Advertised as a paranormal Sherlock Holmes story, the Curious Affair promised to be full of mystery, magic, and brilliant detectives. I found it to contain very little of any of those. Throughout the book you find yourself wondering if the magic and paranormal advertised are actually believed in and real, like Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, or a mere ruse with a devious but perfectly scientific explanation, like Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. Even a confirmed fairy siting doesn't really answer the question as far as the rest of the characters go. Does Manning's friend Felix Ott genuinely believe in returning the Old Religions and gods to England or is it a way to trick money from others? Did he kill Manning over a business disagreement?

The mystery itself was never more than mildly interesting to me, which was surprising. You'd think a man dropping dead of unknown causes would lead to a pretty good whodunit. But so many other things began to get piled on to the plot that sometimes you forgot about Manning altogether. Yet none of the other mysteries- several other unexplained deaths and then the disappearance of an infant- really kept the plot moving for me either. The book mostly revolved around a series of unlikeable characters who went from country hospitality to chilly and insulted in an instant. Diana Bulstrode (the supposed witch of Wayside Cross) was the only character I found at all interesting and even she had a tendency to become annoying quickly. The main characters of Jasper Jesperson and Miss Lane never gained any depth or particular background to make them interesting, unique, or likable. Even Miss Lane, who gives a Watson-like first person account of the case, isn't much more than a cipher to tell the story. We get a brief and politely social background to her life before becoming a detective and more than halfway through the book are finally told her first name (although after finding out what it is you understand why she doesn't advertise it). But the reader gets no real backstory to them: no explanation of how Miss Lane met Jespserson, why they decided to become detectives, what their relationship is, or anything else about them. Maybe some of this was mentioned in Tuttle's first book (The Curious Affair of the Somnabulist and the Psychic Thief) but I haven't read that book. Nor, after the Witch of Wayside Cross, do I really care to. While things get interesting at the very end, by the time everything is revealed I was left with the feeling that all the murder victims got what they deserved and only vaguely sympathetic of the lives ruined in the process.

Tuttle does a good job describing the English countryside, but neither the characters nor the mysteries stood out to me as a way to make the book enjoyable. Doyle enthusiasts and paranormal mystery lovers alike should probably skip this addition to the inspired-by-Sherlock shelves. Weak and unlikeable characters overshadow what could have been an interesting set of mysteries to leave a book that sounded better in the description than in the reading.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGallery in exchange for an honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery novel, right up until the last few chapters, which fell a bit flat for me.

Lisa Tuttle has a wonderful way of portraying her characters in this novel set in Victorian England. I enjoyed Miss Lane’s voice and the way the characters interacted. I did not feel that I had needed to read the first book in this serious to enjoy this one. In fact, it works very well as a standalone, as mysteries often do.

The resolution of the various mysteries left me feeling a little unsatisfied. One mystery’s resolution especially left me feeling somewhat deflated. You know when you shout indignantly at a book’s plot twist you are clearly not feeling it. I just wanted a bit more from it.

However, I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I would like to read some more by her.

I was unsure what to expect from this historical...cozy...supernatural...mystery. A couple dead men, witches, shrieking pits, and the theft of a baby all made for an interesting read. But I still felt left out of a lot of the fun as the male in this investigating duo did a lot of investigating off-page. All-in-all, I will probably read another from Lisa Tuttle if I come across one.

I was hoping that I would maybe like this novel better than its predecessor but I still felt like this novel was just not the right fit for me. Jesperson continues to be the embodiment of Sherlock Holmes, while Lane strives to be his Watson. I wish they were more unique in their personalities instead of emulating this well-known duo, as it would have set them apart. I also found that while the story started with a bang, it quickly slowed down and it was hard for me to stay interested in the story. The actual mystery was okay but I felt a bit misled by the title; I thought there would be more witchcraft and spells involved but it didn't really play much of a part. Since this novel didn't work for me, I'm giving this a 2.5/5 stars. However, many people on Goodreads enjoyed this novel so I would still recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Victorian mystery novels.

Engaging characters and interesting plot twists made this a quick and enjoyable read. Everyone is suspect in this lovely mystery set in Victorian England. Lisa Tuttle creates an inviting landscape , rich in folklore, and the climactic ending does not disappoint. I hope to read more of Lisa Tuttle, an author previously unknown to me, and I look forward to the further adventures of Jesperson and Lane.

I wasn't the biggest fan of this book. I found it very difficult to get interested in the story. I typically enjoy books of this style, but this one didn't do it for me. For a mystery-type book, it didn't grab my attention enough. There was nowhere near enough excitement or drama and I really had to work to get through to the end.

The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross is the 2nd book in the Curious Affair of series. If you have read this blog long enough, you know my thoughts on picking up books out-of-order in a series. I won’t go into it but I do get aggravated because I am missing out by not reading the first book. The Curious Affair of the WItch at Wayside Cross can be read as a stand-alone. Which made me happy.

The book starts off in a very interesting way. A man turns up at Jesperson and Lane’s office/house, accuses Lane of being a witch and then drops dead. This starts off a case that was very weird, to say the least. They are soon asked by the deceased man’s brother to look into his death. The brother wants to know why a healthy man would die of a heart attack. Through some detective work, they end up in Norfolk. It is there that the mystery deepens. While investigating the death, Lane and Jesperson get involved in a kidnapping of a newborn. How are the two tied together, if they are at all? Will Jesperson and Lane solve Mr. Mannings death? Or are they in over their head?

I couldn’t get a feel for Lane. She seemed nice enough. I couldn’t connect with her. Not enough background was given for me to see if I liked her or not (see, this is where reading book 1 comes in handy). She did seem like she was a good detective. She also bucked the norm for Victorian England. She cohabited with an unmarried man. That was a serious no-no back then and I loved it!!!

Jesperson reminded me of Sherlock Holmes. He was quirky and went to great lengths to solve the case. I mean, he showed up at the sisters’ house dressed as a hunchback to read a book that they kept in their library. That is genius. I would have liked to see some of the book from his viewpoint. I was happy with what the author showed us. He is the reason this book didn’t get a lower rating.

If I had to have a complaint about the book, it would be that there weren’t enough paranormal elements in the book. I understand that the shrieking pits along with the story of the kidnapped baby was supposed to be on the paranormal side but I wanted more.

I will say that the author did a great job at keeping who the killer was under wraps. She threw out a few red herrings too. I was pretty shocked when it was revealed to be who it was. I was not expecting it.

The end of the book was very good. Everything came together. Like I said above, I was shocked at who the killer was and the motives behind the killings.

The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross was a good read but I couldn’t get into it. I couldn’t connect with the female lead main character. I felt that the paranormal elements were very sparse. But, I did like the male lead. I also felt that the mystery part of the book was excellently written. It was those two reasons why I gave the book a 3-star rating.

Will I reread: Maybe

Will I recommend to family and friends: Maybe

Age range: Older Teen

Why: mild violence. Other than that, it was a very clean book.

I would like to thank Lisa Tuttle, Random House Publishing Group, Hydra and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross

All opinions stated in this review of The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy*

A young man after stumbling unexpectedly into the London address of the consulting-detective partnership of Mr. Jesperson and Miss Lane screams “Witch” and dies. Thus begins the strangest case yet to land, quite literally, on the doorstep of Jesperson and Lane.

It is suspected that Mr. Charles Manning died of a heart attack, despite the fact that he was considered to be in perfect health. The late Mr. Manning’s address book leads Jesperson and Lane to the shrieking pits of Aylmerton, an ancient archaeological site reputed to be haunted by a vengeful ghost.

They sift through local suspects, each more suspicious than the last which include, Manning’s associate, Felix Ott, an English folklore enthusiast; Reverend Ringer, a fierce opponent of superstition; and the Bulstrode sisters, a trio of beauties with a reputation for witchcraft.

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Series: From the Casebooks of Jesperson & Lane
Author: Lisa Tuttle
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery
Publisher: Random House

The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross is written in the setting of long ago London. The author does not use the actual date but implies a time just before or during WWI, but the reader is never quite sure. The structure of the story is built around the death of a stranger who drops dead in the office and home of the detectives, in the middle of the night while screaming the word “Witch.”

There are hints of paranormal activities and witchcraft with just a hint of believability. The mere detectives begin an adventure to find out if in fact Mr. Manning was killed by a witch or if he was hallucinating. The reader is taken on a trip through small-town village life, complete with a rude and judgmental cast.

The main characters of Jesperson and Lane are likable characters with what would be considered a modern mindset in an old-world setting. Jesperson is laid back, calm and eternally curious. Lane is a single woman trying to make headway in a man's world. Both characters are intelligent with imperfections and room to grow. The remaining cast of characters are narrow-minded, rude and very forgettable.

Although this is an interesting read and has moments of deep thoughtful interaction and situations as it reverts to almost an Agatha Christie style, it just doesn’t have quite the excitement needed to make it a truly good book. The story is a bit plodding, and there is no real action. Clues are hard to find within the pages and may be completely missed. The solution is entertaining, but it is a bit disappointing for the reader. Overall there is room for improvement in this story, and hopefully, the author will expand the characters and the plotlines in future volumes.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley

The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross is the follow up to The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief and continues the adventures of the Victorian paranormal crime solving duo of Jesperson and Lane. This book picks up right where the first one left off, with the crime solvers starting their journey to unlock the mystery of the man who appeared on their doorstep proclaiming "Witch!" before dropping dead. Their investigation leads them to the mysterious shrieking pits of Aylmerton, a trio of sisters who are rumored to be witches, and a stolen baby. I felt this book got a little more into the paranormal than the first book due to the setting and the rumors of witchcraft. However, if you're looking for a scary paranormal mystery, this isn't the series for you. I was hoping for more development of the characters themselves, either individually or as a duo out solving mysteries. I also found the pace to be a bit slow, especially during the second half off the book. If you enjoyed the first book in this series, I recommend picking up this one.

Sometimes I get to review a book and series that stays with me long after I finish it for me it is the series of Jesperson & Lane, by Lisa Tuttle. In book two The Curious Affair of The Witch At Wayside Cross I found I was even more engrossed and enchanted by this Victorian times mystery. With amazing main characters who are an unlikely pair of private investigators reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, but with hints of the paranormal and mysteries that you can not wait to have solved.
The first book in the series I could not put down and it was very much the same with book two. It was entertaining, enlightening and eclectic. Wonderfully woven mysteries, characters that make you think and a time period that lends itself so well to mystery and discovery this is a series that I can say is now one of my most favorites and I am so looking forward to reading about their next adventures.

This is the second book of the series I have read, and I had the same problems with it that I had with the first. I would have liked more fleshing out of the two main characters. They are interesting people, and I really wanted to connect with them on a deeper level. But yet again it felt very two-dimensional, and like the reader was being told about the two detectives instead of being organically shown their characteristics.
The author also spent an undue amount of time describing things like meals, that had no bearing on the story. A whole paragraph detailing the contents, quality, and taste of a meal in an inn really took me out of the story. Things like that could have been left out and more time spent on characterization.
The sub-plot with the mystery and inhabitants of the Shrieking Pits also felt a little tacked on, or like it was wrapped up too hastily.
Overall, I really wanted more from this book than I got. I want to like the characters and get to know them better, but after two books I feel as though I am just friendly acquaintances with them.

This is the second in a Victorian era mystery series with professional detectives Jasper Jefferson and Aphrodite (Di) Lane being woken abruptly by a man, Charles Manning, knocking at their door at 2:00 a.m., in obvious terror, screaming "witch" at the sight of Miss Lane and then dropping dead. Although the authorities pronounce this as death by natural causes, the man's brother hires the detective duo to investigate his last moves to confirm this. Their investigation takes them to the village of Aylmerton, noted for the infamous "shrieking pits," where Charles had resided at the Vicarage with Reverend Ringer and his family, and then on to Wayside Cross, home to Miss Bella Bulstrode and her two sisters. As they press forward with their investigation, they need to separate facts, superstitions, and fairy lore, before unraveling the truth of the death of Charles and maybe others. The story moved along quickly, told primarily through the eyes of Miss Lane, and captured the flavor of the Victorian Era, with its prejudices against woman, and its tales of fairy rings and witches. There was a subplot involving a maid and (spoiler) a missing child, but while this has some connections with the main story, I found it to be more of a distraction and a deliberate attempt to interject a bit of paranormal into the story. The relationship between the two main characters is similar to that between Mary Russell and Sherlock in Laurie King's series, although I don't think Jesperson has enough respect for Lane's intelligence, nor is he as quite as intuitive as Sherlock but then he is still young. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received from NetGalley.

Jesperson and Lane had me at the first chapter of their first book. This one is even more entertaining, now that they know each other better. The action starts from the very first paragraph: a stranger dies on their doorstep after calling Miss Lane a witch. The police say that it was a heart attack, nothing to see here folks. But Jesperson and Lane know better than to let this go. They start investigating who he was and what, or who, caused his death. Their quest will lead them to an ancient archeological site where they meet a whole cast of suspects and get involved in several different incidents - all of them fantastic. And what suspects! The head of a cult, a vicar and a coven of witches - one of which, Bella Bulstrode, became my favorite character (she has a pet crow!). Bella and Miss Lane shine in a novel full of interesting women. The rhythm doesn't let up, the resolution is completely unexpected and the places that this investigation takes Jesperson and Lane are very entertaining. Some parts were creepy, and others actually funny. A very enjoyable read!

Charming British mystery featuring Jasper Jesperson and Miss Jane, private detectives. A man comes into their residence, calls Miss Jane a witch, and drops dead. The investigation is on and leads them to a small community known for its "shrieking pits" an unexplained phenomenon, a missing baby, a missing girl, and another unexplained death. What is going on? Three single women live at Wayside Cross - a "wisewoman" and her two sisters. Are they witches?

This was a fun mystery and had some interesting twists. I liked the playoff of the characters Jesperson and Jane. They are an intriguing pair - both living with Jesperson's mother, both single; but no romantic relationship. I wonder if something my bloom there in a later book. They are partners and very good friends.

I look forward to more in this series. Thanks to Lisa Tuttle and Random House Publishing Group - Hydra through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

This second book was a delightful surprise - while I enjoyed the first in the series, I felt that there were some shortcomings and that it would have benefited from a more thorough-going edit. This sequel hit just the right tone I think, and really tightened things up - the result was a thoroughly entertaining mystery that moved at just the right pace throughout.

The characters are what pulled me in to the first book, and what held me through the course of the story, even when it seemed to meander a bit. This time around, the meandering path has been forced into a more structured one and that really allowed the characters to shine... I enjoy Di as a protagonist - she's a delightful blend of sassy and self-doubting that renders her altogether relatable. Jasper is a bit over the top, but he's supposed to be somewhat awkward and quirky, like all the best Sherlock-type detectives (up to and including the Great Man himself), and so he plays well as a foil/compatriot to the more grounded Di. The supporting characters more than pull their own weight also, adding a nice insulating layer of intrigue, secrets, and surprises. The supernatural element was significantly played down in this one - I found that aspect to be a bit over-played in the first book, and think that the more straightforward handling of the mystery in this installment read a lot truer to the feel of the world/characters on hand.

The series really stepped up its game here, and I definitely look forward to more Jesperson and Lane adventures!

What a lovely read! Author Tuttle serves up a very Victorian-feeling novel. I loved the interplay between Miss Lane and Mr. Jesperson as they sort out the mystery behind the demise of their deceased visitor! A nice twist on the Holmes/Watson partnership. I had not come across the first in this series, but will certainly seek it out.

Thank you to Ms. Tuttle, her publisher and Netgalley.com for the opportunity to read and review.

The adventure starts when someone bangs relentlessly on the front door at the combined office and living quarters of detectives Jesperson and Lane in the small hours of the morning. When admitted, he is sweating and disheveled. He points to Lane and says “Witch!” and drops dead.

Neither of them know the man, so a quick search of his pockets is made. An address book is found and Lane hastily copies it before the police can arrive. This enables them to locate his brother, who hires them to find out how Charles Manning died. The coroner says it was a heart attack, but Manning was in perfect health. So off they go to Aylmerton, where he had spent much time, to check things out. There they find quite a set of characters: the Reverend Ringer, a foe of superstition, and his wife, who wants the world to adhere to her wishes. A trio of sister living alone who have the reputation for being witches. Felix Ott, a fan of historic English folklore, was an associate of Mannings in their studies of the supernatural. There is a cunning man, who supplies men with Victorian Viagra. Even the landscape has a personality- the Shrieking Pits, prehistoric holes in the ground, are alleged to be haunted. Then a baby disappears.

Numerous plot strands and false leads make for entertaining reading, and an atmosphere of menace pervades the story. But Jesperson (male) uses Lane (female) as someone to glean information for him but doesn’t bother to tell her what he’s learned in return. He treats her somewhat as a useful servant. He also seems a bit full of himself. The use of a mixed gender team works well in the setting, though- while Lane cannot participate in certain goings on because of her sex, her femaleness allows her entrée into situations that Jesperson cannot enter: befriending the women who live in the Vicarage and spending time with the three possible witch sisters. The author has a good grasp of life in the Victorian era. Four stars out of five.

I hadn't read any Lisa Tuttle before this and I don't know how I've missed her work, but it's great! Jesperson & Lane are a tremendous pair of investigators and I can't wait to read their further adventures.

This is the second in The Curious Affair Of series, self-touted as "The paranormal answer to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson..." It can be read without having read the first, or at least I did so with no issues. I am still not sure whether it fully qualifies as 'paranormal,'

I found it to be similar to Sherlock Holmes in that the setting is Victorian London, and there are two main characters who are detectives. Jasper Jesperson has some power of deduction, I would assign him the roll of Sherlock. And Diana Lane is Dr. Watson, although she is not a doctor, she does have Dr. Watson's fierce loyalty. However, I found them both a bit boring and a tad unlikable. To be sure, Sherlock Holmes has many admirable and also many unlikable traits, but Watson has always been consistently sympathetic.

Perhaps because of her loyalty and willingness to do what Jesperson asks, she repeatedly did things that I thought were very rude. For example, after being invited to stay as a guest, she searches all the bedrooms in the house immediately.

The book started in high gear, with the appearance of a man late at night, who promptly dies. That gets your attention. After that, the story meandered around London and Norfolk, not really inciting any emotion. The mystery aspect was interesting, and the Victorian flavor was done well. Overall, it was a satisfactory read, but I am not sure that I would read another in the series.

This book is different than I originally thought.  I was thinking it would be a scary horror story.  Instead, it is a mystery novel in the same vain as Sherlock Holmes. Except for Holmes and Watson, it is the duo of Jesperson and Lane.  The odd twist with this pairing is that Lane is a spinster who has no romantic connection to Jesperson, nor he her.  They work together and see themselves as partners who respect what the other contributes.  This relationship causes others around them to react in sometimes detrimental ways.

The story was a fast moving affair with twists and turns that could not always be seen coming.  It kept me guessing until the very end when I thought I figured out the mystery, only to have one more major unexpected twist.  

This is a fun read, especially now that Halloween is on the horizon.  While it is not a horror story, it is a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

And I like the duo of Jesperson and Lane so much that I look forward to more of their exploits!