These books about the Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane are amid of a light mystery with a hunk of romance thrown in and while I don't mind a bit of romance, this book seemed to have a rather hefty dose this time around. Brisbane gets himself an estate, albeit one that is falling apart, and when J...
I discovered this series a few years ago, upon the recommendation of the lovely folks at the Seattle Mystery Bookshop (located in Seattle, of course). The series takes place in England (mostly) in the 1800s. Lady Julia Grey comes from a family of wealthy and eccentric aristocrats. She manages ...
This book did not grab me like the others... Lady J & Mr B are settling into married life while she continues to inject herself into the inquiry business totally ignoring the warnings of her smexy hubby's real dangers of the inquiry business. Sadly, I found her prattling-whining about her husband...
I thoroughly enjoy reading about Nicholas and Julia Brisbane, a fine British couple who hail from very different backgrounds. She is the Lady Julia, daughter of a Lord, and Nicholas, born to a gypsy mother. Makes for an interesting read.I started with the first book in this series and have not ...
I'm a fan of Deanna Raybourn's "Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane" series, and while the librarian here in Carrollton, Miss., borrowed "The Dead Travel Fast" for me, "Dark Enquiry" is supposedly on its way to me. I read and returned the "vampire" novel and enjoyed it, too! A happy ending for the C...
Another great one by Deanna Raybourn! This book had a great love story, a mystery, and just enough supernatural elements to keep you guessing what is real and what is folklore. The love story was well written as usual too, and it even had me wondering whether these two would even get a happy endi...
This was a short introductory piece that did its job well by giving me a taste of what I could expect in 'A Spear of Grass'. This is not my first rodeo with this author so I went into this story with a high level of expectation and was not disappointed. The author has the ability to immerse the...
"LET THE WICKED BE ASHAMED, AND LET THEM BE SILENT IN THE GRAVE." These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry a...
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 deeds are afoot at the deconsecrated abbey, and a murderer roams the ancient cloisters. Much to her surprise, the one man she had hoped to forget—the ...
It required little imagination to deduce the source. I opened my eyes to find Mr. Stoker turned on his side away from me, his feet resting on my pillow, a scant inch from my face. I pinched his toe hard, eliciting a howl of outrage. “What the devil ...
—Romeo and Juliet, II.ii.67 Charlotte blinked twice then yanked off her cap, taking with it the dull wig of mouse-brown hair. “Thank God. That filthy thing makes my head itch.” “I can well imagine,” I told her. “When did you realise it was me?” &nbs...
He left me at the garden gate and I went into the house alone, every bone aching. Dora had left food for me and a note saying the men had disposed of the corpses in the barn and scrubbed it out and that she was spending the night with the Halliwells. I ignored the food and poured a drink and sett...
—William Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing The departure of Lady Allenby was accomplished with a great deal less excitement than I would have expected. Godwin had told Ailith and Hilda of their sister’s arrival, and the ladies met in the entry hall where we had all assembled to bid farewell to...
He divides his time between his Sussex estate, Bellmont Abbey, and his London home where he is active in Parliamentary debate, particularly over the question of Irish Home Rule. His hobbies are Shakespearean studies and quarrelling with his hermit. His children are: Freder...
There was a daring green feather in my cloche, and green gloves to match. My feet were neatly shod in high French heels and my stockings were the sheerest silk. I had planned on wearing a plain dark grey affair with very little embellishment, but Masterman had firmly squashed that notion. &...
Evie’s Aunt Dove said severely. Evie held her breath. “I’m sorry. You’ve been an angel. I’m just wondering if I’ve lost my nerve.” She darted a glance towards the ancient cheval glass, but Aunt Dove pricked her lightly with a pin. “Ouch!” Evie sucked her finger, glowering at her aunt. “I did tell...
—The Rainy DayRabindranath Tagore “Julia, is that you? What the devil are you doing under that shrub?” demanded my brother. I sighed. It was the fourth interruption of the morning, and if I did not have peace and quiet, I could not hope to catch my prey. “Yes, it is I. Do be quiet, Plum,” I order...
I lifted my wind-roughened face to the golden warmth. Soon it would be hot, searing everything below including us, but for the moment, I could worship it. I closed my eyes and sniffed deeply, smelling the few scrubby plants that managed to survive. There was something that smelled like sage, and ...
The weather was fair with crisp mornings and a bit of unexpected sunshine to warm the noon hour. We spent the days in playing with Little Jack and taking the children for walks into Narrow Wibberley, where they were much admired, and we spent freely to encourage goodwill. ...
Flasks of pear brandy were passed from hand to hand, and although I was offered mine in a cup—for my gorgio blood was unclean to them and would taint the shared bottle—it was kept full. There were stories told in a tongue I did not speak, but Brisbane murmured interpretations to me. There was dan...
—Othello, II, iii, 31 January 2, 1890 “Julia, I shall count to ten. If you aren’t thoroughly awake by then, I am going to dash the contents of this pitcher into your face, and I warn you, I’ve only just cracked the ice on the surface of it.” My sister’s voice pierced the l...
Mindful of Brisbane’s warning, I started every time Aquinas spoke to me. I waved Henry off when he would have lit the fire in the study, and I dismissed Morag as soon as she had unlaced my corset, pleading a headache. The only peace I had had the entire evening was the hour I spent with Simon, ch...