[.ca] Secret History Of The Pink Carnation (ISBN 0525948600)

too predictable but still good:
I finally got a chance to read this book, recommended by a local store clerk. Unfortunately, when I got to the chapter in which Eloise finds information that might help her find out who the Pink Carnation is, it was easy from then on for the reader to know who the Carnation was indeed. It was way too predictable. The story (of all these spies) *is* interesting, it's just too bad that Willig could not come up with other possibilities to tell the reader who the spy was. In the end, there was no twist, and the ending actually left me unsatisfied. No, I won't spoil it and tell you who is the Carnation, you will find out yourself when you read it. And no, I will not read the follow up of the book, The Masque of the Black Tulip. Despite this, Willig's writing is quite enjoyable, and the book reads very easily. If you like predictable novels, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

Mr and Ms Smith meets Jane Austin:
I love all 3 of these books. Writting is excellent, wonderful setting, well developed characters, fun all around. I highly recommend. I see how the other reviewer said it was predictiable- but isn't the journey all the fun?

Fun Parody of Swashbucklers and Academic Researchers:
"The Secret History of the Pink Carnation" is a fun read, and a well written first novel. Ms. Willig's "Masque of the Black Tulip" (the 2nd volume in the series and the one I read first) is much better. Frankly, I would have known who the Pink Carnation was. Any mystery reader would have said 'Ah-ha' the moment that character was described. The modern portions are good chick-lit, and I like the parody of the swash-buckler a la Scarlet Pimpernel.