Well, I'm finally catching up. I'm on Chapter 30-something, but I don't want to read the thread for the 30+ chapters, so I'll post here.

Okay, am I the only one who for the most part has found this book a bit boring?  I like the witty writing, and I really like many of the characters (Julia, Portia, Aquinas, Julia's father, and Fluer - though I must confess to not really liking Brisbane at all), but I've been bored.  Now things are spicing up a bit, but still . . . I think it's too late to redeem this book in my eye.  It seems like so much of the storytelling was superflous.  There is a whole lot about Julia puttering around her house, contemplating her wardrobe, etc.  Perhaps when I get to the end I'll realize there were clues everywhere and had I been more involved I would've seen the end coming.  Perhaps not.  It may be that I'm just not a mystery kind of girl. I've never really been into them.  I guess I'll see what Jeanne has to say being one of the resident historical mystery experts.  How does this book compare to others in the genré?

There are some loose ends I'm waiting to be explained (in addition to the naming of the murderer and the motive, of course) like who was Mariah Young, who was Magda going to poison and why, who was the person who dug up Magda's daughter if it wasn't Valerius, is Simon really as good and innocent as he seems?  Those type of things.  I'm hoping that maybe when everything is made clear I'll go, "Wow, amazing!"  LOL! 

I should finish up tonight, and I'll post my ending thoughts in the other thread.

Shelley - lol! When you read the posts on this book you will see that you are not the only one disappointed in this first of the series. As others have said, the "hook" in these books are the characters. The mysteries are rather so-so. These books do improve if you continue to read the series. I've read 4 of them so far and have put off reading the 5th mainly because I've become rather attached to the characters! These really are almost in a class all by themselves - for HM books. See what you think when you read the rest of the posts.....

What Jeanne said,  I almost didn't read the second book in this series, but several reviews were so good that I decided to read the second, by that time I was so hooked on the characters I had to read them all.  My favorite of the books is Dark Road to Darjeeling.

Okay, guys, well, I'm glad to know it wasn't just me and that this book is a tad on the dull side, at least in terms of suspense, mystery, etc.  I will finish up tonight and then check out the posts in the next thread -- and see if I have any interest at all in reading the second book in the series.  I don't have it, so unless it falls into my lap, it will probably be a long time before I read it.

Hey, am I the only one who doesn't love Brisbane?  So far I find him rude, arrogant, cold, weird, etc.  He must be physically attractive for Julia to be interested.  As far as I can tell, he hasn't been the slightest bit nice to her.

I only read half the book, but I didn't find Brisbane interesting or attractive either.  But I figured it was just a matter of not getting to know him yet, and it'd develop.

Sharz - Lucky thing you didn't wait to find out.  He doesn't, IMO.  Perhaps he improves in the follow up books.  Perhaps someday I'll find out!