It’s time for a little posh Victorian era MUUUURDER mystery.
Although I confess I thought this was going to be about zombies. It is not. No that’s the book called Shallow Graves and I think we can forgive my confusion, right?? Moving forward! THESE Shallow Graves is a period drama + murder mystery + forbidden romance + forerunning of forensics + DEAD PEOPLE. I did enjoy myself! Although it’s not a favourite because (A) I’m not a big historical fiction fan, and (B) the length was tedious. But you know what?! Murder mysteries and a smattering of sass will always win me over.
“Lucky isn’t the first word that comes to mind,” Eddie grumbled. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m a grave robber now. And so are you two.”
“Technically, we’re not. Not unless we take Kinch with us. We’re disturbing a grave, certainly, but not robbing it.”
“Really? That’s so great, Oscar. I feel much better.”
- JO WAS AN ADMIRABLE PROTAGONIST. Well, that is, as soon as she got over her super irritating phase. She’s a very entitled, wealthy girl who knows nothing. Less than Jon Snow probably. YOU KNOW NOTHING, JO MONTFORT. But at the same time she (A) wasn’t too proud to learn, (B) she tried very hard, and (C) her naivety was actually hilarious at times.
Totally Accurate Transcript Of Conversations:
EDDIE: You can’t be in this dangerous part of town. The people are…unsavoury.
JO: Oh I’m fine. In fact a lady offered me to work for her with her other girls and a kind man tried to give me money.
EDDIE: *has panic attack and dies*
#ADORABLE
Jo was really toffy though, and she made stupid mistakes and jumped to conclusions ALL THE TIME. No wait. She basically pole-vaulted to conclusions. I did like her, but I’m not naming my firstborn after her, let’s just say.
“I’d hardly call this gallivanting. And besides, I couldn’t stay at the party. It was too dangerous. I nearly died.”
“From what?”
“Boredom.”
- MURDER MYSTERY. Because yaaaas, murder! Jo’s father has an “accident with a gun” and she overhears a dude at the newspaper say it was murder. JO TRANSFORMS INTO SHERLOCK. It’s wonderful. There is stabby stuff, like proper polite stabby stuff. If you’re going to attempt to stab toffy lords and ladies in the early 1900s, then please do it with the proper etiquette omg.
- THERE IS SASS. Which I am a huge fan of. I wouldn’t say the dialogue is the sassiest I’ve ever read. But there are quips! And I laughed out loud several times!
- OTHER RANDOM THINGS I LOVED:
- It actually includes details on the beginning of what is now forensic science! And I mean DETAILS. Let’s talk about why the body is discolouring grotesquely yay!
- (That is a very serious “yay”, okay??? I’m interested in that kind of stuff.)
- Oscar is the forensic doctor and he is wonderful. He tries to flirt with medical students by talking about pus. #OscarNailsIt
- Eddie (the dashing roguish journalist love-interest) is adorable and I loved his sass and the way he pretended he didn’t care about Jo and then FREAKED OUT if she got into any sort of possible problems.
- It also features awesome female friendships.
- Plot twists!! I was definitely surprised several times, which is excellent news for a murder mystery.
- People actually did die. Although not graphically so don’t worry about getting blood splatters on your delicate constitution, but STILL. I like it when books don’t pretend to be murdery but actually do it.
- There is sexism, of course, because it’s the 20th century. BUT IT DEBUNKS THEM. This is how you write sexism in historical fiction!! Jo smacks-down on several people. She also uses very clever ways to manipulate situations where people are say “oh let’s talk about the weather because there are weak fragile women in the room and we cannot upset them” and she’ll take none of that.
“Every time I see you, it’s an adventure, Jo Montfort. You’re a very unusual girl,” he said as she got out of the cab.
“Oh, not really. Most girls are a lot like me. Wanting answers to their questions,” Jo replied. “They usually don’t seek them at the morgue, however. I’ll give you that.”
- HELLO, MY NAME IS CONFUSION. The mystery involved (A) many secondary characters, (C) who were all related help???? and (B) a million info dumps, and (D) it was just very twisty and complex WHICH IS FINE AND GOOD but I 100% confess to being lost. Like, the whole time.
- AND THE ROMANCE WAS VERY PREDICTABLE. Hello rich girl is destined to marry a very rich lord but ooooooooh she sees a reporter boy WITH NO STATUS AT ALL and it’s loooooooove. It wasn’t a bad romance at all. It was adorable! I loved Eddie and Jo. There was insta-attraction, but not insta-love and I loved how their relationship developed. BUT I’VE READ THIS 9483 TIMES BEFORE. #bored
- OTHER RANDOM DISLIKABLE MOMENTS:
- Very very very very convenient plot twists.
- Like literally all the characters ended up being crucial to the plot. Is that even logical or realistic? #no That random MILKMAN?? HE’S A BIG DEAL. (I mean, not really the milkman, but you get my drift.)
- While the mystery wasn’t predictable for me, all the characters and their actions were and I found it kind of tedious.
- The writing is historical-fiction so YES it’s all pish-posh tish-tosh (shhh that’s a thing) and it just generally isn’t my thing. But that’s wholeheartedly a “IT’S ME NOT YOU” thing. (Plus I think the writing was a good representation of the time! I just personally found it hard to be glued to.)
I definitely dub it satisfying murdery mystery.
There’s a bit o’ grave digging, sneaking, asylums, attacks, and don’t forget the occasional sassy quip that is just so ON POINT. Sure I got lost in the mystery (I am a deluded grape generally though) and I did feel like I’ve read this sort of story before because of the predictability….buuuuut. IT WAS GOOD STILL. No zombies, sadly too, but I’ll forgive it because I’m magnanimous like that.
“Anyone hungry?” Oscar asked. “The Portman’s not far. I bet they’d scare up a sandwich for us.”
“How can you even think about food after where we’ve just been?” Jo asked.
“Dead people always make me hungry,” Oscar said. “Once you’re in the ground, there’s no more noodle kugel for you. No more roast chicken or potato latkes. So eat, drink, and be merry, I say. But especially eat.”
THANK YOU TO HOT KEY BOOKS FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly was published May, 2016
Josephine Montfort is from one of New York’s oldest, most respected, and wealthiest families. Like most well-off girls of the Gilded Age, her future looks set – after a finishing school education, she will be favourably married off to a handsome gentleman, after which she’ll want for nothing. But Jo has other dreams and desires that make her long for a very different kind of future. She wants a more meaningful and exciting life: she wants to be an investigative journalist like her heroine Nellie Bly.
But when Jo’s father is found dead in his study after an alleged accident, her life becomes far more exciting than even Jo would wish. Unable to accept that her father could have been so careless, she begins to investigate his death with the help of a young reporter, Eddie Gallagher. It quickly becomes clear he was murdered, and in their race against time to discover the culprit and his motive, Jo and Eddie find themselves not only battling dark characters on the violent and gritty streets of New York, but also their growing feelings for each other.
Goodreads Publisher Buy Author’s Website
\\\ click covers to read reviews ///
You’ve seen my blog so you probably know that I LOOOOOVE historical fiction. LOOOOVE it. I am a self-confessed history nerd. I haven’t read a murder mystery in a long time, but I love them too.
Book titles can definitely be confusing and I say it is completely understandable to mix up two similar titles.
I have not read this book, though the title sounds familiar – I’m sure I’ve seen other blogger talk about These Shallow Graves, but nothing you mentioned in your review sounds familiar. IDK ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Some of the aspects sound very cool (and I’ve enjoyed a Jennifer Donnelly book before, so that’s promising) but I think I’ll pass on the predictable romance. I’m so over the rich person falls in love with poor person trope.
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU THEN, I’M SURE OF IT.😂 I think it came out a lot earlier in the US? Or something??? I don’t even know. Release dates are confusing.😂 but I’ve seen people reviewing it in the past, but not recently, to! I this is my first Jennifer Donnelly book, but she is such a good writer. 😀
(I just wish the rich-toffy-girl-falls-in-love-with-working-class-boy would just have some different twists in it??? Like, idek, the boy tries to become a lord or something to get her or the girl just runs away with him immediately and then regrets everything?😂 It just needs a bit of shaking up!)
I don’t think this one is for me, really, but I’m glad you somewhat enjoyed it Cait! 🙂 Sass is such an important thing, omg. More books need it.
Sass IS so important, omg. I get confused when I read a non-sassy book. Like what is the point???? What are people doing with their life if not being sassy????
CAIT YOU ARE TOO FAST HAHA! Another book I want to read because of you 😂
I love murder mysteries. I’m actually writing one at the moment and I am pumped to read this as research purposes, of course. 😜
Oh and you must be pleased. Because of your reviews, I finished both The Crown’s Game and This Savage Song in a span of one week. I ACTUALLY FINISHED THIS SAVAGE SONG awhile ago and I am in a wreck (Alice HOW ARE YOU HERE, Isla OMG, and Kate in Prosperity now what?!) I ADORED BOTH BUT THIS SAVAGE SONG MUCH MORE THOUGH. V. E. Schwab’s writing is amazing and it wants to make my cry thinking about it sometimes🌟 But Evelyn Skye’s was a decent one as well!
OH GOOD. I AM HERE TO MAKE SURE YOUR TBR STAYS TALLER THAN THE EIFFEL TOWER. #youaresowelcome
Oooh, yessss to writing a murder mystery! I have written one, but I think it was too easy to guess the killer.😂 (But it had dragons in it, so hopefully that will distract readers from the fact IDEK what I’m doing.)
Zommmmmg I AM PLEASED. *flails for 9000 years because of TSS* Isn’t it the best?! Isn’t August everything? OMG I LOVE HIM. VE Schwab is like a writer queen and I want to read everything of ever by her. <333 Have you tried A Darker Shade of Magic?! IT IS SO SO GLORIOUS TOO. *piles it on your head*
Ooooh yes this looks a lot like a mad, wicked folly (low class love interest but engaged to a lord? womens rights but not?). But kind of good? and gruesome? I generally do like historical fiction, If I hadn’t read this blurb, though, I would have guessed it was set in England? I feel like I’ve heard of this author but I could be wrong. Also, those photos are so on point. (I love the black and white effect!)
YUP. It really really reminded me of A Mad And Wicked Folly.😂 I think that’s where I got the deja vu moment from?? Having the rich-toffy-girl-fall-in-love-with-the-lower-class just seems like a very popular Historical Fiction trope for some reason. ANGST.
I’m pretty sure it’s set in America actually. New York?
Aww, thankyou!! I basically just dumped half my bookhshelf on the floor and called it art.😂
I LOVE historical fiction. Murder mysteries not so much. There is just so much history to write about. I do get book titles confusedsometimes, but mostly when they’re very general (lost and found vs THE lost and found) Those smokey boeny shadowy titles too though. I might try this one…. but probably not. I have so many other things to rea.d
All those Smokey Bones And Shadowy Queens though omg. Like Shadow Queen vs. Queen of Shadows? LIKE SERIOUSLY, PUBLISHERS, PLEASE TALK TO EACH OTHER AND SEE WHAT YOU’RE DOING TO US. *wails* But I honestly tried to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and got confused because it wasn’t set in Russia.😂
Your book photography game is getting stronger every day 😀 Love these. I’ll add this book to my TBR as well.
OMG YOU ARE SO KIND. I confess I was actually feeling uninspired so just dumped half my bookshelf on the floor and took photos of it.😂
What, not *literally* the milkman, too? That would’ve been great! 😀
As I was reading this, I did think of Jackaby, which I love, largely for its taking the conventions of the historical fiction genre and tossing them to the winds. It also made me mentally compare to Clockwork Angel/Prince/Princess, which tried way too hard, and I just couldn’t get into it.
Really nice photos – use of black-and-white and then the same color. 🙂
There actually was no milkman!! HOW DARE THIS BOOK HAVE NO MILKMAN. Ahem.
I definitely felt it was like Jackaby while reading it too! Not so much Clockwork, because that was so much Shadowhunter-y (mind you Jackaby is magical too, but These Shall Graves isn’t magical at all SO I DON’T KNOW. IGNORE ME.)😂
Aww, thankyou!!
I love watching murder mysteries (I’m British. I was brought up on them.) but I don’t read a lot of them. They’re the type of thing where, if I can’t read them in one sitting, I flick to the end…
Loving the sacarstic quotes. 😉
I like watching murder mysteries over reading them too.😂 I feel like you can get more clues from TV/movies?? And like start solving it too? Whereas with books you only get what you’re given. Boo. I like to solve things hahah.
