Thomas A. reviewed Pelagia and the White Bulldog (Sister Pelagia Mystery 1) on + 2 more book reviews
As a fan of Boris Akunin's series of books about the amazing secret agent Erast Fandorin, I thought I would give this series a try. It was a wise decision. If you like Fandorin you will love the Little Mother Pelagia (and her secret alter ego).
This yarn gets off to a slow start with a group of relatives and others gathered at a Russian country estate during the waning days of the Czars. But soon the mystery begins as an unknown assailant declares a vendetta on the mistress of the estate by attacking the ones she loves most in her life. Sister Pelagia is dispatched to comfort the family and she inserts herself into the mystery, using her nun's habit to cloak her awesome powers of deduction. One plot twist follows another until one violent climax is followed by a trial and yet another violent attack. If you deduce the villain before the ending, you are a better sleuth than I.
If you like Akunin's work, you will really like this.
This yarn gets off to a slow start with a group of relatives and others gathered at a Russian country estate during the waning days of the Czars. But soon the mystery begins as an unknown assailant declares a vendetta on the mistress of the estate by attacking the ones she loves most in her life. Sister Pelagia is dispatched to comfort the family and she inserts herself into the mystery, using her nun's habit to cloak her awesome powers of deduction. One plot twist follows another until one violent climax is followed by a trial and yet another violent attack. If you deduce the villain before the ending, you are a better sleuth than I.
If you like Akunin's work, you will really like this.
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed Pelagia and the White Bulldog (Sister Pelagia Mystery 1) on + 1438 more book reviews
Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog is a good read with a plot that is convoluted and interesting. Murdered dogs bring Sister Pelagia onto a scene where several other murders occur. The author points the reader first one way and then another so it's not easy to determine who committed the murders. Normally I can follow the clues to the culprit but not this time. I like that in a mystery read. However, I am not sure that I one aspect of this novel. The author on occasion comments directly to the reader about the novel, Russia, the culture and the people. I like to see such musings at the end or the beginning of the book.
