Lady Julia Grey and her family are summoned back to their country home in England for Christmas, where they are met with a ghost, stolen jewels, and a murder mystery to solve. Amidst relationship issues and subplots, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane work together to uncover the truth while navigating family dynamics and romantic tensions. The book is praised for its intriguing characters, engaging plot, and a blend of multiple mysteries that keep the reader hooked.

Characters:

The characters are richly drawn, with Lady Julia evolving into a more assertive figure and Brisbane maintaining his mysterious allure amidst a colorful cast of family and guests.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and witty, blending humor with vivid descriptions that evoke a strong sense of the Victorian setting.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features Lady Julia navigating family dynamics while solving a murder at a snowbound Christmas party, with multiple mysteries layered throughout.

Setting:

The setting is primarily a gothic-style abbey during Christmas, significantly impacting the story's mood and plot dynamics.

Pacing:

Pacing starts slowly with character development, but accelerates significantly as the mystery unfolds, maintaining engagement.

I threw my elder brother a repressive look. “Do not be so morose, Plum. Father’s only really angry with Lysander,” I pointed out, brandishing the letter from England with my fingertips. The paper fair...

Notes:

Lady Julia Grey returns from a six-month stay in Italy to her family home for Christmas.

The story features a house party at the gothic Bellmont Abbey, which was once a monastery.

Nicholas Brisbane, Julia's love interest, appears with a new fiancée, Charlotte King, causing tension between them.

A murder occurs soon after Julia's arrival, trapping all guests inside the Abbey due to a snowstorm.

The novel contains themes of family loyalty, inner conflict, and the pursuit of independence.

Julia's character evolves, showing her growth from a naive widow to a more confident woman.

The story includes various subplots involving stolen jewels, romantic entanglements, and family secrets.

The book maintains a mix of romance, humor, and gothic elements, adding complexity to the mystery.

Raybourn's writing has been praised for its humor, character development, and vivid descriptions of Victorian society.

The mystery features clever twists and turns, with several plausible suspects throughout the story.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Moderate content warnings may apply, including themes of murder, violence, and the exploration of familial secrets.

Has Romance?

The romantic subplot between Julia and Brisbane adds a significant layer to the narrative, featuring tension and complexity without overwhelming the central mystery.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

Join Lady Julia Grey on her next investigation in book 2 of the acclaimed historical mystery series only from New York Times bestselling author 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. 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. 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.

Previously published.

Don't miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn!

Book # 1: Silent in the Grave

Book # 2: Silent in the Sanctuary

Book # 3: Silent on the Moor

Book # 3.5: Midsummer Night (novella)

Book # 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling

Book # 5: The Dark Enquiry

Book # 5.5: Silent Night (novella)

Book # 5.6: Twelfth Night (novella)

Book # 5.7: Bonfire Night (novella)

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Silent in the Sanctuary?

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Silent in the Sanctuary

Deanna Raybourn

Book 2 in the series:Lady Julia Grey