Teaser Tuesday + Review: The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn

If you haven't read the Lady Julia Grey series, then I must ask you...WHY NOT??? Though I shouldn't scold you. I only picked up the first book this past February. But I fell in love while reading Silent in the Grave, and I went out and got all of the other books in the series and read them back-to-back--they're that good! I was so excited to see the newest installment, The Dark Enquiry, on NetGalley, and I think it's my favorite of the series so far. Too many tempting teasers in this one, but I forced myself to pick two that capture my girl Julia:

From page 312:

     I was also quite happy to have finally perfected the self-igniting gunpowder I had laboured over for so long. I carried a small container of it in my reticule with an eye to surprising Brisbane should he have need of a rescue. In fact, I could not wait to use it.

From page 294:

     "Tell me, my dear, do you not find his silences deafening?"
     "I would rather have an eternity of his silence than five minutes' conversation with any other man," I said truthfully.

From the Back Cover:

Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London. But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane's private enquiry business.

Among the more unlikely clients: Julia's very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved—if eccentric—family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation.

It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust.

Shocked to find their investigation spun into salacious newspaper headlines, bristling at the tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall. For Bellmont's sake—and more—they'll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets, the kind men kill to keep….

My Thoughts:

I won't delve too much into the plot because I don't want to let any spoilers slip, but I will tell you why I thought this book was another fantastic addition to a fantastic series! Julia and Brisbane are so much fun to read about. In fact, they made my list of the top ten love stories in literature. With each new novel I feel like I'm picking up with an old friend--a clever, witty, stylish, outrageous friend and her hubba-hubba hot husband!

In this latest installment the Brisbanes are back in London after their exotic (and exciting) honeymoon voyage to Egypt and India. After Brisbane's initial rejection of Julia's involvement and Julia's hilarious attempt at undercover detection, Julia's uptight brother Bellmont becomes their first official case together. And Monty's been a naughty boy, indeed! The Brisbanes are pulled into a sinister tale of blackmail, spiritualism, espionage, and murder. This case is much darker and more dangerous than their previous exploits. With national security threatened and the stakes higher than ever, Julia's life is in danger, and Brisbane's protective instincts are kicked into overdrive.

In the previous book, Dark Road to Darjeeling, the Brisbanes experienced some growing pains as they tried to adjust to married life. It was very realistic, but it was also sad to see two people who loved each other so much have such a hard time of it. I'm happy to say that in The Dark Enquiry, the Brisbanes are able to resolve their differences and work together as a true team. I loved every minute of watching these two together--investigating, collaborating, bantering, and quarrelling...and trying to keep their hands off each other! They even spend some time in the gypsy camp, which turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the story, because I love to see Brisbane embrace that part of his heritage, and I'm hungry for every little truth revealed about that intensely private and mysterious man.

Julia's eccentric family is all present and accounted for, with Plum  playing his part as Brisbane's new employee. Julia also gains an intriguing new family member who has an important part in the story and lends even more insight into Brisbane's past. The mystery culminates in a heartpounding climactic scene in which I did not figure out "whodunit" before it was revealed, and in which, in a tragic twist, Julia experiences a devastating loss that tore my heart out. Fans of this delightfully entertaining and beautifully written series will not be disappointed, and this fan is already counting the days to book number six!

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

*Please note: This title will be published June 21, 2011, and this review references an advance digital copy received from the publisher, and therefore the final published copy may differ. Though I received this book from the publisher, these are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I was not compensated in any other way for reviewing this book.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists!