolines and spends some time every year studying wild flowers in the Alps.
Caro Peacock is a pseudonym for Gillian Linscott.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 30, 2011
4.5 stars
Really? Out of all of the pictures of yourself, this is the one you choose to display to the masses? She looks like one of those crazy old women who are over-protective of the pigeons in the park.
Hahahahahahaha! I'm off to feed the birds!
Does that have anything to do with the quality of the book? No, of course not. I'm just a mean person, and I needed an outlet for my crappy day. And really, I can't be the first person to think that this photo makes the author look less than sane.
So the book was good. Really good. In fact, it was much better than the first book in the series...at least as far as the mystery was concerned. This time around it was pretty interesting, even if it wasn't really a nail bitter.
Again, I found the best part of the book to be the bouncy style of the writing.
I would recommend this to someone looking for a fun mystery lite.
Really? Out of all of the pictures of yourself, this is the one you choose to display to the masses? She looks like one of those crazy old women who are over-protective of the pigeons in the park.
Hahahahahahaha! I'm off to feed the birds!
Does that have anything to do with the quality of the book? No, of course not. I'm just a mean person, and I needed an outlet for my crappy day. And really, I can't be the first person to think that this photo makes the author look less than sane.
So the book was good. Really good. In fact, it was much better than the first book in the series...at least as far as the mystery was concerned. This time around it was pretty interesting, even if it wasn't really a nail bitter.
Again, I found the best part of the book to be the bouncy style of the writing.
I would recommend this to someone looking for a fun mystery lite.
January 7, 2009
**Note: The U.S. version of this book is titled A DANGEROUS AFFAIR**
Caro Peacock's A Dangerous Affair is the follow-up to A Foreign Affair. Liberty Lane is adjusting to life on her own in Victorian England. Her father has died and her brother is away working for the East India Company. Liberty teaches music lessons to make her living, obviously not a well-to-do living. But, she is able to luxuriate in her morning rides on her beautiful horse Rancie, a final gift from her father. Even this joy she knows she will soon have to part with because she will not be able to afford Rancie much longer.
Daniel Suter is a close family friend. So when he is completely devastated by the arrest and conviction of his love, Jenny Jarvis, for a murder Liberty is convinced Jenny is innocent of, Liberty sets out to prove Jenny's innocence. But time is short. Liberty has about two weeks before they will hang Jenny from the gallows.
From page 1 of A Dangerous Affair, I felt as though I was stepping back into a Dickensian London. The novel opens in the jail cells of the Old Bailey with Daniel and Liberty having to pay off the gaoler to gain admittance to see Jenny following her trial and conviction. Daniel and Liberty obviously don't fit in, but they also appear to be of higher stature than they actually are, thus introducing a major theme of the novel: appearances.
The relationships of the characters in this novel have a hint of Dickens in them as well. There are of course the shallow characters focused solely on money and position; they were devoted to material possessions. But for those who valued the people in their lives more than money, there was completely selfless devotion; no false appearances. Sometimes an attempt at such devotion in characters can come across as forced, unbelievable, but Peacock's development of her characters made this devotion occur perfectly natural.
Liberty is a wonderful heroine. She's making the best of the situation she's been forced into by fate. She's a smart character and while she'll test the boundaries of propriety at times, she doesn't behave contradictory to society's mores. She does find them quite silly at times, but she isn't the rebel.
I have to say I was most taken with Amos Legge who works in the livery stable and takes Liberty out riding on Rancie. His position allows him to be "in the know" on all the gossip of London's wealthy. There is a slight mystery to Amos, but his devotion to Liberty is his most attractive quality. Another rather intriguing character is Lady Silverdale, a woman of wealth, but not deceiving appearances. Her devotion is to her family and her science. Lady Silverdale likes predictability, which science provides her, but her family deprives her of!
The depth and dimension of Peacock's characters makes Victorian London come alive on the pages. And her poetic language builds the stage on which they perform.
And perform they do. The plot is full of twists and turns, and I was definitely in the dark until almost the very end. Peacock gives the reader clues along the way, and you know they are clues, but how those clues fit together is the ultimate puzzle.
A Dangerous Affair is a romantic look at selfless relationships. It is a David and Goliath-type triumph, revealing the false appearances for what they really are; you will cheer!
I wasn't ready for A Dangerous Affair to end, but the conclusion led me to believe that this isn't the "end" for Liberty Lane. I'll be keeping my eyes open for this fascinating "problem solver" to resurface again in the future.
Caro Peacock's A Dangerous Affair is the follow-up to A Foreign Affair. Liberty Lane is adjusting to life on her own in Victorian England. Her father has died and her brother is away working for the East India Company. Liberty teaches music lessons to make her living, obviously not a well-to-do living. But, she is able to luxuriate in her morning rides on her beautiful horse Rancie, a final gift from her father. Even this joy she knows she will soon have to part with because she will not be able to afford Rancie much longer.
