Review - Murder in Drury Lane

 Teaser: "Bringing a vibrant edge and welcome diversity to the Regency genre, this exciting historical mystery from award-winning author Vanessa Riley features an engaging heroine with an independent streak, a notorious past, and a decided talent for sleuthing . . "

"With impeccable attention to period details, a vividly evoked setting, a cast of richly nuanced characters, and a captivating plot that fully embraces the challenges and oft-overlooked diversity of the Regency era, Riley's second stunning addition to her Lady Worthing series." --Booklist on Murder in Drury Lane

My review of the prior book in the series :

1) Murder in Westminster (click here) 

Author: Vanessa Riley

Copyright: October 2023 (Kensington) 340 pgs

Series: 2nd in Lady Worthing Mysteries

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical cozy mystery, historical amateur sleuth

Main Characters: Lady Abigail Worthing, unhappy in a marriage of convenience

Setting: 1806, London, England

Obtained Through: Library

Blurb: "Pressed into a union of convenience, Lady Abigail Worthing’s marriage to an absent lord does at least provide some comforts, including a box at the Drury Lane Theatre, owned by the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Abigail has always found respite there, away from the ton’s judgmental stares, the risks of her own secret work to help the cause of abolition—and her fears that someone from her past wants her permanently silenced. But on one particular evening everything collides, and the performance takes an unwelcome turn . . .

 Onstage, a woman emits a scream of genuine terror. A man has been found dead in the prop room, stabbed through the heart. The magistrate, keen to avoid bringing more attention to the case and making Lady Worthing more of a target, asks Abigail not to investigate. But of course, she cannot resist . . .

 Abigail soon discovers a tangled drama that rivals anything brought to the stage, involving gambling debts, an actress with a parade of suitors, and the very future of the Drury Lane Theatre. For Abigail the case is complicated further, for one suspect is a leading advocate for the cause dearest to her heart—the abolition of slavery within the British Empire. Uncovering the truth always comes at a price. But this time, it may be far higher than she wishes to pay." 

Lady Abigail "Abbie" Worthing is independent and intelligent trying to carve out her own path in an environment which often restricts female individuality. She is also a Baroness via marriage.  Her close relationships make this story. Commander Stapleton Henderson is her next door neighbor and a physician. "It's complicated" describes Abigail and Stapleton's relationship.  He is recently a widower and she hasn't seen her husband since they got married a few years ago, but they are clearly good for each other and given different circumstances would have been great romantic partners.

Florentina Sewell, her cousin makes a great sidekick and somebody she can turn to.  Mr. Neil Vaughn is her godfather who is connected to the power players of England and is protective of Abbie. He also played a role in her mother leaving her father to complicate things.  These characters are heartfelt and I love them.

The reader is immersed in Regency London with the theater filled with secrets, shadows, tunnels, taverns, and societal expectations and cultural nuances that are all richly layered throughout.  Gently woven into this tapestry is gender and class issues of the time. 

The blurb hints at Abbie's secret support of equal rights (abolition) and how that, and her being black, could have her in danger which is one plot thread plus the murder at the theater which becomes personal. The theater is her escape, her nurturing place, and somebody has violated that.  Then to complicate matters, her neighbor Stapleton Henderson knows and has personal interest in the man who was murdered. It's a great setup that develops with suspense and emotion, mystery and danger.  This all makes the pacing flow along beautifully.

The killer reveal and confrontation is satisfying and tense but also explanatory. The wrap up delivered a bit more of the scales of justice leveling out for a good closure.  I am already looking at the next book in the series since I hadn't kept up.  

My Thoughts:   I have to admit I love this series. Author Vanessa Riley masterfully spins a truly entertaining tale mixing a finely plotted mystery with vibrant characters I have become investing in.  As the second book, I believe it may have been ever better that the stellar first book. Kudos.  I am a super-fan now.

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

Musing - 2024 Book of the Year

 My second annual Book of the Year where I share the best out of the books I read in the year.  I looked over the books I reviewed for 2024 by month and filtered it down to one standout book for 2024.  Many of the books I read were fun and entertaining, but this book stayed with me well after I finished it.  This has turned out to be a favorite series.

Book of the Year: 

Locked in Pursuit by Ashley Weaver 

Book Blurb:  "Safecracker Ellie McDonnell hasn’t seen Major Ramsey—her handsome but aloof handler in the British government—since their tumultuous mission together three months before, but when she hears about a suspicious robbery in London she feels compelled to contact him. Together they discover that a rash of burglaries in the city all lead back to a hotbed of spies in the neutral city Lisbon, Portugal, and an unknown object brought to London by a mysterious courier.

  As the thieves become more desperate and their crimes escalate, it becomes imperative that Ellie and Ramsey must beat them at their own game. Fighting shadowy assailants, enemy agents, and the mutual attraction they’ve agreed not to acknowledge, Ellie and Ramsey work together to learn if it truly takes a thief to catch a thief."

  My Thoughts:  Ellie continues looking into her mother's death in jail for the murder of her father, but she is soon busy with helping Major Ramsey which only gets her into bigger trouble.  Major Ramsey the disciplined military man with high society background has stayed away from Electra, but will he remain so stoic as they work together again? Felix Lacey is still in the picture but what is he involved in with travel he won't talk about?  Uncle Mick gets enlisted to aid again and the housekeeper Nacy is the nurturing presence Electra needs in this uncertain, ever changing time.

  This outing is just as thrilling as the others and doesn't disappoint.  There is plenty going on beyond just spys around the mission, Electra "Ellie" manages to get herself indebted to a gangster plus another man for favors that could backfire on her.  The pacing is brisk and even though I'm normally a slow reader, I flew through this book.  Several heart-pounding and heart-wrenching scenes that make this a compelling read.  This is a great addition to the Electra McDonnell series, kudos.

   The two runners up from my reviews are:

Death at a Scottish Christmas by Lucy Connelly (click here)

Murder in Westminster by Vanessa Riley (click here)

Review - The Man Who Died Twice

 I had read The Thursday Murder Club (book 1), but apparently I didn't post a review of it.  Shame on me.  I apologize profusely.  Since I dropped the ball, let's review a little about the first book's success.

The Thursday Murder Club won the Sounds of Crime Award in 2021 for the audiobook and won the Platinum Bestseller Award for selling over 1 million copies in the UK in 2020.

The debut novel also was nominated for the Edgar Award in 2021,  the Anthony Award for first novel in 2021,  the Macavity Award in 2021, the Barry Award for First Novel in 2021, the British Book Award shortlisted for Audiobook in 2021, and the CrimeFest Award shortlisted in 2021.

Plus the novel is being adapted into a film by Stephen Spielberg's company.  Filming reportedly finished September of 2024 so it should be released this year.  It is supposed to be in theaters prior to streaming on Netflix.  The cast is full of stars with Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan,  Celia Imrie, and David Tennant.  I am anxious to see it and review the movie here.

But, today is a review of the second book in the series.  If you have read it, please leave a comment on how you felt it stacked up to the wildly popular first book.

Author: Richard Osman

Copyright: September 2021 (Penguin Books) 365 pgs

Series: 2nd in Thursday Murder Club Mysteries

Sensuality: Minimal descriptions of violence

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth, British Mystery

Main Character: Elizabeth Best, 76 year old ex-spy for British Secret Service

Setting: Modern day, Cooper's Chase Retirement Village, near the fictitious village of Fairhaven in Kent, Britain

Obtained Through: Library Find

Book Blurb: "Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim—the Thursday Murder Club—are still riding high off their recent real-life murder case and are looking forward to a bit of peace and quiet at Cooper's Chase, their posh retirement.

But they are out of luck when an unexpected visitor—an old pal of Elizabeth's (or perhaps more than just a pal?)—arrives, desperate for her help. He has been accused of stealing diamonds worth millions from the wrong men and he's seriously on the lam." 

The stars of this show are the slightly eccentric, yet relatable senior citizens: Whip smart Elizabeth is a former cunning spy of some renown;  calm and clever Joyce was a nurse who documents their exploits in her journal;  the endearing rogue Ron was a prior union activist; and soft spoken Ibrahim was a psychiatrist.  Plus DCI Chris and PC Donna are highlighted with their personal challenges. In this book, each character gets a chance to shine in their own right.  But for me, Ibrahim's journey this time really plucked my heart strings.  This ensemble cast is golden and their individuality and care for one another makes the book shine.

Set in the quaint retirement village of Cooper's Chase in the English countryside.  This setting is English cozy community personified, while giving an intriguing tension just under the surface.  The setting seems idyllic, but even in this second outing it becomes clear it isn't perfect nor is it altogether safe.

The plot involves a cold case with present day threats when a man from Elizabeth's past appears seeking her aid and thus the Thursday Murder Club has their next investigation. The pacing kept me engaged as much for the characters and their stories as the twisty plot. The subplots revolve around the group's friendship, aging difficulties and challenges, and humor all wrapped around a tantalizing murder mystery maze.

The climactic killer reveal was pretty much a surprise since I didn't figure it out until two or three pages before all was laid bare.  I liked how Elizabeth worked the confrontation, manipulating a scene that flushed out the missing puzzle piece to tie all threads off and resolve everything.  I like how these seniors bring about a sequence of events to get justice, even if they are a little unorthodox in their methods.  This kept me glued to the book, flipping pages with the common "just one more chapter" refrain.

In the wrap up all loose ends are dealt with and some character challenges are brought to resolution with tender care.  I particularly like the last few pages as it brought a lump to my throat for its compassion.

