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Lady Jane and Mrs Forbes #4
The Unfortunate Death of Lord Longbottom: A 1920s Historical Cozy Mystery
Imagine Agatha Christie crossed with Murder, She Wrote...
In Aunt Kate and Lady Jane’s fourth light-hearted cozy mystery, Lord Longbottom keels over just before a meeting at the town hall. It looks like he’s been poisoned – but what do his dying words, “Sir Christopher!” actually mean?
England, March 1929
Kate expects the meeting at Sandham-on-Sea’s town hall to be a routine affair. Certainly, murder isn’t on the agenda. But someone clearly had other ideas. Worse still, the implicated Sir Christopher is the husband of Kate’s friend, Lady Davenport. But can this harmless, affable chap really be a ruthless killer?
When Sergeant Jones arrives, he declares the incident to be a case for a superior mind and hurries off to alert Inspector Ridley of Scotland Yard. In full agreement, Kate responds by telephoning her niece, Lady Jane Scott.
Jane quickly establishes Sir Christopher’s innocence, but that’s just the start of a puzzling mystery. Faced with an ensemble of sneaky, slippery schemers and gossiping locals, aunt and niece must untangle a web of secrets and lies if they’re to discover whodunnit.
Join Kate and Lady Jane in an entertaining 1920s cozy mystery. Perfect for fans of T. E. Kinsey, Verity Bright, and Lee Strauss.
In Aunt Kate and Lady Jane’s fourth light-hearted cozy mystery, Lord Longbottom keels over just before a meeting at the town hall. It looks like he’s been poisoned – but what do his dying words, “Sir Christopher!” actually mean?
England, March 1929
Kate expects the meeting at Sandham-on-Sea’s town hall to be a routine affair. Certainly, murder isn’t on the agenda. But someone clearly had other ideas. Worse still, the implicated Sir Christopher is the husband of Kate’s friend, Lady Davenport. But can this harmless, affable chap really be a ruthless killer?
When Sergeant Jones arrives, he declares the incident to be a case for a superior mind and hurries off to alert Inspector Ridley of Scotland Yard. In full agreement, Kate responds by telephoning her niece, Lady Jane Scott.
Jane quickly establishes Sir Christopher’s innocence, but that’s just the start of a puzzling mystery. Faced with an ensemble of sneaky, slippery schemers and gossiping locals, aunt and niece must untangle a web of secrets and lies if they’re to discover whodunnit.
Join Kate and Lady Jane in an entertaining 1920s cozy mystery. Perfect for fans of T. E. Kinsey, Verity Bright, and Lee Strauss.
- GenresMystery
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2024
190 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 22, 2024
Aunt Kate and Lady Jane are at it again. This time Kate is friends with Lord Longbottom and is present at a gathering where he is poisoned. It looks pretty cut and dried who the murderer is, but Kate promised his mother that she will look into it. When Jane arrives for a visit, she almost immediately sees a problem with the current analysis of the incident.
The characters all act true to themselves, all their actions make sense once you know the backgrounds. But it is up to Kate and Jane to discern those backgrounds. It seems to me that there were more characters to keep track of in this book and at times I wondered if I should have a spread sheet - or better - a murder board to keep track of the players.
To learn the truth there are many people who must be questioned. The reader often finds someone it is hoped is the murderer, but I can't imagine that many people can work it all out as neatly as Jane does.
I don't believe it is a spoiler to tell you that Kate and Jane once again reveal the truth!
Happily, we are promised more books in the series as the last page says, "The End (Until Next Time...)
The characters all act true to themselves, all their actions make sense once you know the backgrounds. But it is up to Kate and Jane to discern those backgrounds. It seems to me that there were more characters to keep track of in this book and at times I wondered if I should have a spread sheet - or better - a murder board to keep track of the players.
To learn the truth there are many people who must be questioned. The reader often finds someone it is hoped is the murderer, but I can't imagine that many people can work it all out as neatly as Jane does.
I don't believe it is a spoiler to tell you that Kate and Jane once again reveal the truth!
Happily, we are promised more books in the series as the last page says, "The End (Until Next Time...)
July 29, 2024
Kate Forbes is hoping that the meeting called by Lord Longbottom will lead to more tourists discovering Sandham-by-the-Sea. Instead it is brought to an abrupt end when the Lord falls dead. His dying words seem to implicate Sir Christopher, husband to Kate’s friend, Lady Davenport. However, the Murder weapon is found on an attendee that may have a past grudge with the Lord. Kate doesn’t plan to get involved, but after his mother comes to her for help, she starts to doubt his guilt. Along with Jane, they start looking into what was troubling Lord Longbottom before his death and who had motive to see him dead.
This is the fourth installment in the Lady Jane & Mrs. Forbes series, but works fine as a standalone mystery. Aunt Kate and Jane are a formidable sleuthing duo and their relationship is endearing. The mystery unfolds slowly but is rich in detail as suspects are questioned. Kate’s love interest even gets involved as his planned visit is derailed following up on a clue. The denouement with the guilty party revealed is very much in the vein of Agatha Christie with a gathering of all the suspects and secrets exposed. A new author for me and one that I will read more from.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the fourth installment in the Lady Jane & Mrs. Forbes series, but works fine as a standalone mystery. Aunt Kate and Jane are a formidable sleuthing duo and their relationship is endearing. The mystery unfolds slowly but is rich in detail as suspects are questioned. Kate’s love interest even gets involved as his planned visit is derailed following up on a clue. The denouement with the guilty party revealed is very much in the vein of Agatha Christie with a gathering of all the suspects and secrets exposed. A new author for me and one that I will read more from.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 13, 2024
Wonderful series
The Lady Jane and Mrs Forbes mysteries are a delight.
If you are happening onto this book, I highly recommend you start with the first
in the series, “Murder most English,” as a better starting point. That volume
best explains the relationship between our two sleuths, and provides a
basis for the books that follow.
I found this work to be the most clever of the mysteries to date, and the
denouement, rendered in the grand tradition with all the parties at hand,
is a true pleasure.
The Lady Jane and Mrs Forbes mysteries are a delight.
If you are happening onto this book, I highly recommend you start with the first
in the series, “Murder most English,” as a better starting point. That volume
best explains the relationship between our two sleuths, and provides a
basis for the books that follow.
I found this work to be the most clever of the mysteries to date, and the
denouement, rendered in the grand tradition with all the parties at hand,
is a true pleasure.
August 14, 2024
Very Tricky
Another lovely book. Mrs. Forbes and Lady Jane are in another murder mystery in Sandham. When their lovely friend, Lord Longbottom dies right in front of them, they have to investigate.
Another lovely book. Mrs. Forbes and Lady Jane are in another murder mystery in Sandham. When their lovely friend, Lord Longbottom dies right in front of them, they have to investigate.
September 8, 2024
fun period mystery
It has clever ladies of the period taking on the baddies and exonerating the one set up to take the rap. Naturally. Money or lack thereof is at heart of the murder. Their journey is clever and amusing.
It has clever ladies of the period taking on the baddies and exonerating the one set up to take the rap. Naturally. Money or lack thereof is at heart of the murder. Their journey is clever and amusing.
October 8, 2024
Quite samey as the others and took a while to get through this time.
April 28, 2025
Love this series. Aunt Kate and her niece, Jane, are so sweet together. It makes me miss my aunt even more. Great cozy and interesting characters, and i want more.
May 11, 2025
another splendid mystery
Such a well done series. One murder, numerous suspects and the amazing talents of Lady Jane and her aunt Mrs. Forbes.
Highly recommend
Such a well done series. One murder, numerous suspects and the amazing talents of Lady Jane and her aunt Mrs. Forbes.
Highly recommend
July 27, 2025
Another fun adventure
I am really enjoying the series with these two!
Just getting ready to start the next book 👍
Sounds like a good one...
I am really enjoying the series with these two!
Just getting ready to start the next book 👍
Sounds like a good one...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews