Rating: 
Summary: Elegant sleuthing
Review: A leisurely developed closed-room murder mystery story set in a lovingly rendered 1823 England. It is an "onion peel" mystery, wherein a small number of suspects is peeled down, layer by surprising layer, to their rather smelly cores, but still, it seems, without settling on who murdered the beautiful stranger. Ross seems to have caught the elegant yet tawdry activities of the Regency period, which, like the 1920's, must have been a time of exhuberance after a similarly exhausting war (Napoleon's). Ross skillfully evokes the colors and morals of the period. It would only take listening to a disc of John Field or Franz Schubert's piano music to complete wrapping you in the period mood.The "upstairs" dandy, the style-setting fashion-plate Julian Kestrel, is in fact a sentimental rescuer of the naive groom and bride in a remote country house. His "downstairs" servant is a low-life who speaks the amusing cant of thievery (his previous, but useful, occupation until Kestrel's rescue, again). Kestrel becomes a covert (undignified) private sleuth in the course of this first book in the series. While Kestrel is undoubtedly the principal character, narrative viewpoints do shift among the main characters, sometimes rapidly, so one glimpses many motivations, not always generous, that it would be hard for Kestrel to discover alone. One character comments on the original Gothic novels by Mrs. Radcliffe, although ghosts and terror are most minor parts here. I find it a little hard to credit Kestrel's initial motivation for sleuthing on his own, but he's not really a vapid dandy and once he starts it's fun to follow. A map of the house, which Kestrel eventually acquires (but does not show us), would have been a helpful aid in visualizing the scenes.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Kate Ross
Review: Another good read by Kate Ross. Since she's not around to write any more books I try to read slowly to savor the words. This one was as good as the others and worth the extra time I took to enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Kate Ross
Review: Another good read by Kate Ross. Since she's not around to write any more books I try to read slowly to savor the words. This one was as good as the others and worth the extra time I took to enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Mystery + Georgette Heyer + Scarlet Pimpernel=Great Book
Review: As a teenager I devoured every regency romance ever written by Georgette Heyer and have wondered why there aren't any Regency period mysteries. A friend directed me to Kate Ross's Julian Kestrel series, and I am hooked. Julian Kestrel is, like most of the heroes in Georgette Heyer's romances, a dandy with a difference. Behind his suave and witty exterior lurks a serious young man with great intelligence and compassion. It's that compassion that gets him involved with Hugh Fontclair, who he rescues from a gaming club. After this act, Fontclair invites Kestrel to his home to serve as groomsman at his wedding. Once there, Kestrel meets the family (all of whom have secrets, a la Anne Perry), and discovers a dead woman in his bed. Suspicion turns from Kestrel to his wonderful servant Dipper (a reforming Cockney thief also saved by Kestrel) before turning to the possible connections the lady might have had with members of the family. If you like the regency period, the Scarlet Pimpernel, or Georgette Heyer I think you will love this book and the others in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Mystery + Georgette Heyer + Scarlet Pimpernel=Great Book
Review: As a teenager I devoured every regency romance ever written by Georgette Heyer and have wondered why there aren't any Regency period mysteries. A friend directed me to Kate Ross's Julian Kestrel series, and I am hooked. Julian Kestrel is, like most of the heroes in Georgette Heyer's romances, a dandy with a difference. Behind his suave and witty exterior lurks a serious young man with great intelligence and compassion. It's that compassion that gets him involved with Hugh Fontclair, who he rescues from a gaming club. After this act, Fontclair invites Kestrel to his home to serve as groomsman at his wedding. Once there, Kestrel meets the family (all of whom have secrets, a la Anne Perry), and discovers a dead woman in his bed. Suspicion turns from Kestrel to his wonderful servant Dipper (a reforming Cockney thief also saved by Kestrel) before turning to the possible connections the lady might have had with members of the family. If you like the regency period, the Scarlet Pimpernel, or Georgette Heyer I think you will love this book and the others in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Why didn't I read this one sooner!
Review: As most of you, I read all the time and keep books "in reserve" so I am never without one. For a recent trip to London, I wanted to have a mystery set there, and stumbled onto this one. I bought it, but just wasn't sure about it, and kept putting it aside, reading other things. Eventually I ran out of others, and picked it up. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG? I was captivated immediately by the historical details and the character of Julian. He is interesting, as is his manservant. I was CRESTFALLEN to learn that Kate Ross died recently of cancer. That makes the other three books left in the series ones to cherish. I agree with everyone who reviewed this: buy them all and read them all. I am now on the second, trying to savor it, but it, like this one, is so good it is hard to pace yourself! Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful new find in author Kate Ross
Review: I am so glad I found Kate Ross. Cut to the Quick was excellent: I found myself putting my child to bed a bit earlier just so I could settle down with the book. I think Julian Kestrel is a fresh addition to the mystery genre and have already rushed to buy the next three novels.
Rating:
Summary: A VERY GOOD BOOK
Review: I found this book to be refreshing and nice. The author has a good conception on the police work of the early 1800's and I found the main character very enchanting. As the book progressed through the mystery, the mystery behind Mr. Kestral was just as compelling. I have read all the books in this series, Mr. Kestral is a wonderful hero. I having fun getting to know him as a good friend and gentlemen. I am looking forward to future books written by Ms. Ross so I can get to know Julian even more.
Rating:
Summary: Everything a historical mystery should be
Review: I literally stumbled over this when I found it lying on the floor of our library, and I'm so glad I didn't just reshelve it. The mystery is involving and fast-paced -- and not easily solved, the characters are all fully developed and engaging, and the hero is one of those characters you wish you could find in real life. My only disappointment is that Ms. Ross has recently died and there will be no more wonderful Kestral mysteries to come.
Rating:
Summary: Everything a historical mystery should be
Review: I literally stumbled over this when I found it lying on the floor of our library, and I'm so glad I didn't just reshelve it. The mystery is involving and fast-paced -- and not easily solved, the characters are all fully developed and engaging, and the hero is one of those characters you wish you could find in real life. My only disappointment is that Ms. Ross has recently died and there will be no more wonderful Kestral mysteries to come.
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