Shades of Deception

This Edwardian murder mystery starts off with an eerie scene of a body being buried secretly, and we're then quickly transported to another set, one year later.

It's 1903, and I truly enjoy books set in this period, or around this period to be more precise. The writer has definitely painted a vivid picture of life back then, through character descriptions, the location description, the general living conditions... The dialogues were spectacular! Although I had some difficulty understanding certain characters, due to the difference in the language used back then and now, I thought it was very clever of the writer to do so. It only added to the characters more and to the whole atmosphere.

The themes covered here are everything from loss, sexual assault, family, love, suffragette movement and so much more. It's all interwoven seamlessly into the story, so we're still following the plot, but the threads that curl off from the main story gives us a concrete setting and more details.

The main character, artist and painter, accidentally police-assistant Archie is a kind, loving, heart-warming character, and a multi-dimensional one at that. He's also a son, a father and a friend, and he's had my heart from the very first page he was in. Not to forget, his love interest, Polly. They add this love element to the story, without it overtaking or overshadowing the plot. I was itching for more Archie and Polly moments and when I got them, it ended with a smile on my face.

The writing is very atmospheric, and it's very easy to get lost in the descriptions. We followed several different mystery cases, and although I could guess the outcome of the main mystery, I was intrigued to know more about other cases. I am glad that it wasn't just one mystery that we followed, but several ones, and it just made the story that much more interesting.

I loved how the writer took the time to paint a picture of both women fighting for their rights, and of men who thought that women had no right to think or breathe if men didn't allow them so. It was unnatural, almost wicked to want the same rights as men.

I would really love to recommend this book to anyone who loves a good murder mystery, which isn't too grim and dark, and still has a lot of heart-warming moments and lovable characters to look forward to. I'd also gladly read more from the Archie Price series at any time!