I found the first book in this series to be an enjoyable read.
This one disappointed me.
The story is interesting and the mystery is good.
My problem is that the main character of Miss Lane comes across a rather witless. She seems to rely on Mr. Jesperson for all the insights while she plugs along "behind" him.
This was a disappointment.

Tuttle offers a new adventure featuring Jesperson & Lane, the crackerjack investigation team that includes a well-heeled young man and an outspoken young woman. They are dropped headfirst into their new case when a man pounds on their door in the middle of the night, proclaims he is pursued by witches, and drops dead in their front hall. Their investigation takes them from London to the country, where they encounter an unusual collection of “cunning” men and women, pious preachers, curious scholars, and even “little people.”

While the plot is interesting, with a variety of twists & turns, it’s a bit bloated. A bit more than halfway through, I found myself losing interest. Jesperson’s annoying habit of assuming Lane knows what he’s thinking, Causing her to drag every bit of information out of him got old really fast. They never seemed to click for me as a pair of investigators, or as a couple, or whatever they are supposed to be to each other. I did enjoy Miss Lane’s character, however. She reminded me of a young Amelia Peabody.

While this is far from the worst thing I’ve read lately, it’s also not nearly the best. The text needs editing, and I found the whole subplot around the stolen baby to be completely unnecessary. I will probably pick up another in this series when looking for a quick, easy read, just to see if Jesperson & Lane find success in their investigative business.

I received a free Kindle copy of The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross by Lisa Tuttle  courtesy of Net Galley  and Random House, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus pages.

I requested this book as the description sounded interesting and I was looking for something different in fiction.

The book is billed as a modern day Holmes and Watson with a twist in that the pair of Jesperson and Lane features Lane as a woman and they deal in the occult. The writer's style, while good, is not overly engaging  thus making this a book not hard to put down to do other things. It is a period time piece and perhaps reading the first novel in the series would have been helpful (this is the second).

Overall, this book is okay, but not by cup of tea, so to speak.

I already did a partial review when I had thought I lost this Netgalley novel to the netherworld of my computer.. Hurray! I found it again. I wrote a partial review because I thought I had lost the rest of this novel. This is a rewrite.
This is my first Netgalley book. I am familiar with Lisa Tuttle and her literary reputation. What a wonderful novel! The author portrays her protagonists, side characters and atmosphere with in depth color and intelligence. The plot was easy going and intriguing enough for this reader to read it within 2 days. It reads like a Cozy - no real or graphic violence but not at all fluffy or light. It has forensics, thoughtful detection and some suspense. I liked the way the plot developed with its smooth twists and turns. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I will be reading #1 of the series.

The headstone with the blue and green cover pulled me in. Thus, I've dropped into a series again, without knowing. This is the second book in that series, but it stood alone very well. Victorian and Sherlock Holmes-ish, this book was enjoyable for me. I didn't mind the light paranormal part, it wasn't the full focus of the book, so if you're wanting that, you might be disappointed. It's a clean book, with a solid mystery.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

Although I am intrigued by the "fairies" of England and Ireland, I found this book to be too overwhelmingly British for my enjoyment. And I found the plots to be a bit trite. I might not read another book by Tuttle if presented the chance.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35300558-the-curious-affair-of-the-witch-at-wayside-cross" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross (The Curious Affair Of, #2)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496610169m/35300558.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35300558-the-curious-affair-of-the-witch-at-wayside-cross">The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/38313.Lisa_Tuttle">Lisa Tuttle</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2135292700">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Special thanks to Hydra, Lisa Tuttle, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. <br /><br />I read The Somnambulist (book one in the series) and enjoyed it, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. And this was another delightful selection.<br /><br />This time we watch our investigators learn why a man embroiled in the natural religion of England was found dead on their doorstep. Their clues lead them to Norfolk and the home of a local “ witch” Bella, and her sisters, as well as a local leader of the legend studies the man was following and trying to fund. His death leads to another unsolved murder, a medicine man, a poisoning, a missing baby. Name it it’s there along with a kitchen sink. <br /><br />I️ am so entertained by this series. One fault I️ find is with the female detective. She seems to constantly ask questions until she’s on everyone’s nerves and never gets a break. I’d like to see that change. <br /><br />Congratulations, Tuttle on another great book!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6595648-bam-the-bibliomaniac">View all my reviews</a>

I enjoyed this mystery. I didn't read book 1 but this worked as a stand alone mystery. Jesperson and Lane go to Norfolk to investigate a man's death. There are witches, a mysterious death, a society of magic, a missing baby ... it all makes for a fun package. Recommended!

In this second adventure of the intrepid Victorian private detectives Jasper Jesperson and Miss Lane. While the daring duo evoke shades of Holmes and Watson with a touch of the supernatural here and there, they are anything put pale imitations. While a mysterious murder sets them off on this latest adventure to Norfolk, the story is as much about the denizens coming to terms with an uneasy crossroads between the modern, scientific future and the folkloric, magical past. When a new client falls dead on their doorstep, a young man in apparent health whose heart has given out, the sleuths follow clues to Norfolk, where the victim’s close friend has established a society dedicated to reviving the “ancient religion” of Britain. A kidnapped baby, accusations of witchcraft, cunning men and wisewomen steeped in the lore of plants that can cure – or kill – and a tragic love affair lead Jesperson and Lane down a twisted path, past the “shrieking pits” and back to London, through greenhouses filled with exotic, poisonous plants, and to a clergyman’s parlor. Lively, witty, and often unexpected, these stories are a true delight. I especially like the deft way the author treads the line between fantasy and reality in a way that heightens the emotional stakes and vividness of the tale.

Much like the first book, this one grabbed my attention right away. I love the natural feel of the developing friendship/partnership between Mr. Jesperson and Miss Lane. The dynamic relationship keeps things interesting and makes me want to keep turning pages.

I also like the way the author gives you small bits of information without revealing too much, allowing you to guess what is going on and who is fault without revealing the truth until the very end. The deaths and mysteries are fresh and exciting in this book and lead you down a long and winding road searching for the truth. If you are a fan of Victorian mysteries, then you will likely love these books.

I was particularly fond of this novel for the way it showcased the attitudes of people about working women in that era and how the author dealt with those feelings. Miss Lane is a strong, independent character with a charming personality who makes you laugh and makes you respect her. This is an intelligently written novel with a lot to offer the reader and I am happy to recommend it.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

When I requested this book, I did not realize it was the second book in a series. Since I have not read the first book, I was unsure how the book would read or whether you had to have read the first book to understand this one. However, I was pleasantly surprised that this book is a good, stand-alone, and reading the first book is not necessary to fully understand or appreciate this one. I also was unsure whether I would enjoy it since I am not too keen on books set in this era, but I was totally surprised, as I was taken in from the very beginning.

Set in Victorian England, Miss Lane and Mr. Jesperson are two detectives who fall into a mystery when a strange man, Charles Manning, comes to their door in the wee hours, screams at Miss Lane for being a witch and promptly falls dead on their door step. The brother of the dead man hires the detectives to find out the cause of his brother’s untimely death. With this, the detectives are off to the Norfolk area, known for its strange shrieking pits and a shrieking woman. In addition, the area is known for its interest in spirits and other things that go bump in the night. As the story progresses, other events and things come into play that only help to enhance the intrigue encountered by the detectives: a missing baby and her missing maid/mother who work at the local vicarage, other mysterious deaths, three strange women who live at nearby Wayside Cross, and an equally strange man, who is trying to start a community devoted to the colorful history and customs of the area in earlier times. Through it all, we see the cunning abilities of Mr. Jesperson and his partner as they sift through a myriad of weird, seemingly unrelated clues, to figure out what exactly is going on and how Charles Manning died.

I really enjoyed this book, which is unusual, as I said, because I seldom read or like books set in this era. Jasper Jesperson and Aphrodite (Di) Lane are a good pair who work well together while complimenting each other. Jasper is cast as a sort of Sherlock Holmes, with Di serving as his Dr. Watson. The book setting also lent well to the tale, as I could easily imagine myself in the Norfolk area, discussing events and other townsfolk with the strange and mysterious characters, witnessing the ethereal events and interchanges. The author did an admirable job of bringing the reader right into the era and the story. There was not a lot about witches in the book, but the underlying spooky, spirit based themes definitely made up for that. This is a good book for a reader who enjoys reading about things that go bump in the night as well as about strong women characters and their equally strong cunning partners. I was impressed that Miss Lane was such a liberated woman living, during that era, even in the same home as Jasper, and who worked with him on equal footing—definitely not normal. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good but different mystery. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Stylish and Entertaining

This series has turned out to be a very entertaining find. Jesperson and Lane make a fine and engaging team, with just the right balance of cooperation, spirited disagreement, and clever crosstalk. The Victorian angle enhances the tales without being a distraction. (You can't have Holmes and Watson style detecting without a Victorian gloss, but sometimes authors are so obsessed with historical accuracy they forget to tell a story. Here, we get the Victorian interest in the supernatural, faeries, and the like, and we get Lane dealing with dismissive Victorian attitudes toward women, and we get a lot of carriage rides, but the focus is on the tale and the characters.)

And the characters and the atmosphere, and the creepiness of shrieking pits and witchy folklore is what makes this fun. The plot is fine - lots of suspects, lots of clues, lots of dashing about and investigating - but the main appeal here to me was in the journey, (and all of the characters to be met along the way), and not the destination.

So, well written, fast paced, loaded with interesting bits and bobs, and carried by a fine set of detectives, this was an amusing and satisfying treat. A nice find.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

The book slows down a bit when we touch on Donovan's being belittled by his Marine brother-in-law, but even there Korman ties to mix things up and make some novel humorous points. They just didn't work as well for me. Then again, an entire book of just Noah probably would have been too much of a good thing. We have other excellent supporting characters who brighten things up and add variety and some funny angles, and that helps to keep the book screaming along.

So, a funny, insightful and appealing book that plays around very successfully with school daze standards. A nice find. (Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I loved the twists and turns. I would love to read more stories about the adventures and mysteries of Jesperson and Lane.

THE CURIOUS AFFAIR OF THE WITCH AT WAYSIDE CROSS captures the Victorian interest in the supernatural elements really well with the plot revolving around a mysterious society and talk of otherworldly characters. The plot felt very much like a Sherlock Holmes story with Lane and Jesperson playing the Holmes and Watson parts respectively. I didn't really connect with Lane and Jesperson though as they felt a bit flat. In spite of that flatness, I was still able to enjoy the mystery plot as our two main characters trek around England solving their murder case.

The story has a fantastical element to it that was kind of incidental and I kept trying to feel the otherworldly-ness of the book that I think I was supposed to feel. I loved the primary mystery as it felt very Holmes-like with twists and turns and the classic "get all of the suspects in a room and reveal their motivations one by one" moment. There's a hint of a supernatural element but it's resolved and has a real world and somewhat complex resolution. When we finally get something hinting at being really supernatural in the secondary mystery, I was waiting for a logical explanation from one of the detectives. What we were presented with was underwhelming to the point that I thought there had to be a real world explanation to it. I would have liked them to focus on one of the mysteries (the first one!) as the second mystery felt tacked on with a too abrupt conclusion.

While I had my issues with some elements of THE CURIOUS AFFAIR OF THE WITCH AT WAYSIDE CROSS, I enjoyed the solid mystery plot and the Sherlock Holmes-like feel to the book as a whole.

Reading the description of this book made it sound like it was going to be fabulous. Unfortunately, it didn’t fully live up to its expectations for me. While I did enjoy parts of the story, I found that I just couldn’t really get lost in this book for some reason.
Now, let me clarify…the book is not bad. It is fairly well-crafted, with plenty of little twists and a variety of interesting characters. However, I simply had trouble staying interested. Maybe it’s just me. Perhaps you should try it for yourself and prove me wrong. Let me know if you do!
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Hydra and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!!

An unconventional Victorian Cozy, that seems to take in and bend several genres. Great story, characters and pacing. Glad this is a series because I look forward to more!

The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross is the second book in author Lisa Tuttle’s Curious Affairs series. The detective team of Jesperson and Lane have just successfully completed their most challenging case when a young, dishevelled and clearly terrified man arrives on their doorsteps. He takes one look at Aphrodite (call me Di) Lane, screams ‘witch’ and drops down dead. The police are convinced that, despite his age, he has died of a heart attack. Jesperson is just as convinced that it is murder probably by some rare poison so, after consulting the man’s brother, he and Di set out to investigate.

The book itself is told in the first person by Di and is divided between two plotlines, one a regular murder mystery and the second, which concerns the kidnapping of a baby, has paranormal elements. The series is listed as ‘paranormal answer to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson’ so I wasn’t surprised by the supernatural elements. However, this second subplot seemed more a distraction from the main story. Beyond the fact that its solution stretched my willing suspension of disbelief almost to breaking, it also felt, at least to me, like it was there as an excuse for the paranormal element and added little to the main story.

Still, Tuttle is a good writer and, despite these criticisms, I quite enjoyed this book. Perhaps that because the story doesn’t seem to take itself to seriously making for a fun read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Jesperson and Lane are back on the case when a client dies on their doorstep yelling about witches. They set out to find out why. This case takes them out of London for the wilds of Norfolk where they run into characters deeply invested in the arcane of the time. There are the witchy sisters, the mystic leader the vicar, his wife; there may be magic and fairies causing troubles or it might be something more sinister afoot. Jeperson and Lane or on it.

This is the second entry in the “Jesperson and Lane Casebook/Curious Affair of ” series by Lisa Tuttle. Although I haven’t read the first book, this book works well as a stand-alone and I have added the first, The Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief (The Curious Affair Of #1) to my TBR pile. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a fast-paced, and fun Victorian mystery, reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes but with a touch of the paranormal.

The book opens with Charles Manning, a disciple of Felix Ott’s British School of Wisdom collapsing and dying in the London home of colleagues and private detectives, Jesperson and Lane. Manning arrives at the house just after 1am in a state and before his death declared that he was being hunted by witches which with his last breath he accuses Miss Lane of being. His death at first appears to be of natural causes but as with most good mysteries, that of course, is not the case. Jesperson and Lane convince Mr. Manning’s brother that not all is as it seems, and they are hired to find out who or what truly killed his brother. Manning’s research of the “Shriek pits, a phenomenon prevalent in folklore had him staying in Aylmerton, Norfolk. The Author Lisa Tuttle manages to create interesting well-developed characters who drive the plot forward and keep you entertained. Following Manning’s timeline before his death, Jesperson and Lane travel to Norfolk to retrace his steps in the process meet some interesting characters, including the Ringer family and the infamous Buslstrode sisters at Wayside Cross. The three unmarried sisters are wise-women or healers, but some are convinced they are witches. The story is full of twists and turns, from uncovering previous murders to a stolen baby and the curious disappearance of the distraught mother. There are clever red herrings and plotlines that whisper of magic, fairies, poison rings and an undecipherable grimoire all of which culminate in a fantastic twist at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written, cleverly crafted, quirky and fun mystery. If you enjoy Sir Conan Arthur Doyle or Agatha Christie I would recommend giving this a try.