A Deadly Flop

 **THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

While the general storyline is interesting and the writing clear and entertaining, this beginning to a new historical mystery series just didn't quite hit the mark. The story seemed disjointed and suffered from too much melodrama. The characters - even Alec, the main character - seemed to be made up of their individual ideals and motivations rather than actual human feeling and whimsy. The ingredients for a really good book were there, but something went wrong when Brant threw them all in together.

The character of Ned is one of my biggest issues. He is a vile, amoral, brutal philanderer who will sink as low as necessary to ruin Alec's life and happiness. He is capable of deceiving a too-sweet, air-headed innocent into believing he loves her, thus railroading his brother's hopes of marrying her himself, and then blackmailing said innocent when she listens to reason and tries to put distance between them. He takes a whip to his brother and attempts to have a wrongful charge of murder leveled against him. Add to all this his lust for darling Selina (again, a woman whom Alec loves) and his apparent incapability of keeping his breeches closed whenever he's in private. His hatred of his brother is his one defining quality and there is little else. He's not human! And there are plenty of others like him in this book. Even the good guys are extremely one-dimensional. Plantagenet Halsey showed promise in becoming the most interesting character, but even he doesn't quite manage to be much more than the principles Brant has assigned to him. Characterization is very important to me, and it was one of this story's greatest weaknesses.

In terms of historical detail, the accuracy wobbled here and there throughout the book. On the whole, though, it is clear that Brant has a passion for the Georgian era, and her descriptions set the stage very dramatically. It was refreshing to read a story that doesn't take place during the Regency or Victorian eras.

I cannot say Deadly Engagement was a great book, but don't want to give the impression it isn't worth reading. Its write-up suggested it as perfect for fans of C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr historical thrillers, and though I don't personally feel that this quite compares, it is a decent read.