Review: Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Silent In The Grave

Can you imagine hosting a party, having your husband up and die on you AND meeting a potential love interest over your husband’s dead body, all on the same night? This, compadres, is only the beginning of Silent In The Grave, the first of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries by Deanna Raybourn. Set in Victorian era London, Julia comes from quite an eccentric and unconventional family. She is one of 10 and speaks her mind without a care for society’s opinion. Perhaps Silent In The Grave is not the most accurate, historically, but it is heaps of fun to read.

I come from a big crazy family. Every Thanksgiving, it’s like a maze of people from one end of my grandparents’ house to the other. So, I have an affection for novels that showcase kooky family members, and let me tell you, Julia’s family is quite a treat. She’s got a relative who reminds me of Grandma Mazur from Stephanie Plum (with the funeral hopping), an aunt who makes guests sing for their supper, and a cousin who talks to trees. Not to mention, her family is loud and passionate when they debate.

Lady Julia Grey possessed a tenacity that I admired. She has this deep determination and gumption to solve her husband’s murder, even though the trail has been cold for over a year. When Brisbane (swooooooon) tells her it is almost hopeless to solve, instead of backing down, Julia holds her chin up and remarks that ALMOST hopeless doesn’t mean TOTALLY hopeless. Mmm that’s that’s what I’m talking about!

ALSO there is a ‘Big mistake. Big. Huge.’ type scene in Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn, and well, if you know me, I love those types of scenes.

Overall, I found Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn to be a promising start for a new to me series, perfect for my fall mystery cravings, as I am so totally a mood/seasonal reader.

Finally, some quotes I LOVED which endeared Silent In The Grave to my heart.

“Like my brothers, I wanted to talk about good books and urgent politics, new ideas and foreign places. But the young men I met did not like that. They wanted pretty dolls with silvery giggles and empty heads.” pg. 43

I relate so much to the above quote. I mean, I don’t have brothers. However, I read a lot of books as a teenager. I distinctly remember one of my friends telling me I would never have a boyfriend because I liked books and was too smart, and no one reads. I, of course, ignored her and went back to my books. Still, not a fun thing to be told.

“Don’t be feeble, Julia. How do you expect to attract another buyer if you don’t display the wares?” She moved off, leaving me to follow speechless in her wake. I took my seat, marveling that so vulgar an analogy could come from such a harmless-looking old lady.” pg. 268

Clearly, I want to be that old lady when I grow up. Vulgar and sassy to boot.

‘”Tell me, why is it that old people are allowed to be so ghastly and say all sorts of things that we would never get away with?’

“Privilege of age,” Portia returned.” pg. 269

Being elderly, besides the old part, has got to be so awesome.

Disclosure: I purchased my own copy of this book.

Other Reviews of Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn:

Janicu’s Book Blog
Jenny’s Books
The Book Smugglers
Angieville

Series Order:

Silent In The Grave (Book One)
Silent In The Sanctuary (Book Two)
Silent On The Moor (Book Three)
Dark Road To Darjeeling (Book Four)
The Dark Enquiry (Book Five)