This is a lovely book, a manageable size and weight but with a generous collection of prints, beautifully presented. Saito lived from 1907 to 1997 and seems to have gained recognition abroad before he was respected in Japan. Indeed, prints were seen as more a popular art form than any part of high culture in Japan, which makes one envy the Western collectors able to snap up their best work. If I was such a tourist I would return home without a penny to my name - I'd sell my ticket and walk home.

It is fascinating to turn to him after exploring Japanese wood block prints from the Edo period, notably the amazing work of Hokusai, only to learn that Saito did not consider himself part of that tradition, taught himself how to make prints and considered his artistic influences to be European painters like Mondrian, Picasso, Gauguin or Munch. His images are perfectly at home in that company and that is in itself a delightful discovery. [Curiously, an exhibition of Picasso's linocuts comes to mind, http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/exhibitions/picasso/index.aspx
which were shown at our nearest gallery immediately before an exhibition of Edo prints, http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/exhibitions/edo-pop/ ]

Of course, those European painters were in turn influenced by their exposure to Japanese art, a discovery that led Saito himself to re-evaluate his own Japanese heritage and in the end it is a mistake to force too great a distinction. Art speaks to art. I personally would think it made complete sense to place one of Saito's snow scenes from his childhood home village of Aizu alongside a snow scene by Bruegel, say Hunters in the Snow, as much as any more modern Western art.

I've been rather slowly collecting all of the old Victoria Holt paperbacks. At some point, I'll post a pic of them together, but at this point, I'm still early in the process. My collection began when I was at my local UBS around 3 years ago and they had a grab bag of books for $1.00 with the name "Victoria Holt" written on it.

 

I devoured these books like candy when I was a teenager, so I grabbed it, even though I had no idea what was in it, and paid my dollar and then took it home. It took a while for me to get ready to read them, though, so the four books (.25 each!) sat on my shelves for a while. Then, a few years ago, I picked up The Mistress of Mellyn, and I enjoyed it. It resulted in one of my favorite reviews, which you can find here, if you're interested.

 

I followed that one up with The Shivering Sands and The Pride of the Peacock in kindle format, and then I picked up The Kirkland Revels, which had been in that original bundle, and I read it. I decided at that point that the best way to read these books was in paperback, with their hideous old-fashioned covers (usually of a woman in a diaphanous dress running in terror from some sort of a castle or chateau or mansion), so I've started buying them whenever I find them, and buying them used from amazon from time to time. In addition, lots of the Holts have not been republished into kindle format, so some of her lesser known books are unavailable as ebooks.

 

I also remembered reading Phyllis Whitney, and none of her books are available as ebooks, so I bought The Window on the Square used from amazon, which had been recommended by a bookliker (can't remember which of you recc'd it) as one of her favorite books of all time. I also picked up Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart, which has been republished in a gorgeous Rediscovered Classics print edition which makes my old Fawcett & Avon paperbacks look like the bastard step-daughters of the queen or something! It was also really expensive, compared to the $4.00 (.01 for the book, $3.99 for shipping) that I've been paying for the Holt/Whitney used books.

 

These books are available so cheap, that I've decided to just collect a whole shelf of them. Holt & Whitney are my first priorities, along with Mary Stewart, but I'll probably add Barbara Michaels, and possibly some of the lesser known gothic authors to the collection as I proceed!

 

That was a long lead-in to the pictures, which are of my most recent acquisition:

 

 

I don't think I've ever read this one, because it was first published in 1984, which is the year I graduated from high school. I am fairly certain I had abandoned gothics when I was around 16, so this one would've been published after I stopped reading them.

 

And, look at the inside cover page:

 

 

I believe that Dolphin Cay POA is likely a Property Owner's Association from Florida. And, I love the description - it hits all of the Holt-lover's hot buttons: windswept moors, galloping horses, and a man (no doubt the lord of the manor, but that's just a guess) who is forbidden to the heroine. Nine sentences.

 

I'm going to read this one for my gothic square!

 

Series: Casebook of Barnaby Adair (Book 2)

Montague has devoted his life to managing the wealth of London’s elite, but at a huge cost: a family of his own. Then the enticing Miss Violet Matcham seeks his help, and in the puzzle she presents him, he finds an intriguing new challenge professionally . . . and personally.

 

Violet, devoted lady-companion to the aging Lady Halstead, turns to Montague to reassure her ladyship that her affairs are in order. But the famous Montague is not at all what she’d expected -- this man is compelling, decisive, supportive, and strong -- everything Violet needs in a champion, a position to which Montague rapidly lays claim.

 

But then Lady Halstead is murdered and Violet and Montague, aided by Barnaby Adair, Inspector Stokes, Penelope, and Griselda, race to expose a cunning and cold-blooded killer who stalks closer and closer. Will Montague and Violet learn the shocking truth too late to seize their chance at enduring love?

 

Good book. This was somewhat different than most of Laurens's previous books. The main characters are those from the working world, not the aristocracy, so there is an entirely different way of looking at things. Montague is a financial adviser, a man who works for a living. Violet is a companion, a woman is well born, but has to make her own way in the world. 

 

I was happy when this book came out, as I was looking forward to Montague having his own story. He has been an important secondary character in previous stories, and I've grown more interested in him with each appearance. At the beginning of this story, he is shown as a bit of a workaholic, as he has no family of his own. He realizes that he's missing something in his life, but hasn't found what it is. Enter Violet, who has come to request his help on behalf of her employer. There's something about her that makes him want to know more.

 

Violet is surprised that Montague is younger than she expected. His decisive actions upon learning of her employer's concerns impress her, as does his sensitivity to the old lady's fears. And when Lady Halstead is found murdered one morning, Montague is the first person she calls.

 

Here is where the book begins to veer more towards mystery than romance. Montague sends for Inspector Stokes, also a well known character from previous books. Stokes arrives, accompanied by Barnaby Adair. All agree that it must have something to do with the problems Lady Halstead noticed, and the goal is to find out who and why. Much time is spent on Montague's efforts to trace the financial irregularities. Suspicion falls on her ladyship's children, but they have to be careful how they go about their investigations.

 

In previous books, Adair's and Stoke's ladies have been involved in the investigations. Even though both are now married and new mothers, they still wish to be involved. It was very interesting to see the way that each of them made their cases to their husbands, and how those husbands were wise enough to see the truth. As is often the case in a SL book, the women play a very important role, by uncovering information that would have never occurred to the men. I really enjoyed the scene where Penelope and Griselda called on the Cynster ladies. It was great to see the support they received from those women, and the seriousness of how they treated the inquiries. It was very satisfying to have the men admit that the women's information was just as important as that discovered by the men. The example of the Adair and Stokes relationships gave Montague a good idea of how to treat Violet.

 

I loved seeing the relationship that built between Montague and Violet. Montague was very protective of Violet, especially as the danger intensified. I also liked the solid core of respect they had for each other. I loved seeing that Montague believed in Violet's intelligence and integrity enough to keep her informed from the very beginning, and how that helped to save her life. I also enjoyed seeing the confidence that Violet had in his ability to track down who was responsible for the murders. The attraction between them built throughout the story, and both admitted to feeling it. It was a bit disconcerting to have them decide they weren't going to pursue it until after they solved the mystery, as that put the romance definitely on the back burner. However, there was enough to keep my interest in them through the end of the book. I loved seeing them get together at the end and share their hopes and dreams with each other. For being such a numbers guy, I thought Montague turned out to be a pretty sweet and romantic man. I also liked the fact that Violet was a pretty strong person in her own right. She did an excellent job of making sure her own wants and needs were considered.

 

The mystery was quite good with plenty to keep my mind engaged. I enjoyed seeing the way that Montague and his people worked to follow the money. The murdered woman's family were quite interesting with their attitudes, and were obviously the best suspects for her murder. There were multiple leads and figuring out who it was did not come easily. There was an interesting twist about two-thirds of the way through the book that added another layer to work through. The ending was pretty intense, as Violet managed to walk right into danger. I loved seeing a different side of Montague as he hurried to save her. I enjoyed the "after action" get together with the three couples, and the deepening of the relationship among them.

Well, huh. I don't think it's ever taken me this long to finish an SL title before.
From the day it came out til today, that's what, like 3 and a half months? Yeesh!

 

Before I go any further, I should mention you probably wanna read the first Barnaby Adair book, as the non mystery bits is a sorta continuation from there. And my  review bitching assumes you already know who the players are.

 

So what annoyed me...well honestly, it's that despite this being about 'the Masterful Mr Montague', there's was too much that wasn't about him and his heroine, Violet. As the "Casebook of Barnaby Adair", I knew we'd get some of Barnaby's perspective, and I figured we'd get quite a bit of Stokes, which would've been fine, I figured they'd be around to help solve the case.... but so so so much of the story is from their wives, Penelope and Griselda...who've already had their story, darn it!

 

The entire first half of this book, IMO spent too much time on them ( P&G) and their desire to find a balance between being mamas and their "work", (Penelope's a translator and gives lectures, Griselda, a shop keeper, and they both help out with cases)

 

There just wasn't nearly enough of Montague's heroine. She sorta gets the shaft so that P and G could figure themselves out, which wasn't something I was expecting, or even interested in reading considering it wasn't supposed to be their book!

 

And to be blunt, IMO we also didn't need the sex scenes ( and there were so many!) with Barnaby and Penelope or stokes and Griselda. Like I said, they've had their story, this one should've focused on who should've been its main characters, Montague ( his names in the title, dammit!) and Violet.

 

On a positive note, I did like that both MC's were older. It's been a while, and I have no interest in going back so I don't remember their exact ages, (or if we even got them), but they're not super young...and the older I get the more I appreciate stories about people who are 'past the first blush of youth'.

So yeah, 2 stars. At least if I decide to read the next one, I'll know what to expect!