The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn

*****
Lady Julia and her fabulously dark and brooding husband in their fifth installment - yay!!  It's no secret, that I've loved this series and I think this is one of the best.

Julia and Brisbane have returned to set up home in London, after their extended honeymoon and murderous diversion in India, covered in the last novel.  Brisbane returns to his work as an investigator and Julia is desperately trying to show her worth as a genuine partner, but also dabbles in gunpowder and photography! Julia's very proper brother, Bellmont, who despite disapproving of her husband, asks him to secretly investigate Madame Seraphine, the resident medium of the Ghost Club.  Julia becomes drawn into the case after following her husband to protect him and a couple of untimely deaths unravel a heap of sinister secrets that leads them into personal danger.

As in the previous novels there is a fine balance of humour and drama.  The March family are a brilliant creation and have the potential to fill many more books.  I love Lord March's ongoing disagreements with Auld Lachy, the hermit; "...as I reminded him, one ought never to hire a hermit without proper references."
Julia remains pretty much the same, she's clever and beautiful, but also vain, bloody minded and a bit of a liability.  So who cares if she's a twenty-first century woman transported via a crinoline into Victorian times, it works for me.   Brisbane remains a favourite hero amongst my most recent reads, fitting the strong, handsome, flawed type that I favour!  The gradual disclosure of Brisbane's past, including the sojourn into the gypsy camp, is enthralling, Raybourn is gradually revealling just enough information to keep the flow, but there's obviously a lot more to come!  Yes, it still feels a bit Amelia Peabody-ish at times, but that's bound to happen where there's a strong Victorian female lead getting into danger.  I just hope a Sethos type character doesn't make an appearance, because that would kill it for me!
This is the first of the series that I've given the full five stars to, and although it isn't perfect, it was such a brilliant romp, I read it in a day and I wish there was an immediate follow up.  I feel that the main characters are now well established and the introduction of Sir Morgan Fielding has also opened up further opportunities for Nicholas and Julia to delve into more complicated situations, so I'm really looking forward to Book 6.

Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

****
The fourth of the Lady Julia Grey series, although now she's married to Brisbane, the name's a bit misleading!  I love this series, mainly because it helped fill a small part of the huge hole left by the Amelia Peabody books.  The similarities lie in a strong Victorian female lead and a dashing husband and the general tongue in cheek tone will probably sit well with Amelia fans!  Being a way into the series, this book is probably not the best introduction; although it doesn't rely on previous knowledge, it will help.
Julia and Brisbane are enjoying an extended honeymoon, when two of Julia's siblings arrive and convince her to travel to India with them to help Portia's old flame, Jane Cavendish, out of a sticky situation.  Jane is pregnant, recently widowed and extremely nervous amidst fears that her husband was murdered.  Whilst living on a remote tea plantation the toxic situation isn't helped by the weird and wonderful neighbours surrounding the plantation. 
It's a fair paced mystery that continues the tempestuous relationship between the newly weds.  There's also further revelations about Nicholas Brisbane's family history.  As before the humour is provided by the feuding Marches.  My main criticism is that Brisbane is missing for large parts of the book and it just seems to flow better when he's there!  There also seemed to be some setting up in preparation for future books, which is cheering as I look forward to more (and there's one out this summer!) but again seemed to slow the action down a bit.
Overall, a great read and good fun!

Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn

****
Julia Grey takes a huge risk and decides to go uninvited with her sister, Portia to Nicholas Brisbane’s new estate, Grimsgrave Manor. Her brother is horrified at her lack of decorum but after having no contact from him since their last investigation, this is her last chance to see if Brisbane is going to act upon his obvious feelings for her.
When they finally arrive in Yorkshire, things are not as she expected. The estate is falling into ruin on a bleak and inhospitable moor; surprisingly it is also occupied by the aloof women of the Allenby family. Brisbane remains secretive and elusive and quickly disappears shortly after her arrival, but it becomes clear that Brisbane and the Allenby’s have a long and bitter history. Danger, mystery and local legend intrigue Julia but she remains confused about her future with Brisbane.
This is the third in the series, and probably my least favourite...
Unfortunately it’s all a bit too Bronte for my taste (never been a huge fan of Wuthering Heights and Heathcliff is NOT brooding, he’s just barbaric!) yes, the wildness of the moor and the insular atmosphere of the Manor is very well done, but it made for rather dull reading at times, particular when Brisbane is out of the picture and the story relied on the Allenby’s. The mystery was pretty easy to suss but also quite dark and sinister, again fitting with the atmosphere, but not especially engaging.
Due to the isolated setting I missed the March family and their humour, I though Bellmont’s fury at the opening was very well done, but Julia seems to become less interesting when not surrounded by her quirky family. Sadly, Portia (due to her own problems within the plot) was also reduced to a shadow of her former personality and so didn’t provide any spark!
Brisbane had flashes of brilliance, but his insistence on trying to push Julia away and the constant issue of not marrying without his own fortune became a bit wearing. I’m surprised a writer with such energy and skill would rely on such a cliché as the main character declaring the extent of her love on the hero’s deathbed, too. (Or maybe I just read too many books with similar themes?!!)
Overall, I’ve given it 4 stars – but only just! I hope the resolution of the romance between Julia and Brisbane doesn’t mean this is the end of the series, as I do want to read more…it’s just the general tone of this was a bit too solemn and lacked sparkle for me.

Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn

****1/2
The second in the series about Lady Julia Grey. This time the story moves on from the terrible house fire caused when she confronted her husband’s murderer. She's had a relaxing few months in Italy with her brothers, Lysander and Plum and their charming friend Alessandro. They are ordered back to England for Christmas by their father when he hears of Lysander's unexpected marriage to the beautiful and fiery Violante.
They arrive back in the midst of a large pre-Christmas house party where the guests include large numbers of her family but also the intriguing Nicholas Brisbane and his new fiancée. Julia can't deny she's still attracted to him, but the murder of the local curate, the confession by her cousin and her father's insistence that she assists Brisbane in the investigation take precedence.
Lady Julia seems a more complete character in this book and amongst her bizarre and beguiling family seems more natural, relaxed and the author doesn't have to create too many of the "clever, spiky" conversations that dotted through the first book. There's far less emphasis on her looks, clothes and personal foibles that makes her even more likeable and engaging.
Her family are great...and as I hoped they are developing into far more rounded and substantial people. Portia remains a gem and long may she appear alongside Julia. The bizarre and slightly bitter Aunt Dorcas added humour as did the image of what she got up to when she left the house! Sadly, Aquinas didn't appear as much, but I still have great hopes for him!
Nicholas Brisbane, again, is easier to like in this book as there is less emphasis on his many skills and virtues. I appreciate as the first in the series the author wanted to set her stall out and give a lot of information, but although he remains a very attractive hero with small aspects of the "man of mystery" being revealed. The ongoing, “will they, won't they” romantic aspect is fine with me and allows the focus of the book to be on the characters and their motives for murder. Sadly Alessandro, although beautiful to look at could never be the romantic interest for Julia.
The actual mystery within the novel is less dark and convoluted than in the first one and again, I think this suits the house party setting and a more relaxed Julia.
Due to all the above I've given this one an extra half star as I thought it was more enjoyable and fun and I'm on with reading the third in the series already. I had great hopes of it filling the gap left by Amelia Peabody and I hope it remains in that style just without the Egyptology aspect.

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

****
"To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor."

Have to say that this is the one of the best openings I've read for a long time and on the whole, the book did manage to live up it!
Despite Lady Julia Grey's unconventional family and liberal upbringing she leads a predictable life with her ailing husband. Unfortunately for all their guests he dies unexpectedly at a dinner party, but what makes it worse is that private inspector to the titled, Nicholas Brisbane, informs her that he was probably murdered. Although she found her marriage cold and unfulfilling, it takes a year of mourning and an accidental find to make her seek out Brisbane to reopen the case. By now the trail is stone cold, but they persist and delve into the seedier aspects of Victorian life to discover the murderer, but also that Julia really didn't know her husband at all.
I bought this hoping it would help fill the gap left by Amelia Peabody (completely read them all up years ago and it takes sooo long for new ones to come out!) and there are certain similarities. Firstly, Julia is ahead of her time, she has a radical father and non-conformist siblings. To them she has always been the normal one, marrying her childhood sweetheart and living a quiet life in London society. By becoming newly single (after the suitable period of mourning) she allows her sister Portia to revamp her wardrobe and hair! Her new found freedom allows her to engage the services of Nicholas Brisbane, who she finds herself increasingly attracted to. The book is written from Julia's point of view and she is equally engaging, witty and stupid! You can't really help but warm to her blundering and although the romantic element is an integral part, particularly the sparring between Julia and Nicholas, it really is a fun, gothic thriller.
Brisbane is obviously the dashing hero, but unfortunately for me, he has too many talents...brilliantly clever, violin virtuoso, languages, dodgy but moneyed family background, widely travelled, bare-knuckled fighter and famous lothario! I also assumed the "illness" would be malaria, possibly linked to his travels in exotic places, which might have been an interesting back story, but no - it's his psychic abilities! Apart from being easily irritated, he's just a bit too perfect. Despite finding all his many virtues, he does remain a man of mystery to a large degree and I feel Raybourn is holding out for the later novels.
Julia's family are interesting, particularly the ghoul and Portia, but are not fully developed yet and I hope this comes through more strongly in the series. Aquinas, the butler, is also a complete star and I hope he is able to take a larger role too!
The style of writing and descriptions is evocative of the Victorian era and again, makes it a good, enjoyable read. In terms of the murder, I sussed whodunit within the first 50 pages, but not the motive or method! The resolution is done fairly quickly towards the end of the book and it lacks sufficient twists and red herrings! (That's why it's a 4 star!)