Daniel Suter is a close family friend. So when he is completely devastated by the arrest and conviction of his love, Jenny Jarvis, for a murder Liberty is convinced Jenny is innocent of, Liberty sets out to prove Jenny's innocence. But time is short. Liberty has about two weeks before they will hang Jenny from the gallows.
From page 1 of A Dangerous Affair, I felt as though I was stepping back into a Dickensian London. The novel opens in the jail cells of the Old Bailey with Daniel and Liberty having to pay off the gaoler to gain admittance to see Jenny following her trial and conviction. Daniel and Liberty obviously don't fit in, but they also appear to be of higher stature than they actually are, thus introducing a major theme of the novel: appearances.
The relationships of the characters in this novel have a hint of Dickens in them as well. There are of course the shallow characters focused solely on money and position; they were devoted to material possessions. But for those who valued the people in their lives more than money, there was completely selfless devotion; no false appearances. Sometimes an attempt at such devotion in characters can come across as forced, unbelievable, but Peacock's development of her characters made this devotion occur perfectly natural.
Liberty is a wonderful heroine. She's making the best of the situation she's been forced into by fate. She's a smart character and while she'll test the boundaries of propriety at times, she doesn't behave contradictory to society's mores. She does find them quite silly at times, but she isn't the rebel.
I have to say I was most taken with Amos Legge who works in the livery stable and takes Liberty out riding on Rancie. His position allows him to be "in the know" on all the gossip of London's wealthy. There is a slight mystery to Amos, but his devotion to Liberty is his most attractive quality. Another rather intriguing character is Lady Silverdale, a woman of wealth, but not deceiving appearances. Her devotion is to her family and her science. Lady Silverdale likes predictability, which science provides her, but her family deprives her of!
The depth and dimension of Peacock's characters makes Victorian London come alive on the pages. And her poetic language builds the stage on which they perform.
And perform they do. The plot is full of twists and turns, and I was definitely in the dark until almost the very end. Peacock gives the reader clues along the way, and you know they are clues, but how those clues fit together is the ultimate puzzle.
A Dangerous Affair is a romantic look at selfless relationships. It is a David and Goliath-type triumph, revealing the false appearances for what they really are; you will cheer!
I wasn't ready for A Dangerous Affair to end, but the conclusion led me to believe that this isn't the "end" for Liberty Lane. I'll be keeping my eyes open for this fascinating "problem solver" to resurface again in the future.
January 12, 2009
Caro Peacock's A Dangerous Affair: A Novel of Victorian England is an advanced reader's copy I received through the HarperCollins First Look program and will be published by HarperCollins' Avon imprint in early February 2009.
A Dangerous Affair is the sequel to A Foreign Affair and picks up with Liberty Lane right after the passing of her father. Her brother is away working with the East India Trading Company, and Liberty is left to earn her way in London as a music tutor. Her meager wages allow her to share lodgings with Mrs. Martley and she takes solace in riding her horse, Rancie, a gift from her father before his death. She has a network of friends who loved her father and have opted to care for her as well in his absence. David Suter is one of those friends and he composes music and leads orchestras at local theaters for a living.
This novel is set in London during the Victorian period, though the actions and language in the novel are more modern than a typical novel of this period. Despite this one drawback, readers will be easily sucked into the story as Liberty seeks to free the wrongly accused after a not-so-well-liked dancer, Columbine, is murdered backstage. From the prominent Mr. Disraeli to Amos Legge who works in the livery, the cast of characters in this novel aid Liberty in her quest to save David Suter's friend even at the expense of her own pride.
The Old Bailey and a number of other prominent landmarks make it easy for readers to discern where they are in London as Liberty adorns her Sherlock Holmes' deerstalker to track down the real killer of Columbine. This is an entertaining read with a variety of twists and turns.
A Dangerous Affair is the sequel to A Foreign Affair and picks up with Liberty Lane right after the passing of her father. Her brother is away working with the East India Trading Company, and Liberty is left to earn her way in London as a music tutor. Her meager wages allow her to share lodgings with Mrs. Martley and she takes solace in riding her horse, Rancie, a gift from her father before his death. She has a network of friends who loved her father and have opted to care for her as well in his absence. David Suter is one of those friends and he composes music and leads orchestras at local theaters for a living.
This novel is set in London during the Victorian period, though the actions and language in the novel are more modern than a typical novel of this period. Despite this one drawback, readers will be easily sucked into the story as Liberty seeks to free the wrongly accused after a not-so-well-liked dancer, Columbine, is murdered backstage. From the prominent Mr. Disraeli to Amos Legge who works in the livery, the cast of characters in this novel aid Liberty in her quest to save David Suter's friend even at the expense of her own pride.
The Old Bailey and a number of other prominent landmarks make it easy for readers to discern where they are in London as Liberty adorns her Sherlock Holmes' deerstalker to track down the real killer of Columbine. This is an entertaining read with a variety of twists and turns.
August 14, 2017
Second in the Liberty Lane mystery series, this book opens with Liberty meeting Mr. Disraeli on a ride in Hyde Park in London. Mr. Disraeli respects Liberty's ability to find and use information, and he asks her to find out about a dancer named Columbine. It happens that Columbine is dancing in the theater where Liberty's friend Daniel Suter is conducting the orchestra. Liberty is somewhat disconcerted to find that Daniel has a romantic interest in Jenny, one of the other dancers at the theater. The plot includes murder, and Liberty has quite a job tracking down the killer. Liberty's voice remains fresh and energetic. I like the choice of Disraeli for the real-life character; he's famous enough to recognize but has not been overdone in the world of historical fiction. I am now reading the third book in the series.
January 29, 2016
Following on from her first book, “A Foreign Affair,” Caro Peacock has written a stunning successor novel. She continues on with the story of plucky Liberty Lane, a young lady living by her own wits during the Victorian Age in London. In the first novel, readers met Liberty as she discovers the death of her own father. In “A Dangerous Affair,” the murder mystery centers around the death of a famed ballet dancer and a wrongly accused country girl who has come to the big city to fulfill her dream on stage.
It hardly matters if readers have begun the series with “A Foreign Affair,” because this historical mystery stands on its own and, indeed, surpasses the first in storytelling ability. Here, the plot is more streamlined, the characters more interesting, and Peacock is perhaps more in her element setting the story in London rather than jumping back and forth between France and England (as in the first book).
Liberty’s interest in the case stems from her relationship with a pianist in the orchestra at the theatre where the murder occurs. He is smitten with the accused murderess and certain of her innocence, but given the Victorian setting and lack of a clear suspect, it seems likely that the accused dancer will face the gallows. All of the descriptions of court scenes at Old Bailey and the prison are very interesting, as are the British class distinctions that seem to arise in these matters. Powerful friends in the upper class can make or break a case wide open.
Author Caro Peacock combines fictional and real characters from the Victorian age well. The Author Insights Section (which follows the main story of the novel) helps shed light on important persons of the time (such as Benjamin Disraeli) and describes how Peacock chooses to use those people to help tell her story. The author also seems comfortable with the world of theatre, and she gives strong voice to her women characters, not just Liberty Lane, but minor ones as well.
Whether or not “A Dangerous Affair” is read as a stand alone novel or part of a larger Liberty Lane series, one thing is certain: Readers will enjoy coming to know Liberty Lane and the age in which she lives. Her lively spirit, interesting friends, and London location are certain to draw readers in. She’s the perfect sleuth for her Victorian age, and the epitome of a modern woman
Merged review:
Following on from her first book, "A Foreign Affair," Caro Peacock has written a stunning successor novel. She continues on with the story of plucky Liberty Lane, a young lady living by her own wits during the Victorian Age in London. In the first novel, readers met Liberty as she discovers the death of her own father. In "A Dangerous Affair," the murder mystery centers around the death of a famed ballet dancer and a wrongly accused country girl who has come to the big city to fulfill her dream on stage.
It hardly matters if readers have begun the series with "A Foreign Affair," because this historical mystery stands on its own and, indeed, surpasses the first in storytelling ability. Here, the plot is more streamlined, the characters more interesting, and Peacock is perhaps more in her element setting the story in London rather than jumping back and forth between France and England (as in the first book).
Liberty's interest in the case stems from her relationship with a pianist in the orchestra at the theatre where the murder occurs. He is smitten with the accused murderess and certain of her innocence, but given the Victorian setting and lack of a clear suspect, it seems likely that the accused dancer will face the gallows. All of the descriptions of court scenes at Old Bailey and the prison are very interesting, as are the British class distinctions that seem to arise in these matters. Powerful friends in the upper class can make or break a case wide open.
Author Caro Peacock combines fictional and real characters from the Victorian age well. The Author Insights Section (which follows the main story of the novel) helps shed light on important persons of the time (such as Benjamin Disraeli) and describes how Peacock chooses to use those people to help tell her story. The author also seems comfortable with the world of theatre, and she gives strong voice to her female characters, not just Liberty Lane, but minor ones as well.
Whether or not "A Dangerous Affair" is read as a stand alone novel or part of a larger Liberty Lane series, one thing is certain: Readers will enjoy coming to know Liberty Lane and the age in which she lives. Her lively spirit, interesting friends, and London location are certain to draw readers in. She's the perfect sleuth for her Victorian age, and the epitome of a modern woman.
It hardly matters if readers have begun the series with “A Foreign Affair,” because this historical mystery stands on its own and, indeed, surpasses the first in storytelling ability. Here, the plot is more streamlined, the characters more interesting, and Peacock is perhaps more in her element setting the story in London rather than jumping back and forth between France and England (as in the first book).
Liberty’s interest in the case stems from her relationship with a pianist in the orchestra at the theatre where the murder occurs. He is smitten with the accused murderess and certain of her innocence, but given the Victorian setting and lack of a clear suspect, it seems likely that the accused dancer will face the gallows. All of the descriptions of court scenes at Old Bailey and the prison are very interesting, as are the British class distinctions that seem to arise in these matters. Powerful friends in the upper class can make or break a case wide open.
Author Caro Peacock combines fictional and real characters from the Victorian age well. The Author Insights Section (which follows the main story of the novel) helps shed light on important persons of the time (such as Benjamin Disraeli) and describes how Peacock chooses to use those people to help tell her story. The author also seems comfortable with the world of theatre, and she gives strong voice to her women characters, not just Liberty Lane, but minor ones as well.
Whether or not “A Dangerous Affair” is read as a stand alone novel or part of a larger Liberty Lane series, one thing is certain: Readers will enjoy coming to know Liberty Lane and the age in which she lives. Her lively spirit, interesting friends, and London location are certain to draw readers in. She’s the perfect sleuth for her Victorian age, and the epitome of a modern woman
Merged review:
Following on from her first book, "A Foreign Affair," Caro Peacock has written a stunning successor novel. She continues on with the story of plucky Liberty Lane, a young lady living by her own wits during the Victorian Age in London. In the first novel, readers met Liberty as she discovers the death of her own father. In "A Dangerous Affair," the murder mystery centers around the death of a famed ballet dancer and a wrongly accused country girl who has come to the big city to fulfill her dream on stage.
It hardly matters if readers have begun the series with "A Foreign Affair," because this historical mystery stands on its own and, indeed, surpasses the first in storytelling ability. Here, the plot is more streamlined, the characters more interesting, and Peacock is perhaps more in her element setting the story in London rather than jumping back and forth between France and England (as in the first book).
Liberty's interest in the case stems from her relationship with a pianist in the orchestra at the theatre where the murder occurs. He is smitten with the accused murderess and certain of her innocence, but given the Victorian setting and lack of a clear suspect, it seems likely that the accused dancer will face the gallows. All of the descriptions of court scenes at Old Bailey and the prison are very interesting, as are the British class distinctions that seem to arise in these matters. Powerful friends in the upper class can make or break a case wide open.
Author Caro Peacock combines fictional and real characters from the Victorian age well. The Author Insights Section (which follows the main story of the novel) helps shed light on important persons of the time (such as Benjamin Disraeli) and describes how Peacock chooses to use those people to help tell her story. The author also seems comfortable with the world of theatre, and she gives strong voice to her female characters, not just Liberty Lane, but minor ones as well.
Whether or not "A Dangerous Affair" is read as a stand alone novel or part of a larger Liberty Lane series, one thing is certain: Readers will enjoy coming to know Liberty Lane and the age in which she lives. Her lively spirit, interesting friends, and London location are certain to draw readers in. She's the perfect sleuth for her Victorian age, and the epitome of a modern woman.
January 27, 2009
It has been six months since the events in A Foreign Affair, and Liberty Lane has settled in London with her unusual household. She is starting to feel a financial pinch, however, and understands that her life cannot continue as it has been. Working as a music instructor does not provide the income she needs to care for her horse, herself, and provide lodgings for herself and her roommate. A letter from her brother in India--boldly telling her that she should marry Daniel Suter--combined with a visit from an aquaintance in Parliament sets her on a path to investigate a murder.
A Foreign Affair was a good book (I rated it four stars), but it was not amazing. It set the background for Libby and her friends, and it told a good story, but it suffered from a malady that often afflicts the first book in a series; it had to provide the set-up for the rest. Now that the stage is set, the readers don't really need to know the struggle that Liberty went through to create herself as an independent woman in London. Now we can get to the good stuff: how she lived as an independent woman. And that's what this book is: Good Stuff.
Caro Peacock fills this book with a delightful level of detail. She clearly knows the period, and she knows the side of life that Dickens was only ever willing to hint at with his Fallen Women. Liberty is not a Fallen Woman (not even in the eyes of someone like Dickens), but she is also not an Angel in the House. She is a character that takes risks in order to live life as she feels necessary. Reading only canonical books from the early Victorian period (such as our friend Dickens) may give the impression that Liberty is an anachronism, but she's not. One of Peacock's gifts is to show that a woman like Liberty could have existed. The Victorian period was not so staid and moral as history has made it out to be, and Peacock helps to reveal something closer to reality.
A Foreign Affair was a good book (I rated it four stars), but it was not amazing. It set the background for Libby and her friends, and it told a good story, but it suffered from a malady that often afflicts the first book in a series; it had to provide the set-up for the rest. Now that the stage is set, the readers don't really need to know the struggle that Liberty went through to create herself as an independent woman in London. Now we can get to the good stuff: how she lived as an independent woman. And that's what this book is: Good Stuff.
Caro Peacock fills this book with a delightful level of detail. She clearly knows the period, and she knows the side of life that Dickens was only ever willing to hint at with his Fallen Women. Liberty is not a Fallen Woman (not even in the eyes of someone like Dickens), but she is also not an Angel in the House. She is a character that takes risks in order to live life as she feels necessary. Reading only canonical books from the early Victorian period (such as our friend Dickens) may give the impression that Liberty is an anachronism, but she's not. One of Peacock's gifts is to show that a woman like Liberty could have existed. The Victorian period was not so staid and moral as history has made it out to be, and Peacock helps to reveal something closer to reality.
February 1, 2012
The second in a planned trilogy, A Dangerous Affair find Liberty Lane trying to survive on her own in early Victorian London. While teaching music lessons to make ends meet, Liberty relies on friends Amos Legge to care for her horse Rancie (a final present from her father) and Daniel Suter, a composer and orchestra leader, to provide employment recommendations and friendship. When Liberty's brother Tom, stationed in India, writes that she should marry Suter, Liberty rushes to the theater where Daniel is working, hoping to tell Daniel to ignore any correspondence Tom may have sent to him. Once at the theater, Liberty sees that this won't be an issue as Daniel has a lady love, Jenny Javis, a fresh young ballet corp member.
When the brash young politican Disraeli approaches Liberty for information regarding Columbine, a notorious ballet dancer, Liberty is drawn back to the theater where Daniel is working. During a performance of the ballet, Liberty is shocked to see the headliner, Columbine, physically attack Jenny on stage. When Columbine turns up dead in her dressing room, all signs point to Jenny, who has gone into hiding. Daniel implores Liberty to find out who actually killed Columbine and save Jenny from the gallows.
This installment is written much clearer than the first, with the mystery aspect well plotted, with lots of twists, turns and red herrings. The period setting is concise without overpowering the story. A well narrated cast of characters leave me looking forward to the next volume.
When the brash young politican Disraeli approaches Liberty for information regarding Columbine, a notorious ballet dancer, Liberty is drawn back to the theater where Daniel is working. During a performance of the ballet, Liberty is shocked to see the headliner, Columbine, physically attack Jenny on stage. When Columbine turns up dead in her dressing room, all signs point to Jenny, who has gone into hiding. Daniel implores Liberty to find out who actually killed Columbine and save Jenny from the gallows.
This installment is written much clearer than the first, with the mystery aspect well plotted, with lots of twists, turns and red herrings. The period setting is concise without overpowering the story. A well narrated cast of characters leave me looking forward to the next volume.
April 25, 2014
Our heroine Liberty Lane is all alone save for a brother who is serving in India. He gives his blessings to her to marry Daniel Suter, who is a very good friend of hers. She likes him but marriage is not in her agenda. She barely makes through by giving music lessons.
A well known dancer, Columbine is murdered by poison. A young dancer is arrested for the crime. Daneil is heart broken as he has fallen for that girl. Liberty takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of the crime. Now, a young politician, Benjamin Disraeli had asked Liberty to find out all about Columbine before she was murdered. Columbine was a notorious woman, with many liaisons. She had more enemies than friends.
Liberty is hot on trail and in the way she finds the murky way the royalty works. The novel has rich imaginative settings and a likeable protagonist and a good plot. All these elevate the novel.
A well known dancer, Columbine is murdered by poison. A young dancer is arrested for the crime. Daneil is heart broken as he has fallen for that girl. Liberty takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of the crime. Now, a young politician, Benjamin Disraeli had asked Liberty to find out all about Columbine before she was murdered. Columbine was a notorious woman, with many liaisons. She had more enemies than friends.
Liberty is hot on trail and in the way she finds the murky way the royalty works. The novel has rich imaginative settings and a likeable protagonist and a good plot. All these elevate the novel.
December 28, 2010
I'd forgotten about this series. This is the second book by Caro Peacock - the author is a literary reincarnation of Gillian Linscott. By the looks of it I really enjoyed the first in the series when I read it a couple of years back but I'd since forgotten about it. This story took me a little while to get into but I romped through it after that. The central character is Liberty Lane - a feisty young lady in early Victorian London - I suspect the author has thought it all through and Liberty isn't completely anachronistic, though even if she is it doesn't change the fact that this is well written and entertaining. I think I'll read the third in the series soon before I forget about it again!
March 14, 2012
Review Snippet: "This story is highly addictive and totally absorbing. I was saddened at closing this book each evening, leaving it to sit on the nightstand, like a siren calling me in further and deeper.
I was engrossed from the first chapter. Peacock is a skilled writer who had me bamboozled as to "who dun nit", and I can safely say, you will never see the end coming.
All of the characters are really enjoyable. Liberty is such an intelligent and passionate person that taking this romp through Victorian England, through her eyes, is just a wonderful journey."
Full Review: http://bookywooks.blogspot.com.au/201...
I was engrossed from the first chapter. Peacock is a skilled writer who had me bamboozled as to "who dun nit", and I can safely say, you will never see the end coming.
All of the characters are really enjoyable. Liberty is such an intelligent and passionate person that taking this romp through Victorian England, through her eyes, is just a wonderful journey."
Full Review: http://bookywooks.blogspot.com.au/201...
June 17, 2011
I liked this book, it follows Liberty Lane and her myriad casat of friends to find out what happened to a ballet dancer who was murdered. It is a must read for people who like to read in the Victorian genre. Benjamin Disraeli is even featured in this book. It was a compelling read and had me sitting on the edge of my seat, the book flowed easily from chapter to chapter. It is a great who dunit in the classic Agatha Christie style.
March 18, 2013
This series goes from strength to strength, very enjoyable, this was also called Death of a Dancer.
February 17, 2009
Compelling characters, nicely plotted, good read.
March 20, 2012
Enjoyable read, great setting, good story.
April 22, 2019
This is a very smart and entertaining Victorian mystery series.
Liberty Lane is a young woman who finds herself without a father, brother or other male relative to act as her protector. She is well educated and shares the radical Republican leanings of her now deceased father. She does have her fathers friends who are mostly artists and musicians. They do the best they can to help her with good intentions and minimal money. She also has Mrs. Martley an older former midwife who was left over from a previous case and now has taken over as Miss Lane's caretaker. While Liberty may be short on cash she does have her gorgeous horse and a groom/friend in Amos Legge alone with her very sharp brain.
This book finds Liberty in London with her small entourage in tow. She is trying to make her way in the world by teaching music while enjoying her rides in the park with Rancie and Amos. Mr. Disraeli presents to her a task that he would like for her to undertake. He would like information about a dancer who has returned to London with resulting ripples of unease throughout the aristocracy. When that dancer turns up murdered backstage and another dancer is arrested for the crime, Miss Lane is drawn in even deeper. When the accused has the attention and affection of Mr. Daniel Suter, an old friend of Liberty's father who has helped her, she can not turn her back on finding the real murderer.
This is a very well written and smart mystery. Miss Lane is an anomaly of her time but is aware of the rules of society that she both breaks and keeps. The characters have a depth to them and a realness that I appreciate. There are more shades of grey than there are black and white. This is a great book for anyone interested in historical fiction or murder mysteries. I can't wait to read the next book.
Liberty Lane is a young woman who finds herself without a father, brother or other male relative to act as her protector. She is well educated and shares the radical Republican leanings of her now deceased father. She does have her fathers friends who are mostly artists and musicians. They do the best they can to help her with good intentions and minimal money. She also has Mrs. Martley an older former midwife who was left over from a previous case and now has taken over as Miss Lane's caretaker. While Liberty may be short on cash she does have her gorgeous horse and a groom/friend in Amos Legge alone with her very sharp brain.
This book finds Liberty in London with her small entourage in tow. She is trying to make her way in the world by teaching music while enjoying her rides in the park with Rancie and Amos. Mr. Disraeli presents to her a task that he would like for her to undertake. He would like information about a dancer who has returned to London with resulting ripples of unease throughout the aristocracy. When that dancer turns up murdered backstage and another dancer is arrested for the crime, Miss Lane is drawn in even deeper. When the accused has the attention and affection of Mr. Daniel Suter, an old friend of Liberty's father who has helped her, she can not turn her back on finding the real murderer.
This is a very well written and smart mystery. Miss Lane is an anomaly of her time but is aware of the rules of society that she both breaks and keeps. The characters have a depth to them and a realness that I appreciate. There are more shades of grey than there are black and white. This is a great book for anyone interested in historical fiction or murder mysteries. I can't wait to read the next book.
October 20, 2017
Meh. It took nearly 100 pages for this story to get going, even though the action starts on page 1. And we spent a large portion of the book rehashing details we already knew. Peacock included a transcript of the trial, which introduced only one minor fact. And, my biggest pet peeve of all, she hid the vital clue from the reader until the final reveal.
It’s also been a long time since I’ve read the first book in the series, and I could have used more summary of the characters and their current states in life.
It’s also been a long time since I’ve read the first book in the series, and I could have used more summary of the characters and their current states in life.
June 16, 2026
4 stars
This is the first book I've read by this author, and did not realize it was book 2 in a series until after I finished it. Luckily, it can be read as a standalone novel. It almost felt like Victorian London meets Murder, She Wrote. I haven't read many murder mysteries, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and did not realize it was book 2 in a series until after I finished it. Luckily, it can be read as a standalone novel. It almost felt like Victorian London meets Murder, She Wrote. I haven't read many murder mysteries, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 16, 2019
Not a fan. I chose to read this mystery /drama as a way of stepping out of my genre of reading. It is a decent read, though hard for me to judge. Takes place during Victorian era in a much visited theater. The lead is murdered, hence the drama unfolds.
February 20, 2021
A light Victorian mystery, keeping readers enthralled with each twist and turn. And such a likeable protagonist too!
April 8, 2009
Review is based on an ARC.
I love a good mystery; even more, I love a good story. Caro Peacock's A Dangerous Affair is both. As with all good mysteries, the story starts further than halfway along the series of events to get the reader hooked. While the method is sound, the hook in this case is a little weak. The characters mean nothing to the reader as of yet, and we have a hard time caring how they feel about each other and what they think about the events. Fortunately, the story moves along quickly and you need not spend much time fretting about the first few pages. I was quickly drawn into the murder of one of "London's most beautiful dancers" and the whodunit aspect of the story. As time rapidly diminishes, the characters are thrown into a whirlwind of activities, accusations, and discovery of information, speeding toward their hope for justice.
Tracking a victorian music teacher through her investigatory adventures in a mere 300 pages, the reader is confronted with an intriguing political figure, a trashy dancer and her meek, sweet, perfect competition, a country boy with a heart of gold and an ear for all the town's gossip, a childish man of stature, and a surprising variety of other actors, most of whom the reader feels some connection to. I found myself engaged and moved by almost all of the characters, though, surprisingly, not the main two. I felt that the actions and emotions of Ms. Lane and her best friend Daniel necessary to the story, but I was not at all moved by their plight on a deeper level. Rather, I found myself drawn to Mr. Disraeli (incidentally, based upon a real historical figure), Amos Legge, and even Kennedy as the real heart and soul of the story.
I flew through the pages even while surrounded by conversations, and I insisted on finishing the novel once I arrived at work, resigning myself to later hours worked so I could learn all that Peacock could tell me!
Highly recommend to anyone with a taste for mystery. I also note that, while the novel is set in victorian times, it is not weighed down with victorian details.
I love a good mystery; even more, I love a good story. Caro Peacock's A Dangerous Affair is both. As with all good mysteries, the story starts further than halfway along the series of events to get the reader hooked. While the method is sound, the hook in this case is a little weak. The characters mean nothing to the reader as of yet, and we have a hard time caring how they feel about each other and what they think about the events. Fortunately, the story moves along quickly and you need not spend much time fretting about the first few pages. I was quickly drawn into the murder of one of "London's most beautiful dancers" and the whodunit aspect of the story. As time rapidly diminishes, the characters are thrown into a whirlwind of activities, accusations, and discovery of information, speeding toward their hope for justice.
Tracking a victorian music teacher through her investigatory adventures in a mere 300 pages, the reader is confronted with an intriguing political figure, a trashy dancer and her meek, sweet, perfect competition, a country boy with a heart of gold and an ear for all the town's gossip, a childish man of stature, and a surprising variety of other actors, most of whom the reader feels some connection to. I found myself engaged and moved by almost all of the characters, though, surprisingly, not the main two. I felt that the actions and emotions of Ms. Lane and her best friend Daniel necessary to the story, but I was not at all moved by their plight on a deeper level. Rather, I found myself drawn to Mr. Disraeli (incidentally, based upon a real historical figure), Amos Legge, and even Kennedy as the real heart and soul of the story.
I flew through the pages even while surrounded by conversations, and I insisted on finishing the novel once I arrived at work, resigning myself to later hours worked so I could learn all that Peacock could tell me!
Highly recommend to anyone with a taste for mystery. I also note that, while the novel is set in victorian times, it is not weighed down with victorian details.
August 20, 2015
A Dangerous Affair is an excellent period piece and a good, but not great, mystery. The author has clearly done her research. There are lots of nifty historical details that make London come alive, and the courtroom scenes are gripping, as if you were reading the testimony straight out of a period newspaper.
As for the mystery, top marks for having a plot that hangs together nicely and requires no insane leaps of logic. Unfortunately, there's just too much talking. Liberty does little beyond walking around interviewing people. I know the Sherlock Holmes mysteries are anything but credible, but at least they were exciting. I could see sacrificing plausibility for the sake of drama.
The writing is well done, clear and easy to follow. Liberty's character is well developed, though the others seem more like props or foils for her than individual people in their own right.
I might pick up the other books in this series. One personal note that grates on me: I hate name-dropping in books, and there's no particular reason for Benjamin Disraeli to be included as a character. The author's note--which is fascinating, by the way--makes it seem that Peacock would have liked to write a nonfiction biography instead of a mystery, but failing that, settled for including Disraeli as a minor plot device. Other readers may not find this as irritating as I do.
As for the mystery, top marks for having a plot that hangs together nicely and requires no insane leaps of logic. Unfortunately, there's just too much talking. Liberty does little beyond walking around interviewing people. I know the Sherlock Holmes mysteries are anything but credible, but at least they were exciting. I could see sacrificing plausibility for the sake of drama.
The writing is well done, clear and easy to follow. Liberty's character is well developed, though the others seem more like props or foils for her than individual people in their own right.
I might pick up the other books in this series. One personal note that grates on me: I hate name-dropping in books, and there's no particular reason for Benjamin Disraeli to be included as a character. The author's note--which is fascinating, by the way--makes it seem that Peacock would have liked to write a nonfiction biography instead of a mystery, but failing that, settled for including Disraeli as a minor plot device. Other readers may not find this as irritating as I do.
March 26, 2014
Duelling, derring-do, and dastardly deeds are all in a day's work for Liberty Lane, a new heroine for fans of Georgette Heyer and Sarah Waters's Victorian novels. The Augustus theatre in Victorian London likes to put on a good show. But when a public spat erupts between two dancers on the London stage, it comes to a dramatic conclusion that definitely wasn't part of the script: one dead, the other arrested for murder. As far as the jury's concerned, it's an open-and-shut case, but Liberty Lane believes otherwise. Soon she's leading her own investigation, in a desperate race against the hangman's noose. And while the criminal underworld may be no place for a lady, there's no place for a criminal to hide once Liberty's on the case!
January 17, 2017
3.5 Stars from me. Book 2 in this Victorian England sleuthing series by Caro Peacock was a quick enjoyable read for me. Liberty Lane is an interesting character. She's an unmarried female in the Victorian Era experiencing life in London almost all on her own. She has a sidekick named Amos who has chosen to stay in London and lives nearby. She mingles with the theatre crowd that knew her father (who was murdered in book 1) and solves crimes. These books are pretty good...a tad bit predictable and formulaic so far, but I find quick reads comforting at times. I'm not in a hurry to read the other 5 or so books in the series, but if I spot them at Half Price Books, they will definitely be added to my collection.
August 31, 2011
Caro Peacock delivers another adventure involving Liberty Lane. This was a great read with plenty of twists and turns as well as a glimpse into history that has been used by a fiction writer in an exciting way. I look forward to reading more of these stories and I am inspired by Caro Peacock and her writing. Writers are having fun writing their fiction and that is a good reminder for me that it is not all serious business! Caro Peacock rides, climbs and trampolines as well as studying wildflowers. She also developed an interest in women in Victorian society. These are some of the details about her life that she shares. I hope others will enjoy these as much as I have so far.
January 30, 2016
Also titled 'Death of a Dancer'.
This protagonist, Liberty Lane, is wonderful. I'm loving this series, but for some reason this second book didn't work as well as others - I can see why the author may have attempted this structure, but it didn't quite come off; the first dramatic scene wasn't actually very dramatic or engaging, and then a large slab of the book was spent describing how we got to the point in the beginning. Possibly the female we see in the beginning (Jenny) is just too pathetic and sappy for our sympathy - we are used to the robust attitudes and wry humour of Liberty Lane. (All the other books I've read so far are incredibly enjoyable.)
This protagonist, Liberty Lane, is wonderful. I'm loving this series, but for some reason this second book didn't work as well as others - I can see why the author may have attempted this structure, but it didn't quite come off; the first dramatic scene wasn't actually very dramatic or engaging, and then a large slab of the book was spent describing how we got to the point in the beginning. Possibly the female we see in the beginning (Jenny) is just too pathetic and sappy for our sympathy - we are used to the robust attitudes and wry humour of Liberty Lane. (All the other books I've read so far are incredibly enjoyable.)
February 24, 2010
I may have enjoyed this book a bit better than the first. I believe the "twist" in the first one was fairly predictable, but this one kept me guessing more. Some of the characters weren't as fleshed out as I would have liked, especially Daniel. He was a little over-the-top at moments. On the whole, though, it was an enjoyable read.
August 18, 2011
The second time I've read this book featuring amateur sleuth, Liberty Lane, a forward thinking Victorian woman and I enjoyed it as much as the first time. Peacock writes well and clearly knows her era. Her earlier books, written under the name of Gillian Linscott, about a suffragette are also favourites of mine.
September 18, 2015
A good fast read, sort of a murder mystery that takes place in early Victorian England. Liberty Lane is a strong independent resourceful female protagonist. She interacts with Disraeli. I think this is the second book in a series, the first being "A Foreign Affair" so maybe we can expect more of "Libby".
January 5, 2009
This was an enjoyable read - not anything monumnetal in the world of literature, but it kept me engaged. I don't usually read mysteries, but this was my first ARC from Harper Collins First Look program. I will have my complete review there...
March 11, 2009
Not as good as "A Foreign Affair" but still a nice quick read. Some parts are better than others--Benjamin Disraeli is in the book way too much. But Libby Lane is still very endearing and clever. Can't wait to read the next one!
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