Skip to main content

Murder Between The Lines (Kitty Weeks #2) by Radha Vatsal: A Book Review

Murder Between The Lines (Kitty Weeks #2)
Author: Radha Vatsal
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: May 2nd, 2017
Pages: 320
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Intrepid journalist Kitty Weeks returns in the second book in this acclaimed WW1-era historical mystery series to investigate the death of a boarding school student.

     When Kitty's latest assignment for the New York Sentinel Ladies' Page takes her to Westfield Hall, she expects to find an orderly establishment teaching French and dancing-but there's more going on at the school than initially meets the eye.

     Tragedy strikes when a student named Elspeth is found frozen to death in Central Park. The doctor's proclaim that the girl's sleepwalking was the cause, but Kitty isn't so sure.

     Determined to uncover the truth, Kitty must investigate a more chilling scenario-a murder that may involve Elspeth's scientist father and a new invention by a man named Thomas Edison.

     My Review: Kitty Weeks goes to a boarding school to write an article for the Ladies Page. When she arrives, she is immediately taken with Elspeth Bright because of the young girl’s passion for science. Shortly after her meeting, she learns that Elspeth has been found dead in Central Park. The doctor determines that it is sleep walking. Kitty thinks otherwise. As Kitty searches for the truth, she finds that the answer may be more sinister than she ever imagined.

    After loving A Front Page Affair, I eagerly anticipated the sequel. I wanted to know what was next in store for Kitty. I was very disappointed that there was not much character development for Kitty. She had such potential. Yet, the author never expanded her character further. Honestly, I didn’t care for Kitty in this novel. She complained a lot. When Elspeth died, she complained that she didn’t want to work anymore because she feared that it would interfere with her health. She also complained about her father’s new girlfriend. She was also a passive character, and I did not like how she let people get away with murder without a fight. Thus, Kitty changed drastically from the character in A Front Page Affair.

    Overall, this novel is about family and politics. While the characters were not fully developed, I did like the father-daughter relationship between Kitty and Julian. The mystery aspect was a bit disappointing. It was predictable and there was no justice to Elspeth’s death.  However, I did like the historical details in the novel. This book was meticulously researched and will not disappoint fans of historical fiction. Despite its flaws, it was a light and fast-paced mystery. Thus, while I prefer the first novel, it was still a solid follow-up. I think this series has potential, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Kitty Weeks mysteries.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Interview with Melanie Karsak

Today, I have the pleasure of having an interview with Melanie Karsak! I have read and enjoyed her many series of books on some of history's more obscure or misunderstood women. Often, little is known about their true histories, either from not being recorded because of their gender and the unimportance given to women or else intentional character assassination. Mrs. Karsak seeks to bring light where much is shrouded in darkness. As a result, we are enriched by their lives and these fascinating women can speak to us through the centuries. In this interview, Mrs. Karsak talks about what drew her to these women and her writing pro cess! Thank you Mrs. Karsak! You have written books on Lady MacBeth, Hervor, Queen Boudica, Queen Cartimandua, and now Freydis. What drew you to write about these women? I like the unsung and maligned heroines. Hervor is a significant character in the Norse Hervarar Saga . In fact, there are two Hervors in that tale—grandmother and granddaughter. But ...

Marie Von Clausewitz: The Woman Behind The Making Of On War by Vanya Eftimova Bellinger: A Book Review

Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman Behind the Making of On War Author: Vanya Eftimova Bellinger Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, History Publisher: Oxford University Press Release Date: October 1st, 2015 Pages: 312 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: The marriage between Carl von Clausewitz and Countess Marie von Brühl was a remarkable intellectual partnership. Many historians have noted the instrumental role Marie played in the creation, development, and particularly in the posthumous editing and publishing of Clausewitz's opus, On War , which remains the seminal text on military theory and strategic thinking. Highly intelligent and politically engaged, Marie was also deeply involved in her husband's military career and advancement, and in the nationalist politics of 19th-century Prussia. Yet apart from peripheral consideration of her obvious influence on Clausewitz and on the preservation of his legacy, very little has been written...

A Nurse's Tale by Ola Awonubi: A Book Review

A Nurse’s Tale Author: Ola Awonubi Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Romance  Publisher: One More Chapter  Publication Date: 2023 Pages: 385 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review  Synopsis: Born Nigerian royalty, Princess Adenrele Ademola trained as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital in London and stepped up to serve the people of Britain when war broke out – facing both the devastation of the Blitz and the prejudice of some of the people she was trying to help.    80 years later, Ade’s great-niece Yemi arrives in London clutching the Princess’s precious diaries and longs to uncover the mysteries they hold…      A richly-detailed, compelling historical novel shining a light on a hidden voice of WW2 and one woman’s courageous contribution to Britain.        My Review: Princess Adenrele Ademola was a Princess of Egbaland and a nurse during WWII. A Nurse’s Tale chronicles Princess Adenrele...