Review
Deanna Raybourn's debut novel is a wickedly clever send-up of the Victorian mystery genre, from the parlors and boudoirs of Julia's aristocratic world to the exotic society of the Gypsies. Grave robbing, prostitution, gambling, absinthe --- even a pet raven --- all contribute to the novel's sensational appeal. Raybourn tempers these dark topics, though, by mixing in plenty of humor. Absurd situations abound (including a truly bizarre murder weapon), and quirky characters verge on caricature. --Bookreporter
'With a strong and unique voice, Deanna Raybourn creates unforgettable characters in a richly detailed world. This is storytelling at its most compelling' --Nora Roberts
'Deceptively civilized and proper, Silent in the Grave has undercurrents of nefarious deeds, secrets and, my favourite, poisons. An excellent debut novel.' --Maria V. Snyder, author of Poison Study
'With a strong and unique voice, Deanna Raybourn creates unforgettable characters in a richly detailed world. This is storytelling at its most compelling' --Nora Roberts
'Deceptively civilized and proper, Silent in the Grave has undercurrents of nefarious deeds, secrets and, my favourite, poisons. An excellent debut novel.' --Maria V. Snyder, author of Poison Study
Product Description
“Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.” London, 1886 For Lady Julia Grey, her husband’s sudden death at a dinner party is extremely inconvenient, not to mention an unpardonable social gaffe. Once the shock has passed, however, things take rather a turn for the worse. Her eccentric relations descend en masse (and her odious Aunt Ursula clearly intends to stay until another relative expires elsewhere), and Julia is forced to drape the mirrors in crepe and herself in endless widow’s black. But when swarthy, inscrutable private investigator Nicholas Brisbane tells her that her husband’s death may not have been due to natural causes, Lady Julia finds herself thrust into surroundings she could never have imagined, from the elegant home of a renowned courtesan, to a volatile boxing match in a gypsy camp. As the truth begins to emerge, Julia discovers that she has much to learn; about her husband, herself and the infuriating, mysterious and very attractive, Mr Brisbane… Set in the extravagant surroundings of upper-class Victorian England, and introducing the compelling, charismatic Lady Julia Grey this is a must read!
