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D is for Death
Meet Dora runaway bride, book lover, and aspiring detective.
solving crimes, peppermint creams, trousers and her own independence.
cracked book spines, tyrannical behaviour, beetroot.
1935. Dora'son the first train to London, having smuggled herself out of the house in the middle of the night to escape her impending marriage. But unluckily for her, Dora's fiance is more persistent than most and follows.
As Dora alights at Paddington station, she is immediately forced to run from the loathsome Charles Silk-Butters. She ducks into the London Library to hide and it is there, surrounded by books, where she should feel most safe, that Dora Wildwood stumbles across her first dead body.
Having been thrown into the middle of a murder scene, it's now impossible to walk away. Indeed, Dora's certain she will prove an invaluable help to the gruff Detective Inspector Fox who swiftly arrives on the scene. For as everyone knows, it's the woman in the room who always sees more than anyone and no one more so than Dora herself...
D is for Death heralds the launch of a brilliant historical crime series that marries the quality of Dorothy L. Sayers with the ingenuity of Janice Hallett - and in Dora Wildwood introduces a character with the spark and gusto of Enola Holmes and the detective skill of Miss Marple. It is the debut crime novel from bestselling author Harriet Evans, writing as Harriet F. Townson.
solving crimes, peppermint creams, trousers and her own independence.
cracked book spines, tyrannical behaviour, beetroot.
1935. Dora'son the first train to London, having smuggled herself out of the house in the middle of the night to escape her impending marriage. But unluckily for her, Dora's fiance is more persistent than most and follows.
As Dora alights at Paddington station, she is immediately forced to run from the loathsome Charles Silk-Butters. She ducks into the London Library to hide and it is there, surrounded by books, where she should feel most safe, that Dora Wildwood stumbles across her first dead body.
Having been thrown into the middle of a murder scene, it's now impossible to walk away. Indeed, Dora's certain she will prove an invaluable help to the gruff Detective Inspector Fox who swiftly arrives on the scene. For as everyone knows, it's the woman in the room who always sees more than anyone and no one more so than Dora herself...
D is for Death heralds the launch of a brilliant historical crime series that marries the quality of Dorothy L. Sayers with the ingenuity of Janice Hallett - and in Dora Wildwood introduces a character with the spark and gusto of Enola Holmes and the detective skill of Miss Marple. It is the debut crime novel from bestselling author Harriet Evans, writing as Harriet F. Townson.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 2, 2024
'D Is For Death' is an entertaining start to a new series of historical mysteries set in London in the 1930s. It features the wonderfully named Dora Wildwood, who is running away from her childhood home in Somerset to her godmother's house in London to avoid the fiancé she no longer wants to marry.
For the first few chapters, I thought 'D Is For Death' was a gentle fantasy designed to warm any bibliophile's heart and keep them safe from encounters with unpleasant realities. It seemed that, In Dora Wildwood's London, libraries are sanctuaries, nothing bad could ever happen in a bookshop and the gods of chance are on the side of the innocent, ensuring that Dora bumps into kind strangers who also love books and who are eager to help her when they see that she is out of her depth.
As I got to know Dora and as Dora saw some very bad things happen in a library, I realised that I had to reconsider Dora and the intent of the book.
I'd initially seen Dora as an innocent abroad, the kind that attracts trouble but doesn't understand why, the kind of person that Graham Greene described as "a leper without a bell" because their innocence puts at risk everyone they come into contact with. After meeting Dora's monstrous (but entirely believable) fiancé I understood both why she was running away and the resilience she's demonstrated by surviving his behaviour and her father's neglect.
I'd initially labelled 'D Is For Death' as a cosy mystery to be consumed with no more thought than I'd spend on the cakes served for afternoon tea. I was wrong (and perhaps mislead by an author with a wicked sense of humour). As the story unfolded, I started to see that there was a layer beneath the cosy optimism of the story that acknowledged the unpleasant realities of poverty, misogyny and male violence that hadn't been visible at first.
As Dora tried to solve the mystery of the murdered Head Librarian of the London Library. it became clear that she sees and remembers everything including all the sordid things in life and the misery it causes. Once I understood this, I realised that her optimism was not a default setting gifted by her innocence but rather a conscious choice about her she would deal with world.
The mystery at the heart of the novel is delightfully bookish, fits perfectly with the period and has enough twists to keep most Agatha Christie fans happy.
The only point where I felt the novel was weak was the handling of the big reveal. It was a dramatic reveal designed to entrap the guilty while allowing the alert reader to check whether they'd missed anything. Sadly, it went on for too long and went into too much detail for me. If Dora had had access to a PowerPoint presentation, I'm sure she'd have used one. I certainly felt like I'd sat through one.
Although I'd have liked the big reveal to have been delivered with more brio, I was still delightfully entertained by 'D Is For Death' and by Dora Wildwood. I want to see what she does next. I'll be back for the second book in the series.
For the first few chapters, I thought 'D Is For Death' was a gentle fantasy designed to warm any bibliophile's heart and keep them safe from encounters with unpleasant realities. It seemed that, In Dora Wildwood's London, libraries are sanctuaries, nothing bad could ever happen in a bookshop and the gods of chance are on the side of the innocent, ensuring that Dora bumps into kind strangers who also love books and who are eager to help her when they see that she is out of her depth.
As I got to know Dora and as Dora saw some very bad things happen in a library, I realised that I had to reconsider Dora and the intent of the book.
I'd initially seen Dora as an innocent abroad, the kind that attracts trouble but doesn't understand why, the kind of person that Graham Greene described as "a leper without a bell" because their innocence puts at risk everyone they come into contact with. After meeting Dora's monstrous (but entirely believable) fiancé I understood both why she was running away and the resilience she's demonstrated by surviving his behaviour and her father's neglect.
I'd initially labelled 'D Is For Death' as a cosy mystery to be consumed with no more thought than I'd spend on the cakes served for afternoon tea. I was wrong (and perhaps mislead by an author with a wicked sense of humour). As the story unfolded, I started to see that there was a layer beneath the cosy optimism of the story that acknowledged the unpleasant realities of poverty, misogyny and male violence that hadn't been visible at first.
As Dora tried to solve the mystery of the murdered Head Librarian of the London Library. it became clear that she sees and remembers everything including all the sordid things in life and the misery it causes. Once I understood this, I realised that her optimism was not a default setting gifted by her innocence but rather a conscious choice about her she would deal with world.
The mystery at the heart of the novel is delightfully bookish, fits perfectly with the period and has enough twists to keep most Agatha Christie fans happy.
The only point where I felt the novel was weak was the handling of the big reveal. It was a dramatic reveal designed to entrap the guilty while allowing the alert reader to check whether they'd missed anything. Sadly, it went on for too long and went into too much detail for me. If Dora had had access to a PowerPoint presentation, I'm sure she'd have used one. I certainly felt like I'd sat through one.
Although I'd have liked the big reveal to have been delivered with more brio, I was still delightfully entertained by 'D Is For Death' and by Dora Wildwood. I want to see what she does next. I'll be back for the second book in the series.
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June 18, 2024D is For Death, for Dora and for an utter Delight! When I first heard about D Is For Death, I knew it sounded like just my kind of book - and it certainly was. Set in the 1930s, it is wonderful blend of cozy crime with a modern narrative but a definite nod to the golden age, plenty of humour and a spirited and loveable protagonist.
Dora escapes an odious fiance who sees her as simply there to produce his offspring and boards the milk train to London to stay with her godmother. Pursued by said fiance, she seeks refuge in the London Library - and as book lovers we would all see this as a fortuitous choice! But it is there there she stumbles across her first dead body and she realises that she could make a very good detective ….
You know you are in for a fun ride when early in the book Dora’s aunt’s maid accidentally gives her a package containing a gun rather than the intended sandwiches - and there is so much humour in the book. There is plenty of period detail which brings 1930s London to life (for me, special mention to the fashion!) And Dora is fabulously quirky but utterly loveable - she may not be conventional but she sees things others don’t and she has a spirit and determination remarkable for someone of her generation that you have to applaud.
It’s a book that made me smile, made me laugh, I enjoyed the element of mystery - and I can’t wait to see what Dora does next!
Dora escapes an odious fiance who sees her as simply there to produce his offspring and boards the milk train to London to stay with her godmother. Pursued by said fiance, she seeks refuge in the London Library - and as book lovers we would all see this as a fortuitous choice! But it is there there she stumbles across her first dead body and she realises that she could make a very good detective ….
You know you are in for a fun ride when early in the book Dora’s aunt’s maid accidentally gives her a package containing a gun rather than the intended sandwiches - and there is so much humour in the book. There is plenty of period detail which brings 1930s London to life (for me, special mention to the fashion!) And Dora is fabulously quirky but utterly loveable - she may not be conventional but she sees things others don’t and she has a spirit and determination remarkable for someone of her generation that you have to applaud.
It’s a book that made me smile, made me laugh, I enjoyed the element of mystery - and I can’t wait to see what Dora does next!
July 15, 2025
My last browsed book from the local book exchange is 'D Is For Death' by Harriet Evans writing as Harriet F Townsend. It has quite the most awful cover I have ever seen (I assumed it was 'publish on demand' self published, but appears to be a genuine Hodder and Stoughton paperback. The title appears only on the spine, and back cover - which is a reasonable mock-up of a title layout - I wonder whether this is a pre-publication mock up?
However, to our muttons. It is 1935, and Dora Wildwood has run away from the family mansion (a crumbling Jacobean mansion slowly being invaded by the literal wild wood), her absent father, and her friendly neighbourhood druid, in order to escape marriage to the son of the local squire. She takes refuge in the London Library where she discovers an unexpected body. So far, so formula. But the touches of magic realism, the cast of eccentric characters, and the depiction of 1930s London have a ring of authenticity rare in this genre. I found only one error (the flag flown over Buck House when the monarch is in residence is the Royal Standard, not the 'Union Jack') which is forgiveable (The tradition changed in 1979). The background, particularly the sexual politics of the period, is excellent. A good read, and I will check out more of Dora.
However, to our muttons. It is 1935, and Dora Wildwood has run away from the family mansion (a crumbling Jacobean mansion slowly being invaded by the literal wild wood), her absent father, and her friendly neighbourhood druid, in order to escape marriage to the son of the local squire. She takes refuge in the London Library where she discovers an unexpected body. So far, so formula. But the touches of magic realism, the cast of eccentric characters, and the depiction of 1930s London have a ring of authenticity rare in this genre. I found only one error (the flag flown over Buck House when the monarch is in residence is the Royal Standard, not the 'Union Jack') which is forgiveable (The tradition changed in 1979). The background, particularly the sexual politics of the period, is excellent. A good read, and I will check out more of Dora.
May 10, 2025
D is for Decent.
I thought there were some clever ideas jumping around in here, but the execution left a lot to wish for, according to my weather-beaten, old head.
I'm sorry, but it was just a bit too "all over the place". It tried to stay faithful to a lot of Golden Age classics in tone and theme, but also scrambled to find even footing to stand on its own.
Trying to do both, while juggling a main character that felt weirdly shaped out of Golden Age tropes and modern day well-wishes, was perhaps biting off more than the author could chew, at least at the moment.
I hope improvement will be found in future books, but I suspect I won't show up to find out if it does.
I thought there were some clever ideas jumping around in here, but the execution left a lot to wish for, according to my weather-beaten, old head.
I'm sorry, but it was just a bit too "all over the place". It tried to stay faithful to a lot of Golden Age classics in tone and theme, but also scrambled to find even footing to stand on its own.
Trying to do both, while juggling a main character that felt weirdly shaped out of Golden Age tropes and modern day well-wishes, was perhaps biting off more than the author could chew, at least at the moment.
I hope improvement will be found in future books, but I suspect I won't show up to find out if it does.
June 23, 2024
Surprisingly thought this was really good
May 30, 2024
3.5 stars
This was a fun and light read following the wonderful Dora Wildwood. On the run from her awful fiance who just wants her to step into his mother's shoes, she escapes to the safety of her godmothers house in London.
The action kicks off as soon as she leaves the train and it doesn't really stop until the end, which has left it open for a second book, which I would certainly look out for!
This was a fun and light read following the wonderful Dora Wildwood. On the run from her awful fiance who just wants her to step into his mother's shoes, she escapes to the safety of her godmothers house in London.
The action kicks off as soon as she leaves the train and it doesn't really stop until the end, which has left it open for a second book, which I would certainly look out for!
August 9, 2025
3.0. I hated the beginning and almost didn’t read it, but It did improve as it went along. I liked it somewhat for the story, not the believability of it or the characters.
The author must have written romance books previously because of the content. Lots of fluff and descriptions that didn’t move the story along.
The author must have written romance books previously because of the content. Lots of fluff and descriptions that didn’t move the story along.
July 17, 2024
D is for Death is a real triumph, being witty, pacy, totally absorbing and a brilliantly constructed whodunnit and well as an intelligent whydunnit. I thought it was excellent. My full thoughts are on the My Weekly website.
March 9, 2025
Too long, bad editing! Shame bc the premise was ok!
March 29, 2025
An amusing book and well written. Shame about the mystery element.
For a book where the plotting and writing of mysteries and detective fiction plays an important role, it’s a shame it isn’t rather better here. Anyone familiar with golden age detective stories should guess the killer without trouble.
But we can enjoy a good set up, a well observed period setting and a light and whimsical writing style, which means the book never descends into being a chore. Not sure I’ll be about for any sequel but a diverting and pleasant way to spend your time reading.
For a book where the plotting and writing of mysteries and detective fiction plays an important role, it’s a shame it isn’t rather better here. Anyone familiar with golden age detective stories should guess the killer without trouble.
But we can enjoy a good set up, a well observed period setting and a light and whimsical writing style, which means the book never descends into being a chore. Not sure I’ll be about for any sequel but a diverting and pleasant way to spend your time reading.
July 10, 2025
3.5 stars. A nice read with a lovely female protagonist, I will be excited to see her journey in the second novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2025
3.5 rounded up. I found this very slow in the middle section but it got going in the last 30%. I found the dialogue very confusing as at times the characters were talking across each other, or saying non-sequiturs… perhaps this was a deliberate choice to make it appear period appropriate but was quite puzzling to read. Loved the characters though and would probably read another
December 5, 2025
A funny murder mystery with a great bunch of characters
March 14, 2024
Harriet F. Townson’s debut novel, D is for Death, made me laugh many, many, times. There are echoes of PG Wodehouse and Douglas Adams. Charles’s mother cannot feed the chickens because “The magnetic forces are extremely strong around the chicken coop, and it gives her a headache every time she goes near.” Lady Dreda’s habit of drinking a half-pint of Guiness with her breakfast toast could perhaps be considered unconventional; and a random clergyman’s “rather odd-looking novels with pictures in French” caused a respectable matron to moan and cover her eyes.
It’s 1935 and Dora Wildwood is unfortunately engaged to a boor. She realises that she cannot sacrifice herself, so she runs away to her godmother, Lady Dreda, in London. To use another author’s phrase, Dora is a disaster magnet. On her first day in London, she stumbles across a dead body in the London Library. Understandably, and as in all detective stories, she wants to find out whodunnit. There is a handsome librarian and a Detective Inspector with muscly forearms. There are also a couple of Nippies from the Lyons Corner House tea shop.
I enjoyed the book but I felt a couple of points stopped it being perfect. Firstly, how likely is it that two waitresses working at a tea shop would go to the Café de Paris on a regular basis? Yes, I know they were being treated by some upper-class male friends on the occasion Dora joined them, but my disbelief refused to be suspended quite that far. Secondly, I had the impression of a book in two halves. Characters’ motives became complicated and the simplicity in which Wodehousian one-liners thrive seemed much less common in the second half of the book. The light prose and spontaneous wit gave way to a sense that the writing was becoming, maybe not quite a chore, but perhaps a little tedious.
I shall definitely look out for a sequel, but I wonder if Dora would shine better in a set of short stories rather than another full-length novel.
