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Daisy Dalrymple #7
Styx and Stones
In the 1920's, in post-WWI England, the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple, newly married to Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher, is asked by her brother-in-law to discreetly investigate a series of poisoned pen letters that many of the local villagers have been receiving. When the pompous and unbearable brother of the local vicar is killed by a very large rock dropped on his head from a great height, it seems clear to all that this campaign of gossip has escalated to murder. With the help of her husband, who'd rather she not get involved in murder, Daisy undertakes to uncover the identity of the viper in the local nest is and who that person has driven to murder before the murderer strikes a second time.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
102 people are currently reading
780 people want to read
About the author
Carola Dunn
91 books886 followersCarola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she arrived a month ago.
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
April 16, 2019
I didn't enjoy this as much as most. Gossip & another murder, same old thing, & the end was anticlimactic. She has a too fast fight with Alec, but the theme of atheism was interesting. I've often wondered how people can have faith in a religion after witnessing atrocities such as those of WWI.
Well narrated & enjoyable, though. These books are candy reads, a nice change from more serious books.
Well narrated & enjoyable, though. These books are candy reads, a nice change from more serious books.
December 4, 2011
Daisy Dalrymple, a well-bred, earnest, and deeply inquisitive journalist in the 1930s, has discovered yet another mystery. People in her sister's village have been getting cruel anonymous notes about their secret foibles*. People get increasingly tense, until at last, someone is killed. Daisy and her fiancee Alec, a Scotland Yard Inspector, investigate.
I liked this book a bit better than the last few in the Dalrymple series. All the suspects are interesting, and Dunn is good at creating the cosy yet claustrophobic atmosphere of a small English town. The problem is that these books are too short for much character development or plot. I am tired of mysteries that are solved, not through clues or people skills or anything, but purely through the wrong-doer confessing at the most convenient moment. Dissatisfying!
*
I liked this book a bit better than the last few in the Dalrymple series. All the suspects are interesting, and Dunn is good at creating the cosy yet claustrophobic atmosphere of a small English town. The problem is that these books are too short for much character development or plot. I am tired of mysteries that are solved, not through clues or people skills or anything, but purely through the wrong-doer confessing at the most convenient moment. Dissatisfying!
*
March 23, 2018
The honourable Daisy Dalrymple once again trips over a body in this 7th instalment. This time she is asked by her sister's husband to find the person sending him (and we then find out others) poison pen letters. Naturally, just like in Agatha Christie's 'The Moving Finger' the suspect must be an unmarried middle-aged woman who likes to gossip... so that helps narrow down the field!! :o
These books are a bit of fun and easy to listen to on audio :)
These books are a bit of fun and easy to listen to on audio :)
November 8, 2019
Not as interesting a plot as some of this series. I agree that the quarrel between Daisy and Alec is settled far too quickly. But equally, it blew up really fast, and there wasn't much quarrel, though the issue was a serious one.
June 11, 2022
Styx and Stones
2 Stars
Daisy's brother-in-law, Lord John Frobisher, has been receiving nasty poison pen letters and requests Daisy's help in unmasking the writer.
Unfortunately, this series is losing steam.
The portrayal of the small English village filled with dark secrets, and petty squabbles is atmospheric and reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders. Nevertheless, this cannot compensate for the lack of character development and the humdrum mystery.
The identity of the letter writer is easy to figure out primarily due to the prologue, but their motivations does not really make much sense. Why would a . Moreover, the revelation of the killer's identity is very stereotypical and clichéd.
Since the next installment has a new narrator, thankfully as Mia Chiaromonte is simply appalling, I will be giving the series one more try. If it does not improve, it will be quits for me.
2 Stars
Daisy's brother-in-law, Lord John Frobisher, has been receiving nasty poison pen letters and requests Daisy's help in unmasking the writer.
Unfortunately, this series is losing steam.
The portrayal of the small English village filled with dark secrets, and petty squabbles is atmospheric and reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders. Nevertheless, this cannot compensate for the lack of character development and the humdrum mystery.
The identity of the letter writer is easy to figure out primarily due to the prologue, but their motivations does not really make much sense. Why would a . Moreover, the revelation of the killer's identity is very stereotypical and clichéd.
Since the next installment has a new narrator, thankfully as Mia Chiaromonte is simply appalling, I will be giving the series one more try. If it does not improve, it will be quits for me.
March 1, 2019
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
Styx and Stones is basically the same as the other Daisy Dalrymple books in its basic outline: somehow, Daisy ends up finding a dead body, and getting embroiled in the case to discover exactly what happened, despite Alec’s best efforts. In this case, she gets involved because her brother-in-law asks for her help in a little matter of someone writing poison pen letters to him — and perhaps to various other people in the village. Taking Alec’s daughter Belinda with her for a holiday, Daisy charges right in to see what can be done.
It’s a generally enjoyable book, with Daisy enjoying the quiet village life and poking her nose in everywhere. Her reactions to the local Scarlet Woman are, as you’d expect from her character and the fact that she’s designed to appeal to a modern reader, tentative but overall positive. As usual, she quickly decides who can’t have done it, based on personal feelings, and lets that colour her whole view of the case — and lead her somewhat astray at times.
My enjoyment of this book is mostly marred by the fact that there is a patently ridiculous chapter in which Alec decides Daisy’s been dragging his daughter into danger, Daisy has a tantrum about it and returns the engagement ring, and then they swiftly make up because Belinda gets sad about it. I’m not sure Alec ever really deals with the fact that he’s mad about Belinda getting into danger, and Daisy never really answers the accusation that she got Belinda into a nasty atmosphere (because I do think Alec has a point that maybe a village where someone is writing nasty and potentially threatening poison pen letters is maybe not the best place to take a child), and basically proper communication and discussion never really happens. I mean, it’s cute and all, but hmm. If there was an issue to begin with, it never does get resolved.
That being said, still a mostly enjoyable book, with a couple of little twists on the subject of who is writing the letters and who did the murder, for variety.
Styx and Stones is basically the same as the other Daisy Dalrymple books in its basic outline: somehow, Daisy ends up finding a dead body, and getting embroiled in the case to discover exactly what happened, despite Alec’s best efforts. In this case, she gets involved because her brother-in-law asks for her help in a little matter of someone writing poison pen letters to him — and perhaps to various other people in the village. Taking Alec’s daughter Belinda with her for a holiday, Daisy charges right in to see what can be done.
It’s a generally enjoyable book, with Daisy enjoying the quiet village life and poking her nose in everywhere. Her reactions to the local Scarlet Woman are, as you’d expect from her character and the fact that she’s designed to appeal to a modern reader, tentative but overall positive. As usual, she quickly decides who can’t have done it, based on personal feelings, and lets that colour her whole view of the case — and lead her somewhat astray at times.
My enjoyment of this book is mostly marred by the fact that there is a patently ridiculous chapter in which Alec decides Daisy’s been dragging his daughter into danger, Daisy has a tantrum about it and returns the engagement ring, and then they swiftly make up because Belinda gets sad about it. I’m not sure Alec ever really deals with the fact that he’s mad about Belinda getting into danger, and Daisy never really answers the accusation that she got Belinda into a nasty atmosphere (because I do think Alec has a point that maybe a village where someone is writing nasty and potentially threatening poison pen letters is maybe not the best place to take a child), and basically proper communication and discussion never really happens. I mean, it’s cute and all, but hmm. If there was an issue to begin with, it never does get resolved.
That being said, still a mostly enjoyable book, with a couple of little twists on the subject of who is writing the letters and who did the murder, for variety.
November 21, 2023
I enjoyed how this mystery had two parts intertwined: a poison pen and a murder. It was fun to try to figure out if there was any relation between the crimes and, if so, what the connection was. The ending was a little lackluster. I can't tell if that was my perception of it because it took me a while to listen to the audio or if it really was a bit anticlimactic. There was also some silly conflict between Alec and Daisy that made me hard core roll my eyes. The reason for the conflict was understandable, but its escalation was out of proportion. Thus only three stars. But I enjoy this series and am excited to keep going!
November 2, 2011
I love Daisy, but this wasn't my favourite of her adventures. Too much of the solutions to the two main mysteries seemed to rely on luck rather than deduction, and the romantic subplot also got resolved too easily. Hopefully the series will pick up again with the next book.
October 27, 2020
A dull, washy little book with more than a little scent of Agatha Christie about it. Daisy is in Marple mode trying to gossip her way to a conclusion, and it is less than interesting. Mix in a lover's tiff founded on pretty much nothing, and you have a weak cup of tea indeed. I know that modern cosy authors tend to pick a cutesy title and then write around it, but where does the Styx come into this book?
The only instalment of the series that I like less so far is Damsel in Distress which was so bad I didn't actually finish it.
A star and a half.
Go read The Moving Finger instead for a better plot and development.
The only instalment of the series that I like less so far is Damsel in Distress which was so bad I didn't actually finish it.
A star and a half.
Go read The Moving Finger instead for a better plot and development.
April 2, 2015
Even though this looked like a book I try to avoid, I actually liked this more than I thought I would. It was a fun and enjoyable read. This is the 7th book in the Daisy Dalrymple series. I look forward to reading more.
What I liked the most, was the dialog. It was well done. It sounded prim and proper, but it wasn't stiff. I also appreciated Daisy. Her strength was charming and she was capable of carrying the whole story.
What I liked the most, was the dialog. It was well done. It sounded prim and proper, but it wasn't stiff. I also appreciated Daisy. Her strength was charming and she was capable of carrying the whole story.
July 26, 2024
I liked seeing Belinda.
(reread, audio)
Again, the Belinda/Derik stuff was great, the narrator helped make the fight (she took off his ring!) believable, and the mystery was a bit bare. I didn't really buy the letter-writing solution, but I did enjoy the trip around the village.
2024. Still lived the kids, also the fastest fight on record. I don’t have as much sympathy as Daisy for the poison pen writer, as it seems more malicious than admonition.
(reread, audio)
Again, the Belinda/Derik stuff was great, the narrator helped make the fight (she took off his ring!) believable, and the mystery was a bit bare. I didn't really buy the letter-writing solution, but I did enjoy the trip around the village.
2024. Still lived the kids, also the fastest fight on record. I don’t have as much sympathy as Daisy for the poison pen writer, as it seems more malicious than admonition.
February 28, 2015
As with the other books in this series, it's a simple mystery, with no great depths of character or intrigue. But it was a fun listen when occupied with housework or travelling - I find that I don't want them too complex when doing other things, or I miss key points as I get distracted.
Not my favourite cozy mystery series, but it generates some interest because of its setting in he 1920s.
Not my favourite cozy mystery series, but it generates some interest because of its setting in he 1920s.
February 9, 2016
The weakest of the series this far but still pleasantly enjoyable.
The causal sexism gets a bit tedious but I guess that's a symptom of the times!
The causal sexism gets a bit tedious but I guess that's a symptom of the times!
August 6, 2023
This felt very reminiscent of a Marple with the village setting, everybody up in each other's business and full of gossip and judgement under a veneer of neat respectability! I thought the poison pen plot was one of the stronger premises in the Dalrymple series so far, to the point where I felt it didn't really need the murder. The cosy nature of these books depends on the dynamics and setting, throwing in a murder in the midst of the poison pen intrigue felt a tad unnecessary and muddled the overall investigation. It was pretty obvious where Dunn was drawing our attention with regards to the perpetrator/s so I wasn't surprised by the revelations, although I had overcomplicated the murdr motive in my mind thinking that such vehement hatred was a ruse to cover a secret relationship!
The tension between Daisy and Alex felt justified? Having lost his wife, Alex's frustration at Daisy taking Belinda into a potentially dangerous situation was understandable. I did have to chuckle at Dunn resolving it within one chapter though, such is the nature of the world she has built!
The tension between Daisy and Alex felt justified? Having lost his wife, Alex's frustration at Daisy taking Belinda into a potentially dangerous situation was understandable. I did have to chuckle at Dunn resolving it within one chapter though, such is the nature of the world she has built!
July 5, 2020
Another lovely 1920s period piece featuring the Hon Daisy Dalyrimple very much in the manner of Wodehouse and Agatha Christie. Listened to an audio book and a wonderful narrator makes a great difference.
October 7, 2018
Excellent!
October 17, 2021
Fun and cute. Can a mystery be cute? I think so.
November 8, 2020
3.5 stars. Enjoyable but not as good as earlier books.
November 9, 2017
#7 in the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, magazine writer and heiress (no inheritance due to British entailed system) mystery series. It is August, 1923 and Daisy agrees to stay with her older sister and husband to investigate who is behind the poison pen letters going to her brother-in-law and other town members. At her sister’s request she brings Alec’s daughter, Belinda (nearky 11), with her because she gets along with Daisy’s nephew. Soon there is a murder and Alec (the Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector she’s engaged to) becomes involved as well.
November 26, 2019
Update Nov 2019
Another charming Daisy Dalrymple mystery. It starts with Daisy investigating Poison Pen letters in a small village, on behalf of her brother-in-law. He’s not the only one receiving the letters, but before Daisy figures out who else has been getting them and who is writing them, the foul letters escalate to murder, and the police gets involved.
The story starts slowly, but after the murder, it speeds up nicely, although I feel that many characters were not as well-defined as in other Dunn’s books. Maybe there were just too many of them.
What I find interesting is that so many citizens of a small somnolent village have something shameful in their past or present, something they desperately want to conceal, which the letter writer tries to expose. We’re all human after all, aren’t we? I suppose, any place where more than one person lives wouldn’t be as peaceful as it seems on the surface.
Review May 2012
I can always rely on Daisy Dalrymple to be the heroine of an enjoyable book. Dunn writes with such panache as if she peeked into her chosen time and place, England in the 1920s, through some magical lens, and then told the story the way it should be told in the 21st century. The blend of cozy historical mystery, modern writer's skills, a charming protagonist, and faint nostalgia for the England long gone makes a very satisfying read.
Another charming Daisy Dalrymple mystery. It starts with Daisy investigating Poison Pen letters in a small village, on behalf of her brother-in-law. He’s not the only one receiving the letters, but before Daisy figures out who else has been getting them and who is writing them, the foul letters escalate to murder, and the police gets involved.
The story starts slowly, but after the murder, it speeds up nicely, although I feel that many characters were not as well-defined as in other Dunn’s books. Maybe there were just too many of them.
What I find interesting is that so many citizens of a small somnolent village have something shameful in their past or present, something they desperately want to conceal, which the letter writer tries to expose. We’re all human after all, aren’t we? I suppose, any place where more than one person lives wouldn’t be as peaceful as it seems on the surface.
Review May 2012
I can always rely on Daisy Dalrymple to be the heroine of an enjoyable book. Dunn writes with such panache as if she peeked into her chosen time and place, England in the 1920s, through some magical lens, and then told the story the way it should be told in the 21st century. The blend of cozy historical mystery, modern writer's skills, a charming protagonist, and faint nostalgia for the England long gone makes a very satisfying read.
April 27, 2009
This installment of the Daisy Dalrymple series was much better than the last. Although the setup was a bit wierd (Daisy's brother-in-law asks her to help him find who has been sending him letters accusing him of adultery), the whole story flowed much better than in the previous book, Dead in the Water. This book concentrates a lot of Daisy's relationship with Alec's daughter, Belinda, and those scenes add depth to both characters.
Overall, I think these books are just a little too short. If they were about fifty pages longer the mysteries would not have to be so simple (and wrapped up so quickly) and we would have more time to follow the Daisy/Alec relationship (although Dunn does a decent job of highlighting it).
Overall, I think these books are just a little too short. If they were about fifty pages longer the mysteries would not have to be so simple (and wrapped up so quickly) and we would have more time to follow the Daisy/Alec relationship (although Dunn does a decent job of highlighting it).
August 18, 2016
This was a fun romp in the earlier Daisy Dalrymple books. I still have one more to catch up on the series, but I think I'm Daisied-out for a while. Still, this one was a lot of fun featuring a poison pen letter writer and a man found murdered in the village churchyard. When Daisy's brother-in-law asks her to investigate the poison pen letters he has been receiving, how can she resist. She had already promised to visit him and her sister and bring along Belinda, her stepdaughter-to-be. Once again, Daisy finds a body much to Alec's (her fiance and Scotland Yard Detective Inspector) chagrin. Before you know it he takes a couple of days off and becomes part of the investigation despite himself. This is a fun series with a lot of interesting historical tidbits.
September 16, 2024
I wasn’t a fan of this one at all. It didn’t capture me and was difficult to get through. Aside from the main characters and the kids (who were precious), I disliked nearly all of the characters. I also thought it was a pretty depressing subject without much redemption or hope for the future for any characters except the main ones.
I thought, after reading this that I’d stop reading the series, but after going back to my ratings on the previous books I’m thinking I might give the series another try.
It does seem to be leaning pretty heavily against Christianity, and if the books continue to have only negative Christian characters I don’t think I’ll enjoy the rest of the series very much.
I thought, after reading this that I’d stop reading the series, but after going back to my ratings on the previous books I’m thinking I might give the series another try.
It does seem to be leaning pretty heavily against Christianity, and if the books continue to have only negative Christian characters I don’t think I’ll enjoy the rest of the series very much.
October 23, 2019
Wow. The most slight story I've ever encountered? The plot goes: man with problem over poison pen letters asks Daisy to help him find out who's sending them. Someone gets killed. Daisy's bf (a plod) comes up. There is a mild row between Daisy and bf that is blown over almost immediately. They have about eight conversations with suspects. Daisy works out who did it. The end. I kept waiting for a plot other than that to kick in but I swear that was all that happened. There was a prelude of a solidier in the trenches. Forgot to mention that. I'm all for cosy mysteries but this one should be prescribed to patients who need to keep their blood pressure down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2021
What nitwit wrote the publisher's blurb? Daisy is not yet married to DCI Alex, and the *very large rock* that caused death was a marble winged angel atop a gravestone.
For those new to the series, the story can stand alone but will trigger curiosity. Daisy goes to the country at the behest of her brother-in-law who is distressed by some odd letters accusing him of misdeed. No blackmail asked for. Daisy does discover that others in the village have also received similar missives. Now comes the murder and her sleuthing has two goals! Good story.
I did find that I could tolerate the narrator by upping the speed a bit.
For those new to the series, the story can stand alone but will trigger curiosity. Daisy goes to the country at the behest of her brother-in-law who is distressed by some odd letters accusing him of misdeed. No blackmail asked for. Daisy does discover that others in the village have also received similar missives. Now comes the murder and her sleuthing has two goals! Good story.
I did find that I could tolerate the narrator by upping the speed a bit.
August 15, 2014
I like Daisy Dalrymple. In this installment, she is asked by her brother in law to come and visit Kent and to help investigate the series of poison pen letters that he has been receiving. Daisy takes along Belinda, Alec Fletcher's daughter, and begins to look into the letters but soon finds that there are many more people receiving letters than she originally knew. When the local vicar's brother is killed (and discovered by Daisy) she and Alec begin to uncover all the dirty little secrets in the town. Another good book.
May 5, 2020
But what about the gloves??
I'm still giving this book 4 stars because I continue to enjoy how low-stress the series is, HOWEVER, I am very bothered by the very glaring loose thread left hanging at the end: (spoiler) if Mrs. Osborne and the maid Doris both were unable to find her gloves before she departed for the WI meeting, why were no fingerprints found on the statue?? It was specifically described as being a material that would take fingerprints well, and Doris specifically said that the gloves were not found in time for Mrs. Osborne to wear them. What gives??
I'm still giving this book 4 stars because I continue to enjoy how low-stress the series is, HOWEVER, I am very bothered by the very glaring loose thread left hanging at the end: (spoiler) if Mrs. Osborne and the maid Doris both were unable to find her gloves before she departed for the WI meeting, why were no fingerprints found on the statue?? It was specifically described as being a material that would take fingerprints well, and Doris specifically said that the gloves were not found in time for Mrs. Osborne to wear them. What gives??
August 15, 2016
I felt like I missed part of the argument and making up but overall very enjoyable story of Daisy getting asked to look into poison pen letters and being drawn into murder, as usual. Interesting interactions between her, her sister and Alec and there was a hilarious conversation about his family where she was asked if he was from a particular family and for her to say that he was closer to Scotland, referencing Scotland Yard.
June 16, 2020
Daisy is asked by her brother in law to investigate a poison pen situation in his village so she goes down for a visit to check out the situation. Not much later a person is killed by a fallen (or was it pushed) statue and her fiance DCI Alec Fletcher is called in to investigate.
He is not happy Daisy is involved with the poison letters and even less happy Belinda is part of it as well.
Okay mystery. Not one of my favorites in the series.
He is not happy Daisy is involved with the poison letters and even less happy Belinda is part of it as well.
Okay mystery. Not one of my favorites in the series.
February 16, 2019
Daisy Dalrymple's brother-in-law Lord John is getting poison pen letters, and asks Daisy for help. Soon she's in the midst of a classic village mystery. When she finds a murdered body in the churchyard, her Scotland Yard fiancé Alec comes running to bail her out. But Daisy doesn't know if the victim is the poison pen writer, or has found out who the writer is.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews