A Gentleman Far From Home

The Lord Julian Mysteries #11

by Grace Burrowes

When one of Wellington’s best sharpshooters is threatened with dire consequences if he returns to his family seat, Lord Julian Caldicott is called in to unmask the blackmailer. Julian is willing to take on the investigation for the sake of a former soldier’s wellbeing, and also to relieve the grinding monotony of deepest mid-winter endured alone in rural Surrey.

Amid the sprawling elegance of Dunsford Keep, Julian finds a family on the outs with each other, their neighbors, and their own past. Lies and suspicions fly in all directions as accusations mount and Julian’s loved ones are pulled into the affray. If Julian cannot target the guilty party, an innocent man will be exiled from his home forever, and Julian might well be banished from Caldicott Hall too!

Genres: Mystery

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2026

About the author

Grace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.

It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.

While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")

Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)

To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.

Reviews

[Olga Godim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adequate mystery of a poisoned pen, solved expertly by Lord Julian. As always. This installment also shed light - finally - on Hyperia's waffling about her wedding to Julian. At last, we learn what caused her stalling. I suppose, after she dodged Julian's push for 10 episodes, it is time for her to set the date. Her unfortunate secret is out in the open, and Julian accepts his beloved the way she is. I look forward to their wedding, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be that simple. More mysteries in Julian's future, for sure. Maybe a couple more installments ... This reader can hope.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grace Burrowes pre-publishes her work through her website. I bought a copy there.

I do buy every full-length work GB releases, and I will keep doing that. I always enjoy her writing, commentary about social niceties in Regency England (at least, I believe she is right about that), and story arcs. Lord Julian gets some good news in this issue, and deals -- as ever -- with a mysterious set of circumstances through observation, questioning, and knowledge of how his society works.

I give this one three stars because, as with the Spinster novellas, I'm finding less depth than I like in character development. But perhaps that is a consequence of having the same protagonists over the course of a dozen titles? My standards for GB were set 20 years ago.

In #11 of the Lord Julian series, I had to re-read sections a few times to keep names and personalities straight: three fellows from one family; sisters in another; plus a neighbor or two. All in group settings indoors, with much verbal skirmishing. Plus nicknames and lots of backstory to the three families in the neighborhood. It was nearly Russian-novel-like.

[Anne-Mammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Lord Julian and over the previous ten books have loved to see him gradually getting over the war trauma he had to endure. In this book, he has no episodes of forgetfulness and his famous "manly humours" seem to have pretty well returned. Grace Burrowes excels at reminding her readers what has taken place so far, however, the mystery Julian has to solve is rather too convoluted and nor very convincing. This is why for me, this time it is only 4 stars. I enjoyed the distinctive style, the nicely learned vocabulary and the winter settings, but the relationships between the families at the Keep, seem unduly complex. Also perhaps not necessary are the revelations concerning , Lord Julian's beloved supposedly lost brother Harry and Hyperia seemed somewhat gratuitous. Leander is growing into a good partner for Atticus, the irrepressible tiger, that trope is really good.
At all events, the book provided several enjoyable hours and I am looking forward to the next instalment. There may be a set date for "the wedding", who knows! If enough readers ask for Harry to make an unexpected appearance, it may yet happen!

[TrixieB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this one.

Hyperia has a sudden character shift, which I imagine is because the current way things were going had no future. It's a plotting issue I get it. The handling was clumsy and unsatisfying.

If someone spikes your drink, you hallucinate, black out, and then discover there's been sexual intercourse, that's not cheating. It is sexual assault. The fact that this is not addressed is appalling and I almost stopped reading right there.

The mystery de jour is also unsatisfying. There's no point to it at all. And the resolution involves a lot of terrible men using women to get out of a situation of their own making. I could forgive the clumsiness of the plot change if the rest of the book was good. It was not.

For the love of all you hold dear, will someone please look after Leander?

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Julian Caldicott is asked by a fellow former soldier to unravel the mystery of the threatening letters he has been receiving. Apparently, someone in his home village of rural Surrey wants desperately to keep him from his home of Dunsford Keep and is willing to resort to acts of violence to make their point. Aided by his love, Hyperia West and his mother, the Duchess, Julian digs into the family, inflaming passions and putting himself, his tiger Atticus, Hyperia and even the Duchess at risk of bodily harm. While this book is part of a wonderful series, there is enough background information that a reader can pick this up and enjoy it as a standalone. However, I highly recommend the entire series because they are one better than the other. Ms. Burrowes has a wonderful voice, writing in a style that fits perfectly within the time period. She is also a master storyteller, weaving clues flawlessly into a coherent, logical storyline that is a true joy to read. This book was provided by the author without any requirement for a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Kellye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puzzles revealed and solved!

I love the slow burn to this series. If you haven't read the 10 books before this one, back up and do that first. You won't regret reading them. Can you read this first? You can, but you will get so much more enjoyment if you read all of them in order first.

Kudos to the author for answering some long lingering questions about past actions and motivations in this story. I love the complexity of the characters, even those who are not directly a part of the action. And I love how the current mystery has similar themes to what is revealed from the past to Julian.

I look forward to however many installments are next in this saga. I will buy each one as soon as it's available.

[Susanna Lynley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this series but this book disappointed me. Without giving away spoilers all I will say that given the antics of the perpetrators, which included near fatal accidents, they showed little remorse while the victims were overly generous with their forgiveness. There was no outrage. No passion. The offenders were slapped on the wrist with little more than a stick of wilted celery. I would have been incensed if I'd been the victim of these incidents. As a result I am suffering from reader dissatisfaction.

As for Julian and Perry's on again off again romance - for god's sake get your act together, your are becoming a little tiresome.

[Pat Dupuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Julian has become a magnet for solving other people's problems. In this case, it's a soldier who wants to go home for good but has been warned off anonymously. Julian understands the homesick feeling very well, so he is obliged to help. He also plans to make some headway with Hyperia who has not set a date for their wedding. Julian's impressive skill in observation sets him on a path to solve both problems even though the results may not be what one wants.

[Kate_Nagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Lord Julian Mystery so far. I'm still not, and probably never will be, Hyperia's biggest fan, but at least we got a credible explanation for her consistently very strange behavior toward Julian. I liked the complex mystery and I even liked all of the parties involved -- probably a first for me. Overall, a genuinely good time. NB -- I still think that rumors of Harry's death have been greatly exaggerated, but that's just a prediction on my part, not a spoiler.

[sabagrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

A convoluted and basically trivial mystery, a gratuitous obstacle in the romance (yet another one), ruthlessly anachronistic characters and social behaviour, all of it drowned in repetitive blabber.

I began the book with no high expectations - the series has been declining for some time - and still it managed to disappoint. So long, Lord Julian, there are so many better books around that I won't waste any more time on this series.

[Lizette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complex of mysteries with our favorite characters and too little time to solve it

A brilliantly conceived mystery implicating multiple players, each with their own goals, secrets, and tactics, kept me bamboozled until the end. Julian and Perry resolve a previously hidden issue and go forward happily "in charity with each other," as Julian likes to say. As always, the character-development is wonderful and realistic, and we learn more about life in Regency England.

[Faye C Maxfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

as usual. intriguing and suspenseful

There is always a gentleness and caring in most of her characters. They are human and fallible and very very likable. Readers want them to succeed and resolve the problems they are presented with. The plot is also one that keeps the reader guessing almost to the end.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tangled mess that finally gets resolved, but not everything comes up roses. Julian and Perry once again have to sort out some secrets but may finally set a date. Sadly some of the new characters seem to suffer from dyslexia. Had they not been 0f higher level of personage, they would be considered stupid and possibly a beggar.

[Karen A. Wyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm rating this installment of the series lower than the previous ones (and, I hope, the future ones) because of what struck me as an incomplete plot resolution -- and not in the to-be-addressed-later sense, as far as I can predict.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

another good one

A fine installment of the series. I grow more irritated that hero and heroine will not yet marry, but the normal cast of characters are in fine form and the plot is well done

[Deb Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Twisty and turny with threats to life and limb....an engagement ready to be called off? Misidentification resulting in vendetta? And top that off with mid winter celebrations... What's not to love???

[Anne Egger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julian has asked to investigate why Byron can not go home. It is the regular foolishness. Julian and Hyperia work on being honest with each other. I enjoy this series, this story was just not my favorite.

[Joy Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

a quick cozy

Liked the characters and the clues to the mystery that didn’t play out until the last pages. Hope everyone marries.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sheila C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this whole series. I like the twists and turns, & the endings are unpredictable. It's a good read, enjoyable.

[Make · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the progress that Julian has made in this book!