Review: Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

by Deanna Raybourn

Release Date:  October 1, 2010
Mira Books
400p


SYNOPSIS:  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. 

* * * *  * * * *  * * * *  * * * *  * * * * 

REVIEW:  Having just finished my first Lady Julie Grey book I can now see what all the raving about this series has been about! I could just kick myself for not reading one sooner because I LOOOOOVED this book!

To sum up quickly, Julia and Nicholas are nearing the end of their 8 month honeymoon in the Mediterranean when Julia’s sister Portia and brother Plum track them down in Egypt imploring them to help Portia’s ex-girlfriend Jane. Her husband has just died mysteriously and Jane is pregnant with the heir of her husband’s family lucrative tea plantation, if it’s a boy that is, and Portia is concerned for her safety if indeed her husband was murdered for his inheritance. So, the quartet travels to majestic India, where they meet Jane’s suspicious in-laws, eccentric neighbors, and a man-eating tiger.

Now, I don’t generally read a series out of order, but there was no way I would have been able to read the others first, so I had to bite the bullet and just do it. Well, I needn’t have worried because it didn’t matter one bit that I started with book five. Yes, there were references to things and events that happened in previous novels, but Raybourn did a great job at bringing the reader up to speed quickly and concisely. I also worried about whether or not I would feel a connection to the characters having not followed their story from the beginning, but I was instantly smitten with Brisbane, Julia, Portia and Plum and found myself laughing out loud because of something they said or did many times throughout the book. In fact I was laughing within the first few pages so I knew I had a winner!

Also, the mystery part of the book itself was so wonderfully done. I have read tons of mystery books, Anne Rule real-crime books and watched enough Law & Order to be pretty good at picking out the bad guy before its revealed, but this time I was shocked at the ending!

So, if you’re in the mood for a good mystery intermingled with witty dialogue and fun characters, then Dark Road to Darjeeling is the book for you!  And PTTP has your chance to win a copy starting tomorrow, so stay tuned!

My favorite quote: “I think eccentricity is a virtue much undervalued. Our world would be a drab place if everyone in it were the same.”

More books by Deanna Raybourn:  Silent in the Grave | Silent On the Moor | Silent in the Sanctuary | The Dead Travel Fast

For more information, please visit Deanna Raybourn's WEBSITE.  

FTC Disclosure:  I received this book for review by the publisher.


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8 comments:

  1. Love the quote about eccentricity! I might pick these up for my mom for Christmas - I'm not much of a mystery reader but she is - thanks for the great review!

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  2. So glad you enjoyed this newest release by Deanna Raybourn.

    I'm anxiously waiting for my copy to arrive in the mail! I've loved all of the books in the series, and I can't wait to experience Lady Julia and Brisbane as a married couple now.

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  3. So glad you loved this book Amy! It is a great series... you will definitely enjoy the rest of them :) This is a series I hope to reread soon. Have a great weekend!!!

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  4. There are three reviews out for this book today and all so very positive. I have read two of her books and loved them. This should be definitely my next read.

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  5. Nice review! Glad you liked it. I've enjoyed the first three Lady Julia mysteries in varying degrees (THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST is a stand-alone). I have DARK ROAD on my Kindle & look forward to reading it just as soon as I'm done with my current read, THE BOOK OF UNHOLY MISCHIEF.

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  6. I'm really drawn to the cover of this one. Certainly not what I thought it would have been about LOL...

    Thanks for the review!

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  7. Great review; like you, I suspect I'm going to be mad I waited so long, as well, before picking up this series!!

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