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Sophie Burgoyne #6
An Old Affair: A 1920s tale of murder, mystery, and an ancient family feud
A standalone story of 1920s crime, murder, and intrigue.In a pretty corner of England, two ennobled families hate one another. Ignoring the law, they settle their differences with murder. The locals know of many such differences over the years.
The feud has become a tradition, and those who know something prefer to keep quiet. Without witnesses or evidence, the police are powerless. This situation has allowed the feud to continue unchecked for generations. Unchecked until a recent killing presents an opportunity. Scotland Yard knows delicate handling is required and sends Burgoyne’s Agency to gather information at Dumond Hall.
Sophie and her friends should find the Fete and annual Ball to be the perfect hunting grounds, but there is a problem — a known spy will also be present. It makes serving dinner much more complicated, where anyone could be a murderer, a future victim, an innocent, or a spy.
By tradition, and making matters worse, the families come face to face at the Ball. This year, with bad feeling running high, there is only Burgoyne’s Agency to keep the warring parties at bay.
The feud has become a tradition, and those who know something prefer to keep quiet. Without witnesses or evidence, the police are powerless. This situation has allowed the feud to continue unchecked for generations. Unchecked until a recent killing presents an opportunity. Scotland Yard knows delicate handling is required and sends Burgoyne’s Agency to gather information at Dumond Hall.
Sophie and her friends should find the Fete and annual Ball to be the perfect hunting grounds, but there is a problem — a known spy will also be present. It makes serving dinner much more complicated, where anyone could be a murderer, a future victim, an innocent, or a spy.
By tradition, and making matters worse, the families come face to face at the Ball. This year, with bad feeling running high, there is only Burgoyne’s Agency to keep the warring parties at bay.
- GenresMysteryHistorical
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2024
137 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 28, 2024
Sophie Burgoyne and her team of amateur spies (who masquerade as servants to infiltrate the homes of the aristocracy) have been tasked with spying on a Bulgarian businessman (aka spy) called Todor Minkov on a cruise ship from GIbraltar to England and then at a stately home where he will be the guest of Lord Gerald Munday's eldest son Basil at their home Dumond Hall where they are holding their annual fete and Ball.
The Munday family is notorious for an ancient feud between them and their nearest neighbours, the Eldred family, a feud which has resulted in tit-for-tat murders. Tensions are running high as both of Basil's older brothers have recently been murdered and it is deemed very poor show (FFS) for two Mundays to be murdered without an Eldred being murdered in return. To add insult to injury, it has always been an unwritten rule that the murders take place elsewhere, but the latest murder took place on the outskirts of the village and the local Chief Constable has had enough.
Whilst the Mundays are flourishing and are displaying their wealth by building a swimming pool in the grounds which resembles a Grecian temple, the Eldreds are in dire financial straits having been hit by double death duties as a result of WW1 and several bad harvests. With the country in the grip of a prolonged dry and hot spell in 1921 the Eldreds are facing the loss of their home and livelihood. Accordingly, tensions are riding high. Can the redoutable folks from Burgoyne's Agency uncover who killed Basil's brother and discover why Mr Minkov is in England?
This fell flat for me. I loved the banter between the Agency people just as much as ever, but the whole feud between the Mundays and the Eldreds was tedious in the extreme, I couldn't keep track of their names and hence why I refer to Basil's brothers and not by name.
Overall, I suspect that this might be the prelude to something more juicy in the next book with a big assignment in the offing.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
The Munday family is notorious for an ancient feud between them and their nearest neighbours, the Eldred family, a feud which has resulted in tit-for-tat murders. Tensions are running high as both of Basil's older brothers have recently been murdered and it is deemed very poor show (FFS) for two Mundays to be murdered without an Eldred being murdered in return. To add insult to injury, it has always been an unwritten rule that the murders take place elsewhere, but the latest murder took place on the outskirts of the village and the local Chief Constable has had enough.
Whilst the Mundays are flourishing and are displaying their wealth by building a swimming pool in the grounds which resembles a Grecian temple, the Eldreds are in dire financial straits having been hit by double death duties as a result of WW1 and several bad harvests. With the country in the grip of a prolonged dry and hot spell in 1921 the Eldreds are facing the loss of their home and livelihood. Accordingly, tensions are riding high. Can the redoutable folks from Burgoyne's Agency uncover who killed Basil's brother and discover why Mr Minkov is in England?
This fell flat for me. I loved the banter between the Agency people just as much as ever, but the whole feud between the Mundays and the Eldreds was tedious in the extreme, I couldn't keep track of their names and hence why I refer to Basil's brothers and not by name.
Overall, I suspect that this might be the prelude to something more juicy in the next book with a big assignment in the offing.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
July 26, 2024
A good read.
For some reason this one didn't "grab" me the same as the previous ones in this series did. I enjoyed it, however, and its twists and turns. I do look forward to the next episode of the ageny!
For some reason this one didn't "grab" me the same as the previous ones in this series did. I enjoyed it, however, and its twists and turns. I do look forward to the next episode of the ageny!
June 15, 2024
Another great read in the Sophie Burgoyne series that keeps your curiosity and interest to the end
The historical setting is well done and the characters are believable and well developed. If this is your first read in the series, you can use it as a standalone read or as an in introduction to the series.
The historical setting is well done and the characters are believable and well developed. If this is your first read in the series, you can use it as a standalone read or as an in introduction to the series.
August 25, 2024
Marvelous
I find the Sophie Burgoyne mysteries to be top rate.
G J Bellamy mixes humor with intrigue and social mores with individual
motivation to portray a time in England when the changing social and
class system was struggling to come to grips with a new reality.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series to date.
I find the Sophie Burgoyne mysteries to be top rate.
G J Bellamy mixes humor with intrigue and social mores with individual
motivation to portray a time in England when the changing social and
class system was struggling to come to grips with a new reality.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series to date.
June 22, 2024
Great Read
The author did an excellent job with characterization along with time and place description. As the reader, it's easy to become caught up in the story. The ending lesson was profound.
The author did an excellent job with characterization along with time and place description. As the reader, it's easy to become caught up in the story. The ending lesson was profound.
January 14, 2025
Very enjoyable
Though I still maintain that Sophie is becoming a stuffed-up hypocrite. Actually in this book I go one further and say she is becoming a stuffed-up hypocritical prig! At times I find her attitude to be verging on the obnoxious.
Though I still maintain that Sophie is becoming a stuffed-up hypocrite. Actually in this book I go one further and say she is becoming a stuffed-up hypocritical prig! At times I find her attitude to be verging on the obnoxious.
March 2, 2025
Feuds are Deadly
Enjoyed this book. Amazing how idiotic people have always been. Nothing new under the sun. But the story of the Mundays and the Edlins is totally crazy. Thank goodness Sophie and her crew were on the job!
Enjoyed this book. Amazing how idiotic people have always been. Nothing new under the sun. But the story of the Mundays and the Edlins is totally crazy. Thank goodness Sophie and her crew were on the job!
June 15, 2024
love these stories
Every time I start a new story I don’t want to stop reading. Great historical info, well written and great characters!
Every time I start a new story I don’t want to stop reading. Great historical info, well written and great characters!
September 8, 2024
A enjoyable book
I enjoyed this mystery . i liked that BW had a greater part. There were many twists and turns and the solution felt a bit contrived. but i would still read another
I enjoyed this mystery . i liked that BW had a greater part. There were many twists and turns and the solution felt a bit contrived. but i would still read another
September 17, 2025
Again I keep reading because of the continuing characters - and to see when Sophie gets her man! But the story was slightly absurd really.
September 18, 2025
OK
Not my usual reading matter. The story moved a bit slow for me. Anyone not used to Brit Lit will be at a loss tobunderstand.
Not my usual reading matter. The story moved a bit slow for me. Anyone not used to Brit Lit will be at a loss tobunderstand.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews