It's Just Not What I Thought It Was

A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've lost patience. This is the third book in the series that I've read, convinced there would be better stories ahead, sure of it--I've even bought the next two books--only to be disappointed by the pace and the development of the MC.

Emily is a terrible investigator. And she's not a great character. She's no fun to follow. She doesn't do anything awesome. She screws up, plows ahead in the most amateur way, risks her life, and embarrasses herself over and over. And yet her husband acts like it's all cool and he's not worried.

Sure, run around Vienna on your own with a man threatening to kill you. Sure, ditch your escort *again* and *again* like this is the first season of Chuck or something.

Meanwhile, everyone gets the better of her. Everyone knows what's going on around her more than she does. Everyone makes her feel small in a way I found really frustrating to read. Fortescue insults her again and again and she has no answer. Her fiancé's old lover, who hates her and mocks her, is prettier and more connected and more confident, and we have scene after scene of her feeling stupid in this woman's presence. She even confesses it her: "When I'm near you I feel awkward, inept, and inexperienced. Your sophistication puts me to shame."

Ugh.

She's Charlie Brown, barely getting by, but the narration treats her like she's an action Miss Marple. She should have been dead ten times. She never surprises anyone, never shows a flash of insight or spirit. She never puts anyone in their place, even after repeated insults. She's rocky on the canvas, never getting up. (Until the very end, when she sort of solves the mystery, but still screws up in the most obvious way. JC!)

Other than Emily being a pretty good linguist, I have no idea what skills qualify her to be the protagonist of mystery novels.

Anyway...probably meant for another audience. I liked the settings enough to finish this and give it a 3, but I'm gonna trade in these books and re-read the Jane Austen mysteries.

My recommendation is implied.

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