Grace Burrowes writes gentle Regency tales, both romances and also this intrigue series, A GENTLEMAN OF QUESTIONABLE JUDGEMENT is the ninth in this historical series. I enjoy all of Burrowes’ books, but I think I love Lord Julian even more than her many cozy romance series. Lord Julian is such an earnest and upstanding man, and I adore his sense of honor.
Lord Julian Caldicott is the third son of the prior Waltham duke. Julian served as a spy during the Napoleonic War and was captured and tortured as a prisoner of war along with his brother. Julian has been using his well-honed spy skills to successfully investigate domestic crimes now that he’s home, and despite his reluctance to sleuth, he is continuing to get requests from others in the ton to investigate their problems.
Julian is inveigled into attending a two-week-long informal race meeting at an acquaintance’s estate, a gentleman who is convinced he was cheated out of a major racing win three years ago. This gentleman asks Julian to keep an eye on the races and prevent any further shady business. Having little interest in horse racing, Julian turns him down until he learns that his fiancée, Miss Hyperia West, will be attending the event.
A GENTLEMAN OF QUESTIONABLE JUDGEMENT does not have enough Hyperia and Julian, in my opinion. This book is remarkably scanty in its inclusion of all of my favorite secondary characters in this series and is poorer for the lack of them. The romance is light, although the tale is heavy in men acting badly. Hyperia’s jackass of a brother needs to be horsewhipped, I think. And the villain of the piece sadly escapes any real consequences, as he continues to try to fix horse races to his own benefit.
The joy of this series is in the complex struggles of Lord Julian as he tries to navigate society and his family, and as he tries to woo his lady love. The historical details of A GENTLEMAN OF QUESTIONABLE JUDGEMENT are pleasing, but I felt the lack of the usual interpersonal details that enliven these books typically. Nonetheless, I eagerly await Burrowes’ next Lord Julian book- a Regency mystery series with soul.
Lord Julian Caldicott is inveigled into attending a two-week long informal race meeting, though he has little interest in fast Thoroughbreds or the people obsessed with the sport of kings. Julian joins the “horse party” strictly because he hopes to spend time with his fiancée, Miss Hyperia West, though he does agree to report any unusual observations to the race organizer.
Or a game for fools? The wrong horses start winning and losing from the first day, tempers flare, and accusations fly. Julian watches carefully as fortunes are wagered, and still, he cannot see who is rigging the races or how. When suspicion turns on Julian himself, and his own honor is challenged, the race becomes life or death. Will the best sleuth win or will Julian become a cheating scoundrel’s next victim?
© 2003-2025 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy