Manners and Monsters

By: Tilly Wallace

Narrated by: Marian Hussey

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

A lady never reveals the true extent of her decay....

Hannah Miles lives a quiet existence, helping her parents conduct research into a most terrible affliction - until a gruesome murder during her best friend's engagement party pulls her from the shadows. With her specialist's knowledge and demure disposition, Hannah is requested to aid the investigation.

Except Hannah discovers her role is to apologize in the wake of the rude and disgraced man tasked with finding the murderer. The obnoxious Viscount Wycliff thinks to employ Hannah purely as a front to satisfy Whitehall, but she'll have none of that.

The two must work together to find the murderer before the season is ruined. But the viscount is about to meet his greatest challenge, and it's not a member of the ton with a hankering for brains.

©2019 Tilly Wallace (P)2019 Tilly Wallace

All the parts are there

I was quite excited when I found this book browsing audible. Being an avid fan of urban fantasy as well as period dramas in the vein of Jane Austin.

There were a lot of the right elements in Manners and Monsters but the resulting whole felt somehow less than the sum of its parts; incomplete or perhaps lacking polish.

The narrator did a fantastic job having multiple voices for both men and women and they matched the characters smartly. The characters themselves were well established and the pacing and length were in a good way.

However, there were several factors that kept me from giving this a better score:

First and foremost is that the author's use of foreshadowing is so heavy-handed that it's practically dramatic irony. Some healthy foreshadowing and discernable clues are essential to a good mystery, but when the plot twists can be seen coming so many miles in advance it detracts from the experience. A murder mystery shouldn't be quite so predictable.

Second, the book would have benefited geatly from about 50 percent less "woe is me, I'll never find love, I'm not pretty, I'm far too plain" and 50 percent more world building, science, witty discourse, and a harder magic system.

Lastly, the writer used several anachronistic words and a shoehorned in bit of modern social commentary that broke immersion when they happened.

On the whole I give Manners and Monsters a 3.5 out of 5. I may pick up the next installment when I have the credits lying around and nothing else on my plate but I won't be purchasing extra credits to continue reading them.

Pretty Good

I think I had too high expectations -- ala Parasol Protectorate -- and although this is not Gail Carriger -- This is a nice start to a new series. I enjoyed the detail and the new perspective in the genre and I look forward to more books in this series.

excellent!

I randomly downloaded the book for something to read on my lunch break but quickly fell in love with the world and the characters! The author does a fantastic job in setting up her world and really making the characters believable and with a good story. The narrator is also very talented and really goes out of her way to make each character have their own distinct voice. Definitely worth a read/listen.

Unexpected and full of mystery and fun!

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book. I loved it!! Wonderfully unexpected story. Brilliant narration. Books 2 & 3 are just as fabulous. Can’t wait for book 4!!

GREAT BOOK AND GREAT SERIES

Marian Hussey is great as a narrator. Tilly Wallace is a very good writer. So good that I have all of her books. I love the storyline and how Ms. Wallace explores each character. I have all three books in this series and I can't wait for the fourth book.

Loved it!

Being a fan of supernatural period dramas this was suggested on a fan page for my favorite author. Fantastic drama & a great introduction into this world. The performance was brilliant. I now have another series to devour.

Original Regency Romance Mystery

An enjoyable mystery with an original take on Regency England. While the story was intriguing, the pacing was slow. Having said that I do look forward to reading the second novel. I gave the book 3.5 stars

doesn't live up to the promise

The description of plot was promising but then when can't remember how it ended and very little of the plot a day later, I would say it did not deliver; very shallow. Should be on the freebie list.

Love this story!

Such a fun yarn. look forward to more. Really well read. perfect for long road trips

Surprising

What a unique addition to the genre! Well written and read. If you like Wilkie Martins "Unhuman" series you will love this. I love the theme of overcoming abelist attitudes.

Oddly fun, worth a try

I'm not sure how to review this, I never thought I'd read a book about zombies, not my thing at all though I do love books about werewolves and vampires if they're written well. This book is written well, I loved the setting, the manners are mostly impeccable.

Anyway, I'm not going to spoil the book for you, take a chance, it's fun, interesting and kept my interest throughout.

I'm off to read book 2, that gives some indication on how I much enjoyed it.