astrangerhere's Reviews (1.31k)

meh. It was a freebie, but did not at all peak my interest. melodrama more than mystery, it rang more of the penny dreadful than of a detective story.

I rather enjoyed this little story and the villain cameo at the end. Read it on a total whim, though I seemed to have read a lot of fictionalized Dickens stories this year.

"Maturity and experience shouldn't stop one from craving silly things like sliding down bannisters."

Very underwhelming in a year when I've also read books in the Aubrey-Martin series. Had much more of a cheap popfic feel to it.

I was thoroughly underwhelmed. No where near as good as Stephani Pintoff's historical mysteries. This took one part knockoff James Bond, one part promiscuous Darby and one part not quite brave enough to be bodice ripper, shook well and spewed.

Will not continue the series.

The one bright spot was the lad Tom, who stole the book in the scenes he was in. He earned one of the two stars all by himself.