Name: Colleen's review of A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen
Item: A Novel Disguise
Rating: 3.5
Author: Colleen

Samantha Larsen

When Miss Tiffany Woodall assumes the identity of her half-brother after his death, she realizes she isn’t the only one with a secret to hide in this historical series debut, perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Sherry Thomas. 1784 London. Miss Tiffany Woodall didn’t murder her half-brother, but she did bury him in the back garden so that she could keep her cottage. Now, the confirmed spinster has to pretend to be Uriah and fulfill his duties as the Duke of Beaufort’s librarian while searching Astwell Palace for Uriah’s missing diamond pin, the only thing of value they own. Her ruse is almost up when she is discovered by Mr. Samir Lathrop, the local bookseller, who tries to save her from drowning while she's actually just washing up in a lake after burying her brother. Her plan is going by the book, until the rector proposes marriage and she starts to develop feelings for Mr. Lathrop. But when her childhood friend, Tess, comes to visit, Tiffany quickly realizes her secret isn’t the only one hidden within these walls. The body of a servant is found, along with a collection of stolen items, and someone else grows mysteriously ill. Can Tiffany solve these mysteries without her own disguise being discovered? If not, she’ll lose her cottage and possibly her life.

A Novel Disguise

Vivi

A typical but promising start to a new Historical Mystery series

 because it was a Hoopla bonus borrow, and I'm always looking for new Mystery series. The story is about a forty-year-old spinster who disguises herself as her brother in order to avoid destitution. But when she stumbles upon a murder, she must juggle keeping her identity secret while trying to help wrap up the case.

The story is set in 1784, England when powdered wigs abounded and women had few life paths or rights. The description of wigs, face paint, and other accoutrement of the time were hard not to laugh at however unintentionally funny they were. The ingrained misogyny and helplessness of women at the time were on the opposite end of the scale, causing frustration. Though Tiffany was a resourceful and likeable character who kept going no matter how difficult things got.

“I am not squeamish about the dead. It's the living that are truly dangerous.”

A least Tiffany had a better reason for her to investigate instead of the typical nosiness that most amateur sleuth stories feature. The main mystery kept me engaged and guessing though some things were not a surprise.

There was not much development in the love subplot though I did like the characters. Hopefully there will be more character development in sequels. I do plan on continuing with the series.

Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars

Colleen

A typical but promising start to a new Historical Mystery series


I checked out A Novel Disguise because it was a Hoopla bonus borrow, and I'm always looking for new Mystery series. The story is about a forty-year-old spinster who disguises herself as her brother in order to avoid destitution. But when she stumbles upon a murder, she must juggle keeping her identity secret while trying to help wrap up the case.

The story is set in 1784, England when powdered wigs abounded and women had few life paths or rights. The description of wigs, face paint, and other accoutrement of the time were hard not to laugh at however unintentionally funny they were. The ingrained misogyny and helplessness of women at the time were on the opposite end of the scale, causing frustration. Though Tiffany was a resourceful and likeable character who kept going no matter how difficult things got.

“I am not squeamish about the dead. It's the living that are truly dangerous.”


A least Tiffany had a better reason for her to investigate instead of the typical nosiness that most amateur sleuth stories feature. The main mystery kept me engaged and guessing though some things were not a surprise.

There was not much development in the love subplot though I did like the characters. Hopefully there will be more character development in sequels. I do plan on continuing with the series.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 3 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars

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A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen

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Vivi &A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen

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Vivi &
A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen