Custard Rock reviewed A Bachelor Establishment by Jodi Taylor
A Bachelor Establishment - Review
4 stars
A Bachelor Establishment” by Jodi Taylor is a stand‑alone novel that predates the author’s better‑known series. As one of her earlier works, the book bears the hallmarks of a writer still finding her footing. The premise is intriguing, and the period details are rendered with care, making for an enjoyable read. However, the humour that usually lights up Taylor’s later novels is noticeably muted here, and the characters never quite achieve the depth or charm that make her ensembles so compelling. Because the protagonists feel more like archetypes than fully realised individuals, I struggled to connect with them. The plot moves steadily but occasionally stalls under heavy exposition, which slows the pacing. Overall, the novel is a respectable historical mystery and an interesting glimpse into Taylor’s development as a writer, but it falls short of the witty, character‑driven experience fans have come to expect. I would have given it three‑and‑a‑half …
A Bachelor Establishment” by Jodi Taylor is a stand‑alone novel that predates the author’s better‑known series. As one of her earlier works, the book bears the hallmarks of a writer still finding her footing. The premise is intriguing, and the period details are rendered with care, making for an enjoyable read. However, the humour that usually lights up Taylor’s later novels is noticeably muted here, and the characters never quite achieve the depth or charm that make her ensembles so compelling. Because the protagonists feel more like archetypes than fully realised individuals, I struggled to connect with them. The plot moves steadily but occasionally stalls under heavy exposition, which slows the pacing. Overall, the novel is a respectable historical mystery and an interesting glimpse into Taylor’s development as a writer, but it falls short of the witty, character‑driven experience fans have come to expect. I would have given it three‑and‑a‑half stars; I chose four stars only to avoid being overly harsh, though the book does not merit a full three‑star rating.