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Riddle Saga #1
The Riddle of Alabaster Royal
Captain Jack Vespa, an aide-de-camp of Lord Wellington's in the battle against Napoleon, has returned home to convalesce from his rather serious battle wounds. But his parents' home in London is just too hectic, with his society-minded mother hovering and the demands of the social season looming. Expressly against the wishes of both his father and mother, Jack heads to the country to the estate of Alabaster Royal, his inheritance from his Grandmama. It promises to be deserted and a little run-down, but the prospect of some peace and quiet is more than Jack can refuse.But as Jack nears the village of Gallery-on-Tang, everyone he meets gawks in shock at the mention of Alabaster Royal, mutters a few words about the "accursed" place, and refuses to elaborate.When he finally arrives at his estate, the presence of a mysterious and beautiful young woman marks an end to Jack's plans for rest and relaxation. Miss Consuela Jones is the granddaughter of an Italian duchess and the daughter of an English artist who died on the grounds of Alabaster Royal. Consuela thinks that he was murdered and wants Jack to help her find out why...This delightful Regency novel, mixing equal parts suspense and romance, is the latest from Patricia Veryan, "the reigning queen of period romance" (Romantic Times) and it promises to enthrall her many, many fans.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
26 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Veryan
75 books99 followersPatricia Valeria Bannister was born in London. After World War II, she married Allan Louis Berg and moved to the United States; she lived on the West Coast and was the author of many historical novels from 1978 until 2002, using the pen names Patricia Veryan and Gwyneth Moore.
At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 24, 2008
Patricia Veryan is one of my favorite authors. She captures the brilliant stories (Jane Austen- esque) of 17th and 18th century England, but with the wit and tenacity a 20th century reader needs. Her earlier works are by far the best, the Riddle series being some of her later work. This one is good, but definately not one of my favorites. I don't think she spent enough developing the lead characters relationship, and to suggest in the next book in the series that they are deeply in love, is kind of hypocritical. It's and easy read, good for a rainy day.
June 15, 2023
"Allowing for the fact that everyone interprets facts differently, yes. I was told Mr. Jones accidentally fell to his death in the quarry, but I fancy you have more information than is given to the general public."
Crowner Fletcher beamed and gave vent to so violent a series of nods that Manderville wondered he did not get a crick in his neck. "Very true, sir," he said. "A sad case it were. There's them as holds"--he glanced around cautiously, and apparently mistrusting the ducks, lowered his voice--"There's them as says 'John Barleycorn' had a hand in that there 'accidental' death. Now Mr. Jones liked to bend the elbow, surely. But I never knowed him to be shot in the neck, as they say. To my mind, if there was spirits involved, they weren't out of no bottle! More likely the poor gent saw...the Alabaster Cat!" He pulled in his chin, pursed his little mouth, and opened his eyes solemnly. "Wouldn't take no more'n one look, and you see what happened!"
~~This photograph of an English manor house in need of TLC is close to the mental image I formed of Alabaster Royal. It's easy to imagine why locals would create urban legends about a house like this, centered around ghosts and phantom cats.
First two sentences: Desperate to find shelter from the hail of shot, Captain Jack Vespa crawled on doggedly. Even if he still had the strength to call for help, it would have been pointless; the French cannonade drowned out all lesser voices.
My two cents: Veryan has given us a light romance (just kissing) set in England in 1813.
She includes a mystery or "riddle" as the main focus of the novel--the romance takes a back seat.
The convoluted prose made my head hurt, but there were a few surprise bursts of humor. Given 1.5 stars or a rating of "below average". Only recommended as a library checkout if you actively read all historical romance novels set in the early 1800's.
Another quote: Example of unexpected humor (a dream Jack has). ~~It was his wedding day, and as he stood at the altar in all the glory of his Regimentals, Marietta came up the aisle to him, her loveliness enhanced by white silk and net, her adoration for him shining in her beautiful eyes. It was, he thought, a trifle odd that she would carry a cat instead of a bouquet; she could surely have managed to at least also hold a Bible...But a man did not criticize his beloved on his wedding day. And it was, of course, an extremely large cat. A handsome creature, with distinctive markings of white, orange and black, and enormous yellow eyes that stared at him unblinkingly.
Marietta reached his side and stood there, smiling and dear and adorable. The church, which was crowded, was very quiet. Everyone, he supposed, was waiting for Sir Lionel Warrington to arrive and give his daughter away. The priest, his head bowed low and long hair concealing his face, demanded, "Who giveth this woman...?" It was a troubling question, because it seemed that there was no one to answer. But then the cat yowled piercingly, "I do... not !"
Crowner Fletcher beamed and gave vent to so violent a series of nods that Manderville wondered he did not get a crick in his neck. "Very true, sir," he said. "A sad case it were. There's them as holds"--he glanced around cautiously, and apparently mistrusting the ducks, lowered his voice--"There's them as says 'John Barleycorn' had a hand in that there 'accidental' death. Now Mr. Jones liked to bend the elbow, surely. But I never knowed him to be shot in the neck, as they say. To my mind, if there was spirits involved, they weren't out of no bottle! More likely the poor gent saw...the Alabaster Cat!" He pulled in his chin, pursed his little mouth, and opened his eyes solemnly. "Wouldn't take no more'n one look, and you see what happened!"
~~This photograph of an English manor house in need of TLC is close to the mental image I formed of Alabaster Royal. It's easy to imagine why locals would create urban legends about a house like this, centered around ghosts and phantom cats.
First two sentences: Desperate to find shelter from the hail of shot, Captain Jack Vespa crawled on doggedly. Even if he still had the strength to call for help, it would have been pointless; the French cannonade drowned out all lesser voices.
My two cents: Veryan has given us a light romance (just kissing) set in England in 1813.
She includes a mystery or "riddle" as the main focus of the novel--the romance takes a back seat.
The convoluted prose made my head hurt, but there were a few surprise bursts of humor. Given 1.5 stars or a rating of "below average". Only recommended as a library checkout if you actively read all historical romance novels set in the early 1800's.
Another quote: Example of unexpected humor (a dream Jack has). ~~It was his wedding day, and as he stood at the altar in all the glory of his Regimentals, Marietta came up the aisle to him, her loveliness enhanced by white silk and net, her adoration for him shining in her beautiful eyes. It was, he thought, a trifle odd that she would carry a cat instead of a bouquet; she could surely have managed to at least also hold a Bible...But a man did not criticize his beloved on his wedding day. And it was, of course, an extremely large cat. A handsome creature, with distinctive markings of white, orange and black, and enormous yellow eyes that stared at him unblinkingly.
Marietta reached his side and stood there, smiling and dear and adorable. The church, which was crowded, was very quiet. Everyone, he supposed, was waiting for Sir Lionel Warrington to arrive and give his daughter away. The priest, his head bowed low and long hair concealing his face, demanded, "Who giveth this woman...?" It was a troubling question, because it seemed that there was no one to answer. But then the cat yowled piercingly, "I do... not !"
November 22, 2025
Approximately half-way through the book, this bit of Regency chewing gum definitely lost its flavor … the plot abandoned all logic, and the characters became even more cardboard, leading to a hazy and hastily-written ending … a sheep in sheep’s clothing … not worthy of your time …
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February 7, 2017This way the first Patricial Veryan book I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a delight from start to finish. Witty and engaging. She is in Georgette Heyer's class. I will definitely be reading more from her.
June 11, 2020
As seems typical of Veryan, the characters readers are meant to identify with are the privileged male aristocrats rather than the female love interest in this tale of an injured Napoleonic war veteran who returns to England and refuses his loving father's request that he remain in London with him, choosing instead to take up his abode at Alabaster Royal, the strange, reputedly haunted castle he's recently inherited. The castle holds more than ghosts, however—including an old Italian countess and her feisty, tempestuous granddaughter. Mysteries abound, surprise twists dazzle, and Captain Jack Vespa and his male war companions provide intelligent, friendly fellowship, a group to which readers find themselves wishing to belong. Points taken off for the dated portrayal of our heroine, Consuela Jones, and for the romance which is not at all resolved between her and Captain Jack by book's end (one has to read the next book in the series to find out if Consuela's determination to win Jack for herself will be successful or no).
July 2, 2025
If this had been my first Patricia Veryan book, I think it would also have been my last. I remember when these Riddle books were first issued they got mixed reviews but thought that was mainly because she shifted away from romance to more of an adventure plot. As it turned out I could hardly believe that the same woman who wrote the Jewelled Men series had also written this.
I should probably have stopped reading when a teddy bear turned up in the first few pages (in a Regency!) but I tried to ignore it and carried on reading...
In the end I lost track of the anachronisms and the nonsense, they were constant. Despite all this and the silly plot, the writing was engaging and I was gripped to the end.
I doubt I will read any of the sequels though.
I should probably have stopped reading when a teddy bear turned up in the first few pages (in a Regency!) but I tried to ignore it and carried on reading...
In the end I lost track of the anachronisms and the nonsense, they were constant. Despite all this and the silly plot, the writing was engaging and I was gripped to the end.
I doubt I will read any of the sequels though.
January 7, 2025
Wow! Why had I not heard about this author before? Amazing and delightful use of language, humor, and mystery, combined with a delightful Regency setting and manners. I just loved such entertaining characters! Well, I’m definitely going to have to invest in more of this author’s work!
March 27, 2025
Her books take some time because the characters are robust and the plot is complex. VERY satisfying, with lots of twists and turns. This is her 2nd book I've read and would highly recommend the series.
October 29, 2025
Such a rambling, repetitive, slow read. I skipped 70 percent of the middle and still new characters were being introduced, the old characters had had no character development and it was boring. I don't know if I want to finish it.
August 5, 2019
Plot is silly and I got tired of the heroine being described as a feisty little hellcat.
September 5, 2021
A pattern I'm noticing in my Veryan re-read is characters being "trapped" by circumstances. When she does it well, it's compelling and you sympathise with the characters. When the characters (especially male) are hot at hand and jump to conclusions or shy away from defending themselves against emotional manipulation, I lose patience.
Anyway. This book has a fair amount of that and I find Consuela Jones both annoying, but also her character development relies highly on stereotyping.
Loose ends, too - it's unclear what happens Derwent and his sister at the end and unclear if the uncertainty around Sir Kendrick is foreshadowing for the next novel or just a set up for how social conventions are handled.
Timing-wise, this seems to be set concurrently with Some Brief Folly. The novel starts in Summer 1813 (during the Battle of Vitoria), by the time he's at Alabaster Royal it is autumn and he runs into Tristam Leith "on his way to make a short visit to Garret Hawkhurst" (which is probably his brief visit in December 1813. But I'll read the sequel to this one first and then go back to Some Brief Folly.
Anyway. This book has a fair amount of that and I find Consuela Jones both annoying, but also her character development relies highly on stereotyping.
Loose ends, too - it's unclear what happens Derwent and his sister at the end and unclear if the uncertainty around Sir Kendrick is foreshadowing for the next novel or just a set up for how social conventions are handled.
Timing-wise, this seems to be set concurrently with Some Brief Folly. The novel starts in Summer 1813 (during the Battle of Vitoria), by the time he's at Alabaster Royal it is autumn and he runs into Tristam Leith "on his way to make a short visit to Garret Hawkhurst" (which is probably his brief visit in December 1813. But I'll read the sequel to this one first and then go back to Some Brief Folly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2015
It took me a great while to get involved in the story. I mean it was okay but when I would put the book down I didn't feel a need to pick it back up. I don't know if it was just me - you know how sometimes you just don't feel into it? I persevered through and all of a sudden I fell into it. I am really glad I did as some of the turns in the book were not what I was expecting. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
March 22, 2011
It was fun and light. The characters weren't very well fleshed out and the story line was just okay. The weird part is that I'm pretty sure I've read this before. I still didn't figure it out. I don't think it's possible to completely figure it out, but when I found out the motive, I knew I'd read it before. So, obviously completely forgettable.
March 31, 2009
This was good. I put it in the middle because it was a bit lengthy but I expected it being written for the "time" period. Towards the end I got frustrated with the length and started "skimming" pages...it didn't hurt the ending at all, I hadn't missed out on anything!
January 13, 2010
I liked it, but it got boring. It dragged, was a little long & I would not consider it a romance (seriously it was just thrown in at the end).
I was confused about why Capt Jack Vespa was sometimes called John and sometimes Jack. Any insight?
I was confused about why Capt Jack Vespa was sometimes called John and sometimes Jack. Any insight?
September 23, 2011
Another Patricia Veryan book that was just a little too slow for me. I looks like the next "Riddle" book, The Riddle of the Lost Lover, tells more of the same story. It's hard to tell which books are connected, one small annoyance I have with this author.
April 12, 2008
Fun mystery/romance with murder, mayhem and a haunted house.
December 24, 2009
A fun, light read.
March 26, 2011
I read the first couple of chapters and the last 2 chapters. It was interesting enough to find out how it ended.
April 19, 2012
First Patricia Veryan book I read, loved it from the start! Patricia Veryan is a writer of legend.
March 10, 2013
What kind of romance ends with an up-in-the-air relationship between the hero and heroine?
May 1, 2014
Didn't see it coming
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews