Sick of Shadows

I like this small series very much and it's too bad that the author decided to hang it up and focus on the Agatha Raisin and Hamish MacBeth series, although the MacBeth series is particularly good as well. This is the third book in a four book series. The first is Snobbery with Violence followed by Hasty Death, then this book (Sick of Shadows) and finally Our Lady of Pain to end up the set. This installment is very exciting but I found the mishaps between Lady Rose and the Captain to be almost too heartbreaking to take at times. The narrator is excellent with various accents (although a little weak on American) and has a pleasant singing voice which comes into play quite a lot in this novel. Sweet romance, star-crossed lovers, good level of historical research, and a nicely-conceived plot. Read them in order.

I save this series for when I am really fatigued and want a lighthearted (but not too silly) listen. This is a hoot, besides being a decent light period mystery, Narrator Davina Porter sounds like she's enjoying herself, and adds extra camp to the read. There are sublte winks and nods to authentic Edwardian lit and its imitators.

Davina Porter is an expressive narrator, but I wish she would not actually sing when songs occur in the story. Even if her renditions were really good (which alas they are not), I find it unpleasant when narrators break into song. I prefer a book to be read without any musical soundtrack added.