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Crowther and Westerman #1
Instruments of Darkness
Thornleigh Hall, seat of the Earl of Sussex, dominates its surroundings. Its heir is missing, and the once vigorous family is reduced to a cripple, his whore and his alcoholic second son, but its power endures. Impulsive Harriet Westerman has felt the Hall's menace long before she happens upon a dead man bearing the Thornleigh arms. The grim discovery cries out for justice, and she persuades reclusive anatomist Gabriel Crowther to her cause, much against his better judgement; he knows a dark path lies before those who stray from society's expectations. That same day, Alexander Adams is killed in a London music shop, leaving his young children orphaned. His death will lead back to Sussex, and an explosive secret that has already destroyed one family and threatens many others.
438 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
179 people are currently reading
7,175 people want to read
About the author
Imogen Robertson
19Ìýbooks452ÌýfollowersImogen Robertson grew up in Darlington, studied Russian and German at Cambridge and now lives in London. She directed for film, TV and radio before becoming a full-time author and won the Telegraph’s ‘First thousand words of a novelâ€� competition in 2007 with the opening of Instruments of Darkness, her first novel. Her other novels also featuring the detective duo of Harriet Westerman and Gabriel Crowther are Anatomy of Murder, Island of Bones and Circle of Shadows. The Paris Winter, a story of betrayal and darkness set during the Belle Époque, will be published in the US by St Martin's Press in November 2014. She has been short-listed for the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger twice and is married to a freelance cheesemonger.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 642 reviews
June 9, 2015
6/9/15: Edited to mark spoilers, just in case.
Meh.
It should have been interesting. The plot elements were all there. It's set in 1780, so you have the backdrop of England fighting the colonial upstarts as well as unrest at home--specifically the Gordon Riots, which I hadn't heard of before, and normally that grabs me. But...meh. It didn't help that the introductory chapter interwove the two plots in a moderately confusing way and then continued jumping from one to another throughout the book AND THEN introduced a third storyline later on. It's set up as a murder mystery, but
On the other hand, leopards do tear apart one of the villains, so it wasn't a total loss.
Meh.
It should have been interesting. The plot elements were all there. It's set in 1780, so you have the backdrop of England fighting the colonial upstarts as well as unrest at home--specifically the Gordon Riots, which I hadn't heard of before, and normally that grabs me. But...meh. It didn't help that the introductory chapter interwove the two plots in a moderately confusing way and then continued jumping from one to another throughout the book AND THEN introduced a third storyline later on. It's set up as a murder mystery, but
On the other hand, leopards do tear apart one of the villains, so it wasn't a total loss.
May 23, 2013
This was a very enjoyable debut novel from a clearly talented new author, one which introduces a great new 'detective' duo in Gabriel Crowther and Harriet Westerman.
Set in England in the year 1780, the novel begins with the forward-thinking and feisty Westerman securing the help of the reclusive anatomist Crowther after discovering a murder victim on her lands. She suspects that someone at the neighbouring Thornleigh Hall estate has something to do with the murder and she also believes that things go on at Thornleigh Hall that have to be kept secret. On the same day, a man named Alexander Adams is murdered in his music shop in London. Are the two cases linked? So begins a convoluted, gothic murder mystery (a sort of Sherlock Holmes/CSI mash-up) involving several different plot strands with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing right up until the end.
This is a very character driven story and the leading duo of Crowther and Westerman are two of the most interesting new characters that I have read about in a long time. Harriet Westerman is clearly a woman ahead of her time. She is forward-thinking, impulsive, determined and doesn't suffer fools gladly. Despite being a woman of high social standing, she is also very down-to-earth and is not afraid to use her quick, and sometimes sarcastic wit. Gabriel Crowther is the complete opposite of Westerman. He is a recluse who would much rather keep his own company and absorb himself in his work as an anatomist than spend time with any of his neighbours. However, it is clear that he does have a past and Robertson keeps us hooked by throwing in little snippets of information throughout the book, although by the end he is still something of an enigma. I suspect that more will be revealed about him in the subsequent books involving these two characters. Westerman and Crowther work extremely well together and their separate character traits complement each other really well. Watching their relationship develop is one of the most intriguing parts of the whole novel and also provides the frequently dark storyline with an element of much needed humour.
The 18th century setting is extremely well researched and is brought vividly to life by Robertson. Through her descriptions, you can see, hear and smell all the aspects of 18th century life and really picture yourself as being right there in the middle of it all.
Now for the negatives. The plot is made up of three separate strands which weave together as the story unfolds. I found initially that it was slightly confusing in keeping track of who was who and in which sub plot they were involved in, although this did become clearer as time went on. I also personally felt that the third sub plot involving one of the heirs to Thornleigh Hall's experiences in the American Revolution/ War of Independence dragged on a bit at times. It was interesting and harrowing to read about but it could have been cut down a little bit in my opinion. I also found it quite easy to guess who the murderer was but their motives remained a mystery until the end so this did not affect my overall enjoyment that much at all.
Overall, this was a well-written historical mystery with sone exceptionally likeable characters and enough intrigue and suspense to keep you turning the pages. It was not perfect but it was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading Robertson's other books that also feature Crowther and Westerman. I highly recommend this book so settle down and enjoy.
Set in England in the year 1780, the novel begins with the forward-thinking and feisty Westerman securing the help of the reclusive anatomist Crowther after discovering a murder victim on her lands. She suspects that someone at the neighbouring Thornleigh Hall estate has something to do with the murder and she also believes that things go on at Thornleigh Hall that have to be kept secret. On the same day, a man named Alexander Adams is murdered in his music shop in London. Are the two cases linked? So begins a convoluted, gothic murder mystery (a sort of Sherlock Holmes/CSI mash-up) involving several different plot strands with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing right up until the end.
This is a very character driven story and the leading duo of Crowther and Westerman are two of the most interesting new characters that I have read about in a long time. Harriet Westerman is clearly a woman ahead of her time. She is forward-thinking, impulsive, determined and doesn't suffer fools gladly. Despite being a woman of high social standing, she is also very down-to-earth and is not afraid to use her quick, and sometimes sarcastic wit. Gabriel Crowther is the complete opposite of Westerman. He is a recluse who would much rather keep his own company and absorb himself in his work as an anatomist than spend time with any of his neighbours. However, it is clear that he does have a past and Robertson keeps us hooked by throwing in little snippets of information throughout the book, although by the end he is still something of an enigma. I suspect that more will be revealed about him in the subsequent books involving these two characters. Westerman and Crowther work extremely well together and their separate character traits complement each other really well. Watching their relationship develop is one of the most intriguing parts of the whole novel and also provides the frequently dark storyline with an element of much needed humour.
The 18th century setting is extremely well researched and is brought vividly to life by Robertson. Through her descriptions, you can see, hear and smell all the aspects of 18th century life and really picture yourself as being right there in the middle of it all.
Now for the negatives. The plot is made up of three separate strands which weave together as the story unfolds. I found initially that it was slightly confusing in keeping track of who was who and in which sub plot they were involved in, although this did become clearer as time went on. I also personally felt that the third sub plot involving one of the heirs to Thornleigh Hall's experiences in the American Revolution/ War of Independence dragged on a bit at times. It was interesting and harrowing to read about but it could have been cut down a little bit in my opinion. I also found it quite easy to guess who the murderer was but their motives remained a mystery until the end so this did not affect my overall enjoyment that much at all.
Overall, this was a well-written historical mystery with sone exceptionally likeable characters and enough intrigue and suspense to keep you turning the pages. It was not perfect but it was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading Robertson's other books that also feature Crowther and Westerman. I highly recommend this book so settle down and enjoy.
May 25, 2019
This book would have gotten 5 stars from me if not for the revelation of WhoDunnit!! Let this be a lesson to authors. The first 5/6ths of the book were wonderful. A nicely intricate mystery set in the English countryside and London; involving missing heirs, blackmail, and so on. And a great time frame--1780--Not Regency!!
I really enjoyed our investigators and the apparent bad guy was appropriately slimy. But the revelations at the end(during the climactic confrontation)had me going WTF? Where did that come from??!!??
Here's hoping the next one has all the kinks ironed out.
I really enjoyed our investigators and the apparent bad guy was appropriately slimy. But the revelations at the end(during the climactic confrontation)had me going WTF? Where did that come from??!!??
Here's hoping the next one has all the kinks ironed out.
November 16, 2011
Tension builds from the moment Mrs Westerman, genteel proprietress of Caveley Park, forces her acquaintance on reclusive anatomist Gabriel Crowther, wealthy man of secrets and possessor of many strange and distasteful objects, in search of his help in dealing with the death of a stranger in her copse.
It doesn't let up. It ratchets up every time Mrs Westerman or Mr Crowther are on stage. There are flashbacks to Mrs Westerman's neighbor, Lord Hugh Thornleigh, in combat during the American conflict...these aren't immediately obviously relevant to the story, and I think I'd've recommended the author introduce them differently than her editor did, but have patience...and introduce us to Claver Wicksteed, then an Army procurement officer and now steward of Thornleigh, the seat of the Earls of Sussex. Then we meet the Countess of Sussex, and our central cast is complete.
The body count rises, as it must in a mystery, and the characters begin to see that they're engaged in a grisly gavotte around one central puzzle: How low can a human being sink, regardless of high birth, and how can justice seem so far from just?
Like all good mystery writers, Robertson takes us round the houses by changing the angle of view several times. She's very good at this. What seems awful becomes right and good; what seems reliably good stinks like old fish before she's done with us. Fear not: The wise and the just are rewarded! Just that they're also made to get dirty in the process.
There are first-novel issues with the book, of course, like the Parthenon being described as a round building in Rome (PANTHEON!) and the persistent misunderstanding of how one addresses Earls, Countesses, and their offspring (Earls are "Lord {Name of earldom}", their wives "Lady {Name of earldom} unless that countess is the daughter of a fellow earl or higher, in which case she's ALWAYS "Lady {Firstname}" no matter who she's married to, sons and heirs of earls are Viscounts and addressed as "Lord {Name of viscounty" even when very young, younger sons are "Lord {Family name}" and daughters of earls are "Lady {Firstname}" all their lives, etc etc). Most of this is the editor's fault. The author should be able to rely on him or her to catch these sorts of factual oopsies.
Still and all...the pleasures of reading this book are many, and *evil chortle* you'll all have to wait until at least 2011 to find out 'cause the book ain't available here yet! I borrowed mine from our own Suzanne/Chatterbox, so there nyah!
But it's recommended. Really and truly. Too good to miss.
It doesn't let up. It ratchets up every time Mrs Westerman or Mr Crowther are on stage. There are flashbacks to Mrs Westerman's neighbor, Lord Hugh Thornleigh, in combat during the American conflict...these aren't immediately obviously relevant to the story, and I think I'd've recommended the author introduce them differently than her editor did, but have patience...and introduce us to Claver Wicksteed, then an Army procurement officer and now steward of Thornleigh, the seat of the Earls of Sussex. Then we meet the Countess of Sussex, and our central cast is complete.
The body count rises, as it must in a mystery, and the characters begin to see that they're engaged in a grisly gavotte around one central puzzle: How low can a human being sink, regardless of high birth, and how can justice seem so far from just?
Like all good mystery writers, Robertson takes us round the houses by changing the angle of view several times. She's very good at this. What seems awful becomes right and good; what seems reliably good stinks like old fish before she's done with us. Fear not: The wise and the just are rewarded! Just that they're also made to get dirty in the process.
There are first-novel issues with the book, of course, like the Parthenon being described as a round building in Rome (PANTHEON!) and the persistent misunderstanding of how one addresses Earls, Countesses, and their offspring (Earls are "Lord {Name of earldom}", their wives "Lady {Name of earldom} unless that countess is the daughter of a fellow earl or higher, in which case she's ALWAYS "Lady {Firstname}" no matter who she's married to, sons and heirs of earls are Viscounts and addressed as "Lord {Name of viscounty" even when very young, younger sons are "Lord {Family name}" and daughters of earls are "Lady {Firstname}" all their lives, etc etc). Most of this is the editor's fault. The author should be able to rely on him or her to catch these sorts of factual oopsies.
Still and all...the pleasures of reading this book are many, and *evil chortle* you'll all have to wait until at least 2011 to find out 'cause the book ain't available here yet! I borrowed mine from our own Suzanne/Chatterbox, so there nyah!
But it's recommended. Really and truly. Too good to miss.
August 31, 2021
Maybe 3.5 stars. Enjoyed the main characters and the convoluted plot, but the jumping around between storylines especially in the beginning felt disjointed. I had to go back and read a chapter once or twice before I understood why it was important. And then there were things that seemed odd to me. In 1780, would a married upper class woman really be able to spend a lot of time with an unmarried man without raised eyebrows or scandal, in a small village would multiple victims of violence or suspicious deaths really be chalked up as random or accidents?
Ok, it did keep me interested and I wanted to see how everything would come together. Will I read the next one, perhaps.
Ok, it did keep me interested and I wanted to see how everything would come together. Will I read the next one, perhaps.
October 26, 2016
2.5 stars.
What worked for me:
+ The mystery was good. It was intricate enough that all the twists weren't immediately obvious, although the main ideas were.
+ Harriet and Crowther were engaging detectives. I liked their personalities, which is always a good thing in a detective story.
+ The subplots worked for me: I can follow skipping around in time, if it's done well, and this was. I even liked the children, which I normally do not particularly enjoy in an adult murder mystery.
+ The villains were well done. I liked that there was a rationale behind their actions, instead of just "well, they were evil."
What did NOT:
- The Georgian setting. What Georgian setting? With the exception of the mentions of the Gordon riots and the American Revolution, I would not have guessed at the time period used for the setting. It could honestly have been any historical time period.
- Harriet and Gabriel's partnership. I am pretty sure that in ANY historical era, a married (or not) woman spending so much time with another man (especially unmarried) who was not family would be a pretty big no-no. I WANTED to like them together, but I couldn't get behind it.
- A few anachronisms in the writing that were pretty glaring. Mostly the writing was unobtrusively historical or at least neutral, but I don't know about "pro" (eg., "I know a pro when I see one") or "kid" ("a kid like me").
- So, Lord Thornhill could
- Killing dogs. That pretty much ruined the book for me. I realize people did that back then, but I don't care to read about it, and definitely not in such lovingly explicit and graphic detail.
Ew. That poor dog, she was the REAL victim.
What worked for me:
+ The mystery was good. It was intricate enough that all the twists weren't immediately obvious, although the main ideas were.
+ Harriet and Crowther were engaging detectives. I liked their personalities, which is always a good thing in a detective story.
+ The subplots worked for me: I can follow skipping around in time, if it's done well, and this was. I even liked the children, which I normally do not particularly enjoy in an adult murder mystery.
+ The villains were well done. I liked that there was a rationale behind their actions, instead of just "well, they were evil."
What did NOT:
- The Georgian setting. What Georgian setting? With the exception of the mentions of the Gordon riots and the American Revolution, I would not have guessed at the time period used for the setting. It could honestly have been any historical time period.
- Harriet and Gabriel's partnership. I am pretty sure that in ANY historical era, a married (or not) woman spending so much time with another man (especially unmarried) who was not family would be a pretty big no-no. I WANTED to like them together, but I couldn't get behind it.
- A few anachronisms in the writing that were pretty glaring. Mostly the writing was unobtrusively historical or at least neutral, but I don't know about "pro" (eg., "I know a pro when I see one") or "kid" ("a kid like me").
- So, Lord Thornhill could
- Killing dogs. That pretty much ruined the book for me. I realize people did that back then, but I don't care to read about it, and definitely not in such lovingly explicit and graphic detail.
Ew. That poor dog, she was the REAL victim.
February 13, 2019
I love an intricate plot, and, without sounding debauched? Multiple murders. Throw in murders committed over more than one generation? Yes, that will do it. I'm giving this book 4.5 stars, despite some minor missteps, for sucking me in, for wanting more by this author, and more from the characters, Crowther (mysterious gentleman anatomist) and his side kick Westerman (Commodore's no-nonsense, handsome, wife) with their on-page chemistry (did I just coin a term? Probably not), and for readability. Additional thumbs up for more than one villain, all with varying degrees of sympathetic stories. Minor missteps: women in this book are decidedly too modern, too bold, for the late 18th century (Georgian) of my knowledge - it "felt" as though perhaps it should have been set in the late 19th century.
August 11, 2018
While Commodore Westerman was away at sea, his wife discovered a body on their land. With one part common sense and a second part curiosity, she approached the solitary Mr. Gabriel Crowther for assistance in identifying the unknown man.
Crowther was a mid-fifties single gentleman who preferred his own company to others. He delved in science and preferred clinical anatomical research. With the honest Mrs. Westerman, he found his spirit and intellect well-matched and a friendship of sorts developed.
Harriet was the mother of a little boy and a baby girl but she had a thirst for learning. She was limited in ways because of her gender but still had some freedom because she was in charge of the estate while her husband was away. Crowther assumed she was in her early thirties. Harriet’s eighteen year old sister -the thoughtful Miss Rachel Trench- lived with the family, too. was what Rachel named Crowther’s ‘knives� he used in his examinations.
What started as an innocent search for a killer morphed into a period thriller that included locating a will, a signet ring and concealed letters. No one was immune from a tragic death.
The author used two timelines -1775 and 1780- that affected the narrative’s pacing. The story moved between three distinct plots. At times, it was bothersome and slowed my reading. It worked for and against my enjoyment of the mystery.
Though I can only award three stars, I liked Crowther, Harriet and Rachel. I am also hoping to see other secondary characters in future stories. Because of this, I will read the next one.
Crowther was a mid-fifties single gentleman who preferred his own company to others. He delved in science and preferred clinical anatomical research. With the honest Mrs. Westerman, he found his spirit and intellect well-matched and a friendship of sorts developed.
Harriet was the mother of a little boy and a baby girl but she had a thirst for learning. She was limited in ways because of her gender but still had some freedom because she was in charge of the estate while her husband was away. Crowther assumed she was in her early thirties. Harriet’s eighteen year old sister -the thoughtful Miss Rachel Trench- lived with the family, too. was what Rachel named Crowther’s ‘knives� he used in his examinations.
What started as an innocent search for a killer morphed into a period thriller that included locating a will, a signet ring and concealed letters. No one was immune from a tragic death.
The author used two timelines -1775 and 1780- that affected the narrative’s pacing. The story moved between three distinct plots. At times, it was bothersome and slowed my reading. It worked for and against my enjoyment of the mystery.
Though I can only award three stars, I liked Crowther, Harriet and Rachel. I am also hoping to see other secondary characters in future stories. Because of this, I will read the next one.
December 6, 2015
First Sentence: Gabriel Crowther opened his eyes.
Harriet Westerman, wife of a navy commander, has given up sailing with her husband to raise their family and provide a home for her sister at Caverly Park in West Sussex. When she finds the body of a man whose throat has been slit, she summons help from anatomist Gabriel Crowther. The victim has a ring bearing the crest of neighboring Thornleigh Hall. Was the man Alexander Thornleigh, the missing heir to the Earl of Sussex?
London music shop owner Alexander Adams is murdered. Before dying, he tells his daughter to find a box hidden under the counter. Was Alexander the missing heir and how can his children be removed from the city in spite of a killer and the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots?
Wonderful characters make this book a treat to read. Jane Austin fans will quickly associate Harriet Westerman with Mrs. Croft, the captain’s wife from “Pursuasion.� She has traveled, seen war, is outspoken and not to be put off. Her younger sister, Rachel Trench, is “Jane Eyre,� in her attraction to the war-wounded Hugh Thornleigh, younger brother of the missing Alexander and the Mr. Rochester of our story. Gabriel Crowther is a scientist, and something of a recluse until being pulled into the investigation by Harriet and his own curious mind.
There are a lot of characters, including some real historical figures. It was occasionally is difficult to keep track of who is whom. However, they each played their part and added to the overall Gothic feel of the story.
Ms. Robertson convincingly transported me to Georgian England in sight, sound, dialogue appropriate to the period and historical fact. I had not known of the Gordon Riots until now. She also included a perspective of the American Revolution from the viewpoint of a British soldier.
There is a lovely, Gothic feel to this book, but it was not perfect. Happily, in spite of identifying the villains fairly soon, the motive remained a secret until the end. Although story did feel over-long, I was completely involved and never found myself skipping through it.
The book was engrossing and suspenseful, with interesting historical information. The different threads of the plot were brought together well in a slightly overly dramatic fashion.
The most important question is whether I would read another book by this author. The answer is a definite “yes,� and it’s already on order.
INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS (His Mys-Gabriel Crowther/Harriet Westerman-England-1780) � G+
Robertson, Imogen � 1st in series
Headline, ©2009, UK Hardcover � ISBN: 9780755348398
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Harriet Westerman, wife of a navy commander, has given up sailing with her husband to raise their family and provide a home for her sister at Caverly Park in West Sussex. When she finds the body of a man whose throat has been slit, she summons help from anatomist Gabriel Crowther. The victim has a ring bearing the crest of neighboring Thornleigh Hall. Was the man Alexander Thornleigh, the missing heir to the Earl of Sussex?
London music shop owner Alexander Adams is murdered. Before dying, he tells his daughter to find a box hidden under the counter. Was Alexander the missing heir and how can his children be removed from the city in spite of a killer and the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots?
Wonderful characters make this book a treat to read. Jane Austin fans will quickly associate Harriet Westerman with Mrs. Croft, the captain’s wife from “Pursuasion.� She has traveled, seen war, is outspoken and not to be put off. Her younger sister, Rachel Trench, is “Jane Eyre,� in her attraction to the war-wounded Hugh Thornleigh, younger brother of the missing Alexander and the Mr. Rochester of our story. Gabriel Crowther is a scientist, and something of a recluse until being pulled into the investigation by Harriet and his own curious mind.
There are a lot of characters, including some real historical figures. It was occasionally is difficult to keep track of who is whom. However, they each played their part and added to the overall Gothic feel of the story.
Ms. Robertson convincingly transported me to Georgian England in sight, sound, dialogue appropriate to the period and historical fact. I had not known of the Gordon Riots until now. She also included a perspective of the American Revolution from the viewpoint of a British soldier.
There is a lovely, Gothic feel to this book, but it was not perfect. Happily, in spite of identifying the villains fairly soon, the motive remained a secret until the end. Although story did feel over-long, I was completely involved and never found myself skipping through it.
The book was engrossing and suspenseful, with interesting historical information. The different threads of the plot were brought together well in a slightly overly dramatic fashion.
The most important question is whether I would read another book by this author. The answer is a definite “yes,� and it’s already on order.
INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS (His Mys-Gabriel Crowther/Harriet Westerman-England-1780) � G+
Robertson, Imogen � 1st in series
Headline, ©2009, UK Hardcover � ISBN: 9780755348398
[image error]
March 17, 2011
Just love historical English mysteries and this first novel is a worthy addition to that genre.
August 17, 2015
I will openly admit I knew nothing of this book before I saw it and bought it (and certainly not the number of sequels that have come off the back of it). It was a case of cover and title catching my eye and then reading the cover piquing my curiosity.
The book itself reads like a period drama (in fact I see there are references to Jane Austin in its comparisons) and yet at its heart is a murder mystery (in fact several) with more twists and turns and intrigue that you can imagine. Now it may have been me being over whelmed with the language and attitude of the characters (I did say it was period) but I really didnt see the true villain of the piece be exposed until late in to the book, something that surprised even me and kept me reading long after really I would normally had patience for.
So yes I did enjoy the book the story was gripping but I will admit at times it was hard work but eventually it was worth it
The book itself reads like a period drama (in fact I see there are references to Jane Austin in its comparisons) and yet at its heart is a murder mystery (in fact several) with more twists and turns and intrigue that you can imagine. Now it may have been me being over whelmed with the language and attitude of the characters (I did say it was period) but I really didnt see the true villain of the piece be exposed until late in to the book, something that surprised even me and kept me reading long after really I would normally had patience for.
So yes I did enjoy the book the story was gripping but I will admit at times it was hard work but eventually it was worth it
March 6, 2012
This was a solid 4-star read, and a great debut novel for Imogen Robertson.
I had a few issues with the plot's pacing in places, and sometimes the characters' voices would blend together (especially Mrs. Westerman and Mr. Crowther's voices), but this was overall a very smooth read.
If I named one criticism of the book, it would have to be that I read the "f-word" a few times in the book, and each time I did I felt like Ms. Robertson was disrupting the flow of the story and was bringing me back to the 21st century.
Her use of that nefarious word in the context of this book got me wondering if that particular word was even in use in the 1770s. (If anyone's interested, I found an article at that talks about the history of swearing.) In my mind, the book would have been just as good of a read without the "f-word," and the word acted more as a distraction to the flow of the story than anything else.
I had a few issues with the plot's pacing in places, and sometimes the characters' voices would blend together (especially Mrs. Westerman and Mr. Crowther's voices), but this was overall a very smooth read.
If I named one criticism of the book, it would have to be that I read the "f-word" a few times in the book, and each time I did I felt like Ms. Robertson was disrupting the flow of the story and was bringing me back to the 21st century.
Her use of that nefarious word in the context of this book got me wondering if that particular word was even in use in the 1770s. (If anyone's interested, I found an article at that talks about the history of swearing.) In my mind, the book would have been just as good of a read without the "f-word," and the word acted more as a distraction to the flow of the story than anything else.
October 12, 2011
Mystery series are all about character. The mystery can be the twisty-est ever, the settings creepy enough to give your shivers the shivers and the dialog straight out of The Thin Man BUT if the detectives are not charismatic, intriguing and entertaining your interest in the series will die along with the murder victim in book one. Luckily this is not the case in ImogenRobertson’s series of mystery novels.
Robertson’s detectives are Harriet Westerman and Gabriel Crowther. Robertson introduces us to them in her novel Instruments of Darkness. Harriet is the wife of an officer in His Majesty’s Navy and Gabirel is a reclusive anatomist who 30 years ago stepped away from his titled and troubled family. The year is 1780 so there is no such thing as a detective professional or amateur. These two come together after the discovery of a body on the border between Harriet and her husband’s property and the neighboring estate, Thornleigh Hall.
After this set up the plot moves along agreeably. There are: missing heirs, an emotionally and physically disfigured veteran from the Redcoat side of the American Revolution, a stolen signet ring, a rich husband hovering over his grave, a much younger morally questionable wife, a mob taking over London in an anti-Catholic passion (The Gordon Riots.) and the burgeoning, sometimes unlawful sciences of the period. In short Instruments of Darkness has chapter after chapter of satisfying melodrama, mystery and characters.
However, it is primarily Harriet and Gabriel who Robertson wants you invested in. If you think too much about what you are reading you may wonder at a respectable woman’s involvement with an unmarried man in solving a murder in 1780 but chances are anyone who picks up any kind of historical fiction is already well versed in the historical novelists� most frequent creation; the woman ahead of her time. Aside from this typical anachronism Robertson has struck gold with the Harriet-Gabriel combo. They each bring an out of the ordinary perspective to the events along with complex personal lives and terrific chemistry.
In the subsequent books in this series Anatomy of Murder and Island of Bones Imogene Robertson opens up her detectives private lives even more—much to the readers delight-- and expands our knowledge of Georgian England. The history of the period is obviously something Robertson knows a lot about. She definitely has the gift for using her research to the advantage of the narrative.
Robertson’s detectives are Harriet Westerman and Gabriel Crowther. Robertson introduces us to them in her novel Instruments of Darkness. Harriet is the wife of an officer in His Majesty’s Navy and Gabirel is a reclusive anatomist who 30 years ago stepped away from his titled and troubled family. The year is 1780 so there is no such thing as a detective professional or amateur. These two come together after the discovery of a body on the border between Harriet and her husband’s property and the neighboring estate, Thornleigh Hall.
After this set up the plot moves along agreeably. There are: missing heirs, an emotionally and physically disfigured veteran from the Redcoat side of the American Revolution, a stolen signet ring, a rich husband hovering over his grave, a much younger morally questionable wife, a mob taking over London in an anti-Catholic passion (The Gordon Riots.) and the burgeoning, sometimes unlawful sciences of the period. In short Instruments of Darkness has chapter after chapter of satisfying melodrama, mystery and characters.
However, it is primarily Harriet and Gabriel who Robertson wants you invested in. If you think too much about what you are reading you may wonder at a respectable woman’s involvement with an unmarried man in solving a murder in 1780 but chances are anyone who picks up any kind of historical fiction is already well versed in the historical novelists� most frequent creation; the woman ahead of her time. Aside from this typical anachronism Robertson has struck gold with the Harriet-Gabriel combo. They each bring an out of the ordinary perspective to the events along with complex personal lives and terrific chemistry.
In the subsequent books in this series Anatomy of Murder and Island of Bones Imogene Robertson opens up her detectives private lives even more—much to the readers delight-- and expands our knowledge of Georgian England. The history of the period is obviously something Robertson knows a lot about. She definitely has the gift for using her research to the advantage of the narrative.
January 21, 2013
I had many problems with this book, and I'm so disappointed because I wanted to love it. My first problem was being unable to connect to the two main characters. Another problem was the constant shifts between the three stories; I can usually handle two different story threads, but three just breaks my attention and makes me want to put down the book and not pick it back up again. Also the murderer was very obvious to me and it was frustrating that no one else in the book seemed to see it.
From the other reviews I have read, my complaints with this book are not the norm so if you enjoy historical mysteries you may want to still give this one a go. As for me, I won't be reading further books in the series.
From the other reviews I have read, my complaints with this book are not the norm so if you enjoy historical mysteries you may want to still give this one a go. As for me, I won't be reading further books in the series.
January 1, 2012
I really enjoyed this novel. I liked the characters and the setting, the majority of events take place during the Gordon Riots which happened in June of 1780. The writing was well polished, the story's pacing was good. I really enjoyed the investigating team of Gabriel Crowther and Mrs. Westerman. The events that unfolded were suspenseful and I enjoyed the characters Imogen Robertson created enough that I would like to read the next book in the series.
August 15, 2012
Read this with my in-person group and there was plenty to discuss. I had a tiny bit of a problem with the jumping around from Sussex, to London, and then to the colonies but all in all an interesting time and setting. I particularly liked the main characters, Harriet Westerman and Gabriel Crowther, complex individuals somewhat out of step with their time but kindred spirits in many way. I am looking forward to more in this series and the friendship of Crowther and Westerman.
March 14, 2011
Not great but not bad British historical mystery. There are some interesting characters but the mystery itself is predictably resolved and there is a lot of clunky language and not much suspense. Just blah, kind of like this review.
October 7, 2010
A dull, badly plotted mystery that inches along, stops to reveal the completely predictable ending, and then expires. Two stars because of the occasional excellent sentence.
September 5, 2021
I don’t know how this got into my TBR, but I’m so glad it did. Beautiful writing carries us through a fascinating murder investigation led by an awesome heroine and a reluctant hero.
Harriet is running an estate and raising two kids (with help, of course) while her Navy captain (or maybe commodore?) husband is away on the sea. Her ability to stay calm during calamity is in part due to having sailed on her husband’s ships, seeing battles and tending to injuries. She plucks Gabriel Crowther out of hiding (actually, out of bed) to assist with a dead body found on her property because she heard he was an anatomist.
Crowther is the silent, slightly strange, scholarly type and blends nicely with Harriet as they investigate the murder.
On the flip side, there is another storyline that runs parallel to the first. It involves two children who witness the murder of their father and the adults who take care of them after the crime. The storylines merge and eventually both murders are solved.
The scenes with the children were so lovely - I often found myself crying over them. And while I have been critical of parallel storylines in other books (Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series doesn’t do it well, IMO), they are really well done here.
I’m completely charmed by this book and know I’ll gobble up the entire series quickly.
Harriet is running an estate and raising two kids (with help, of course) while her Navy captain (or maybe commodore?) husband is away on the sea. Her ability to stay calm during calamity is in part due to having sailed on her husband’s ships, seeing battles and tending to injuries. She plucks Gabriel Crowther out of hiding (actually, out of bed) to assist with a dead body found on her property because she heard he was an anatomist.
Crowther is the silent, slightly strange, scholarly type and blends nicely with Harriet as they investigate the murder.
On the flip side, there is another storyline that runs parallel to the first. It involves two children who witness the murder of their father and the adults who take care of them after the crime. The storylines merge and eventually both murders are solved.
The scenes with the children were so lovely - I often found myself crying over them. And while I have been critical of parallel storylines in other books (Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series doesn’t do it well, IMO), they are really well done here.
I’m completely charmed by this book and know I’ll gobble up the entire series quickly.
June 10, 2023
Damn. That's the word that came to mind when I closed this book, Instruments of Darkness by Imogen Robertson. Not because of how it ended, because I don't know how it ended, I wish I did, but I will never know. I read to page 209 and closed the book. I'm not finishing the book and I hate not finishing a book. It is rare I don't finish a book, but it happens once in a while. I just noticed the book is written by a goodreads author, I don't think I ever read a book by a goodreads author before, I don't read very many books by authors who are still alive. That's why I found the sentence on the cover of the book appealed to me: "A ripping homage to Dickens, Austen and Conan Doyle...will keep you up at night." Who wouldn't want to read a book when Dickens gets mentioned on the cover?
I'm not going to say much about the plot since I didn't get all that close to finishing the book. I will say the year all this is taking place is 1780 during the Gordon riots, which made it more interesting to me because I am currently reading Barnaby Rudge in our Dickens group and that is also during the Gordon riots. There wasn't much rioting yet in this book though, there was a murder, then another one, then another one. And one of those murders is why I quit reading. You may think I'm crazy, but my best friend in the whole word is a seven year old black and tan cocker spaniel named Willow. She is sitting with me right now which makes it hard to type. She sleeps between my husband and I every night under the covers, how she can stand it I don't know. She goes everywhere with me, almost. I can't take her to church, other places I can't take her, such as restaurants I simply don't go to. Once in awhile there is a school event for one of our grandchildren and I can't take her there, but most of the time she is with me. Picture one of the most spoiled dogs in the world and you will be thinking of her. So back to the book, one of the last murders is by poison, they think so anyway, and to make sure it is they poison a dog. Not just any dog though, that would be bad enough, they poison their own dog:
Crowther broke the seal and poured a glassful or so of the liquid over the meat and into the bowl. The dog whined again, and Michaels reached down automatically to stroke her head and pull her soft black ears. Crowther hesitated. Michaels caught his movement and looked up at him with a sad smile.
"Needs must, Mr. Crowther. Perhaps I shall put a sign over her grave saying 'handmaiden of science' too."
The dog looked up at her master and licked his hand. Crowther set down the dish, and Michaels pulled free the string around the little bitch's neck. She ran to the plate and paused briefly to sniff it, and then got down to eating with an appetite. They stood around and watched her. The dog dragged the last scraps from the bowl, sitting down to enjoy them in a splayed crouch on the flagstones, looking up every now and then as if afraid the strange figures standing around her might try to snatch it away. More minutes passed, and the dog wagged her tail and looked as if she planned to sleep. Her ears were back tightly on her head and she slunk to her master's boot. Crowther picked up the dish by its extreme edge and took it to the pump, washing and filling it with water before putting it in front of the dog again. She sank her muzzle into it, lapping greedily, then whined and shivered again, then with a retch began to vomit.
"Note the yellow bile. Typical of arsenic, and just as Joshua."
Michaels got down onto his knees and rubbed the dog's flanks, as she looked up at him. Harriet felt the back of her eyelids twitch.
"It will not take long."
The dog howled and scrabbled her legs, the nails scraping along the stone. Michaels kept his hand on her.
"Easy there, my dear. Easy there."
The dog tried to lick his hand again, then gave a sudden yelp. The animal continued to whine and whimper and wriggle under Michaels's heavy paw.
"Careful it does not bite you, Michaels."
Michaels kept his eyes on the dog.
"No, she'll not do that. No matter what."
And then the dog dies and I close the book never to read another word, but I sure did hug my dog after it. Don't decide on whether to read it because of what I said, if you aren't as crazy about dogs as I am you may enjoy it. I was pretty sure who the murderer was and it would have been interesting to see if I was right. Not interesting enough though. On to the next book. Happy reading.
Here she is:
I'm not going to say much about the plot since I didn't get all that close to finishing the book. I will say the year all this is taking place is 1780 during the Gordon riots, which made it more interesting to me because I am currently reading Barnaby Rudge in our Dickens group and that is also during the Gordon riots. There wasn't much rioting yet in this book though, there was a murder, then another one, then another one. And one of those murders is why I quit reading. You may think I'm crazy, but my best friend in the whole word is a seven year old black and tan cocker spaniel named Willow. She is sitting with me right now which makes it hard to type. She sleeps between my husband and I every night under the covers, how she can stand it I don't know. She goes everywhere with me, almost. I can't take her to church, other places I can't take her, such as restaurants I simply don't go to. Once in awhile there is a school event for one of our grandchildren and I can't take her there, but most of the time she is with me. Picture one of the most spoiled dogs in the world and you will be thinking of her. So back to the book, one of the last murders is by poison, they think so anyway, and to make sure it is they poison a dog. Not just any dog though, that would be bad enough, they poison their own dog:
Crowther broke the seal and poured a glassful or so of the liquid over the meat and into the bowl. The dog whined again, and Michaels reached down automatically to stroke her head and pull her soft black ears. Crowther hesitated. Michaels caught his movement and looked up at him with a sad smile.
"Needs must, Mr. Crowther. Perhaps I shall put a sign over her grave saying 'handmaiden of science' too."
The dog looked up at her master and licked his hand. Crowther set down the dish, and Michaels pulled free the string around the little bitch's neck. She ran to the plate and paused briefly to sniff it, and then got down to eating with an appetite. They stood around and watched her. The dog dragged the last scraps from the bowl, sitting down to enjoy them in a splayed crouch on the flagstones, looking up every now and then as if afraid the strange figures standing around her might try to snatch it away. More minutes passed, and the dog wagged her tail and looked as if she planned to sleep. Her ears were back tightly on her head and she slunk to her master's boot. Crowther picked up the dish by its extreme edge and took it to the pump, washing and filling it with water before putting it in front of the dog again. She sank her muzzle into it, lapping greedily, then whined and shivered again, then with a retch began to vomit.
"Note the yellow bile. Typical of arsenic, and just as Joshua."
Michaels got down onto his knees and rubbed the dog's flanks, as she looked up at him. Harriet felt the back of her eyelids twitch.
"It will not take long."
The dog howled and scrabbled her legs, the nails scraping along the stone. Michaels kept his hand on her.
"Easy there, my dear. Easy there."
The dog tried to lick his hand again, then gave a sudden yelp. The animal continued to whine and whimper and wriggle under Michaels's heavy paw.
"Careful it does not bite you, Michaels."
Michaels kept his eyes on the dog.
"No, she'll not do that. No matter what."
And then the dog dies and I close the book never to read another word, but I sure did hug my dog after it. Don't decide on whether to read it because of what I said, if you aren't as crazy about dogs as I am you may enjoy it. I was pretty sure who the murderer was and it would have been interesting to see if I was right. Not interesting enough though. On to the next book. Happy reading.
Here she is:
December 21, 2011
First of a series set in 1780's Sussex, UK and featuring Gabriel Crowther, a gentleman who relinquished his title and is now mostly a recluse and a 'man of science' and Harriet Westerman, who runs the manor next door while her sea captain husband is away. Mrs. Westerman finds a murdered body on her land and having read a paper Mr. Crowther wrote about evidence at murder scenes, seeks him out immediately. This leads to an extensive investigation which is tied to the missing heir of Thornleigh Hall (another neighbor of theirs). Eventually a couple of other murders yield more clues as the pair investigate, since the local squire seems to be in Thornleigh Hall's pocket and isn't much interested in the truth.
I freely admit that this is not my favorite historical time period, so I started the book with a bit of a jaundiced eye. The characters and the story were interesting enough to get me into it right away though, and the writing style is easy to read and well-constructed. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that it did bog down a bit in the middle and was a bit overlong--I'm not sure all the detail about Captain Thornleigh's past and flashbacks to years previous were really necessary. The mystery itself was fairly easy to figure out but I still really enjoyed the story and will definitely read on.
I freely admit that this is not my favorite historical time period, so I started the book with a bit of a jaundiced eye. The characters and the story were interesting enough to get me into it right away though, and the writing style is easy to read and well-constructed. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that it did bog down a bit in the middle and was a bit overlong--I'm not sure all the detail about Captain Thornleigh's past and flashbacks to years previous were really necessary. The mystery itself was fairly easy to figure out but I still really enjoyed the story and will definitely read on.
April 27, 2011
What an amazing debut - historical mysteries are my favorite genre, and this book had it all - fascinating, multi-dimensional characters, dry humor, action, suspense, atmosphere, and historical accuracy. Mrs. Westerman and Crowther are wonderful lead characters and complement each other brilliantly; the support characters, even minor ones, are fleshed out and add so much to the reader's enjoyment and involvement in the story. I was amazed at Robertson's ability to move smoothly between London and Sussex in 1780 and Boston in 1775, often within the same chapter, without confusion or disruption of the story; this technique, so annoying in less competent hands, is used to great effect here, ratcheting up the tension to it's inevitable climax. The reader knows what's coming, but rather than feel like the typical "this was how it was done, this is what we deduced" summation moment in the library typical of most mysteries, this feels like a vindication and release of pent-up dread - very effective and satisfying! I was thrilled to see Robertson has written two more Westerman and Crowther novels, and can't wait to read them.
May 7, 2013
I could not finish this book, despite my affinity for historical mysteries, for numerous reasons: too many leaps in time between past and present and between one set of characters in the present and another group,too many "filler" characters,described in great detail to the detriment of the forward motion of the plot, and an absolutely unnecessary, graphic death of a pet animal about half way thru.If an author disposes of an innocent animal character in such a chillingly intense way, I don't trust her to "keep the mystery contract" of allowing the innocent protagonists to survive. Since two of the main actors are children, horrendously deprived of a family by their father's brutal murder, I found myself wondering if she was going to dispose of one of the children in like manner as the pet,merely for shock value.Done with this author and the book goes to donation.
July 9, 2015
I'd been reading this for a while and finished it on the plane because I didn't have anything else to do. In theory, it has all the elements that would normally make a book really interesting to me, and I did like the characters, but I just didn't find anything about it truly engrossing, and the whole plot was instantly forgettable. I think the period murder mystery meets male/female detective duo thing was done better, and with more warmth and humour, by Deanna Raybourn with .
January 4, 2013
Very enjoyable first book in what seems like will be a promising series. I already have book 2 to read. The 2 converging plot lines didn't get confusing. Overall, this was a fun page-turner.
December 16, 2020
This was a fun read with a great mystery. There are many red herrings, especially at the beginning, and while the solution is obvious well before the ending, it is still fun and thrilling to watch how the characters bring it all together in the end. And there was still a twist I did not see, but probably should have. Crowther and Westerman are a great duo and they are surrounded by an interesting assortment of people.
Some of the writing was a bit over the top, too flowery. And at times random characters would make comments more in line with today's thinking than the thinking of the day which made me want to roll my eyes. But it is still a fun read that gets more and more intense the further you go.
There is swearing, including a few drops of "the F-bomb". Violent murders (yep, murder mystery), physical abuse, testing poison on a dog, depictions of war, rape alluded to, child sexual abuse alluded to. That is what is standing out to me.
Some of the writing was a bit over the top, too flowery. And at times random characters would make comments more in line with today's thinking than the thinking of the day which made me want to roll my eyes. But it is still a fun read that gets more and more intense the further you go.
There is swearing, including a few drops of "the F-bomb". Violent murders (yep, murder mystery), physical abuse, testing poison on a dog, depictions of war, rape alluded to, child sexual abuse alluded to. That is what is standing out to me.
November 17, 2012
Mrs. Harriet Westerman has spent most of her adult life travelling the world with her naval commander husband, giving her experiences most other women in late 18th century England can't even imagine. Family circumstances and obligations, however, have meant that for the past couple of years she's stayed behind running her husband's country estate. One morning, while on a walk, she finds a dead body, a man whose throat has been slit. Being a sensible and non-squeamish woman, she takes matters into her own hands.
A reclusive, mysterious gentleman has recently moved to the village. His name is Gabriel Crowther, and gossip has it that he has the most disgusting preserved specimens of bodies in his study. Harriet has read one of his articles in a medical journal, and knows he's an anatomist, and one with a special interest in what can be deduced from dead bodies about the manner of their deaths. The perfect person to have a look at the body she's found, clearly.
Crowther is not happy to have his self-imposed solitude disturbed, but he agrees to go have a look. Their examination shows that the man is carrying a ring with the crest of the neighbouring Thornleigh Hall, home to the Earls of Sussex. This makes them fear he might have been the heir, Alexander, who abandoned the family decades earlier and hasn't been seen since.
And then it turns out that this death is only the first, and with the magistrate not particularly interested in finding the truth, it falls on Mrs. Westerman and Crowther to do so. And at the same time as this is going on, we follow events in London, where a man called Alexander Adams is murdered, and his children are under threat.
This was a solid historical mystery, with an interesting case and engaging characters I'd love to see more of.
On the "mystery" part of the "historical mystery" tag, I was mostly satisfied. The mystery itself is not bad at all. Even though we've got three threads from three different places and two different time-frames (Crowther and Harriet and the events in London, as mentioned, but also some sections set 5 years earlier, during the Revolutionary War in America, where the other son of Thornleigh Hall served), it's pretty straightforward, and not hard to guess the solution. I still enjoyed it.
I liked that Harriet and Crowther's investigation proceeds in a logical way. I never felt like shaking them for not doing the obvious, which is more than I can say about other mysteries, and their involvement in the investigation felt natural and understandable. I especially liked the application of very early forensics. Crowther doesn't have many tools at his disposal, but it's more of an attitude thing, the willigness to actually look at the body and attempt to base conclusions on the evidence on what can be discerned from it. That feels, from other characters' reactions, like a quite revolutionary attitude!
On the "historical" bit of the tag, that was actually really good as well. Harriet feels like quite the modern woman, and doesn't seem to have any constraints on what she can do, but that's explained by her past experiences. We don't get to find out much about her husband, but I can only assume he's the open-minded sort. All the other characters, though, feel more of the time. I have no idea how accurate it all is, but I can say that Robertson succeeded in creating a sense of place, a sense that this is a different world, and to give us quite a bit of colour.
One of the elements I enjoyed the most was Crowther and Harriet's developing relationship. This isn't a romance (at least not here, and I didn't really perceive any sort of sexual chemistry between these two, so I wouldn't expect the series to turn into one). They do become good friends, though, and it's a true meeting of minds. I got the feeling that there is a lot more to discover about these two. Crowther clearly has secrets in his past, and I suspect we haven't found out about all of them. Harriet remains even more of a cypher, especially since we see a lot less of her point of view than of Crowther's. We know she feels a bit constrained by being stuck in one place, compared to her previous life, and that she's intelligent and brave, if sometimes a bit foolhardy, but not much more. They're both interesting people, and I want to find out more about them.
The tone of the story is dark, and some really bad things happen (both to people and to animals -I suggest that if you've got an issue with animal experimentation, you skip this). It's not a grisly book, though, and I liked that quite a few of the secondary characters were really decent people. Even some of the bad ones were drawn with some subtlety. Well, a couple of people were irredeemably bad, but there was one particular person who I couldn't help but feel pity for, in spite of their actions. Anyway, the existence of several decent characters made the feel of the book a bit more hopeful and easier to read.
