“Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.”These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the … the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests. Prepared to accept that Edward’s death was due to a longstanding physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth. Determined to bring her husband’s murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward’s demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.
more
I’m re-reading this series, and–how is such a thing possible?–loving it even more than I did originally. The world-building is virtuosic, the prose scrumptious, and the characters, from the lowliest red herring to the numerous family members Julia and Brisbane encounter, magnificently drawn. What leaves me most awestruck, though, is how deftly …
This series is a ton of fun if you like these two genres and there’s even a touch of romance added to the mix, though it’s definitely not the focus of the stories. Deanna Raybourn is very talented, with a wicked sense of humor (one of my favorite things). The heroine is surprisingly independent and gutsy for the time period and the hero is a …
What a fantastic book! I’ve had this forever, and finally decided to give it a try…..and I couldn’t put the damn thing down! Lately I’ve been a bit distracted reading, stopping to color or watch TV. But not this time. I adored the first paragraph and it never let up for me. It had a good mystery, humorous moments, and parts that made me cry. …
The Julia Grey Mysteries by Deanna Raybourn – If I had to sum up 2017 in terms of my reading, it mainly consisted of these books. What I say next will sound like I’m damning them with faint praise, but let me assure you that if I hadn’t read all the books in the series already, I’d absolutely be picking up the next one immediately, because, well, …
Not a cozy. An ugly book. Not a clean read. Seems the author keeps trying to top how shocking and disgusting she can be. I regret buying this book.
I will have to read more of this series. Like Louise Penny’s books, this seems to be slow when it’s really not. Each chapter, and they are short, lures the reader into reading the next because each one drops a tidbit that must be pursued. The historical detail is significant, as is the depth of character development and familial backstory. A very …
I loved this first book in the Julia Grey Series and can’t wait to to enjoy the journey. I love strong female characters especially in times that sought to suppress them. I was very pleased by the various topics of family, acceptance, social mores, marital arrangements and Victorian times. The mystery at the core unwinds slowly and perfectly. …
Silent in the Grave has everything a reader could want in a mystery.
Julia married Edward in good faith only to find him incapable of loving her as a man should his wife. Was it her fault? She’d always wondered.
And why, in the hour of her husband’s seemingly natural but unpleasant and premature death, does private investigator Brisbane insist …
I’m fond of a bit of historical mystery and Deanna Raybourn is one of my favorite historical mystery authors. I think I got Silent in the Grave for free at a conference, opened it up in my room to look at the first few pages to decide if I would keep it and promptly sat down and read most of it in one sitting! Great series with a good slow burn …
First book in a great series! Really got me hooked on historical fiction/mysteries.
This is the first book of one of my favorite romantic/mystery series. I highly recommend if you enjoy romantic angst, Victorian historicals, and great characters.
SO atmospheric! I stayed up WAY too late reading…
A great historical mystery. The whole series is really good.
This first book in the series is wonderful! I loved the chapters and the interesting mystery.
This whole series is incredible, but start at the beginning to really get the full effect of the simmering romantic tension between the main characters. I loved these books from beginning to end. Try them. I promise you won’t be sorry!
Absolutely for Mature Audiences
Zero explicit sex, but sexual themes and references
– some same-sex
Little or no strong language
Setting – Victorian England
Plot – no spoilers
The story opens with Lady Julia Grey’s husband dying of a heart attack practically at her feet.
Shortly thereafter Mr. Brisbane, who was present at the time of her …
SILENT IN THE GRAVE by DEANNA RAYBOURN
The best-laid plans, for a nice, calm, ordinary life, can go astray. Lady Julia, nearing the end of a year of mourning for her husband, is faced with evidence that his death might have been murder, not his inherent frailty. Can she trust her allies in the investigation? It would be safer to give up and …