So many random thoughts; I picked this up at the library purely on the strength of Deanna Raybourn and my enjoyment of her other novels. I knew it wasn't a mystery, but I grabbed it anyway because it was set in Africa, and I really enjoy Raybourn's writing; the dry wit, the sass.

The only thing this novel had in common with her Julia Grey / Veronica Speedwell novels is the male love interest; it's safe to say Raybourn has a type, and she sticks with it. Brisbane, Stoker and Ryder could all be the same character with different hair styles. As for the rest of the story, it's utterly different from anything else of hers I've read.

A Spear Of Summer Grass starts off slowly - so very slowly - and its plot is tenuous, at best, for the first ... 70% of the book? For that first 2/3, it was a 3 star read and that was because Raybourn captured the romance of interwar Africa (Kenya, specifically) perfectly for a reader whose chance at experiencing it herself has been postponed. The main character, Delilah, is not a typical Raybourn heroine. She looks like it on the outside, as she does what she pleases and apologises to no one, but it's not coming from a core of strength; Delilah's core is pretty amoral when it comes to sex. She's Phryne Fisher without a purpose. Eventually, the reader learns where this comes from, but Raybourn makes the reader work for it.

Round about that 70% mark it's clear that this story comes closest to a coming of age story mixed with a romance, whose chemistry is also every bit like the chemistry between the characters in her other books. There are also some developments that really work towards ratcheting up the pace - and the reader's interest. Some of the secondary bits and characters were clunky, but for that last third of the book, I was hooked; I was invested, and I was sorry to see it come to an end.

Would I recommend it? I don't know. I'm glad I read it - it was beautifully written, well researched (even if some of her research came from funny sources), and ultimately it was a good story - but I think it's one the reader has to be in the mood for more so than for most books. ( )

A bad story written adequately is still a bad story. ( )

This book certainly wasn't what I was expecting, but since I've loved the other books of Deanna Raybourn's that I have read (the Lady Julia Grey mysteries), I decided to give it a try. I'm glad that I did! It was a refreshing read which, for me, painted vivid images of Africa. Delilah isn't your typical heroine - she has many flaws, most of which she is aware of, but somehow she is still likeable. Ryder is mysterious and rugged - which I happen to love in a male character. I finished the book a while ago, but the story is still lingering with me... In a good way! ( )

I needed a light, atmospheric read and got one. ( )

You must read this book. This is a novel that lingers with you after you turn the last page. It is lyrical and harsh and lovely. It evokes the Africa of Hemmingway and the spirit of the Lost Generation.


Delilah Drummond is a heroine with hidden depths. She is a woman I liked instantly, even though from the beginning she was not your typical heroine, and perhaps shouldn't even be likeable. She seemingly parties too hard, flits from man to man without a second thought, and doesn't have any pride in her family name. However, as the story progresses we see the reasons for the things she has done, and that Delilah is more complex and a better person than her party girl facade let's on.

All of the characters in A Spear of Summer Grass are vividly drawn and memorable. The descriptions of Africa are luscious and made me feel like I was there. I could not put it down.
( )