Julian embarks on the investigation despite having no clues, too many suspects, and his distant and difficult mama at the center of the whole intrigue. In the midst of these frustrations, Julian's ducal brother takes ship for France, adding more duties to his lordship's already full plate. Before Julian can bring the culprit behind the thefts to justice, he must first come to terms with old betrayals that could yield new and deadly fruit.
Comment: This is the 6th installment in the Lord Julian series by Grace Burrowes, following the investigations of Lord Julian, war survival and heir to a dukedom.
In this story Julian is invited by his mother to look for a few letters of hers which have disappeared. It just happens that she is attending a house party and her host, and friend, has also lost something. And, not surprising anymore, another guest also misplaced something, which means a thief is around or someone has a specific agenda in targeting these ladies. The question is, why, and why now considering the fact that if it as a blackmailing plan, nothing has been demanded. At the same time, Julian needs to deal with the fact his impression of his mother might not be as black and white as he sometimes remembers...
It is always rewarding to read these books, mainly because the main characters are likable and I want to see what happens next in their lives. The little investigation Lord Julian does is also an interesting mental exercise.
This story might not seem the most necessary in the big scheme of things because, honestly, not much really happens in terms of plot advancing. The books until now have all kind of added something else to the overall arc and this one seems to be a little less demanding, but I think the real gem here is in how this story helps us to peel off one more layer in Julian's personality. His relationship with his mother has been presented, until now, in a certain way, but perhaps not all is as it seemed.
I really like these psychological little things in these books, small details that might matter much from a certain POV, but if one sees from a different angle it can be very different. We have been given the impression that Julian didn't have a good relationship with his mother and the whole illegitimacy issue didn't help either, but it turns out that Julian's perspective might not be as impartial as it seemed when he gave opinion on my other things. I kind of liked where this went...
The investigation he embarks on seems very simple at first. Of course, it isn't so, but more than the mystery of who stole things, it is the way the need to do was constructed. It is true this series is not meant to be a complex crime master-plan but I would not guess, ever, the reason the thief stole things was the one we learn. I think the author might not be really taken into the right consideration when it comes to the mysteries planned and how they need to be developed.
The stories aren't big, in terms of the number of pages, and that might make it seem as if not much is going on, but I think the author has a very direct and concise manner in her writing. Of course, on the other side of things, it does feel as if certain things didn't have to be as subtle as they are; I wouldn't mind if a few details were to made more clear and, along with it, certain situations were to be highlighted more too. For instance, the romance... although I suppose that if the book is to have so many more books, as it does, some things simply need to drag.
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