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Dido Kent #3
A Woman of Consequence
On a visit to the ruins of Madderstone Abbey, Penelope Lambe suffers a bad fall and before she slips into unconscious, manages to say 'I saw her, it was her'. Some take these words to mean that Penelope saw the Grey Nun, the ghost reputed to haunt the abbey, but Miss Dido Kent is determined to find the real cause.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
22 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Anna Dean
8 books153 followersAnna Dean was born in Cumberland (now part of Cumbria) in England in 1956. She moved to the Midlands as a child but as she grew older she became determined to return to the Lake District and, after a few years living in Wales, she moved back to Cumbria in 1984. She lives near Ambleside with her husband.
Dean has worked as an assistant to a psychologist; she has worked for the National Trust; she has taught Creative Writing and worked for the Wordsworth Trust at Grasmere in the Lake District; and she has an MA in Creative Writing.
"Anna Dean" is a pen name adopted for the Dido Kent series of historical crime novels set in the Regency period – the time of Jane Austen.Under her ‘real name’, Marian Veevers, she published an historical novel, 'Bloodlines' in 1996.
Dean has worked as an assistant to a psychologist; she has worked for the National Trust; she has taught Creative Writing and worked for the Wordsworth Trust at Grasmere in the Lake District; and she has an MA in Creative Writing.
"Anna Dean" is a pen name adopted for the Dido Kent series of historical crime novels set in the Regency period – the time of Jane Austen.Under her ‘real name’, Marian Veevers, she published an historical novel, 'Bloodlines' in 1996.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
October 4, 2017
The blurb and several reviewers said this was a blend of Agatha Christie and Jane Austen. I was hooked but once I started reading, I realized that my expectations were too high. Once I tempered my expectations, it was an enjoyable read. Dido is a pleasant-enough character and there's a mystery to solve. What I didn't care for was that there were several plotlines going on at once and they were a little too wrapped up (like a bow) at the end.
All in all, a great historical mystery.
My Rating: 4 stars
All in all, a great historical mystery.
My Rating: 4 stars
October 31, 2019
This was a really enjoyable read. Dido no longer felt like a nosy busybody and her reasonings and motivations were both interesting and laudable. In addition, I appreciated the satirical humour.
"A Woman of Consequence" felt like a satisfactory conclusion to a trilogy, but I have just noticed there is a fourth book so, of course, it is now on my TBR list.
"A Woman of Consequence" felt like a satisfactory conclusion to a trilogy, but I have just noticed there is a fourth book so, of course, it is now on my TBR list.
September 17, 2019
Another pleasant read.
October 1, 2019
A very well plotted mystery, written in an elegant Autenesque style that was a joy to read. I had completely forgotten about this series until I saw that my friend had just finished reading it. Thanks for the reminder Claude!
June 21, 2012
This is the third in Dean’s Dido Kent engaging historical series set in England. Miss Kent, an unmarried woman of a certain age, referred to as a spinster in her time, is writing to her sister, Eliza, as the book opens. She’s trying to give Eliza an account of Penelope Lambe’s accident, but her sister-in-law, pointedly and repeatedly reminds her that she is dependent on her brother’s hospitality—a cold garret room—and there is mending to do. Margaret, the sister-in-law, continues to interrupt the letter writing throughout the story, but Dido manages to clearly relate her feelings to her sister—and to us.
In between, we witness the strange goings on at Madderstone Abbey, the ghost of the Grey Nun, mysterious lights in the ruins, and the annoying Crockford sisters Lucy and Harriet, who are visiting the Harman-Footes of Madderstone, along with their good friend Penelope. Penelope hasn’t yet recovered from her fall at the ruins when a skeleton is found in a recently drained pool. Dido engages to find out who the skeleton is and how she died, not believing the conclusions of the local experts.
A trip to Bath and the attentions of the handsome Mr. Lomax, endeavor to keep Dido from her enquiries. She is also thwarted by Captain Laurence, a man she considers coarse and “altogether more masculine” than a man should be.
The historical aspect is just right. For me, the language was authentic to the period, but not stilted and difficult to read, as can happen in historicals that strive for accuracy. I hope for many more Dido Kent investigations.
Reviewed by Kaye George, author of “Choke” for Suspense Magazine
In between, we witness the strange goings on at Madderstone Abbey, the ghost of the Grey Nun, mysterious lights in the ruins, and the annoying Crockford sisters Lucy and Harriet, who are visiting the Harman-Footes of Madderstone, along with their good friend Penelope. Penelope hasn’t yet recovered from her fall at the ruins when a skeleton is found in a recently drained pool. Dido engages to find out who the skeleton is and how she died, not believing the conclusions of the local experts.
A trip to Bath and the attentions of the handsome Mr. Lomax, endeavor to keep Dido from her enquiries. She is also thwarted by Captain Laurence, a man she considers coarse and “altogether more masculine” than a man should be.
The historical aspect is just right. For me, the language was authentic to the period, but not stilted and difficult to read, as can happen in historicals that strive for accuracy. I hope for many more Dido Kent investigations.
Reviewed by Kaye George, author of “Choke” for Suspense Magazine
August 12, 2013
I thought the first two books in this series had a lot of promise and potential that they didn't quite realize. In this book, that promise and potential has been lived up to in sublimely enjoyable fashion! I hesitate to compare anyone's writing to Jane Austen's, because Austen herself is such an incomparable master. That said, this book contains the elegant language, eminently insightful wit and sophisticated intelligence of which Jane would likely approve.
This was one of Kirkus' "Best Fiction Books of 2012", and one of their selections that I actually (gasp) agree with :) The characters are extremely sharp, distinct and vividly drawn; the writing is smart, engaging and sneakily deep; the pacing and plotting are smoother and tighter than we got in the preceding books of this series, at least in this reviewer's opinion. There are references to Austen's work----most notably Persuasion---but they're integrated in a clever, amusing way rather than feeling like a clunky Austen ripoff. This is one of those rare mysteries that I'll happily reread despite knowing 'whodunit'; the characters and language make this one well worth revisiting.
The series' first two books left me on the fence about whether to buy another book by this author, but clicking that 'buy' button was among the better book-related decisions I made this year! Very, very highly recommended for fans of Jane Austen and/or historical mysteries.
This was one of Kirkus' "Best Fiction Books of 2012", and one of their selections that I actually (gasp) agree with :) The characters are extremely sharp, distinct and vividly drawn; the writing is smart, engaging and sneakily deep; the pacing and plotting are smoother and tighter than we got in the preceding books of this series, at least in this reviewer's opinion. There are references to Austen's work----most notably Persuasion---but they're integrated in a clever, amusing way rather than feeling like a clunky Austen ripoff. This is one of those rare mysteries that I'll happily reread despite knowing 'whodunit'; the characters and language make this one well worth revisiting.
The series' first two books left me on the fence about whether to buy another book by this author, but clicking that 'buy' button was among the better book-related decisions I made this year! Very, very highly recommended for fans of Jane Austen and/or historical mysteries.
March 14, 2015
Dido Kent, spinster, is now living with her eldest brother Francis and family. While on a visit with some neighbors to Madderstone Abbey, she hears tales of the Grey Nun, a ghost which supposedly haunts the ruins of the old Abbey. Dido doesn't believe in ghosts but when Miss Penelope Lambe falls on the stairs after seeing something shocking, Dido is convinced there's a rational explanation. Her ghost hunting is overshadowed by the discovery of a skeleton in the Abbey pond. The skeleton is believed to be the remains of a Miss Elinor Fenn, former governess to Mrs. Harmon-Foote, then Miss Harmon. Mrs. Harmon-Foote is horrified when the verdict comes back self-murder and Elinor is buried in unhallowed ground. Mrs. Harmon-Foote knew Elinor as a pious and proper lady. She would never have taken her own life. There must be some mystery afoot and Mr. Harmon-Foote refuses to allow her to investigate so she calls on Dido to find the answers. Dido is torn between natural curiosity and her feelings for Mr. William Lomax. He no more approves of Dido's investigations than Mr. Harmon-Foote. Dido fears that if she gives in and marries Mr. Lomax, they'll end up argumentative and unhappy. Natural curiosity wins out and Dido sets out to solve the fifteen-year-old mystery.
I liked this mystery the best of all three. It's suitably gothic for Halloween or a rainy day without actually being a ghost story. I never saw any of the plot twists coming except for the usual fortune hunter but even that was different than expected. There are so many things going on in this story that I could not put it down. The parts that I did not like were the lengthy conversations between Dido and William Lommax. His belief in separate spheres is more Victorian and it wasn't actually a thing... it was a construct made up by first wave women's historians. The story is set in 1806 which I think might be too early for the evangelical piety and concern about the delicacy of a subject suitable for women. I'm not an expert though. All that slows down the story. I especially like how the author takes elements of Jane Austen's life, adds a dash of Persuasion and makes it into something completely different.
Dido is a little less silly in this book. She's become wiser with each investigation and she's more sensitive to what kinds of information to share with people. She doesn't break any rules or behave in a modern way, which I like. She does get familiar with the servants but she doesn't really have a choice. I feel really bad for her that she's an impoverished gentlewoman living in her brother's house. That could easily be me. I like how her circumstances make her more empathetic in the end. She made the right decision.
Harriet Crockford, another spinster, annoyed me. She annoyed Dido too with her "Papa always said" and speaking in proverbs. She comes across as stuck-up or holier than thou. Her big secret was something of a surprise. I wanted to like her because she's a "middle-aged" (for the time) spinster but she was not a likable character. Her sister Lucy is also not very likable. She's selfish and scheming. Penelope Lambe is sweet and innocent, like Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey. She's never known anything outside of the walls of her school and thinks seeing a ghost would be thrilling. I don't blame her for wanting something to happen. I felt really bad for her when all was set and done.
The male characters were less appealing than the female. There's Captain Jerome Laurence, who is so transparent to anyone of sense. Mr. Coulson also rubs me the wrong way but I didn't even remember who he was until he was brought up towards the end. Mr. Paynter is somewhat mysterious. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to like him or not. I didn't really, not that much, but maybe if he had been in the story long enough to be memorable I would have liked him. Or not. Mr. Harmon-Foote hardly appears in the story but he seems nice but you don't know if he is or isn't until the end. The vicar is stupidly prejudiced and allows his personal feelings to get in the way. I did not care for him at all.
Another great entry in the series. One more to go.
I liked this mystery the best of all three. It's suitably gothic for Halloween or a rainy day without actually being a ghost story. I never saw any of the plot twists coming except for the usual fortune hunter but even that was different than expected. There are so many things going on in this story that I could not put it down. The parts that I did not like were the lengthy conversations between Dido and William Lommax. His belief in separate spheres is more Victorian and it wasn't actually a thing... it was a construct made up by first wave women's historians. The story is set in 1806 which I think might be too early for the evangelical piety and concern about the delicacy of a subject suitable for women. I'm not an expert though. All that slows down the story. I especially like how the author takes elements of Jane Austen's life, adds a dash of Persuasion and makes it into something completely different.
Dido is a little less silly in this book. She's become wiser with each investigation and she's more sensitive to what kinds of information to share with people. She doesn't break any rules or behave in a modern way, which I like. She does get familiar with the servants but she doesn't really have a choice. I feel really bad for her that she's an impoverished gentlewoman living in her brother's house. That could easily be me. I like how her circumstances make her more empathetic in the end. She made the right decision.
Harriet Crockford, another spinster, annoyed me. She annoyed Dido too with her "Papa always said" and speaking in proverbs. She comes across as stuck-up or holier than thou. Her big secret was something of a surprise. I wanted to like her because she's a "middle-aged" (for the time) spinster but she was not a likable character. Her sister Lucy is also not very likable. She's selfish and scheming. Penelope Lambe is sweet and innocent, like Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey. She's never known anything outside of the walls of her school and thinks seeing a ghost would be thrilling. I don't blame her for wanting something to happen. I felt really bad for her when all was set and done.
The male characters were less appealing than the female. There's Captain Jerome Laurence, who is so transparent to anyone of sense. Mr. Coulson also rubs me the wrong way but I didn't even remember who he was until he was brought up towards the end. Mr. Paynter is somewhat mysterious. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to like him or not. I didn't really, not that much, but maybe if he had been in the story long enough to be memorable I would have liked him. Or not. Mr. Harmon-Foote hardly appears in the story but he seems nice but you don't know if he is or isn't until the end. The vicar is stupidly prejudiced and allows his personal feelings to get in the way. I did not care for him at all.
Another great entry in the series. One more to go.
December 12, 2013
The Miss Dido Kent series by Anna Dean just keeps getting better and better. The book opens just after the summer that Dido spent in Richmond ("A Gentleman of Fortune".
Because of her brother's bank failure, Dido and her sister are now in sadly reduced financial circumstance. Dido, very much like Jane Austen, is a spinster, and at 36, is also like Jane and Cassandra Austen, totally dependent on her brothers for a home. Dido now has moved into her brother's vicarage in Badleigh. Margaret, her brother's wife, has no great love for Dido, and has consigned her to a cold attic room which only has one big advantage as far as Dido is concerned, Margaret does not like to climb the four flights of stairs to reach Dido's bedroom. Margaret is also relentless in finding chores for Dido to do. In spite of these hardships, Dido's strong character refuses to give way to depression, regrets or self-pity and she is determined to make the best of her situation,
There are small changes in Dido character in this third book. For one thing, she has become a little more self reflective about her circumstances during this time of transition in her life and for another, she is not as sure of herself as she once was. Her marriage proposal from Mr. Lomax, which she turned down,(at the end of the last book) weighs on her mind. She still believes that their marriage would be a mistake due to her independent character and her unlady like and insatiable curiosity. She is also impatient, suffocated and irritated by Margaret. So when the apparition of a long dead nun happens at a ruined and ancient local abbey, she sees this mystery as an escape from her boredom, endless sewing and chores at the vicarage. She does not believe in ghosts, and she is curious. It is this curiosity which soon leads her to investigate the mysteries of a haunted abbey, the nun apparition, and the 15 year old murder of a vanished governess. Are these events tied together or are they separate mysteries? Her investigations soon lead her into deep family secrets and her questions, logic, and reason soon help her to untangle the web of lies and deceit. The answers to her many questions are there, and Dido does ferret them out to the complete satisfaction of the reader.
Anna Dean uses Dido's character as a reflective mirror of her times. Because of her independence, curiosity, quick intelligence, and stubbornness, Dido is an anomaly; Dido shows us, by the contrast of her own character to the other women around her, the powerlessness of most women, whether married or not, in 19th century England and the quiet desperation of their lives. The constraints and expectations of Dido's social class cast a deep shadow in the developing relationship between the gentle, and reserved Mr. Lomax who loves her, and the fiercely independent Dido; she does love him and has a deep regard for his keen intelligence, but she is afraid marriage would mean altering her personality to suit his idea of a proper wife.
It is inevitable that Anna Dean's writing style should remind readers of Jane Austen. She makes excellent use of Dido's frequent letters to her sister who is away, and these letters let the reader see how Dido's mind works and help to move the plot along by describing what Dido is thinking during her investigation. Dean also does an excellent job of describing the society of the period and her wry wit exposes the constraints, double standards and hypocrisy of her characters.
I highly recommended this book especially if you're a fan of Jane Austen and of Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mystery series. I plan to read the next book in the series, "A Place of Confinement."
Because of her brother's bank failure, Dido and her sister are now in sadly reduced financial circumstance. Dido, very much like Jane Austen, is a spinster, and at 36, is also like Jane and Cassandra Austen, totally dependent on her brothers for a home. Dido now has moved into her brother's vicarage in Badleigh. Margaret, her brother's wife, has no great love for Dido, and has consigned her to a cold attic room which only has one big advantage as far as Dido is concerned, Margaret does not like to climb the four flights of stairs to reach Dido's bedroom. Margaret is also relentless in finding chores for Dido to do. In spite of these hardships, Dido's strong character refuses to give way to depression, regrets or self-pity and she is determined to make the best of her situation,
There are small changes in Dido character in this third book. For one thing, she has become a little more self reflective about her circumstances during this time of transition in her life and for another, she is not as sure of herself as she once was. Her marriage proposal from Mr. Lomax, which she turned down,(at the end of the last book) weighs on her mind. She still believes that their marriage would be a mistake due to her independent character and her unlady like and insatiable curiosity. She is also impatient, suffocated and irritated by Margaret. So when the apparition of a long dead nun happens at a ruined and ancient local abbey, she sees this mystery as an escape from her boredom, endless sewing and chores at the vicarage. She does not believe in ghosts, and she is curious. It is this curiosity which soon leads her to investigate the mysteries of a haunted abbey, the nun apparition, and the 15 year old murder of a vanished governess. Are these events tied together or are they separate mysteries? Her investigations soon lead her into deep family secrets and her questions, logic, and reason soon help her to untangle the web of lies and deceit. The answers to her many questions are there, and Dido does ferret them out to the complete satisfaction of the reader.
Anna Dean uses Dido's character as a reflective mirror of her times. Because of her independence, curiosity, quick intelligence, and stubbornness, Dido is an anomaly; Dido shows us, by the contrast of her own character to the other women around her, the powerlessness of most women, whether married or not, in 19th century England and the quiet desperation of their lives. The constraints and expectations of Dido's social class cast a deep shadow in the developing relationship between the gentle, and reserved Mr. Lomax who loves her, and the fiercely independent Dido; she does love him and has a deep regard for his keen intelligence, but she is afraid marriage would mean altering her personality to suit his idea of a proper wife.
It is inevitable that Anna Dean's writing style should remind readers of Jane Austen. She makes excellent use of Dido's frequent letters to her sister who is away, and these letters let the reader see how Dido's mind works and help to move the plot along by describing what Dido is thinking during her investigation. Dean also does an excellent job of describing the society of the period and her wry wit exposes the constraints, double standards and hypocrisy of her characters.
I highly recommended this book especially if you're a fan of Jane Austen and of Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mystery series. I plan to read the next book in the series, "A Place of Confinement."
March 20, 2020
This is the third of the Dido Kent Mysteries and I think it is the strongest yet. Set in Regency England, the environment and characters are absolutely true to their time. This mystery is intricately plotted; while there are no spoilers, clues are to be found aplenty throughout the story line. And I like Dido Kent more and more as a person as she deals with more adversity in this book.
February 3, 2011
First Sentence: My dear Eliza, I promised yesterday that just as soon as I had leisure for writing should send you a full and satisfactory account of Penelope Lambe’s accident at Madderstone Abbey; and so I shall begin upon it.
Unconscious after Penelope Lambe falls down stone steps in the ruin of Madderstone Abbey, it is thought she saw the ghost of the Grey Nun. Miss Dido Kent is skeptical and believes the cause was more corporal than spiritual. When a skeleton, identified as Elinor Fenn, governess, is found within a lake being drained on the property, the verdict is self-murder. A friend does not believe Miss Fenn would have committed suicide and, in order to save her being buried in unconsecrated ground, asks Did to investigate.
Beginning with a wonderful opening, I am reminded how much I enjoy the voice of Anna Dean and, therefore, her character Dido Kent. With shades of Jane Austen and her own delightful, wry humor, we are transported back to Georgian England…”I believe that every family which has any claim at all to grandeur should have a ghost. I consider it a kind of necessary which should be attended to as soon as the fortune is made and the country estate purchased.” Ms. Dean writes her books in both third person narrative and first person through letters from Dido to her sister. While some may find this annoying, for me it is an interesting and amusing way of conveying relevant information without slowing down the story. It allows us to see both all the events and be privy to Dido thoughts at the same time.
At 36 years old, Dido is considered a spinster yet is anything but shy and retiring. She has a logical mind and approach to solving problems by investigating the clues. The secondary story of her relationship with Mr. Lomax provides an interesting look at relationships and social mores of the time. Mr. Lomax discomfort at Dido discussing “unsuitable” subjects, including the vulnerability of women, and the proprietary of the interactions between them are both delightful and most honest representations I have read.
Ms. Dean has written a mystery of twists and turns, of relationships and unexpected revelations. I was intrigued by some of the history, particularly the doctor trying to determine the cause of asthma. With more substance than a cozy, this was a very good traditional mystery. I anxiously await her fourth book.
A WOMAN OF CONSEQUENCE (Hist Mys-Miss Dido Kent-England-1806/Georgian) – VG
Dean, Anna – 3rd in series
Allison & Busby, ©2010, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780749008192
Unconscious after Penelope Lambe falls down stone steps in the ruin of Madderstone Abbey, it is thought she saw the ghost of the Grey Nun. Miss Dido Kent is skeptical and believes the cause was more corporal than spiritual. When a skeleton, identified as Elinor Fenn, governess, is found within a lake being drained on the property, the verdict is self-murder. A friend does not believe Miss Fenn would have committed suicide and, in order to save her being buried in unconsecrated ground, asks Did to investigate.
Beginning with a wonderful opening, I am reminded how much I enjoy the voice of Anna Dean and, therefore, her character Dido Kent. With shades of Jane Austen and her own delightful, wry humor, we are transported back to Georgian England…”I believe that every family which has any claim at all to grandeur should have a ghost. I consider it a kind of necessary which should be attended to as soon as the fortune is made and the country estate purchased.” Ms. Dean writes her books in both third person narrative and first person through letters from Dido to her sister. While some may find this annoying, for me it is an interesting and amusing way of conveying relevant information without slowing down the story. It allows us to see both all the events and be privy to Dido thoughts at the same time.
At 36 years old, Dido is considered a spinster yet is anything but shy and retiring. She has a logical mind and approach to solving problems by investigating the clues. The secondary story of her relationship with Mr. Lomax provides an interesting look at relationships and social mores of the time. Mr. Lomax discomfort at Dido discussing “unsuitable” subjects, including the vulnerability of women, and the proprietary of the interactions between them are both delightful and most honest representations I have read.
Ms. Dean has written a mystery of twists and turns, of relationships and unexpected revelations. I was intrigued by some of the history, particularly the doctor trying to determine the cause of asthma. With more substance than a cozy, this was a very good traditional mystery. I anxiously await her fourth book.
A WOMAN OF CONSEQUENCE (Hist Mys-Miss Dido Kent-England-1806/Georgian) – VG
Dean, Anna – 3rd in series
Allison & Busby, ©2010, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780749008192
June 4, 2012
It's funny -- I know I read BELLFIELD HALL and enjoyed it (but didn't love it), however I cannot for the life of me remember anything about the story. I liked Dido Kent but the book didn't leave an indelible mark on me. At any rate, I saw the 3rd in the series on the library shelf and decided to take it home. I loved it. One by-line on the back cover said something like 'if Jane Austen wrote Miss Marple' which is basically the truth of the matter.
A WOMAN OF CONSEQUENCE finds Miss Dido Kent embroiled in high gothic circumstances: an abbey's ruins, a supposed ghost, a mysterious fall, and a woman's remains found in the abbey's pond. Implored by her friend to discover what is really going on, Dido quickly becomes immersed in all the shady goings-on, all the while navigating a tricky burgeoning romance with Mr. Lomax.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book -- although at times found myself irritated with Mr. Lomax -- and even smugly thought I'd figured out the murderer... only to see how wrong I was at the end. I love that! I've since checked out the second book in the series, and look forward to future installments.
A WOMAN OF CONSEQUENCE finds Miss Dido Kent embroiled in high gothic circumstances: an abbey's ruins, a supposed ghost, a mysterious fall, and a woman's remains found in the abbey's pond. Implored by her friend to discover what is really going on, Dido quickly becomes immersed in all the shady goings-on, all the while navigating a tricky burgeoning romance with Mr. Lomax.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book -- although at times found myself irritated with Mr. Lomax -- and even smugly thought I'd figured out the murderer... only to see how wrong I was at the end. I love that! I've since checked out the second book in the series, and look forward to future installments.
May 10, 2012
If you, like me, love Jane Austen and anything about or inspired by Jane Austen, then you will like this book! Not that this book ever mentions Jane Austen's name or has any characters from any of her books, no, but it's the kind of book Jane Austen would have written if she had written a mystery. The setting is England in the early 1800's, and Miss Dido Kent is past a certain age, living on the charity of relatives, and infinitely curious - as she puts it, not "inclined to rest contented with half truths when a little effort might uncover the whole." This is the third book with Dido Kent as the investigating heroine. My library has the first and the third, but not the second. But I really want to read the second one now, and I shall be tempted to go and buy it, not that it takes much tempting to make me buy a book!
March 8, 2014
This book suffered from too much epistolary development in the first chapters. It seemed unnecessary to rehash story events that could better have been shown, just to stuff in more of Dido's comments in the form of letters to her sister. That the correspondence was so one-sided and pointless really made it hard for me to get into the mystery, which started off in a murky fashion. I never really got engaged with the characters around Dido's brother's parish, who are the focus of this volume's events and her on-again, off-again romance was similarly unsatisfying. For me, this was the least impressive of the series to date.
May 8, 2012
Dido Kent satisfies my Regency cozy yen yet again, although her circumstances aren't good this time - she's living with a brother and his unpleasant wife, and being treated rather like Anne Elliot. The mystery involving the skeleton of a long lost woman and a possible haunting is interesting and the romance is picking up, but Dido isn't willing to change her personality despite the urging of friends & neighbors. The series continues to improve.
October 6, 2012
This is the first Dido Kent mystery I've read and I enjoyed it very much. It was full of suspense and mystery with a happy ending. Most importantly I didn't guess the ending at all. I love the way Anna Dean has written the book in a Jane Austen kind of style, it was very convincing and wasn't over the top like some historical fiction I've read.
September 30, 2012
This didn't excite me quite as much as the previous two. However, that may be because the author has captured the period so well that I was beginning to feel a little bit stir-crazy from the limits placed on 19th century women. I am looking forward to reading the next one.
January 23, 2013
Really excellent mystery with a good lead character. It also had some insights into gender and the fate of an intelligent, strong-minded women in a society that forces her to be dependent, so it was a good read on several levels.
July 21, 2013
There are so many authors trying to write Jane Austen novels, and so few come even close to getting it right. This was excellent. The language was right, the plot was clever, the characters interesting, and the dialog very witty. I can't wait for the next one.
September 15, 2015
A complicated plot which has a few devious turns. A gothic feel at the start with the ghost of a grey nun supposedly haunting the ruins of an Abbey, a skeleton discovered and a collection of missing letters. An entertaining mystery.
October 28, 2015
The main character, Dido, is intelligent, but the author sometimes focuses too much on her 'internal struggle of reason and society's stringent rules' which detracts from the actual mystery. The mystery was complicated and had an ending that was satisfying.
November 10, 2011
A love these books by Anna Dean - can't wait for the next instalment! Will Dido finally marry Mr Lomax?
November 29, 2021
"The third installation in Anna Dean's charming mystery series opens with a visit to the ruins of an abbey where Penelope Lambe suffers a bad fall from ancient stone steps. Before she slips into unconsciousness, Penelope manages to say, 'I saw her ... It was her.' Soon people are certain that she saw the Grey Nun, a ghost reputed to walk the abbey's ruins. Miss Dido Kent, however, does not approve of ghosts. Disregarding everyone else's assumptions, and endeavoring to take her mind off the troubles of her family, Dido turns her energy toward solving the mystery. But events start to seem more sinister when a human skeleton is found at the abbey. Is Miss Lambe's accident connected to this discovery? Everyone is relying on Dido to find out. A captivating continuation of the Dido Kent series: rich in suspense, historical detail and, most of all, characters."
~~front flap
A very entertaining mystery, with a nicely convoluted plot and a plethora of suspects.
~~front flap
A very entertaining mystery, with a nicely convoluted plot and a plethora of suspects.
October 21, 2017
I had the good fortune of reading ' A gentleman of fortune' before reading this one. I found the former much better than the latter one. The present book is unnecessarily slow and sluggish in pace. There are irrelevant details strewn around every part of the book. The actual mystery (and its solution) becomes too much to gulp down and too much to believe even for fiction. The solution is far-fetched and dissatisfying.
I give 3 stars for the refined but lucid language, the descriptions of the emotional states of various characters and the overall ability of the author to maintain a palpable air of suspense for the maximum part of the book.
I give 3 stars for the refined but lucid language, the descriptions of the emotional states of various characters and the overall ability of the author to maintain a palpable air of suspense for the maximum part of the book.
February 5, 2021
This is the third book in the Miss Dido Kent series and is my favorite so far. The characters are well developed. Dean is a master at setting. I shivered as Miss Kent sits in her cold attic room writing to her beloved sister. The mystery is well developed and has several layers that need to unfold. Miss Kent does not hesitate to point out the differences between the circumstances between men and women of the time. "but I believe it would fall within the comprehension of many women;we have so little power over our own destiny." Well worth the read.
February 8, 2022
Dean again pens an engaging mystery, this time a nod to Austen's Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. I wasn't quite as enamored of the means by which the author kept Dido separated from her Mr. Lomax—Regency conventions raised their ugly heads, not to mention the behavior "expected" of a gently-bred woman. I had expected Dido, at least, to challenge those conventions—and while she did so in regard to continuing her investigative pursuits, her relationship with Mr. Lomax suffered. Here's hoping book 4 will provide a romantic resolution!
December 17, 2018
Dean hit her stride with this book in the series. The story fit the time period and included wonderful discussions between Mr. Lomax and Dido regarding the role of men and women as well as achieving harmony within marriage. Plus, I finally began to see Mr. Lomax as more than a hazy indeterminate figure. My hope is we will learn more about Mr. L so he becomes a fully fleshed character.
February 7, 2018
This book was intriguing, not a marvel, yet it compelled me to keep turning the page at a few points. I liked the characters, concept and the way it was written. It's like Pride and Prejudice meets Miss Marple.
February 19, 2018
Victorian woman who investigates a mystery (actually a few mysteries, which all get woven together.) Very engaging and enjoyable.
April 6, 2018
Enjoyable Austen-ish mystery with some nice twists.
June 18, 2018
Enjoyed this!
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