This is one of those books that I have no memory of buying and no idea how I found it. It's definitely in my wheelhouse, though, so at least I understand what past!me was thinking.
This is the first in a series of books of mysteries that take place at Cambridge in the early 20th Century. It's one part murder mystery, one part gay romance, both of which I enjoy a lot. The couple at the center of the story are two teaching fellows at the university, who fall in love while trying to solve a series of murders. But are they putting themselves in danger by investigating matters? I bet you know the answer to that.
The relationship is a classic opposites attract romance between the outgoing and daring Jorty Stewart and the more restrained and uncertain Orlando Coppersmith. There isn't a huge amount of tension in their budding relationship beyond Orlando's naiveté, and in some ways the murder mystery starts too soon in the book; there isn't really any sleuthing the reader can do to figure out who's behind the murders and why, so it's harder to engage with the plot than is ideal for a murder mystery. It's a book that doesn't quite know what it wants to be, and as a result it left me feeling a bit muddled as well.
Grade: C
This is the first in a series of books of mysteries that take place at Cambridge in the early 20th Century. It's one part murder mystery, one part gay romance, both of which I enjoy a lot. The couple at the center of the story are two teaching fellows at the university, who fall in love while trying to solve a series of murders. But are they putting themselves in danger by investigating matters? I bet you know the answer to that.
The relationship is a classic opposites attract romance between the outgoing and daring Jorty Stewart and the more restrained and uncertain Orlando Coppersmith. There isn't a huge amount of tension in their budding relationship beyond Orlando's naiveté, and in some ways the murder mystery starts too soon in the book; there isn't really any sleuthing the reader can do to figure out who's behind the murders and why, so it's harder to engage with the plot than is ideal for a murder mystery. It's a book that doesn't quite know what it wants to be, and as a result it left me feeling a bit muddled as well.
Grade: C
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