Customer Reviews

Point of Honour

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The time is 1810. The Queen Regent is clinging to life while her children, the ineligibly married Prince of Wales and the scandalous Duke of Clarence scramble for position in the event of her death. Sarah Tolerance is a Fallen Woman -- when a teen she fell in love with her brother's fencing instructor and ran away to the Continent. But her lover has died, and she has returned to England. Her reputation is ruined, her father has repudiated her, she is an ancient 28 years old. What can she do? She is taken in by her Aunt, another Fallen Woman, who runs a very successful bordello. But Sarah has no interest in working for her Aunt, so instead she sets up as what we would call a Private Investigator, often turning up evidence for Society women of their husbands' infidelity.

Sarah receives a new commission asking that she retrieve an Italian fan, that may be in the possession of a retired working woman named Deb Cunning. Trux's unnamed boss is willing to offer quite a bit more than the fan is worth for its retrieval. Sarah's job is complicated by the fact that Deb Cunning has likely changed her name. But Sarah soon finds some interesting leads. However, her job is quickly complicated, as it soon seems that this fan is of considerable interest to both sides in the current political wrangle. Worse, a couple of people involved in the search turn up dead -- one is a close friend of Sarah's, the other is a woman she has visited to ask for information -- her visit timed to make her a suspect in the murder.

Sarah finally learns who her real client is -- the handsome, youngish, Earl of Versellion, who is in line to be Prime Minister if the new Regent chooses to back a Whig government. Sarah finds herself greatly attracted to Versellion, all the while exasperated by the paucity of information on the importance of the fan. This attraction deepens when she and Versellion have to go on the run in rural England, apparently under threat of murder.

The novel nicely intertwines political intrigue, an interesting mystery about the real nature of the hidden fan (with a guessable but satisfying solution), romance, action, and a nice ending with an extra twist or two. Sarah herself is an interesting heroine, and I'm glad to know that at least two further novels are planned.

The main appeal is likely to mystery readers first: particularly those who enjoyed the late Kate Ross's Julian Kestrel stories, or those who enjoy Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries. Secondarily, readers of Regency romances may enjoy the book: though it does not follow standard Regency plot conventions, it does have a nice romance at its core. It's a fine historical mystery story, or if you will, a "hardboiled Regency". (Serious historical readers will note that the book is actually set in a slightly altered history.)

Or perhaps it's a murder-mystery, spy-thriller, historical-romance alternate history. Difficult to say which aspect is the most important!

Robins' Regency England is not quite ours - there's a Queen Regent rather than the Price of Wales being named regent, and a few other political and social differences as well. Since part of the plot hinges on the actions of the Queen Regent and of the Prince of Wales, this is an important item. If you're someone who reads historical novels for their accuracy, be aware that this will NOT fit into Napoleonic wars of Patrick O'Brien's books, or the parties at the Prince Regent's Brighton pavilion, or other bits of history that many readers look for. Even the demimonde that is the setting of much of the book is not quiiiiite the same.

It should also be pointed out that it's not really a romance - not in the same sense that books marketed as Regency romances are. While there's a love interest, and it's the Regency period, there will be relatively little of the pleasantly trivial dialogue and naive double-entendres that readers of the usual Regencies expect. It's not about the young ladies making their comings-out, and the balls and country house parties, or even about the governesses and the whole servant thing, that provide the background for many romances. In fact, the rather frank settings in both our heroine's aunt's brothel and others, may turn off those who are looking for the usual light romance.

That said, if you are prepared for the differences, this is a top-notch book. Looking for the minute differences that make it an alternate history provides an enjoyable challenge; they political intrigue and murders are as fascinating as any historical novel and better done than many. Our main character is a strong person who makes you want to know more about her (and there is a second volume in the series, Petty Treason.) And the ending is done in a classic murder-mystery style that is satisfying whether it's in Agatha Christie's countryside, or a city a century earlier, or in modern-day settings. The mystery plot line (which I won't rehash here, since other reviewers have already told you enough about it) is the strongest part of the book, and that's saying a lot given how interesting the other aspects are.

If I had to try and draw a comparison, I'd say this is closer to the historical vampire novels of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro than any other single comparison I could name, even though there are no fantasy elements in this book. The sense of depth of the settings, and the author's emphasis on the personality of the characters, are similar in their intensity.

I will be awaiting a third volume; I only wish authors could write 'em as fast as I read 'em!

In her afterward, Madeleine Robins describes her own novel as a 'hard boiled' Regency detective story. The disreputable private eye holding onto the vestiges of his code of ethics even while he takes on unsavory divorce cases is translated into Sarah Tolerance. Sarah is a well bred lady who ran off with her fencing master, marking herself as a Fallen Woman. Sarah now takes on inquiries, following philandering husbands for their suspicious wives. The classy dame in distress becomes a handsome nobleman who needs our heroine's help. Our maltese falcon is an Italian fan -- surely not worth all this trouble -- yet someone seems willing to kill in order to reach it before our heroine. I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah, her world (historically accurate in spirit, if partly adapted to the author's purpose), and her adventures. Madeleine Robin clearly had fun writing this novel, and the ending left room for a second. I'll look forward to Sarah Tolerance's next case -- and for Ms. Robin to find room within her self-invented genre for even more depth.

Aristocrat Sarah Tolerance gave away more than just her name and reputation when she romantically ran off with her brother's fencing master. When her beloved dies, Sarah looks at her options, her family not truly being one as she brought scandalous shame on them already. The adage of 1810 England is that Fallen Women always at some time turn to the only profession the Ton allows for them, whoring. Sarah vows she ill never sell her body.

Instead she becomes an "investigative agent" handling "private matters" where discretion and finesse count, traits Bow St. lacks. Her work means no direct references from her wealthy clients, who will expect silence while employing her. Lord Trux hires Sarah, claiming he represents a nameless friend, to recover a family heirloom fan that was given with youthful enthusiasm years ago to Mrs. Deborah Cunning. Though he says little else, the case seems simple enough to Sarah, but that is before she finds competitors willing to kill her to obtain the fan and her rivals seem to know her every move.

This exciting Regency investigative tale provides the audience with a different look at the era than typical of romances or mysteries set in that period. The story line grips the reader from the first observation made by the heroine about options available for Fallen Women. The plot moves forward rather quickly as Sarah goes about her job while trying to stay alive. Sarah is a delightful intelligent sleuth whose adventure will make Madeleine E. Robins a sub-genre favorite.

Harriet Klausner

I really can't praise this book enough. Not only does the author interweave Jane Austen's Napoleonic era neatly with a female P.I.'s life--she also tosses in great fight scenes, heart-rending portraits of poverty, perfect dialogue, vicious political sceming and beautiful characterizations. Four characters of special note are her wistful but capable heroine, a loony botanist who inadvertently provides a major clue, a serene ex-farm girl turned sucessful courtesan and the heroine's aunt, a ruthless yet forward-thinking madame. Can't wait for the next in the series, especially now that the Prince of Wales owes our heroine a big favor.

Once upon a time there was a 16 year old English girl named Sarah Brereton who liked to ask questions, and fell in love with her older brother's fencing teacher. They eloped and ran away to the continent when her family disowned her. !0 years later, with her common law husband dead, Sarah, now with the last name of Tolerance, is back in England, and working in a profession she invented for herself, a sort of private eye for the early 19th century. She calls herself an agent of inquiry and lives behind her aunt's (the only relative who will speak to her) brothel. And she can sword fight.

At the beginning of this, the first of book in what looks to be an incredibly promising series, Sarah is hired to find an old Italian Fan given to a whore by someone of political importance over twenty years ago. She has little to go one, but soon find clues, and learns that others that are on her trail. Soon it turns out an Earl is behind the search for the fan, a charming, handsome earl at that, and then people beginning to turn up to dead, and the earl's own life is threatened. What is it about an old fan that can inspire this much trouble?

Well, read the book and you'll find out. It's quite a twisted story. As mystery's go this one was quite good, though I did have an inkling of the big secret in my mind before it was reveled (though the lat revelation in the book was a HUGE shock!) The period is described very well, though the author does admit to changing history a little to suit her needs (but at least she owns up to it) but still, you can feel the atmosphere of the book, from Sarah's little cottage, to the meanest brothel, to the most posh mansion, and to the English countryside where Sara and the Earl ran from highwaymen. The characterization is a little thin, and everyone is a bit stiff, but it seems in keeping with the rest of the book. The way people speak is stiff, so they act stiff, so they seem stiff to us. After all, most of the characters we see are or were (before losing status) very high in society and thus....well, the stiff upper lip type. There is a great deal about the options open to "fallen women" (prostitutes, women who have lost their virginity) and Sarah's own reputation even after her own fall from grace ten years previously, which can get a little annoying, but it doesn't hurt the book. And the romance is quite nice.

Anyway, I quite enjoyed this. Four stars and I will most definitely read the sequel.

Madeleine Robins, author of THE STONE WAR (Tor 1999), introduces us to Miss Sarah Tolerance, Investigative Agent, in this historical, swashbuckling novel. Filled with intrigue and murder, romance and royalty, suspense and swordsmanship, we are transported to the world of Regency London where things aren't always as straightforward as they appear to be. Or are they?

A clever combination of Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes and Errol Flynn, Sarah Tolerance is a Fallen Woman. She ran off with her brother's fencing master, an unpardonable act within the social order of the early 1800's. Sarah explains, "Society offers women like myself very few choices, my lord. Some become whores, some madams or hatmakers. I became an investigative agent." (p. 26).

We're invited into her cottage, where she's talking with her dear friend, Matt, an attractive, effeminate young man in the employ of Sarah's aunt, the elegant madam, Mrs. Brereton. We soon realize Sarah to be an independent and intelligent, compassionate and kind, lady. Just as quickly as she endears us to her, the great mystery of the novel is revealed.

Sarah heads off to Tarsio's Club, a usual haunt. While pondering a recent, successfully closed case in the Club's Salon, Lord Trux appears and springs a "task of a private nature" upon her. Acting as the agent of an undisclosed employer, he commissions Sarah to locate and retrieve an Italian Fan.

Sarah stealthily searches for clues and leads. She meets with Deb Cunning, and discovers whether or not she's as wily as her name implies. With a brilliant small-sword and dressed in men's clothing, Sarah navigates the cobblestone streets of the city, hires hackneys to travel to seedy brothels and rides in an unmarked carriage. While seeking Fanny Virtue and Mrs. Cockbun, she meets an array of characters, some less savory than others. A trail of grisly murders follows Sarah on her search.

Who are Sir Walter Mandif, Count Verseillon, Dr. Hawley, Lord Folle, and Blackbottle? What do green peas, vines and letters to a papist cleric have to do with anything? Through brothels, an Italian lexicon and the great houses of London, we gain knowledge of the object of desire. With whom will she fall in love? Where is the enigmatic Italian Fan? To what lengths will Sarah go to maintain her honor?

The characters are as engaging as the setting is vividly descriptive. Slight variance from historical fact serves well to heighten our enjoyment of the novel. Unraveling the tangled yarn of trickery, deciphering subjects of duplicity, witnessing the flash of the skillfully wielded small-sword, and solving the mystery of the Italian Fan with Miss Sarah Tolerance, is an adventure you won't soon forget.

True North, GWN Reviewer / April 2, 2005

This review is a portion of a longer review that previously appeared at Goodreads.

What would Elizabeth Barrett have done if she'd fallen in love with a man, left with him - and for reasons both religious and otherwise, they never married? "Widowed" Sarah has no desire to be a whore (even with an aunt who runs a high-class bordello) and seeks another path. She is an agent of inquiry, the only one in London. Lost trinkets, misplaced spouses, adult children needing shepherding? Miss Tolerance can oblige. She is shrewd, intelligent, and quite good with a blade (her paramour was a fencing instructor.) In a strange no-man's land, Miss Tolerance has carved out a tiny world for herself, and hangs onto her rung with vigor.

This book is truly a mystery, a Regency Noir, if you will. The book is written in a lovely, formal manner that reflects the thought processes of its heroine. The details and depth of this London intrigue give us a much seamier side than Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen ever shared with us. There is romance found and then lost, for Miss Tolerance cannot live, or conceal, a lie. Politics tars each character with the underbelly of life - and the secrets Miss Tolerance seeks, and eventually uncovers, were secrets possibly better left buried.

We are given a very interesting heroine, but one who may be doomed to never again find happiness in this life. Don't mistake this for a romance, but if you are looking for a mystery of a Regency England that might have been? Ah, then you've come to the right place.

Much of Robins' story centers on the fate of "Fallen Women" of good families. As her Fallen Woman character Sarah Tolerance proclaims: "Society offers a woman like myself very hard choices. Some become whores, some madams or hatmakers. I became an investigative agent." Sarah's aunt, Mrs. Brereton, manages a high class house of joy behind which Sarah, now widowed, lives in a tiny cottage. Disowned by her aristocratic family when she was seduced by her brother's fencing master, she calls herself an "Agent of Inquiry" and supports herself by providing information and "discreet errands" for clients. Her latest task is to find an Italian fan, once given to a mistress of a now deceased Earl, which apparently contains a secret important to England's future. This seems like an easy job until, as a result of her search, people keep getting murdered! And, hired thugs keep threatening her life and that of her love interest, the Earl of Versellion. Luckily Miss Tolerance's ability to wield a "small sword" allows her to defend herself and her earl.

This was an anxious time politically. "Mad King George III" is on the throne, and the Whigs and the Tories undermine each other currying his favor while worrying about Napoleon's depredations and spies working for France. The story touches on anti-Catholic sentiments, the vogue for botanical and agricultural research, the disreputable Bow Street Runners (officers of Bow Street magistrates' court whose duty was to pursue and arrest criminals), clubs for men and separate ones for women, and the social importance of tea in the English diet.

Robins's depiction of London's two worlds is excellent. Common laborers, beggars, prostitutes, and small time thieves come to life as well as the elite, scurrying off to their clubs, balls, and theater parties. Much is made of the extraordinary number and range of houses of prostitution in London at this time, "from the meanest stew to the most elegant house of joy."

Once found, the secret of fan is a bit of a letdown and the pace of the action uneven. The author's predominant use of Sarah's formal name, Miss Tolerance, is a bit off putting. This constant usage for a main character is not found even in her hero Jane Austen's novels. High marks nonetheless for Robins use of other period dialogue and speech patterns. Author's History Notes also reveal what is true and what not regarding historical events mentioned in the book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I was caught from the first sentence. Anyone who can start a book with an amusing Jane Austen reference is a winner to me. Fans of the era and of historical mystery, please don't let the creepy, apparition-like appearance of the pistol-wielding woman on the cover deter you. The writing is good.

Robins makes her home in an alternate universe, with Queen Charlotte the Regent instead of the Prince of Wales, and the Prince of Wales a widower to a Catholic (and thus removed from the succession). The alternate history makes an interesting twist which I hope will be taken further in future novels starring Sarah Tolerance. Overall, a fun historical mystery that is a delight to read on the train and after a long day of work. If you like the Regency era, I highly recommend the book.