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Lady Priscilla Flanders and Sir Neville Hathaway #1
A Rather Necessary End
MURDER AMONG THE MARIGOLDS
Lady Priscilla Flanders, widow of the local vicar, is at last ready to pack away her mourning clothes, gather up her children, and depart the peaceful--yet perhaps too quiet--village of Hempten-on-Heath for the bustle of London and the ton. Fate, however, has other ideas, as a neighbor is discovered--dead--in Priscilla's garden...
Now a prime suspect in the murder, Priscilla is determined find the real culprit before her meddlesome Aunt Cordelia can swoop in and spirit her young son, Isaac, away to a more "appropriate" environment. Fortunately, Priscilla has an able assistant in Sir Neville Hathaway, an irrepressible old friend who'd be happy to help in the investigation...and things of a more pleasant nature. Amid confusing clues and increasingly sinister goings-on, Priscilla and Neville must uncover the truth--before someone closer to home falls victim to a killer's wrath....
Lady Priscilla Flanders, widow of the local vicar, is at last ready to pack away her mourning clothes, gather up her children, and depart the peaceful--yet perhaps too quiet--village of Hempten-on-Heath for the bustle of London and the ton. Fate, however, has other ideas, as a neighbor is discovered--dead--in Priscilla's garden...
Now a prime suspect in the murder, Priscilla is determined find the real culprit before her meddlesome Aunt Cordelia can swoop in and spirit her young son, Isaac, away to a more "appropriate" environment. Fortunately, Priscilla has an able assistant in Sir Neville Hathaway, an irrepressible old friend who'd be happy to help in the investigation...and things of a more pleasant nature. Amid confusing clues and increasingly sinister goings-on, Priscilla and Neville must uncover the truth--before someone closer to home falls victim to a killer's wrath....
254 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Jo Ann Ferguson
82 books33 followersPlease note, this author also writes under the name J.A. Ferguson, Jocelyn Kelley and Rebecca North.
"One of my favorite memories is lying on the grass on a knoll on a late summer day and telling my sister stories I was making up," says Jo Ann Ferguson, who also writes as J.A. Ferguson, Joanna Hampton, Jo Ann Brown, and Rebecca North."There's something magical about being able to spend time with people you enjoy in your imagination. As a writer, I get to go with my characters to their time and place so I can share their adventures and falling in love for the first time…all over again."
She has had a few adventures of her own, including a stint as an Army quartermaster officer where she was the first and only woman in her unit. She still enjoys traveling to the locations of her books and learning all about those places and people. Researching her novels is part of the fun. Whether it's ghosts, calling cards, how to fire an antique gun, or traveling to a world that exists only in her imagination, she pays a great deal of attention to the details that delight her reader. She's even learned a bit of Russian, Arabic, Welsh, and a lot of Regency slang.
Her work has been honored with award nominations from Pearl, ROMY, Romantic Times, Rom/Con, and Affaire de Coeur magazine. Amazon Books chose her novels to showcase. And Romance Writers of America bestowed the two ARTemis Awards for Jo Ann's Zebra Regencies: The Counterfeit Count and A Christmas Bride.
Nonfiction also appeals to her, because it's where she got her start, seeing her first byline when she was twelve years old. She contributed to an encyclopedia of the English Regency period published by Garland Press. For all three editions of the New England Chapter's Now That You've Sold Your Book…What Next?, she has served as co-editor.
Believing in giving back, Jo Ann has served Romance Writers of America on both the local and national levels. She has served on the national board as president as well as a director and at term as vice president. For her volunteer work, she was given RWA's highest honor, the Emma Merritt National Service Award. She is also a creative writing instructor. She was awarded a Massachusetts Art Grant to teach creative writing and then established several creative writing courses at Brown University. Many of her students have gone on to publishing careers of their own.
She lives in Massachusetts, where her favorite hero—her husband, Bill—and their children and two cats. She's not sure which is the most spoiled.
"One of my favorite memories is lying on the grass on a knoll on a late summer day and telling my sister stories I was making up," says Jo Ann Ferguson, who also writes as J.A. Ferguson, Joanna Hampton, Jo Ann Brown, and Rebecca North."There's something magical about being able to spend time with people you enjoy in your imagination. As a writer, I get to go with my characters to their time and place so I can share their adventures and falling in love for the first time…all over again."
She has had a few adventures of her own, including a stint as an Army quartermaster officer where she was the first and only woman in her unit. She still enjoys traveling to the locations of her books and learning all about those places and people. Researching her novels is part of the fun. Whether it's ghosts, calling cards, how to fire an antique gun, or traveling to a world that exists only in her imagination, she pays a great deal of attention to the details that delight her reader. She's even learned a bit of Russian, Arabic, Welsh, and a lot of Regency slang.
Her work has been honored with award nominations from Pearl, ROMY, Romantic Times, Rom/Con, and Affaire de Coeur magazine. Amazon Books chose her novels to showcase. And Romance Writers of America bestowed the two ARTemis Awards for Jo Ann's Zebra Regencies: The Counterfeit Count and A Christmas Bride.
Nonfiction also appeals to her, because it's where she got her start, seeing her first byline when she was twelve years old. She contributed to an encyclopedia of the English Regency period published by Garland Press. For all three editions of the New England Chapter's Now That You've Sold Your Book…What Next?, she has served as co-editor.
Believing in giving back, Jo Ann has served Romance Writers of America on both the local and national levels. She has served on the national board as president as well as a director and at term as vice president. For her volunteer work, she was given RWA's highest honor, the Emma Merritt National Service Award. She is also a creative writing instructor. She was awarded a Massachusetts Art Grant to teach creative writing and then established several creative writing courses at Brown University. Many of her students have gone on to publishing careers of their own.
She lives in Massachusetts, where her favorite hero—her husband, Bill—and their children and two cats. She's not sure which is the most spoiled.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 21, 2023
This was a delight. Way more mystery than romance, however--there's just the hint of what's to come in the series. Enough to hook me!
Pull quotes/notes
"The first scream came from the kitchen." (7) what a first line
"'You looked as if you could use an excuse to dodge some eager fingers,' she whispered as Martha went to another tree and picked a blossom to weave through her hair.
'More than you could guess.'
'You should know better than to trifle with an innocent lass.' She put more blossoms in his arms.
'Innocent? She had a stranglehold on my arm.'
'Your arm cannot be strangled, Neville.'
He arched a dark brow. 'That is what you think.'" (101)
"'He needs to rest tonight, so he does not suffer such a crise de nerfs that he is as prostrate as his uncle.'" (162) and this is how I learned what nerf meant
"The guests wore more subdued colors, but the sounds of silk and sharply pressed linen matched the motions of anyone who walked near Priscilla." (232)
Pull quotes/notes
"The first scream came from the kitchen." (7) what a first line
"'You looked as if you could use an excuse to dodge some eager fingers,' she whispered as Martha went to another tree and picked a blossom to weave through her hair.
'More than you could guess.'
'You should know better than to trifle with an innocent lass.' She put more blossoms in his arms.
'Innocent? She had a stranglehold on my arm.'
'Your arm cannot be strangled, Neville.'
He arched a dark brow. 'That is what you think.'" (101)
"'He needs to rest tonight, so he does not suffer such a crise de nerfs that he is as prostrate as his uncle.'" (162) and this is how I learned what nerf meant
"The guests wore more subdued colors, but the sounds of silk and sharply pressed linen matched the motions of anyone who walked near Priscilla." (232)
October 15, 2025
It is rather late to be at this party, but I "discovered" the series through the audiobook - read by Helen Keeley, who does a magnificent job!
Unfortunately, some books of this series are hard to come buy (in e-form), so if you have any suggestions for books 4-6, I'm looking forward to them.
The heroine is sensible and acts mature, the hero is appreciative and not overly stern. The mystery is not very out of its way and the sleuthing fits in the restrains of the everyday life. Of course, there is a dragon of an aunt (who really is rather too mean), but the (buddying) romance gives the story the warmth and the drive where necessary.
Highly recommendable.
Unfortunately, some books of this series are hard to come buy (in e-form), so if you have any suggestions for books 4-6, I'm looking forward to them.
The heroine is sensible and acts mature, the hero is appreciative and not overly stern. The mystery is not very out of its way and the sleuthing fits in the restrains of the everyday life. Of course, there is a dragon of an aunt (who really is rather too mean), but the (buddying) romance gives the story the warmth and the drive where necessary.
Highly recommendable.
March 10, 2025
NOT a romance. It’s a regency murder mystery. Which is fine. No angst, no real flirtations even. Written fine. I guessed who did it. Thought the book had points that could have been interesting to flesh out but we’re like, washed over. It was fine. I don’t think I’ll continue the series though.
May 31, 2025
Un peu dommage de les voir galérer pendant 1/4 du livre alors que la réponse leur a déjà été donnée, mais ils sont mimis ces deux boloss
March 8, 2026
Loved this book and especially loved the audio. Cant wait to read the others in the series.
March 9, 2016
Fun characters, no romance but I think that's because it's the first in a series. I stole this from my in-laws' house, we'll see if I can get my hands on the others in the series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews