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

The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin: A Book Review

T he Windsor Affair Author: Melanie Benjamin  Genre: Historical Fiction  Publisher: Dell Book Release Date: June 2, 2026 Pages: 370 Source: Publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: A scandalous affair. A power struggle for the throne. A sensational rivalry between an English queen and an American social climber. In this electrifying novel, the New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue tells the story of the Abdication of Edward VIII—and the two women at the center of it all.       Feuding Windsor brothers and their wives—some things, it seems, never change. The Windsor Affair recreates the cataclysmic events that nearly toppled the monarchy and incited the power struggle between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson. Told from the perspective of both women, the novel propels readers into the fabulous world of the debonair Prince of Wales, café society of the 1930s, and the glittering private lives ...

La Belle Creole: The Cuban Countess who Captivated Havana, Madrid and Paris by Alina Garcia-Lapuerta: A Book Review

La Belle Creole: The Cuban Countess who Captivated Havana, Madrid and Paris Author: Alina Garcia-Lapuerta Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, History Publisher: Chicago Review Press Release Date: September 1, 2014 Pages: 320 Source:  Netgalley/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: The adventurous woman nicknamed La Belle Creole is brought to life in this book through the full use of her memoirs, contemporary accounts, and her intimate letters. The fascinating Maria de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, also known as Mercedes, and later the Comtesse Merlin, was a Cuban-born aristocrat who was years ahead of her time as a writer, a socialite, a salon host, and a participant in the Cuban slavery debate. Raised in Cuba and shipped off to live with her socialite mother in Spain at the age of 13, Mercedes triumphed over the political chaos that blanketed Europe in the Napoleonic days, by charming aristocrats from all sides with her exotic beauty and singing voice. She m...

Deborah Swift's Book Blast

HF Virtual Book Tours is delighted to introduce you to historical novelist Deborah Swift! Deborah’s acclaimed novels are set in turbulent seventeenth century England and have been described as “brilliant” and “a must for all readers looking for something out of the ordinary but grippingly alive”. Her previous life as a scenographer and costume designer shine through as the settings are beautifully evoked, immersing the reader in the sights and smells of the time. Deborah’s multi-layered and engrossing historical adventures will make perfect picks for reading groups. Reading Group Guides can be conveniently found in the back of each book and on her website. Find more information on Deborah's novels below and enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (£15 UK)! The Lady's Slipper Publication Date: June 3, 2011 Pan MacMillan Formats: Ebook, Paperback England, 1660. The King is back, but memories of the English Civil War still rankle. In rural Westmorland, artist Alice I...