Sharon RowseCritiques

1899 Vancouver and when John Granville ex-prospector partner Sam Scott is accused of murdering Clive Jackson, Granville is determoned to prove him innocent. He investigates resulting in having the the help of a young man called Trent and lady, Emily Turner.
An enjoyable story with some likeable main characters.

November 1898 and John Granville finds himself staked to the snow. How will he escape and get his revenge.
An enjoyable short story - prequel to the series.

December 1898 and a miner is injured in a claim close to that of John Granville and his partner Scott. They both decide to investigate.
Another enjoyable short story and prequel to the series.

The is an account of Granville’s search for the iller(s) of Clive Jackson.. There are many twists and turns as he questions many with relationships with the dead man. Along the way, he meets several people willing to help him.

An interesting mystery describing Vancouver, Canada at the turn of the 19th century. Fascinating, intriquing and an enjoyable read.

3.5 stars

It's 1899 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. John Granville has recently arrived from the Klondike and when he meets up with his old buddy, Sam, Sam gets Granville a job guarding a train. A couple of nights later, they find someone murdered and Sam is arrested and held for the murder. Granville is certain Sam didn't do it, but the police think otherwise and aren't looking into alternatives, so Granville does some sleuthing of his own.

I enjoyed this. Historical mysteries are iffy for me, but this was good. It did take a few chapters for me to get “into” it, but it was interesting enough, even at the start, that I backed up to reread what I missed when my mind wandered at first. I enjoyed the mystery and I enjoyed the secondary characters, Trent and Emily, who were helping Granville out. I also enjoyed the setting. It was also a nice quick read. This is the first in a series, and I will pick up the next one, as well.½

I was not sure I would like this book because it dragged as the narrative moved on then I got halfway through the book and I couldn't put it down. I have a new author to read. :)

Granville and Scott formed their detective agency in 'The Silk Train Murder' and are now in need of a client. In walks Cole, with a map to a gold mine and a cache of gold, and hires them to help him get to the mine and bring out the gold. It's the middle of winter and not a good time to take to the mountains.

Rowse's characters are still strong, the historical atmosphere and the plot is better than her first. This is a strong beginning and I hope that the Klondike series continues.

The Silk Train Murder by Sharon Rowse is a historical mystery set in the late 1800s in Vancouver, BC, Canada. John Lansdowne Granville undertakes to clear his friend of murder, gets a client who will pay for him to do so (making him a private detective even though detectives probably weren't licensed at that time), gets beaten up as private detective are prone to do and at the end forms a private detective agency.

This book is not strong on historical atmosphere, but this is Rowse's first book and as such it was quite strong. I intend to read her other one in this series as well.½