My Thoughts:  Initially I had a hard time getting into the story, but it didn't take long for that to change.  These four mature characters have a magic between them like the best of some shows that create devoted fans to their characters.  It's "Friends" combined with "RED" and that is a potent recipe.   

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

Have you read it?  What were your thoughts?  Please share in the comments.  Are you looking forward to the movie?

Review - A Traitor in Whitehall

 "Romance, feminism, and historical detail combine in an exciting new series." –Kirkus Reviews

“A cast of opinionated side characters and a wealth of fascinating historical details add to the fun in this engaging, atmospheric series kickoff.” –BookPage

"Kelly spins an Agatha Christie-esque mystery . . . thoroughly delightful and well-researched."―Susan Elia MacNeal    

As you can see, this book got some high praise.  Let's see what all the hub bub is about, shall we?  So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let’s dive into this book.

Author: Julia Kelly

Copyright: Oct 2023 (Minotaur) 304 pgs

Series: 1st in Evelyne Redfern Mysteries

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical cozy mystery, historical espionage cozy

Main Character: Evelyne "Ellie" Redfern, new secretary in Winston Chuchill's secret underground "War-Room" bunker 

Setting: 1940, London, England

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb:  "1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.

However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.

With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?"

Ellie is immediately relatable—intelligent, independent (living out on her own), and a touch sassy, which I liked.  These qualities serve her well as she navigates the male-dominated world of Whitehall (general name for British Government).  She embodies the spirit of women during the war, stepping up and out of their traditional roles to serve their country.

Ellie ends up sleuthing with David Poole, who is secretive and maybe even... a touch brooding, but definitely has an air of mystery that made me guess whether he was an ally or enemy. Their interactions are filled with a mix of tension and camaraderie.  This was effective and left me flipping pages to see if it was a potential romance or a betrayal.  

The supporting characters provide touches of comic relief and some insightful commentary. From the sharp-witted secretary who offers devastatingly on-point advice, Ellie's room-mate who is the opposite of her, to the elderly war veterans sharing bits of wisdom over cups of tea, added depth to the story.

Set against the backdrop of World War II with seamlessly interwoven fine details of routines and life in the underground barracks, from the bunks for sleeping, sunlamp treatments, and rigorous precautions to keep everything secret.  It is this weaving of true events into the story that is so immersive.  Kelly’s ability to bring 1940s London to life and the, unimaginable for us, palpable tension of wartime as London is being bombed nightly by the Nazis. 

The plot revolves around a clandestine web of spies and traitors lurking in the corridors of the war-rooms. The story follows Ellie as she is thrown into the covert world of espionage in the underground maze of the war room bunker.  Ellie, a mystery novel aficionado, is drawn into this dangerous game since she discovered the murdered girl.  Besides, she was sent to "observe" as well as type and take dictation, so it's part of her job, right? She quickly finds nothing is as it seems, and she doesn't dare trust anybody.  

The pacing moves along steadily with all the secret meetings, coded messages, and whispers of betrayal like a top cat-and-mouse deadly game, or is it spy-vs-spy?  The witty banter one moment and then life-threatening decisions and situations in the next keep the story rocketing along.

The writing deftly handles various emotional and atmospheric tones, which I just love.  Kelly balances humor with suspense, which kept me engaged throughout.

The cherry-on-top is the romantic under currents threaded throughout. The gentle slow burn romance complements the story perfectly.  War doesn't stop attraction and interest!

The killer confrontation is a tense scene with an unexpected resolution, but probable.  I love a more daring-do climatic killer reveal/confrontation, but this was satisfying - so I'm happy.

The wrap-up was perfect and sets up Ellie for continuing in clandestine work.  I'm hoping she will work with the handsome David Poole again in the next novel, which I'm getting right away since I was late getting to this debut novel.

Conclusion:  If you're in the mood for a delightful blend of history, mystery, and the allure of espionage, then this is the perfect book for you.  This is a delicious romp through history with its deftly plotted storyline of intrigue, a cast of characters I loved, and a narrative that handles tension and levity flawlessly. 

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend. 

Here is a video tour of the very same Cabinet War Rooms that are used in the book.  I was very fortunate to take this tour last year when I went to London.  Well worth the tour fee.  But this will make the book more real.

Mystery Movie Review - Dead Again

 Some call this a neo-noir romantic thriller and others call it a psychological thriller. I classify it as a gothic mystery/thriller in the vein of Hitchcock. It was released August 23, 1991, in the United States, and October 25, 1991, in the United Kingdom. It was entered into the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 1992.

Movie Blurb: "When a mute woman suffering from amnesia (Emma Thompson) arrives at the gates of an old orphanage, private investigator Mike Church (Kenneth Branagh) is asked to find out who she is. With the help of a hypnotist (Derek Jacobi), the woman regains her voice and recalls vivid past memories of a couple from the 1940s torn apart by murder. Church begins to develop feelings for the woman, who he calls Grace, and then discovers he has a connection to the tragic couple from the 40s."

