Customer Reviews

A Rare Interest in Corpses [First Edition]

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

 

 

This novel opens with Elizabeth (Lizzie) Martin arriving in London in 1864. The death of Lizzie's father has left her in straitened circumstances so when her late godfather's widow, Mrs Parry, invites her to London as her companion Lizzie accepts. Lizzie barely arrives in London before being caught up in a series of disturbing events: her cab from the railway station crosses paths with a cart transporting a dead body. Shortly after arriving at her employer's home, Lizzie learns that her predecessor departed suddenly in what seem to be suspicious circumstances.

Lizzie Martin is a likeable character whose amateur sleuthing is not in the least constrained by society's idea of what is acceptable behaviour for a young woman of her class. However improbable aspects of this story are, the journey makes for an interesting, page turning read. Who murdered Madeleine Hexham, and why? There are a number of suspects, some delightful red herrings and some interesting descriptions of a London deep in the throes of change.

Aspects are predictable, but somehow that adds to the general enjoyment of the story. This is the first in a series to feature Lizzie Martin. The second is `A Mortal Curiosity' and I've ordered it already. Ms Granger has a number of other novels to her credit, and I will also be looking to read those as time permits.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Lizzie Martin has just just arrived in London from Derbyshire to take up a new position as lady's companion. Almost immediately, she discovers that the murdered body she saw being carried from the site of the construction of the new St. Pancreas railway terminus, is that of her predecessor. While others accuse the woman of bringing her fate upon herself, Lizzie is soon persuaded that there's a deeper mystery. After finding disturbing facts in her new home, Lizzie becomes a secret source of information for Inspector Benjamin Ross, an intriguing man from her Derbyshire coalfields childhood. Part of the story is told from Ben's point of view.

The book's historical information is stronger than the plot, which needs a number of coincidences to reach a conclusion. Granger writes of a London in the process of being transformed above ground and below - via new under groundsewers and railways. The city's public places are noisy, dirty, and smoggy. On the streets, sellers of every item imaginable mingle with equally plentiful petty thieves. Deep class and gender expectations rigidly dictate one's life. Lizzie's outspokenness and intelligence are not admired by her employer and her incredibly insensitive and boorish friends. London's poor, who live in crowded squalor with the ever present danger of illnesses such as typhoid, diphtheria, and consumption, not surprisingly resist the authority of the police and refuse to come forth as witnesses. Granger also provides the reader with descriptions of the equally appalling lives of the pitmen and their children in the northern coal mines, and with facts about mining practices and laws.

First historical mystery for this prolific author of mystery series set in contemporary times.

Set in Victorian London, we meet Lizzie Martin, an impoverished young woman who takes a job as companion to Mrs. Parry, her godfather's widow. Lizzie is 30, outspoken and curious enough to get involved in the mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Parry's previous companion. Crossing her path in this investigation is a childhood friend of Lizzie's who just happens to be the police inspector from the Scotland Yard, Ben Ross.The pair encounters the dead girl's body, runs afoul of an unsavory pastor, a foreign service worker, a hen-pecked son and some hard nose laborers. But they manage, with the aid of a cabdriver and a downstairs maid, to solve the mysterious death and disappearance of the girl. If you enjoy reading about Victorian London, this novel will please you.

I love Kate Ross's 'Julian Kestrel' series and Ashley Gardner's 'Captain Lacey' series and I have been trying very hard to find another series that I will enjoy as much as I've enjoyed those two. So far, I'm still looking.

I thought this story started out well enough, with an interesting mystery and some good and gritty details on filth and rats and death, and even a mention of Bazalgette's sewer, which I enjoyed very much. The narration was smooth and easy, though I would have appreciated one narrator rather than two.

I thought we were building up to an interesting story with engaging characters and the potential to complete my quest for another series I could enjoy, when suddenly the story turned rather dull and predictable and left me wondering, how had I ever thought it could be in the running for the next favorite series.

I'm not quite sure what happened, I liked Lizzie Martin, the strong female protagonist, and her unsatisfying situation as a lady's companion to Julia Parry whose nephew Frank Carteron, lives with her. But at some point the story just fell flat and retreated to dull predictability. I'm glad that others have enjoyed this and I'm sorry that I did not. I'm still searching for another favorite series.

In 1864with the death of her dad the doctor, country lass Elizabeth "Lizzie" Martin accepts a position in London as a companion to Mrs. Parry, the wife of her late godfather. Apparently her predecessor Madeline Hexham ran off with an unsuitable unscrupulous young man.

Scotland Yard inspector Benjamin Ross investigates the brutal murder of a young woman. He traces the victim's last employment to Mrs. Parry as a companion to the widow. During the inquiry, Mrs. Parry blames the girl for being stupid enough to get killed. On a happier note, he is elated to see his childhood friend from home Lizzie, but wished it was it was better circumstances for their reunion. Meanwhile Lizzie is appalled by Mrs. Parry's assertion that her predecessor deserved to die and begins an inquiry of her own.

Though no Mitchell and Markby, THE COMPANION is an interesting Victorian whodunit that brings to life the plight of a single female with no protection. The story line rotates viewpoint between that of Ben and Lizzie so that the audience sees the same event from differing perspectives. Although the ending is too abrupt and simple, historical mystery fans will appreciate the competition between the professional cop and the amateur sleuth.

Harriet Klausner

Synopsis:

"In the corners of the room the shadows cast velvety veils. It would not be too difficult to imagine someone stood there and watched. I thought of Madeleine Hexham.... I glanced around me. It was likely that I'd been given my predecessor's room and that it was here she had planned her flight into the arms of her mysterious lover."

When Lizzie Martin arrives in London in 1864 to become a lady's companion, her first impressions are disturbing. She's barely out of the station when her cab encounters a wagon carrying the remains of a young woman recently dead.

At her new home, Lizzie learns that her predecessor, Madeleine Hexham, disappeared without a word of warning. Despite rumors of immoral behavior surrounding the girl's departure, Lizzie is soon persuaded that there's a deeper mystery here. Her suspicions are tragically confirmed when Inspector Benjamin Ross delivers shocking tidings.

Lizzie is determined to unravel the truth about the lost Miss Hexham. As, too, is Ben Ross: a man who cares about justice, whatever the class of victim. But they must tread carefully, as a cornered killer is the most dangerous of all...

My Review:
The Companion was a well written, accurate and intriguing historical mystery. Set in Victorian England, the story is told through Lizzie Martin, a country doctor's daughter, left penniless by his death, and Benjamin Ross, a young Scotland yard detective who is tied to Lizzie through a past association. Lizzie must now be a Lady's companion, after living her entire life of more affluent means, and has problems with not speaking her mind, much to Lady Parry's dismay.

Lizzie and Benjamin are both calm, thoughtful and resourceful characters. The mystery was a good one, and solved very much as a crime would have been solved in that time period.

The mystery surrounding the former companion points out the moral judgments and flaws of the times-that more condemnation is placed on the female victim than her coldhearted murderer, just because she was naive and trusting.

A good solid Victorian mystery-4 stars.

The Companion is a Victorian murder mystery with engaging characters and an interesting plot. It is extremely readable and fast moving. There are descriptions of both the well to do and their servants. If you like the Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry, you will find the same flavor but in a more quickly readable style.