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    Dark Road To Darjeeling
    Dark Road To Darjeeling
    Dark Road To Darjeeling
    Ebook429 pages8 hours

    Dark Road To Darjeeling

    By Deanna Raybourn

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Return to a world of Victorian mystery and magic with New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn's fan-favourite Lady Julia Grey historical series


    Lady Julia Grey and her husband, detective Nicholas Brisbane, are ready to put their investigative talents to work again. At the urging of Julia's eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish.

    Living on a tea plantation with the remnants of her husband's family, Jane Cavendish is consumed with the impending birth of her child - and with discovering the truth about her husband's death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?

    Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers Australia
    Release dateNov 1, 2010
    ISBN9781742788913
    Dark Road To Darjeeling
    Author

    Deanna Raybourn

    New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a double major in English and history and an emphasis on Shakespearean studies. She taught high school English for three years in San Antonio before leaving education to pursue a career as a novelist. Deanna makes her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband and daughter and is hard at work on her next novel.

    Read more from Deanna Raybourn

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    Reviews for Dark Road To Darjeeling

    4/5

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    • 5/5
      Julia and Brisbane have been enjoying their extended honeymoon on the continent when her sister Portia and brother Plum catch up with them Egypt bringing with them a mystery. Portia's beloved who married and moved to India with her husband has been widowed, is pregnant, and believes her husband was murdered asks for help.The four of them take off for India to solve Jane's problem. They find an isolated tea plantation and an assortment of intriguing characters. Jane's aunt-in-law and cousin-in-law each have reasons why they could have wanted her husband, the heir to the plantation dead, and who could want Jane or at least Jane's baby dead too. But they are not the only suspicious characters. Julia's cousins Emma and Lucy have also found themselves in the same valley. Emma, who may or may not have committed a series of murders, is dying and widowed Lucy has a secret suitor. The valley also contains an orchid-growing minister and his free-thinking American wife. They have two children - a daughter on the verge of adulthood and a young son obsessed with his scientific experiments. There is also the widowed doctor who is falling apart from grief and using alcohol and drugs to bury his pain. Last but not least is the White Rajah who is living in an abandoned monastery.Both Julia and Brisbane investigate these interesting characters to try to find out, first, if Jane's husband was actually murdered, and, second, to protect Jane. The story is told by Julia who is very observant but sometimes draws incorrect conclusions from her observations. The characters are all well-drawn and fascinating people. The setting is lovely. The relationship between Julia and Brisbane is a work in progress as they try to define the boundaries of their relationship and balance her need for adventure and validation with his need to keep her safe and protected.The story had a bunch of secrets that were gradually exposed leading to a shattering and life-changing conclusion.
    • 4/5
      Slow, almost tedious start but generally a good read. Lady Julia coming to grips with her new role as wife and partner with Brisbane. Victorian aristocracy at its best or worst as the almost the whole, they leave the raven at home, entourage moves to colonial India.
    • 5/5
      Anything set in foreign exotic countries gets my attention, add Brisbane and Julia to it and it's guaranteed 5 stars from me. All of her novels have mystery and intrigue, action and romance, they make you laugh and even make you cry. This one was no different. I thought it was written very well as always. I'm just wishing she would kick them out faster!! : )
    • 4/5
      This is a nice mystery with the clues there if you look. For me, hindsight is 20/20, so I missed some of the clues, especially in the subplots. In this novel, our intrepid couple is off to India at the request of Portia (Julia's sister) and Jane (Portia's true love, who married to have a conventional family). The descriptions of the land reminded me of Amelia Peabody, although Julia is far more accepting of the culture. I really enjoyed this one and moved straightway to the next book in the series.
    • 2/5
      I believe I'm safely done with this series. It was fun while it lasted. Julia often comes across as whiney and self-centered, but never more so than this book. Really for a character her age and experience it is nearly unbelievable the author would insist on writing her so. Also I grow frustrated with the determination of both Julia and her husband Brisbane to go to such lengths to keep secrets from each other. I had hoped their marriage would initiate an understanding and partnership between the two, but alas they appeared even more competitive and obstinate in this book. There is a hint at the end that things will be different in the next book, but I am not fooled. That's exactly what I thought in the last book, and I was wrong.

      The setting of India was nicely written, and the new characters introduced were colorful if not a bit unbelievable. But I have to say I really, really hated the resolution of the mystery and its resolution.
    • 4/5
      This may be my favorite in this series since the first one, Silent in the Grave. Lady Julia and Brisbane are wonderful characters and this book includes some shocking developments. I'm afraid to say more for fear of giving away the plot twists, but if you're a fan of historical mysteries you should definitely give this series a try.
    • 3/5
      Lady Julia and Brisbane are nearing the tail end of their honeymoon when they're intercepted by Julia's siblings, Portia and Plum. Portia demands Julia and Brisbane accompany her to India where Portia's former lover, Jane, has recently lost her husband. It is only after they're on their way that Portia informs Julia that she suspects Jane's husband may have been murdered. Upon arriving at the tea plantation, it becomes apparent that almost anyone in the small secluded community may have had a motive for the murder. But while Julia works hard to uncover just who might have committed murder she must also work to compromise with Brisbane about her role in his dangerous line of work.A solid entry in the series. Raybourn does a wonderful job of evoking Victorian era northern India. The cast of characters are fascinating as usual and Julia and Brisbane continue to be utter charmers even after their wedding. While I felt one of the twists at the end of the novel wasn't necessary, I generally enjoyed the novel.
    • 2/5
      I was disappointed in the pacing of this novel. If not for those intense glimpses into Julia and Brisbane's married life, I would not have made it through on the strength of the mystery alone.
    • 5/5
      Very good mystery. Lady Julia and Brisbane travel to India with her sister Portia and brother Plum. Portia is rushing to aid her former lover, now pregnant and widowed. Was her husband murdered? The setting is a remote tea plantation in India. Though it's a small community, there are a surprising number of ties to our main characters among the residents. The relationship between the newly married protagonists develops and Brisbane's backstory continues to unfold. There are motives and suspects enough to keep you guessing and touches of humor. Engaging and intriguing.
    • 5/5
      Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia series is what a Victoria Holt novel wants to be when it grows up. With Victoria Holt, you get atmospheric gothic mysteries that are just a little twisted spiced up with just a little romance. There is nothing "just a little" about the Lady Julia books. Raybourn amps up the twisted factor and the romance by a rather large degree, and what comes out of it is nothing less than phenomenal. This mystery is just like all the others: captivating and nearly impossible to puzzle out before the end. I love not being able to figure out things early...it is sometimes fairly easy to deduce that whatever track Julia happens to be on is wrong, but as far as trying to decide what is really going on? Good luck. Brisbane takes basically all the other leading men in books like this and wipes the floor with them. He is dark, tortured, brilliant, merciless when need be and absurdly devoted to the thing(s) he finds important. Lady Julia is an awesome character. As manly and imposing as Brisbane is, she certainly holds her own against him. I love them together so much! They are two of the most impetuous characters I have come across, and throwing them together is never short of electric and explosive. I could not be any more in love with this series, and the next book cannot come quickly enough!
    • 4/5
      Oh, Lady Julia, how I have missed you. An exotic setting, a realistic discussion how you can join Brisbane working, Portia and Plum driving you nuts - ahhh. Lovely.Portia insists that Lady Jane investigate the death of Jane's sudden husband (a husband can be as sudden as a death, you know.) Portrayal of locals is uncomfortable/dreadful, but appropriate for the period.Also, man-eating tiger, hurrah!
    • 4/5
      I love the Lady Julia Grey series, and this book is no exception. I can't wait until the next book comes out this year!
    • 4/5
      Newly married to her half Gypsy detective husband, Lady Julia Grey's honeymoon is interrupted with a visit from her sister and brother, who persuade her to accompany them to India, on a quest to rescue her sister's ex-lover whose husband may or may not have been murdered. If her husband was murdered, was it because his brother or mother want the title to the tea estate, a title that, should she give birth to a son, would be his, potentially putting their lives in danger?Lady Grey's enthusiastic penchant to solve the mystery surrounding the death of one Freddie Cavendish soon leads her to meet with the English community in the little village, and she is presented with an inebriated doctor, a theologian and his American artistic wife, a sulky teen, a nature-mad boy, a kind and elderly recluse, and a couple of cousins from England who left under a suspicious cloud. As she gets to know the neighbors, she finds she is not short of suspects or motives, but suffers from a lack of evidence. The relationship between Lady Grey and her husband, Brisbane, is further developed in this book and even as she grapples with the intricacies of her investigation, so too does she grapple with the complexities of marriage.
    • 4/5
      In the fourth Lady Julia mystery, Lady Julia and her new husband Nicholas Brisbane provide diverting entertainment as they pursue a possible murder at a remote Indian tea plantation. A few members of Julia's eclectic family make appears and the chemistry between Julia and her now husband is still present. Fun and entertaining, I found Dark Road to Darjeeling an enjoyable read and I eagerly await the next installment in Lady Julia's adventures.
    • 4/5
      Lady Julia Grey is one of the ten children of the Earl of March, most of whom tend toward eccentricity. Julia's eccentricity lies mainly in her penchant for solving mysteries and her love for Nicholas Brisbane, a half-Gypsy inquiry agent. It is 1889, and Julia and Nicholas have been married a year and been traveling the world on a protracted honeymoon. They are thinking of going home, but Julia's sister Portia asks them to go with her and brother Plum to Darjeeling, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Portia's former lover, Jane, left Portia in hopes of a normal family life. Now she is widowed, pregnant, and suspicious that her husband's death was murder.The dead husband's family owns a tea plantation near Darjeeling. If Jane's baby is a boy, he will inherit. If not, the late husband's brother will inherit, and has been the manager. Could he have killed Freddy, and is Jane and her baby in danger?There are a small number of neighbors, including a kindly old man living in a former Buddhist monastery, and the local vicar. The vicar's family is unusual. His wife is a free spirit raised in a commune, his daughter is resentful, and his son mad for natural science. Their governess is a beautiful and poised Indian woman. So was it murder, and who had motive?This is the fourth in the Lady Julia Grey series. Recommended for a well drawn plot and interesting characters.
    • 5/5
      I have been looking forward to reading the Dark Road to Darjeeling since it came out. I had to wait until Christmas though because it knew I would be getting it as a present. Needless to say it was the first book I picked up from my rather large pile of book gifts. I really adore the Julia Grey Mystery series, in my opinion it ranks right up there with my favorite mystery series of all time, the Amelia Peabody Mysteries by Elizabeth Peters. There are many similarities between the books, but the Julia Grey Mysteries are really original and the mysteries themselves are excellent. The Dark Road to Darjeeling is no exception. Everytime I finish one of them I begun to wonder if it is possible for Deanna Raybourn to top it and she always rises to my expectations. They almost get better as they go along. The novel opens with Julia and Brisbane in the midst of their honeymoon. They have been traveling for some time together and despite the fact that they have enjoyed the quality time both are longing for a bit of mystery and danger, even though they will not admit it to each other. When Portia (Julia's sister) and Plum (Julia's brother) arrive and request the newlyweds help in traveling to India to help out an old friend, Jane, whose husband, Freddie Cavendish recently died leaving her and their unborn child alone on a tea plantation with no friends. Julia and Brisbane both suspect some sinister has happened to Freddie Cavendish and it leads them into a mystery that is full of family secrets, village gossip and sinister plots. I think one of the strongest points in this novel is the continual tension between Brisbane and Julia despite their newly marriage status. The first three books in this series are full of this tension so it is interesting that even though they are married, Deanna Raybourn is able to keep evolving their relationship. That is one of the most important similarities between Amelia Peabody mysteries and Julia Grey mysteries. The relationship between Amelia and Emerson sets the stage for the rest of the book and that is why I never tire of these books because there is always tension present. I think it will be important for Deanna Raybourn to keep this tension present throughout all of the rest of the books she chooses to write in the series. Another strong factor in this book is the wonderful detail descriptions of Darjeeling and India. Deanna Raybourn has never seen these places herself but she manages to make readers feel like they are there and seeing it with her. It is really commendable that she is able to write about somewhere she has never been so well. The details of the time period, and place really enhance the novel. I always look forward with anticipation for the next Julia Grey Mystery.
    • 4/5
      "Dark Road to Darjeeling" is Deanna Raybourn's fourth "Lady Julia Gray novel," and a lot has happened to Julia since I last visited her. "Silent in the Grave," the first book in the series, is the only other Julia Gray novel I have read, so I was a little surprised to see that in 1889, as the novel opens, Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have married. The two are, in fact, on the eighth month of their extended honeymoon travels around the Mediterranean. Seated in a Cairo restaurant, and about to discuss what their lives will be like when they return to England, Julia and Brisbane are surprised by the sudden arrival of Portia and Plum, Julia's sister and brother. Portia delivers the upsetting news that her former lover, Jane Cavendish, believes her husband has been murdered on the Himalayan tea plantation on which Jane very soon expects to give birth to their child. Julia, solid amateur detective that she considers herself to be, agrees to accompany Portia and Plum to the plantation to see what they can learn there about the supposed murder. Brisbane, professional detective that he is, reluctantly agrees to go with them because he knows the dangerous mischief Julia is likely to get into on her own. At the plantation, Julia and Brisbane find it easier to identify the numerous people who would benefit from Freddie Cavendish's death than it is to determine whether he was even murdered. His aunt and cousin share an obvious motive: financial control of the tea plantation. Others, including some of the plantation's expatriate neighbors and one or two of the Indians employed in service, have equally compelling, but less obvious, reasons for wanting to see Freddie dead. A more immediate concern for Julia and Brisbane is whether Jane and her baby are in danger from the same hand that might have ended Freddie's life. "Dark Road to Darjeeling" is a very good Victorian mystery, but that is not the best thing about this book. What most makes this series memorable is the relationship between Lady Gray and Brisbane, two characters who were meant for each other and for no one else. Julia is an independent, stubborn, confident and competitive young woman with a remarkable sense of humor. She loves her husband completely but cannot help herself when it comes to competing with him to be the first to solve a mystery. Brisbane is her perfect match, a man who admires her skills, finds it difficult to say no to her, and knows how to protect her from her most dangerous impulses. It is great fun to watch the two of them at work amidst the vivid 1880s atmosphere in which Deanna Raybourn places them. Raybourn populates this remote Indian outpost (neither Julia, nor Brisbane are quite sure where they are anymore) with exactly the type of eccentric characters one would expect to find in such an isolated part of the world. One or two of the mystery's evolving coincidences do require the reader to make a conscious effort to suspend disbelief for a moment, but that is part of the fun. Lady Gray novels are, above all else, great escapism. Rated at: 4.0
    • 4/5
      Another fun instalment in the Lady Julia Grey series, which picks up the action 9 months after Lady Julia's and Brisbane's wedding. Although their marriage has answered the 'will they, won't they' question , Raybourn is still able to create a realistic level of tension between them as these two strong-willed and determined characters try to make their marriage work. All the things that make this series such fun are here, the hilariously sparkling dialogue and a juicy mystery all set against an beautiful Indian backdrop. As with the other novels in the series, Raybourn has produced a successful pastiche of the Sensation novel, which is always an entertaining and fun read. I look forward to the next instalment in the series.
    • 3/5
      Lady Julia and her husband Brisbane are in India, along with her sister Portia and brother Plum, in support of Portia's love Jane, recently widowed and with child. Jane's husband may have been murdered, and Julia and Brisbane are determined to investigate--separately.Somehow these just don't grab me the way they should. There's nothing wrong with them, but I find myself skimming.
    • 5/5
      Another excellent mystery featuring Victorian sleuths Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane. Enlisted by Julia's sister to help an old family friend investigate her husband's sudden death, Julia and Brisbane journey to the Cavendish tea plantation, located in a remote valley at the foothills of the Himalayas. As tensions between them run high, Julia and Brisbane must probe the darkest secrets of the valley's eccentric British inhabitants, endangering not only their fledgling marriage, but their lives as well. Raybourn brings Colonial India to life as she once again explores the darkness lurking within in the human soul.
    • 4/5
      DARK ROAD TO DARJEELING by Deanna Raybourn is a historical mystery set in 1889 Himalayas and India. It is well written with depth and details. It is the fifth in The Lady Julia Grey Mystery series but can be read as a stand alone. It has suspense, mystery, intrigue, fast paced, twists,turns, family, secrets, betrayal, wit, humor and family secrets will come to light. While on their honeymoon in the Himalayas, Julia and her new husband, detective Brisbane, of eight months are suprised by two of Julia's siblings, Portia and Plum.Portia believes her former lover/best friend, Jane, is in trouble. Jane married a man named Freddie, who has been killed. Jane is also prengant by this man,lives with his family in the mountains of India where there is a question to who will be the heir.If a son is born, him or if a girl, Freddie's nephrew. The three siblings head to India to investigate Jane's husband's death and possible murder. What they encounter is mistrust, secrets, mayham, betrayal and finally the truth of more than one secrets, including Jane's husband, Brisbain's father. This is a great whounit that will keep you on the edge of your seat and entertained from beginning to end.This book was received from Net Galley and details can be found at Mira and My Book Addiction and More.
    • 4/5
      Synopsis: Jane contacts Portia telling her that she's near to having a baby and she feels that her life is in danger. Off go Portia and Plum to India, collecting Brisbane and Julia from their honeymoon and dropping them into a murder mystery - or is it? Brisbane takes up tiger hunting - but only the one that is killing villagers; he also adopts disguises to collect information about people in the region. Julia meets a family that includes a lady photographer, her preacher husband, her sulking teen aged daughter, and her very bright son. She also meets the 'White Rajah' who seems to want to help her investigation.Review: This is a disturbing book, partially because of the true villain of the piece and the manner in which the preacher's family interact with each other. Although Julia is still in the role of chattel, she seems to be moving toward emancipation.
    • 4/5
      Dark Road to Darjeeling
      4 Stars

      Lady Julia and her new husband, Nicholas Brisbane, travel to a remote provence of India at the request of her sister Portia who is concerned about her former lover. It seems that Jane Cavendish’s husband has died under mysterious circumstances and she is afraid for her life and that of her unborn child. So begins the Brisbane’s quest to uncover the truth, but can their newfound happiness withstand the pressure?

      Although the lush and exotic setting is immersive, the mystery leaves much to be desired. To begin with, the pacing is even slower than that of the previous installments and the question of whether there has even been a murder remains open for much of the book. In addition, most of the twists and turns of the storyline are obvious and there are few clues to the eventual explanation of events. Moreover, the resolution is anti-climactic with very little tension and suspense.

      Nevertheless, the progression of Nicholas and Julia’s relationship manages to compensate for the mediocre mystery. Unlike numerous reviewers who view the ups and downs of their marriage in a negative light, for me it is only natural that they should be testing the boundaries with one another. Considering Julia’s fervent desire to be an equal partner and her husband’s equally determined need to keep her safe, it is not at all surprising that they should be at loggerheads.

      In sum, not one of the better books in the series but an entertaining read nonetheless and I’m eager to read the final book to see whether Nicholas and Julia will finally find a balance between their personal and professional needs.
    • 5/5
      Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have spent the last few months traveling and honeymooning. All is generally going well, that is until Portia and Plum track the two down and share with them a bit of shocking news. Portia has had a letter from Jane who is pregnant, widowed, and sure that her husband was murdered. And so the four pack up and head to India to see Jane… and maybe solve a murder, or two.Dark Road to Darjeeling, the fourth Lady Julia novel, is a great read – as they all have been. However, this particular novel is set apart by an intensity that the other novels did not possess. While there was the mystery and intrigue, the great writing that keeps me hooked from page one, it’s more than that. One father’s desperation and another’s cruelty lead to acts you don’t want to believe possible. Unexpected deaths, family eccentricities, and the never ending stubbornness of some individuals are all things that kept me turning pages.I’ll admit to one concern I had going into this book. Being that this is the first of the books where Lady Julia and Brisbane are married, I’ll admit I was a bit worried that their relationship would change with their new status. You know what I mean; the lovey, dovey everything is perrrfect relationship. Well, I should have known better. A huge part of what I love about these books is the constant butting of heads between the two, all the conflict. Believe me when I say, Dark Road to Darjeeling has it’s share of conflict between the couple.As for that intensity I mentioned earlier, the last third or so of the book is what provides that. I don’t want to give anything away, but I have a few words that will do the job of explaining. There are people who run away, people who die… and a tiger attack.There is, throughout the book, only one thing that really makes me angry. That thing is what happens to Jane. I just want to ask, WHY?!All in all, Dark Road to Darjeeling was a great read. Deanna Raybourn has yet to fail to captivate me with her Lady Julia books. There are some great new characters in this book and there are lots of twists and turns that I never expected. I experienced WTF moments, moments of despair, laughter… really my emotions ran the gamut reading this one. Another fantastic read from Deanna Raybourn.
    • 4/5
      Dark Road to Darjeeling is the fourth book in the Lady Julia Grey series. This time, Lady Julia and Nicholas, nine months married, are headed to India, where Julia’s sister Portia’s friend, Jane, has recently been made a widow. Jane suspects that her husband has been murdered, and so Lady Julia goes to investigate. Lots of people have reason to want Freddie Cavendish dead—and the child that Jane carries.I love that Deanna Raybourn took Julia out of England for this one. India is always a stellar place to set a novel, and I loved the descriptions of Darjeeling and Calcutta. I was nervous about seeing what would happen now that Julia and Brisbane are married; but the tension between them is still alive and kicking (and Deanna Raybourn depicts their relationship much more deftly than Tasha Alexander does in her series). It turns out that not all is a bed of roses between them, and I think that it will be interesting to see how ttheir relationship plays out over the course of the series. What I love about this series is Julia’s “voice,” which Raybourn maintains quite well, even though this is the fourth book in the series. Julia is pert, funny, and always witty, which is what makes her such a great character to read.The mystery itself was a bit of a letdown, however—there wasn’t quite the amount of tension and suspense that there was in some of the previous books in the series. But the identity of the murdered was a complete surprise to me, even if it wasn’t a welcome one. This is a very quick, easy and enjoyable mystery. I’m also glad that they did away with the cheesy romance cover-type cover for this book, as this cover is stunning. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be published!
    • 5/5
      “The Road to Darjeeling” is the fourth entry in the Deanna Raybourn ‘Lady Julia Grey’ series. And if you haven’t been reading the series, save yourself time and just go on and start with the first, “Silent in the Grave,” and happily work your way forward; it’s a rewarding trip.One of the major concerns for series readers is whether or not the characters will continue to change and grow, or whether relationships will become static and the author will resort to outlandish plot devices to create interest. Never fear, Raybourn is once again up to the task. The newly wed Julia and Nicholas, along with her sister, brother, and irascible maid, are somewhere in or near India (Julia isn’t entirely sure where) visiting Jane, a friend of the family, who just happens to be a new widow who is both expecting her first child and the former lover of one of the Greys. The mystery element is, as always, handled well by Raybourn. What exactly happened to Jane’s husband? Is Jane herself safe? The usual collection of eccentrics is gathered, and the reader can sit back and enjoy their interactions.But for those who read and love the series, Raybourn offers additional perks. A seminal figure from Nicholas’ past appears. And Julia learns a little more about his mysterious background. Also, Julia and Nicholas have their own martial issues to resolve as they try to carve out a relationship.The bottom line: Five glowing stars. “The Road to Darjeeling” is a well written historical mystery and a satisfying read.

    Book preview

    Dark Road To Darjeeling - Deanna Raybourn

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