Before I conclude, I should mention this was an audiobook, and the narrator, Joanna Mackie was good. It looks, however, like the version in audible is narrated by someone else. The one my library has is the one published by Oakhill.
MY GRADE: A strong B
A reclusive, mysterious gentleman has recently moved to the village. His name is Gabriel Crowther, and gossip has it that he has the most disgusting preserved specimens of bodies in his study. Harriet has read one of his articles in a medical journal, and knows he's an anatomist, and one with a special interest in what can be deduced from dead bodies about the manner of their deaths. The perfect person to have a look at the body she's found, clearly.
Crowther is not happy to have his self-imposed solitude disturbed, but he agrees to go have a look. Their examination shows that the man is carrying a ring with the crest of the neighbouring Thornleigh Hall, home to the Earls of Sussex. This makes them fear he might have been the heir, Alexander, who abandoned the family decades earlier and hasn't been seen since.
And then it turns out that this death is only the first, and with the magistrate not particularly interested in finding the truth, it falls on Mrs. Westerman and Crowther to do so. And at the same time as this is going on, we follow events in London, where a man called Alexander Adams is murdered, and his children are under threat.
This was a solid historical mystery, with an interesting case and engaging characters I'd love to see more of.
On the "mystery" part of the "historical mystery" tag, I was mostly satisfied. The mystery itself is not bad at all. Even though we've got three threads from three different places and two different time-frames (Crowther and Harriet and the events in London, as mentioned, but also some sections set 5 years earlier, during the Revolutionary War in America, where the other son of Thornleigh Hall served), it's pretty straightforward, and not hard to guess the solution. I still enjoyed it.
I liked that Harriet and Crowther's investigation proceeds in a logical way. I never felt like shaking them for not doing the obvious, which is more than I can say about other mysteries, and their involvement in the investigation felt natural and understandable. I especially liked the application of very early forensics. Crowther doesn't have many tools at his disposal, but it's more of an attitude thing, the willigness to actually look at the body and attempt to base conclusions on the evidence on what can be discerned from it. That feels, from other characters' reactions, like a quite revolutionary attitude!
On the "historical" bit of the tag, that was actually really good as well. Harriet feels like quite the modern woman, and doesn't seem to have any constraints on what she can do, but that's explained by her past experiences. We don't get to find out much about her husband, but I can only assume he's the open-minded sort. All the other characters, though, feel more of the time. I have no idea how accurate it all is, but I can say that Robertson succeeded in creating a sense of place, a sense that this is a different world, and to give us quite a bit of colour.
One of the elements I enjoyed the most was Crowther and Harriet's developing relationship. This isn't a romance (at least not here, and I didn't really perceive any sort of sexual chemistry between these two, so I wouldn't expect the series to turn into one). They do become good friends, though, and it's a true meeting of minds. I got the feeling that there is a lot more to discover about these two. Crowther clearly has secrets in his past, and I suspect we haven't found out about all of them. Harriet remains even more of a cypher, especially since we see a lot less of her point of view than of Crowther's. We know she feels a bit constrained by being stuck in one place, compared to her previous life, and that she's intelligent and brave, if sometimes a bit foolhardy, but not much more. They're both interesting people, and I want to find out more about them.
The tone of the story is dark, and some really bad things happen (both to people and to animals -I suggest that if you've got an issue with animal experimentation, you skip this). It's not a grisly book, though, and I liked that quite a few of the secondary characters were really decent people. Even some of the bad ones were drawn with some subtlety. Well, a couple of people were irredeemably bad, but there was one particular person who I couldn't help but feel pity for, in spite of their actions. Anyway, the existence of several decent characters made the feel of the book a bit more hopeful and easier to read.
Before I conclude, I should mention this was an audiobook, and the narrator, Joanna Mackie was good. It looks, however, like the version in audible is narrated by someone else. The one my library has is the one published by Oakhill.
MY GRADE: A strong B
July 6, 2018
This was a well told murder/mystery set in a fun time period�1780’s Sussex and 1776 Boston. It moves quick and has great characters. Can’t wait to read the next in the series! It does have some language.
July 31, 2011
I won this book as a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Read, and I'm really glad I did. I registered to win mostly on the merit of the cover (we all know that's how you are supposed to judge your books, that's what covers are for), but the description on the back didn't really do a ton for me. Murder mysteries are not really my thing. However; this novel was much more that a murder mystery in the Agatha Christie sense of the word (not that I have anything against Agatha Christie). The three plot lines were interwoven very nicely and in such a way that much of the information was revealed in each story at about the same point for the reader. I also didn't feel like I was supposed to be keeping up with all the suspects and weapons and all that Clue type stuff. It was a good book with a lot of suspense and tension and a lot of twists to it, which kept my reading pace quick and kept the desire to read there as well.
The female lead, Harriet, reminded me of a much more modern woman. She was forward and self sufficent; she actually reminded me a bit of Diana Galbaldon's Claire sometimes. I also enjoyed the character of Crowther a lot too. They did, however, occasionly fall into saying cliched things, but those were not many. Occasionally the three plot lines were not divided properly from one another, this was likely only a proof problem and was corrected, but it not it did cause some confusion.
The female lead, Harriet, reminded me of a much more modern woman. She was forward and self sufficent; she actually reminded me a bit of Diana Galbaldon's Claire sometimes. I also enjoyed the character of Crowther a lot too. They did, however, occasionly fall into saying cliched things, but those were not many. Occasionally the three plot lines were not divided properly from one another, this was likely only a proof problem and was corrected, but it not it did cause some confusion.
July 4, 2022
I would have given the book a higher rating, but there were a few instances where the author was unable to stay true to the time period she was writing about. The book is a fascinating mystery set in 1780, which is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The plot was intricate and exciting. It was pretty obvious as the book progressed who the murderer would be, but the journey to get there was fantastic.
However, the author does throw the F word out there a few times. I realize the word did exist at this time, but it wasn't in common use. For proof of this we need only look to authors of the time period. Authors like Rabelais' and Balzac would have been sure to include it in their writing if people were really using that kind of language with each other. It's very jarring to be reading a novel set in the 1700's and then have someone drop the F bomb. It's completely out of place. There were a few other places where the author lost the authenticity of the period as well.
Overall, the book was great and I enjoyed the character development in the novel. Those who are sensitive to language should know the F word is used twice, and then there's one other scene where some terrible language is dropped. Luckily my sister blocked that part out for me. I do plan to read the next one in the series.
However, the author does throw the F word out there a few times. I realize the word did exist at this time, but it wasn't in common use. For proof of this we need only look to authors of the time period. Authors like Rabelais' and Balzac would have been sure to include it in their writing if people were really using that kind of language with each other. It's very jarring to be reading a novel set in the 1700's and then have someone drop the F bomb. It's completely out of place. There were a few other places where the author lost the authenticity of the period as well.
Overall, the book was great and I enjoyed the character development in the novel. Those who are sensitive to language should know the F word is used twice, and then there's one other scene where some terrible language is dropped. Luckily my sister blocked that part out for me. I do plan to read the next one in the series.
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