Review: The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn

The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn

A husband, a family, a comfortable life: Theodora Lestrange lives in terror of it all.

With a modest inheritance and the three gowns that comprise her entire wardrobe, Theodora leaves Edinburgh — and a disappointed suitor — far behind. She is bound for Roumania, where tales of vampires are still whispered, to visit an old friend and write the book that will bring her true independence.

She arrives at a magnificent, decaying castle in the Carpathians replete with eccentric inhabitants: the ailing dowager; the troubled steward; her own fearful friend, Cosmina. But all are outstripped in dark glamour by the castle's master, Count Andrei Dragulescu.

Bewildering and bewitching in equal measure, the brooding nobleman ignites Theodora's imagination and awakens passions in her that she can neither deny nor conceal. His allure is superlative, his dominion over the superstitious town, absolute — Theodora may simply be one more person under his sway.

Before her sojourn is ended — or her novel completed — Theodora will have encountered things as strange and terrible as they are seductive. For obsession can prove fatal...and she is in danger of falling prey to more than desire.

*This is a general market historical romance mystery fiction novel.*

In 2007, thanks to Michelle Moran's blog I discovered "Silent in the Grave", the first in the Julia Grey series. Then I impatiently waited and read "Silent in the Sanctuary" within days of the release and considered myself a real fan of Deanna Raybourn. After reading the third book in the Julia Grey series "Silent on the Moor" I could not wait for more. When I found out that author Deanna Raybourn would be writing a different book off of the Julia Grey series, I was intrigued, but uncertain.

Finally, as of two days ago... I had my hands on an ARC of "The Dead Travel Fast". I was still curious but cautious. Whenever you really get into an author for one series, you never know as a reader if it is the author or the characters that you are so enamored with. While reading TDTF I can tell you that I absolutely love the Lady Julia Grey character and miss her and look forward to more from her... but it is definitely the story telling voice of Deanna that captures the audience and makes them reading her stories with rapid page turning succession.

Having such enchanted locations such as Edinburgh and Transylvania, a new Raybourn heroine Theodora draws a reader in with a storytelling voice of strength that intrigues for more. Each chapter provides great depth of description that begs for more. It is truly a mystery and one can hardly know what is indeed fact or farce for the characters. It is truly enjoyable to read a tale where the mystery is not revealed too easily and suppositions go round and round.

Theordora Lestrange is no Lady Julia, and the bewitching Count Andrei Dragulescu is no Brisbane, but they carry their force and are alluring on their own. And on a final thought, there could not have been a better ending, and I indeed did not see it coming.

Lastly, I still hold my opinion that the original cover types for the first two Julia novels, were much better than the new ones... but alas.  (See the covers that I am referencing in my reviews, from the links below).

*Thanks to author Deanna Raybourn and Stephanie of Nancy Berland PR for providing a copy for review.*

View all my reviews >>

Read my review of Deanna's other novels: 
Silent in the Grave
Silent in the Sanctuary
Silent on the Moor 

BBAW 4 Book Blog Discovery & Giveaway

Thursday September 17 Today we encourage you to blog about a book you read only because you discovered it on another book blog. Preferably, this will be a book you loved! You might also write a bit about the blog you discovered it on!

Not sure if this really counts... but through reading Author Michelle Moran's Historical Fiction Author Interviews Blog I have discovered several books that now reside on my TBR list. Yet the one author that she interviewed that I immediately located the book at my local library was Deanna Raybourn, shortly after Silent in the Grave was published. I read that book and enjoyed it. Easily I was very attached to the characters of Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane. Since then I have jumped when the next Lady Julia Novel was published and each one has been better than the last. Really the one of hers that I would say I absolutely loved was Lady Julia #3 Silent on the Moor. However, I highly suggest Silent in the Sanctuary as a good read as well.

Make sure you check out my other post today: Blogoversary Giveaway Autographed Extra #1 to enter for your chance to win an autographed copy of Silent on the Moor from Deanna Raybourn for yourself!!

My Reviews:
MIRA
Deanna Raybourn - Julia Grey Series
Silent in the Grave
Silent in the Sanctuary
Silent on the Moor

Blogoversary Giveaway Autographed Extra #1

Blogoversary Giveaway Autographed Extra #1 is very exciting for me. Thanks to Author Deanna Raybourn, I have to offer you a signed copy of her latest in print Silent on the Moor, a Julia Gray Novel. This is the third Julia Gray Novel so far and luckily not the last! Easily this one could be read alone, yet I suggest all of Deanna's novels for a good long read. This giveaway will end Friday, September 18th.

Click any of the following links to read my review.

MIRA
Deanna Raybourn - Julia Grey Series
Silent in the Grave
Silent in the Sanctuary
Silent on the Moor

You can note in my review, my opinion of the cover.

This is a wickedly witty Lady Julia Grey mystery. 'There are things that walk abroad on the moor that should not. But the dead do not always lie quietly, do they, lady?' It is England, 1888. Grimsgrave Manor is an unhappy house, isolated on the Yorkshire moors, silent and secretive. But secrets cannot be long kept in the face of Lady Julia Grey's incurable curiosity. In the teeth of protests from her conventional, stuffy brother, Lady Julia decides to pay a visit to the enigmatic detective, Nicholas Brisbane to bring a woman's touch to his new estate. Grimsgrave is haunted by the ghosts of its past, and its owner seems to be falling into ruin along with the house. Confronted with gypsy warnings and Brisbane's elusive behaviour, Lady Julia scents a mystery. It's not long before her desire for answers leads her into danger unlike any other that she has experienced - and from which, this time, there may be no escape.

Who is your favorite Mystery Author? What is your favorite Mystery Novel??

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Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn (a review)

(Just a general market review, that never made it to the blog before...)

Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn

Fresh from a six-month sojourn in Italy, Lady Julia returns home to Sussex to find her father's estate crowded with family and friends— but dark deeds are afoot at the deconsecrated abbey, and a murderer roams the ancient cloisters.

Much to her surprise, the one man she had hoped to forget—the enigmatic and compelling Nicholas Brisbane—is among her father's houseguests… and he is not alone. Not to be outdone, Julia shows him that two can play at flirtation and promptly introduces him to her devoted, younger, titled Italian count.

But the homecoming celebrations quickly take a ghastly turn when one of the guests is found brutally murdered in the chapel, and a member of Lady Julia's own family confesses to the crime. Certain of her cousin's innocence, Lady Julia resumes her unlikely and deliciously intriguing partnership with Nicholas Brisbane, setting out to unravel a tangle of deceit before the killer can strike again. When a sudden snowstorm blankets the abbey like a shroud, it falls to Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane to answer the shriek of murder most foul.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was definitely better than the last. To a point I did enjoy Silent in the Grave, but the solving point I felt ruined what could have been a perfectly great mystery. But that's enough about that. I really enjoyed this one. This was not just one mystery, but several wrapped up in one. There was some romance and extreme feelings between various persons and trying to see them was a task. I enjoyed this story, and it makes me anxious to read Silent on the Moor, because I believe it will be even better. The first book I would not recommend to certain audiences, but I believe that most people could read this one without much affect in a negative sense. It is much more tasteful and enjoyable. I felt as if I could see clues and piece them together, when with the first novel it was more of a jolt of information here and there. In my opinion, this author is getting better and better.

Click here, to go back and read my review of Silent in the Grave, #1 and here to read my review of Silent on the Moor, #3.

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Mira; 1st Thus. edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778324923
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324928
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.8 x 1.1 inches

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn (a review)

(Just a general market review, that never made it to the blog before...)

Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn

These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.

Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.

Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
the Writing of this book really pulled me in and I found it overall to be a good long mystery that kept me slightly confused and full of vague guesses. It has been many years since I have read much mystery, and I did enjoy this one. As a basic Victorian English Mystery novel it was quite fun. The characters were likable and I do plan to read the future novels in the series.

This is not a series for everyone. It is very "worldly" and liberal with homosexuality and affairs. After all the murder weapon was for use on a phallus. This is definitely an adult novel. Part of me feels that they mystery could have gone a completely different way. It was not until late in four hundred pages that it even appeared to have the "lovers" and method of death. I am quite disappointed as to where it went, because those are definitely not my taste, and it is just plain blah. It was just annoying at first that her sister earlier displayed a leaning tendency toward her Jane, but it just went too far really. The writing is good, and such a better story could be told with the talent without being so sexual.

View all my reviews >>

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Mira; First Printing edition (January 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778324109
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324102
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches

Also available as a reprint in Mass Market Paperback.

Click here, to go read my review of the second in the series, Silent in the Sanctuary.
Click here, to go back and read my review of the third in the series, Silent on the Moor.

Mailbox Monday - May 11th, 2009

As far as the mailbox goes, this was a fairly uneventful week. Yet, I think for now that is probably a good thing, since I have a huge pile TBR and it does not seem to be shrinking in the normal manner and speed it usually does...

This week I received one book for review, and a second book from Paperbackswap.

Book 3 of Delaware Dawning (HP #823)
historical romance
Order through Heartsong Presents (call 1-800-847-8270 for toll-free; NOT on the HP site)
Order through Amazon.com
Order through Barnes & Noble
November 2008
ISBN-13: 9781602601895

View the spotlight on CAN's (Christian Author's Network) You've Got Books Blog

-- Living during the American Revolution and the formation of a new nation, Margret Scott gets involved with a spy and a life of deception that could endanger herself, her family and the man she loves. --

"If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity." ~Job 31:5-6

Is deception fair in wartime?

Margret Scott finds she must deal with this question as she becomes attracted to the enigmatic Samuel Lowe. As the tensions grow between the colonists and the British soldiers and loyalists, Margret struggles to determine where Samuel's loyalties lie, despite his reassurances that they lie with the colonists.

Samuel's duties have him working for both sides of this war, and he is often torn between what is right and what is wrong. He promises Margret she can trust him, and Margret promises him she does.

But can promises born in deception be trusted? Can relationships built in uncertainty survive?

Read Chapter One

---

This is the third in a series that I have read for review from Amber Miller (Stockton). I really enjoyed the first two. You can read my reviews of those here (PP) and here (QP).

Secondly, from PaperBackSwap, I received a hardback copy of Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn. I read this last year and really enjoyed it. I am very eager to have my own copy, since I read it from the library. It makes me very happy. Now, I just have to get my hands on the other two. I do have an ARC of the third one, Silent on the Moor. But I do not have a copy of book two, Silent in the Sanctuary. I would really like to find a copy of the original print in trade paper back, since that is my favorite cover. Yet, all the copies that come up on PBS seem to be Mass Market. *sigh* That is what I get for being picky.



These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.

Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.

Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

I also have my reviews of these three books here (SITG), here (SITS), and here (SOTM).

Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn: a review

Silent On The Moor by Deanna Raybourn

Despite his admonitions to stay away, Lady Julia arrives in Yorkshire to find Brisbane as remote and maddeningly attractive as ever. Cloistered together, they share the moldering house with the proud but impoverished remnants of an ancient family—the sort that keeps their bloodline pure and their secrets close. Lady Allenby and her daughters, dependent upon Brisbane and devastated by their fall in society, seem adrift on the moor winds, powerless to change their fortunes. But poison does not discriminate between classes….

A mystery unfolds from the rotten heart of Grimsgrave, one Lady Julia may have to solve alone, as Brisbane appears inextricably tangled in its heinous twists and turns. But blood will out, and before spring touches the craggy northern landscape, Lady Julia will have uncovered a Gypsy witch, a dark rider and a long-buried legacy of malevolence and evil.

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Upon finishing this novel, the phrase that comes to mind is "thoroughly satisfying". I think that it is safe to say that I read this almost six hundred page novel in about three sittings, I just could hardly put it down. It was just that enthralling for me.

Side note: I agree with what has been said about the cover. The original cover for the first two novels was much more mysteries and intriguing to me. This cover presents itself as a romance, and this is so much more than a romance novel.


Easily this novel could stand alone, although you might feel the characters a bit more after having the background of what they have been through. Their stories are introduced well and it does not deter from this story to miss the background, so either way works. The first novel I enjoyed minus one certain part that just bugged me, not the writing, but a plot line. Anyway, the second novel was so much better than the first, so I was excited to read this one. Having already decided that I am a fan of Deanna's writing, I was expecting to enjoy this book. What I was not expecting was to absolutely love it beginning to end.



Of the three Julia Grey novels so far available, this is the best so far. Each book gets better and I cannot wait for more from Deanna Raybourn in the future.



With each twist of the plot and mysterious event to unfold I was shocked and amazed at the pieces that I missed and thrilled with the bits that I figured out myself. Julia Grey brings us through a fabulous journey with not just one big mystery, but bunches of little ones as well that kept the pages turning.



Throughout the novel, I laughed out loud, became infuriatingly angry, teared slightly, and snickered relentlessly. Within the main plot and all the side plots, I definitely feel that the entire story led up to a great overall tale and I was vastly entertained.



It is another one of those books, where I ask, why did it have to end and when can I get more?


View all my reviews.