The River Knows

The River Knows - Amanda Quick
audio performance by K. Kellgren
3 stars

This was a mildly entertaining, bodice ripping, regency romance. A feisty, young heroine, ventures into society with an assumed identity to make her reputation as an investigative reporter. Handsome son of the aristocracy is investigating the same criminals. A romantic comedy ensues. Except for the ludicrously predictable and explicit sexual encounters, the mystery reminded me of Deanna Raybourne’s Lady Julia Grey mysteries. Years ago, I enjoyed several of these regency romances by Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz). I enjoyed the campy humor of what seemed a lighthearted spoof of the genre. This book lacked that level of humor. I don’t know if it was because show more Katherine Kellgren’s performance lacked the comedic delivery of Barbara Rosenblat, or if the writing was simply not that funny.Maybe it was a bit of both. Some things are only funny once, and the formula was a bit tired in this book. show less

Yes, I know - this is one of those authors that I seriously considered not admitting to. Her books are the intellectual equivalent of candyfloss, but every now and then candyfloss is just right. Milton was a bit too hard going on the Isle of Man ferry, a bit too much noise & distractions to really settle into it, whereas this was just right, kept the brain busy enough for the passage to whizz by.

They're usually written fairly well to formula - single society man meets a woman considered unsuitable as a wife (in society's eyes), for some reason falls for her & has to win her round, usually via one or two "romantic interludes". This one features murder, of his previous fiance, and one she committed, all of which are enmeshed together. show more Some vague historical detail sets them in ~ 19th century, but they're nice and easy, they always end happily - her heros are rather of the dashing variety and I doubt I'd turn them down for eating crisps in bed!

Another re-read. These are always a nice safe bet, you know from the start who will end up together, it's just a question of how. This one has lots of interesting detail, the rational dress movement, the sensation press and the struggles of a woman to be financially secure. Not great literature, but enjoyable, nonetheless. show less

This late Victorian romantic suspense title follows Mrs. Louisa Bryce and Mr. Anthony Stalbridge. They meet in the upper hallway of Elwin Hasting's home when they are both intent on searching his bedroom. Louisa wants information about the whorehouse he owns. Anthony is looking for proof that Hastings murdered his fiancée. A close encounter with a guard leads to a heated kiss.

Louisa is under the impression that Anthony is a high-class jewel thief and wants to hire him to help her break into Hastings's safe. Anthony in not a jewel thief but has the advantage of his father having invented the safe where Hastings's secrets are held.

Anthony stashes Louisa in his carriage and returns to the house to open the safe where he discovers his show more fiancée's necklace and some papers. The papers are evidence that Hastings was, among other things, a blackmailer and fraudster.

The pair teams up to find the information each needs and find themselves in danger from Hastings's henchmen. They fall in love while trying to solve their mysteries. But Louisa fears that Anthony could ever love her since she is holding a terrible secret of her own.

This was an entertaining mystery with interesting characters and a great setting. show less

I was more intested in the mystery of this book than the romance. It felt like the relationship was completely secondary to the main story of who killed who and why. That was just fine, since I love mysteries, but the romance part felt rushed and impersonal.

This was a fun mystery romance. I enjoyed reading it and it often made me chuckle out loud.

There was enough (perhaps heavy-handed) foreshadowing that anyone could tell who the bad guys were in this Victorian romantic suspense, but that didn’t stop me from reading it. The major problem I had with this novel is that I felt this sense of detachment between the main characters and the mystery they were trying to solve. Maybe it was because the psychological angst each of them were dealing with seemed a bit over the top. Or maybe it’s just Quick’s sly way of saying that the Victorians were an overwrought bunch. Anyways, the dialogue had me chuckling because the author was obviously making fun of genre assumptions and conventions.

Louisa Bryce and Anthony Stalbridge find themselves investigating the same villain for different reasons: she is secretly a crusading journalist, and he believes the man may have been involved in his fiancée’s “suicide” some months earlier. Naturally, their shared interest soon leads to passion, but their intimacy is hindered by Louisa’s secret. She is not Louisa Bryce at all, but Joanna Barclay, a shopkeeper who killed a prominent gentleman (when he broke into her home to rape and kill her) and then faked her own suicide. Though plagued by the over-reliance on ranting cardboard villains that plagues Quick’s later work, it is an entertaining read. Not as good as her early work, but better than much of the more recent.