Book Review: The Dark Enquiry

The Dark Enquiry
Lady Julia #5
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Pages: 392 Paperback
Reading Level: Adult
Published: June 21st 2011
Review Source: Mira - Harlequin
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders

Summary: (from goodreads) Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London. But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane's private enquiry business.

Among the more unlikely clients: Julia's very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved—if eccentric—family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation.

It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust.

Shocked to find their investigation spun into salacious newspaper headlines, bristling at the tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall. For Bellmont's sake- and more- they'll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets, the kind men kill to keep….

The 5th book of the Lady Julia series, keeping up with the previous books, a very entertaining and surprising installment. Very well written historical novel that transport you with ease back to that era, the author uses specific details but without being taxing on the plot and your reading. Nicholas Brisbane and Lady Julia, a newly married couple back from a long honeymoon are now coming to terms with their new life at home. Brisbane is a private detective, and Lady Julia is trying by all means to become an active partner in his work. Her plight to do this makes for a fun and always intriguing as well as unpredictable story. She is a very modern and independent woman for the Victorian Era, having her husband and family constantly in an uproar trying to maintain her safe and out of trouble. The romance is sweet and tastefully subtle, and there is a deeper connection between them to reach a better understanding of who they are and how they got there.

New characters are introduced that will probably expand to play bigger rolls in the future installments to come. As any other series, is better is you read the previous books, but it is just fine as a stand-alone. One more great book to better hook you into this series.