Book review : The Blighted Cliffs by Edwin Thomas

The Blighted Cliffs
Reluctant Adventures of Lieutenant Martin Jerrold Book #1
by Edwin Thomas

GENRE: #Historical-adventure-mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆

This is an adventurous mystery, set against the backdrop of 1806 Dover when the city was infested by smugglers and threatened by the French tyrant Napoleon.

I found it nice and engaging from the start, but it became more compelling chapter after chapter, involving the main character in one adventure (or rather misadventure ) after another.
The second part is wonderfully fast-paced and I couldn't help but turn the page to see what would happen next.

This is the first mystery I've read where the main character belongs to the naval world.
Although I loved the "Hornblower" tv series and the "Master and Commander" movie ( both based on well known book series ) I never read a book in that genre until now.
Of course this one is far less dramatic than the two I named above, but the same it has been a captivating story.
I suggest it to those looking for a light, adventurous read.
I think I'll certainly try other adventure and mystery novels in this genre from now on.

__ PLOT IN SHORT __ England, 1806.
Lieutenant Martin Jerrold is sent by his uncle, the Admiral, to the White Cliffs of Dover, with one final chance to redeem his reputation, after his poor performance (or rather: no performance at all) during the Battle of Trafalgar.

On his first night in Dover, while loitering near the harbor, he stumbles upon a body that has fallen from the cliffs.
The consequence is immediate: he's now the prime suspect in the murder.
Distrusted by his superiors, set upon by intriguingly well-informed smugglers, and attacked by the French at sea, Jerrold has two weeks to clear his name and save his skin... or perish in the attempt.

__________________

__ MAIN CHARACTER __ A really nice main character.
He is a young man (about 25 years old) portrayed in the general plot as a coward, but he is not the kind of slimy person whose cowardice makes others pay the consequences. Absolutely not.

Jerrold is the kind of boy who is not yet very keen on taking on any kind of responsibility and is naturally inclined to do as little work as possible.
A young man who is still immature, we would say nowadays.

Unfortunately, fate and his impulsive and somewhat rebellious nature constantly lead him into trouble.
I couldn't help but love him and root for him though,because of his inherent goodness and because his impulsiveness, while causing problems, also compels him to act in recklessly heroic ways, often surprising even himself.

_ SIDE CHARACTERS___ They are equally well-developed.
Whether virtuous or villainous, each character effectively expresses themselves through vivid actions and dialogues. I found them all remarkably believable.

_ HISTORICAL PART___
The story is not only centered around a murder's mystery, but it tells us the significant problem of smuggling along the English coast at the time, as well as the threat of a French invasion.

Although it may appear to be a light read dedicated to pure entertainment, this story is actually based on historical facts and lesser-known events. Those events are not widely discussed in history books, but they're supported by clues and evidence.
I cannot tell you more, because if I did, I would spoil the mystery's resolution.
You will find out everything in the ending and in the author's historical notes.

Reading this story also revealed that hot air balloons already existed in 1785, a fact I was unaware of, in fact I used to think that people's adventures with these means belonged to the end of the 19th century.
That's why I love historical fiction: one always has something new to learn !

_ At the end of the book there are INTERESTING AUTHOR NOTES about true history and I suggest you not to read before the end of the story if you want to avoid spoilers.

_ READABLE AS A STANDALONE _
-----> It's book#1 in a series of 3, but it offers a satisfying happy ending with no cliffhanger.

_ SUITABLE TO ALL AGES _
----> Clean language, no gruesome scene.

Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive any errors you may find in my review, since English is not my language.

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Book review : The Organ Job by James Y.Bartlett

The Organ Job
Johann Sebastian Bach Musical Mystery book #1
by James Y.Bartlett

GENRE: #Historical-cozy-mystery

My rating: ★★☆☆☆
Real rating : 2.5

How I wish I had enjoyed this cozy mystery!
It had the potential to be a fantastic light read and a fantastic series to get attached to.
I love classical music and I simply adore settings in 18th century central Europe.

So when I saw this book for free on a book funnel ( and still available for free on Kindle unlimited ) my excitement was sky high!
Unfortunately I really struggled to get to the end and resist the temptation to abandon it.

Before to explain all reasons why it disappointed me, I gonna tell you something about the story :

___PLOT IN SHORT___ Kingdom of Prussia, 1732.
The famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach, along with his wife Anna Magdalena and his cousin and personal secretary Elias Bach, is going from Leipzig to Cassel (now Kassel) to tune the organ of the most important church in the city.
During their stay they learn of the suspicious death of the organist's daughter and the main suspect is her husband, who is also the pastor of the important Martinskirche.
The man has a lot of power and knows how to deceive (and threaten) the people around him.
Only Sebastian, with his wit and the help of his family and a good colleague, can bring the truth to light.
__________________

While I appreciate the idea of a famous composer using his observational skills and insight to uncover the truth, reading the story turned out to be boring and lacking the suggestive charm that the historical set should give.

1) As my plot summary reveals, the culprit is known from the outset (a bit like in the TV series Columbus).
Therefore, to maintain reader engagement, the story requires compelling twists and turns in both the investigation and its narration. Unfortunately, this narrative lacks such twists, and the investigation itself is unconvincing. The narration is unremarkable.

2) The reason why I love reading historical fiction and cozy mysteries set in the past is because I love the feeling of being transported to bygone eras and surrounded by characters who once lived, breathing the suggestive atmosphere of beautiful cities at those times.

However, simply describing the clothing, cuisine, and prominent buildings of a time period is insufficient to create a truly immersive atmosphere.
I've read historical fiction where authors effectively use vivid descriptions of scenes, smells, sensations, and colors to create a palpable sense of the past.
Regrettably, this author failed to achieve that effect for me.

3) The story is told in first person by 3 main characters ( Bach, his wife and his cousin ) + 2 side characters ( Bach's friend and the organist's living daughter ).
I usually enjoy first-person narration, actually it's my favorite one, but here it proved too confusing.

4) The ending was also quite disappointing: (view spoiler)[ no prison or other real punishment for the villain who will escape in the night and no happy ending for the two lovers, who will continue their lives living in different cities. (hide spoiler)]

I only appreciated the cozy atmosphere and the fact that the main characters were based on real people, which motivated me to research their history independently.

The 18th-century setting in Kassel also prompted me to search online for the historical palaces and locations mentioned, leading me to virtually explore the city.
It could have been a compelling historical "whodunit" series if the author had developed the characters more fully, limited the narration to the first-person perspective of one or, at most, two characters and crafted an intricate and captivating mystery with twists that would entice readers to eagerly turn the page.

More descriptive details of the city, rather than focusing on culinary dishes and character outfits, would have made the setting more immersive.
Overall, it was a missed opportunity. For now, I don't plan to read book #2 (already published and available).

Thanks for reading my opinion and sorry for any errors in my text, English is not my native language.

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