The Scarlet Mansion by Allan W. Eckert

Final Rating: 2.3/5

  The Scarlet Mansion had its vivid moments of terrifying believable scenes where I would catch myself wanting to shout out warnings to the unfortunate numerous victims in the pages but left me in the dark many other times at the uneven dialogue, repetitive chapters (containing either flashbacks of schemes, senseless murders with animated violence dominating the passages or meetings with another trusting mark) and ultimately so many wasted opportunities for this novel to really shine with an ominous lingering glow of any kind of character development. I usually enjoy a beyond gloomy entertaining book with historical essentials that keeps me up but The Scarlet Mansion just wasn’t it and I was actually hoping to get a reimagined look into the mind of the historic narcissistic psychopath and con artist known as H. H. Holmes. Sadly he was just a shadowy villain who: lurked, traveled, plotted, showed anger and then left the scene in a trail of gore. Not exactly much to think on or what I was hoping for when I picked this novel up after reading so many excited reactions to this title. Perhaps this type of story is exactly what others have been looking for an extremely dramatic: suffocate’em, poison’em, drag’em and drop’em batting of history. If that is what the curious reader has been looking for, you found a chilling example of real life inspired horror but if there are those who wanted more without awkwardly wedged lite facts in long conversations and disappearing atmosphere or even enough details to fully capture the potential of the enduring mysteries from late 19th century Chicago, you may want to look elsewhere or put this one down and pick up The Devil in the White City, Depraved or H. H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil. I don’t know about you, but I have always found true historic accounts and depositions more frightening than any fiction.

-purchased and read on kindle 

Marie Antoinette's Confidante: The Rise and Fall of the Princesse de Lamballe by Geri Walton

Final Rating: 4/5

A sensitive portrait of the price of loyalty in 18th-century Courts of opinions

  Between the glamorous trivia concerning donkey races, an elaborate infamous necklace, hedgehog wigs and absurdly sounding unraveling parties; there are serious illustrations to be found of the cost of loyalty in the Hall of Mirrors and condemning public opinions. Those vaguely familiar with the name (Marie-Louise Thérèse of Savoy-Carignan), the Princesse de Lamballe are first introduced to fairy tale beginnings that can flutter from one name (or repetitive scandal and daily minutia) to the next in this work but with a little persistence a direct fascinating timeline emerges of this tragic figure of history who is remembered for her grisly connection to terrifying events of the French Revolution and the queen whose side she refused to leave at the very end. If the reader is searching for a fine easily accessible accompaniment for their 18th-century French history shelves that can encourage lasting reflections and further reading Marie Antoinette's Confidante: The Rise and Fall of the Princesse de Lamballe is definitely worth a look.

*I would like to thank Pen & Sword History and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy Marie Antoinette's Confidante: The Rise and Fall of the Princesse de Lamballe

Search The Dark (Inspector Ian Rutledge #3) by Charles Todd

Final Rating: 3.1/5

"Why was it that the mind was so adept at finding its own punishment?”

  The Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery series has been available to the public for a few decades now and of course I am only getting around to stumbling across these sets of books. It only took a single copy but I am thankful I let my curiosity browse the back shelves one rainy day because I want to read and collect all 19 of them now. Here is a distinct collaboration I’m happy to recommend that has: irresistible settings and descriptions, poignant quotes, clever shadings with easily recognized literary classics (usually titles written or set many years behind, ahead or around the same era) and one magnetic personality that treks across pastoral landscapes to solve multilayered mysteries that all require a special skill set and a determined mind with something to prove. Each new case the main entity that is Inspector Ian Rutledge becomes more authentic and his ghostly condemning thoughts only adds to his character and unique touch with these yarns. It’s difficult to fully explain what is so arresting and yet sensitively presented in these pages but it’s safe to say, these are staying on my shelf even if I happen across a disappointing “just okay” edition. Unfortunately, Search the Dark (Inspector Ian Rutledge #3) falls into that hopefully shallow mire.

  Everyone is bound to have their favorite in a popular series and right now mine is Wings of Fire (Inspector Ian Rutledge #2). Search the Dark (Inspector Ian Rutledge #3) follows with many of the aforementioned encouraging points of interest for me along with the timeline right after Wings of Fire but the central mystery rambled a little too long into the pages and concluded with a frantic montage of half explained dramatics. Perhaps I was searching for more elements and secrets that held me in my favorite chair and demanded I not pull the lamp chain until I read one more chapter but I’m sorry to say; this third outing was easy to put down. I also had to stop at points when the less than authentic era dialogue pushed me out of the story and the very predictable answers had me saying: “that can’t be it, there must be more!” Maybe this venture of Inspector Rutledge was too simplistic or brilliant and I can’t see that right now but I won’t lie and say this was a quick read for me. Still like I said before Search the Dark will stay on my shelves as I collect more of this inviting series. It only took one book to get me racing in all directions to learn what was available to read involving Inspector Ian Rutledge and this might be the one for another inquisitive reader. Here’s to hoping for happy reading and holidays! 

-purchased and read on kindle

 
Also in this series:

A Test of Wills (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #1) by Charles Todd

 

 Wings of Fire (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #2) by Charles Todd

 *Search the Dark (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #3) by Charles Todd 

 Legacy of the Dead (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #4) by Charles Todd

 Watchers of Time (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #5) by Charles Todd

 A Fearsome Doubt (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #6) by Charles Todd

 A Cold Treachery (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #7) by Charles Todd

 A Long Shadow (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #8) by Charles Todd

A False Mirror (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #9) by Charles Todd

A Pale Horse (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #10) by Charles Todd

A Matter of Justice (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #11) by Charles Todd

The Red Door (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #12) by Charles Todd

The Kidnapping (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #12.5) by Charles Todd

A Lonely Death (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #13) by Charles Todd

The Confession (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #14) by Charles Todd

Proof of Guilt (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #15) by Charles Todd

Hunting Shadows (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #16) by Charles Todd

Cold Comfort (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #16.5) by Charles Todd

A Fine Summer’s Day (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #17) by Charles Todd

No Shred of Evidence (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #18) by Charles Todd

Racing the Devil (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #19) by Charles Todd