What's It About?:  In the late 1940s, after the Second World War, composer Roman Strauss and pianist Margaret Strauss have a whirlwind romance and marry.  Something goes horribly wrong and one night Margaret is murder with a pair of scissors and Roman is convicted for the murder.  In modern day, a woman looking exactly like Margaret Strauss appears at an orphanage unable to speak and without her memory.  Private investigator Mike Church, who looks like Roman Strauss, is enlisted to find out who she is.  After some hypnotherapy, the woman finds her voice and relates the story of Margaret and Roman as if it were a memory.  She becomes convinced the modern day Mike with kill her like Roman had Margaret.  But there are twists and turns and more to the problem than just that. 

Written by Scott Frank

Directed by Kenneth Branagh 

Starring:

Kenneth Branagh playing dual role of Mike Church and Roman Strauss (1949)

Emma Thompson playing dual roles of Grace and Margaret Strauss (1949)

Derek Jacobi

Andy García 

Wayne Knight 

Robin Williams 

Hanna Schygulla 

The film cast includes three Oscar winners: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson and Robin Williams; and two Oscar nominees: Andy Garcia and Patrick Doyle.

Awards:

Jacobi was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Patrick Doyle, who composed the film's music, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.

Rotten Tomatoes: 81% 

Reviews:

"[W]hile this film may not make literal sense in the harsh light of day, in the twilight, shadowy world of classic Hollywood this slyly inventive thriller is bravura bit of old fashion entertainment, done up with modern flair."  Sean Axmaker, Stream on Demand

"Be grateful for the genuine amusement Dead Again supplies. It may be cotton candy, but it's well spun." David Ansen, Newsweek

"His film is both a good mystery movie and a good movie-movie; its sheer "movieness" is what gives the picture its kick. As his career progressed, Branagh may very well have made better films than 'Dead Again.' But he never made another one this fun."  Jason Bailey, DVDTalk.com

"As the twists come thick and fast and the plot gets progressively more and more baroque, Branagh shows himself to be at least as intelligent as Brian De Palma in delivering over-the-top stylistic filigree." Jonathan Rosenbaum

Trivia (mostly IMDB): 

• Dame Emma Thompson and Sir Kenneth Branagh were married when this movie was filmed and premiered. They divorced in 1995.
• It was while making this movie that producer Lindsay Doran discovered that she shared a great love of Jane Austen with her leading lady, Dame Emma Thompson. She then asked Thompson to adapt one of Austen's novels for her next project, Sense and Sensibility (1995).
• This was Branagh's first real go at a sustained American accent, and he would go out in Los Angeles to practice it with strangers. No one seemed to notice or care.
• The home used as the Roman Stauss' mansion-turned-Christian orphanage is located in Pasadena, CA. They added the front gate and extra towers to maximize the gothic nature.
• This movie was shot entirely in color. It was decided during editing, however, that the movement between past and present could be made clearer by printing the Roman and Margaret scenes in black-and-white. 
• A lacquer box containing an antique pair of scissors, seen late in the movie, has Japanese characters on it that translate into "These are for you," a recurring line of dialogue in the movie.
• The convent is the same building that was used for exteriors of Bruce Wayne's house in Batman (1966).
• Two additional double roles (besides Mike/Roman and Grace/Margaret) are in this movie: the nun at the orphanage turns up as a snooty starlet at a party in the 1940s, and the cop at the mental hospital is seen again as an obnoxious party guest.
• When we first meet Mike Church, he's parked on the wrong side of the street. Most people thought this was a nod to director Sir Kenneth Branagh's British heritage. The real reason is because Branagh wanted some Los Angeles skyscrapers visible in the background.
• Being one of his few horror/thriller movies, Robin Williams didn't want his name to appear in the opening credits, as it might have misled audiences into thinking that this movie was a comedy.
• The scene with Grace and Mike walking along the lake at night was shot at Echo Park in Los Angeles three months after the rest of the movie. It was felt that the scene was needed to show the characters growing closer together.

My Thoughts:

I was completely invested in this movie and on the-edge-of-my-seat.  The few twists added to it and the noir feel with the black-and-white past shots and dramatic music propelled it along.  IMHO, this is a stylish take on a murder mystery that turns the genre on its head by introducing reincarnation to add to the suspense.  It's not perfect, but it was entertaining and I'll be going back to this one again.

The camera work is spot on and both Branaugh and Thompson give stellar performances, but Derek Jacobi (a personal favorite) and the three scenes with Robin Williams are fantastic.  I heard about this movie on a Facebook classic movie fan page and I'm happy I followed up and watched it.  

I heartily recommend.

Movie Trailer