The Case of the Dotty Dowager

WISE Enquiries Agency #1

by Cathy Ace

Meet the Women of the WISE Enquiries Agency. The first in a new series.

Henry Twyst, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, is convinced his mother is losing her marbles. She claims to have seen a corpse on the dining-room floor, but all she has to prove it is a bloodied bobble hat.

Worried enough to retain the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency – one is Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish and one English – Henry wants the strange matter explained away. But the truth of what happened at the Chellingworth Estate, set in the rolling Welsh countryside near the quaint village of Anwen by Wye, is more complex, dangerous, and deadly, than anyone could have foreseen . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Crime, British Literature, Historical Fiction

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

Cathy Ace migrated from her native Wales to Canada at the age of 40. She is the award-winning author of the traditional Cait Morgan Mysteries featuring her Welsh Canadian criminology professor sleuth who travels the world tripping over corpses, which have now been optioned for TV. She also writes the cozier WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries featuring a quartet of female PIs who run their business out of a Welsh stately home. Both series have been well-reviewed. Her award-winning standalone, THE WRONG BOY, is a gripping novel of psychological suspense, set in Wales, and has also been optioned for TV.

"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail

Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.

Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Devereaux Twyst is the eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth and, up to now, his concerns have mostly been of the financial kind; plus a nagging sense that, since his elder brother died, he really needs to provide an heir to inherit his ancestral home. Not that Chellingworth Hall is always a blessing, as the responsibility for the upkeep is immense and necessitates opening his home to the public for part of the year, which he is both grateful for and yet resents. However, one night he receives a call from his mother, Althea, the Dowager Duchess, informing him that she has found a corpse in the dining room. Trudging across the grounds to the Dower House, Henry wonders whether his elderly mother is imagining things and, possibly, whether the formerly sprightly lady of nearly eighty is possibly facing dementia. His fears are confirmed when he arrives to find no body anywhere. Was his mother delusional, or has the body simply disappeared?

For help, Henry contacts Christine Wilson-Smythe, a member of the WISE Enquiries Agency in London. Christine has an aristocratic background and is happy to take the job on, as the agency is facing a financial crisis as well as various personal issues and problems. Carol Hill, their computer expert, is pregnant and looking for a quieter way of life, Mavis MacDonald has a serious ill mother and Annie Parker needs money to help pay her bills. Despite Annie’s unwillingness to leave London, three of the women – Annie, Christine and Mavis, head to Chellingworth Hall in Wales to discover what is really going on.

At first, I must admit that I struggled with this book. The characters all seemed a little stereotypical – the warm hearted Annie, treated very much as the naughty child of the group, the wealthy Christine, calm Carol and motherly Mavis, seemed too disparate a group to really work together well. However, as the mystery went on, I warmed to the characters more. I particularly liked some of the characters of the periphery of the story, such as Alexander Bright, who grew up neglected and liable to turn to crime, before becoming a successful businessman and antiques and art expert. The mystery was enjoyable and so was the country house setting. To be honest, the whole mystery was wrapped up a little too neatly to be believable, but it was an enjoyable, cozy mystery, and I would certainly read more novels featuring the members of the WISE agency. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.

[Jenn Estepp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a bit baffled at how positive reviews of this book are. At first, I thought it was just a goodreads thing and maybe people being swayed by netgalley approval into rave ratings, but then I saw that it was starred by Library Journal and had a relatively positive review from Kirkus so, not a goodreads thing.

I don't get it. For a great swath of this book, I was pretty sure I was going to one star it. It's not that it's so terrible - although it isn't very good - as it is just messy and confusing and awkward. Like, to the point that I wondered if it had had beta readers or an editor. There's a whole lot of assumed backstory, but also huge bits of info dumping. The main characters - four female "enquiry agents" - are tediously described and only distinguished for the first 2/3 of the book by their quirks, which are annoying. The supporting characters are a little more successful (the dowager of the title, for example), but it's difficult to see what some of them are doing there. The entire mystery (first a murdered body that disappears, then a robbery, then a kidnapping) hinges on a collection of antique dentures, which, what? I don't know, but I think it's kind of terrible.

That said, I ended up not wanting to throw it across the room because once Ace focuses on one of the detectives, even though that character starts out as shallow and dumb as the others (only not literally because we are constantly reminded that she has a Mensa level i.q.), it moves more swiftly and has a glimmer of capability. It's still hella awkward and I doubt I'd recommend it to anyone, but I MIGHT be willing to read the next in the series - assuming there is one - just to see if it improves.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun cosy...

Henry Twyst, Duke of Chellingworth, is worried. His mother, the dowager duchess, has phoned him in the middle of the night to say there's a dead body in the dining room of the Dower House, but when he gets there, no corpse is to be found. At first, he assumes his mother must have dreamt it or worse, that she is beginning to lose her marbles, but when a blood-stained hat is found on the floor he begins to wonder. Since the local police don't seem to be taking the matter seriously, he calls in the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency; their brief – to discover if the body really existed and, if so, who was it?

This is quite a fun cosy that is obviously intended to be the first of a series. The acronym WISE stands for Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England – the birth places of the four women who run the agency. It's not really explained how the four came together – there's a brief mention of them all having been involved in solving an earlier case but that's all – but there's plenty of potential for them to develop into a nicely mixed team, so long as Ace can avoid going too far down the road of using rather clumsy national stereotypes. Oddly she only stereotypes the Scot and the Englishwoman (Cockney, of course) – the Irish and Welsh contingent seem to escape. But it's reasonably minimal and hopefully will disappear completely once the characters' personalities are more fully developed in later books.

There are two linked crimes in the story – one is very original and quite fun and I won't spoil it by giving any hints here. The other is the murder which, while it is eventually solved, is left unsatisfactorily explained – it feels as if it got lost along the way as the author got more interested in the other strand. The WISE women's technique is basically to use their various people skills to get people to let things slip during chit-chat, though one of them is a computer expert who finds a lot of background information online. The chit-chat element is enjoyable and the women are well enough drawn so that we see each of their different personalities affecting how they approach their tasks. The online stuff is much less fun – lengthy typewritten reports full of information that it's highly unlikely anyone could find online without hacking government websites, which would not be the WISE women's style at all. I felt this was a way for the author to slip in information that she couldn't quite see how to have her characters uncover in more credible, and interesting, ways.

Overall, then, there are some weaknesses in the plotting, but the characters are likeable and I suspect will become more so over time as the dynamics amongst them get the chance to develop more fully. And it fulfils well the main function of cosies – to be light and enjoyable to read. First books in series are often tricky since it takes time for characters to be introduced, and since this one has four main protagonists that problem is magnified in this case, but Ace pulled it off well enough that I will certainly be interested in seeing how the series develops. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Severn House.

www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duke of Chellingworth, Henry Twyst, is more than a little concerned when his aging mother calls to tell him she has discovered a dead body in the dining room. He’s doubly concerned when he races over and finds there is no dead body. He’s sure she is losing her mind.

He seeks help to prove either his mother is telling the truth or she’s totally lost it. He calls on the services of the WISE Enquiries Agency. The agency is run by four women with different backgrounds – Welsh, Irish, Scottish and English. The women go undercover to find out what is really going on at the Chellingworth Estate. However, they never expect to find themselves right in the middle of danger.

This series starts off exciting and doesn't let up. It has the potential to be a captivating adventure with four strong women in the lead. I’m looking forward to learning more about these women and seeing them bond with each other.

I loved the quaint setting. It had the feel of an historical novel, although it’s contemporary. The perfect setting for a cozy mystery series.

It’s a fast-paced mystery and can be read in an afternoon. It’s filled with suspense, quirky characters, mystery and a touch of romance. The Case of the Dotty Dowager leaves you anxiously awaiting the next escapade and wanting to see what mischief the WISE women get themselves into next.


FTC Disclosure: The publisher and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Aarathi Burki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is very interesting, it has a lot of interesting twists and turns and lots of funny dialogues, I especially loved the interaction between Althea the dowager and her son Henry which were always hilarious, the dowager is a super funny lady with lots of brain and common sense even at the age of 80 years.
The WISE women were all wonderful in their own ways and I really liked the way they care for each other and their friendship is heartwarming. Alexander bright is an interesting character and I am waiting to see how his character progresses in the next stories.

I also liked the way various technologies are used in this book making it very much 21st century book and I recommend it for all who love mystery with a dash of humour and romance.

Looking forward to reading more books in this series

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, another excellent book. This one was a winner! I loved the concept and can't wait to read the next one. Highly recommend!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author CATHY ACE (yes that is her name) was recommended to me by a trusted source. I am so glad. THE CASE OF THE DOTTY DOWAGER is the first book in a series featuring the women of the WISE Enquiry Agency of London England. There are 5 or 6 books in another series.

ANNE PARKER is from London (E) and is an Afro-Caribbean. She does not drive and feels lost outside of London. Her age is late 30s or early 40s. She is single. CAROL HILL is Welsh (W). She is married (and only one of the four who is married) and expecting her first child. Carol is a wizard around computers. Annie and Carol had worked for the same insurance company. The former was a receptionist and the latter was in IT. MAVIS MacDONALD (S) is from Scotland and sometimes lapses into that country’s accented language. Mavis is the oldest at age 62ish and has a couple of adult aged sons. She is retired from the British Army where she was a nurse and hospital matron. CHRISTINE WILSON-SMYTHE (I) is a daughter of a wealthy Irish Viscount. The WISE Enquiry Agency is her first job. She is trying to prove to Daddy that she can survive in the real world.

The first clients the readers meet are from Wales. HENRY TWYST is the 18th Duke of Chellingworth. He is about 55. His mother, the Dowager Duchess of Chellingworth is ALTHEA TWYST. Althea was the second wife of the 17th Duke (deceased). The Duke’s first wife died while giving birth to Henry’s older brother who is also deceased which is why Henry is the current Duke. Henry has a younger sister, Clemmie who lives in a family house in London. Both Clemmie and Henry are single.

Another important character is ALEXANDER BRIGHT a wealthy London property developer with a mysterious and possibly shady background. Alex is single, rich, charming and good-looking.

So what is the mystery you might ask. Althea and Henry live in separate houses on the 6,000-acre estate of Chellingworth. One night Althea is awoken by her dog barking. She goes downstairs and finds a body (or does she?) in her dining room. She calls her son who hustles over to his mother’s house. He cannot find any body or evidence that there may have been a body. Henry thinks his mother is getting a bit “dotty”. They call the police but the only evidence is a mysterious stocking cap. Henry has heard about the WISE Enquiry Agency and calls them in to investigate since the police have no leads.

As the story progresses, Annie goes missing and Henry discovers that a mundane but very valuable collection of dentures has also gone missing. Are these three crimes linked in some way? That is the mystery that the team of WISE ladies have to solve.

I eagerly anticipate reading more stories by CATHY ACE. If you are a fan of mysteries, in particular British mysteries, this book is right up your alley. Except for the presumed body, there is no physical violence or car chases. There are plenty of red herring clues. Have fun with this book.

GO! BUY! READ!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of The Dotty Dowager by Cathy Ace was a fun British cozy mystery. It is the first book in A WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery series. Henry Devereaux Twyst is the 18th Duke of Chellingworth. He was not raised to be the Duke. He was enjoying his life of painting watercolors until his older brother died. Now Henry is responsible for Chellingworth Hall. Henry gets a late night call from his mother, Althea (Dowager Duchess of Chellingworth). Althea swears there is a dead man in her dining room. She called her son instead of waking up any of her staff (she has a cook, lady’s aide, and gardener/handy man). When Henry arrives at the house, he finds it locked up tight with the alarm on. Althea is in her bedroom with her dog, McFli and a fireplace poker in her hand. The body is gone! All that remains is a bobble hat that Althea picked up and took with her to her bedroom. Henry doubts his mother actually saw a body (he has been hearing rumors that she has been talking to herself).

Henry awakens the staff. All of them were sleeping very deeply and were hard to awaken. None of them heard a thing. The police are called the next day, but they do not believe the Dowager Duchess. Henry decides to call the WISE Enquiries Agency (they think detective sounds to American). Annie Parker, Mavis MacDonald, Carol Hill, and Christine Wilsom-Smythe make up the agency. Their individual skills complement each other. Carol is pregnant and cannot venture far from home. Her job is getting information (online and via phone) as well as keeping them all updated. Mavis will stay with the Dowager, Christine will visit Henry at Chellingworth Hall, and Annie will go to the local village. Each will investigate and keep the others updated. Did Althea see a dead body in her dining room? If so, where did it go? And most importantly, why were they in the Dower House?

The Case of the Dotty Dowager was an amusing British cozy. I give The Case of the Dotty Dowager 4 out of 5 stars. I liked the nice mix of characters as well as the lovely setting. I did not, though, like Annie Parker’s character. I found her very abrasive and hard to understand. She has such a thick accent that it is hard to figure out what she is saying. Mavis’ Scottish accent was much easier to figure out (of course, I have been watching a lot of Outlander). I think if Annie’s was toned down just a little, she would be a more pleasing character (they have her as loud, clumsy, and rude). Overall, The Case of the Dotty Dowager had good writing, great mystery, lovely town, and some interesting characters.

I received The Case of the Dotty Dowager from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining mystery and the first book in a new series. Henry, 18th Duke of Chellingworth fears his mother might be losing her faculties when she telephones him in the middle of the night because she has found a dead body in her house. When he goes to investigate there is nothing there and her house alarm is still set and in working order. The only thing which makes him think she might not have imagined the body is the blue and black knitted bobble hat with blood on it. The police do investigate but also draw a blank.

It seems like a good case for the four women of the WISE Enquiry Agency - Carol with her computer skills; Annie with her ability to talk to people and be nosy; Mavis with her long experience of people during her nursing career and finally Christine with her aristocratic connections. Henry contacts Christine and asks if she can help. Three of the four women visit the area for a weekend, leaving Carol in London to co-ordinate their efforts.

I found this an interesting read with some delightful characters, especially the WISE ladies. I also liked, Althea, the Dowager Duchess who is definitely a long way from being senile. Altogether this is a well written and at times amusing mystery which is only gradually unravelled. I shall be looking out for the next one in the series. I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley for review purposes.

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully entertaining series debut. The characters represent varied backgrounds, ages and quirks. They are fully fleshed out and pull you into their lives with friendly ease. The setting, a castle and village in Wales, with London in the background, are so alive that you are right there. I really liked the murder plot with many twists and turns and entertaining red herrings. The four ladies from the WISE Enquiries Agency come to Wales to investigate the disappearing dead body that the Dowager Duchess of Chellingworth claims she found in her home, the Dower House on the estate. This was one of the most entertaining and fascinating murder plots that I have ever read. I enjoyed being back in the British Isles with all the varied but entwined cultures. This is a MUST READ BOOK for cozy mystery fans who enjoy seeing the world and making new friends in far places. I can't wait to read the next one.

[Jazz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently I'm going against the majority here, but this was just okay for me. It could have used a good editor, as it was frequently repetitious, which made it tedious in parts. For instance, one character would discover something in a drawn-out scene and then in the next chapter would relate it all over again in a written report to the others. As a reader, I kept thinking, didn't we just go through this? To cut to the chase, this book is way too wordy.

It follows four main characters or enquirers of equal importance through the investigation and that's a tough task for any writer to juggle. It's also a problem when the secondary characters are more interesting than the primary ones.

I can't say I won't read another in the series, but I prefer Ace's Cait Morgan series to this one. Ace can write well and can be quite amusing, so hope she's hired a good editor by now.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is a bit cutesy -- four women of varying ages from a young woman in her twenties to a retiree (or pensioner, I suppose, as this all takes place in the U.K.) form an agency whose name reflects each of the women's nation of origin: Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England. Other than that and some blatant stereotyping of the characters, the mystery itself was actually pretty good. Enough so that I would read another in the series before giving a final thumbs up or down. Too bad the agency name and excessive artificiality of the set up make me want to gag.

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot believe I finished this book. The four characters and their various dialects drove me nuts, plus they had four different storylines and one would be dropped for chapters and chapters and by the time it was picked back up, I had totally forgotten what was going on. With so many characters and plot lines, nothing was fully developed. I just found the whole thing dull, disorganized, and confusing.

[James Ziskin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! I loved this book. THE CASE OF THE DOTTY DOWAGER combines the best of traditional mysteries with modern-day technology. Cathy Ace writes in a lilting, friendly prose that fluffs up your pillows and asks if you'd like a cuppa as you read. Delightful book, great characters, and all the loose ends tied up perfectly. Highest recommendation.

[Kathy]

This was too silly for me.

Kindle Unlimited

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

With so many books on my shelf that I want to read, it was a bit of a surprise that I picked this one out as my next. I had added it to my shelf last November when, after reading an article about the author's work , I decided to grab the first of both her series.

I read the first of her Cait Morgan set then. I thought it was OK but nothing to make me want to get onto this series, even the title sounded a little off putting. I must admit that I started reading it now even though I was half expecting it not to be my thing but at least it would leave a space on my shelf when I ditched it. It came as a bit of a surprise when I found that I actually was enjoying the read.

Its all about a small detective agency made up of 4 partners as different from each other as is possible. How they met and started the agency will no doubt become clear later .Suffice it to say, they did and do
.
Although their vast range of talents and contacts oil the wheels of their business, paying work has dried up when a titled friend of the father of Christine ( the posh one whose father is also a lord) offers them a job needing discrete inquiries to be made about a body that his mother (the dotty dowager) says she saw in her dining room but which subsequently disappeared. The group split up to tackle the problem according to their particular abilities and personal circumstances.

This makes for an interesting narrative as the three partners submit their reports on progress to base -aka Carol ( the pregnant one). Carol produces all of the background needed on everyone involved which is a good way to bring the reader up the speed.

The 'dotty dowager' is nowhere near the mental state imagined by her son and indeed shows this in several quite humerous exchanges with Mavis (the older Scotish ex army matron one)
There is plenty of action to keep the story going even though a lot of it is well advertised and a bit predictable.

This is cozy, easy reading and, dare I say, even feel good. If that is your thing , you'll enjoy it.

Will I read the next? -most certainly, particular as I didnt just get this book but an omnibus edition of the first 4 of the series.

[Eleanor Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that I've been completely pulled into this charming world where four unlikely ladies with four completely different backgrounds have gotten together to have a go at being not sleuths, but "enquiry agents." A certain degree of politeness and class there, if you will. I found myself smiling over the characters, and there are a lot more than four, even when the action turns a bit darker. The ending is just terrific and left me cheering.
If you love a consistently good mystery (more than one, actually, as there are several going on here), excellent characters, and exquisite writing, this is the book for you. I'm reviewing it as I've already read the first three in the series, and believe me, it just gets better from here. I'd like to visit this world and give each character a hug. Okay, maybe not Clemmie. (Sorry, Clemmie.) But I'd kill to hang out with them...
Fine writing. Highly recommended. More, please!

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've certainly enjoyed reading the first book in this new recently published series (available only in Kindle and currently at a bargain price). The characters of the four members of the WISE Enquiries Agency are well drawn, very distinct from each other. I'm not sure about the entire credibility of the plot but there was enough good stuff to keep me going.

I will certainly be going on to Book 2 sometime in the future.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a crime story based on fairly modern technology written in an anachronistic style. Quite fun, but not quite 3 stars.

[Ruth Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this fun cozy about four women of various ages and backgrounds who work as enquiry agents today.

[Ginny Brant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging!

Entertaining. Engaging characters and interesting plot. Enjoyable read and will look for next in the series. Clever inclusion of a bit of historical info .

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun cosy mystery featuring an "investigation agency" of four women from different backgrounds and different countries within the British Isles.
They investigate a possible death in Wales, where the body was seen but then disappeared. There is involvement in the art scene including forgery and some undercover work which puts them in danger.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 18th Duke of Chellingwirth approached the WISE Enquiries Agency because he is concerned about his mother. She states that she found a dead man in her dining room of the Dower House one night. But when he arrived there, there was as no body.
An enjoyable cozy modern mystery. A good start to this series.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review: http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/202...

[Sheena Nisbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable

A good whodunit, good defined characters, a richly woven plot to help you work out whodunit, can't wait for the next boik

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooooo glad I finally read this book, The Case of the Dotty Dowager by Cathy Ace, which has been on my TBR shelf for quite a long time. I adored the ladies of WISE (comprised of enquiry agents from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England - hence the acronym!!!). They are 4 women, of various ages and backgrounds, who come together to form this agency and solve cases. They're already established when we meet them, but our first case with the agency takes the team to the wilds of the Welsh countryside to discover the mystery behind a possible missing murder victim.....a wonderful story, well-written, and a real page-turner. If you enjoy a good cozy British mystery, I highly recommend the ladies of WISE. There are 2 more stories (to date) in this series, and so I'm off to read about The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer!

[Judy Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Take a completely disparate group of four female principal characters, find some way to make them fit an acronym and have them solve what ends up being a well conceived technical crime (although without actually providing a motive for the most important crime) and you will have the see-saw effect this novel had for me while I was reading it.

The four women 'enquiry agents' never are connected up by the author. How did they come to be working together? Each woman originally hails from a different part of the United Kingdom, Wales (W), Ireland (I), Scotland (S), and England (E), hence the WISE Enquiry Agency which is pretty clever but unsubstantial without some way of having the women meet originally. And don't try to use the bare bones mention of having solved a case together before. Why were they all four in that situation in the first place to be able to solve anything? I just kept going around and around in circles. Balancing four primary characters is a very big job, especially four women who are so completely different in all respects, and giving them equal importance within the investigation stretched coincidence and credulity so far it fairly twanged with the potential to snap and break. The establishment of the characters and the agency I found to be very weak.

The first crime the women were hired to solve was never explained fully, certainly not as to a motive for the ultimate result of that crime. Going on in the background was a very clever different crime (which had led to the first one) that had taken a very creative mind to conjure up. I never would have figured out how that was done. But once again I was left with so many questions concerning basic plotting facts so more see-saw feelings.

In a nutshell, I found the principal characters of the WISE agency to have about 1/8th teaspoon of depth but the technology involved in the lesser crimes to be very interesting. Too muddled when taken as a whole novel. Besides, I put this book down for days on end and was shocked when I realized I hadn't finished reading it. A very telling point to consider when recommending a book.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.

[Crittermom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case of the Dotty Dowager is the first in a new series featuring the women of WISE Enquiries.

Henry Twyst fears the worst when his elderly mother calls to tell him there is a dead body in her dining room. When he arrives, the alarm is set, the household staff is asleep, and there is no sign of a dead body. The only evidence that his mother may not have imagined the entire event is a bloody bobble headed hat.

In need of an explanation for the Dowager's experience, but desiring discretion, Henry employs the women of WISE Enquiries. Carol (Welsh) provides research and computer support. Christine (Irish) blends with the aristocracy and has a wide variety of contacts. Mavis (Scottish) is an experienced nurse and Annie (English) has a gift for gab and putting people at their ease. Together they form a cohesive and the effective investigating team.

Some of the many aspects of this novel that I enjoyed:
1). The skillful use of accents and regional dialects to add to character
2). The friendship between these very different but all very likeable women
3). How the four take advantage of their respective talents for the benefit of the investigation
4). The wonderful and loving relationship between Carol and her husband

These aspects together with a creative and complex plot combine to make an impressive debut mystery. Well written and unique, The Case of the Dotty Dowager will delight mystery lovers of all ages.

I received a copy of The Case of the Dotty Dowager from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

[Lynn Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery Series by Cathy Ace. I love Cathy’s Cait Morgan Mystery Series and was anxious to read this new one. I have listed Cathy as one of the authors who deserve a greater readership. One of her books, “The Corpse With the Platinum Hair” is shortlisted for The Bony Blithe Award for the best Canadian light mystery.

As “The Case of the Dotty Dowager” opens, Henry Devereaux Twyst, the eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth was concerned that his mother, the Dowager Duchess had finally lost her grip on reality. She claimed to have seen a corpse on the dining room floor and has a bloody hat to prove it.

The Duke decides to enlist his friend Christine Wilson-Smythe, the niece of Lord Wraysbury, who is a member of WISE Enquiries Agency to explain the matter away. However, the truth of what has happened at the Chellingworth Estate, a palace set in the Welsh countryside is far more complex than expected and provides the reader with a great whodunit mystery.

This book features four protagonists who make up the WISE Enquiries Agency, the name, an acronym for the birth countries of the women, one from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England. These women are at different stages in their lives and come from very different backgrounds. They also have differing family responsibilities and relationships. It is a complex group which works well together and I found very intriguing.

[Tracyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially thought this book was going to be too cozy for me. It really depends on how you define "cozy" of course. The protagonists are four women who have banded together to form the WISE Women Enquiries Agency. They chose this name because they hail from different areas in the UK. Carol is from Wales, Christine is from Ireland, Mavis is from Scotland, and Annie is from England. They all now live and work out of London. For this case, Carol, the computer wizard, stays in London to coordinate the investigations, and the other three women go to Wales to investigate.

I would say it took me close to half of the book before I was hooked. Then, boom, I was engrossed in the story and the characters. It may be that the story seemed slow at first to me because the author had to introduce the four main characters and their relationships and that slowed down the pace for me.

I wasn't the only reader who had this and I am pointing this out so that readers will keep reading... It gets really interesting in the second half.

I liked the portrayal of the characters, primary and secondary. Some of them felt like stereotypes in the beginning, and later were fleshed out and seemed more realistic and believable. I was quite fond of some of the secondary characters and most of them turned out to be more than their initial portrayal implied.