Book Review: To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano

TO WRITE A WRONG
SERIES: The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency #2
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance / Comedy
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: August 3, 2021
PAGES: 364

Miss Daphne Beekman is a mystery writer by day, inquiry agent by night. Known for her ability to puzzle out plots, she prefers working behind the scenes for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, staying well away from danger. However, Daphne soon finds herself in the thick of an attempted murder case she’s determined to solve.

Mr. Herman Henderson is also a mystery writer, but unlike the dashing heroes he pens, he lives a quiet life, determined to avoid the fate of his adventurous parents, who perished on an expedition when he was a child. But when he experiences numerous attempts on his life, he seeks out the services of the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency to uncover the culprit. All too soon, Herman finds himself stepping out of the safe haven of his world and into an adventure he never imagined.

As the list of suspects grows and sinister plots are directed Daphne’s way as well, Herman and Daphne must determine who they can trust and if they can risk the greatest adventure of all: love.

Other Books In This Series

Oh, Daphne. One of the things I loved most about book 1 in this series, To Steal a Heart, was side character Daphne and her quirky antics. So you can imagine how much I was looking forward to Daphne being the heroine in her own story, To Write a Wrong! I am pleased to report that I found her just as delightful in her starring role, and I read this book with a big grin on my face that just didn’t go away.

Daphne’s sincere earnestness to discover who’s trying to kill renowned mystery author Herman Henderson is hilariously juxtaposed against how simultaneously horrible AND lucky she actually is at it. Her innate quirkiness is buoyed further by her undercover persona in a house party full of authors (where she must keep no less than 3 of her identities a secret at any given time) and equally quirky supporting characters. Add to that some classic Turano “madcap mayhem” in the form of rescue bustles, pirate costumes, bad poetry, secret passages and a lengthy suspect list, and you’ll find yourself hoping laughter burns as many calories as actually exercising!

Herman is a swoony hero with his own set of quirks, and I loved the affectionately tongue-in-cheek look at authors that his – and Daphne’s – profession allows. Their meet-cute made me laugh out loud, and it just got better from there. The banter, the admiration, the affection, all of it had me grinning from ear to ear and it was made all the more endearing by the fact they both are rather clueless as to a) their appeal and b) the state of the other’s feelings.

In Daphne’s quest to eliminate the threat to Herman’s life, we also get to explore some deeper issues like anxiety, grief, fear, trauma, and gender roles / disparity in the late 1800s. The author seamlessly integrates these themes into the story without sacrificing either their importance or the light-hearted tone of the book. That’s a rare combination, but Turano pulled it off superbly.

Bottom Line: Any time I pick up a book by Jen Turano, I know I’ll be laughing often. To Write a Wrong is no exception. Quirky & endearing characters romp through every page, and just when you think it can’t possibly get any zanier… it does. A delightful story with hints of Clue, Oscar Wilde, Georgette Heyer, and a comedic voice all Turano’s own, To Write a Wrong is exactly the feel-good story we all need to be reading right now.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.

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What about you? What makes you want to read To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano?