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Murder at Locke Abbey
A series of seemingly inexplicable deaths at Locke Abbey causes house guests to speculate that the sinister events have a supernatural cause, prompting William Cole to call on the services of renowned detectives to help solve the mysteries.
When Lady Thea Copley arrives with her detective father, Cole is immediately taken with her. He soon realises that she is not a typical lady, and that her beauty is only surpassed by the sharpness of her mind.
As they work together and expose the secrets and lies at the heart of his household, Cole is left reeling from the revelations. Can Thea overcome her past hurts to be his anchor, or will she hide behind her intellect, afraid to take a chance?
When Lady Thea Copley arrives with her detective father, Cole is immediately taken with her. He soon realises that she is not a typical lady, and that her beauty is only surpassed by the sharpness of her mind.
As they work together and expose the secrets and lies at the heart of his household, Cole is left reeling from the revelations. Can Thea overcome her past hurts to be his anchor, or will she hide behind her intellect, afraid to take a chance?
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2014
21 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 7, 2017
I could not put this book down. I had everything you could want in a romantic mystery. There were three murders and one occurred in a locked room. The hows and whys are what will keep you interested. The detectives in this story are a father and daughter team. The daughter, Athena, is smart, curious and outspoken. The hero, Cole, has hired these two to figure out how one of the victims was killed in a locked room. The guests think that murder was done by a ghost. The resolutions to the murders is the story, the science used is realistic (not out of time). The romance between Athena and Cole does seem rather progressive for its time but, it is not inappropriate. I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more like this one by this author. Great job Ms. Winchester.
January 16, 2019
Historical English country estate murder mystery with the detective falling in love with the host.
Lots of titled mixed with wealthy upper class folks with a lot of characters and twists and real science involved because not all the deaths are murder but William Cole still feels it necessary to invite Lord Copley and Lady Thea Copley to solve the mysterious goings-on in his ancestral estate.
There is a HEA, but not before more shenanigans and death threats. This is 'clean' romance but there is clearly lots of sexual dealings going on behind closed doors.
248 pages and kindle freebie
3 stars
Lots of titled mixed with wealthy upper class folks with a lot of characters and twists and real science involved because not all the deaths are murder but William Cole still feels it necessary to invite Lord Copley and Lady Thea Copley to solve the mysterious goings-on in his ancestral estate.
There is a HEA, but not before more shenanigans and death threats. This is 'clean' romance but there is clearly lots of sexual dealings going on behind closed doors.
248 pages and kindle freebie
3 stars
August 27, 2020
Enjoyable
Loved all the characters in this book, especially the very sharp Miss Thea. William Cole is a very discerning gentleman, to say the least and a perfect foil for our Thea. Very impressed with the way the story flowed from page to page. Great work, Catherine and tha k you.
Loved all the characters in this book, especially the very sharp Miss Thea. William Cole is a very discerning gentleman, to say the least and a perfect foil for our Thea. Very impressed with the way the story flowed from page to page. Great work, Catherine and tha k you.
June 24, 2020
Brilliant crime thriller
Not your run of the mill romance or crime story, well thought out, clues abundant but cleverly disguised, Thea is a very unusual woman vulnerable and strong at the same time, great author.
Not your run of the mill romance or crime story, well thought out, clues abundant but cleverly disguised, Thea is a very unusual woman vulnerable and strong at the same time, great author.
June 25, 2018
I loved it
An exceptional Regency Who Done It! I enjoyed the characters and the plot. A very smooth flowing book to read!
An exceptional Regency Who Done It! I enjoyed the characters and the plot. A very smooth flowing book to read!
March 4, 2015
Unfortunately, only two stars for this story, since I found many aspects that I wasn't comfortable with.
I couldn't get to grips with the characters. There were a lot of them and even at the end of the book, I still didn't know who was who. That makes me think that perhaps many of them weren't important to the story.
I also found no depth to the characters, so I wasn't able to relate to them. I did like the hero, Cole. He was a kind, considerate and intelligent man. Unfortunately, Thea annoyed me when she churned out facts and figures like an encyclopedia. She also seemed to have an impossible knowledge of everything both medical and scientific. She was arrogant and far too outspoken, often talking down to folk and belittling them. I didn't find this endearing.
At first, I didn't know what time I was in, until I noticed the book cover and read Regency. At no time in the story did I feel I was in the Regency era; the bottom line being this story was too modern. And this was highlighted by the fact that no matter how progressive Thea's parents were, they would have never openly allowed her to entertain her fiance in her nightwear and finally share a bed with him before marriage. They would have still adhered to Society's moral values.
Of course, sex spices up a story and Thea and Cole becoming lovers would have been quite acceptable, as long as it had been in secret.
I'm sad that I didn't like this story as I was looking forward to a murder/mystery, but it fell short of my expectations, with no actual surprises in 'who dunnit'.
I couldn't get to grips with the characters. There were a lot of them and even at the end of the book, I still didn't know who was who. That makes me think that perhaps many of them weren't important to the story.
I also found no depth to the characters, so I wasn't able to relate to them. I did like the hero, Cole. He was a kind, considerate and intelligent man. Unfortunately, Thea annoyed me when she churned out facts and figures like an encyclopedia. She also seemed to have an impossible knowledge of everything both medical and scientific. She was arrogant and far too outspoken, often talking down to folk and belittling them. I didn't find this endearing.
At first, I didn't know what time I was in, until I noticed the book cover and read Regency. At no time in the story did I feel I was in the Regency era; the bottom line being this story was too modern. And this was highlighted by the fact that no matter how progressive Thea's parents were, they would have never openly allowed her to entertain her fiance in her nightwear and finally share a bed with him before marriage. They would have still adhered to Society's moral values.
Of course, sex spices up a story and Thea and Cole becoming lovers would have been quite acceptable, as long as it had been in secret.
I'm sad that I didn't like this story as I was looking forward to a murder/mystery, but it fell short of my expectations, with no actual surprises in 'who dunnit'.
June 30, 2014
I enjoyed this second installment of the detective Nathaniel, and his daughter Athena..His wife is down with a broken leg. It was an easy read, and had a lot of twists and turns.I admit that I figured out what was going on in the murders long before the book came to the same conclusion. I read a great deal, and some clues were just to easy not to have caught my attention. I loved the word play between Athena, and Cole. I only wished they had told you what had become of the first child that Damaris took home as a ward.It was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.....
December 22, 2015
Energetic, mind expanding romantic historical mystery
Picture an aristocratic investigator with an unusual daughter and wife whose skills are in the sciences not the social graces expected of them whose services have been sought by the son of Mr Cole whose estates have had two murders and a ghost sighting during a house party. Sparks fly between the son and the daughter while they attempt to solve the murders to show no apparitions were involved, just some old fashioned greed.
Picture an aristocratic investigator with an unusual daughter and wife whose skills are in the sciences not the social graces expected of them whose services have been sought by the son of Mr Cole whose estates have had two murders and a ghost sighting during a house party. Sparks fly between the son and the daughter while they attempt to solve the murders to show no apparitions were involved, just some old fashioned greed.
January 18, 2015
Cute story - reminded me of the tv show Bones.
June 21, 2014
I enjoyed this story...3 murders, 1 natural death and an unlikely heroine solves the murders and finds love and respect.
August 11, 2016
A nice, comfy read. Pretty predictable in places and not many surprises but it'll pass a rainy afternoon if you're in the mood for something not too taxing!
October 20, 2014
What a mystery read. It was a Sherlock Holmes regency style. I had my suspicions but still kept me guessing until the end. Great day read! 3.5 stars.
July 15, 2015
Very enjoyable
What a wonderful book it was different but good. And for all ages to enjoy. Refreshing and I wish C.W. all the best on her next book. Bravo
Ms. D.From New York City
What a wonderful book it was different but good. And for all ages to enjoy. Refreshing and I wish C.W. all the best on her next book. Bravo
Ms. D.From New York City
July 13, 2014
A quick free regency read. Not bad
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews