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ConversazioniBook Discussion : When Gods Die by C S Harris
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2Sergeirocks
Picked up lots of interesting facts relating to that period of the Monarchy.
Another fascinating storyline, well-written. A rich mix of characters.
Another fascinating storyline, well-written. A rich mix of characters.
4EadieB
I like the characters.
Learned a lot about the different rulers and time periods of the Monarchy.
I liked the fact that the author was related to one of the original necklace owners.
Learned a lot about the different rulers and time periods of the Monarchy.
I liked the fact that the author was related to one of the original necklace owners.
5gaylebutz
It had a good pace with a lot going on all the way through the story. Sebastian and Kat are very likable. There were interesting things to learn about the history of that time.
6Carol420
The storyline was good and very easy to follow for the most part. Setting the scene with the body and the Prince in the beginning was very well done and of course led us all to the wrong conclusion.
7Andrew-theQM
Good pacing and plotting, the historical backdrop and right balance of history and mystery. Great characters. These books are very well written and seem to be making it on to my favourites list. Plenty of them still to go but why don’t the local libraries have them?
8EadieB
>7 Andrew-theQM: I was reading some reviews on Amazon and I saw a couple that claimed the author was wrong on a few of her history facts. I'll check again and let you know what they said was wrong. Here's one:
Strike Two-- Takes the Historical Out of Historical Mystery
BySireson September 28, 2009
I started to sit down and write a long diatribe about all of the historical errors in this book-- errors of history, not just anachronisms. Then I decided that I would just bore anyone who read that wall of words. So this is the short version.
If you don't mind the fact that the author writes a Note at the end to mention that she made up Ann of Savoy and fails to mention that she also made up a lot of other stuff including the fear of a curse against England because George III went mad, then you might be all right with this book.
She does get the Jacobite heir at the time wrong-- it was Charles Emanuel, King of Sardinia (Savoy was a Duchy which became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia in the 17th century), not his brother Victor Emanuel. Charles had abdicated Sardinia but kept the personal title of King some years before the last legitimate Stuart died and the right passed to him by both descent and the will of Henry, Cardinal called Duke of York.
To be fair, the PC attitudes that other people complain about are not out of period. This was a time when people where examining what liberty and rights of man (and even women) meant.
However, the idea that the hero could recognize an accent as from the south in the USA based on his father having spent time in Georgia "in his youth" is entirely too much for me to swallow.
So no, this isn't a very good HISTORICAL mystery. Nor is it terribly good mystery.
If the reader is interested in a contemporary mystery that also works in the death of the Duke of Cumberland's valet, I would suggest Kingdom of Lies by Lee Wood. I recommend the Audible download.
And in case anyone cares (or is still reading), there was an alliance between Goditha Price and James, Duke of York, as mentioned in the Author's Note, but without children-- the Stuarts weren't shy about claiming their children by mistresses so there's is no conspiracy there. Goditha died young, unmarried and childless before James took the throne as James II. The records that remain of her (Pepys, MEMOIRS OF THE COMTE DE GRAMONT. and the Earl of Rochester) are not kind.
I think that making up half royal children for Americans to claim descent from is almost a cottage industry.
Another reviewer:
Inaccuracies and modern day PCism invades the text
ByTraceyon December 25, 2006
I had high hopes for this book, because I enjoy Regency fiction, but this book disappointed me. Although it has an intriguing plotline - a murder set at the Brighton Pavilion in an attempt to discredit the Prince Regent - its characters are one-dimensional and never drew me into the story. Worse, but not uncommon these days, was the sloppy editing. Sharp readers will find things like "then" instead of "than" or "straights" rather than "straits", for instance. And then there is the heavy-handed politically correct thoughts supposedly held by the hero as well as other characters.
The uncritical reader will just assume, sadly, that it was possible that a nobleman born in the 18th century could actually worry about women's rights, poverty, the inconsistencies of the American Revolution's aims compared to the current situation in America at that time. But there is little documentary evidence to prove that, and it shows instead that C S Harris merely enjoys putting her own opinions about the US's history into the mouths of her characters. This includes a dialogue between a freed American slave running a tavern and St. Cyr, declaiming over a US that offers freedoms through its revolution but still enslaves blacks. Even more astonishing, she has her character then discuss the fate of the American Indian - a fate that, in the early 1800's, would hardly have been set in stone, given that the US had barely completed the Louisiana Purchase and westward expansion was barely underway. But that doesn't stop Harris from putting 21st century political expression on page after page.
That, plus the sloppy editing and cardboard characters, made the book virtually unreadable to me. If you want a real old-fashioned Regency romance, unsullied by current day politically correct speeches, choose one of the old favorites like Georgette Heyer, or find a newer author who's content to let her characters speak as they would have in the early 19th century.
Strike Two-- Takes the Historical Out of Historical Mystery
BySireson September 28, 2009
I started to sit down and write a long diatribe about all of the historical errors in this book-- errors of history, not just anachronisms. Then I decided that I would just bore anyone who read that wall of words. So this is the short version.
If you don't mind the fact that the author writes a Note at the end to mention that she made up Ann of Savoy and fails to mention that she also made up a lot of other stuff including the fear of a curse against England because George III went mad, then you might be all right with this book.
She does get the Jacobite heir at the time wrong-- it was Charles Emanuel, King of Sardinia (Savoy was a Duchy which became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia in the 17th century), not his brother Victor Emanuel. Charles had abdicated Sardinia but kept the personal title of King some years before the last legitimate Stuart died and the right passed to him by both descent and the will of Henry, Cardinal called Duke of York.
To be fair, the PC attitudes that other people complain about are not out of period. This was a time when people where examining what liberty and rights of man (and even women) meant.
However, the idea that the hero could recognize an accent as from the south in the USA based on his father having spent time in Georgia "in his youth" is entirely too much for me to swallow.
So no, this isn't a very good HISTORICAL mystery. Nor is it terribly good mystery.
If the reader is interested in a contemporary mystery that also works in the death of the Duke of Cumberland's valet, I would suggest Kingdom of Lies by Lee Wood. I recommend the Audible download.
And in case anyone cares (or is still reading), there was an alliance between Goditha Price and James, Duke of York, as mentioned in the Author's Note, but without children-- the Stuarts weren't shy about claiming their children by mistresses so there's is no conspiracy there. Goditha died young, unmarried and childless before James took the throne as James II. The records that remain of her (Pepys, MEMOIRS OF THE COMTE DE GRAMONT. and the Earl of Rochester) are not kind.
I think that making up half royal children for Americans to claim descent from is almost a cottage industry.
Another reviewer:
Inaccuracies and modern day PCism invades the text
ByTraceyon December 25, 2006
I had high hopes for this book, because I enjoy Regency fiction, but this book disappointed me. Although it has an intriguing plotline - a murder set at the Brighton Pavilion in an attempt to discredit the Prince Regent - its characters are one-dimensional and never drew me into the story. Worse, but not uncommon these days, was the sloppy editing. Sharp readers will find things like "then" instead of "than" or "straights" rather than "straits", for instance. And then there is the heavy-handed politically correct thoughts supposedly held by the hero as well as other characters.
The uncritical reader will just assume, sadly, that it was possible that a nobleman born in the 18th century could actually worry about women's rights, poverty, the inconsistencies of the American Revolution's aims compared to the current situation in America at that time. But there is little documentary evidence to prove that, and it shows instead that C S Harris merely enjoys putting her own opinions about the US's history into the mouths of her characters. This includes a dialogue between a freed American slave running a tavern and St. Cyr, declaiming over a US that offers freedoms through its revolution but still enslaves blacks. Even more astonishing, she has her character then discuss the fate of the American Indian - a fate that, in the early 1800's, would hardly have been set in stone, given that the US had barely completed the Louisiana Purchase and westward expansion was barely underway. But that doesn't stop Harris from putting 21st century political expression on page after page.
That, plus the sloppy editing and cardboard characters, made the book virtually unreadable to me. If you want a real old-fashioned Regency romance, unsullied by current day politically correct speeches, choose one of the old favorites like Georgette Heyer, or find a newer author who's content to let her characters speak as they would have in the early 19th century.
9Andrew-theQM
>8 EadieB: Me thinks they didn’t like the book. 😊 I always bear in mind with historical fiction (and mysteries) that they are based on historical facts but some of it may not be true or add figures in that didn’t exist . As one of our favourite authors said in his book, and frustratingly can’t remember who it was, this is fiction that means I make shit up! (Excuse the profanity but it is a quote). I love history but have no problem with this as I know it’s a possibility, hence reading the history around the book. This goes with reading fiction, if not happy perhaps should stick to historical non-fiction. Certainly wouldn’t let this spoil my enjoyment of the book.
10EadieB
>9 Andrew-theQM: I agree that some people get to picky and sometimes it's just to let people know how much they think they know. lol I still enjoyed the book so I'm not going to let it sway me either.
11EadieB
>9 Andrew-theQM: This one is funny:
Research needed
ByJ.on July 17, 2014
The collie could not have sweat-soaked shoulders as dogs sweat only from their tongues by panting, plus a wee bit from their foot pads. They do not body sweat. Think; you've never seen a sweat-soaked dog, no matter how hot the weather. However, you've surely seen a heavy panter with lots of drool dripping; that's a sweaty dog. I like this whodunit anyway.
Research needed
ByJ.on July 17, 2014
The collie could not have sweat-soaked shoulders as dogs sweat only from their tongues by panting, plus a wee bit from their foot pads. They do not body sweat. Think; you've never seen a sweat-soaked dog, no matter how hot the weather. However, you've surely seen a heavy panter with lots of drool dripping; that's a sweaty dog. I like this whodunit anyway.
12Andrew-theQM
>10 EadieB: Me either, I loved this book which was a mystery set against a historical back drop. Why do people have to over analyse books, just enjoy the story!
Thanks for posting them.
Thanks for posting them.
13EadieB
>12 Andrew-theQM: Well, the overall rating on Amazon was 4.4 so a lot of people liked the book!
14Andrew-theQM
>11 EadieB: 😂 Some of these people need to get a life! I’m just focused on enjoying the story and trying to think who did it and why. Life’s too short to think about dog sweat and dog drool! 🤢
15Andrew-theQM
>13 EadieB: 4.09 on Goodreads and book 3 is 4.16! Anything above 4 is a really cracking read.
16EadieB
>14 Andrew-theQM: Ha Ha Funny!
17Carol420
The reviewer is right about the dog...but who cares??? It had nothing to do with the mystery. Who really knows what all actually happened 300 years ago? It was a fictional mystery not a historical account of occurring events. If it had been sold as non-fiction then they would have reason to pick apart the research. Just cool your jets reviewers and enjoy a really well done story.
18EadieB
>17 Carol420: you are so right!
19Andrew-theQM
>17 Carol420: Couldn't agree More Carol. Do some people not read book to just enjoy a good story!
20Carol420
>19 Andrew-theQM: There are some that live to find fault with anything and everything.
