The Debutante’s Code, Book Review

This is a sponsored book review of the first book in the new series Thorndike & Swann by author Erica Vetsch. In this post, I’ll share some about this Historical Fiction book and share my thoughts. 

Disclaimer: I was sent an advance copy of this book for free in exchange for my fair and honest review. All thoughts are 100% my own.

About The Book:

For the Debutante Turned Spy, There’s Much More than Meets the Eye

New Regency series from Erica Vetsch described as Jane Austen meets Sherlock HolmesThis new series combining a historical setting, romance, and mystery has been described as Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes. With that combination, where can you go wrong?

The Debutante’s Code introduces readers to Lady Juliette Thorndike who has newly returned from finishing school and is ready to debut in London society.

Thanks in part to her years away from home, Juliette hasn’t spent much time with her parents and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear and are not in London for her homecoming, she discovers she never really knew them at all.

Hurt and confused by her parents’ absence, Juliette is feeling abandoned not only by her parents but by God as well. “We often form our views of a Heavenly Father from our experience with our earthly parents, for good or for ill,” Vetsch explains.

“Juliette has not been ill-treated by her parents, or at least she didn’t think she had, but if they could abandon her on the eve of her coming out in society, can she trust anything about them? They’ve taught her that God is with her, that He will never abandon her, but can she trust what they have taught her when they can lie so easily?”

Through a trail of clues they left behind, Juliette soon discovers that her parents have been living double lives as government spies—and they’re only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family’s legacy.

When given the opportunity to carry on that legacy, Lady Juliette is determined to continue their work. Mentored by her uncle, she plunges into the dangerous world of spies.

From the glittering ballrooms of London to the fox hunts, regattas, and soirees of country high society, she must chase down hidden clues, solve the mysterious code her parents left behind, and stay out of danger.

All the while, she has to keep her endeavors a secret from her best friend and her suitors—not to mention the nosy, irritatingly handsome Bow Street runner, who suspects her of a daring theft.

Daniel Swann has a mysterious past of his own. Now, he’s on the hunt for a stolen painting when other valuable pieces of art start disappearing one by one.

Each clue leads him closer and closer to the thief and killer, but he’s disconcerted to find that his chief suspect is the debutante he finds so attractive. Can Lady Juliette outwit her enemies and complete her parents’ last mission?

Enter to Win A Free Copy of You’re Very Own!

Do you have a fiction lover on your holiday shopping list or do you love reading yourself? Look no further for a great read. Be sure to click on the image above to register to win a free copy of The Debutante’s Cod of your very own! You can also enter it below. 

Please know I’m not sponsoring this giveaway or the one that is actually giving away the book so I will not be the person drawing the winner or contacting you if you win. That will be Audra, from “Read with Audra”. So what are you waiting for, go register, and best of luck!

 My Personal Review and Thoughts:

You guys know I’m always trying to be fair and honest in my reviews. I know the authors work very hard don’t their books and I’m grateful to get a chance to be a part of helping them launch their books. 

With that being said, I have to say with this book took me a little while to get into it. Not that it was a hard read, but it was kind of a slow start in the beginning and with so much going on around me if the book doesn’t grab me in the first chapter, it usually takes me a lot of work to focus on in and continue reading it.

However, I would not put that all on the book, because once I did get settled in and focus on the book, the storyline didn’t drag for long before it started to pick up in pace. It was only in the first few chapters that  I struggled with my connection to the characters.

I’m glad I stuck it out though because I ended up enjoying the remainder of the story. I found the main character, Juliette, to be fun to follow as she navigated all the new twists and turns she found out about her parents and their secret lives.   

It did take me a little longer to like the male lead in the book, but I warmed up to him as the storyline went along. There are still a lot of questions I have about him that I’m sure we find out because, from the way the book ended, it makes it seem like his story will continue on in future books, which I will look forward to following. 

There was a long list of characters in this book so it was a task to keep up with them all but I felt they all did a great job adding to the depth of the storyline. Perhaps we will see some of them again in later books. 

Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for the next book in this series because I’ll be watching for it. If you are a fan of mysteries or historical themed novels then I think this one is definitely worth a read. This was my first book from the author, so I think now that I am familiar with her writing style and her characters I’ll enjoy reading more from her. 

Want To Know More About The Author?

                    Author of The Debutante’s Code Erica Vetch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award-winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.
 
Vetsch is the author of many novellas and novels, including the popular Serendipity & Secrets Regency series and the new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery series
 
Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor) and Instagram (@EricaVetsch).

Keri Bucci

I am a southern girl through and through that loves to laugh, cook, read and spend time with family. My passions outside of home schooling my son are ministering to those in need and creating art in the kitchen! Every day is an adventure in our little house and I wouldn’t trade it or the chance to share here with you for anything!