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Lady Alkmene #2
Diamonds of Death
The second Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery
A family of secrets…
After hearing about the vicious murder of her relation, Lord Winters, Lady Alkmene is intrigued to find out that the cat burglar found standing over his body, the safebox emptied of jewels, might not be the murderer after all…
Reporter Jake Dubois believes an innocent man has been imprisoned and turns to Lady Alkmene to assist him in uncovering the truth and finding the real killer – who might just be one of Winters’ own family.
This mystery will test Lady Alkmene to the limit. As she and Jake delve into family secrets, Lady Alkmene isn’t sure who she can trust or who is telling the truth. And even the connection between them might not be enough to save Lady Alkmene from becoming the next victim in search of the diamonds of death…
A family of secrets…
After hearing about the vicious murder of her relation, Lord Winters, Lady Alkmene is intrigued to find out that the cat burglar found standing over his body, the safebox emptied of jewels, might not be the murderer after all…
Reporter Jake Dubois believes an innocent man has been imprisoned and turns to Lady Alkmene to assist him in uncovering the truth and finding the real killer – who might just be one of Winters’ own family.
This mystery will test Lady Alkmene to the limit. As she and Jake delve into family secrets, Lady Alkmene isn’t sure who she can trust or who is telling the truth. And even the connection between them might not be enough to save Lady Alkmene from becoming the next victim in search of the diamonds of death…
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 15, 2016
The 2nd entry in the Lady Alkmene Callender series was just as delightful as the first one. The partnership between Alkmene and Jake is a little more established in this one but I don't think they had the sparing that I liked from the first. Although, I think they compliment each other well and I hope to see something bloom between the two in the future. I liked the mystery in this one a little better and I liked to see Alkmene have a bigger role into the investigating. As she establishes herself at her family's estate, she sees more of what goes on. While Jake poses as her driver; because of this you don't see a lot of him, which was a little disappointing as I really like him as a character. This is quite an enjoyable cozy and I look forward to more from these characters.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2016
This is the second book in the series set in the 1920s featuring Lady Alkmene Callender mysteries. I thought the first one was a promising start to the series but I was not convinced by this one and I shan't be reading any more in the series. Alkmene is asked by her friend, journalist Jake Dubois, to help him investigate a murder of which a friend of his has been accused. He was found standing over the dead body of Lord Winters in front of an empty safe.
Lord Winters was married to Alkmene's late mother's sister and Alkmene has always been curious about the family connection so she agrees to pay a visit of condolence to the family with Jake as her driver. So far so good and I like Alkmene as a character but the book as a whole reads like a twenty first century plot and characters sets in the 1920s. The dialogue is very too much too modern and there are too many Americanisms for a book set wholly in the UK and featuring English characters.
There are many excellent series set in this time period which feel very much more authentic so if you want a crime series set in the 1920s I would recommend authors such as Carola Dunn, Jaqueline Winspear and Ashley Weaver.
Lord Winters was married to Alkmene's late mother's sister and Alkmene has always been curious about the family connection so she agrees to pay a visit of condolence to the family with Jake as her driver. So far so good and I like Alkmene as a character but the book as a whole reads like a twenty first century plot and characters sets in the 1920s. The dialogue is very too much too modern and there are too many Americanisms for a book set wholly in the UK and featuring English characters.
There are many excellent series set in this time period which feel very much more authentic so if you want a crime series set in the 1920s I would recommend authors such as Carola Dunn, Jaqueline Winspear and Ashley Weaver.
November 16, 2016
I've been stewing over this book for a few weeks now because I'm not really sure what I want to say about it. I think my problem is that my penchant few Golden Age mysteries is interfering with my enjoyment of these books because these are in fact modern stories in the period setting. If these had gone straight to television as a series I would have lapped them up, drooled over the costumes (and Jake) and not worried too much about anything else.
Lady Alkmene (I keep forgetting how to pronounce her name, which is a little bit irritating) is a very distinct character and is consistent over the series. I really liked her interactions with Jake in the first book so less Jake in the second book was a little disappointing.
This is a country house mystery with a carefully constructed family full of tension, dark pasts and seething hatreds. A nice setup for a murder, and of course we have one. Building interesting and diverse characters is a strength for this author even when they are clearly "types" which is something Christie did well.
The mystery itself wasn't too hard and Ms Conroy needs to study Christie's technique for misdirection a little more but it was enjoyable and was resolved neatly in the end.
Overall, I'm still holding out hopes for this series to get stronger as we go.
I received this ARC from Netgalley
Lady Alkmene (I keep forgetting how to pronounce her name, which is a little bit irritating) is a very distinct character and is consistent over the series. I really liked her interactions with Jake in the first book so less Jake in the second book was a little disappointing.
This is a country house mystery with a carefully constructed family full of tension, dark pasts and seething hatreds. A nice setup for a murder, and of course we have one. Building interesting and diverse characters is a strength for this author even when they are clearly "types" which is something Christie did well.
The mystery itself wasn't too hard and Ms Conroy needs to study Christie's technique for misdirection a little more but it was enjoyable and was resolved neatly in the end.
Overall, I'm still holding out hopes for this series to get stronger as we go.
I received this ARC from Netgalley
August 26, 2021
Not really all that engaging or entertaining. Syntax and use of language was poor, in my opinion. It read like it was a translation into English-and a poorly edited one, at that.
August 7, 2018
Another murderer is afoot as the reader is treated to an English country house mystery in the second of four Lady Alkmene novels. Reporter Jake Dubois is on hand for the investigation, having asked Alkmene to assist him in clearing his cat-burgling friend of the more serious crime of murder. But this particular stately home is a bit of a mine-field for the adventuresome aristocrat, as she presumes upon her kinship to the deceased Lord Winters' children to take up temporary residence.
As I read, I kept thinking how this was really an homage to English country house murder mysteries from the 1920's and, though I have not read enough to truly judge, that the author had done all the best bits of them in this short novel. It was great fun to read, with a few little twists to make it all the more enjoyable. I'll be moving on to book 3, Deadly Treasures, and looking forward to a new mystery, and perhaps some development of the relationship between Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois.
As I read, I kept thinking how this was really an homage to English country house murder mysteries from the 1920's and, though I have not read enough to truly judge, that the author had done all the best bits of them in this short novel. It was great fun to read, with a few little twists to make it all the more enjoyable. I'll be moving on to book 3, Deadly Treasures, and looking forward to a new mystery, and perhaps some development of the relationship between Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois.
June 14, 2019
I liked this story but it took awhile to get going and I had to trug through the first few chapters. It was more of a "dark" family and very depressing; I'd hate to be in it. At least the mystery was solved in a round about way.
October 20, 2019
Simple cosy mystery, but I like the main characters.
February 27, 2020
Great crime story!
Simply great crime story! Alkmene and Jake are fantastic detective pair. Took me a bit of reading before I have my first ideas who culprit may be.
Simply great crime story! Alkmene and Jake are fantastic detective pair. Took me a bit of reading before I have my first ideas who culprit may be.
April 29, 2020
Fastmoving, entertaining and just plain fun!
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December 21, 2016
Originally posted on You Have Your Hands Full
Diamonds of Death is the second book in Vivian Conroy’s Lady Alkmene mystery series. I enjoyed reading the first book in the series, so I was looking forward to this book.
Lord Winters was murdered in his manor house. Logic and reason dictate that the perpetrator of this heinous act was the burglar who was found standing over the body, but the man claims that Lord Winters was already dead and the precious gems he came to steal are nowhere to be found.
It just so happens that Lord Winters’ late wife was Lady Alkmene’s aunt, and the burglar is a friend of Lady Alkmene’s friend Jake Dubois. This is a little too much of a coincidence, but this provides Alkmene and Jake with the opportunity to go to the manor house to visit her cousins. Alkmene plans to offer her condolences to these cousins she has never met, and Jake will pose as her chauffeur.
Their primary concern is proving Mac the burglar’s innocence, but Alkmene and Jake quickly realize that the House of Winters is thoroughly dysfunctional. Her three cousins range from suspicious to guarded to outright hostile. There’s clearly a lot going on that extends far beyond the death of Lord Winters.
This is a satisfying mystery. Having the characters confined to a gloomy manor house for most of the story helps to build tension and suspense. Alkmene’s cousins have unique personalities that have been shaped by the events in their life. They are just as suspicious of her and her sudden arrival as she is of their potential motivations for wanting their father dead.
If there was one disappointment, it was that Alkmene and Jake didn’t get to spend as much time together as they did in the first book. This is due to the nature of their ruse; as her chauffeur, Jake is supposed to confine himself to the servants’ quarters. Alkmene and Jake do have the opportunity to share their findings and suspicions, but part of the appeal of the first book was their rapport.
I would recommend Diamonds of Death. This functions well as a standalone book, so you don’t have to read the first book in the series before this one. Alkmene is an empathetic and insightful narrator, and this helps her in her mystery-solving efforts. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Diamonds of Death is the second book in Vivian Conroy’s Lady Alkmene mystery series. I enjoyed reading the first book in the series, so I was looking forward to this book.
Lord Winters was murdered in his manor house. Logic and reason dictate that the perpetrator of this heinous act was the burglar who was found standing over the body, but the man claims that Lord Winters was already dead and the precious gems he came to steal are nowhere to be found.
It just so happens that Lord Winters’ late wife was Lady Alkmene’s aunt, and the burglar is a friend of Lady Alkmene’s friend Jake Dubois. This is a little too much of a coincidence, but this provides Alkmene and Jake with the opportunity to go to the manor house to visit her cousins. Alkmene plans to offer her condolences to these cousins she has never met, and Jake will pose as her chauffeur.
Their primary concern is proving Mac the burglar’s innocence, but Alkmene and Jake quickly realize that the House of Winters is thoroughly dysfunctional. Her three cousins range from suspicious to guarded to outright hostile. There’s clearly a lot going on that extends far beyond the death of Lord Winters.
This is a satisfying mystery. Having the characters confined to a gloomy manor house for most of the story helps to build tension and suspense. Alkmene’s cousins have unique personalities that have been shaped by the events in their life. They are just as suspicious of her and her sudden arrival as she is of their potential motivations for wanting their father dead.
If there was one disappointment, it was that Alkmene and Jake didn’t get to spend as much time together as they did in the first book. This is due to the nature of their ruse; as her chauffeur, Jake is supposed to confine himself to the servants’ quarters. Alkmene and Jake do have the opportunity to share their findings and suspicions, but part of the appeal of the first book was their rapport.
I would recommend Diamonds of Death. This functions well as a standalone book, so you don’t have to read the first book in the series before this one. Alkmene is an empathetic and insightful narrator, and this helps her in her mystery-solving efforts. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2017
First of all I have to mention the cover of the book as I love the style and design that the Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series has. A Proposal to Die For was such a great start to the series.
So what did I think of Diamonds of Death...
I really enjoyed trying to work out who had committed the murder by putting the clues together to work out the puzzle. My interest was kept completely as the story progressed and information is slowly uncovered.
Alkmene is a wonderful character and I enjoyed getting to know her in A Proposal to Die For. So whilst reading this book it felt as if I was catching up with old friends. Jake and Alkmene together make a great team and I love their interactions especially as they discuss the case and talk through their theories. I feel as if I am right there with them and could join in! The story moves at a good pace and with quite a few suspects to choose from I was definitely kept on my toes.
Even though this is the second book in the Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series it can still be read as a standalone. Details from the first book are mentioned but they wouldn't leave the reader confused. However I would recommend reading the series from the start as it really is worth it.
Diamonds of Death has plenty of mystery, fun and two delightful characters!
Four and a half stars from me!
Thank you to Carina UK & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
So what did I think of Diamonds of Death...
I really enjoyed trying to work out who had committed the murder by putting the clues together to work out the puzzle. My interest was kept completely as the story progressed and information is slowly uncovered.
Alkmene is a wonderful character and I enjoyed getting to know her in A Proposal to Die For. So whilst reading this book it felt as if I was catching up with old friends. Jake and Alkmene together make a great team and I love their interactions especially as they discuss the case and talk through their theories. I feel as if I am right there with them and could join in! The story moves at a good pace and with quite a few suspects to choose from I was definitely kept on my toes.
Even though this is the second book in the Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series it can still be read as a standalone. Details from the first book are mentioned but they wouldn't leave the reader confused. However I would recommend reading the series from the start as it really is worth it.
Diamonds of Death has plenty of mystery, fun and two delightful characters!
Four and a half stars from me!
Thank you to Carina UK & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 13, 2017
Lady Alkmee
I like the first book of Lady Alkmene and Book 2 is just as good. It's a fast paced story and I really enjoyed it.
I like the first book of Lady Alkmene and Book 2 is just as good. It's a fast paced story and I really enjoyed it.
October 10, 2016
The book opens with a cat burglar (literally) stumbling upon a dead body. When the noise summons the household servants, they immediately jump to the conclusion that he is the killer. Jack Dubois feels differently and he enlists the help of Lady Alkmene since the dead man was married to Alkmene's aunt (her mother's half-sister.)
Alkmene is nervous about visiting a house of mourning, especially since she hasn't met Amy of her cousins before. And what she finds is astonishing. Her oldest cousin Albert is married to Helena, a woman who immediately resents Alkmene's arrival. His younger brother George is resentful of not being the heir and has a strange relationship with Helena. Her cousin Ann had written Alkmene several letters since the siblings and their father had returned to England but Alkmene wasn't sure what to do with them. Her father never discussed that side of the family and she gets the feeling that there is a reason why. She's worried it's because her aunt went insane before her death.
A nice addition to the Alkmene series. I like that both Jack and Alkmene are more fleshed out than they were in the first book. Still some slow places but overall a quick and fun read.
Alkmene is nervous about visiting a house of mourning, especially since she hasn't met Amy of her cousins before. And what she finds is astonishing. Her oldest cousin Albert is married to Helena, a woman who immediately resents Alkmene's arrival. His younger brother George is resentful of not being the heir and has a strange relationship with Helena. Her cousin Ann had written Alkmene several letters since the siblings and their father had returned to England but Alkmene wasn't sure what to do with them. Her father never discussed that side of the family and she gets the feeling that there is a reason why. She's worried it's because her aunt went insane before her death.
A nice addition to the Alkmene series. I like that both Jack and Alkmene are more fleshed out than they were in the first book. Still some slow places but overall a quick and fun read.
November 10, 2016
The second book featuring Lady Alkmene is as lovely as the first one. I would have prefered a bit more banter between her and Jake, but otherwise the story was good. It was quite clear from the beginning who the bad guy was, but it was still very interesting to see Lady Alkmene untangle the knot of lies. Can't wait to read more adventures with Alkmene and Jake ... For more romance reviews, check out my website: https://katherinasbooks.wordpress.com
December 10, 2016
Thanks Carina UK and netgalley for this ARC.
Lady Alkmene is on the case again with her journalistic friend plus it's almost a closed room mystery.
Great series to enjoy and relax.
Lady Alkmene is on the case again with her journalistic friend plus it's almost a closed room mystery.
Great series to enjoy and relax.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews