Review: Muddled
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 22, 2014
I couldn't develop a liking for the heroine in this story.  Damaris is a young widow, and her father had been missing for several years.  She had children by her husband, but one child took ill and died, the other was stillborn -- resulting from hearing of her husband's death.Damaris is highly intelligent and has a passion for science.  She also has the abilities to speed read and recall everything she has read.  The tragedies in her life have caused her to withdraw from society.  As a result she doesn't appear to know how to go on in the polite world -- she is rude and brash.When a body is discovered and thought to be her father's, she tries to find out what happened.  The current justice of the peace is a titled bachelor named Nate.  She is beautiful and he is interested.  The heroine dresses as a man and picks locks to get into buildings -- one of the places being the hero's home.  She is caught and kissed.  Apparently that is the result of breaking and entering.Eventually the two start working together to solve the murder.  There are an abundance of characters -- it seemed that way to me at least.  Not only the main characters but his family, her family, servants, orphans, suspects, government officials etc.  I started skimming after awhile, trying to glean enough information to move on.The hero had great patience with her, but I don't know why.  Beautiful?  Ok, but she was emotionally damaged to a great extent.  Afraid to love again after losing her husband and children.  Intelligent? She could barely bring herself to admit someone else might have a better idea.  I simply didn't like her very much.  No warmth or endearing traits.The hero was rather bland.  Well, maybe they suited to each other.This is just a so-so story.