Ames’ review of Silent on the Moor
Despite his admonitions to stay away, Lady Julia arrives in Yorkshire to find Brisbane as remote and maddeningly attractive as ever. Cloistered together, they share the moldering house with the proud but impoverished remnants of an ancient family: the sort that keeps their bloodline pure and their secrets close. Lady Allenby and her daughters, dependent upon Brisbane and devastated by their fall in society, seem adrift on the moor winds, powerless to change their fortunes. But poison does not discriminate between classes….
A mystery unfolds from the rotten heart of Grimsgrave, one Lady Julia may have to solve alone, as Brisbane appears inextricably tangled in its heinous twists and turns. But blood will out, and before spring touches the craggy northern landscape, Lady Julia will have uncovered a Gypsy witch, a dark rider and a long-buried legacy of malevolence and evil.
I’ve tried to remain non-spoilerish about the central couple in this series, but that all ends here. LOL
Nicholas and Julia want each other. She’s not afraid of it, but he is, and at the end of the first two books, he’s pushed her away. But not anymore. Julia is going after Nicholas and we know she’s stubborn and she’s going to put this thing to rest between them once and for all.
Nicholas has purchased a property up in Yorkshire. It’s a crumbling down estate and in Silent in the Sanctuary, he had extended an invitation to Portia to come help him set up his home. Julia invites herself along, which pleases none of the occupants at Grimsgrave.
As much as I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t perfect. I thought the mystery was a bit slow to gain momentum. Until some bodies are found, Silent on the Moor just comes across as a dark read. Which is fine, but again, a bit slow.
Fortunately, that didn’t bother me too much because of two things. The increasing intensity between Nicholas and Julia and the descriptive setting. The moor is practically a character the way it’s so richly described. I felt like I was there in that desolate country, avoiding bogs and foggy patches. The moor is a dangerous place and it almost felt like there was a presence there trying to catch an wandering traveler.
Now, Nicholas and Julia. He is still trying to push her away, but a gypsy friend told Julia to listen to what people say but also to pay attention to what they’re body is trying to tell you. And Nicholas is definitely sending out mixed signals.
But what I remembered most vivdly was that even as his right hand had gripped my chin so cruelly, forcing me to face him as he raged at me, his left hand had stolen into mine, clasping it with all the desperation of a drowning man.
I loved the push and pull between these two characters. And Nicholas is just so intense! I liked how Julia is the one who is goes after what she wants. Compared to the Julia we met at the very beginning of this series, this shows how far she’s come along. She’s taking control of her life.
Portia is in this book too, and things are not going well for her. I can’t wait to read book 4, the Dark Road to Darjeeling, to see how things work out for her. 4 out of 5. The mystery though, would get a 3.5 out of 5.
The series:
This book is available from Mira. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
I really enjoyed this series and have read all four stories. The push and pull between the main characters is really well done.
The chemistry between Brisbane and Julia really does make this book! While I did think this is the weakest mystery of the story so far, the overall tone and creepiness of it made up for that to me!
Shelley-I can’t wait to read the 4th and 5th books. I really enjoy the byplay between Julia and Nicholas. I can just imagine how they’re going to drive each other crazy.
Allison-I agree, definitely a slow build up to the mystery.