I TOTALLY SHIP JO/EDDIE *ahem* – sorry, your SHOUTY CAPS seem to be rubbing off 😉
I love that this was like, a developing relationship, and a lack of insta-love is always a plus! And Eddie is just fantastic. He is 100% like me in the whole ‘what the hell are you doing Jo?!’ situations XD
YOU’VE BEEN HANGING AROUND ME TOO MUCH CLEARLY. Once you start with the call caps…there is noooo turning back. #justsayin
Eddie was so fantastic. He was so patient too and I totally felt for him when he’s like “I can’t with you Jo” and she’d just march off to go NEARLY DIE AGAIN.😂
Yes! Youre review gives me hope!
I read so many negative/neutrale reviews about this book, but I bought it… two months ago, I think. And it’s stuck in my tbr so far. Anyway, I was ull of doubt about my own purchase, bu now I’m more.
Plus Jo.! If she’se naive but adorable, then she’s my new best bookish friend. I love cute character. Beacuse it’s like I need to hug the and that’ a really amazing thing XD I also love the fact that during the book she tries to learn.
Oh good! 😀 I’m glad this was helpful for you. And yesss, Jo was definitely full of win, particularly with her character development. It is definitely worth the read I believe!!
Great review. I love historical fiction and murder. I’ve been thinking about reading this one, but it’s not high on my priority list. There are so many books, so little time!
YES SO MANY BOOKS *sobs* Why can’t we have like 9 head or 34 eyeballs? Or maybe clones??? OR IMMORTALITY. (That escalated quickly…)
I’ve read this one and I really liked it! I definitely agree with a lot of the points you made. The audiobook was a great listening experience.
Ooh, the audiobook probably would’ve helped me with the confusion in the mystery.😂 I tend to be a better auditory learner tbh. I’m glad you loved it!
I stole my friend’s copy of this right when it came out and read it on vacation…and I can’t actually remember much of what happened? But I do remember I liked Oscar, and how Jo politely yet thoroughly squashed the whole “you’re not like other girls” thing that Eddie had going on for a while.
AND, YES, I GOT IT CONFUSED WITH SHALLOW GRAVES TOO. I think because Shallow Graves got a little bit more press, and that’s the book I thought I was reading. In my defense, the US version of the cover looks very zombie-ish.
YES! I was so so happy Jo slapped down the “you’re not like other girls” thing…like omg bless Jo and bless that phrase and BLESS THAT IT WAS THERE. Ahem.
And omg yes the US cover does look fully zombiefied. And I honesty want to read Shallow Graves. ACTUALLY…I recall there was an epic reads video where they got the titles mixed up (like on purpose). 😂
HOLY MEATBALLS. Now I want to read this book… SO badly. You are a genius at reviews, Cait, a genius. And that Sherlock gif is hilarious, A+ choice. 😀
AHHH THANK YOU GRACE. *flails happily* It’s always a good time for a Sherlock muuuurder gif amirite?
I love both historical fiction and murder mysteries. Also, I just tagged you in my post. Let me know if you do this tag 🙂 Here’s the link:
https://readingexperienceswithnora.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/3-days-3-quotes-tag-day-2/#more-9988
Aw, thanks for the tag! I’ll check it out! 😀
THIS WAS IMMENSELY ENTERTAINING TO READ. <3 “The mystery involved… many secondary characters… who were all related help????” <<< LOLOL WELCOME TO HISTORICAL FICTION, CAIT. Seriously I think you just described all the classics I've ever read. O_O I mean, it's sort of impressive how some authors can create 86218632 characters and then manage to use them ALL to the purpose of the plot?? BUT IT'S LIKE WATCHING PAINT DRY, THAT PLOT COMING TOGETHER OMG. *shakes head slowly*
THIS COVER IS SUPAH PRETTY THOUGH… especially the black and white image with just the book in color = YAAAS. <3 tbh I love historical fiction but if it is done in a very interesting and compelling and fast-moving way. Like, I GET IT, you did a lot of research on this time period. YOU LEARNED A LOT OF COOL THINGS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WANT TO READ ABOUT THEM ALL. When I write a historical fiction someday (lol pray for me) I solemnly swear to use all the facts to support a fast-moving and exciting plot, not info dumps. *nod nod*
HISTORICAL FICTION SCARES ME. WHY IS EVERYONE ALWAYS RELATED OR KNOWS SOMEONE’S AUNT’S COUSINS ILLEGITIMATE DAUGHTER NAMED FAGIN. OMG. And I do think that a lot of these kind of books sound the same after a while. hahaha. I mean, it was well written!! But yeah. This is basically my relationship with thrillers: after you’ve read a few, you can basically predict all the rest.
Omg and yes. “You learned a lot of cool things that doesn’t mean I want to read them all” <--- MEEEE. Although when it got super detailed about forensics, yes, I want that. But who doesn't, really? Nothing more entrancing than a person who knows their way around a corpse and can deduce its death. :')
When I first read These Shallow Graves, I ADORED it. You have brought up some very good points, and I will admit this book has flaws, but IT’S STILL PRECIOUS TO ME, OKAY? I read it in one day because I could NOT put it down.
I really liked that Jo acted as though she was from the past, and not some modern girl in a Victorian world. Despite being from so long ago, I related to her quite a lot. And then there’s EDDIE. He was just a precious little muffin. In the last 4th of the novel where things were going wrong, and things were quite predictable with the romance, I was still concerned/mildly distracted from my tea. JOURNALISTS HAVE FEELINGS, TOO, OKAY? It probably helps that I devour historical romance as though it’s my child and my name is Kronos.
THAT IS TOTALLY FINE. I’M GLAD YOU LOVED IT!! *tosses confetti in the air* I honestly think a big reason I wasn’t enamoured was just that I’m not a huge HF fan. And Jo was definitely historically accurate (and she made me laugh so many times omg) EDDIE WAS A PRECIOUS MUFFIN. BUT OSCAR IS MY DARLING. I honestly adored Oscar.😂 Especially that bit where he wanted to go talk to a girl and he’s like “no I have nothing to say” and Eddie is like “Just go talk to her about pus” and Oscar is all “OMG THAT’S SUCH A GOOD IDEA!!” #ADORABLE
Okay Kronos, CALM DOWN THERE.😂
This sounds fun enough to pick up if I see it…
I am a deluded grape generally though
Oh Cait, I love your turn of phrase.
Why thankyou.😂 I’m sure I’m the only one who insults myself (and, well others on occasion) by calling them after various fruits.😂
I got Daughter of Smoke & Bone and Shadow and Bone mixed up, too, before I read them. Now I realize they’re very different and I know which one is which!
One book I enjoyed was Jennifer Bradbury’s Wrapped. It’s a historical mystery, though not necessarily a murder mystery.
SAME! I actually started reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone and thought it was Shadow & Bone. And I’m like a chapter in and all “Where is the Russia???”😂 Now I never mix them up but YEAH. That was awkward.
Ooh, I shall need to look up Wrapped!
I love historical fiction, and just history in general. I was really looking forward to this one when I first heard about it, but all the mixed reviews are making me wonder if I even want to. I’ll probably still read it, just with super low expectations. Murder mysteries is one genre I rarely read from, I’ve probably read like four since I’ve gotten into YA. They’re fun books to read, just not something I love lie fantasy or historical fiction, I also tend to get confused really easily in books, and for other people to call it confusing, I know I’ll probably have a hard time with it. I’m still gonna read this one though, it’s just not at the top of my TBR. 🙂
I hope you do try it and I hoooope you like it! 😂 I think it’s good, but just probably a lot of it was a “it’s me not you” thing because I’m not a huge HF fan in general. (And omg I get confused SO EASILY TOO. *cries* It’s a curse to be honest.)
Hmmm…seems interesting enough, but I’m sure there are a lot of better Victorian murder mysteries out there. Love your pictures!! I bet that pile of blue books took forever to put back on the shelf lol!
~Sara
It was quite the bookish cleanup after this.😂 I was feeling really uninspired actually so I’m like “I’LL JUST DUMP EVERYTHING ON THE FLOOR THAT’LL DO AND IT’S ART”. #legit
YOU SHOULD READ NIMONA. IT HAS DRAGONS. AND MURDER.
I WANT TO. IT’S ON MY WISHLIST.
Haha, this does sound interesting! Murder mysteries are always fun! But you say there are a gazillion different characters, all equally important? Eek, how will I keep up? It’ll definitely get so confusing.
It is a bit confusing, I confess! I think that’s why I got befuddled in several places because I just couldn’t remember who was who.🙈🙊
Hi Caiiit! 🙂
I’m not a fan of historical fiction. Most of the time, I don’t tend to explore other genres cause I’m afraid of not liking them or worse, not finishing them when I start to get bored. 🙁 I do, however, have always wanted to read Jackaby but I haven’t had a chance to purchase a copy yet. Hahaha!
Murder Mysteries are a must! 😀 I don’t know if you’ll like but you might want to check out Prep School Confidential. It’s a YA contemporary trilogy that involves crime and murder. 🙂
That’s fair! I grew up on historical fiction, so like it has a special place in my heart, but I definitely don’t reach for it nowadays.😂 I tend to love to read everything though haha. Ahem.
I’ve actually been meaning to read Prep School Confidential for ages. 😀
Would you stop making me want to read murder mysteries haha. I remember when you and Zoe raved about Dangerous Girls which I still haven’t read, excuse you, but I can’t waittttt. I’m not a big historical fiction fan either, though some of it is really good esp if the mystery is done well (such as Agatha Christie stuff which is ofc classics, but still! The Diviners fod instance etc). Lmao. I like not-perfect heroines though and people who are capable of groth and learning something — that’s all I want basically so Jo is already a plus in my eyes as far as protagonist’s traits go. YASSSS FOR SASS <333 I don't mind sexism AS MUCH if it's an era thing, you know? But as you said, it's good to have characters who realize this and will turn it in their favor. RIP @ info dump though. Hahahahaha! I'm a trash for all sorts of romance though I don't mind which trope (usually) unless it's insta love. I'm glad it's attraction here though. That I can totally handle 🙂 I'm glad you liked it as a whole Cait!
DANGEROUS GIRLS IS THE BEST, THOUGH, SIIRI. WHY AREN’T YOU LISTENING TO ZOE AND ME??? WE ARE NEVER WRONG. *throws it at you* That one is pretty different (and definitely the BEST) than this one though.😂 But still muuuuurder, John.
And YES. Sometimes sexism is needed in a story or else it would be suspiciously unrealistic, especially for this era. But the beauty is when the characters don’t sit down and take it. LIKE HUZZAH LET ME CHEER FOR YOU. I’m so impressed. Especially when the love-interest tried to pull the “you’re not like other girls” line and Jo totally smacked that down. #win
SASS??
FEMALE FRIENDSHIP??
MURDER MYSTERY???
Did you write this review simply for me, Cait? Did you? Oh, shucks.
Also, I love how well you re-purpose a BIG photo-shoot for lots of other photos. Goals. They are all absolutely gorgeous <3 <3
I DID ACTUALLY. I considered starting the review with “Dear Emily, this is a review for you” but you know, I just accidentally forgot to add that in.
(And omg I’m so lazy with my photoshoots right?!?😂 If I make a mess I’m going to use it for like 80 photo opportunities for later hahaha. Ahem.)
Thankiu for this honest review, Cait! Your main points are always hilarious, and now it comes with GIF? Haha.
http://laxsourire.blogspot.my
Well, I do enjoy a good gif now and then. 🙂 And thankyou!
I’ve been curious about These Shallow Graves, because I can always get down with a historical fiction murder mystery! Alas, I’m a bit wary of the way that the plot read as a bit typical to you in some aspects. But I’m also still drawn to it because the snippets you included are very readable indeed. We shall see if I ever wind up checking this out!
I hope you do if it intrigues you!! The sass is definitely on point I tell you, ON POINT.😂
This is a really good review for this book, especially since you’re not a historical fan! I completely get where your negatives are coming from on this one as I have recently read it. I get how people wouldn’t like the predictability and the fact literally every minor character seemed like they had a significant role later on (yes, I agree that was random that the crazy lady we see at the beginning totally links this mystery together because why not?) but I just didn’t care about the negatives because for me I was rolling in all your positives and laughing at Jo’s ridiculousness and loving the romance. I was also pointing at the book and shouting for all who could hear me that this is totally the way to do feminism in historical fiction for all those folk who say you can’t because it’s not keeping with the era I say screw you you’re totally wrong and this book proves it. I don’t know what it was about this book but I basically loved it so even though I’m sat here nodding along at your cons my brain has chosen to ignore them all and say the book was fantastic.
Also, isn’t it the worst getting titles confused because you’re completely expecting one thing and then it just doesn’t happen! I can’t think of an example right now because my brain has died through lack of sleep but I have definitely done that before (many times).
Omg thankyou!! I feel really bad for giving it only 4-stars actually because I honestly don’t think it was bad or anything…just not me. You know? So I’m SUPER glad the review still felt fair! And I’m reeeally glad you’re a fan. 😀 (Although, tbh, yes the crazy lady out in the street being like the key to everything? Hmm.)
AND YES OMG ALL THE POINTS FOR FEMINISM!! I hate when people say historical fiction should be sexist with no rebuttal because “that’s how it was” Pfft, yes that’s how it was but if no one had been rebutting it, then we wouldn’t have had suffragettes! (I totally envision Jo as an epic suffragette.) I’m sooo glad the author wrote Jo as a character who smacked-down the sexism, even if she only did it subtly mostly. #WINNING
I am both a fan historical fiction and murder mysteries so I really enjoyed this one, in spite of it’s problems. I also thought it wrapped up too easily and too neatly. I like a lot of Donnelly’s other work as well. It definitely good but not earth-shattering.
Oh I agree with it wrapping up too easily and neatly. Like where EVERYONE (even the random lady in the street?!) was all tied in?? Like very convenient and I am the suspicious. *sighs* But it was still a good read!
Oh this sounds right up my alley! I love a good book with a bit of sass. You also take some good bookporn pictures, damn.
Why thankyou.😂 Taking bookish photos are like my FAVOURITE hobby these days.
Oooh…forensics and a murder mystery? You’ve got me intrigued Cait! And a sassy, well-written protagonist is always a plus. 😉 And I’m glad to hear about the unpredictable plot twists. I’ve had trouble finding mysteries with reveals that really shock me, so I’m excited to give this a try. Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous review! <3
YAY! I hope you like it if you do read it, Zoe. 😀 It was mostly glorious if a bit predictable hhahah, so yes, the struggle to find something totally wowing is very very difficult.
EDDIE: You can’t be in this dangerous part of town. The people are…unsavoury.
JO: Oh I’m fine. In fact a lady offered me to work for her with her other girls and a kind man tried to give me money.
EDDIE: *has panic attack and dies*
I JUST DIED OH MY GOODNESS XD
I want to read this book so badly now oh my goodness I need a copy ASAP!
DEFINITELY GO READ IT. FOR THAT PART ALONE.😂 Jo is so naive it’s adorable hahhahah.
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE historical fiction AND murder myseries! Therefore, I will read this book. Hopefully it’s at my library. And sass. Hooray! 🙂
But ew, predictable romance. That’s something I despise. 😒
Also, on GoodReads it says it was published Oct. 2015? Me very confused.
I’m sorry there were no zombies. That must have been a huge disappointment.
Thanks for enlargening (is that even a word?) my to-read list!
Publishing dates often differ from country to country. 😉 So it’s only publishing here this year. Hope that makes sense!
IT IS SAD THERE IS A LACK OF ZOMIES. *wails* What must I do to get a few zombies around here omg.
Oooh, Caaaait! I’m not a historical fan, either, but you make this sound interesting! But I can’t be doing with the pish-posh. I don’t know! However, I am all for Shallow Graves, that book sounds awesome!
AND, though you may not name your first born daughter after THAT Jo, you definitely ave my permission to name her after this Jo! ;P
OH OF COURSE, JO. If I name my firstborn Jo it will be because of yooooooou and it will be a worthy naming.😂 hehe. (Also it must be cool to have a name that you see in books regularly?! I’ve only seen my name in a book once and it was like 2 pages for this psycho character with a knife hahhah…okay. So maybe that’s hilarious.😂)
OMG I ADORED THESE SHALLOW GRAVES. I randomly picked it up from the library, knowing NOTHING about it. It really surprised me and I loved it.
ALSO I ADORE HISTORICAL FICTION IT IS THE BESTEST OF ALL THINGS NEXT TO FANTASY. AND HISTORICAL FANTASY IS EVEN MORE BESTEST.(Clearly I have read to many Junie B. Jones books to my younger siblings.)
I’M REALLY GLAD IT WAS A WINNER FOR YOU!! YAYYYYYY!! I did quite like it, and I think the main reason I didn’t rate it higher was just that I’m not such a fan of HF these days.😂
I must get this, I love Victorian murdery things!