#DIsForDeath #NetGalley
It’s 1935 and Dora Wildwood is unfortunately engaged to a boor. She realises that she cannot sacrifice herself, so she runs away to her godmother, Lady Dreda, in London. To use another author’s phrase, Dora is a disaster magnet. On her first day in London, she stumbles across a dead body in the London Library. Understandably, and as in all detective stories, she wants to find out whodunnit. There is a handsome librarian and a Detective Inspector with muscly forearms. There are also a couple of Nippies from the Lyons Corner House tea shop.
I enjoyed the book but I felt a couple of points stopped it being perfect. Firstly, how likely is it that two waitresses working at a tea shop would go to the Café de Paris on a regular basis? Yes, I know they were being treated by some upper-class male friends on the occasion Dora joined them, but my disbelief refused to be suspended quite that far. Secondly, I had the impression of a book in two halves. Characters’ motives became complicated and the simplicity in which Wodehousian one-liners thrive seemed much less common in the second half of the book. The light prose and spontaneous wit gave way to a sense that the writing was becoming, maybe not quite a chore, but perhaps a little tedious.
I shall definitely look out for a sequel, but I wonder if Dora would shine better in a set of short stories rather than another full-length novel.
#DIsForDeath #NetGalley
May 25, 2024
Meet Dora Wildwood - a runaway bride, book lover and aspiring detective who likes solving crimes, peppermint creams and her independence. It’s 1935 and Dora has run away from her impending marriage and escaped to London to stay with her Aunt. Unfortunately her fiancé follows her so Dora seeks refuge in the London Library, a place she knows she will be safe in. That is until she discovers a dead body and finds herself thrown into the middle of a murder scene...
Although I must admit I’m not a huge fan of historical books the synopsis of this title had me intrigued and what a joy it was to meet Dora! Her character is delightful, a little bit quirky and unique in her own special way but her personality and wit will have you wanting her to succeed the whole way through.
It took me a while to adjust to the writing style with the language used but once I did the story flows well, the descriptions of the gloomy London at this time in history depicted perfectly. The connection with the library and love of books is also a nice touch for this cosy crime read, with an added element of depth thrown in. A little bit too long towards the end but assume the scene has been set in this title for the series to continue onwards in the future.
“She had made it to a library, and she knew all would be well, for the moment at least, for nothing bad ever happened in libraries or bookshops, and that was simply fact”
Although I must admit I’m not a huge fan of historical books the synopsis of this title had me intrigued and what a joy it was to meet Dora! Her character is delightful, a little bit quirky and unique in her own special way but her personality and wit will have you wanting her to succeed the whole way through.
It took me a while to adjust to the writing style with the language used but once I did the story flows well, the descriptions of the gloomy London at this time in history depicted perfectly. The connection with the library and love of books is also a nice touch for this cosy crime read, with an added element of depth thrown in. A little bit too long towards the end but assume the scene has been set in this title for the series to continue onwards in the future.
“She had made it to a library, and she knew all would be well, for the moment at least, for nothing bad ever happened in libraries or bookshops, and that was simply fact”
February 25, 2025
Before reading this I had been reading (though not finishing) a book set around the same time as this with a young female character that was really annoying and annoyingly I knew she would end up as the love interest, so I was a bit dubious coming to this with another young forthright female.
Well I needn’t have worried. Dora Wildwood is a very interesting character. Kind, thoughtful, quirky in manner and speech and strangely attuned to people’s behaviours and actions.
We start off with her leaving the crumbling Wildwood manor to escape a marriage she feels she is being forced into. From there she stumbles on a dead body and her ability to see little things that others would perhaps overlook or feel was not relevant, makes her useful to Detective Inspector Fox who is both exasperated and intrigued by her.
The first death is just part of a complicated and long reaching story arc.
The things that added depth are firstly, how women, especially those from upper class families, were viewed as commodities, either to provide heirs or to marry money, title or status to reflect on her family. Secondly, it gives an insight into the lives of men like DI Fox who came from a poor background and how important his job title is to him.
Really good characters, interesting story and a good sense of time and place. Ready for the next one
Well I needn’t have worried. Dora Wildwood is a very interesting character. Kind, thoughtful, quirky in manner and speech and strangely attuned to people’s behaviours and actions.
We start off with her leaving the crumbling Wildwood manor to escape a marriage she feels she is being forced into. From there she stumbles on a dead body and her ability to see little things that others would perhaps overlook or feel was not relevant, makes her useful to Detective Inspector Fox who is both exasperated and intrigued by her.
The first death is just part of a complicated and long reaching story arc.
The things that added depth are firstly, how women, especially those from upper class families, were viewed as commodities, either to provide heirs or to marry money, title or status to reflect on her family. Secondly, it gives an insight into the lives of men like DI Fox who came from a poor background and how important his job title is to him.
Really good characters, interesting story and a good sense of time and place. Ready for the next one
November 6, 2024
Historical detective thriller with a slow-paced storyline, not as engaging as other crime thrillers, but includes a detailed investigation that leads to Dora to unraveling the mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the bookish side of this story, from the library setting to the authors involved, this book has been a literary delight for bookworms.
August 2, 2025
The story:
When Dora Wildwood runs away to London, she has two things on her mind – to escape her unfortunate engagement to Charles Silk-Butters, and to solve her mother’s murder.
But when Charles proves more persistent than Dora anticipates and she finds herself taking refuge in the London Library, she runs into even more trouble – a murder that takes place right under her nose.
Determined to get to the bottom of what’s happened, Dora attaches herself to the library and Detective Inspector Stephen Fox. The crime seems to be linked to London’s literary set, but how? And why would anyone want to kill a librarian?
My thoughts:
“D is for Death” by Harriet F Townson (which, it turns out, is the pen name of author Harriet Evans, whose book “The Beloved Girls” I’ve enjoyed previously without realising the connection) is a glorious homage to the Golden Age of detective fiction, and clearly shows the author’s love of all things books!
It is 1935, and we meet 21-year-old Dora Wildwood as she arrives in London having left her unwanted fiancé behind in the countryside. Dora has been worn down into accepting the proposal of the entirely unsuitable Charles, but has realised that this is not the future for her. She is also determined to get to the bottom of her mother’s death 5 years previously, which has been deemed either accident or suicide, but which Dora suspects is the result of foul play. In trying to escape Charles, she finds herself, happily, in the London Library (a place it is now my dream to become a member of!).
But unfortunately she runs into more trouble here, when the chief librarian is murdered. Not only that, but someone has been defacing books – cutting out their pages and returning them to the shelves. Dora has excellent intuition and is very observant, and she is determined to help Detective Inspector Fox with the case (however unwilling he is for her to do so!).
There were many things I loved about Dora – her determined but kind personality, her willingness to learn, her desire for independence, and her love of books, peppermint creams and giraffes! This book was a tribute to the golden era of detective fiction, and a genuinely good mystery in its own right. I hope we see more of Dora in the future!
When Dora Wildwood runs away to London, she has two things on her mind – to escape her unfortunate engagement to Charles Silk-Butters, and to solve her mother’s murder.
But when Charles proves more persistent than Dora anticipates and she finds herself taking refuge in the London Library, she runs into even more trouble – a murder that takes place right under her nose.
Determined to get to the bottom of what’s happened, Dora attaches herself to the library and Detective Inspector Stephen Fox. The crime seems to be linked to London’s literary set, but how? And why would anyone want to kill a librarian?
My thoughts:
“D is for Death” by Harriet F Townson (which, it turns out, is the pen name of author Harriet Evans, whose book “The Beloved Girls” I’ve enjoyed previously without realising the connection) is a glorious homage to the Golden Age of detective fiction, and clearly shows the author’s love of all things books!
It is 1935, and we meet 21-year-old Dora Wildwood as she arrives in London having left her unwanted fiancé behind in the countryside. Dora has been worn down into accepting the proposal of the entirely unsuitable Charles, but has realised that this is not the future for her. She is also determined to get to the bottom of her mother’s death 5 years previously, which has been deemed either accident or suicide, but which Dora suspects is the result of foul play. In trying to escape Charles, she finds herself, happily, in the London Library (a place it is now my dream to become a member of!).
But unfortunately she runs into more trouble here, when the chief librarian is murdered. Not only that, but someone has been defacing books – cutting out their pages and returning them to the shelves. Dora has excellent intuition and is very observant, and she is determined to help Detective Inspector Fox with the case (however unwilling he is for her to do so!).
There were many things I loved about Dora – her determined but kind personality, her willingness to learn, her desire for independence, and her love of books, peppermint creams and giraffes! This book was a tribute to the golden era of detective fiction, and a genuinely good mystery in its own right. I hope we see more of Dora in the future!
May 22, 2024
A delicious classic style whodunnit, dripping in details…
Dora is a would be detective who flees her loathsome fiancé and heads off to London. Murder is on the cards or rather in the bookshelves as Dora finds a body in the London Library.
This book is set in the 1930’s and pays homage to the golden age of detective fiction utilising the classic method of murder, references to crime fiction of the time and a even a fictional writer of the age.
I have to be honest, at the beginning at the book, there was such a lot going on that I didn’t really feel I was hooked into the story. However, that soon changed as the murder investigation got into full swing and Dora began to shine in her own light. She had the mind of a classic sleuth, yet she was a unique character in her own right. We really dig beneath the surface with her background and upbringing. The writer managed this well with many other characters too, including with Dora’s friend who had a rather upsetting story with her freedom and opportunities being severely limited.
I also have to mention Inspector Fox, for me, instead of being another police officer who got in the way of the ‘real’ investigation, he turned out to be another great character. The reader was allowed into his private thoughts and this brought through some of the social issues of the day. I really liked the fact that we saw all sides of life, this wasn’t another story centring on the playground for the rich.
These social details intertwined well for the most part with the main plot line. I have to say I did guess the murderer early on, that’s not to say it was a disappointment, we are led along on the investigation quite methodically. Although perhaps more red herrings and suspects could have been introduced.
It was rather grittier than many a modern cosy crime novel, presenting a more representative view of the 1930’s. I found it more nostalgic for the traditional era of detective fiction. It would be perfect for you, if you like this style with a modern character driven narrative.
D is for Death is written by Harriet Evans, writing as Harriet F.Townson
Dora is a would be detective who flees her loathsome fiancé and heads off to London. Murder is on the cards or rather in the bookshelves as Dora finds a body in the London Library.
This book is set in the 1930’s and pays homage to the golden age of detective fiction utilising the classic method of murder, references to crime fiction of the time and a even a fictional writer of the age.
I have to be honest, at the beginning at the book, there was such a lot going on that I didn’t really feel I was hooked into the story. However, that soon changed as the murder investigation got into full swing and Dora began to shine in her own light. She had the mind of a classic sleuth, yet she was a unique character in her own right. We really dig beneath the surface with her background and upbringing. The writer managed this well with many other characters too, including with Dora’s friend who had a rather upsetting story with her freedom and opportunities being severely limited.
I also have to mention Inspector Fox, for me, instead of being another police officer who got in the way of the ‘real’ investigation, he turned out to be another great character. The reader was allowed into his private thoughts and this brought through some of the social issues of the day. I really liked the fact that we saw all sides of life, this wasn’t another story centring on the playground for the rich.
These social details intertwined well for the most part with the main plot line. I have to say I did guess the murderer early on, that’s not to say it was a disappointment, we are led along on the investigation quite methodically. Although perhaps more red herrings and suspects could have been introduced.
It was rather grittier than many a modern cosy crime novel, presenting a more representative view of the 1930’s. I found it more nostalgic for the traditional era of detective fiction. It would be perfect for you, if you like this style with a modern character driven narrative.
D is for Death is written by Harriet Evans, writing as Harriet F.Townson
May 15, 2024
Okay, I love cosy crime, I love mid century fiction which means I really love Golden Age crime, I love any and all books set in libraries and I am a huge fan of Harriet Evans who has branched out into a new genre with D is for Death. All of which means I was very well disposed to this book before getting my grubby hands on it and expectations were HIGH. Luckily it did not disappoint. I adored it!
Dora arrives in London on the milk train, running away from an oppressive and unwanted engagement and to a life away from her sleepy (and full of surprisingly macabre traditions) village looking for her godmother, adventure and giraffes, not neccessarily in that order. She finds the first two straight away, met by her godmother's maid, but almost instantly losing her again when her fiance accosts her. Soon Dora is on the run, ending up by chance at The London Library having acquired by accident a small gun.
A couple of weeks later Dora has a job, friends and a place in a boarding house. Life would be perfect if only her ex fiance would get the hint and leave her alone and people connected to the library and her mother's glamorous novelist friend would just stop being murdered where Dora will find them. What is going on in London's literary world? Why is she slightly obsessed by the Detective Chief Inspector's forearms? What is the deal with mysterious librarian Ben? How can she help her old school friend, also trapped in an unwanted engagement but unlike Dora with no way out? And will she ever see a giraffe?
Clever, funny, poignant and full of gorgeous period detail, D is for Death is no museum piece but looks under the glamarous facade of inter war London at what life is like for those who don't fit in, for women still struggling for any kind of equality, for the poor and helpless. Witty, beautifully plotted and full of memorable characters I for one can't wait to see what Dora does next. Highly recommended.
Dora arrives in London on the milk train, running away from an oppressive and unwanted engagement and to a life away from her sleepy (and full of surprisingly macabre traditions) village looking for her godmother, adventure and giraffes, not neccessarily in that order. She finds the first two straight away, met by her godmother's maid, but almost instantly losing her again when her fiance accosts her. Soon Dora is on the run, ending up by chance at The London Library having acquired by accident a small gun.
A couple of weeks later Dora has a job, friends and a place in a boarding house. Life would be perfect if only her ex fiance would get the hint and leave her alone and people connected to the library and her mother's glamorous novelist friend would just stop being murdered where Dora will find them. What is going on in London's literary world? Why is she slightly obsessed by the Detective Chief Inspector's forearms? What is the deal with mysterious librarian Ben? How can she help her old school friend, also trapped in an unwanted engagement but unlike Dora with no way out? And will she ever see a giraffe?
Clever, funny, poignant and full of gorgeous period detail, D is for Death is no museum piece but looks under the glamarous facade of inter war London at what life is like for those who don't fit in, for women still struggling for any kind of equality, for the poor and helpless. Witty, beautifully plotted and full of memorable characters I for one can't wait to see what Dora does next. Highly recommended.
April 2, 2025
Historical cozy crime set in LONDON
If you love cozying up at this time of year with a good read, by the fire with a nice warm drink, then D is For Death by Harriet F Townson will fit the bill. The story is set in 1935 and it is full of Autumnal colour: “The leaves on the rowan trees lining the white stucco terraces were like coral and yellow flames on black branches against a silver-white sky…” Throughout the novel there is a real warmth of description that envelops the unfolding story.
Given the the backdrop of Autumn, with its wonderful fiery foliage, it is interesting that the publishers have chosen the mint green cover. This choice of colour is in fact inspired because it is the “complimentary colour” of orange and brown. Complimentary colours are pairs of colours that are opposite each other on the “Colour Wheel” and create a strong contrast when placed next to each other and never clash!
1935: Twenty year old Dora Wildwood does not want to get married to Charles Silk-Butters (what a name for a fiancé), and in the dead of night, as the novel opens, she is on the train leaving Somerset and heading for London and to the safety of her Godmother’s home. Lady Dreda Uglow (!) has sent her maid, with strict security instructions to meet her at the station but within minutes Dora is already missing, swept up in the throng of people, a pursuer just a hair’s breadth behind her, as she finds herself running through the garden squares of Bayswater and beyond…
She then happens to bowl up to the London Library, only to get herself involved in a murder investigation.
This is a wonderfully warm and evocative debut novel, with a good sense of time and place, ensuring a velvet-textured escape to 1930s London.
If you love cozying up at this time of year with a good read, by the fire with a nice warm drink, then D is For Death by Harriet F Townson will fit the bill. The story is set in 1935 and it is full of Autumnal colour: “The leaves on the rowan trees lining the white stucco terraces were like coral and yellow flames on black branches against a silver-white sky…” Throughout the novel there is a real warmth of description that envelops the unfolding story.
Given the the backdrop of Autumn, with its wonderful fiery foliage, it is interesting that the publishers have chosen the mint green cover. This choice of colour is in fact inspired because it is the “complimentary colour” of orange and brown. Complimentary colours are pairs of colours that are opposite each other on the “Colour Wheel” and create a strong contrast when placed next to each other and never clash!
1935: Twenty year old Dora Wildwood does not want to get married to Charles Silk-Butters (what a name for a fiancé), and in the dead of night, as the novel opens, she is on the train leaving Somerset and heading for London and to the safety of her Godmother’s home. Lady Dreda Uglow (!) has sent her maid, with strict security instructions to meet her at the station but within minutes Dora is already missing, swept up in the throng of people, a pursuer just a hair’s breadth behind her, as she finds herself running through the garden squares of Bayswater and beyond…
She then happens to bowl up to the London Library, only to get herself involved in a murder investigation.
This is a wonderfully warm and evocative debut novel, with a good sense of time and place, ensuring a velvet-textured escape to 1930s London.
November 18, 2024
Dora Wildwood is a runaway bride-to-be. She is described as wild in name and nature, running from a man she does not love to refuge with her godmother in London, Lady Dreda Uglow. She is physically ambushed several times in trying to reach her godmother by Charles Silk-Butters, her fiancé-not-to-be. From the train station to the bus, she escapes him through to the doors of the London Library. From her troubles with Charles, Dora lands herself in much deeper hot water discovering a dead body of the Chief Librarian.
Traipsing around London for this story was entertaining, and it really did pay tribute to the era depicted. The book was also like a tribute to the great crime stories of the era as well. So many references to things like peppermint creams and ginger for inflammation gave it that reference point. Dora started off as a mysterious and elusive young woman, wise beyond her years, and then became painfully repetitive and predictable. There were so many moments of “if I told you, you’d never believe me” in relation how she would deduce the smallest of details – I was longing for the explanations! Some of theme revealed themselves through wordy flashbacks to the past which could have been edited for succinctness and sharpness yet they still did not give enough that matched the quirky nature of present day Dora.
This is a book that has so many elements, from mystery to historical elements, some of which are a little farcical, but its quirkiness does make it a light and entertaining story.
Traipsing around London for this story was entertaining, and it really did pay tribute to the era depicted. The book was also like a tribute to the great crime stories of the era as well. So many references to things like peppermint creams and ginger for inflammation gave it that reference point. Dora started off as a mysterious and elusive young woman, wise beyond her years, and then became painfully repetitive and predictable. There were so many moments of “if I told you, you’d never believe me” in relation how she would deduce the smallest of details – I was longing for the explanations! Some of theme revealed themselves through wordy flashbacks to the past which could have been edited for succinctness and sharpness yet they still did not give enough that matched the quirky nature of present day Dora.
This is a book that has so many elements, from mystery to historical elements, some of which are a little farcical, but its quirkiness does make it a light and entertaining story.
June 6, 2024
D is for Death is an absolute joy from start to finish - part cosy crime, part comedy this was the perfect book for me as we follow the adorable Dora Wildwood as she navigates London and escaping her errant ex-fiancé with who will not take no for an answer.
Dodging her fiancé, the unfortunately named Charles Silk-Butters, Dora boards the early morning milk train to London to stay with her godmother Lady Dreda and we are swept into the action as soon as she steps off the train.
There are mishaps galore when her godmother sends her maid Maria to meet Dora and somehow instead of giving her a package of sandwiches, Dora discovers that the package is actually a gun! This is what leads Dora into the London Library in the first place as she tries to get away from Charles who has actually followed her and has no intention of letting of her go, and where she encounters a dead body.
Dora manages to take it all in her stride and decides this is what she wants to do – be a female detective. Obviously this is 1935 and not something that was a common occurrence but Dora is different and it is what makes her so likeable. She picks up on things and notices the behaviour of the people around her, things that ordinarily other people would miss. This doesn’t go down too well with the policeman in charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector Fox, however, he eventually comes around to the idea of letting Dora help, especially with her valued intuition which turns out to be right on more than one occasion.
I must admit that I thought I had some of this worked out and had a suspect in my head but towards the end and the big reveal, I wasn’t actually right with my guesswork. This is probably why I should stick to the reading of these books and leave the detection to the professionals!
A very enjoyable first book in the series which has made me excited about the next one!
Dodging her fiancé, the unfortunately named Charles Silk-Butters, Dora boards the early morning milk train to London to stay with her godmother Lady Dreda and we are swept into the action as soon as she steps off the train.
There are mishaps galore when her godmother sends her maid Maria to meet Dora and somehow instead of giving her a package of sandwiches, Dora discovers that the package is actually a gun! This is what leads Dora into the London Library in the first place as she tries to get away from Charles who has actually followed her and has no intention of letting of her go, and where she encounters a dead body.
Dora manages to take it all in her stride and decides this is what she wants to do – be a female detective. Obviously this is 1935 and not something that was a common occurrence but Dora is different and it is what makes her so likeable. She picks up on things and notices the behaviour of the people around her, things that ordinarily other people would miss. This doesn’t go down too well with the policeman in charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector Fox, however, he eventually comes around to the idea of letting Dora help, especially with her valued intuition which turns out to be right on more than one occasion.
I must admit that I thought I had some of this worked out and had a suspect in my head but towards the end and the big reveal, I wasn’t actually right with my guesswork. This is probably why I should stick to the reading of these books and leave the detection to the professionals!
A very enjoyable first book in the series which has made me excited about the next one!
February 17, 2024
It is 1935, and Dora Wildwood is about to have the adventure of her life. Determined to escape from an engagement she does not want, Dora plans to seek refuge with her godmother, who is the only person she can think of who might understand her situation.
But before she can safely get to Lady Dreda Uglow, Dora is ambushed by her unwanted fiance, and in a headlong attempt to get away from him, she finds herself in the London Library, where she encountering some new friends, possible allies, and one dead body...
The subsequent murder investigation may lead Dora completely off track in terms of her escape plans, but it does position her well to partake of an entirely new experience. This is an enjoyable story that combines murder mystery with historical novel, and introduces us to a very unusual accidental sleuth.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
But before she can safely get to Lady Dreda Uglow, Dora is ambushed by her unwanted fiance, and in a headlong attempt to get away from him, she finds herself in the London Library, where she encountering some new friends, possible allies, and one dead body...
The subsequent murder investigation may lead Dora completely off track in terms of her escape plans, but it does position her well to partake of an entirely new experience. This is an enjoyable story that combines murder mystery with historical novel, and introduces us to a very unusual accidental sleuth.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
March 25, 2024
Oh my god this book! I want to inhale it. I want to live in it. I want to buy the rest of the series and read them all one after the other while feasting on peppermint creams (a top tier reading snack, when I was a kid I often used to spend my pocket money on a new Sweet Valley High from WH Smith and some peppermint creams from Thornton's!) but sadly I have to wait for sequels to be written! They will be written, right? Right???
A glorious love letter to the Queens of Crime, with a sprinkle of Nancy Mitford and Dodie Smith, this book is just absolutely glorious fun. Dora is a joy, the crime is suitably twisty (although in deference to the rules of The Detection Club it's not so fiendish that there aren't Clues along the way), and the supporting characters are delightful (especially Miss Pym). And the clothes - the Schiaparelli jumpsuit! The cape! The wide legged trousers! Heaven! I just want more please, ASAP!
A glorious love letter to the Queens of Crime, with a sprinkle of Nancy Mitford and Dodie Smith, this book is just absolutely glorious fun. Dora is a joy, the crime is suitably twisty (although in deference to the rules of The Detection Club it's not so fiendish that there aren't Clues along the way), and the supporting characters are delightful (especially Miss Pym). And the clothes - the Schiaparelli jumpsuit! The cape! The wide legged trousers! Heaven! I just want more please, ASAP!
May 27, 2024
"That’s the beauty of libraries, you see - everything is laid out perfectly sensibly. There is a pattern. A is for, oh, I don’t know, Albert. B is for Butterflies. C is for . . . C is for Cora. And D is for . . ."
Dora Wildwood runaway bride book lover and aspiring detective. She is unusually tall and different and sees things others don't. When she arrives in London to stay with her godmother Lady Dreda Uglow, Dora stumbles across her first dead body. All is not lost because Dora is going to help Detective Inspector Fox solve it. Oh, she also loves peppermint creams!
This was a brilliant fast-paced read. Dora was a quirky character who I really enjoyed getting to know. I can't wait for the next book!
Dora Wildwood runaway bride book lover and aspiring detective. She is unusually tall and different and sees things others don't. When she arrives in London to stay with her godmother Lady Dreda Uglow, Dora stumbles across her first dead body. All is not lost because Dora is going to help Detective Inspector Fox solve it. Oh, she also loves peppermint creams!
This was a brilliant fast-paced read. Dora was a quirky character who I really enjoyed getting to know. I can't wait for the next book!
August 17, 2024
📚 ARC Review
D is for Death by Harriet F. Townson
Hodder & Stoughton, 6th June 2024
It's 1935, and Dora's bound for London to evade her arranged marriage. Her determined fiancé follows, with Dora seeking refuge in a library. Stumbling upon the body of a man, Dora's curiously is piqued, leading her to try to ascertain what has transpired.
Following the immensely enjoyable-to-read Dora on her journey was a highlight I wasn't expecting, but relished. I love her as a character, so I'm delighted that this book is the first in a series.
Full of moments I hadn't predicted, shocks and revelations, this should be on every crime reader's shelf!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and the author for providing an eARC via NetGalley; this is my honest review.
D is for Death by Harriet F. Townson
Hodder & Stoughton, 6th June 2024
It's 1935, and Dora's bound for London to evade her arranged marriage. Her determined fiancé follows, with Dora seeking refuge in a library. Stumbling upon the body of a man, Dora's curiously is piqued, leading her to try to ascertain what has transpired.
Following the immensely enjoyable-to-read Dora on her journey was a highlight I wasn't expecting, but relished. I love her as a character, so I'm delighted that this book is the first in a series.
Full of moments I hadn't predicted, shocks and revelations, this should be on every crime reader's shelf!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and the author for providing an eARC via NetGalley; this is my honest review.
September 28, 2024
Dora Wildwood, fleeing to 1930s London to escape her despised fiancee, discovers a very recently deceased man in the stacks of the London Library. Seemingly able to convince the Scotland Yard detective (er, Detective Inspector) that she might be of useful assistance in the investigation, Dora puts her unique skills of observation to work in the attempt to identify the culprit into what soon is classified as a murder.
Dora is a wonderful character. She has the skills of Holmes-caliber detective, but also the challenges of a certain amount of naiveté and (of course) being female. Dora is a book-lover and quite kind, even as she struggles to find her appropriate place in society.
I hope Ms Townson brings Dora back for more adventures!
Dora is a wonderful character. She has the skills of Holmes-caliber detective, but also the challenges of a certain amount of naiveté and (of course) being female. Dora is a book-lover and quite kind, even as she struggles to find her appropriate place in society.
I hope Ms Townson brings Dora back for more adventures!
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