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Lady Alkmene #1
A Proposal to Die For
The first book in the new Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series
A murderous beginningWith her father away in India, Lady Alkmene Callender finds being left to her own devices in London intolerably dull, until the glamorous Broadway star Evelyn Steinbeck arrives in town! Gossip abounds about the New York socialite, but when Ms Steinbeck’s wealthy uncle, Silas Norwhich, is found dead Lady Alkmene finds her interest is piqued. Because this death sounds a lot to her like murder…
Desperate to uncover the truth, Lady Alkmene begins to look into Ms Steinbeck’s past – only to be hampered by the arrival of journalist, Jake Dubois – who believes she is merely an amateur lady-detective meddling in matters she knows nothing about!
But Lady Alkmene refuses to be deterred from the case and together they dig deeper, only to discover that some secrets should never come to light…
The twenties have never been so dangerous
Don’t miss the next Lady Alkmene Mystery1. A Proposal to Die For
2. Diamonds of Death
3. Deadly Treasures
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
221 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 13, 2016
3.5 stars, rounded up.
A well done cozy mystery. London in the 1920's is a pretty fabulous time to read about. I enjoyed the main characters and am looking forward to seeing where they go in the other books in this series.
Thank you, Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A well done cozy mystery. London in the 1920's is a pretty fabulous time to read about. I enjoyed the main characters and am looking forward to seeing where they go in the other books in this series.
Thank you, Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2016
I just want to start off saying that I'm a huge fan of cozy mysteries. Especially when they are done well. This one, I'm happy to say, was one that was. I really enjoyed the characters. Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois, were two people that I fell in love with. Jake was charming and I liked that Alkmene was a 20's girl wanting a little adventure. Together they were the perfect combination. I loved their interactions together:) The mystery was done well and I loved the setting of the 1920's. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.
I want to make a point of saying that I don't rate books on whether they are perfect or that they're a literary masterpiece. I rate books (mostly) on how they make me feel. This book made me happy and all I wanted to do was get my housework done so I could re-enter this world. If the characters are people that I fall in love with and I can't wait to read more entries about their escapades....their story deserves five stars.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I want to make a point of saying that I don't rate books on whether they are perfect or that they're a literary masterpiece. I rate books (mostly) on how they make me feel. This book made me happy and all I wanted to do was get my housework done so I could re-enter this world. If the characters are people that I fall in love with and I can't wait to read more entries about their escapades....their story deserves five stars.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2017
This is a delightful cosy mystery set mainly in 1920’s London, involving Lady Alkmene and the multi-faceted journalist, Jake Dubois, as they work together to discover what really happened to Silas Norwhich. The wealthy art lover was found dead but was it accidental? What would the motive be and who carried out if it was murder? These amateur sleuths will work together to solve the mystery, even though they are from very different social classes in this inviting read.
The characters are well crafted, the plot engaging and it is a brilliant story to escape into. I love the author’s writing style, taking the reader into the story and painting pictures of the scenarios in their imagination. With death, blackmail, double crossing, deceit and so much more this is a fun read. I look forward to reading more in this series and will be particularly interested in if and how the relationship between the disparate pair of sleuths develops in future!
I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.
The characters are well crafted, the plot engaging and it is a brilliant story to escape into. I love the author’s writing style, taking the reader into the story and painting pictures of the scenarios in their imagination. With death, blackmail, double crossing, deceit and so much more this is a fun read. I look forward to reading more in this series and will be particularly interested in if and how the relationship between the disparate pair of sleuths develops in future!
I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.
December 20, 2017
Whimsical, suspenseful, and amusing!
A Proposal To Die For is a lighthearted, cozy mystery that transports you back to 1920s London where Miss Lady Alkmene Callender has an abundance of freedom and imagination and where a timely introduction to the devilishly handsome, mysterious ex-con Jake Dubois has them teaming up to solve the suspicious death of the wealthy Silas Norwhich.
The writing style is fluid and smooth. The characters are engaging, endearing, and authentic. And the plot develops nicely and has the right mix of misdirection, deduction, suspects, clues, mishaps, and murder.
If you enjoy straightforward, entertaining mysteries that take you back in time to when forensics was almost nonexistent, social class was everything, and crimes could easily be solved by everyday snooping, shrewd reasoning, and stubborn determination this is a book for you.
Thank you to Vivian Conroy and HQ Digital for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
A Proposal To Die For is a lighthearted, cozy mystery that transports you back to 1920s London where Miss Lady Alkmene Callender has an abundance of freedom and imagination and where a timely introduction to the devilishly handsome, mysterious ex-con Jake Dubois has them teaming up to solve the suspicious death of the wealthy Silas Norwhich.
The writing style is fluid and smooth. The characters are engaging, endearing, and authentic. And the plot develops nicely and has the right mix of misdirection, deduction, suspects, clues, mishaps, and murder.
If you enjoy straightforward, entertaining mysteries that take you back in time to when forensics was almost nonexistent, social class was everything, and crimes could easily be solved by everyday snooping, shrewd reasoning, and stubborn determination this is a book for you.
Thank you to Vivian Conroy and HQ Digital for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
September 15, 2016
A Proposal to Die For is a very delightful cozy mystery novel. Lady Alkmene Callender finds herself drawn into a mysterious murder case together with the journalist Jake Dubois. They may come from different social classes, but they both want to find out the truth about the death of Silas Norwich who suspiciously is found dead after finding his lost niece. Could it be that she is behind her uncle's death or is there someone else that would benefit from Norwich death?
I found the book to be quite nice to read. Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois is quite a wonderful team, of course, totally unsuitable since they are worlds apart when it comes to social status. And, Jake Dubois never lets her forget that she is a Lady and Lady Alkmene does realize several times in this book what a sheltered life she has been living. But, you can feel the chemistry between them. It's just too bad, that Lady Alkmene father would never approve of a journalist as a son-in-law...
The case is not perhaps the most complex, but I found myself enjoying the book thanks to the colorful characters and the easygoing nature of the story. The culprit was not really a big surprise, but nevertheless, I enjoyed the book very much. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to find out what Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois will take on next especially since they may have found out the truth about Norwich death, but they have yet solved the other case...
This is a perfect book for people who like the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries books/TV-series.
I want to thank Carina UK for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
I found the book to be quite nice to read. Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois is quite a wonderful team, of course, totally unsuitable since they are worlds apart when it comes to social status. And, Jake Dubois never lets her forget that she is a Lady and Lady Alkmene does realize several times in this book what a sheltered life she has been living. But, you can feel the chemistry between them. It's just too bad, that Lady Alkmene father would never approve of a journalist as a son-in-law...
The case is not perhaps the most complex, but I found myself enjoying the book thanks to the colorful characters and the easygoing nature of the story. The culprit was not really a big surprise, but nevertheless, I enjoyed the book very much. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to find out what Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois will take on next especially since they may have found out the truth about Norwich death, but they have yet solved the other case...
This is a perfect book for people who like the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries books/TV-series.
I want to thank Carina UK for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
July 16, 2018
EXCERPT: 'Marry me.'
The whispered words reached Lady Alkmene Callender's ears just as she was reaching for the gold lighter on the mantlepiece to relight the cigarette in her ivory holder.
Freddie used to be a dear and bring her Turkish ones, but since he had been disinherited by his father for his gambling debts, his opportunities for travel had been significantly reduced, as had Alkmene's stash of cigarettes. These ones, obtained from a tobacconist on Callenburg Square, had a taste of propriety about them that made them decidedly less appetizing than the exotic ones she had to hide from her housekeeper - who always complained that the lace curtains got yellowish from the smoke.
'Marry me,' the insistent voice repeated. . .
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The first book in the new Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series
A murderous beginning
With her father away in India, Lady Alkmene Callender finds being left to her own devices in London intolerably dull, until the glamorous Broadway star Evelyn Steinbeck arrives in town! Gossip abounds about the New York socialite, but when Ms Steinbeck’s wealthy uncle, Silas Norwhich, is found dead Lady Alkmene finds her interest is piqued. Because this death sounds a lot to her like murder…
Desperate to uncover the truth, Lady Alkmene begins to look into Ms Steinbeck’s past – only to be hampered by the arrival of journalist, Jake Dubois – who believes she is merely an amateur lady-detective meddling in matters she knows nothing about!
But Lady Alkmene refuses to be deterred from the case and together they dig deeper, only to discover that some secrets should never come to light…
The twenties have never been so dangerous.
MY THOUGHTS: 'The best pleasures are the unexpected ones.'
I wasn't expecting a great deal from this book, but it was a light amusing read that provided more enjoyment than expected. Like a refreshing sorbet between main courses, it cleansed my palate, and
my mind, between two 'grittier' reads. It was really just what I needed.
This tale contains the requisite beautiful heiress, an intimidating stranger, a feisty and determined Lady with time on her hands and a sharp mind, and a death made suspicious by a snippet of overheard conversation.
I didn't bother to try to solve the mystery as I read, in fact for some time I wasn't even convinced that there was a murder to be solved; I just enjoyed the read. And yes, I would read another in this series if I stumbled across it.
Thank you to Carina UK for providing a digital ARC of A Proposal to Die For by Vivian Conroy for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
The whispered words reached Lady Alkmene Callender's ears just as she was reaching for the gold lighter on the mantlepiece to relight the cigarette in her ivory holder.
Freddie used to be a dear and bring her Turkish ones, but since he had been disinherited by his father for his gambling debts, his opportunities for travel had been significantly reduced, as had Alkmene's stash of cigarettes. These ones, obtained from a tobacconist on Callenburg Square, had a taste of propriety about them that made them decidedly less appetizing than the exotic ones she had to hide from her housekeeper - who always complained that the lace curtains got yellowish from the smoke.
'Marry me,' the insistent voice repeated. . .
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The first book in the new Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series
A murderous beginning
With her father away in India, Lady Alkmene Callender finds being left to her own devices in London intolerably dull, until the glamorous Broadway star Evelyn Steinbeck arrives in town! Gossip abounds about the New York socialite, but when Ms Steinbeck’s wealthy uncle, Silas Norwhich, is found dead Lady Alkmene finds her interest is piqued. Because this death sounds a lot to her like murder…
Desperate to uncover the truth, Lady Alkmene begins to look into Ms Steinbeck’s past – only to be hampered by the arrival of journalist, Jake Dubois – who believes she is merely an amateur lady-detective meddling in matters she knows nothing about!
But Lady Alkmene refuses to be deterred from the case and together they dig deeper, only to discover that some secrets should never come to light…
The twenties have never been so dangerous.
MY THOUGHTS: 'The best pleasures are the unexpected ones.'
I wasn't expecting a great deal from this book, but it was a light amusing read that provided more enjoyment than expected. Like a refreshing sorbet between main courses, it cleansed my palate, and
my mind, between two 'grittier' reads. It was really just what I needed.
This tale contains the requisite beautiful heiress, an intimidating stranger, a feisty and determined Lady with time on her hands and a sharp mind, and a death made suspicious by a snippet of overheard conversation.
I didn't bother to try to solve the mystery as I read, in fact for some time I wasn't even convinced that there was a murder to be solved; I just enjoyed the read. And yes, I would read another in this series if I stumbled across it.
Thank you to Carina UK for providing a digital ARC of A Proposal to Die For by Vivian Conroy for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
June 16, 2017
Not very far into this I had to go back and read the description to make sure it was a historical mystery, because there was no sign of it in the book itself. Yep: London, 1920's. Which made me wonder why so many probably-anachronistic words were being used - like the straw that broke the camel's back, hassle: "First recorded in 1935-40; origin uncertain". Of course, referring to someone as "Ms. Steinbeck" was a close call. (Using "Ms." as a title dates from pretty much from when you'd think.) I have no patience for a tin ear - why write a historical if you have no feel for the language? Basically, this seemed like a poor attempt at a London-based Phryne Fisher.
The language on the whole was not good – awkward and over-done. I have far too many books I've pledged to read to waste time on the really bad ones.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
The language on the whole was not good – awkward and over-done. I have far too many books I've pledged to read to waste time on the really bad ones.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
September 18, 2016
******copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review ********
I really wanted to like this - I have a Daisy Dalrymple/Phryne Fisher shaped hole in my reading and I wanted this to be the answer. It's not, but with a some editing and editorial guidance this could be quite good. As it is, the dialogue doesn't sound real and the plot feels forced. It's a shame because done right I could read the monkeys out of this.
I really wanted to like this - I have a Daisy Dalrymple/Phryne Fisher shaped hole in my reading and I wanted this to be the answer. It's not, but with a some editing and editorial guidance this could be quite good. As it is, the dialogue doesn't sound real and the plot feels forced. It's a shame because done right I could read the monkeys out of this.
September 26, 2025
Wow this is hateful trash. She is the one who figures everything out and he takes over, is abusive, and blames her. HELL NO to that gaslighting.
September 9, 2016
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Carina.
Whether or not you completely enjoy this debut novel in a new series set in England in the 1920s will depend on how much of a stickler you are for historical accuracy and feel. And so often it's the small things that can jerk me right out of the historical moment and cause me to become distracted. While it was technically correct for an unmarried woman's name to be written as Ms Steinbeck (yes, I researched it), simply by referring to her as Miss Steinbeck would have kept the feeling of the time period better, at least for me. Likewise there is a scene where Lady Alkmene joins a group at a table in a tea shop consisting of a Russian princess, her servant, and a journalist and yet Lady Alkmene is never formally introduced to him. I was 47% into the book before the man's first name was mentioned in the novel. Once again, these may be small things, but anything which pulls my attention out of the time period greatly influences how I feel about a novel.
This novel is a clash of classes. Jake Dubois is a socialist and Lady Alkmene is a member of the British peerage. The novel spends a lot of time working out how they feel about the English class system. Lady Alkmene doesn't have much character development so I'm afraid I spent more time being annoyed by her than being impressed. The mystery isn't very complicated and the discoveries came a little too easily for the intrepid investigative duo. What was it about these two that made people confess all just from being asked a question? The implausibility factor was too high for me to be overly enthusiastic about this detecting combination. Maybe the second novel will have seen our main characters develop more depth so they are more interesting. The cover art, by the way, sets the tone I think the prose was lacking. It's a lovely cover and caught my attention immediately.
Whether or not you completely enjoy this debut novel in a new series set in England in the 1920s will depend on how much of a stickler you are for historical accuracy and feel. And so often it's the small things that can jerk me right out of the historical moment and cause me to become distracted. While it was technically correct for an unmarried woman's name to be written as Ms Steinbeck (yes, I researched it), simply by referring to her as Miss Steinbeck would have kept the feeling of the time period better, at least for me. Likewise there is a scene where Lady Alkmene joins a group at a table in a tea shop consisting of a Russian princess, her servant, and a journalist and yet Lady Alkmene is never formally introduced to him. I was 47% into the book before the man's first name was mentioned in the novel. Once again, these may be small things, but anything which pulls my attention out of the time period greatly influences how I feel about a novel.
This novel is a clash of classes. Jake Dubois is a socialist and Lady Alkmene is a member of the British peerage. The novel spends a lot of time working out how they feel about the English class system. Lady Alkmene doesn't have much character development so I'm afraid I spent more time being annoyed by her than being impressed. The mystery isn't very complicated and the discoveries came a little too easily for the intrepid investigative duo. What was it about these two that made people confess all just from being asked a question? The implausibility factor was too high for me to be overly enthusiastic about this detecting combination. Maybe the second novel will have seen our main characters develop more depth so they are more interesting. The cover art, by the way, sets the tone I think the prose was lacking. It's a lovely cover and caught my attention immediately.
February 19, 2017
Fascinating
Liked the writing style, the era and historical references to the peerage. Characters are enjoyable. Interesting but predictable mystery. A light, fun read.
Liked the writing style, the era and historical references to the peerage. Characters are enjoyable. Interesting but predictable mystery. A light, fun read.
September 29, 2017
I recieved this book in return for an honest review.
Naughtiness this is a clean read for those who look for no naughtiness
First so all wow, I very much loved this book, It is the first I've read by Vivian but most definitely will not be the last. I very much intend collecting them.
It was truly an honour to be offered, I haven't read any other books set in the 1920s but I read that many different eras I found it interesting how much things and society changed. from the 1800s to the 1920s purely because I've read so many books set in that erase before.
As always I will not give spoilers, however I will say this I definitely ship Alkmene with Jake (I am a hopeless romantic I cannot help myself). But love the mystery as well as twists and turns throughout this fantastic book. Anyone who loves mystery and History in society will love this book I most definitely did and for those who haven't ventured before but remember epic detective Columbo will also love it.
Alkmene is a lovely lead character and as usual in times of history underestimated but not for long by those who take time to ghetto know her. Likewise I love Jake story and truly hope he is able to move forward hopefully with the lovely Alkmene at his side, an equal in life as well as any future adventures to be had.
Thankyou Ms Conroy for writing this awesome book and inviting me to read it. I will most definitely be reading more of your books.
Naughtiness this is a clean read for those who look for no naughtiness
First so all wow, I very much loved this book, It is the first I've read by Vivian but most definitely will not be the last. I very much intend collecting them.
It was truly an honour to be offered, I haven't read any other books set in the 1920s but I read that many different eras I found it interesting how much things and society changed. from the 1800s to the 1920s purely because I've read so many books set in that erase before.
As always I will not give spoilers, however I will say this I definitely ship Alkmene with Jake (I am a hopeless romantic I cannot help myself). But love the mystery as well as twists and turns throughout this fantastic book. Anyone who loves mystery and History in society will love this book I most definitely did and for those who haven't ventured before but remember epic detective Columbo will also love it.
Alkmene is a lovely lead character and as usual in times of history underestimated but not for long by those who take time to ghetto know her. Likewise I love Jake story and truly hope he is able to move forward hopefully with the lovely Alkmene at his side, an equal in life as well as any future adventures to be had.
Thankyou Ms Conroy for writing this awesome book and inviting me to read it. I will most definitely be reading more of your books.
September 13, 2016
For fans of cozy mysteries and classic who-dunnits, the Lady Alkmene Callendar series offers a nice, quick read. 3.5/5, rounded up.
The debut novel in the series, "A Proposal to Die For," follows Alkmene as she meets a young woman, recently come to London to meet her rich uncle. When the uncle winds up dead, Alkmene joins forces with journalist Jake Dubois, to figure out whether his death was truly an accident or the work of someone out to get their hands on his vast fortune.
It's a pretty straightforward mystery, which has the leads following the clues to find the bad guy. For fans of intricate, tightly-wound thrillers, this won't be complicated enough, but I thought it was a nice breath of fresh air.
The story definitely picks up in the last third of the story, once Alkmene and Jake leave London to track down a backstory that could lead to the killer. I wish some more of the story had concentrated on this part; it was truly the highlight of the novel.
With a series planned, some loose ends are left open, and I'd be interested to see where they go.
Overall, a nice, light beach read or mid-flight escape for fans of light-hearted cozies.
The debut novel in the series, "A Proposal to Die For," follows Alkmene as she meets a young woman, recently come to London to meet her rich uncle. When the uncle winds up dead, Alkmene joins forces with journalist Jake Dubois, to figure out whether his death was truly an accident or the work of someone out to get their hands on his vast fortune.
It's a pretty straightforward mystery, which has the leads following the clues to find the bad guy. For fans of intricate, tightly-wound thrillers, this won't be complicated enough, but I thought it was a nice breath of fresh air.
The story definitely picks up in the last third of the story, once Alkmene and Jake leave London to track down a backstory that could lead to the killer. I wish some more of the story had concentrated on this part; it was truly the highlight of the novel.
With a series planned, some loose ends are left open, and I'd be interested to see where they go.
Overall, a nice, light beach read or mid-flight escape for fans of light-hearted cozies.
October 17, 2017
Lady Alkamene joins hands with a journalist to solve a suspicious murder. Set in the early 1920's, Vivian Conroy's detective mystery is definitely enjoyable. Their conundrums and banters will keep you entertained, while the mystery surrounding the death will pique your curiosity.
September 17, 2019
I simply could not finish this book. It is boring & absolutely uninteresting to me and I did not feel compelled to finish reading it.
July 9, 2020
I loved the characters and the cheeky and fun Lady Alkemene and Dubois! Such a cozy mystery! I would love to cuddle up on a weekend and hang out with Alkemene and a hot tea by a fireplace! 😍
September 19, 2016
3.5 stars
You have to believe I would look up a name like Alkmene. At least to figure out how to pronounce it. I was pronouncing it all wrong the whole way through. Apparently she is the mother of Heracles but is also an apple, which fits in with her father being a botanist.
Lady Alkmene, age unknown. If it mentions it in the book, it didn’t stick, but I’m assuming she is in her twenties in the twenties. Her father is off somewhere chasing rare plants leaving her to her own devices, which probably isn’t a good idea. His idea is for her to get married but doesn’t actually do anything about it.
Jake Dubois is a man of dubious reputation. A journalist with a dark past hinted at. This is the first conflict set up between them, a lady and a tramp…er…person of the lower orders without provenance.
Our heroine has insatiable curiousity, is rather bored with her circumscribed life and is presumably quite clever, like her father but without the antisocial bits. So naturally when she overhears something a little odd, closely followed by the death of a person mentioned in the conversation, her brain immediately leaps to murder. As you do.
I’m a heavy duty fan of Golden Age mystery writers. I have read Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers numerous times along with all the other major Golden Age mystery writers. I have watched every episode of Poirot and all but the Geraldine McKew versions of Marple. Giving her a salacious past and changing the identity of a murderer in order to incorporate a quite unnecessary same sex couple in the canon was quite the last straw for that series. The recent Tommy and Tuppence series “Partners in Crime” is also far too flexible with the original material. Seriously, if it ain’t broke…
So you can see that writing a cosy mystery set in that era that would meet with my approval was going to be a hard ask. I was willing to give this one a try on the basis of the rather nice cover and an intriguing blurb.
First of all, this is going to be a series, so it owes more to Miss Fisher and Amelia Peabody in structure. There is a major crime to solve but also loose ends to carry over. There is also the relationship between Alkmene and Jake. I would have liked to see more chemistry between them but perhaps it’s wise to hold back if we have to build it up over a series arc. I’m going to be seriously disappointed if we don’t get a satisfactory romance out of this eventually. Freddy had better not be a distraction.
The dialogue was also a little stilted at times. Not enough contractions. I found myself stopping and trying to read it out loud with a posh accent to see if it helped. I don’t think it did and it made the beginning a fairly slow start.
The mystery. This actually worked quite well. The progression was fairly logical, if rather convenient at times. The skillsets of Alkmene and Jake were complimentary and they worked well together. I can see future collaborations doing well as they learn to trust each other. I will be interested in reading further to see how this develops.
Overall, a fairly lightweight mystery with some potential for future development. It was a little uneven but as a debut that isn’t unexpected. I could see it working as a rather fun TV series with the whole BBC costume drama thing happening.
Thanks to Carina UK and Netgalley for the ARC
You have to believe I would look up a name like Alkmene. At least to figure out how to pronounce it. I was pronouncing it all wrong the whole way through. Apparently she is the mother of Heracles but is also an apple, which fits in with her father being a botanist.
Lady Alkmene, age unknown. If it mentions it in the book, it didn’t stick, but I’m assuming she is in her twenties in the twenties. Her father is off somewhere chasing rare plants leaving her to her own devices, which probably isn’t a good idea. His idea is for her to get married but doesn’t actually do anything about it.
Jake Dubois is a man of dubious reputation. A journalist with a dark past hinted at. This is the first conflict set up between them, a lady and a tramp…er…person of the lower orders without provenance.
Our heroine has insatiable curiousity, is rather bored with her circumscribed life and is presumably quite clever, like her father but without the antisocial bits. So naturally when she overhears something a little odd, closely followed by the death of a person mentioned in the conversation, her brain immediately leaps to murder. As you do.
I’m a heavy duty fan of Golden Age mystery writers. I have read Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers numerous times along with all the other major Golden Age mystery writers. I have watched every episode of Poirot and all but the Geraldine McKew versions of Marple. Giving her a salacious past and changing the identity of a murderer in order to incorporate a quite unnecessary same sex couple in the canon was quite the last straw for that series. The recent Tommy and Tuppence series “Partners in Crime” is also far too flexible with the original material. Seriously, if it ain’t broke…
So you can see that writing a cosy mystery set in that era that would meet with my approval was going to be a hard ask. I was willing to give this one a try on the basis of the rather nice cover and an intriguing blurb.
First of all, this is going to be a series, so it owes more to Miss Fisher and Amelia Peabody in structure. There is a major crime to solve but also loose ends to carry over. There is also the relationship between Alkmene and Jake. I would have liked to see more chemistry between them but perhaps it’s wise to hold back if we have to build it up over a series arc. I’m going to be seriously disappointed if we don’t get a satisfactory romance out of this eventually. Freddy had better not be a distraction.
The dialogue was also a little stilted at times. Not enough contractions. I found myself stopping and trying to read it out loud with a posh accent to see if it helped. I don’t think it did and it made the beginning a fairly slow start.
The mystery. This actually worked quite well. The progression was fairly logical, if rather convenient at times. The skillsets of Alkmene and Jake were complimentary and they worked well together. I can see future collaborations doing well as they learn to trust each other. I will be interested in reading further to see how this develops.
Overall, a fairly lightweight mystery with some potential for future development. It was a little uneven but as a debut that isn’t unexpected. I could see it working as a rather fun TV series with the whole BBC costume drama thing happening.
Thanks to Carina UK and Netgalley for the ARC
September 25, 2017
A Proposal To Die For is set in 1920's London and is the first in a series of books known as "The Lady Alkmene Callender Mysteries".
Whilst out at the theatre Lady Alkemene overhears a conversation that adds a little spice to her boring life, the American actress Evelyn Steinbeck is in town. News is heard of the death of wealthy Silas Norwhich, to Lady Alkmene, the death sounds suspicious. Her mind starts working overtime and decides to see if there is anything she can discover for herself. Whilst doing this she makes the acquaintance of Mr Dubois, a consulting detective and journalist. When Lady Alkmene discovers he is also looking into this mystery she believes she has found an ally of sorts, and so an unusual and workable relationship is formed.
The partnership of Alkmene and Dubois as I have said is unusual, she from a very privileged and wealthy background, he a streetwise,working man. He is very resentful of her social class and vociferously mentions this through the story, she is naive but determined that she is not what he thinks she is. They work together well because of this social difference, she has access to people who would not even look never mind answer Dubois' questions. Where as Dubois has the access to the working class, servants, valets doormen and the such like.
This is a cosy mystery that has several story lines running through it pages. It is a very refreshing read, it is not reliant on blood and gore, instead it is a deductive style of story. As the duo progress through their case and discuss their thoughts and opinions, so then is the reader shown their reasonings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it has a similar deductive style as you would find in Agatha Christie's books. If you like Poirot and Marple, then I think you will really enjoy The Lady Alkmene series of books. This is a gently paced book with some wonderful and memorable characters who all have their parts to play. Little details mentioned earlier in the book suddenly becomes a bigger clue. I read this snuggled up in a blanket on a foggy autumn afternoon on of my "lazy-days". I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like a gentle more classic style of mystery who like good characters, plots and is well written.
My thanks to Vivian Conroy who authorised a copy of this book via Netgalley. My thoughts expressed here are honest, unbiased and are my own. I read this book as a pre-cursor my stop on blog tour for Viv's upcoming new book Fatal Masquerade, due for publication on October 4th 2017. My stop on the tour is 11th October.
Whilst out at the theatre Lady Alkemene overhears a conversation that adds a little spice to her boring life, the American actress Evelyn Steinbeck is in town. News is heard of the death of wealthy Silas Norwhich, to Lady Alkmene, the death sounds suspicious. Her mind starts working overtime and decides to see if there is anything she can discover for herself. Whilst doing this she makes the acquaintance of Mr Dubois, a consulting detective and journalist. When Lady Alkmene discovers he is also looking into this mystery she believes she has found an ally of sorts, and so an unusual and workable relationship is formed.
The partnership of Alkmene and Dubois as I have said is unusual, she from a very privileged and wealthy background, he a streetwise,working man. He is very resentful of her social class and vociferously mentions this through the story, she is naive but determined that she is not what he thinks she is. They work together well because of this social difference, she has access to people who would not even look never mind answer Dubois' questions. Where as Dubois has the access to the working class, servants, valets doormen and the such like.
This is a cosy mystery that has several story lines running through it pages. It is a very refreshing read, it is not reliant on blood and gore, instead it is a deductive style of story. As the duo progress through their case and discuss their thoughts and opinions, so then is the reader shown their reasonings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it has a similar deductive style as you would find in Agatha Christie's books. If you like Poirot and Marple, then I think you will really enjoy The Lady Alkmene series of books. This is a gently paced book with some wonderful and memorable characters who all have their parts to play. Little details mentioned earlier in the book suddenly becomes a bigger clue. I read this snuggled up in a blanket on a foggy autumn afternoon on of my "lazy-days". I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like a gentle more classic style of mystery who like good characters, plots and is well written.
My thanks to Vivian Conroy who authorised a copy of this book via Netgalley. My thoughts expressed here are honest, unbiased and are my own. I read this book as a pre-cursor my stop on blog tour for Viv's upcoming new book Fatal Masquerade, due for publication on October 4th 2017. My stop on the tour is 11th October.
October 3, 2016
This is an interesting start to a new series. Lady Alkmene Callender is intrigued when she overhears a proposal of marriage. The lady concerned is Evelyn Steinbeck, an American actress but Akmene doesn't recognise the man's voice. When Evelyn's rich uncle Silas Norwhich is found dead Alkmene's curiosity is aroused and she starts to think it might be murder. Taking tea with a Russian Princess, she meets a journalist Jake Dubois who shares her suspicions of murder. They start investigating the mystery together in a rather uneasy alliance.
What spoiled this book for me was the American expressions - even though only one character - who doesn't appear very much anyway - is American. The dialogue also struck me as being rather too modern. Did people really speak like that nearly one hundred years ago? There were several things which didn't ring true to me as being authentically nineteen twenties. There were some anachronisms as well - such as ordering cappuccino for breakfast when the drink wasn't available until the nineteen thirties.
It isn't clear how old Alkmene is meant to be but I think it is unlikely that she would be living alone in her father's house without a companion to give her respectability. I had to keep reminding myself that this was meant to be the nineteen twenties. In spite of these criticisms, I enjoyed the story and the characters and I shall read at least the next book in the series.
If you're looking for a crime series set in the nineteen twenties there are other authors who do it better such as Carola Dunn with Daisy Dalrymple; Kerry Greenwood with Phryne Fisher; Ashley Weaver with Amory Ames and Evelyn James with Clara Fitzgerald.
What spoiled this book for me was the American expressions - even though only one character - who doesn't appear very much anyway - is American. The dialogue also struck me as being rather too modern. Did people really speak like that nearly one hundred years ago? There were several things which didn't ring true to me as being authentically nineteen twenties. There were some anachronisms as well - such as ordering cappuccino for breakfast when the drink wasn't available until the nineteen thirties.
It isn't clear how old Alkmene is meant to be but I think it is unlikely that she would be living alone in her father's house without a companion to give her respectability. I had to keep reminding myself that this was meant to be the nineteen twenties. In spite of these criticisms, I enjoyed the story and the characters and I shall read at least the next book in the series.
If you're looking for a crime series set in the nineteen twenties there are other authors who do it better such as Carola Dunn with Daisy Dalrymple; Kerry Greenwood with Phryne Fisher; Ashley Weaver with Amory Ames and Evelyn James with Clara Fitzgerald.
September 28, 2017
This is book one in the Lady Alkmene Mysteries and the first time I have read Ms Conroy and I love it, her writing is fresh and entertaining, it’s like an episode of Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries sprinkled with what I can only describe as a good old-fashioned Miss Marple.
It’s slick our leads just ooze sophisticated glamour of the era, Jack and Alkmene despite their difference in stations they make a great team. Alkmene is your stereotypical aristocrat, she has lived her entire life in the glitz and glamour and she really has no idea of how life is beyond her front door. Like a lot of aristocratic ladies of the time, she is spoilt and naive and too wrapped in cotton wool to be able to do anything for themselves – it is highly amusing when she attempts to launder Jack’s handkerchief and she makes a right pigs ear of it. Whereas Jack Dubois is a man of the world who has many skeletons in his closet that he is determined to keep well hidden, Monsieur Dubois has a certain Gaelic charm mixed with his slightly rough around the edge aura and you have a highly attractive and intriguing man. Between them they can get any information they want, have access to any home or authority as they both have connections in very different places which only aids their case
A proposal to Die for is a none taxing and cosy “who dunnit” which is thrilling, witty and oozes old school glamour. It is one of those books that can be read by any one, not matter what genre you favour this is very good and I very much recommend it.
Warm and cosy!
It’s slick our leads just ooze sophisticated glamour of the era, Jack and Alkmene despite their difference in stations they make a great team. Alkmene is your stereotypical aristocrat, she has lived her entire life in the glitz and glamour and she really has no idea of how life is beyond her front door. Like a lot of aristocratic ladies of the time, she is spoilt and naive and too wrapped in cotton wool to be able to do anything for themselves – it is highly amusing when she attempts to launder Jack’s handkerchief and she makes a right pigs ear of it. Whereas Jack Dubois is a man of the world who has many skeletons in his closet that he is determined to keep well hidden, Monsieur Dubois has a certain Gaelic charm mixed with his slightly rough around the edge aura and you have a highly attractive and intriguing man. Between them they can get any information they want, have access to any home or authority as they both have connections in very different places which only aids their case
A proposal to Die for is a none taxing and cosy “who dunnit” which is thrilling, witty and oozes old school glamour. It is one of those books that can be read by any one, not matter what genre you favour this is very good and I very much recommend it.
Warm and cosy!
July 23, 2018
The Lady Alkmene Cozy Mystery series, of which A Proposal to Die For is the first, are exactly what one expects (being cozy, a mystery, and starring Lady Alkmene) and even better, what one hopes for. A slightly unconventional heroine, a hero with both a soft spot and a bit of an edge, an intriguing mystery, and a bit of 1920's high-jinks.
After overhearing a proposal rebuffed by an American actress, Lady Alkmene suspects foul play when the actress's rich uncle dies soon after. Teaming up with reporter Jake Dubois, Alkmene finds the perfect antidote to her boredom as they travel about London and the English countryside, encountering danger, mischief, and rumors of an ill-fated romance.
The plot moves along at a good clip, while the interactions between Alkmene and Jake provide amusement while maintaining a feeling of being true to attitudes that likely prevailed in the time period.
If you are looking for a cozy 1920's murder mystery that is a fun, quick read while not lacking in peril, you might want to give this series a go as well. I plan to continue on with book 2, Diamonds of Death, quite soon. 3.5 stars
This review refers to a library e-book. All opinions expressed are my own.
After overhearing a proposal rebuffed by an American actress, Lady Alkmene suspects foul play when the actress's rich uncle dies soon after. Teaming up with reporter Jake Dubois, Alkmene finds the perfect antidote to her boredom as they travel about London and the English countryside, encountering danger, mischief, and rumors of an ill-fated romance.
The plot moves along at a good clip, while the interactions between Alkmene and Jake provide amusement while maintaining a feeling of being true to attitudes that likely prevailed in the time period.
If you are looking for a cozy 1920's murder mystery that is a fun, quick read while not lacking in peril, you might want to give this series a go as well. I plan to continue on with book 2, Diamonds of Death, quite soon. 3.5 stars
This review refers to a library e-book. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 16, 2016
A fun, light mystery featuring yet another feisty, aristocratic amateur sleuth. Now, don't take this as a criticism---this is a genre I seek out, and I enjoyed spending time with this bright heroine. The
plot was appealing, but the language lacked a bit of sparkle.
If the dialogue and descriptions were a bit more appealing, it could have easily earned four stars. Lady Alkmene shows promise as the protagonist in an interesting series and I hope that in future books we will learn a bit more about her past.
Net galley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
plot was appealing, but the language lacked a bit of sparkle.
If the dialogue and descriptions were a bit more appealing, it could have easily earned four stars. Lady Alkmene shows promise as the protagonist in an interesting series and I hope that in future books we will learn a bit more about her past.
Net galley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2016
In the first of a new series we are in London in 1924 when Lady Alkmene Callander teams up with Jake Dubois, a journalist, to investigate the appearance of the heir to a vast fortune - Evelyn Steinbeck - and the 'accidental' death of her uncle Silas Norwhich.
Though the mystery wasn't overly complicated it was satisfying and I will be interested to see how the main characters are developed. As at the moment Alkmene doesn't seem to have much depth of character, though as a 1920's member of the British peerage she probably never had the chance to grow.
A NetGalley Book.
Though the mystery wasn't overly complicated it was satisfying and I will be interested to see how the main characters are developed. As at the moment Alkmene doesn't seem to have much depth of character, though as a 1920's member of the British peerage she probably never had the chance to grow.
A NetGalley Book.
July 18, 2017
Poor plot, unappealing duo, and the dialogue was completely unrealistic and too modern for the time.
September 13, 2016
Yes, guilty. It was the cover. All the way. I wanted to read this because of the gorgeous vintage stye cover - and its the only time I regret using a kindle and not being able to stroke (or frame!!) the front of the book while I'm reading it!
I also liked the title - a gentle pun which gives the sense of a playful mystery thriller, which is just what this book is!
With her father away in India, Lady Alkmene Callender finds being left to her own devices in London intolerably dull, until the glamorous Broadway star Evelyn Steinbeck arrives in town! Gossip abounds about the New York socialite, but when Ms Steinbeck’s wealthy uncle, Silas Norwhich, is found dead Lady Alkmene finds her interest is piqued. Because this death sounds a lot to her like murder…
This novel introduces us to Lady Alkmene, a sassy young woman who is a little ahead of her time. She's not a detective - she's bored and looking for something exciting to happen to her. This is the first in a set of three novels featuring Callender and this initial instalment neatly concentrates on setting up her character, revealing her interest in detective work and preparing the way for what promises to be a charming and delightful series.
Lady Alkmene has a nose for drama and is quick to add a sprinkle of suspicion to anything she observes from the outset. The very opening sentence shows her listening in to a mysteriously whispered conversation behind a curtain and kick starts the book into an intriguing situation regarding a marriage proposal from an anonymous voice. Although not trained in the world of detective work, or having had much exposure to crime, Alkmene is quick to learn, a keen observer with an appealing spirit and sense of adventure. Journalist Jake Dubois, who is reluctant to accept her help or involve her with solving the crime, eventually relents and together they embark on exposing deep secrets and dancing with danger.
The writing is very fluid, easy, gently humorous and satisfyingly amiable. Conroy slips in historical detail and character description with a few deft strokes of her pen, painting very visual pictures from well chosen adjectives and appropriate imagery. The era of the twenties makes the novel even more attractive and helps to cast a spell over the reader.
Alkmene is a likeable, cheerful protagonist. Conroy writing style effectively strikes a balance between the necessary ingredients for a classic crime mystery alongside a more wry, droll voice. For example, lines like the following draw a smile to the reader's face and mimic the affectionate tones with which people think of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.
"Unexpected death always had an unhealthy appeal to Alkmene, and she perused the few lines underneath with great interest."
"There was no place like the Waldeck tea room to catch some gossip about a sudden death."
And one of my favourite quotes:
"She wanted to say something meaningful and profound, but she had no idea how she could prevent it from sounding thought-up and untrue."
Unlike many recent contemporary crime novels - particularly those in the psychological thriller genre - where there is always a sense of haste, speed and desperate pace, this story is more relaxed. The crime will be solved, there will be moments of high drama and tension, but not one that will set your pulse racing in that slightly unhinged manner. This is a take-a-breather-with-a-cup-of-tea book (or a sip of champagne perhaps?) and for that, I found it rather refreshing!
Alkmene and Dubois' relationship continues to flourish as their investigation proceeds, both keen to uncover the truth. I liked Conroy's description of their disappointment when things don't go as planned:
"But there was nothing....No documents either, no letters, no plans to some top secret invention or treaty that could throw all Europe into war..."
And the more time Alkmene and Dubois spend together, the more proficient she becomes in thinking like a detective which lays good ground work for the next instalment. As Alkmene later comments:
"Now she understood better why the police at times followed up on fake clues, pursing one angle, while not seeing other elements that were right under their noses. There were so many elements to a case, and the picture kept shifting like a kaleidoscope."
Conroy's voice is assured and she can clearly write. She seems to have struck gold here with a perfect mix of an enticing era, genial characters and a good, solid plot that is entertaining and satisfying. There have been some press articles recently about the return to "cosy crime" which makes the publication of this novel very timely. This book is a cross between "Downton Abbey" and "Miss Marple". It is like a cross between "Mr Selfridge" and "Sherlock Holmes". Perfect for the long winter nights ahead where comfort becomes a key word in everyone's vocabulary.
And Conroy has plans for her two main characters. "A Proposal to Die For" ends with this conversation between them:
"'Spare me, I think I just want a better breakfast first and then we can decide what to do about getting back to civilisation.' Jake straightened up and passed her chair, laughing. 'At your service, my lady.'"
"A Proposal To Die For" publishes on 19th September 2016 and will be followed by "Diamonds of Death" and "Deadly Treasures".
My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.
I also liked the title - a gentle pun which gives the sense of a playful mystery thriller, which is just what this book is!
With her father away in India, Lady Alkmene Callender finds being left to her own devices in London intolerably dull, until the glamorous Broadway star Evelyn Steinbeck arrives in town! Gossip abounds about the New York socialite, but when Ms Steinbeck’s wealthy uncle, Silas Norwhich, is found dead Lady Alkmene finds her interest is piqued. Because this death sounds a lot to her like murder…
This novel introduces us to Lady Alkmene, a sassy young woman who is a little ahead of her time. She's not a detective - she's bored and looking for something exciting to happen to her. This is the first in a set of three novels featuring Callender and this initial instalment neatly concentrates on setting up her character, revealing her interest in detective work and preparing the way for what promises to be a charming and delightful series.
Lady Alkmene has a nose for drama and is quick to add a sprinkle of suspicion to anything she observes from the outset. The very opening sentence shows her listening in to a mysteriously whispered conversation behind a curtain and kick starts the book into an intriguing situation regarding a marriage proposal from an anonymous voice. Although not trained in the world of detective work, or having had much exposure to crime, Alkmene is quick to learn, a keen observer with an appealing spirit and sense of adventure. Journalist Jake Dubois, who is reluctant to accept her help or involve her with solving the crime, eventually relents and together they embark on exposing deep secrets and dancing with danger.
The writing is very fluid, easy, gently humorous and satisfyingly amiable. Conroy slips in historical detail and character description with a few deft strokes of her pen, painting very visual pictures from well chosen adjectives and appropriate imagery. The era of the twenties makes the novel even more attractive and helps to cast a spell over the reader.
Alkmene is a likeable, cheerful protagonist. Conroy writing style effectively strikes a balance between the necessary ingredients for a classic crime mystery alongside a more wry, droll voice. For example, lines like the following draw a smile to the reader's face and mimic the affectionate tones with which people think of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.
"Unexpected death always had an unhealthy appeal to Alkmene, and she perused the few lines underneath with great interest."
"There was no place like the Waldeck tea room to catch some gossip about a sudden death."
And one of my favourite quotes:
"She wanted to say something meaningful and profound, but she had no idea how she could prevent it from sounding thought-up and untrue."
Unlike many recent contemporary crime novels - particularly those in the psychological thriller genre - where there is always a sense of haste, speed and desperate pace, this story is more relaxed. The crime will be solved, there will be moments of high drama and tension, but not one that will set your pulse racing in that slightly unhinged manner. This is a take-a-breather-with-a-cup-of-tea book (or a sip of champagne perhaps?) and for that, I found it rather refreshing!
Alkmene and Dubois' relationship continues to flourish as their investigation proceeds, both keen to uncover the truth. I liked Conroy's description of their disappointment when things don't go as planned:
"But there was nothing....No documents either, no letters, no plans to some top secret invention or treaty that could throw all Europe into war..."
And the more time Alkmene and Dubois spend together, the more proficient she becomes in thinking like a detective which lays good ground work for the next instalment. As Alkmene later comments:
"Now she understood better why the police at times followed up on fake clues, pursing one angle, while not seeing other elements that were right under their noses. There were so many elements to a case, and the picture kept shifting like a kaleidoscope."
Conroy's voice is assured and she can clearly write. She seems to have struck gold here with a perfect mix of an enticing era, genial characters and a good, solid plot that is entertaining and satisfying. There have been some press articles recently about the return to "cosy crime" which makes the publication of this novel very timely. This book is a cross between "Downton Abbey" and "Miss Marple". It is like a cross between "Mr Selfridge" and "Sherlock Holmes". Perfect for the long winter nights ahead where comfort becomes a key word in everyone's vocabulary.
And Conroy has plans for her two main characters. "A Proposal to Die For" ends with this conversation between them:
"'Spare me, I think I just want a better breakfast first and then we can decide what to do about getting back to civilisation.' Jake straightened up and passed her chair, laughing. 'At your service, my lady.'"
"A Proposal To Die For" publishes on 19th September 2016 and will be followed by "Diamonds of Death" and "Deadly Treasures".
My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.
dnf
May 23, 2019I would like to thank netgalley and Carina UK for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the idea of the storyline. I managed to get halfway through the book before giving up, but the characters jump to stupid conclusions and have bizarre reactions to events. The writing is also a little stilted at times.
I liked the idea of the storyline. I managed to get halfway through the book before giving up, but the characters jump to stupid conclusions and have bizarre reactions to events. The writing is also a little stilted at times.
May 11, 2019
The first third of this was awful and I came close to not finishing. The last portion was much better and I became interested in the mystery. Overall I’d give it a C- am unsure if I’ll continue with the series.
January 23, 2020
The bones are there and are fine, but the characters and the dialogue are not believable, especially the dialogue.
February 9, 2017
A cosy mystery.
I love cosy mysteries. I love the 1920's. A woman of wealth and title solves a murder.... Yes, it's been done before, but I'm okay with that. However, I do wish there had been more story development, especially at the start of this book. It almost felt like the book started on the second chapter and important information had been left out.
The story starts with the protagonist listening in on a conversation...that leads her to suspect murder? It just felt too contrived. I can suspend my disbelief somewhat, as I am a fan of cosy mysteries, but the beginning of the story was rather confusing. In my opinion, insta-murder is almost as bad as insta-love. With a tiny bit more introduction at the beginning of this story, I think I would have ignored this, and enjoyed this story for what it is. As it is written, I had to reread over half of the first chapter to figure out what was going on. Who were these characters? Where are they at? What's going on? It just felt like something was missing. I understand starting a book in the middle in an action scene, but that's not what this felt like. The beginning was just confusing. Minus one star.
The story did get better as it progressed, but mysteries are tricky things. If an author leaves behind clues, you expect to revisit them. Instead, half the mysteries in this book remained unsolved, either forgotten by the author or perhaps to be addressed in another book. ??? Regardless, it seemed a bit sloppy to leave so many loose ends. A woman's brooch, a series of threatening letters, a mysterious Russian companion...all left behind in this story. Why bother leaving these clues in this book if they don't mean anything? Minus one star for too many loose plot threads.
As a side note, it seemed a bit farfetched for a woman like Lady Alkmene to be able to take an overnight trip with a man. Yes, everything remained quite proper. There isn't any romance in this story. But wouldn't the help object? The cook or butler? I would assume they work for her father. Something like this could certainly soil her reputation. At the very least, I would think she would have brought a maid or someone with her to act as a chaperone in the 1920's. If not, I would have thought some mention would have been made regarding her lack of propriety. Lady Alkmene may have been bored, but she wasn't stupid. I've seen other female characters do similar things in other books, but their lack of decorum is usually addressed. In this story, it was not. That made this story ring less true. A woman from that era would act a certain way. It's one thing if the character is choosing to go against the norm, but quite another if the character is acting in a certain way because the author didn't do their research. I suspect that the author simply forgot to give an explanation for Lady Alkmene's behavior, just as plot thread were also left forgotten.
As a whole, the characters were interesting. The writing was good. The mystery itself was believable. I want to like this series. I might read the next book, but I will probably look at the reviews first.
I love cosy mysteries. I love the 1920's. A woman of wealth and title solves a murder.... Yes, it's been done before, but I'm okay with that. However, I do wish there had been more story development, especially at the start of this book. It almost felt like the book started on the second chapter and important information had been left out.
The story starts with the protagonist listening in on a conversation...that leads her to suspect murder? It just felt too contrived. I can suspend my disbelief somewhat, as I am a fan of cosy mysteries, but the beginning of the story was rather confusing. In my opinion, insta-murder is almost as bad as insta-love. With a tiny bit more introduction at the beginning of this story, I think I would have ignored this, and enjoyed this story for what it is. As it is written, I had to reread over half of the first chapter to figure out what was going on. Who were these characters? Where are they at? What's going on? It just felt like something was missing. I understand starting a book in the middle in an action scene, but that's not what this felt like. The beginning was just confusing. Minus one star.
The story did get better as it progressed, but mysteries are tricky things. If an author leaves behind clues, you expect to revisit them. Instead, half the mysteries in this book remained unsolved, either forgotten by the author or perhaps to be addressed in another book. ??? Regardless, it seemed a bit sloppy to leave so many loose ends. A woman's brooch, a series of threatening letters, a mysterious Russian companion...all left behind in this story. Why bother leaving these clues in this book if they don't mean anything? Minus one star for too many loose plot threads.
As a side note, it seemed a bit farfetched for a woman like Lady Alkmene to be able to take an overnight trip with a man. Yes, everything remained quite proper. There isn't any romance in this story. But wouldn't the help object? The cook or butler? I would assume they work for her father. Something like this could certainly soil her reputation. At the very least, I would think she would have brought a maid or someone with her to act as a chaperone in the 1920's. If not, I would have thought some mention would have been made regarding her lack of propriety. Lady Alkmene may have been bored, but she wasn't stupid. I've seen other female characters do similar things in other books, but their lack of decorum is usually addressed. In this story, it was not. That made this story ring less true. A woman from that era would act a certain way. It's one thing if the character is choosing to go against the norm, but quite another if the character is acting in a certain way because the author didn't do their research. I suspect that the author simply forgot to give an explanation for Lady Alkmene's behavior, just as plot thread were also left forgotten.
As a whole, the characters were interesting. The writing was good. The mystery itself was believable. I want to like this series. I might read the next book, but I will probably look at the reviews first.
September 9, 2016
Originally reviewed on Becca's Books.
When the covers of Vivan Conroy's Lady Alkmene Callendar series were revealed, I knew immediately that this series was something I desperately wanted to read. I absolutely adore a good mystery, something I can really get my teeth into, and once I'd read the blurb and got a taste for what Lady Alkmene was all about, I felt that this was a lady I wanted to meet, and soon.
In the first book in the Lady Alkmene Callender series, Conroy introduces readers to the main lady herself. Sharp, clever and fantastically inquisitive, Lady Alkmene's attitude and ability to snoop out juicy information was second to none. From the very first chapter, Conroy builds the mystery and intrigue surrounding Evelyn Steinbeck's character having recently arrived in London, and right away, readers are led on an exciting, humorous and fabulously witty voyage by the author, in order to track down the killer of Evelyn's wealthy uncle, Silas Norwich. After overhearing a rather intriguing snippet of conversation between Evelyn and an unnamed gentleman one evening, Lady Alkmene feels that this is a case she can't let go of. There's definitely something untoward going on here, and she'll be damned if she isn't going to find out more, whether frowned upon or not!
I wouldn't say that this was an edge-of-your-seat, gripping and intense mystery, but rather a cosy, sit-back-and-enjoy-the-ride mystery with so much to look forward to, not forgetting the fabulous array of enjoyable, entertaining characters who really made this story what it was. Lady Alkmene was brilliant. Her sharp wit, sense of humour and refusal to back down were all traits which I love in a person, and what made this book even more enjoyable was the obvious tension between Lady Alkmene and journalist Jake Dubois. Working alongside each other to crack the case, there were moments of hilarity as well as seriousness that balanced their interactions perfectly and gave this book a relaxed yet mysterious air, with both characters harbouring secrets from the past of their own, and not giving them up freely. I adored watching the strenuous relationship between these two gradually deepen as the plot progressed, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the rest of the characters involved, from the glamorous Evelyn Steinbeck to the Russian Countess, all of whom slotted seamlessly into the timescale of this book and added their own sort of vibrancy to the plot.
All in all, A Proposal to Die For by Vivian Conroy was a sublime and sassy beginning to a brand-new, perfect-to-snuggle-up-with mystery series. I found it deliciously easy to escape into this book and found myself racing through it, eager for the pieces of this 1920's puzzle to fall into place. Becca's Books is awarding A Proposal to Die For by Vivian Conroy with four of my bookish cupcakes. I really can't wait for book two to arrive. I'm sure this is going to be a series I'm going to love.
When the covers of Vivan Conroy's Lady Alkmene Callendar series were revealed, I knew immediately that this series was something I desperately wanted to read. I absolutely adore a good mystery, something I can really get my teeth into, and once I'd read the blurb and got a taste for what Lady Alkmene was all about, I felt that this was a lady I wanted to meet, and soon.
In the first book in the Lady Alkmene Callender series, Conroy introduces readers to the main lady herself. Sharp, clever and fantastically inquisitive, Lady Alkmene's attitude and ability to snoop out juicy information was second to none. From the very first chapter, Conroy builds the mystery and intrigue surrounding Evelyn Steinbeck's character having recently arrived in London, and right away, readers are led on an exciting, humorous and fabulously witty voyage by the author, in order to track down the killer of Evelyn's wealthy uncle, Silas Norwich. After overhearing a rather intriguing snippet of conversation between Evelyn and an unnamed gentleman one evening, Lady Alkmene feels that this is a case she can't let go of. There's definitely something untoward going on here, and she'll be damned if she isn't going to find out more, whether frowned upon or not!
I wouldn't say that this was an edge-of-your-seat, gripping and intense mystery, but rather a cosy, sit-back-and-enjoy-the-ride mystery with so much to look forward to, not forgetting the fabulous array of enjoyable, entertaining characters who really made this story what it was. Lady Alkmene was brilliant. Her sharp wit, sense of humour and refusal to back down were all traits which I love in a person, and what made this book even more enjoyable was the obvious tension between Lady Alkmene and journalist Jake Dubois. Working alongside each other to crack the case, there were moments of hilarity as well as seriousness that balanced their interactions perfectly and gave this book a relaxed yet mysterious air, with both characters harbouring secrets from the past of their own, and not giving them up freely. I adored watching the strenuous relationship between these two gradually deepen as the plot progressed, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the rest of the characters involved, from the glamorous Evelyn Steinbeck to the Russian Countess, all of whom slotted seamlessly into the timescale of this book and added their own sort of vibrancy to the plot.
All in all, A Proposal to Die For by Vivian Conroy was a sublime and sassy beginning to a brand-new, perfect-to-snuggle-up-with mystery series. I found it deliciously easy to escape into this book and found myself racing through it, eager for the pieces of this 1920's puzzle to fall into place. Becca's Books is awarding A Proposal to Die For by Vivian Conroy with four of my bookish cupcakes. I really can't wait for book two to arrive. I'm sure this is going to be a series I'm going to love.
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