Deadly Curious was a book I really enjoyed. I liked how it was fast paced and always kept me hooked with all that was happening. The characters were likeable and every single one of them had their crucial part in the story.

The mystery element was always present and I spent the entirety of the book making theories on who the killer was, but at the end it turned out to be a surprise for me. The romance was also on point, I liked that it wasn't the focus of the book but still was executed perfectly.

I'd recommend this book to those who like a good mystery book set in the past, as the accuracy of the XIX century was excellent.

<strong>I loved the exploration of a young women trying to become a detective. </strong>It's all about<strong> Sophia Thompson</strong>, a young girl in the 1830s trying to start her career as a detective. Since her family has fallen a bit from grace, she's not looking at many marriage proposals so she decides to take matters into her own hands and pick out a career to support herself. I <strong>liked her determination in making the best of her situation</strong> and learning as much about detective work as she could. Solving her cousin's murder seems to be the best way to prove herself worthy - and one day joins the Bow Street Runners in London - so Sophia tries to make sense of the mystery, especially as it's so personal. I really <strong>appreciated that the story showed the sexist prejudices that Sophia faces for choosing an 'unladylike' profession but still includes a lot of support for her</strong>. I prefer stories that don't <em>constantly</em> remind us of sexism in society and instead have characters that face some drawbacks, but still make progress. Sophia's father can sometimes come across as a bit patronizing, but he genuinely loves Sophia and even though he doesn't understand her aspirations, he still helps her out when her uncle is being difficult. The same goes for <strong>Daphne</strong>. She's Sophia's cousin and calls for her to solve the murder of her brother. She trusts her to get the job done and is supportive of her new career, even though she doesn't completely understand it. I <strong>loved the friendship between Daphne and Sophia, was both are different from each other and might not 100% get the other's interests, but are still respectful of each other</strong>. Sophia herself is a very realistic portrayal of a woman in historical times who's still caught up in the traditions and etiquette that was socialized but still tries to break free of them. I liked that she never looked down on Daphne for being more traditionally feminine, even when she has other interests.

<strong>I also liked Sophia teaming up with Jeremy. </strong>He's the second character we follow along, so there's an even split between his and Sophia's POV. Jeremy is a Bow Street Runner - what Sophia hopes to become - and is sent to a hopeless case to prove himself. He's very young, so he didn't have many cases yet and as a newbie, he's trying to establish his knowledge and expertise by solving a case himself. This is the one that might finally get him some acknowledgment so Jeremy is determined to show that he's capable of being a great investigator. As the youngest son of a Baron, he needs to have his own career, as he won't inherit his father's estate. <strong>I loved that Jeremy and Sophia are united in trying to prove that they are good detectives, even though they come from vastly different perspectives</strong>. Jeremy's got privilege as a man, though him being young often lets people think he's not as competent. Meanwhile, Sophia struggles with a sexist society, refusing to accept a female detective. When both of them meet, they are immediately drawn to each other and begin an unlikely partnership, as they both want to find out what happened and secretly enjoy each other's company. <strong>They were very cute together and I liked that Jeremy took Sophia's aspirations seriously</strong>, though she sometimes had to remind him that she needed to see the more gruesome sides of detection to get used to them. I also quite liked how things ended for them <spoiler>I was frustrated that Sophia still wasn't allowed to become a Bow Street Runner even after solving the case, but instead of being defeated, she is<strong> inspired to create her own detective agency</strong> with her soon to be husband, Jeremy, where they can solve crimes together!</spoiler>

<strong>I wish the book had been a bit more fast-paced though. </strong>I liked following along the mystery, but sometimes the pace of the story slowed down a bit and I was <strong>hoping for the main characters to do a bit more investigating</strong>. I know that they're caught up in following traditions and everyday life, but I wanted more high-stakes missions to find out who the killer was. The mystery could have done with a bit more development because I did enjoy the deductions that we got to see, I just wanted more of them. Same with the romance, I liked Jeremy and Sophia working together but would have l<strong>oved to see more swoon-worthy scenes between them</strong>. So everything taken together made the story a bit slower, especially as the writing was sometimes a bit more focused on telling than showing us things. I still enjoyed reading Deadly Curious, but some aspects could have been more fleshed out.

<strong>IN CONCLUSION.</strong> ➽ <i>Deadly Curious</i> was an interesting <strong>mix of historical fiction, mystery, and a little bit of romance</strong>. I really liked the exploration of a young woman trying to prove that she can be a good detective and the lovely team up with an attractive Bow Street Runner who values her input. I do wish that the mystery had been a bit more fast-paced and plot-focused though.

That was so much fun to read! :) I felt like I was reading Jane Austin's novel, but instead, the lead is solving a mystery. :)

My favorite thing about the story is the setting, there is something about that time in history, especially if it's set in the English countryside.

Sophia's prospects of escaping home via marriage kind of went down the drain when her cousin got murdered. Now she is set on finding a career and she has her eyes set on Bow Street Runners. :) When her cousin writes a letter and asks her to help solve a murder because she is desperate, she jumps at a chance.

There is a young policeman on the case and they start to unravel the mystery together.

It's such a good book! I flew through the pages and had so much fun reading! :)

This is my first book of Cindy Anstey so I have nothing to expect. But since I love mystery historical fiction, I would love to give it a go!

We follow Sophia, who is eager to become a runner ( an investigator ) and she wanted to proof herself by solving the case of her cousin, Andrew Waverly's murder case. Ever since, there is no female runner and the job doesn't suit to a woman. But still, Sophia teammed up with Jeremy Fraser, the current runner of the case in order to reveal the muderer.

The pacing of the plot was quite okay but a bit draggy. I love the murder case so much, it's a perfect case for the characters to solve. I was also curious on the case, makes me sitting at the edge of my chair.

Then, we talk about the main characters. Sophia is a very focused woman. She's so eager to solve the case even her relative asked her to leave the case for the runner to solve. And she rebels, all the time. Which makes her a very strong character. I can say she is not like any other girl. She likes to try and learn something new.

Jeremy is not any different. He is protective man, especially when it comes to Sophia who volunteerly involved into a deadly case. He's quite charming, by the way. His use of words are so attractive and polite. Like really this guy need to have a bad side for real.

For the mystery aspect, honestly, I am a bit lost from time to time and I kept rereading the scene again. Because a scene can be very fast but full of information. The mystery is just torturing me. I barely had a clue whoever is the murderer. All the clue leads to every suspicious characters that I hardly know and I just can't help but wonder if any of those are hiding something. The lacking of characteristic in side characters is just, overwhelming. You kept blaming the wrong person for no reason.

The relationship between Sophia and Jeremy is so very cute. I mean, they are not straightforwardly flirting. But their chemistry and talking and discussing is the romance aspect. Their interaction are so freaking fluffy and flattering. And, their development ia not disappointing at all.

This book overall was good. It had a slow start, but picks up steam as it goes. It is definitely character driven more than plot driven in the first half of the book. The Bow Runner detective is a bit too green to have been on a murder case by himself. I personally had the suspect by 30% through the book, and Jeremy had no clue until the murderer confesses. Sophia also is a bit thick, in regards to the investigation, but that is completely to be expected because she has no training. That being said, I had no idea the motive, until the murderer confesses.
Despite it's faults, this book is a fun read and I will definitely recommend it to friends who enjoy character driven stories.

Cindy Anstey deftly blends chilling atmosphere, delicious wit, nail-biting mystery and touching romance in her latest novel, Deadly Curious.

Sophia Thompson would love nothing more than to be a Bow Street Runner. With her plans for matrimony shattered due to her extended family’s nefarious dealings, Sophia has decided not to pine for marriage and children and instead invest all of her time, energy and resources into becoming the best detective she can possibly be. Of course, for a woman living in 1834, this was easier said than done but she refuses to be deterred or dissuaded from her quest – especially as her cousin was murdered a year ago and his killer is still at large. After receiving a frantic letter from her cousin Daphne, Sophia decides that the time has come for her to prove her mettle and to try and discover what happened to her cousin Andrew and whether she can track down his killer.

At twenty years of age, Jeremy Fraser has only three investigations under his belt, but when the young Bow
Street Runner is tasked with looking into the murder of Andrew Waverley, he is determined to prove his worth as an investigator to his bosses and all of his detractors. However, solving this case proves to be even harder than he originally envisaged. For one thing, the Constable continues to throw obstacle after obstacle in his path and the strange behavior of the Waverley family is giving him serious cause for concern. His investigation seems to be derailed at every turn, but at least Miss Sophia Thompson, the deceased’s cousin, seems keen to assist him in this investigation.

As this case takes Sophia down uncertain and dangerous paths she had never previously imagined, she quickly realizes that the killer might be closer to her family than she initially suspected- and that threat of danger and jeopardy is edging closer and closer yet again..

Cindy Anstey has got a charming writing style that will appeal to readers of all ages. Deadly Curious is a terrific mystery that brilliantly captures the spirit and elegance of the 19th Century. Sparkling with flair, humor and style, this nail-biting thriller has got a touching romance at its centre that will make readers giggle and keep them engrossed and entertained from start to finish.

A riveting tale of danger, deception and desire, Cindy Anstey’s Deadly Curious is a gripping historical tale that is as hard to put down as it is to resist.

Deadly Curious is a book I've had my eye on for a while. I have loved every book I've read by Cindy Anstey and this one is no different. Not only does she do a great job with the YA historical genre but with the added mystery, this book had me turning the pages to find out the real story.

This book opens with a murder and picks up from there. Sophia Thompson wants to be a bow street runner but a woman has never joined their ranks yet. Despite that, and the fact that her mother doesn't support her doing anything that will reflect poorly on the family, Sophia is determined. When she receives a letter from her cousin Daphne begging her to look into the murder of her brother, she knows she has to go so Sophia talks her father into going for a visit and that's when things start to pick up.

When Sophia arrives, it is clear there is something more going on surrounding her cousin Andrew's death and now Daphne is worried that she is being targeted. When her uncle finally gets the support of the Bow Street Runners, it's with a young, new policeman and her uncle isn't impressed.

I love how the relationship between Sophia and Jeremy progresses. Not only do they bounce ideas off of each other but they begin to see how they balance each other's strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes Sophia comes off as a bit thoughtless and makes some questionable decisions. Despite that, she is smart...she just doesn't make the smartest choices.

The mystery itself was solid. I think the motivation behind the murder made the mystery more interesting than the who done it portion but that's just my opinion. Overall, I enjoyed this book and if you haven't read any of Anstey's books, you should definitely go check out her backlist now. I enjoy them and will continue to buy her books.

I'm not usually one for Victorian-era books, but I'd just got done reading A Study in Scarlett Women, and really liked it, so I was intrigued by the summary of this novel! Also, this cover is lovely.

What I Liked
--Sophia is a really cute protagonist! I love how rambunctious and stubborn she is. She's a driven character who knows what she wants and goes for it. I really admire this quality in characters, and it helped drive the plot. Plus, her relationship with her dad is adorable; he was so sneakily supportive!
--The romance really worked for me because they were so tender towards each other, and were just a couple of awkward dorks! I also loved how Jeremy was like a fish out of water, really uncertain and just guessing his way through social interactions, but always there to back up Sophia. It was a nice break from the macho, alpha guy.
--Ultimately, this book felt like a cozy mystery, rather than a strict mystery, which was fine by me. It didn't take itself very seriously, even when bodies were dropping.
--The dialogue was well written and you could fly through the pages easily.

What I Didn't Like
--Sometimes, I would find Sophia to be a little selfish about her desires to investigate and really not capable of reading the room or being sensitive with the family of the victims. Also, she'd make choices that would make more sense for a teenager to choose, not a grown woman, so that was jilting.
--There were times when the story would meander with little investigation. Those were the points I'd get bored.
--The villains were not interesting in the slightest, which is a shame 'cause they could have been at least darkly humorous. And it was pretty obvious who the real culprit was so I wasn't holding my breath.

Conclusion
I think this book found me right when I needed it! I had a lot of fun, and hope y'all will check it out soon!

Deadly Curious is a pretty simple, straightforward murder mystery set in 1834. Sophia is a young woman who wants nothing more than to become a Bow Street Runner. Unfortunately, her being female is the main thing standing in her way. When her cousin writes to her about the odd goings-on at their estate, Sophia knows this is her chance to prove herself. But someone is out to stop Sophia and her cousin from ever finding the truth, through whatever means necessary.
I thought the book was a relatively decent read. It was a little slow in spots, but closer to the end, it really picked up, and I was curious to see if Sophia (and Jeremy) would solve the mystery. I had it figured out probably around the 30-35% mark of the story, and the rest of the time, I was internally screaming at the characters to stop being so naive and figure things out.
The characters are written well, but they all annoyed me to no end. I can't say I really connected with or cared for any of them.
I do think the cover is pretty stunning, though, and it was one of the things that drew me in. And while I thought the book was okay, it didn't thrill me as much as I would have liked.
If you're a fan of historical mysteries, give Deadly Curious a whirl.
3.5 stars from me.

Initial Thoughts

I was super excited to be chosen for this tour. I preordered a copy of this book as soon as I found out it was coming out and I jumped at the chance to read it early. I love Cindy Anstey’s other books and I was so excited to see her take on another crime-driven story.

Some Things I Liked

The setting. I loved the English, small town setting as well as the nods to Sophia and Daphne’s season and London in general. I also love when servants are very involved in the lives of their employers. This book gave me all the Downton Abbey vibes in that regard.
The romance. I liked that it was subtle. It felt right for the time period. I especially loved that there was not an abundance of romance plots going on as there are with many Jane Austen inspired books. I liked that the focus stayed on Jeremy and Sophia.
The murder. I loved how well thought out the crime was. I figured it out about 70% into the book but was pleasantly surprised at how long it took me to unravel all of the pieces.

Series Value

I would love to see this turn into a series. It feels very reminiscent of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series and I’d love to see Jeremy and Sophia solve more crimes together. I also enjoyed the cast of side characters and would like to hear more about what they get up to in the future.

Final Thoughts

I loved this book. I read it all in one day and couldn’t put it down.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommendations for Further Reading

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco – if you enjoyed the forensic science and investigative themes in Deadly Curious, give this series by Kerri Maniscalco a try.
Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok – again, if you liked the idea of an aspiring detective as well as a murder mystery element, try this duology.
The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill – if you enjoyed the idea of a proper lady working with an up and coming police officer to solve a mystery, try this book set in the US in the early 1900s.

The cover, summary, and title of this book all suggest that it will be a much better story than it actually is. Everything ultimately comes down to me wanting more from all aspects of the book. The characters seemed superficial, the plot was very slow, and the mystery was wrapped up rather quickly with little buildup. The whodunnit aspect was pretty easy to determine at an early stage in the story, I just couldn't figure out why. I would have loved the characters to have more substance and the plot to have more nuances but the foundation was good.

I liked the bit at the end about Sophia's role in the world of investigating and solving mysteries. The romance subplot didn't seem very compelling but I still enjoyed it enough. I wouldn't recommend this to hardened fans of mystery but if you're looking for a lighter historical mystery this could be a good one for you.

Deadly Curious by Cindy Anstey takes the readers back in time to 1834 England. Sophia Thompson wants to become a Bow Street Runner and despite the fact that women aren't employed as Detectives in London's most elite detective squad, she is confident in her ability to solve a crime to sway this popular practice.


A letter from her cousin, Daphne, urging her to come and help solve the unsolved murder of Daphne's brother gives her the perfect chance to prove her capabilities. With minor accidents like prevented falls, poisonous gifts, mysterious shots fired and more people dying with each passing day, not to mention the inept Constabulary looking at her own Uncle as the murderer or blaming poachers, Sophia soon finds herself facing a brazen, determined and very dangerous killer. With the help of the young Bow Street Runner, Mr. Jeremy Fraser, she has to find the murderer before any more people die.


I enjoyed myself following Sophia as she unraveled each twisted thread of the mystery. Her partnership with Jeremy Fraser was a delight to read. While the romance isn't a primary topic in the book, their mutual love for detection and determination to catch the killer had me engaged throughout.


The author paints a vivid and realistic picture of England of 1800s and the readers will be able to visualize each scenario easily. The writing is simple, fluid and engaging. This is the first book by Cindy Anstey that I have read and after enjoying it, it certainly won't be my last.


The plot is well-planned and while I solved the mystery of the killer midway in the book, there were still twists in the story that surprised me and kept me engrossed till the very end.


"Does Sophia get her wish of becoming a Bow Street Runner?" was another question that had me intrigued and the ending left me smiling in delight. The author has left hints of this book becoming into a series, and I am hoping we get to read more of Sophia's mystery solving adventures in the future.


My only complaint is that the characters weren't given a depth that would have made them real to me. Be it Andrew, the murder victim or the Thompsons or Daphne and her family or even Jeremy Fraser, everyone felt rushed and more caricature than real. Only Sophia's character is given a depth and that too, not up to its full potential. I wanted to connect with these people and feel like I belonged but for now, I just felt like a spectator to the drama.


Overall, Deadly Curious by Cindy Anstey is a book more suited to young readers. It is light, easily solved and while entertaining still a long way from being a mystery for the fans of Agatha Christie as it says in the blurb. This was my first historical YA mystery and I enjoyed reading it. I give it 4 out of 5 stars because despite the areas of improvement, it still is an enjoyable one time read. Njkinny recommends this book to young lovers of mystery and people looking for light mystery books.

I’ve been fascinated by the Bow Street Runners since the first time I heard about them so, when I saw that this book involves them, I wanted to read it as soon as I could. As it turns out, the Runner in this story, Jeremy, is not quite as energetic and compelling as I would like although he is appealing. I also thought Sophia was a little silly, especially in deciding, against society’s restraints and her upbringing, that she was cut out to be a detective just because she read a book. Once I recognized the flies in the ointment with these two characters, I decided to read this as a fun, fluffy bit of entertainment and I enjoyed it as such.

When Sophia’s cousin, Daphne, writes for Sophia’s help, the murder in question is a year in the past but Sophia’s Uncle Edward is in danger of being arrested at any moment. Our sleuth is more than willing to rush to West Ravenwood but this is 1834 and an 18-year-old girl can’t just rush off anywhere. Watching her machinations to get past all the family and societal roadblocks was as enjoyable as anything in this tale.

Eventually, of course, Sophia does get to West Ravenwood and falls in with Jeremy; together with Daphne, they set out to find a killer and absolve Uncle Edward and, along the way, Sophia and Jeremy find a romantic connection. All in all, this was a few hours of easy reading even though the actual mystery was lightweight.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, June 2020.

Cindy Anstey's Deadly Curious is a twisty tale reminiscent of Jane Austen and with a dash of murder, is perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Agatha Christie. This historical mystery novel is set in the year 1834. 18-year-old Sophia Thompson aspires to be an investigator for the *Bow Street Runners which truly did exist but was disbanded in 1839 in favor of the Metropolitan Police.* She's read about murder investigations, but women were not allowed to be police in 1834.

After Sophia receives a letter asking for help from her cousin Daphne, who knows of Sophia's interests, asking for help in solving her brother's murder, Sophia talks her father into traveling to West Ravenwood. Nearly 1 year ago, 23 year old Andrew Waverley was murdered and dumped in the woods. The constable in charge has no clues and no suspects except for Edward Waverly who has been pushing for a much thorough investigation from anyone who would listen and who recently found the alleged murder weapon.

Daphne advises Sophia that her family is being targeted, and she has been beset with accidents, lapses in memory, and mistakes in judgment. While Sophia is visiting, strange "accidents" do start to happen. It could be something as small as an old toy left on the stairs for someone to trip on. Then there are shots into the house that could have hit Sophia or Daphne. It appears that someone really was out to get the family.

Enter 20 year old Jeremy Frasier, the 4th son of a minor baron and a young detective for Bow Street Runners. He hasn't had a murder case yet, but he was sent from London by Sir Elderberry to help out on Andrew's murder. Sadly, he was told nothing about the case or why he was even going to this small town. Mr. Waverly had asked for their help after finding a new clue. Upon arrival, Jeremy learns the family is struggling to deal with Andrew's murder. Jeremy wants to prove himself and starts looking into things right away. After his driver is poisoned, both Jeremy and Sophia believe this all has to do with Andrew's murder. The list of would be killers is exhausting.

Sophia pushes her way into Jeremy's investigation because Jeremy realizes quickly that she's both helpful and has her head on straight. We can scoff at Sophia believing that reading one book would give her a leg up, but her logical mind does go where Jeremy's doesn't. With some minor hiccups, they both work well together and thus feelings do develop. Part of the reason for my rating is that the romance is not a large part of the book. It is subtle with hints that later in the story one of them is going to kiss the other and sparks are going to fly.

As Sophia and Jeremy question a rather large group of suspects and follow the clues to where it might take them, they understand that the family, and even Sophia is being targeted and that someone close to the family has to be the murderer. It is fair of me to say that I identified the suspected killer almost immediately after this person was introduced. Too many clues pointed directly to this character as well as perhaps one or two others. Sophia's desire to break into a male-dominated field will appeal to young readers who have been told they can do or be anything they want.

I respect the fact that the author wrote Sophia's father as being supportive, and not immediately wanting her to get married to the first eligible bachelor with money. Too many times the parental unit is worthless or non-existent which is the cause of so many problems we are currently dealing with in our society today.

Cindy Antsey is the author of Love, Lies and Spies; Duels & Deception; Suitors and Sabotage; Carols and Chaos; The Hummingbird Dagger; and Deadly Curious

I was drawn to this book by the pretty cover and captivating description. In 1834 London, Sophia is a young woman obsessed with detective work after reading a book on the subject. Fortunately, she gets her chance to delve into a real crime and assist a real detective when her cousin Daphne suspects that someone is after her following the suspicious death of her brother.

Don’t go into this book expecting historical accuracy—the comparison to Jane Austen is woefully off-the-mark—but this is still a delightful detective story for readers who enjoy books similar to cozy mysteries. The characters are fun and full of humor, the plot moves quickly enough to keep the reader’s attention, and I found the resolution to be suitably satisfying. This book would be a poor choice for lovers of accurate historical fiction but would be an excellent choice for younger readers who are new to mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

DNF at 34%
Deadly Curious had me so excited! The description gave me Stalking Jack the RIpper and A Study in Charlotte vibes, but the execution fell so flat. I couldn't stand the main character, Sophie, who is so naive that she thinks she can solve and complex murder mystery after reading a book about solving crime. Also the mystery felt like it had no stakes, and I was not invested whatsoever. If I had connected with any of the characters or found the plot intriguing I would have continued, but everything (including the writing) felt basic. Even the love interest felt like the bare minimum portrayal of "the boy next door."

I was gifted a copy of this book as part of the Xpresso Reads Blog Tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

At this point, I have read all but one of Cindy Anstey’s books (a Christmas one) and I have enjoyed them all. This story takes place in Regency/Georgian England and is a young adult mystery/romance. I love books based in this time period I think they have become some of my favorite to read. They are quick reads and I enjoy them very much.

Since this is a young adult book I guessed the bad guy fairly early in the story but the ride made the book worth it. Sophia is a very intelligent, strongwilled, and opinionated person, which for this time period is not kind to women. This is what makes characters like Sophia my favorite she does her thing no matter what society thinks. In walks Jeremy a Bow Street Runner to investigate the murder of Sophia’s cousin. Jeremy sees value in how Sophia looks at things especially since it is different than the way he does. This makes them a great team.

The interactions between Jeremy and Sophia were very cute. Everyone saw it coming but them :)
There is a scene that I loved with Sophia’s dad. Even though her wanting to be Bow Street Runner is not seemly for a Lady of her standing or any job for that matter. He is supportive. If you have read the story its the one in the hallway.

If you enjoy young adult mystery romances than I think you should give this one a try.

Oh how I wanted this to be good!! The cover and description completely drew me in. Unfortunately I had to DNF around 40%. It was not going anywhere for me and I had to push myself for almost 2 weeks to get this far. I definitely will try it again in a few month because I loathe not finishing a book.

There has been a murder. For Sophia Thompson, coming up on the anniversary of her cousin's murder is sad, but news of the murderer continuing to haunt her extended family's home a year after the dreadful deed is what sends her rushing to the Allenton Park estate. In part, to provide comfort to her cousin Daphne, but also to solve the case. Alongside Bow Street Runner, Jeremy, Sophia dives headfirst into the case, and finds a lesson in it that we all know well: things are not always what they appear.

To begin by saying I was underwhelmed by this book is a bit of an understatement. I chose this book to review since it was a recommended read for fan's of Kerri Maniscalco's Stalking Jack the Ripper series. I was expecting strong female characters, daring, and suspense as is typically provided by a book of this nature. Upon completing this story I must say I was disappointed. The entire book felt just...meh. The characters all seemed to fall flat as I was confronted with dull, inexperienced, and shallow personalities. They were all so uninspiring throughout the whole book. Our female main character, Sophia, appeared to believe she could become a detective after reading a single book on the subject. Our male main character, Jeremy, went in circles with the case the entire book, stumbling upon clues like a clumsy toddler and solving the case with Sophia by accident. In addition, the romance made some sense, but I cannot seem to get past the detail that the entire story Jeremy worked to protect Sophia from the case, even at times disbelieving in her ability to become a detective. Would not a strong female lead have protested the lack of faith in her ability and have fought to be seen as an equal? She certainly would have to do so for quite some time in order to be taken seriously in her profession, let alone in her personal life.

I recommend this book for younger YA readers, such as those in middle school who are ready to be eased from juvenile books to YA. I think those younger readers will find this book more enjoyable than I did, and may even find that the plot, action, and adventure sneaks up on them as they read.

Unfortunately, Deadly Curious did not leave me curious about the murder or investigation, nor dying to finish the book. It wasn’t poorly written, but the characters were too flat or inconsistent, the plot contrived and simplistic.

Sophia fluctuated between being somewhat intelligent and silly, following appropriate customs and flouting them. It was all very naive - the idea that she could become a Runner just because she read one book and because she wasn’t marriage material. (Seemed very convenient that she didn’t want to get married after she was convinced she wouldn’t be able to.)

I’d say a younger audience may be able to overlook the silliness and fluff, and enjoy the simplicity. If you’re looking for a clever, witty heroine, with an interesting plot, this probably isn’t it.

Netgalley provided an advanced reader copy of this book.