"A Dangerous Duet" was an entertaining historical mystery. It was the front cover that caught my attention and then the blurb sounded intriguing, so I decided to give it a go. I loved Nell's passion for the piano and the mystery was good, but I think the author tried too hard and so the novel didn't reach its truest potential.

There were times when the plot dragged but at others it was fast-paced and exciting. Some characters, like Nell and Jack, were well-written but I wanted to know more about Matthew, Nell's older brother. Considering that the novel focused on a crime and Matthew was a police officer, I would have thought that he would have had a bigger role than he actually did. Also, Nell's decision at the end didn't make much sense.

However, I did enjoy the setting and the atmosphere, the darkness and historical details held my attention, making "A
Dangerous Duet" quite an enjoyable read but not a memorable one. ( )

I finally got to read this win from Early Reviewers, and while I got to it as quickly as I could, I wish I could have read it sooner. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense, and thought the book overall was well written. However, the pseudo-psychiatry bothered me. I’m sure it wasn’t totally out of place in the historical context, but the doctor really grated on my nerves, which took away some of my enjoyment. It also wrapped up a little too neatly, rather like being handed a package with a tidy bow on top. But, I liked the MC and her brother and many of the secondary characters, so I would certainly be willing to read another of Odden’s books. ( )

Historical fiction continues to be one of my favorite genres and I knew from the first glance at the cover/synopsis of A Dangerous Duet that I wanted to read this book! The story follows Nell, who is a talented pianist with big dreams. She saves up money for a music academy by playing the piano at a music hall called the Octavian while disguising herself as a guy. Nell becomes intertwined in a mess of secrets and dark dealings after saving her friend from attack in a dark alley. Can she continue to play at the Octavian as a larger conspiracy becomes unraveled?

Just from the ominous cover alone, the story quickly dives into a plot full of mystery. I was entertained by the heightened suspense aspect as I tried to solve the pieces of the puzzle along with Nell and her brother Matt, a policeman at the Scotland Yard. Odden’s writing is very descriptive and immersive. The text launches the reader into that time period; the various societal rules, Victorian dress, disapproval of mixing of social classes, mental health treatments at that time, and sexism which Nell constantly deals with during the entire plot. I could picture the scenery described in the novel, especially the Octavian with ornate designs, but disrepair.

Nell is a headstrong character, she is caring and very confident about what she wants in life. She wants a life different from what’s promised for her and wishes to play music freely. Viewing the story through her eyes was an interesting reading experience and I felt like I could read the emotions/feelings of the people surrounding her. Adding to the entertainment factor was the fact that you didn’t really know who to trust. One moment you thought you could trust a character, and then the next chapter they ended up being villains. The story becomes even more intense as members of the crime ring are revealed one by one.

This book was so enthralling that I feel like it would be great as PBS mini-series TV adaptation or even a TV movie. The detailed writing tied into the visualization. If you like a good historical fiction set in Victorian London, give this a read!

*Trigger Warning: Violence

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in a giveaway from Library Thing in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )

Nell's an accomplished pianist, but since this is Victorian London and Nell is a respectable woman, can't really do anything with it. But to earn money to study at the Royal Academy, she takes a job disguised as a man at a music hall where maybe more than show business is going on. And Nell's brother, a Scotland Yard inspector investigating a city-wide plague of burglaries, may be digging into the place as well.

A Dangerous Duet is a decent, but not great depiction of Victoria London, and a decent, but not great, mystery/suspense story with a little romance thrown in. It's a pleasant diversion, but the general feel is more modern than Victorian, and the mystery itself isn't very mysterious. Should work well if you need a diversion though! ( )

I received this book for free free as part of an Instagram tour (TLC Book Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.

This was a very intriguing historical fiction mystery.

The book’s strongest point was that it was very atmospheric. It nailed that grimy Victorian England vibe perfectly. The author did a tremendous job bringing that world to life and evoking an air of mystery.

I liked how the book focused on the unsavory parts of Victorian England. From the life of orphans to brothels, this book showcased it all. It was really interesting to see that mixed in with the musical element. It all worked really well together.

As for the mystery, I thought it was good up until the end. It was a fairly straight forward mystery so I wasn’t necessarily wowed by it. It was pretty much solved about 75% of the way through. The rest of the book was just the resolution and aftermath of it all. That being said, it was a very action packed last quarter.

There was a little bit of romance in this as well, but I could have done without it. It felt a little forced. The book would have been just as strong had it not been there.

Overall, this was a compelling historical mystery that will make you feel like you are actually in Victorian England. ( )