I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I have read many Cindy Anstey novels. This one was not too bad. It starts with a cold case murder to solve, and frankly, was very slow until chapter 10. As soon as you get a clue or two, you have the case solved and are mentally screaming at the characters. However, it is a quick plesant read. ( )

Cindy continues to create satisfying YA mysteries set in earlier times. Like others of her books I've read, this gives readers an understanding of the constraints on women in that time, then allows the protagonist to use her guile and determination to break free of them and find the bad guy. All of this blended into a nice tale of murder and romance. Nicely done and a good choice for libraries where YA fiction with a historical theme and offering a strong female protagonist are of interest. ( )

More than anything Sophia Thompson wants to be a Bow Street Runner. She knows it is an unlikely profession for a young lady, but after a family scandal leaves her pretty much shunned by society her prospects are nil. When she receives a distressing letter from her cousin, Daphne. You see Daphen's brother Andrew was killed almost a year ago, the murderer has yet to be caught and now strange things have been happening around the household making Daphne convinced someone is out to finish off the rest of the family. Sophia sees the perfect opportunity to show everyone her capabilities as an investigator, but when she arrives at their Allenton Park Estate, she discovers that a young Officer with the Bow Street Runners, Jeremy Fraser, has been sent to solve the case.

Jeremy is a newer member of the Bow Street Runners and still has a lot to prove. While he finds Sophia fascinating, he's loathe to put her in any kind of danger. But when it becomes apparent that he needs her help if he wants any chance of questioning the townspeople, they begin a working relationship that could possibly lead to something more, but first they must save her family from a killer lurking in their midst.

Deadly Curious is so close to what I'm looking for in my historical mystery/suspense. Cindy Anstey has been edging ever closer to the perfect formula between historical, mystery/suspense, YA, and romance.

I really thought the balance between keeping the story seated within the YA realm yet also not being afraid to really push things as far as a murder mystery was done really well. I could feel the high stakes kind of edge-of-your-seat feeling while awaiting the killer to strike again. While I kinda spotted the culprit early, the motivations were kept hidden until the end which I liked.

Where I could have used a bit more focus was on the developing feelings between Jeremy and Sophia. It wasn't balanced out as much as I would like and tended to get overshadowed by the idea of Sophia becoming an investigator. I liked the spotlight on a woman encroaching upon what was considered a "man's job" and thriving. I just think that the story kind of felt like you couldn't focus on both at the same time so whenever the story switched between the developing feelings and Sophia's choice of career, one would falter.

I would love if these characters would get another story. This could have focused more on Sophia showing her capabilities as far as investigating goes with touching upon the possibility of something more developing between Jeremy and Sophia in a later book, but Cindy Anstey tends to write standalones so I'm not optimistic that this could come to fruition - although I will say the door is left open for the option.

Overall, I'm not disappointed. The quibbles I have really took nothing away from me enjoying the story as a whole. Cindy Anstey really satisfies my need for the historical mystery/suspense genre and I will always pick up what she has to write. ( )