Book Review: Fair as a Star by Mimi Matthews (2020)

Fair as a Star

Victorian Romantics: Book One

by Mimi Matthews

2020

✯✯✯✯✯ 

I've put off reading any of Mimi Matthews' books. It sometimes happens for me that when an author is surrounded by so much hype and enthusiasm, that I end up crushingly disappointed in their work. Thankfully, that is not the case with Fair as a Star.

She handles the topic of melancholy/clinical depression with a delicate and understanding hand. There is no cure for Beryl. There are ways to help treat the symptoms of her melancholy, but there will never be a cure, and it is not her fault that she suffers from melancholy nor is it a cry for attention. It simply is what it is and what she needs most is for someone to be understanding and compassionate during her low periods because they will happen her entire life.

That compassionate approach to clinical depression is what makes Mimi Matthews an absolute winner in my book. As someone who suffers from situational depression and has a family member who has suffered from clinical depression my entire life, I strongly relate to Beryl's story. It's hard to describe what depression feels like but emptiness is a good starting point like there is a vacuum or black hole into which all of the good things have fallen. Ms. Matthews captured that reality very well.

Why I'm rating only 4 stars instead of 5 is because I do feel that a few things were wrapped up too quickly. Like the ease of Beryl and Mark ending up together. Henry doesn't seem a very forgiving sort of person, so I was surprised at how forgiving he was in the end. BUT, I probably do him a discourtesy. He's not a truly unpleasant man but has had to be pragmatic and ruthless in order to save the family farm, as it were. And while I like Mark immensely (he's a curate so of course, I like him), I do wish we'd had a chance to know him in a deeper way.

Beryl is wonderful and I love her hobby of whitework embroidery. I didn't even know that was a thing until this book and now I'm curious. My sister embroiders but I don't think she's ever done whitework.

Overall, an excellent novel with a little bit of a Sense and Sensibility vibe. I've read novels this short before, but unfortunately, the authors tend to chop their story so ruthlessly that there is no heart left. Thankfully, that's not the case here. I've already placed more of Ms. Matthews' books on hold at my library and can hardly wait to give them a try. What I'm truly eager for, though, is the second book in this series.

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Book Review: Death by the Book by Julianna Deering (2014)

Death by the Book by Julianna Deering
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is 1932 and only a few months have passed since the events that turned Drew Farthering's peaceful existence on its head. All he wants now is to convince Madeline, the love of his life, to marry him. Unfortunately for Drew, life throws another wrench in his plans, both by dropping off Madeline's aged, incredibly stubborn aunt on his doorstep as well as a new string of murders that connect to people Drew either knows personally, or knows of through a friend. Drew struggles with Aunt Ruth's disdain and mistrust of his intentions towards her niece, just as he is also dragged back into solving mysteries with the local constabulary. The last thing he anticipated was that the murders, people left slaughtered with a hat pin stuck into their chest bearing a note in Shakespearean script, would slowly creep ever closer to his home. Just as life was returning to normal, mayhem erupts again and Drew must find a solution before people close to him start dying.

There are very few authors I love enough to mentally note their name in anticipation of their next book. Julianna Deering happens to be one of my recent favorites so when the chance came to review her latest release via Netgalley, I jumped on it. And, exactly as I anticipated, she didn't disappoint! Death by the Book is a little bit of a slow starter, which is strange because it begins with a murder, slam-bang right on the first page. But it didn't really snag me fully until I was 50% in, but I blame that more on my distractions and less on Ms. Deering because her entertaining style remains exactly the same as her first book, Rules of Murder. In other words, she's a genius. And once I was able to dedicate lengthy periods of time to finishing the book, I literally didn't want to put it down.

One of the best things that happened at the end of Rules of Murder was Drew's salvation experience. Not that he wasn't a darling to begin with, but it's delightful seeing him run a God filter through his thoughts and actions before saying or doing something in Death by the Book. His salvation experience was genuine, and he did it for himself, not just for Madeline. The attraction between Madeline and Drew grows stronger with each book, which is probably why Aunt Ruth put in an appearance. Although I did find her fears amusing since Americans usually have worse reputations than Brits, but oh well. So, Drew and Madeline have to put barriers in place because the closer they get, the more temptation raises its ugly head. And I love that because it's a representation of real life, of genuine physical attraction. And Drew's resistance to physicality reveals that he loves her for more than just her physical self. It's fantastic.

