Victorian Murder Mystery, Humour
Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 29 June 2014
On Amazon.com HERE
Diamonds and Dust is a perfectly presented book - I am the world's worst skip reader but I think I read every word of this, because every one was worth reading. Some passages I read more than once, particularly those describing London in 1860, in which the book is set. It's SO well researched, and this shines through; the atmosphere of the time is portrayed with real feeling; some parts would be heartbreaking if the overall humour of the book wasn't light and tongue-in-cheek.
I'm not much of a one for murder mysteries, generally, but Ms Hedges is such a fabulous writer (I've just discovered!) that I think I'd have been enthralled even if she'd written a sci-fi thriller. The plot is intricately woven and releases just the right amount of information at the right time(s), but what I liked most about it was that it's so clever, and funny. My favourite passages were those about the ghastly social climbing that occurred in the Victorian middle classes, even the snobbery amongst the servants.
One thing I love in a book is when the secondary characters are as thoughtfully illustrated as the principal ones; such is the case here, even down to the brief portrait of a simple Welsh police constable in his Watch Box on a cold frosty night. I can't recommend this book too highly, and will be the first person clicking 'buy now' when the sequel, Honour and Obey, is published - I hear the contract has recently been signed!
Honour and Obey by Carol Hedges reviewed HERE
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