I’d say this was a return to form. I was a bit down over the last few books. I think they were a bit fantastical and unbelievable in parts (I still don’t buy the Sherringford disguise or the reason behind them ‘pretending’ to have an affair). This was a nice old fashion murder with a side of embezzlement LOL
I think they’ve also successfully navigated into the next stage of Charlotte and Ash’s relationship. Unlike Veronica and Stoker, which I found, a bit irritating? There is a better dynamic here imo.
One of my complaints would be the overly melodramatic prose, which I feel is more apparent now that Livia is playing a bigger part. But it’s bearable.
One of my praises would be for Charlotte’s character as an autistic woman. It feels familiar and to me, accurate. I especially like the way they are representing autism and love/desire.
In terms of plot and character development, it is nice to see Inspector Treadles trying to change his view point. And Miss Redmayne playing a larger part is nice too. I would love to see what Henrietta is like in future books. I also liked the sisterhood displayed between Mrs Treadles and Mrs Cousins. And the odd relationship between Mrs Sullivan and Mrs Portwine was interesting 🤣
In terms of themes, I appreciated the acknowledgement of the many different ways society restricts (and judges) women, and the way many of the female characters rejected/fought against/did their best to work with these. The many strong (in their varied ways) women characters is a huge draw of the series to me.
Categories: Book Reviews
Leave a Reply