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Portia Adams Adventures #2
Thrice Burned
If you play with fire, you could get burned Portia is still reeling from finding out that her guardian, is actually the infamous Irene Adler and her grandmother. As if finding that out wasn’t shocking enough, the revelation that Sherlock Holmes is her grandfather has Portia feeling betrayed by her mother who took the secrets of Portia’s lineage to the grave with her. As a diversion Portia throws herself into work and continues to consult with Scotland Yard on their hard-to-crack cases including a brazen theft that the perpetrator boasted about before it took place as well as the disappearance of prostitutes. While on the case of an arsonist who’s plaguing London she meets Annie Coleson, a disgraced reporter who has clues that can help Portia solve the mystery. The women strike up a friendship and Annie starts to report on “P.C. Adams”, the consulting detective helping to keep London safe, with the promise to keep Portia’s true identity secret. Downstairs neighbor and friend Constable Brian Dawes takes a shining to Annie just as Portia starts to question her feelings for the him. At the same time Portia garners the attention of Gavin Douglas Whitaker, a medical student and by all accounts Portia intellectual equal, who may just be the distraction from Brian that she needs. As the press starts to show an interest in P.C. Adams, an impostor comes forward claiming to be the consulting detective and Portia must choose between remaining anonymous and letting the world know who the real P.C. Adams is.
314 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2015
15 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Angela Misri
11 books106 followersAngela Misri is an award-winning journalist, author and educator. Her detective series, called The Portia Adams Adventures, is set in the 1930s, and her first middle-grade series is called Tales from the Apocalypse. Pickles vs the Zombies, the first book in that series, won the 2021 Hackmatack award for fiction and the second is up for the 2022-23 Red Cedar Book Award.
Misri has an MA in journalism from the University of Western Ontario and has worked as a digital journalist for almost 20 years, including at the CBC and The Walrus. She also teaches in the journalism department at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Misri has an MA in journalism from the University of Western Ontario and has worked as a digital journalist for almost 20 years, including at the CBC and The Walrus. She also teaches in the journalism department at Toronto Metropolitan University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 15, 2017
I am so thrilled to have discovered this series. I very much enjoyed the first book, and liked this, book #2 even more. I am looking forward to reading the next one and hope Misri continues to write more.
This episode had some interesting mysteries for Portia to solve; and I liked that there was more than one. I also thought that the addition of Annie as Portia's friend and Brian's (other) love interest added to the book in an intriguing. The addition of Gavin also added to the tension (good and bad) of the story and Portia's relationships. It will be interesting to see how all of these relationships unfold in book #3.
Overall, a solid, fast-paced read with a wonderful addition of a solid, complex female protagonist to the mystery genre. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
This episode had some interesting mysteries for Portia to solve; and I liked that there was more than one. I also thought that the addition of Annie as Portia's friend and Brian's (other) love interest added to the book in an intriguing. The addition of Gavin also added to the tension (good and bad) of the story and Portia's relationships. It will be interesting to see how all of these relationships unfold in book #3.
Overall, a solid, fast-paced read with a wonderful addition of a solid, complex female protagonist to the mystery genre. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
May 25, 2019
This episode has Portia working on, and solving, three cases that are baffling the officers at Scotland Yard. These cases include an arson case during which she meets disgraced reporter Annie Coleson. She solves the case even though it puts her in great physical danger and makes a friend in Annie.
Annie convinces her to let her write about Portia's cases while keeping her identity a secret. Portia is torn between her desire to be a lawyer and her desire to be a consulting detective. She's also torn between her downstairs neighbor Constable Brian Dawes and Dr. Gavin Whitaker who is more her intellectual equal though maybe they are too much alike.
When Brian begins courting Annie, Portia is torn between wanting his happiness and wanting his happiness to be with her. Meanwhile, she is coming to terms with her guardian turned grandmother Irene Jones who was once Irene Adler. Learning that Sherlock Holmes is her grandfather is also rocking her world.
But the cases keep coming along too. From a bold thief who threatens to remove a famous statue from the venue that is being used for a society wedding with over three hundred guests while the wedding is going on to disappearing prostitutes, Portia finds herself busy with cases that challenge her mind.
I like that Portia is becoming less of a recluse as these stories continue. It is good to see her building a circle of friends from many levels of society and connecting more with the world around her.
Annie convinces her to let her write about Portia's cases while keeping her identity a secret. Portia is torn between her desire to be a lawyer and her desire to be a consulting detective. She's also torn between her downstairs neighbor Constable Brian Dawes and Dr. Gavin Whitaker who is more her intellectual equal though maybe they are too much alike.
When Brian begins courting Annie, Portia is torn between wanting his happiness and wanting his happiness to be with her. Meanwhile, she is coming to terms with her guardian turned grandmother Irene Jones who was once Irene Adler. Learning that Sherlock Holmes is her grandfather is also rocking her world.
But the cases keep coming along too. From a bold thief who threatens to remove a famous statue from the venue that is being used for a society wedding with over three hundred guests while the wedding is going on to disappearing prostitutes, Portia finds herself busy with cases that challenge her mind.
I like that Portia is becoming less of a recluse as these stories continue. It is good to see her building a circle of friends from many levels of society and connecting more with the world around her.
March 23, 2017
This book is the second in the trilogy of a Portia Adams Adventure. I love the style of Angela Misri 's writing. The book is set in London, England during the 1930's. Her two grandparents are Dr. John Watson and Mr. Sherlock Holmes. So she comes by her deductive reasoning naturally. Each of these books really build the characters. I enjoyed this book very much.
May 20, 2015
Thrice Burned is the second book in an ongoing series of mysteries featuring the brilliant young consulting detective Portia Adams, who comes by her gifts honestly as the granddaughter of not only the great Sherlock Holmes, but Holmes’ friend and chronicler Watson as well. It is a nifty conceit for a series, and author Angela Misri makes the most of it. Portia Adams is utterly believable as the direct descendent of the iconic detective and his sidekick, inheriting every ounce of Holmes’ gifts for observation and deductive reasoning, but leavened with Watson’s humanity.
As with the first book in the series (Jewel of the Thames), Thrice Burned consists of three casebooks, or mysteries, each told in the first person by Portia herself. Each casebook concerns itself with at least one mystery, each one carefully crafted. The clues are tantalizingly distributed, drawing the reader in, allowing them just as much fun as Portia herself has in trying to solve the mysteries. But there is much more on offer here than mere riddles. There are elements of historical fiction too, as each casebook is set in nineteen-thirties era London, England, featuring Scotland Yard Constables and street urchins and reporters and clergy men and plenty of other skillfully drawn characters, right down to their authentic clothing choices and distinctive accents.
Each casebook features a stand-alone storyline and a neatly resolved ending, but Misri is not satisfied to let it go at that. Like many a modern era television series, each episode builds upon the last, throughout both this book and its predecessor, from casebook to casebook. As in real life, Portia and her friends continue to mature and develop. Relationships are never straightforward. Portia herself, although gifted, is no superhero, suffering from the same feelings and emotional frailties as many young women her age. Misri delves into Portia’s inner life just enough to make her real, but not at the expense of the adventures and mysteries that are the real appeal of this excellent series.
Already top-notch from the get-go, Misri’s plotting and characterization improve with each casebook, increasing in complexity and depth. This bodes well for future books in the series.
As with the first book in the series (Jewel of the Thames), Thrice Burned consists of three casebooks, or mysteries, each told in the first person by Portia herself. Each casebook concerns itself with at least one mystery, each one carefully crafted. The clues are tantalizingly distributed, drawing the reader in, allowing them just as much fun as Portia herself has in trying to solve the mysteries. But there is much more on offer here than mere riddles. There are elements of historical fiction too, as each casebook is set in nineteen-thirties era London, England, featuring Scotland Yard Constables and street urchins and reporters and clergy men and plenty of other skillfully drawn characters, right down to their authentic clothing choices and distinctive accents.
Each casebook features a stand-alone storyline and a neatly resolved ending, but Misri is not satisfied to let it go at that. Like many a modern era television series, each episode builds upon the last, throughout both this book and its predecessor, from casebook to casebook. As in real life, Portia and her friends continue to mature and develop. Relationships are never straightforward. Portia herself, although gifted, is no superhero, suffering from the same feelings and emotional frailties as many young women her age. Misri delves into Portia’s inner life just enough to make her real, but not at the expense of the adventures and mysteries that are the real appeal of this excellent series.
Already top-notch from the get-go, Misri’s plotting and characterization improve with each casebook, increasing in complexity and depth. This bodes well for future books in the series.
March 31, 2015
This review was originally posted at http://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogs... on March 11, 2015.
The shocking revelation at the conclusion of Jewel of the Thames (Fierce Ink Press, 2014) that her grandparents on her father's side are ex-criminal Irene Adler–currently known as Irene Jones–and Sherlock Holmes may have hit Miss Portia Adams hard but she won't let it distract her from her law studies at Somerville College or from honing her detection skills. She continues her lessons in self-defense from Bruiser Jenkins, and studying alongside Chief Inspector Archer of Scotland Yard. But she's also learning more about London's landscape, both topographical and invisible, and about lie detection from the formidable lawyer Mr. Ian Meyers. Having established her own group of Irregulars, street children whom she pays with money, food and treats, Portia undertakes three new cases, Casebooks Five through Seven : Thrice Burned, Box 850*, and Truth Be Told.
In Casebook Five, arsons at three different locations, but with no damage to adjoining buildings, have Portia making the acquaintance of Miss Anne Coleson, a reporter looking to salvage a marred reputation and earn a living to care for her younger siblings. While Portia is reluctant to oblige, she begins to see some positives to Annie's proposal, especially once Annie becomes romantically involved with Constable Brian Dawes, a young man for whom Portia has romantic feelings. Ultimately the two women work together somewhat to solve the perplexing arsons, though it is truly Portia with her sharp mind and doggedness who brings the criminals to justice. And all that while she tries to balance her affections for Brian, the intriguing forensic scientist Dr. Whitaker, and her grandmother's choice of suitor, Dr. Beanstine, coroner and a lord's son.
While the title Thrice Burned does refer to the trio of arsons in which Portia becomes involved in solving, it can also refer to the multitude of circumstances by which her own reputation is injured, through antagonism, humiliation, disappointment and revelation. Of course, the criminals whose crimes Portia reveals are always a potential threat to her, but the involvement of a reporter, Mr. Dick McGregor, whose fabricated and outlandish stories refer to her and her activities without any veracity, leads to endangering her work and privacy. Though she has allowed Annie Coleson to refer to her activities as those of Consulting Detective P.C. Adams–without any reference to her gender or ancestry–McGregor puts Portia's actions into question with the police who begin to believe that Portia is taking credit for their work. Fortunately, the support of Brian Dawes, Chief Inspector Archer and Sergeant Michaels helps to right those incorrect insinuations.
In Casebook Six, Angela Misri effortlessly takes Portia into the darkness, that occasionally enveloped her grandfather Holmes, when flummoxed with a case of potential theft, an antagonistic British Secret Intelligence Service agent and her affections for Brian Dawes.
"This is not an ordinary ennui, Portia. The excitement and adrenaline of a case–a really engaging, difficult case–that was the high. The solution and then the time between that and the next exciting case...that was the low. And for Sherlock, the high was higher than anything else in his life, and, therefore, so was the low." (pg. 150)
Regardless of the complexity of the Box 850 case and the subsequent case involving the disappearance of women of ill-repute upon their public damnation at the Matfelon Church, Portia is able to focus her detection skills on solving the mysteries with scientific elegance. Though struggling with amorous feelings with which she is wholly unfamiliar, Portia conducts her sleuthing with the eye for details and labyrinthine problem-solving of one grandfather i.e., Sherlock Holmes, and the humanity of the other, Dr. Watson. Angela Misri has created Portia Adams to be a true incarnation of the great detective and his friend and biographer, while ensuring the Canadian consulting detective is wholly her own person too.
Reading A Portia Adams Adventure, whether it be Jewel of the Thames or Thrice Burned, is like revisiting the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Just as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle often chose to recount several of Sherlock Holmes' cases in a single tome, Angela Misri follows suit, extending the authentic and complementary nature of the series to those of the famous detective. Thrice Burned is like having new Sherlock Holmes mysteries to read, only now starring an inquisitive and astute young woman (without the Asperger's Syndrome tendencies) and in a London of the 1930s. And it works so, so well. Elementary, wouldn't you say?
The shocking revelation at the conclusion of Jewel of the Thames (Fierce Ink Press, 2014) that her grandparents on her father's side are ex-criminal Irene Adler–currently known as Irene Jones–and Sherlock Holmes may have hit Miss Portia Adams hard but she won't let it distract her from her law studies at Somerville College or from honing her detection skills. She continues her lessons in self-defense from Bruiser Jenkins, and studying alongside Chief Inspector Archer of Scotland Yard. But she's also learning more about London's landscape, both topographical and invisible, and about lie detection from the formidable lawyer Mr. Ian Meyers. Having established her own group of Irregulars, street children whom she pays with money, food and treats, Portia undertakes three new cases, Casebooks Five through Seven : Thrice Burned, Box 850*, and Truth Be Told.
In Casebook Five, arsons at three different locations, but with no damage to adjoining buildings, have Portia making the acquaintance of Miss Anne Coleson, a reporter looking to salvage a marred reputation and earn a living to care for her younger siblings. While Portia is reluctant to oblige, she begins to see some positives to Annie's proposal, especially once Annie becomes romantically involved with Constable Brian Dawes, a young man for whom Portia has romantic feelings. Ultimately the two women work together somewhat to solve the perplexing arsons, though it is truly Portia with her sharp mind and doggedness who brings the criminals to justice. And all that while she tries to balance her affections for Brian, the intriguing forensic scientist Dr. Whitaker, and her grandmother's choice of suitor, Dr. Beanstine, coroner and a lord's son.
While the title Thrice Burned does refer to the trio of arsons in which Portia becomes involved in solving, it can also refer to the multitude of circumstances by which her own reputation is injured, through antagonism, humiliation, disappointment and revelation. Of course, the criminals whose crimes Portia reveals are always a potential threat to her, but the involvement of a reporter, Mr. Dick McGregor, whose fabricated and outlandish stories refer to her and her activities without any veracity, leads to endangering her work and privacy. Though she has allowed Annie Coleson to refer to her activities as those of Consulting Detective P.C. Adams–without any reference to her gender or ancestry–McGregor puts Portia's actions into question with the police who begin to believe that Portia is taking credit for their work. Fortunately, the support of Brian Dawes, Chief Inspector Archer and Sergeant Michaels helps to right those incorrect insinuations.
In Casebook Six, Angela Misri effortlessly takes Portia into the darkness, that occasionally enveloped her grandfather Holmes, when flummoxed with a case of potential theft, an antagonistic British Secret Intelligence Service agent and her affections for Brian Dawes.
"This is not an ordinary ennui, Portia. The excitement and adrenaline of a case–a really engaging, difficult case–that was the high. The solution and then the time between that and the next exciting case...that was the low. And for Sherlock, the high was higher than anything else in his life, and, therefore, so was the low." (pg. 150)
Regardless of the complexity of the Box 850 case and the subsequent case involving the disappearance of women of ill-repute upon their public damnation at the Matfelon Church, Portia is able to focus her detection skills on solving the mysteries with scientific elegance. Though struggling with amorous feelings with which she is wholly unfamiliar, Portia conducts her sleuthing with the eye for details and labyrinthine problem-solving of one grandfather i.e., Sherlock Holmes, and the humanity of the other, Dr. Watson. Angela Misri has created Portia Adams to be a true incarnation of the great detective and his friend and biographer, while ensuring the Canadian consulting detective is wholly her own person too.
Reading A Portia Adams Adventure, whether it be Jewel of the Thames or Thrice Burned, is like revisiting the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Just as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle often chose to recount several of Sherlock Holmes' cases in a single tome, Angela Misri follows suit, extending the authentic and complementary nature of the series to those of the famous detective. Thrice Burned is like having new Sherlock Holmes mysteries to read, only now starring an inquisitive and astute young woman (without the Asperger's Syndrome tendencies) and in a London of the 1930s. And it works so, so well. Elementary, wouldn't you say?
March 25, 2017
Lazy day
A very good read. The connection between Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson and Irene Adler was told with believability. An interesting subject.
A very good read. The connection between Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson and Irene Adler was told with believability. An interesting subject.
December 20, 2017
A good sequel to the first, with more character development and interesting cases. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
November 7, 2015
ARC courtesy of Fierce Ink Press. Thank you!
4.5 stars
I think all readers hope for novels in a series to steadily grow and heighten in story and character as subsequent books follow. While I find that this doesn't happen often enough, I am happy to say that Thrice Burned absolutely shines.
Over the course of this novel we see quite a bit of development in Portia's social life: her meeting of and growing friendship with reporter Annie Coleson; the affectionate interest of a handsome, determined doctor named Gavin Whitaker; and the increasing friction between her and Constable Brian Dawes (who was introduced in book one). While some attention is placed on Portia's affections and emotions for both Brian and Dr. Whitaker (and her insecurities), neither romance nor a plausible love triangle is the focus. I think that Misri did a great job here, building supporting and main characters and Portia's case work instead of following the line of romance. Portia's professional work, friendship with and respect of the police and doctors she works with is the cornerstone here and I think this sequel is all the stronger for it. Romance and relationships may become a larger focus in the next novel, and I think it will be all the more enjoyable and interesting because of the foundation laid out here and in book one.
Regarding Portia's detective work, I especially enjoyed and was taken in with the breadth of detail in each of Portia's case books. It a bit funny because I found the first novel to be dragging in some portions and hoped for a faster clip in future installments; in Thrice Burned there are more technicalities and pieces of information given for each major case but Misri makes it work so well and it flows at smooth pace. I personally found that the writing became sharper, more focused and fluid as the cases went on. The last casebook, Truth Be Told- regarding missing female street workers and a highly suspicious reverend- was fascinating. Whether due to the case's slightly grittier nature, Portia's sheer tenacity, or that it afforded eerie parallels to present-day, I thought the last case book was really gripping.
What I found interesting is that while Portia- along with Dawes and other prominent members of Scotland Yard- figure their way through major three cases, not everything gets resolved. In other words, things do not necessarily wrap up tidily. Loose threads start to appear between cases and criminals; the Yard starts to falter and hints at a potential threat to come from upper agencies. Furthermore, on top of Portia's qualms about coming forward publicly to news agencies about her work with the Yard, she worries greatly about what will happen if more people discover that both Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes are her relatives. Multiple threats to Portia herself and Scotland Yard start to emerge in this novel; I started to wonder if or when we might be introduced to a Moriarty-type character! Someone utterly sinister and twisted...with his or her heart set on extinguishing a descendent of Holmes. Needless to say, there is quite a bit left untied here; all the more for the next Portia Adams Adventure to sink into, I think!
Overall, this sequel did impress. Portia is slowly growing into first-rate character for me; one that I genuinely like and look forward to reading more about. She is exceedingly bright but with a level of empathy that can often be lacking in other brilliant detectives. If you have read and enjoyed Jewel of the Thames , then I highly recommend continuing on with the series. As I noted previously, readers on the lookout for intelligently written historical mysteries, detective fiction, and/or Sherlock Holmes-inspired YA, might want to try this series out. Fans of this series, myself firmly included, can look forward to a third Portia Adams Adventure expected in 2016.
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June 30, 2017This was a fun book to read. I love anything about Sherlock Holmes and this book added a new dimension.
July 5, 2018
Brava! Another novel well done! It kept me on my toes and wanting more, and I certainly didn't see some endings coming. I throughly enjoyed it, and look forward to the next one!
July 11, 2015
It may have been partially because I had to stop reading this book briefly to get another one read, but this book seemed a little slower than the first book in the series. I also think that part of this feeling relates to the fact that even Portia felt this way at certain points, when she wasn't working on interesting cases or when the ones she was on had clues that weren't seeming to add up for quite some time.
That said, there were interesting additions this time around. First, the addition of Annie Coleson to the cast of characters and the tension Portia feels regarding Annie reporting on the cases she helps the police with and the feelings that Portia has for Brian, while he seems to only have eyes for Annie, her exact opposite. Next, the deep depression that Portia falls into and how this links her more closely to Sherlock Holmes' character. Will it only be depression or will she follow into his other drug taking proclivities if she doesn't get control over her emotional highs and lows. Also, I feel that the content of the cases this time around have slightly more adult content than was the case in the first book, and it's interesting how these polite and indirect characters, like Portia, refrain from stating what the profession of the ladies Portia helps in the third case initially so readers have to read between the lines about what it is they do.
Questions that I still have and/or directions that may be revealed in final book in the series: what's going on with Portia and Brian. If only Brian and Whitaker knew that Portia was going to the church, then does that mean W told the other reporter? Will Annie and Portia stay close? Will Holmes interact with Portia more often than a brief convo and a gift? What about those guys who were following Portia in Whitechapel? Is the person who may have been pulling the strings in the arson case and art theft one one-in-the-same? Will Portia be able to take them down? Finally, will Portia decide to become a lawyer and leaving her detective consulting behind or will she leave the law behind to be come a full time detective like Dr.Watson and Sherlock Holmes?
That said, there were interesting additions this time around. First, the addition of Annie Coleson to the cast of characters and the tension Portia feels regarding Annie reporting on the cases she helps the police with and the feelings that Portia has for Brian, while he seems to only have eyes for Annie, her exact opposite. Next, the deep depression that Portia falls into and how this links her more closely to Sherlock Holmes' character. Will it only be depression or will she follow into his other drug taking proclivities if she doesn't get control over her emotional highs and lows. Also, I feel that the content of the cases this time around have slightly more adult content than was the case in the first book, and it's interesting how these polite and indirect characters, like Portia, refrain from stating what the profession of the ladies Portia helps in the third case initially so readers have to read between the lines about what it is they do.
Questions that I still have and/or directions that may be revealed in final book in the series: what's going on with Portia and Brian. If only Brian and Whitaker knew that Portia was going to the church, then does that mean W told the other reporter? Will Annie and Portia stay close? Will Holmes interact with Portia more often than a brief convo and a gift? What about those guys who were following Portia in Whitechapel? Is the person who may have been pulling the strings in the arson case and art theft one one-in-the-same? Will Portia be able to take them down? Finally, will Portia decide to become a lawyer and leaving her detective consulting behind or will she leave the law behind to be come a full time detective like Dr.Watson and Sherlock Holmes?
June 1, 2015
Last year, I reviewed the excellent Jewel of the Thames, the first mystery novel by Canadian author Angela Misri. This month, I had the opportunity to read her equally well-crafted sequel Thrice Burned.
Misri's books have, as their protagonist, the immensely engaging Portia Adams, a young Canadian detective with a connection to Holmes and Watson. The mystery aspects and Portia's detection style owe a great deal to Doyle's works, but they are adapted to a slightly later point in time and Portia's own unique personality. Misri's meticulous research into the history of criminal arson is very much in evidence in this book and will please those who enjoy realism in their criminal fiction.
Thrice Burned is not a rehash of the previous book. It builds on Misri's previous elements (though it can be enjoyed as a standalone work) and deepens Portia's character as well as her relationships with Annie and Dawes--two very well fleshed out characters who serve as Watsonian foils to Portia's Holmesian brilliance.
Misri is one of the most exciting new authors whose works I've encountered in some time, and Thrice Burned is another enjoyable installment that manages to be, all at once, very Holmesian and very much all Misri's own.
June 8, 2015
I'm a sucker for period mysteries, so the fun and historically stylish concept of Thrice Burned (and the Portia Adams adventures generally) alone is like catnip to a Holmes-loving, Agatha Christie-adoring reader like me. I was impressed with the first book in the series but thrilled to report Thrice Burned has me raving. It nailed all the crucial 'must-do's for a sequel: the cases themselves are curiosity-piquing puzzles, the character development builds wonderfully as Portia navigates the treacherous waters of female friendship, romance, and the in-between-ness of her relationship with her neighbour and colleague, Constable Dawes. Oh, and there's a PUPPY! But what truly had me raising cheers of happiness is the way Misri seamlessly weaves contemporary feminist and socio-political themes into a book that whose rollicking plots will draw in young readers - she does it subtly, beautifully, and in so doing makes this fun read equally relevant to anyone trying to wrap their head around the rights and privileges of have's and have-not's in the culture of 1930s London and of our world today. Can't wait for the next one in the series. Really. I'd like to read it now, please!
June 21, 2016
An excellent book, and in my opinion, it does better than the first of the series. I'm thrilled to see that Portia is finally not surrounded solely by men in her day-to-day life; the addition of Annie to the cast was a wonderful choice, and I'd love to see more of their friendship in future books. The mysteries, while still remaining fairly light in terms of depth, are interesting and are definitely puzzles for people to work out. I like the structure of the book, with three individual mysteries, even as there is a larger arc that weaves between all three of the stories (I do so hope we learn more about the fate of Howard in the next book!). I enjoy the ongoing themes of family and legacy, and I am definitely pleased that the major revelation from the first book doesn't push Watson and his importance in Portia's history to one side.
This was a great "development" book, with lots of relationships growing and changing, even as Portia grows more into her own. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, so I can see what direction the author takes the series. I am definitely recommending this series to my Holmesian friends, who will get a kick out of it.
This was a great "development" book, with lots of relationships growing and changing, even as Portia grows more into her own. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, so I can see what direction the author takes the series. I am definitely recommending this series to my Holmesian friends, who will get a kick out of it.
October 19, 2015
Book two in this wonderful new series was as fantastic as the first book was. The characters have evolved and become deeper. Portia is a strong female character in a rather male dominated world of her time. We learned more about the main characters. I'm still hoping for a Nancy Drew/Ned Nickerson type relationship between Portia Adams and Brian Dawes. They make a wonderful crime fighting duo. I'm anxiously waiting for the next book to be published. I highly recommend this series for any mystery lover, YA reader because you will not be disappointed.
June 20, 2015
I really enjoyed getting back into the immersive and well researched world of Portia Adams. This time, because the world and characters are established, the cases are free to be more challenging and feel like they have more layers. It's a good thing it's broken up into 3 cases, giving me a natural breaking point; otherwise I'd probably have some explaining to do after staying up all night to read through the whole book.
December 27, 2019
The introduction of Gavin into Portia's life has certainly made things more interesting for our buttoned up protagonist. It will be very fun to see not only what her next mysteries are, but also how she grows as a character. Brian and Annie beginning to date made her realize that she wants more than just intellectual pursuits. She is really changing from the person she started out as, and I like the development that the author has given her.
September 13, 2015
Absolutely, 100% adored this follow up to THE JEWEL OF THE THAMES. There's so much to appreciate in Misri's book--the evolution of the character relationships and motivations, the honest feelings expressed and for my part my unparalleled appreciation for how...hmm maturely several character dynamics are handled goes a long way to proving Portia's personality.
July 21, 2015
A lovely follow-up to the first in the series. It's great to see Portia making some more friends and solving some more cases.
January 31, 2018
I was hooked, but so so mad!
So she makes a new friend. Wonderful. Then that friend starts dating her crush. Well... FUCK! Then she's starting a new romance with a nice Doctor. Okay, smelling myself a new Watson. But her crush, who is dating someone else isn't happened with this. WTF? AND she's still partially feeling things for her crush.
So she's in a fucking love triangle, sort of, but too oblivious to notice. This is KILLING ME!
Other then that, the mysteries were great. Still no sign of a Moriarty type character yet -- though I think it might have been hinted at in this book. But I'm still enjoying her character, still enjoying the books so now I'm going to have to get book 3. le sigh.
So she makes a new friend. Wonderful. Then that friend starts dating her crush. Well... FUCK! Then she's starting a new romance with a nice Doctor. Okay, smelling myself a new Watson. But her crush, who is dating someone else isn't happened with this. WTF? AND she's still partially feeling things for her crush.
So she's in a fucking love triangle, sort of, but too oblivious to notice. This is KILLING ME!
Other then that, the mysteries were great. Still no sign of a Moriarty type character yet -- though I think it might have been hinted at in this book. But I'm still enjoying her character, still enjoying the books so now I'm going to have to get book 3. le sigh.
August 2, 2019
This book was okay. I liked the first book a lot more than this one. I also liked the layout of the first book better as well. I noticed that this book also switched font from time to time. I don’t if all of the books are like that or mine just came from a bad copier. All I know is that it made the book less enjoyable and more difficult to read. Due to this I had to take off a few stars. If I based it only on the storyline it would have gotten a solid four out of five stars. Portia still is a bad*** character who just keeps getting better with every page. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series and more of Portia’s story.
September 22, 2021
The Portia Adams Adventure- Thrice Burned by Angela Misri is set in the 1930s in London. Portia, the granddaughter of Holmes and Watson, investigates several mysteries that are stumping the Scotland Yard, while at the same time studying at University to become a Barrister. Portia, with all the notes from her Grandfathers and with a similar mindset and deductive reasoning styles as them, solves these mysteries in the traditional Holmes/Watson style which will appeal to any Sherlock fan. I quite enjoyed reading more of the comings and goings of 221 Baker Street, set a few decades after the original Sherlock stories.
December 28, 2020
I'm loving this series! I really enjoy the three short novella-length mysteries in the novel combined with the over-arching friendship/romance storylines. Can't wait to find out what Portia gets up to next!
May 6, 2021
Very cute story
‘Thrice Burned’ book 2 in the Portia Adams Adventures is another fun book about Sherlock Holmes and John Watson’s granddaughter. There are two mystery/adventures for Portia to solve with a touch of romance and family issues. I look forward to reading book 3.
‘Thrice Burned’ book 2 in the Portia Adams Adventures is another fun book about Sherlock Holmes and John Watson’s granddaughter. There are two mystery/adventures for Portia to solve with a touch of romance and family issues. I look forward to reading book 3.
October 25, 2020
I really enjoy this series! It's well written and engaging.
November 4, 2021
A fun story and it moves right along. I hated the centered justification but I finally got used to it, after a while.
October 12, 2015
Portia is still reeling from finding out that her guardian, Mrs. Jones, is actually the infamous Irene Adler and her grandmother. As if finding that out wasn't shocking enough, the revelation that Sherlock Holmes is her grandfather has Portia feeling betrayed by her mother, who took the secrets of Portia's lineage to the grave. As a diversion Portia throws herself into work and continues to consult with Scotland Yard on their hard-to-crack cases. While on the case of an arsonist who's plaguing London she meets Annie Coleson, a disgraced reporter who has clues that can help Portia solve the mystery. The women strike up a friendship and Annie starts to report on "P.C. Adams", the consulting detective helping to keep London safe, with the promise to keep Portia's true identity secret. As the press starts to show an interest in P.C. Adams, an impostor comes forward claiming to be the consulting detective and Portia must choose between remaining anonymous and letting the world know who the real P.C. Adams is.
Thrice Burned is a continuation of young Portia Adams' adventures in London, her days spent uncovering clues and investigating serious crimes.
Readers discovered who Portia was in the previous book. Intelligent, practical, at times unemotional but often supportive of those she considers important to her. She's rather analytic. There isn't necessarily anything new to learn about her, which is fine. She's still attempting to fit all the pieces of her life together so everything works. Her law school studies, her on-the-side investigations with the police, her personal relationships. But can they all fit together like the pieces of a puzzle, or is she fated to have the thrill of solving a mystery consume her like nothing else can?
Instead of discovering who Portia is, this book is more about Portia figuring out her relationships with the people around her. Like Mrs. Jones, who in actuality is Irene Adler. Like Brian Dawes, her downstairs tenant and good friend. Like Annie Coleson, a bubbly and loud young reporter looking for a good story to write about. They can be impulsive, unpredictable. They make her feel things she's not used to feeling. Considering the direction of her thoughts towards one of them at the end of the book, it will be interesting to see what happens between them. If anything happens between them.
The mysteries have been carefully crafted by the author and carefully picked and pulled apart by Portia. As the book it told through her eyes, the reader sees what she sees. They can't see anything until Portia finds it intriguing or important enough to consider. And they can't always piece it together as quickly as Portia can.
Like the first book, here is an interesting story with mysteries to solve and suspects to discover. I'm curious as to what the third book will bring, if Portia will ever have to confront an unsolvable case or wage a war of wits against a nemesis.
(I received an e-galley of this title to review from Fierce Ink press.)
Thrice Burned is a continuation of young Portia Adams' adventures in London, her days spent uncovering clues and investigating serious crimes.
Readers discovered who Portia was in the previous book. Intelligent, practical, at times unemotional but often supportive of those she considers important to her. She's rather analytic. There isn't necessarily anything new to learn about her, which is fine. She's still attempting to fit all the pieces of her life together so everything works. Her law school studies, her on-the-side investigations with the police, her personal relationships. But can they all fit together like the pieces of a puzzle, or is she fated to have the thrill of solving a mystery consume her like nothing else can?
Instead of discovering who Portia is, this book is more about Portia figuring out her relationships with the people around her. Like Mrs. Jones, who in actuality is Irene Adler. Like Brian Dawes, her downstairs tenant and good friend. Like Annie Coleson, a bubbly and loud young reporter looking for a good story to write about. They can be impulsive, unpredictable. They make her feel things she's not used to feeling. Considering the direction of her thoughts towards one of them at the end of the book, it will be interesting to see what happens between them. If anything happens between them.
The mysteries have been carefully crafted by the author and carefully picked and pulled apart by Portia. As the book it told through her eyes, the reader sees what she sees. They can't see anything until Portia finds it intriguing or important enough to consider. And they can't always piece it together as quickly as Portia can.
Like the first book, here is an interesting story with mysteries to solve and suspects to discover. I'm curious as to what the third book will bring, if Portia will ever have to confront an unsolvable case or wage a war of wits against a nemesis.
(I received an e-galley of this title to review from Fierce Ink press.)
February 9, 2019
It was interesting....felt a bit long but the ending when she ^€#*#£%*^ was sooooo good.
The mysteries were good and unexpected,very entertaining but could have been a bit shorter or maybe a bit more fast paced.
Portia’s love life seems complicated when it shouldn’t be but maybe that’s just me. I just wish she could get with either G or B both seem like good candidates except for B who has A but that’s not a huge obstacle .
Besides that, it was good. 2.5/5
The mysteries were good and unexpected,very entertaining but could have been a bit shorter or maybe a bit more fast paced.
Portia’s love life seems complicated when it shouldn’t be but maybe that’s just me. I just wish she could get with either G or B both seem like good candidates except for B who has A but that’s not a huge obstacle .
Besides that, it was good. 2.5/5
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July 24, 2015I so wanted to like this book. I do like the heroine, Portia Adams (and the Shakespeare nerd in me loved the fact that she has a bloodhound/sidekick called Nerissa),but there's still the huge logic problem I pointed out to the author after reading the first book in the series, Jewel of the Thames. Portia is supposedly studying at Somerville College in Oxford, but she lives on Baker Street in London. In the first book, the author had her taking the Tube to Oxford - er, no! In this volume, I don't know how she fits her studies in at all, as she's solving cases in cahoots with Scotland Yard all over London. She does use the labs at King's College in London; she could in fact study the law there, or at the Inns of Court, but for some reason the author persists in having Portia study at Somerville College. That's not the only problem, of course - the dialogue is plodding, and full of terms that sound way too modern for 1930: "girlfriend," "boyfriend," "alright" - alternating with ponderous terms like "thusly" and "repast." Basic grammar is ignored: "...between the good doctor and I." And the profusely scattered exclamation points seem disingenuous - let the reader make up her own mind, please.
The author thanks her editor profusely, but seems to have ignored most of his advice. I'm sorry to sound so cranky, but I can't turn off my internal editor, and I'm sure I'm not the only reader who's left scratching her head.
The author thanks her editor profusely, but seems to have ignored most of his advice. I'm sorry to sound so cranky, but I can't turn off my internal editor, and I'm sure I'm not the only reader who's left scratching her head.
October 1, 2015
This is the second book in the Portia Adams series. Portia, after learning more about her family, has to come to terms with it, form new relationships, and solve cases at the same time. The only problem I had with this book is that the ink was not printed very well so some parts were hard to read. Also, it at times feels disjointed, but it is a mystery book with separate cases and not so much a novel, so it's to be expected. I really recommend these books to anyone who is a fan of mystery, historical fiction (these take place in the 30s in London), and/or Sherlock Holmes. I can't wait till the next one comes out! 4.5/5
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