Amanda Quick’s novels could never be classed as thought-provoking literary gems, but then that’s not what they’re supposed to be. They’re supposed to be quick, easy, light reads that don’t require too much participation from the reader’s brain. And that’s exactly what they provide. If I want a light piece of historical romance fluff then I often find myself considering Amanda Quick’s works. But then Amanda Quick has a certain sameness to her books due to the fact that she reuses plot devices.In this case, Quick has invented a whole lost ancient society, Zamar, which is central to the plot. I wish that more time had been spent developing that society as, other than a few trivial details, the reader is not given much to go on. Considering Colchester, the hero, was the one to discover the long-lost island, I would have liked to have had a few first hand descriptions of the place. There are references made to such things as “the labyrinth” but absolutely no effort is made to describe it or its role in Zamarian society. I wish a little more effort had been made to really bring this society to life. As it is, I felt only a very superficial effort was made.As can be expected of Quick’s heroines, Imogen is quirky, resourceful, and a far cry from what is expected of a well-bred lady in that era. The product of an unusual upbringing, she’s loud and opinionated. Moreover, she’s very clumsy. A few years earlier, she was caught in a compromising position with a married man and was consequently dubbed Immodest Imogen, a scandal that is resurrected the moment she re-enters polite society. Colchester, the man she’s convinced to help her in her scheme to avenge the murder of her best friend, is also a point of gossip with the members of the ton with many tales of his cold-hearted antics on the tips of wagging tongues. Neither Imogen nor Colchester pay the gossip much heed.The story’s not particularly exciting; as can be expected it revolves around the relationship between Imogen and Matthias (Colchester), with a side plot focusing on Matthias’s sister’s Season. There are plenty of twists in the story, some expected and some less so, but there’s not really much tension. There’s a lot of emphasis in Mischief on the games played by the ton and how they distort the truth of a situation in order to make the gossip more titillating.This isn’t a story that’ll stay with me for years to come, but it was one that was enjoyable enough in the moment. I turn to Quick for light historical romance as a form of guilty pleasure, and that’s what she provides. It’ll be a few months before I’m ready to read another of her novels, but I will most certainly turn to her again.
"It is rather unsettling to think that there is a murderer running about," Horatia said.“Knew a murderer once,” Mrs. Vine announced matter-of-factly as she came through the doorway with a tray of tea. “Rented this house five, maybe six years ago. Right proper gentleman, he was. Very clean in his habits compared to some of the tenants I’ve had here.”Everyone in the parlor turned to stare at Mrs. Vine. Imogen found her voice first. “You kept house for a murderer, Mrs. Vine?” “I did indeed. Didn’t know it at first, of course.” She set the tray down on a table and began to arrange the cups. “Always paid his rent on time, he did. I was sorry to lose him as a tenant.” “How did you learn that he was a murderer?” Hugo demanded, fascinated.“Unfortunate confrontation in the hall one night,” Mrs. Vine said with a sigh of sincere regret. “It was me night off and I’d been to visit me sister that evening. But instead of stayin’ with her until mornin’ as I generally did, I decided to come back here. Ran into Mr. Leversedge in the hall, I did. Unexpected like, y’see. He had just returned home a few minutes afore me. He was draggin’ a body down into the basement.” “Good Lord,” Horatia breathed, transfixed. “He hid the bodies in the basement?” “Did his work on the nights I was off visitin’ me sister. Took the bodies down into the basement to cut ‘em up so’s they’d fit nice and neat into boxes. Then he hauled the boxes out of the city and got rid of ‘em.” “My God.” Patricia covered her mouth with one hand. Her eyes widened in horror. “What did you do when you found him in the hall with his victim, Mrs. Vine?” “Weren’t nothin’ for it, what with the body there and all.” Mrs. Vine shook her head sadly. “Couldn’t ignore it, even if he had been the best tenant I’d ever had. Had to trot right back down the steps and summon the watch. I’ll never forget Mr. Leversedge’s last words to me though.” “What were they?” Imogen asked.“He said, ‘Don’t worry about the blood in the hall, Mrs. Vine. I’ll clean it up.’ As I said, a very tidy gentleman.”dal libro Mischief di Amanda Quick
Do You like book Mischief (2005)?
I want to say this is more of a 3.5 stars book. I oscillated between "meh," and "this is pretty good," at different parts of the book but the balance was fairly even.This book was entertaining but it did fall short of the mark in some aspects. I will say that I did not see the ending coming, so thumbs up there, although that may be because it was such a long time in doing so. I feel the author wrote several good scenes and then tried to fit them all in, and while several wound up tying in quite well at the end others were unnecessary and could have been cut to keep the pacing up.I actually enjoyed the main story far more than the romance aspect. I feel like the author did a pretty good job capturing the vague unease of an old thriller novel. In fact, had the romance been played down and the novel focused more on the main plot this could easily have been a 4 star book! The sex scenes seemed shoehorned in and while they weren't poorly written (no "love juices" or "weeping flower" crap here, thank god,) I still found myself almost skimming them to get to the next part of the story.The characters were fun at first but didn't really develop through the novel. That said, it's a romance novel, so I didn't go into it expecting an epic tale. It was fun, and the characters escaped many of the same writing and characterization pitfalls that make me so reluctant to read this genre.I can't say I adored this novel but I also didn't find myself rolling my eyes and exclaiming, "Really?" which I usually do with this sort of book. Overall, this was a fun read and while it had its flaws I did enjoy reading it. I think I'd read another book by Ms. Quick if I came across it in a similar fashion to this one.
—Kristen MacDonald
Hmmmm. I liked this book. It was cute and fun and fluffy. I can see why this book would annoy some ppl. While I was reading I came across this quote - "How can you be so bloody damn intelligent on the one hand and so incredibly naive on the other?" And that pretty much sums up Imogen. She is like this strange hybrid between the three stooges and Pollyanna. She is constantly performing slapstick routines. Either bumping into something, flailing an arm about, attempting to lead while waltzing etc. She is also annoyingly positive. You could be standing over her with a bloody knife after she watched you stab her - REPEATEDLY - and if you were someone she liked she would ask you if by chance you had tripped on the carpet accidentally. She lives in her own happy little world. The Zamarian world. This gets a bit irritating at times, but if PNR can make up strange realms why not historicals?But don't get me wrong, if you just let go and embrace the fact that if she never ends up with anyone she would definitely be that crazy lady down the way with 56 cats - that she talks to, then the book is a fun cute read. If you don't you will be pulling your hair out after the first few chapters as you shout at the book to open your bloody eyes already!
—Sandy
One star because I will forever remember this book as the book which Zamared too much.Let me explain: Lord Colchester of Zamar discovered the lost (and dead) kingdom of Zamar, where he found Zamarian artifacts which he brought to London. Imogen Waterstone is a Zamar enthusiast who delves into Zamar scholarship, wears Zamar-themed dresses and has a plot regarding... Zamar.She involves Colchester in her Zamarian plan, which is to get someone into an expedition to Zamar, where he'll waste all his money because Zamar is a money-hungry place. Then *she* gets involved with Colchester, and they use secret Zamarian love-making techniques to have Zamarian sex, which they feel the need to mention, to make sure you know she thinks everything good comes from Zamar. So the two dream of each other as the two deities of Zamar: Zamaris and Anizarnara.But other people use Zamar to try to get them with the aid of a 'Zamarian tablet', which is just a Zamarian receipt, which Imogen realizes instantly because she reads Zamarian like English.All ends well when he says he loves her the way he does Zamar and will Zamar the Zamar out of her for the Zamar of their days. Zamar.If I never hear of "Zamar" again, it will be too soon.
—Roxana-Mălina Chirilă
