Deanna Raybourn

I seem to have score a number of books about elderly or retiring assassins just lately.

4.5, SEVENTEEN: Last Man Standing - #1
4.5, ASSASSIN EIGHTEEN - #2

I've added 'geezer lit' to my labels for this one.

Four female assassins on the brink of retiring, highly trained, very successful, find that they in turn are on someone's list, so they must track down who is after them. They are not sure who to trust of their former associates, nor entirely sure what they've done. Some of them are aging more quickly than others of their group.… (lisätietoja)

Lady Julia's husband Edwards collapses at their home, during a dinner party no less, and in swoops the dark and mysterious Nicholas Brisbane to carry Edward to his room. After he dies, Brisbane darkly and mysteriously insinuates Edward may have been murdered! And Julia may be a suspect! Now widowed, Julia decided to pursue the mystery (and the mysterious man) to the end.

The story is narrated in first person, past tense, and reading it brought home to me how much I dislike this kind of narration. Julia relates her story from some distant future point, so everything unrolls in way that kind of squashes the suspense even as it tries to build it. I knew something regrettable, or surprising, or interesting was going to happen on the next page or in the next chapter, because Julia kept telling me it would. Spoiler alert, Julia!

By using first person, Rayburn develops Julia wonderfully- her character is well-rounded, with great strengths and weaknesses often omitted in the typical romance heroine. As a recent widow, Julia has to come to grips not only with her changed social status in 1800s England, but also with the mystery of her husband's death and the truth of his past--and her life with him-- that the mystery reveals. Her transformation from complacent wife to active agent in her self-directed life is a great one to watch.

For all that I did not like the narrative style, Julia's voice is strong; Rayburn is able to convey emotion and action well without sacrificing plot or dumping exposition everywhere. However, because Julia's world and the other characters in it are all related through Julia's POV, I found them flatter and less impressive. Brisbane remained dark and mysterious, sometimes frustratingly so. At times I found it difficult to hold on to him as a romantic foil for Julia because all I got was brooding dark eyes and powerful manly frames, instead of character and motivation.

And the romance! The tension between Julia and Brisbane is electric, even from Julia's limited perspective. But then, at the climax of all this delicious tension, when finally the spark between them ignites and desires are acted upon, do you know what happens? The screen goes dark! He leans in for the kiss and its cut scene! No smoochies, no breathy sighs, no grasping hands. Instead, I'm left with Julia's conflicted thoughts about the kiss and even these are not nearly as descriptive as I want them to be.

By the end, I felt a little cheated by Rayburn. I'm not sure I'll read the rest of books if the romance is given short shrift again.… (lisätietoja)

What a delight to return to another Veronica Speedwell adventure! As per usual, dastardly activities are afoot, Veronica is forcing her way through investigations, and the continued romance does not run smoothly. Love the fossil/ Mary Anning theme going on with this adventure. Love the softening of British attitudes towards emotions and relationships. Love the growth of the characters and the twists and turns of the mystery. Love that Veronica is learning to embrace her allies. Love the reader of the audio book. Looking forward to the next installment. Excelsior!… (lisätietoja)