I've read three excellent mystery novels this month, of completely different types. The first is a modern police procedural, set in Ireland, fourth in a series of which I haven't read earlier books. The second, part of is a science fiction mystery series I am low-key obsessed with, is set far in the future on a constructed colony world adjacent to Jupiter. The third, part of a cosy series I also very much enjoy, is a historical Jane Austen-esque mystery featuring the characters (and the adult children of the characters) from Austen's novels. All of them were terrific in their own ways!
A friend gave me this to read, so I went into it with zero background on the writer or the series, but even without that context, I really enjoyed it.
A well-formed police procedural can be a thing of joy, and this was absolutely that - intelligent, engaging, well-paced, and with just enough grit to keep it real without becoming horribly grim. I guessed part, but not all, of the ending in advance, and I thought the reveals were well-timed and effective. I also liked the mixed model of showing us some of the crimes in real time while posing some of them as a puzzle of the past - it let the reader in on the way that seeing none of the underlying story can really stymie an investigation.
Cormac Reilly is a great detective and the supporting cast were all nicely fleshed out. I even liked the non-murder side plot regarding Cormac's ex, Emma, and her missing husband, and I'm not usually a big fan of side plots in a detective story. I'll certainly go back now to catch up on the three earlier books in the series! 8/10.
This is the third in a series, and honestly, I love these characters and the world-building more and more with each new book.
Mossa, and especially Pleiti, are wonderful - fully developed, incredibly human, so lovable with all their flaws. I adore the complex, layered picture of a remnant human population building a new life in an artificial world, and I love the focus on academic study as both a driving organisational force in the new world and a stalking horse for the divisions and jealousies and rivalry and camaraderie that characterise human life.
I really love the use of repurposed or new words in a way that feels like genuine language-building rather than bolted-on "strange". I love the descriptions of places and transport and communications. I completely love all the food and drink bits (although it makes me crave dumplings and tea!). I love the effect that Older so beautifully achieves of wintery moodiness offset with warmth and comfort and the resilience of a sentience that, having killed its homeworld, still won't lay down and die.
Honestly, the weakest part of these stories is actually the mystery element - it's perfectly fine, but it's not outstanding or all that difficult to work out for a regular mystery reader - but I literally don't care because these books slap so hard in every other way. They are one of the best exemplars I have recently read that delves into the what-next for humanity - what the psychosocial impacts of losing earth might be, as well as what coping strategies people might variously employ. I am hoping very hard that we get more books in this series - I am definitely not ready to let go of Giant and its people yet! 9/10
The first book in this cosy mystery novel series, where the schtick is Austen novel characters 25 years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, was excellent; the second was a bit weaker; the third, in a strong showing, was a banger. This one - number four - is the best yet.
Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney are fantastic protagonists, whose eventual match I am cheering for (very unusual for me, I'm not normally a shipper). Jonathan's autism (not so named, but clearly) and stimming, and Juliet's acceptance and embrace of him, is beautifully portrayed. The mystery plot this time was pretty strong too - I worked out most but not all of it before the end, and it was quite close to the end at that.
Most of all, what I think Gray absolutely nails is the Austen oeuvre - the voice is exactly right, the shades of social distinction and behaviour are perfect, the injustice of the different way that young men and young women are treated is pungent.
The Austenian cast all land exactly right to me, especially the Bertrams and the former Caroline Bingley (just as nasty a piece of work as she ever was, twenty-five years on).
The portrait and duel plot literally had me on the edge of my seat, and while I am indignant for Juliet (and Jonathan), I can't fault the power of the plot twist for complicating the chances of a happy resolution for them. On the plus side, it's probably going to take at least 2-3 more books to get them all (especially the elder Mr Darcy) past this and back to a place where the match can be made, so that's good news for readers who are invested in the series, like me! 9/10
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