"Dark Road to Darjeeling"
by Deanna Raybourn
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: Oct 1, 2010
Source: sent by publisher
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Book Summary from Goodreads.com:
With an exotic setting in the foothills of the Himalayas and the introduction of an arch-villain, Dark Road to Darjeeling promises to be the most exciting Lady Julia novel yet.
For Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane, the honeymoon has ended...but the adventure is just beginning.
After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia’s eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly-widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband’s family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child—and with discovering the truth about her husband’s death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?
Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.
My Review:
This book reminded me of one of my Nintendo DS games, Professor Layton and the Curious Village. There was a mystery to solve, and Julia continuously met new characters who would give her another small clue to the puzzle. Each time she met someone else, she would get that much closer to solving the mystery.
I would recommend this book to fans of mystery more so than historicals. For some reason, I thought this would be more of a romance, but it was definitely more mystery novel. Julia's husband, Brisbane, seemed a bit too stuffy for me. She even called him by his last name! But perhaps if I had read the other books in the series and knew how they met, etc, I would have liked his character.
Another comparison I kept thinking of while reading, was Lucy and Ricky from "I Love Lucy." It seemed like Julia was trying desperately to join in Brisbane's adventures, just like Lucy tried so hard to be in Ricky's show. Zany adventures ensue, only this time dangerous, and Brisbane always refuses to let her join him as a detective. The author gave reasons for him not wanting her to be a detective-he's had more training, he wants to keep her safe, but it sometimes came off as chauvinistic.
I know a lot of readers were hoping for some tea in this one because of the title, and-yes-there is a tea garden in Darjeeling! Yay!
Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 2/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Bottom Line:Even though I was disappointed that there wasn't more romance, this would be a great read for mystery fans, the historical aspect adds a lot of adventure!