The mystery itself was a tad confusing for me, mostly because I could only snatch snippets of time here and there to get a chapter read. Once I sat down and dedicated a few hours of time to the book, it clicked into place. I will say that some of the scenes read a little bit like Tommy and Tuppence by Agatha Christie, but that's not really such a bad thing. After all, Christie is one of the greats, and the Beresfords are amazing literary inventions. So, I can't complain. At the beginning I was a little dumbfounded that Drew would find himself embroiled in another mystery especially since he's a gentleman and not a detective or a lawyer or attached to the police force in any way. It made sense at the end of the book but for awhile I just didn't entirely buy Drew's presence at yet more crime scenes when he really didn't need to be involved. I only doubted for about half the book, and was thrilled when  Ms. Deering gave her readers a reason behind Drew's involvement.

I think that's what she does best. She makes the reader wonder how something fits, or makes us think something is a cliche, and then she turns it upside down with a brilliant AHA moment. I loved that about Rules of Murder and she keeps some of the same surprising twists and turns in Death by the Book. Plus, faith is a natural element in Ms. Deering's work. It's never forced, always natural, and I loved the sincerity of Drew's faith when we reach the end of this book. Once I reached that halfway mark, and had time to spend, I literally couldn't stop reading. Now, my one regret, is that yet again I have to wait some period of time for Ms. Deering's next book in the "Drew Farthering Mysteries," already titled Murder at the Mikado. Ooh, I hate waiting!

- I received this book from Bethany House publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

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Book Review: Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering

Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



- I received a free, advance copy of Rules of Murder from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Drew Farthering, wealthy heir to the Farlinford Processing company, adores murder mysteries. He even has the latest Agatha Christie novel on standing order from the local bookstore. But he never imagined that murder would show up on his own doorstep on the night of a glamorous party, and not just one murder, but two. And now, since murder has assaulted his homestead (huge though it may be), Drew takes it upon himself to put his nose for mystery to good use. With his closest friend Nick Dennison (son to the Farthering's family retainer) in tow, Drew determines to outwit the criminal mind wreaking havoc on his family. Add to the mix the lovely Madeline Parker (niece to Drew's stepfather) and the author has created the perfect concoction for a 1930s English mystery.

For anyone who enjoys the era of Wodehouse's Jeeves & Wooster or Agatha Christie's Poirot this book offers the highest appeal. The author knows the vernacular used in 1930s England by the young and horrendously wealthy, and particularly understands how to take a young man like Drew Farthering (would-be-detective) and make him interesting and fun. Because Drew is fun. He and Nick are such delightful pals, scampering around and trying to solve the murders that crop up on Drew's estate. The characters are likeable, from start to finish. Of course, loving Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster as I do, it only made sense I would adore such ridiculously playful characters as Drew and Nick. To some, I'm sure, they will seem silly and immature, but to me, they are delicious.

Ms. Deering's writing style is simplistic and minimalist, just as I like it. No absurdly big words that require a dictionary or long sentences where the reader forgets where the author was headed. She utilizes active descriptors instead of passive, helping the reader place themselves right in the thick of the action. And her characters are flawlessly designed. Drew and Nick, despite being cut rather from the same playful cloth, or unique from one another in character design. Madeline is a likeable heroine instead of annoying. I cheered for her and Drew. She brings out the best in him and that is what every heroine is called to do with her hero. Even his constant use of "My Darling" was rather adorable instead of irritating!

It isn't easy following in the footsteps of the great mystery writers like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers but Julianna Deering makes an exquisite go at it. I admit, she had me going. Not so much that she had me fooled, but she fooled me into thinking she hadn't fooled me. I was disappointed for awhile, thinking I had the mystery all figured out long before I was even halfway through the book. There were too many cliches running around that made me originally think the novel mediocre at best. But the ending was a slam-bang finish and had me slapping my palm to my forehead in impressed disbelief. It's not easy to surprise a mystery connoisseur and I applaud her for managing just that!

I now salivate at the thought of a second book and wish Ms. Deering the best possible success!



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