Deanna Raybourn's debut novel "Silent in the Grave"

I happened upon "Silent in the Grave" quite by accident. I had let my magazines pile up and decided I would do a quick run through before sending them to the curb. I saw an advertisement in the All You magazine and read the description. It sounded like it wouldn't be a bad read, I thought. So I logged on to my library's website and was pleasantly surprised to see that there was not a queue a mile long ahead of me to read this book.

When it came, I thought it would be a nice way to pass the time. From reading the back of the book, I felt that it would read much like an Agatha Christie novel, which was not a bad prospect at all. The novel is written in the first person, with Lady Julia Grey narrating. I knew immediately that I would not be disappointed when I read the opening line: "To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor." I knew right then and there that I would be in for a jolly good read!

As the book unfolds, Lady Julia Grey investigates the murder of her husband, along with Nicholas Brisbane, a man with secrets of his own. The book is set in late 1800s England, a time when society was still concerned with proper behavior and did not tolerate the shock jock type of a society that we live in today. Her family is quirky, to say the least, but yet you come to appreciate and like them for all of their faults. As the book comes to its climax, you can't help but think that you were blind sided with the identity of the killer and the circumstances thereof. This book is no light weight in tackling sensitive societal taboos, either. It seems the March Family has a family history of having square pegs among them.

The book ended with just enough mystery left to encourage you to follow through to sequel, Silent in the Sanctuary, which I will critique at a later date. This book was skillfully written with lots of wry humor that you can't help but appreciate. I could not wait to get my hands on the sequel and waited with baited breath for it to be published. Don't miss out on a great mystery with a sleuth who does not take a backseat to any man! Lady Julia Grey has a mind of her own, and she uses it with great skill. This book has it all, mystery, humor and romance all tied up in one neat little package.

This book is currently available via Amazon. It is listed in the list in the left side bar if you are interested in purchasing the book. I encourage all of my readers to use their public libraries whenever possible. Please visit http://www.silentinthegrave.com to read an excerpt of this book.