James L May

I'm not certain how fair my review is as my copy is not TTS enabled and took me a long time to read in short segments.
The first thing to make clear is that the time period and probabilities have been meticulously researched and incorporated into the plot. The murder investigation was well done and the characters and conditions are clearly depicted. The plot hook in the publisher's blurb is well done, but the pace of progress in the novel was not to my liking. If you want decent historical perspective in a slow paced procedural, you'll love it.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations via NetGalley.… (meer)

I am not a quitter. I usually enjoy stories with a Russian theme. Not this time. I tried, I plowed on, I tried again, I slogged on, then I said “No More.” So many cheap literary tricks to try to hold your attention, wait for it, more to come, wait for it, but first you have to follow every ridiculous tangent that is thrown in and it is so very tedious. It was also brutal, depraved, dark and very ugly.

The positives are the research and probable historical accuracy as well as solid writing. Had the story been condensed to the murder(s) the mystery and the resolution it would have been a winner for me. Sadly there was just too much content that added nothing to the story except my loss of interest.

Thank you NetGalley and Meryl L. Moss Media Relations for a copy.… (meer)