Litfuse Blog Tour: Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray

Whispers in the Reading Room
by Shelley Gray
Copyright 2015
Zondervan Publishing
ISBN: 9780310338499

The Story:

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

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My Thoughts:

I have not read the previous books in this series and found that is is not a requirement to get the full affect. That said, I immediately fell in love with the characters in this book, but in the end feel as though they didn't get the story they deserved. I'm not sure I've ever read a book where the characters were completely as fabulous and the plot as lackluster as was the case here. I kept turning the pages waiting for some big bad to show up or something to occur that would take my breathe away. We were taken to edge of danger in Sebastian's club, at Camp Creek Alley, and even at the abandoned World's Fair site with Sebastian and Lydia, only to be pulled back and moved on to another part of the story a few scenes after.

Sebastian had a very mysterious and dangerous aura about him which could have been played upon more fully. Give this guy a chance to explore his past more and us a chance to see him in action. By the way, he was very Victor Colleano from Masterpiece Theatre's Mr. Selfridge. I had that image in my head while reading Whispers in the Reading Room...

I absolutely love Shelley Shepard Gray stories, but unfortunately, this was not her best work. I do love that she has moved outside of the Amish fiction once again with this series. I believe there is room in the history niche for her still.

~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ~

*I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

Happy Reading!