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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody -- Review and Giveaway!

Need a good historical mystery? I've just finished reading DYING IN THE WOOL by Frances Brody, which takes place post WWI. I was enthralled and you will be too!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Meet Kate Shackleton—a 31 year-old war widow who is hanging onto freedom with the skin of her teeth. It’s 1922 and while Britain recovers from the devastating Great War, Kate is on a mission to reunite missing family members with their loved ones. She’ll need her strength, wit, and love for photography to take on her latest case—a missing mill owner Joshua Braithwaite, a robber baron of the early 20th century, who has disappeared without a trace. When his daughter approaches Kate to help her find him, Kate is ruthlessly determined to find out the truth.


DYING IN THE WOOL by Frances Brody
Minotaur Books
On sale- February 14, 2012
978-0-312-62239-8
Hardcover; $24.99

MY REVIEW:

Its been quite some time since I've read a good mystery. I used to absorb them like one does the sun, so when DYING IN THE WOOL graced my mailbox, I was eager to read it right away. Once I started, I couldn't stop. 

I loved the setting--post WWI England. The author had so many little details that I would never have known without reading, for example, the heroine, Kate, was in the VAD--Voluntary Aid Dispatchment during the war. You don't often hear about womens roles in the military and I thought it was not only a nice touch, but integral to Kate's character. She is a no nonsense, get down to business and don't give up kind of woman. She is strong too, able to take on whatever is thrown her way, all while trying to deal with her own inner demons--namely a husband whose been proclaimed MIA during battle, and many people telling her at this point he must be dead. The reader really gets inside Kate's head, her life, and I enjoyed that aspect of the story, just as much as I did the mystery.

The mystery itself, was excellent. The secondary characters were well developed. A piece at a time is revealed to Kate and on the sidelines, her assistant Sykes is digging up even more. The way this book is written, the reader really gets to analyze and digest all the clues along with Kate, so we know just as much as she does (and maybe even a little more as we get inside the heads of the secondary characters too!) and try to put them all together to figure out who the culprit is.

Ms. Brody does an excellent job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. DYING IN THE WOOL has a lot of unanticipated twists and turns. I was completely surprised at the end! There were so many ways the story could have gone. Cheers to the author for keeping us in suspense until the very last pages.

I can't wait to read more Kate Shackleton! This is a series I am definitely hooked on. And I have to say, like Kate, I hope her husband returns too. I highly recommend this book.

GIVEAWAY! Happy release day to Ms. Brody! Leave a comment (including your email address) to be included! Two winners!
**Note: The Kate Shackleton Mystery series was first published in the U.K.**

7 comments:

Kitchen Witch of the West said...

This sounds like the perfect book for my online book group.
Thanks for the concise review without a single spoiler!

larisa.labrant(at)gmail.c0m

Eliza Knight said...

You're welcome! It was excellent!

Renee said...

I love a good mystery and can't wait to read this one!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Great review - I love mysteries and this sounds perfect. Although I'm in the UK (Scotland), I haven't read Kate's books yet, but I will!

celticursa said...

Thanks for pointing me to another WWI series to fill in the time spaces between the next Winspear and Todd.

Eliza Knight said...

According to random.org, the winners of the giveaway are.... KitchenWitch and CelticUrsa! Contrats!!! Please send your addresses to me via writer @ elizaknight.com (minus spaces!)

Eliza Knight said...

I received a lovely email from Ms. Brody! Here is what she said:

"I was very pleased to read the lovely review, and all the comments. Thank you!

It's good to know that my sleuth, Kate Shackleton, has found friends across the Atlantic. Good wishes, Frances Brody"