Rating: 
Summary: Not quite as engaging as 'Chapel Noir'
Review: 'Castle Rouge', like it's precursor, 'Chapel Noir', is a thorough novel. The upside to such a book being that the reader is treated to intricate details, a strong sense of atmosphere, and dynamic characters. The downside, however, is that it doesn't become necessarily intriguing, or engaging for that matter, until you have passed the three hundred page mark. Having felt this way with 'Chapel Noir' as well, I knew that if I were to wait out the novel I would be rewarded with a satisfying reading experience at the end. I was--and was not--correct in my assumption.As 'Chapel Noir's did, 'Castle Rouge's narration takes shape under the watchful eyes of numerous characters. Adler's constant companion, Nell, is back. Pink, an American journalist and temporary (not to mention annoying) sidekick, is also present with her side of the intrigue. The series of entries "found" in a yellow notebook show up again as well. However, new to 'Castle Rouge' is Sherlock Holmes' confidante, Watson. His voice is one of the most sustaining aspects of the first half of the novel, which otherwise tends to be a tad slow-going, and the reader feels rather bereft when he no longer takes part in the telling of the story. The arrival of Quentin Stanhope, around page three hundred and twenty, is when it starts to pick up pace. Irene and company get mobilized and begin to actively track the missing Nell and husband Godfrey. The focus on the Ripper at this time, though, isn't as strong. For that matter, throughout the whole of the novel the focus on the vicious killer becomes skewed. The story becomes more about the relationship between the various players and how they are dealing with whatever particular circumstance they find themselves in. To that end, I enjoyed meeting Godfrey and further found Bram Stoker to be a charming fellow. However, the crime/mystery aspect seriously started to suffer. I felt that this novel wasn't one that invited the reader to solve the mystery. The yellow notebooks, our only direct clue to aid in answering the question of Jack the Ripper, are, in retrospect, misleading. And, ultimately, the claim made in terms of his identity was implausible to me. I read the afterword, shook my head, and had to read it again to make sure I had read it correctly the first time. Douglas, as far as I'm concerned, went way out on a limb, perhaps a bit too far. In general the actual climax happens too quickly when you think about the time and word count it took to get there and then on top of that the novel ends too abruptly for my taste. I kept searching the cover and author information to see if it mentioned another upcoming title in the series, but met with no such luck. 'Castle Rouge' is not the type of sequel that can be read independently; it relies heavily on occurrences in 'Chapel Noir'. (And, as far as I'm concerned, earlier titles in the Irene Adler series as well.) But it is a must read for those that did indeed enjoy 'Noir'. It is not as graphic and not quite as believable as the first installment. The character interaction was well-done and since I'm quite curious as to the nature of Quentin and Nell's relationship I will read the first titles in the series when they are re-released. Even though it was disappointing, I am glad to have read it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Top Pick of Bookclub magazine and deserves it!
Review: Castle Rouge is a breathtaking work of depth and quality. Never has Irene been so fascinating or determined, and never has she found herself in a situation to match this one. This is a sumptuous read!
Rating: 
Summary: So glad to have found Carole Nelson Douglas
Review: I picked this book up at the library one day while I was passing time waiting on my children. The word Castle caught my eye, and the Jack the Ripper plot idea intrigued me. Always searching for(and all too rarely finding) a good writer, I was immediately delighted with the quality of Ms. Douglas' writing. In classic Dickensian style she weilds words in unexpected ways as to be sometimes powerful, sometimes subtle, sometimes shocking, but never ordinary.
The story and characters are in themselves intriguing. By assembling in one story Jack the Ripper, Bram Stoker (author of Dracula) Sherlock Holmes, Nelly Bly, the Prince of Wales, Baron de Rothschild along with other sordid characters, both fictional and non, you have the soup into which Ms. Douglas tosses the reader to stew. We watch as Irene Adler solves both the Jack the Ripper case once and for all, and reveals the source of Bram Stroker's inspiration. Along the way we get to explore the seedy underbelly of late 19th century London, Paris, Prague and Transalvania. It's a scandolusly delicious romp!
If you like historical fiction or mystery, and value skillful writing, I commend you to Ms. Douglas.
Rating:
Summary: A Victorian era mystery with a feminist point of view
Review: Irene Adler is a character created by Arthur Conan Doyle and the only woman who ever outsmarted his famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Carole Nelson Douglas has taken Irene and turned her into a detective with her own series of mystery novels. In this book, Castle Rouge, the action picks up from the previous volume Chapel Noir, with Irene seeking out the person or people who have perpetrated Jack the Ripper like murders in Paris a year after the Whitechapel murders in London. She is in desperate pursuit because it appears that her colleague Nell Huxleigh and her husband have been taken by the same culprits. But who are they? In this second volume Irene leaves Paris first for Prague and then a castle in Romania. Who is responsible for this international crime spree? Don't read the Selected Bibliography at the end of the book until you have finished it. You may find a spoiler of a clue there,
A long tale that stretches across two large volumes, but the excitement never flags. Highly recommended - a feminist point of view on the Victorian era.
Rating:
Summary: tremendous Irene Adler Victorian mystery
Review: Sleuth Irene Adler is stunned that the man she thought might be Jack the Ripper escaped from his prison asylum and concludes that that he will kill again. Irene caught him before and feels obligated to do so again though she knows how dangerous that mission is. However, the cat and mouse game takes quite a few twists even before it starts. First someone abducts her companion Nell Huxleigh. If that kidnapper is Ripper, Nell is already dead. Even before she can plan a course of action to rescue Nell if she lives, Irene learns that her spouse, barrister Godfrey Norton, has vanished somewhere in Bohemia. Once again she wonders if the escapee is involved. With the help of Bram Stroker and Pink, an expatriate American hooker, Irene begins her second war to stop the notorious serial killer whose calling card is a sea of red and rescue her cherished ones. The latest Irene Adler Victorian mystery, CASTLE ROUGE, is a tremendous who-done-it that stars a wonderful sleuth. Irene is supported by a who's who of the times (fiction and real) blended cleverly into the story line to either provide insight into the heroine or propel the plot forward including Holmes and Watson. The investigation is strong engaging the audience with its insight into the late nineteenth century on the continent as a bonus. Carole Nelson Douglas deserves accolades and best selling status for this triumphant historical detective tale that will send readers seeking other Adler novels and other works by this delightful author. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: And the Castle ran red with blood...
Review: Slow, confusing, not very believable, (and to top it off Pink is beyond irritating). I was very disappointed in this installment in the Irene Adler series. As a long time fan I have been quite disappointed in the last two books
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Slow, confusing, not very believable, (and to top it off Pink is beyond irritating). I was very disappointed in this installment in the Irene Adler series. As a long time fan I have been quite disappointed in the last two books
Rating:
Summary: And the Castle ran red with blood...
Review: The sequel to Chapel Noir, which I bought instantly upon finishing the first is terriffic! What a twist on the Ripper! And to all of you nay-sayers out there, The Raven has some history. #1. I TOLD you Pink was famous under a pseudonym. She was the perfect companion for Irene in the race to save Nell. #2. This Ripper suspect was definately alive during said time period and proved himself to be both hopelessly insane and perverted sexually, as well as a religious fanatic. It would explain the Chi-Rho patterns that Irene makes of the murders, non? Or other authors of Ripperology's "Masonic Symbols". #3. It would explain where Bram Stoker got the setting and background for "Dracula". #4. Are you so foolish as to think that a serial killer like Jack-the-Ripper having got away with it once wouldn't do it again? Or even that Mary Kelly was his LAST victim? If so, you need to do some research. I liked these volumes so well, I bought the others I didn't have. So, Carole Douglas, my compliments. Quoth the Raven...
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: These last two books by Douglas have been diappointing, indeed. I borrowed Castle Rouge and skimmed through only to keep up on the relationship between Quentin and Nell. I hope the next book in this series is more in keeping with the first three.
Rating:
Summary: And the Castle ran red with blood...
Review: This is the sequel to Chapel Noir, and a great book in and of itself. A interesting suspect for the Ripper. It leaves the reader to stare at the man's rather imposing picture and wonder "Could it have been?" Well... #1 He was alive and kicking during this time period (1888) #2 He is well-known for his hypnotic power over women #3 He is also well-known for his religious fanaticism, which would explain why most Ripperologists find religious or occult symbols in the murder patterns #4 He is now known to have been hopelessly insane #5 By train, as the map in the book shows, it's not that far from Russia to London #6 The murders DID NOT end with Mary Kelly, even in London, and it's easy to see a serial killer like the Ripper repeating himself elsewhere. Ted Bundy is a perfect example. And Pink did turn out to be someone you could rely on in a pinch, n'est c'est pas? Quoth the Raven...
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