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Lady Priscilla Flanders and Sir Neville Hathaway #2
Grave Intentions
A thrilling new tale pairing Lady Priscilla Flanders and her irrepressible friend, Sir Neville Hathaway. This time out, they encounter murder most foul amid the great houses of London, and pursue a course that brings them closer than ever to a killer--and to one another...
MURDER ON THE SQUARE
Having succumbed to her eldest daughter's pleas for a London Season, Lady Priscilla arrives in town--all her children in tow--and wonders if remaining in rural Stonehall-on-Sea mightn't have been a better idea. Her regrets are borne out when she learns of three suspicious deaths among the servants employed in the Bedford Square homes...and a fourth follows. But this time, the victim is a gentleman--and murder is confirmed.
An already grim situation becomes downright macabre when it is discovered that the victims' bodies have been snatched from their graves! Determined to get to the bottom of the sordid goings-on spreading fear throughout the parish, Priscilla engages Sir Neville's help. Any excuse to spend time with Priscilla suits Neville, but the more information they gather, the more he is convinced that someone with a most desperate agenda wants to bring their investigation to a quick--and deadly end....
MURDER ON THE SQUARE
Having succumbed to her eldest daughter's pleas for a London Season, Lady Priscilla arrives in town--all her children in tow--and wonders if remaining in rural Stonehall-on-Sea mightn't have been a better idea. Her regrets are borne out when she learns of three suspicious deaths among the servants employed in the Bedford Square homes...and a fourth follows. But this time, the victim is a gentleman--and murder is confirmed.
An already grim situation becomes downright macabre when it is discovered that the victims' bodies have been snatched from their graves! Determined to get to the bottom of the sordid goings-on spreading fear throughout the parish, Priscilla engages Sir Neville's help. Any excuse to spend time with Priscilla suits Neville, but the more information they gather, the more he is convinced that someone with a most desperate agenda wants to bring their investigation to a quick--and deadly end....
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
1 person is currently reading
25 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 23, 2023
So much good Regency slang in this
Pull quotes/notes
"Good memories of laughter and debate and an acceptance that he had never known anywhere else. He did not let himself be betwattled into believing the welcome was extraordinary, because neither Lazarus nor Priscilla had ever closed their doors to anyone." (37) brb need to start making betwattle a thing
"'Whom are you intending to impress tonight?'
'Why can't you believe it is you?'
'Because we know each other too well to be impressed by mere prinkum-prankum.'" (38) PRINKUM. PRANKUM.
"Priscilla wanted to groan. Mr. Wayland, a solicitor, had rubbed poorly against her since their first meeting almost three years before. Mayhap it was because, even when Lazarus was alive, Mr. Wayland made no secret of the fact he would like to rub against her in a far more intimate way." (42)
"Letting Mr. Drake soothe Eleanor, Priscilla took the tray with more Madeira and a trio of glasses from Mrs. Moore. The housekeeper rolled her eyes as Eleanor began to weep again, and Mrs. Moore took her leave swiftly." (102) Mrs. Moore ftw
"That was more ridiculous than anything she had ever thought of. Wasn't it? He did not want to get married, a fact he had made mightily clear. She needed to contemplate her children's future, not her own. Telling herself it was the stress of the events at Bedford Square betwattling her, she started to answer." (117) yesss more betwattling
"'Can I see one of the bodies?' asked Isaac.
Wanting to silence the lad, because Neville doubted his stomach could endure much more, he was glad when Lofts demurred with the explanation that he did not want to disturb the work his students had undertaken. At that last word, Isaac shot a grin at Neville." (145) badumchhh
"'Lord Burtrum believes we might find an answer to these mysterious deaths by talking to the dead.'
'It will be a very short, very one-sided conversation,' Neville said." (160-161)
"'I am leaving. I do not wish to be a party to such moonshine.'
'Ah, Pris, stay and see what we might learn.'
'Learn? This is nonsense, Neville.' She scowled. "I cannot believe you wish to be part of this skimble-skamble.'" (161) yesss keep the slang coming
"'The police in the City do not patrol here.'
'Even if they did,' Mr. Peel replied, his scowl growing fiercer, "they are so poorly prepared to investigate any sort of crime other than a broken window or a stolen pie, they do not deserve the title of policeman. We need a competent and trained policing force that would answer to a central authority. Bow Street has succeeded somewhat in that man-net, but it has too few men to handle the work that needs to be done.'" (203) bad news, Peel, central authority does not help
"Priscilla edged around some droppings in the street and stepped in something that squished beneath her high-lows.
She shook her foot but kept on walking. To pause to discover what it might be would identify her as someone who was unaccustomed to the disgusting streets." (218)
"'It bothers me far less to see those who choose to live in this squalor than it does to see innocent children here.'" (218) yes because they definitely choose it
"Shouts followed it, laced with curses Priscilla had never heard arranged in quite that order. This might not be a school, but she was going to be educated in matters she had never expected she would learn." (220)
"'G'away,'came the mumble through the door once more.
Neville pounded on the plank a third time. 'Gowan, we need to talk t'ye.'" (221) go away, go on
"'And wept so much.' He chuckled. 'I understand from Lazarus you were a regular wet-goose when you were awaiting Isaac's arrival.'" (250) wet goose!
Pull quotes/notes
"Good memories of laughter and debate and an acceptance that he had never known anywhere else. He did not let himself be betwattled into believing the welcome was extraordinary, because neither Lazarus nor Priscilla had ever closed their doors to anyone." (37) brb need to start making betwattle a thing
"'Whom are you intending to impress tonight?'
'Why can't you believe it is you?'
'Because we know each other too well to be impressed by mere prinkum-prankum.'" (38) PRINKUM. PRANKUM.
"Priscilla wanted to groan. Mr. Wayland, a solicitor, had rubbed poorly against her since their first meeting almost three years before. Mayhap it was because, even when Lazarus was alive, Mr. Wayland made no secret of the fact he would like to rub against her in a far more intimate way." (42)
"Letting Mr. Drake soothe Eleanor, Priscilla took the tray with more Madeira and a trio of glasses from Mrs. Moore. The housekeeper rolled her eyes as Eleanor began to weep again, and Mrs. Moore took her leave swiftly." (102) Mrs. Moore ftw
"That was more ridiculous than anything she had ever thought of. Wasn't it? He did not want to get married, a fact he had made mightily clear. She needed to contemplate her children's future, not her own. Telling herself it was the stress of the events at Bedford Square betwattling her, she started to answer." (117) yesss more betwattling
"'Can I see one of the bodies?' asked Isaac.
Wanting to silence the lad, because Neville doubted his stomach could endure much more, he was glad when Lofts demurred with the explanation that he did not want to disturb the work his students had undertaken. At that last word, Isaac shot a grin at Neville." (145) badumchhh
"'Lord Burtrum believes we might find an answer to these mysterious deaths by talking to the dead.'
'It will be a very short, very one-sided conversation,' Neville said." (160-161)
"'I am leaving. I do not wish to be a party to such moonshine.'
'Ah, Pris, stay and see what we might learn.'
'Learn? This is nonsense, Neville.' She scowled. "I cannot believe you wish to be part of this skimble-skamble.'" (161) yesss keep the slang coming
"'The police in the City do not patrol here.'
'Even if they did,' Mr. Peel replied, his scowl growing fiercer, "they are so poorly prepared to investigate any sort of crime other than a broken window or a stolen pie, they do not deserve the title of policeman. We need a competent and trained policing force that would answer to a central authority. Bow Street has succeeded somewhat in that man-net, but it has too few men to handle the work that needs to be done.'" (203) bad news, Peel, central authority does not help
"Priscilla edged around some droppings in the street and stepped in something that squished beneath her high-lows.
She shook her foot but kept on walking. To pause to discover what it might be would identify her as someone who was unaccustomed to the disgusting streets." (218)
"'It bothers me far less to see those who choose to live in this squalor than it does to see innocent children here.'" (218) yes because they definitely choose it
"Shouts followed it, laced with curses Priscilla had never heard arranged in quite that order. This might not be a school, but she was going to be educated in matters she had never expected she would learn." (220)
"'G'away,'came the mumble through the door once more.
Neville pounded on the plank a third time. 'Gowan, we need to talk t'ye.'" (221) go away, go on
"'And wept so much.' He chuckled. 'I understand from Lazarus you were a regular wet-goose when you were awaiting Isaac's arrival.'" (250) wet goose!
September 25, 2009
Regency
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews