Whom the Gods Love

The author weaves words into works of art! This writing is the stuff that made Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, Miss Marple, etc. The author is incredibly talented at telling a tale that is both unpredictable and delectable. I loved the three I've read thus far, and can't wait to read the last on my list. What a shame there won't be more Julian Kestrel mysteries.

This is one of the best historical mysteries I've ever read. And that's saying something, because I am very picky about historical mysteries. This book combines everything I love about a mystery: a tight, intriguing, well-written plot, suspense, fascinating characters, red herrings, and beautiful prose. Kate Ross's writing is stellar. Her characters speak in the formal, upper class manner you'd expect from this time period, but her writing doesn't get bogged down with too much flowery, false, hard to read prose. The dialogue is simply wonderful - it's stylish yet simple to read. Julian Kestrel is one of the best protaganists I've ever come across. He's a "dandy" and a darling of high society, but he's also compassionate, just, intelligent, hard working, and has a wonderful wry sense of humor. He is the kind of character you cheer for. I understand that Ms. Ross has passed away and we only get to enjoy four books from her. I will now eagerly purchase the remaining three and treasure them.

When I first read Kate Ross, I relaized that here was a lady who did extraordinary research on the Restoration Period in England and who could manage to spin a great yarn. I also began to note that she could manage as many as 30 characters in her tale and not bore the reader. Julian Kestrel is a remarkable detective, armed only with curiosity and deductive reasoning. He predates Holmea and shows the same remarkable accumen. It is only sad that Ms. Ross was only able to publish 4 of her works in her lifetime. Those 4 are gems, and those she might have written would also be gems.

I have read all of Kate Ross' books and was enthralled by each one! Go right now and order her four books. I can't put into words how much I enjoyed them. You will too. Julian Kestral, the protagonist, is one that you will not easily forget. I loved all of them.

I mourn Julian Kestrel, and even more, I mourn Kate Ross, the gifted writer who created him. I would have read ten, twenty or more Kestrel books, but alas, there are only four. In WHOM THE GODS LOVE, Kestrel investigates the death of a "golden boy" who turned out to have a nasty way of ferreting out other people's secrets and turning them to his advantage. The question is, which of Alexander Falkland's many victims finally killed him? Like Anne Perry, the late Ms. Ross touched on the social problems of the time, but her touch was lighter. I recommend WHOM THE GODS LOVE and all the other Kestrel books to anyone who enjoys the work of Anne Perry and Dorothy L. Sayers.