Debra Daley

With a strong sense of place, THE REVELATIONS OF CAREY RAVINE is an interesting combination of romance, history and crime fiction. There's a lot being attempted in one novel here, and that combination of genres, and hence stylings are both the strongest and weakest points, depending upon your preferences. It's not a novel designed for readers of historical fiction alone, nor perhaps for those that read romance, or crime fiction only for that matter.

There was a good sense of time and place in the narrative, with plenty of information about society pressures, and the unusual nature of the marriage of Ravine and Nash. Combining that in the early stages with setup to the plot and background for many of the characters does sometimes water-down the history focus, and definitely telegraphs a more romantic / suspense approach.

The partnership of Ravine and Nash is part romance, part business and part intrigue. Both of these character are nuanced and complex, with neither completely innocent, nor overtly bad or overcome by ruthless disregard.

Then there is the crime component, with elements that hark back to their backgrounds, forcing Ravine in particular to consider her own past actions, and the way that they are both trying to better themselves. There are strong connections to India here, with motivations from their shared past there pulling them back there again.

Told in the first person, Carey Ravine makes for an interesting heroine as she finds herself increasingly conflicted and challenged. Her voice is light-hearted and lively, contrasting strongly against the darker themes that the novel is tackling. Starting out as something that seems likely to be on the fluffy, lighter side, THE REVELATIONS OF CAREY RAVINE quickly changes to darker, faster paced and action packed. It makes for an unusual reading experience as the history feels right, the characters are believable and the internal conflict somehow clearer as the reader experiences the revelations alongside the narrator. It is, however, not a straightforward history, romance or crime fiction novel, but a mash-up, and one this reader found extremely engaging.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-revelations-carey-ravine-debra-da...… (meer)

London 1776: Carey Nash is happily married and living the high life on credit. Her husband is a chancer who falls into the orbit of a group of powerful men who employ him to write a political commentary to further their own ends. Carey is intrigued by a document that she finds in her husband's possession, it hints at a mystery involving plants growing in Bengal, place that Carey father emigrated to many years ago never to be heard of again. As Carey digs deeper she discovers the sort of men her husband is involved with, more about her husband and more importantly, more about herself.


This is a rather intriguing book and I found myself becoming hooked into the story. Carey is an interesting heroine, not completely innocent but discovering her moral compass. The plot is complex but entirely understandable given the machinations of eighteenth century politics. The links to India are glamorous, integral to the plot and, when finally the story goes there, beautifully represented. All in all a surprisingly good book.
… (meer)

I very much enjoyed this historical mystery set in 18thC London where everyone and everything are not what they seem! Told in the first person, it's a tale of skulduggery and deception galore. There are some serious themes, but it's also light hearted and lively. I thought it was fast paced and well written, too. I was keen to keep reading, eagerly turning the pages, to discover the truth. The characters are well drawn and believable, my favourite being Carey, the eponymous heroine. I found her an inquisitive and brave young woman who always tries to put her best foot forward in life.

An intriguing and engrossing read which held my attention throughout. This is the second book I've read by Debra Daley, she's definitely an author to look out for.… (meer)

I found this an unusual and different story. The fabulous style of writing emulates the era in which it is set beautifully and the author has a fantastic command of the English language! It's very atmospherically told, too, and held my attention throughout.

Set in the 18thC, the story is related via 'Em' to a mother who she does not remember. 'Em' is companion to the daughter of the Waterland family who find themselves in impoverished circumstances. She becomes aware that her beginnings are not as they were first told to her and decides to investigate the mystery of her birth. The plot thickens! It is a compelling, puzzling and absorbing tale with twists and turns and a supernatural element. The reader is taken on quite a journey beginning in Cheshire and ending in Ireland, not forgetting 'Em's' encounter with an enigmatic smuggler!

The characters are well rounded and the story is cleverly and vividly depicted. It's a book I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to historical fiction fans.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Quercus publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.… (meer)