Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: Silent in the Grave
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Publisher: Mira (Hardcover)
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2410-2
Release Date: January 2007
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Suspense
Year/Setting: 1886/London
Overall Rating: 5.0
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Deanna's Website:
www.deannaraybourn.com
Sir Edward Grey is well known among London society and well loved. He is clever, charming and…not what he appears. This becomes quite apparent to his wife, Julia, as she comes out of her year of mourning. Julia had known Edward since they were children and that childhood play friend became her husband. Granted, she knew Edward had health issues that would take his life young but still she had not expected it to happen quite so soon.
What she struggled with even more was the appearance of Nick Brisbane who planted the seed that just maybe Edward’s death had come early and wasn’t exactly natural. Until that very day, Julia was a bit of an innocent. That day though marked the beginning of a life changing journey. Julia was not prepared but had little choice in the matter.
Initially Brisbane takes the lead in the investigation but as Julia’s curiosity magnifies, she begins taking an active role and learning about a side of life she never really knew existed. Julia starts to do more and more of the investigating on her own. Her investigating takes her from gypsy camps to brothels, from doctors to prostitutes and so much more.
There are so many more things I want to share in regard to Deanna Raybourn’s manuscript. However, the plot is so good I really don’t want to give anything away. I will admit historicals are not my first choice of genres to read but this is one that will appeal to even those with less liking for this venue than I. The surroundings are rich, almost extravagant, while the characters are real and believable. So many of them are people of whose character we see even in today’s surroundings. You will have no trouble believing in any one of them.
All throughout Silent in the Grave, of course, your mind is thinking of ways this murder could have occurred. It is easy to pick a character and in your mind, a chapter later, dismiss that same character only to pick it up again in a few more chapters. The plot twist with the mystery is very well thought out. Even in the last when Julia puts the pieces together it isn’t until the very end of the confrontation that you discover the identity of the person Julia is talking to.
I loved the maturity gained by the heroine, Julia. So much of what she thought to be true, so much of what she believed of her husband, so much of what she thought of those closest around her and even so much of what she believed of herself were stripped from her mind and replaced with the truth. How many of us could meet that head on and become a stronger person.
At the end though, I am sensing another story with Julia is forthcoming and I certainly hope this is true!! Silent in the Grave is incredible for a first published novel so I am truly looking forward to more.
Lori
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