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Atlas Catesby #1
Murder in Mayfair
The first “delicious tale of scandal and villainy” in a romantic Regency mystery series starring two crime-solving aristocrats (Rhys Bowen, New York Times –bestselling author)
“This historical mystery will appeal not only to cozy readers, but also to lovers of Regency romances.” — Booklist
In 1814, Atlas Catesby, a brilliant adventurer and youngest son of a baron, is anxious to resume his world travels after being injured in a carriage accident in London. But his plans are derailed when, passing through a country village, he discovers a helpless woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder—by her husband.
In order to save her from being violated by another potential buyer, Atlas purchases the lady, Lilliana, on the spot to set her free. But Lilliana, desperate to be with her young sons and knowing the laws of England give a father all parental rights, refuses to be rescued—until weeks later when her husband is murdered and Atlas is the only one who can help clear her name of the crime.
Fortunately, Atlas is a master at solving complicated puzzles—with games as well as the intricacies of human motivation—and finds himself uniquely suited to the task, despite the personal peril it may put him in. But soon Altas learns the dead man had many secrets—and more than a few enemies willing to kill to keep them quiet—in Murder in Mayfair , the first in a new historical mystery series by D. M. Quincy.
“This historical mystery will appeal not only to cozy readers, but also to lovers of Regency romances.” — Booklist
In 1814, Atlas Catesby, a brilliant adventurer and youngest son of a baron, is anxious to resume his world travels after being injured in a carriage accident in London. But his plans are derailed when, passing through a country village, he discovers a helpless woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder—by her husband.
In order to save her from being violated by another potential buyer, Atlas purchases the lady, Lilliana, on the spot to set her free. But Lilliana, desperate to be with her young sons and knowing the laws of England give a father all parental rights, refuses to be rescued—until weeks later when her husband is murdered and Atlas is the only one who can help clear her name of the crime.
Fortunately, Atlas is a master at solving complicated puzzles—with games as well as the intricacies of human motivation—and finds himself uniquely suited to the task, despite the personal peril it may put him in. But soon Altas learns the dead man had many secrets—and more than a few enemies willing to kill to keep them quiet—in Murder in Mayfair , the first in a new historical mystery series by D. M. Quincy.
316 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2017
245 people are currently reading
2242 people want to read
About the author
D.M. Quincy
3 books253 followersD.M. Quincy is an award-winning television journalist who has covered dozens of crimes, including violent unsolved murders that stayed with her for years afterwards.
She’s pretty sure that had something to do with her decision to write her own stories in which a brilliant amateur detective always gets the bad guy (or girl), thus making sure that justice is always served.
As a US Foreign Service brat, D.M. spent most of her childhood roaming the world, which is probably why the protagonist in her Atlas Catesby mystery series travels to far-flung places as often as he can.
When she isn’t hunched over her laptop researching ways for her villains to kill people, D.M. reads, spends time with her family, devours foreign television mystery series on Netflix, and plots her next travel adventure.
She’s pretty sure that had something to do with her decision to write her own stories in which a brilliant amateur detective always gets the bad guy (or girl), thus making sure that justice is always served.
As a US Foreign Service brat, D.M. spent most of her childhood roaming the world, which is probably why the protagonist in her Atlas Catesby mystery series travels to far-flung places as often as he can.
When she isn’t hunched over her laptop researching ways for her villains to kill people, D.M. reads, spends time with her family, devours foreign television mystery series on Netflix, and plots her next travel adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
February 21, 2022
In Murder in Mayfair we meet for the first time Atlas Catesby, a young man who due to the kindness of his own heart manages to end up as a suspect in a murder. Since the Bow Street Runners appear to be fixated on his guilt and therefore looking no further for the true culprit, Atlas takes it upon himself to do the necessary detective work.
I always enjoy a good Regency novel and this one was just fine. It was the usual period drama with some good descriptions of London and its residents at that time. A few anachronisms crept in - I was surprised at the mention of a plunge pool in a stately home, but perhaps they have been around for longer than I imagined! Never mind. The rest of the book was good enough for me to ignore the occasional oddity.
An entertaining read and I will be looking out for book two.
I always enjoy a good Regency novel and this one was just fine. It was the usual period drama with some good descriptions of London and its residents at that time. A few anachronisms crept in - I was surprised at the mention of a plunge pool in a stately home, but perhaps they have been around for longer than I imagined! Never mind. The rest of the book was good enough for me to ignore the occasional oddity.
An entertaining read and I will be looking out for book two.
June 30, 2024
Review from 2018
I've given this a B for narration and a C for content, which comes out at 3.5 stars.
D.M. Quincy’s Murder in Mayfair is the first in a series of Regency Era historical mysteries featuring gentleman traveller, Atlas Catesby. The blurb and some reviewers have suggested it will appeal to fans of Georgette Heyer or of C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr novels, but that’s misleading. The writing is solid, but doesn’t possess the wit or sharp observational humour of Heyer – who certainly didn’t pepper her prose with Americanisms - and the plotting doesn’t come close to the complexity of a St. Cyr mystery, not to mention that Atlas Catesby is no Viscount Devlin.
Atlas – the youngest son of a baron – spends most of his time travelling the world, but an injury to his foot has seen him lingering in England for longer than he normally likes, and he’s finding his patience sorely tested. He and his good friend the Earl of Charlton have stopped for refreshment at a country inn when a commotion in the yard draws Atlas’ attention. A jeering crowd surrounds a stocky man and a much younger – and rather striking - woman, and Atlas is outraged to hear the man – identified by the innkeeper as a Mr. Warwick – announce that his wife is for sale to the highest bidder.
Atlas can’t just stand by and do nothing, but the only way he can prevent Mrs. Warwick from being degraded even further is to purchase her himself. So he does, for the princely sum of thirty pounds; explaining that he means her no harm or disrespect and that he will take her to stay with his sister in London while she decides on her next step. Atlas is surprised at her insistence on returning home, and it’s only the next morning that he understands why. The Warwicks have two young boys, aged five and seven, and Mrs. Warwick – Lilliana – wants to try to persuade her husband to allow her to remain with them.
Needless to say, Warwick is not at all amenable to this and sends a distraught Lilliana away, reminding her that she has no rights regarding her children and promising that she’ll never see her sons again.
After settling Lilliana with his sister, Atlas offers to return to Buckinghamshire to meet with Warwick to see if he will be amenable to some sort of financial compensation for allowing Lilliana to visit her sons. But it appears he won’t need to travel so far. Warwick is not the country squire Atlas originally thought him and is actually a tradesman and proprietor of a successful haberdashery on Bond Street. He spends most of his time in London attending to business – and it’s to his shop that Atlas goes in order to attempt to open negotiations on Lilliana’s behalf.
When Warwick proves intransigent, Atlas hints that a few words from him dropped into the right ears could have a seriously deleterious effect on his business – and is rather surprised to discover that the man is not at all worried. His wife has secrets which might be revealed should Atlas attempt such a thing, and he’s confident that’s a risk she won’t want to take.
Temporarily stymied, Atlas has to admit that he doesn’t know much about Lilliana – with whom he is obviously smitten – and that there are things about her story and her marriage to Warwick that don’t add up. A few days later, he returns to Warwick’s shop intending to try again to find a compromise – and discovers Warwick has been killed.
The author sets up her mystery well, firmly establishing Warwick as such a despicable character that there’s no shortage of people with reasons for wanting him dead; and of course, both Atlas and Lilliana are at the top of the list of likely suspects. Frustrated with the slow progress being made by the Bow Street Runner sent to investigate, Atlas decides to make enquiries of his own to clear his name, exonerate Lilliana and find out the truth about Warwick’s murder and, perhaps, get to the bottom of some of the secrets that Lilliana seems determined to keep.
The trouble is that once Warwick is disposed of and there’s no villain to boo and hiss at, the story starts to flag. Atlas and Lilliana are worthy but fairly bland characters, and while their relationship is obviously going to run through several books, they have little to no romantic chemistry, and honestly, I couldn’t see what Atlas saw in Lilliana, or believe his feelings for her were motivated by anything other than his need to protect – he has a saviour complex owing to feelings of guilt about the sister he failed to save from her abusive husband – and compassion for her situation. And Lilliana is hard to warm to; we never get her PoV, and while we’re told she’s dignified and steely-determined, she comes across as aloof and passive, and, in her quest to see her children, does some very stupid things.
The writing is decent but dotted with Americanisms (which sound even more wrong when uttered by a British narrator), and there’s a too-modern feel to some of the characters’ speech and thoughts. I was astonished when Atlas had a discussion about Lilliana’s sexual history with the local magistrate – a virtual stranger – and later talks with Lilliana herself about whether she was a virgin on her wedding night. It’s easier to accept his twenty-first century views on matters such as women’s rights and homosexuality – there must have been some enlightened people around at the time I suppose – than that he would have engaged in such conversations without even the slightest mention of impropriety.
I know I can rely on Matthew Lloyd Davies to deliver an accomplished performance, and it was his name on the cover that prompted me to request a review copy of Murder in Mayfair. In all respects but one, his narration is very good indeed; well-paced and clearly enunciated, his naturally husky baritone is pleasant to listen to and is a good fit for period pieces such as this one. He is as adept at portraying aristocratic characters as he is at voicing those of a lower class, adopting cut-glass tones and an ennui-laden drawl for Charlton and injecting a gravelly note and less polished accents for servants and less well-off characters. The harsh, biting tone he uses to portray Warwick makes him sound suitably unpleasant, and his interpretation of the Bow Street Runner, Endicott, accurately reflects the description of him as a portly man. All that’s to the good, but I can’t deny that I wasn’t completely won over by Mr. Lloyd Davies’ female voices. They’re by no means bad; he doesn’t resort to falsetto and it’s easy to tell the women from the men, but they didn’t quite work for me. His portrayal of Lilliana is generally good – a slight rise in pitch and softening of tone works well here – but sometimes, when he’s speaking as Atlas’ sister, his accent is rather over-exaggerated, and I found it a little jarring.
Murder in Mayfair is a decently written and well-plotted cosy mystery wrapped up in a strong performance from Matthew Lloyd Davies. I’m not sure whether I’ll be continuing with this series, but if you’re fond of cosy mysteries and enjoy historical settings, then you may want to consider checking it out.
I've given this a B for narration and a C for content, which comes out at 3.5 stars.
D.M. Quincy’s Murder in Mayfair is the first in a series of Regency Era historical mysteries featuring gentleman traveller, Atlas Catesby. The blurb and some reviewers have suggested it will appeal to fans of Georgette Heyer or of C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr novels, but that’s misleading. The writing is solid, but doesn’t possess the wit or sharp observational humour of Heyer – who certainly didn’t pepper her prose with Americanisms - and the plotting doesn’t come close to the complexity of a St. Cyr mystery, not to mention that Atlas Catesby is no Viscount Devlin.
Atlas – the youngest son of a baron – spends most of his time travelling the world, but an injury to his foot has seen him lingering in England for longer than he normally likes, and he’s finding his patience sorely tested. He and his good friend the Earl of Charlton have stopped for refreshment at a country inn when a commotion in the yard draws Atlas’ attention. A jeering crowd surrounds a stocky man and a much younger – and rather striking - woman, and Atlas is outraged to hear the man – identified by the innkeeper as a Mr. Warwick – announce that his wife is for sale to the highest bidder.
Atlas can’t just stand by and do nothing, but the only way he can prevent Mrs. Warwick from being degraded even further is to purchase her himself. So he does, for the princely sum of thirty pounds; explaining that he means her no harm or disrespect and that he will take her to stay with his sister in London while she decides on her next step. Atlas is surprised at her insistence on returning home, and it’s only the next morning that he understands why. The Warwicks have two young boys, aged five and seven, and Mrs. Warwick – Lilliana – wants to try to persuade her husband to allow her to remain with them.
Needless to say, Warwick is not at all amenable to this and sends a distraught Lilliana away, reminding her that she has no rights regarding her children and promising that she’ll never see her sons again.
After settling Lilliana with his sister, Atlas offers to return to Buckinghamshire to meet with Warwick to see if he will be amenable to some sort of financial compensation for allowing Lilliana to visit her sons. But it appears he won’t need to travel so far. Warwick is not the country squire Atlas originally thought him and is actually a tradesman and proprietor of a successful haberdashery on Bond Street. He spends most of his time in London attending to business – and it’s to his shop that Atlas goes in order to attempt to open negotiations on Lilliana’s behalf.
When Warwick proves intransigent, Atlas hints that a few words from him dropped into the right ears could have a seriously deleterious effect on his business – and is rather surprised to discover that the man is not at all worried. His wife has secrets which might be revealed should Atlas attempt such a thing, and he’s confident that’s a risk she won’t want to take.
Temporarily stymied, Atlas has to admit that he doesn’t know much about Lilliana – with whom he is obviously smitten – and that there are things about her story and her marriage to Warwick that don’t add up. A few days later, he returns to Warwick’s shop intending to try again to find a compromise – and discovers Warwick has been killed.
The author sets up her mystery well, firmly establishing Warwick as such a despicable character that there’s no shortage of people with reasons for wanting him dead; and of course, both Atlas and Lilliana are at the top of the list of likely suspects. Frustrated with the slow progress being made by the Bow Street Runner sent to investigate, Atlas decides to make enquiries of his own to clear his name, exonerate Lilliana and find out the truth about Warwick’s murder and, perhaps, get to the bottom of some of the secrets that Lilliana seems determined to keep.
The trouble is that once Warwick is disposed of and there’s no villain to boo and hiss at, the story starts to flag. Atlas and Lilliana are worthy but fairly bland characters, and while their relationship is obviously going to run through several books, they have little to no romantic chemistry, and honestly, I couldn’t see what Atlas saw in Lilliana, or believe his feelings for her were motivated by anything other than his need to protect – he has a saviour complex owing to feelings of guilt about the sister he failed to save from her abusive husband – and compassion for her situation. And Lilliana is hard to warm to; we never get her PoV, and while we’re told she’s dignified and steely-determined, she comes across as aloof and passive, and, in her quest to see her children, does some very stupid things.
The writing is decent but dotted with Americanisms (which sound even more wrong when uttered by a British narrator), and there’s a too-modern feel to some of the characters’ speech and thoughts. I was astonished when Atlas had a discussion about Lilliana’s sexual history with the local magistrate – a virtual stranger – and later talks with Lilliana herself about whether she was a virgin on her wedding night. It’s easier to accept his twenty-first century views on matters such as women’s rights and homosexuality – there must have been some enlightened people around at the time I suppose – than that he would have engaged in such conversations without even the slightest mention of impropriety.
I know I can rely on Matthew Lloyd Davies to deliver an accomplished performance, and it was his name on the cover that prompted me to request a review copy of Murder in Mayfair. In all respects but one, his narration is very good indeed; well-paced and clearly enunciated, his naturally husky baritone is pleasant to listen to and is a good fit for period pieces such as this one. He is as adept at portraying aristocratic characters as he is at voicing those of a lower class, adopting cut-glass tones and an ennui-laden drawl for Charlton and injecting a gravelly note and less polished accents for servants and less well-off characters. The harsh, biting tone he uses to portray Warwick makes him sound suitably unpleasant, and his interpretation of the Bow Street Runner, Endicott, accurately reflects the description of him as a portly man. All that’s to the good, but I can’t deny that I wasn’t completely won over by Mr. Lloyd Davies’ female voices. They’re by no means bad; he doesn’t resort to falsetto and it’s easy to tell the women from the men, but they didn’t quite work for me. His portrayal of Lilliana is generally good – a slight rise in pitch and softening of tone works well here – but sometimes, when he’s speaking as Atlas’ sister, his accent is rather over-exaggerated, and I found it a little jarring.
Murder in Mayfair is a decently written and well-plotted cosy mystery wrapped up in a strong performance from Matthew Lloyd Davies. I’m not sure whether I’ll be continuing with this series, but if you’re fond of cosy mysteries and enjoy historical settings, then you may want to consider checking it out.
March 12, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The mystery was good and there was a building of the characters history. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
September 17, 2019
Murder in Mayfair is the first in a series of mystery books set in the early 1800’s London. Our hero is Atlas, the son of a Barron who is suffering from [obviously undiagnosed, given the time] PTSD after the death of his sister and is a little lost with what he wants from life. (I must admit, by the end, I was also suffering; Atlas seemed to bring his sister and her death up with annoying regularity.)
The book starts with Atlas rushing to the aid of Lilliana, a woman whose husband sells her off, says she has had other men, and tries to keep her from seeing her children. The husband has many other charming aspects and enemies and, I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say he is soon found dead. Also obviously Lilliana and Atlas become the main suspects.
Some of the parts of the book were a little modern; I doubt if the sensitive subjects featured would have been discussed so openly in that era. It wasn’t all jarring, however, and there were a lot of good factual inclusions, such as the Bow Street Runners. And, unlike a lot of mystery books I’ve read of late, Atlas does at least do a bit of investigating (as opposed to stumbling across or simply guessing the murderer).
DM Quincy writes historical romances under the name of Diane Quincy and her style tends to lean more towards the romantic than crime/thriller genre. Having said that, however, I didn’t really enjoy the romance between the two leads. It seemed a little bland. Happily there was a good bit of romantic chemistry between two of the supporting characters -- Atlas’s sister and his best friend. These two, for me, really stole the show, romance-wise, and I found them infinitely more interesting than Atlas and Lilliana.
Actually, my feelings for Atlas and Lilliana could describe my feelings for the book overall -- nice enough but a little bland.
3 out of 5
The book starts with Atlas rushing to the aid of Lilliana, a woman whose husband sells her off, says she has had other men, and tries to keep her from seeing her children. The husband has many other charming aspects and enemies and, I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say he is soon found dead. Also obviously Lilliana and Atlas become the main suspects.
Some of the parts of the book were a little modern; I doubt if the sensitive subjects featured would have been discussed so openly in that era. It wasn’t all jarring, however, and there were a lot of good factual inclusions, such as the Bow Street Runners. And, unlike a lot of mystery books I’ve read of late, Atlas does at least do a bit of investigating (as opposed to stumbling across or simply guessing the murderer).
DM Quincy writes historical romances under the name of Diane Quincy and her style tends to lean more towards the romantic than crime/thriller genre. Having said that, however, I didn’t really enjoy the romance between the two leads. It seemed a little bland. Happily there was a good bit of romantic chemistry between two of the supporting characters -- Atlas’s sister and his best friend. These two, for me, really stole the show, romance-wise, and I found them infinitely more interesting than Atlas and Lilliana.
Actually, my feelings for Atlas and Lilliana could describe my feelings for the book overall -- nice enough but a little bland.
3 out of 5
January 11, 2020
This book was more Historical Romance than Historical Mystery, but that didn't bother me. I liked the characters and the story and am intrigued to see how this continues since neither character is a detective
September 18, 2017
Although the historical details are well-presented, I struggled with characters I wasn't totally sold on. Atlas is a little too egotistical for his own good, and I never truly understood Lilliana (and though her motivations were sound, I wasn't entirely convinced by that whole plotline). The secondary characters were better, and I wonder if more will be done with Atlas's sister and his friend the Earl, but I'm not sure I'll wait for the next book.
July 7, 2017
I loved this debut historical mystery. It had the right amount of tension and plot twists that kept me guessing. I love the Regency and Quincy showed an excellent knowledge of the time period. Wonderful characterization, too. I cannot wait to read the second installment. If you're a historical mystery fan, you'll love this book!
February 27, 2019
The setup for this story took forever. I wasn't in love with the main characters. I did love the secondary characters though. The mystery tended to drag on and didn't get interesting until the last few hour. It was an OK read but I instinctively have high hopes for the next book.
Edit: After listening to the second book, it's obvious this was the setup for the series. The second book in the series was MUCH, MUCH better... Throughly enjoyable and I connected to the characters much more.
Edit: After listening to the second book, it's obvious this was the setup for the series. The second book in the series was MUCH, MUCH better... Throughly enjoyable and I connected to the characters much more.
November 30, 2023
Atlas Catesby and his friend, Gabriel Young, the Earl of Charlton, are on their way back home when they are forced to stop at an inn to have his horse reshoed. While having a glass of ale, the men hear a commotion outside in the yard. Godfrey Warwick says that he has no use for his wife any longer and will sell her to the highest bidder. When it becomes apparent that a dirty old man wants her for unsavory reasons, Atlas puts down a bid of 30 pounds and finds himself the "owner" of Lilliana Warwick, a spirited young woman who seems to have married beneath her when she became the wife of the abusive owner of a haberdashery.
But when Atlas offers her his protection, she insists she wants to return home with her husband. What she means is that she doesn't want to leave her children. But Warwick has washed his hands of her and tells her that she won't be allowed in his house ever again--and according to the law the children are his and his alone. She finally agrees to allow Atlas to convey her to his sister Thea Palmer's home for refuge until a long-term plan can be set-up. Thea is a most unconventional woman in the Regency period--she has a flair for mathematics and isn't phased at all by the scandalous events that have brought Mrs. Warwick her door.
But the scandal isn't over, for in a few weeks Godfrey Warwick is dead and Endicott, the Bow Street Runner, assigned to investigate the death seems certain that either Atlas or Warwick's widow (or both in collusion) is responsible. Atlas, who has a love of puzzles and who has solved minor mysteries in the past, is determined to solve the mystery of Warwick's death himself in order to clear both their names. Endicott is sure that Atlas killed the man because of his interest in Mrs. Warwick (why else is she staying Atlas's sister's house?) and the devil of it is that Atlas finds himself attracted to the lovely young widow. His investigation turns up others who had reason to want Warwick dead--from the man's "best friend" (whose job as magistrate Warwick was about to usurp) to a rival tailor with a secret that might be worth killing for to a mysterious gentleman who had a run-in with Warwick in his shop. And there may be others. Now all Atlas has to do is find the evidence that will lead to the culprit.
This is a very engaging first novel in what promises to be another good Regency-era mystery series. I immediately downloaded the second novel through my library's Hoopla account, so that tells you how eager I am to continue Atlas Catesby's adventures. Atlas is the youngest son of a newly-minted baron--who just passed the baronetcy on to Atlas's eldest brother, so he's a gentleman but not quite in the higher realms where his friend Charlton is at home and part of the interest is watching him walk the fine line between gentleman and nobility. It doesn't help that Atlas (much to his brother's dismay) disdains the way of the ton and the hierarchy. But it does make Atlas an interesting character.
Atlas is also surrounded by interesting characters. Charlton manages to help the investigation despite his pose as a somewhat ignorant dandy and Thea is a delight (even though she does seem to be awfully enlightened for the times--that seems to be a trend in historical novels these days). My one real complaint about the story though is about the postmortems--the descriptions and the doctor's terminology seem very modern and I find it difficult to believe that the country doctor who appears later in the story would be just as modern as the doctor in London. I haven't done a lot of research on medical practices in the Regency era, but C. S. Harris, the author of the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series (another favorite), has. She has a Ph.D. in European history and her surgeon knows as much as he does about the dead and the effects of various murder methods and diseases because he uses bodies brought to him by grave robbers for research. I doubt the country doctor here has had the benefit of such anatomical researches. But that quibble aside, this is a good historical mystery for those who enjoy the Regency period. ★★★ and 3/4 (rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
But when Atlas offers her his protection, she insists she wants to return home with her husband. What she means is that she doesn't want to leave her children. But Warwick has washed his hands of her and tells her that she won't be allowed in his house ever again--and according to the law the children are his and his alone. She finally agrees to allow Atlas to convey her to his sister Thea Palmer's home for refuge until a long-term plan can be set-up. Thea is a most unconventional woman in the Regency period--she has a flair for mathematics and isn't phased at all by the scandalous events that have brought Mrs. Warwick her door.
But the scandal isn't over, for in a few weeks Godfrey Warwick is dead and Endicott, the Bow Street Runner, assigned to investigate the death seems certain that either Atlas or Warwick's widow (or both in collusion) is responsible. Atlas, who has a love of puzzles and who has solved minor mysteries in the past, is determined to solve the mystery of Warwick's death himself in order to clear both their names. Endicott is sure that Atlas killed the man because of his interest in Mrs. Warwick (why else is she staying Atlas's sister's house?) and the devil of it is that Atlas finds himself attracted to the lovely young widow. His investigation turns up others who had reason to want Warwick dead--from the man's "best friend" (whose job as magistrate Warwick was about to usurp) to a rival tailor with a secret that might be worth killing for to a mysterious gentleman who had a run-in with Warwick in his shop. And there may be others. Now all Atlas has to do is find the evidence that will lead to the culprit.
This is a very engaging first novel in what promises to be another good Regency-era mystery series. I immediately downloaded the second novel through my library's Hoopla account, so that tells you how eager I am to continue Atlas Catesby's adventures. Atlas is the youngest son of a newly-minted baron--who just passed the baronetcy on to Atlas's eldest brother, so he's a gentleman but not quite in the higher realms where his friend Charlton is at home and part of the interest is watching him walk the fine line between gentleman and nobility. It doesn't help that Atlas (much to his brother's dismay) disdains the way of the ton and the hierarchy. But it does make Atlas an interesting character.
Atlas is also surrounded by interesting characters. Charlton manages to help the investigation despite his pose as a somewhat ignorant dandy and Thea is a delight (even though she does seem to be awfully enlightened for the times--that seems to be a trend in historical novels these days). My one real complaint about the story though is about the postmortems--the descriptions and the doctor's terminology seem very modern and I find it difficult to believe that the country doctor who appears later in the story would be just as modern as the doctor in London. I haven't done a lot of research on medical practices in the Regency era, but C. S. Harris, the author of the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series (another favorite), has. She has a Ph.D. in European history and her surgeon knows as much as he does about the dead and the effects of various murder methods and diseases because he uses bodies brought to him by grave robbers for research. I doubt the country doctor here has had the benefit of such anatomical researches. But that quibble aside, this is a good historical mystery for those who enjoy the Regency period. ★★★ and 3/4 (rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
October 13, 2019
3.75 stars
I liked the book ok. I debated back and forth between a 3 star or a 4 star rating. I decided on the 3 star because I felt it didn't compare to the recent 4 star reviews I have given. It still is better than the few three star book reviews I have given.
It was quite readable. The beginning was a 4 star book for me as it went on it lost steam with me. It was partly mystery and stirrings of a romance. One thing that amused me was Atlas Catesby was suppose to be a wiz at puzzles. It was a hobby of his but he didn't see some obvious things right in front of his nose like his best friend having interest in Atlas's sister. He would ask his friend "Why are you dressed like that?" His friend liked garish fanciful clothes and Atlas sister always commented about his loud outfits. Then he starts showing up around Atlas's sister wearing navy and subdued colors. It puzzles Atlas. There were other clues too. Atlas is known for his puzzle solving so he is on the trail to solve the murder mystery in the book. He, also, wants to take Mrs. Warwick and himself off the list of suspects.
I liked the book ok. I debated back and forth between a 3 star or a 4 star rating. I decided on the 3 star because I felt it didn't compare to the recent 4 star reviews I have given. It still is better than the few three star book reviews I have given.
It was quite readable. The beginning was a 4 star book for me as it went on it lost steam with me. It was partly mystery and stirrings of a romance. One thing that amused me was Atlas Catesby was suppose to be a wiz at puzzles. It was a hobby of his but he didn't see some obvious things right in front of his nose like his best friend having interest in Atlas's sister. He would ask his friend "Why are you dressed like that?" His friend liked garish fanciful clothes and Atlas sister always commented about his loud outfits. Then he starts showing up around Atlas's sister wearing navy and subdued colors. It puzzles Atlas. There were other clues too. Atlas is known for his puzzle solving so he is on the trail to solve the murder mystery in the book. He, also, wants to take Mrs. Warwick and himself off the list of suspects.
September 17, 2017
I don't usually bother with too much plot summary in my reviews; it seems a bit pointless when it only takes a couple of clicks or a scroll to read a blurb. But this time I'm going to make an exception. Copied from Goodreads:
In 1810, Atlas Catesby, a brilliant adventurer and youngest son of a baron, is anxious to resume his world travels after a carriage accident left him injured in London. But his plans are derailed when, passing through a country village, he discovers a helpless woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder--by her husband.
In order to save her from being violated by another potential buyer, Atlas purchases the lady, Lilliana, on the spot to set her free. But Lilliana, desperate to be with her young sons and knowing the laws of England give a father all parental rights, refuses to be rescued--until weeks later when her husband is murdered and Atlas is the only one who can help clear her name of the crime.
I mean – come on. Look at that. That's mildly awesome. That's a series of bombshells. That sounds like a book that you'd remember for years.
And yet … the reason I had that summary saved on the document where I write my reviews is that I had no memory of the book when I went to do this. None. The description helps – but what happened after and around that basic outline I have almost no idea. I didn't even take notes or highlight anything while I was reading.
I do recall that, while this was a perfect setup for an historical romance, there was actually very little along those lines in the plot – this Lilliana, the rescued damsel, is single-minded in her quest to get her children back, and in that quest she does some really stupid things. Her protector, Atlas, is an anachronism of feminist support and aggrieved patience. Apart from this … it's pretty much a blank.
At least this means the writing wasn't terrible - that I would remember, right? But I do wonder if three stars is a bit generous for something that is such a … lacuna. Ah well. I'll go with my first instinct and leave it.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
In 1810, Atlas Catesby, a brilliant adventurer and youngest son of a baron, is anxious to resume his world travels after a carriage accident left him injured in London. But his plans are derailed when, passing through a country village, he discovers a helpless woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder--by her husband.
In order to save her from being violated by another potential buyer, Atlas purchases the lady, Lilliana, on the spot to set her free. But Lilliana, desperate to be with her young sons and knowing the laws of England give a father all parental rights, refuses to be rescued--until weeks later when her husband is murdered and Atlas is the only one who can help clear her name of the crime.
I mean – come on. Look at that. That's mildly awesome. That's a series of bombshells. That sounds like a book that you'd remember for years.
And yet … the reason I had that summary saved on the document where I write my reviews is that I had no memory of the book when I went to do this. None. The description helps – but what happened after and around that basic outline I have almost no idea. I didn't even take notes or highlight anything while I was reading.
I do recall that, while this was a perfect setup for an historical romance, there was actually very little along those lines in the plot – this Lilliana, the rescued damsel, is single-minded in her quest to get her children back, and in that quest she does some really stupid things. Her protector, Atlas, is an anachronism of feminist support and aggrieved patience. Apart from this … it's pretty much a blank.
At least this means the writing wasn't terrible - that I would remember, right? But I do wonder if three stars is a bit generous for something that is such a … lacuna. Ah well. I'll go with my first instinct and leave it.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
June 1, 2022
Regency-era London and a surrounding village. 1814. D. M. Quincy’s Murder in Mayfair (Atlas Catesby Mystery #1) introduces a Regency ‘hero’, Atlas Catesby. Catesby, the youngest son of a baron and an “adventurer”, has suffered an injury to his foot, and because of this injury, he finds himself and his friend, the Earl of Charlton, in an unknown village inn about to eat his meal when he discovers that a man outside the inn is walking his wife who happens to be wearing a horse’s halter and attempting to sell her to the highest bidder. This offends Catesby’s sense of honor, and he is horrified for the woman. End result: Atlas Catesby buys this man’s wife for 30 pounds. Now what? Atlas, the Earl, and this woman leave for London, but as Atlas slowly views this woman, he notices that she carries herself not as a villager but as someone possibly higher born. Who is This Lilliana Warwick? Atlas, a brilliant man who speaks six languages and has a passion for difficult puzzles, intends to discover just who Lilliana Warwick is. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this story! 4.5 stars.
July 7, 2017
5 helms
Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages (www.vellumvoyages.com)
Oooh, D.M Quincy, you did a mighty fine job with this debut historical mystery! An excellent read where I just couldn't get enough of the characters, their lives and of course the mystery they manage to entangle themselves in! I'm already eagerly awaiting the next instalment of Atlas Catesby's adventures :)
Atlas Catesby and his best friend the Earl of Charlton, are having dinner at an inn in Slough on their way home to London when they hear a commotion outside. Investigating further, a bride sale is being conducted right under their noses! Aghast at the cruelty of this woman's husband, Atlas finds himself purchasing Lilliana Warwick just so he could offer his protection from her repugnant husband.
Lilliana's husband is found dead a few weeks after the sale takes place and Lilliana and Atlas find themselves as the main suspects in the murder investigation. Atlas who has a thing for solving mysteries also decides to investigate and deduces his own theories. He also suspects Lilliana is not telling him the whole story about her family background as her bearing is positively regal and her marriage to a tradesman does not add up. Finding himself searching for answers regarding the murder and Lilliana's secrets, he has the weight of a murder mystery and his growing attraction to Lilliana on his shoulders ( couldn' help myself with that one haha).
It has been a while since I was this excited about a book! This was damn well done! I'm so impressed and I can't stop thinking about the characters and little pieces within the novel are still falling into place. I was kept guessing throughout the book and we don't just get one mystery, we get two! There was a lot going on in each character's lives but everything adds up and makes sense and I was never confused or bogged down with information.
I felt like I was transported back into Regency London as D.M Quincy had her Regency speak down pat (don't quote me on the historical accuracy of the era as I'm no historian!) but it was very very good as it would be exactly how I would imagine the gentry conversing. Her London location choices were excellent and she capture's the tradesman atmosphere at Bond Street in the Regency very well. I live a few stops away from Bond Street so probably why I could totally relate!
Atlas had an intriguing supporting cast in the novel and all the characters were exciting in their own way! Thea, Atlas's mathematician sister, is married to a husband she cares about but we never meet. The Earl of Charlton's and Thea's relationship should be an interesting little story indeed! They seem like total opposites and yet there's something there which I cannot wait to explore further! And of course, there's something simmering between Atlas and Lilliana but we don't know the outcome yet :(
I was quite surprised at the potential romances that blossomed in the book as they were unexpected (I was expecting pure mystery!), which kept the romance reader in me very happy! And yes D.M Quincy does write historical romances under the pen name Diana Quincy which of course I looked up and have added to Mount TBR! The only thing that stood out to me were the medical explanations within the book, as they had a very modern approach to them. This information may have been viable within the Regency, but the medical terminology just had a modern feel to it, in comparison to the Regency setting we were immersed in.
This is going to be one of those binge read series as it just leaves you craving more! You don't want to miss out on this well written book and how gorgeous is this cover!?!! The cover alone makes me want to pick this book up!
*Thank-you D.M Quincy, Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
September 22, 2017
3.5 stars for the first in a new series.
I'm not sure I really need yet another Regency mystery series--I'm already following 3 such series.
But this was inoffensive, fairly intelligent, with a likeable main character, a charming lady in distress and stellar supporting characters. The villain (and murder victim) was a nasty sort, with numerous suspects (including, of course, our hero and the lady).
There's a nice twist towards the end that supplies the final clue necessary to solve the mystery.
All in all a promising debut. I'll be back for the second book.
I'm not sure I really need yet another Regency mystery series--I'm already following 3 such series.
But this was inoffensive, fairly intelligent, with a likeable main character, a charming lady in distress and stellar supporting characters. The villain (and murder victim) was a nasty sort, with numerous suspects (including, of course, our hero and the lady).
There's a nice twist towards the end that supplies the final clue necessary to solve the mystery.
All in all a promising debut. I'll be back for the second book.
June 27, 2017
Atlas Catesby is the youngest son of a baron and a world traveler who delights in solving puzzles. A carriage accident and a damaged foot have kept him in England longer than he would like. His stay becomes more interesting when he discovers a young woman being sold to the highest bidder by her husband. Being a gentleman, he steps in and buys the young woman - Lilliana Warwick - and finds himself in the midst of a criminal investigation when her husband is found dead.
There are a number of suspects because Godfrey Warwick was not a nice man. Besides the way he treated his wife, he was jealous of his brother and attempted to blackmail a number of his business acquaintances. Everywhere Atlas looks, more suspects appear. Atlas has to do his own investigation because the runner who has the case thinks Atlas makes the best suspect.
This historical mystery makes good use of the time. In England, in 1810, women had no rights. They and their children were the property of their husbands and had no legal identity beyond him. Lilliana learns this when Godfrey sells her and denies her access to her two young sons.
The story also has the beginning of a romance between Lilliana - who has a big secret she has been keeping - and Atlas but a number of things are conspiring to keep them apart. This was an engaging and entertaining mystery.
There are a number of suspects because Godfrey Warwick was not a nice man. Besides the way he treated his wife, he was jealous of his brother and attempted to blackmail a number of his business acquaintances. Everywhere Atlas looks, more suspects appear. Atlas has to do his own investigation because the runner who has the case thinks Atlas makes the best suspect.
This historical mystery makes good use of the time. In England, in 1810, women had no rights. They and their children were the property of their husbands and had no legal identity beyond him. Lilliana learns this when Godfrey sells her and denies her access to her two young sons.
The story also has the beginning of a romance between Lilliana - who has a big secret she has been keeping - and Atlas but a number of things are conspiring to keep them apart. This was an engaging and entertaining mystery.
September 26, 2020
This was a solid, engaging almost-cozy mystery. Not terribly hard to figure out who the villain was or what the deal with the duke was, but the writing is comfortable and the characters well-drawn. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
July 2, 2020
3.5 STARS
A promising beginning. I wish there had been historical references, but I adored Atlas and Lilliana. It was a good balance of mystery and personal storyline.
Audio - The narrator is fabulous. His voices add much depth to the book; I don't think I will be reading any of these.
A promising beginning. I wish there had been historical references, but I adored Atlas and Lilliana. It was a good balance of mystery and personal storyline.
Audio - The narrator is fabulous. His voices add much depth to the book; I don't think I will be reading any of these.
April 12, 2018
This first-in-series book wasn't bad, but I've more thoroughly enjoyed several Regency fantasies (I wish there were more!), many Regency romances (back in the days when I read more of traditional romances — i.e., neither PN/F/SF nor suspense), and at least a couple other Regency mystery series (C.S. Harris's Sebastian St. Cyr, and Kate Ross's Julian Kestrel, a series tragically cut short by the author's death). MiM just felt a bit shallowly developed, and I didn't really care about the characters.
There were a couple parts of the solution that seemed obvious to me long before Catesby figured them out or was told, though one (Lilliana Warwick's connection to the duke) was possibly only obvious because I knew I was reading a novel, which made it predictable. (I'm never good at plot discussion w/o spoilers, and mysteries are the worst, so I just won't try beyond that one vague sentence.)
The fact that the gentleman lead was unusually egalitarian, and open-minded (re. a married woman's right to say No, and re. discovering someone was gay), didn't make me say, "Impossible, no one like that existed in those days," because there have always been iconoclasts. Just think of real-life historical lady explorers, for example. I prefer not to have a protagonist so period-typical as to be unlikable (consider Pride and Prejudice's Mrs. Bennet or the Bingley sisters vs. Elizabeth herself). I actually thought it was unusually realistic to have Catesby re-evaluating an ignorant assumption based on what he actually witnesses.
I did find it slightly harder to believe that "delicate" topics such as the murdered husband having suspected his wife was not a virgin on their wedding night were brought up with a not-even-related person of the opposite sex, and explained, with so little reaction to the impropriety from either party.
The legal powerlessness of women in the British system at the time, and the folly of the legal fiction that a wife did not exist as a separate individual outside the will of her husband, are demonstrated.
Catesby's attraction to Mrs. Warwick, however, seemed to be merely compassion followed by attraction, which will require further development in later volumes to convince me if they're meant to be in love. I did like his honest enjoyment of teaching her boys tricks with rolling hoops, having fun himself. I'll note as a semi-spoiler, though, that
I read this in hardcover from the library, and I haven't decided yet whether I'll give the second volume, Murder in Bloomsbury, a try. My TBR queues, both physical and virtual, are already so out of control, I may not bother.
The writing itself was fine, though I vaguely recall having reacted to a couple nonessential sentences with (once each), "Was that a minor inconsistency?" and "That's a factual error, isn't it?" but unfortunately paper books (especially un-write-in-able library property) aren't as easy to jot down notes about while reading as on Kindle, and I didn't even think to mark the relevant pages, so I have no specifics to give, and can't set forth my confusion for correction if applicable.
(Oh, as a humorous aside, I can't believe I read two stories containing a character named Hermes in the same week! Here, it's a minor character, one of Atlas Catesby's siblings, and the other was an urban fantasy featuring a version of the Greek gods themselves.)
There were a couple parts of the solution that seemed obvious to me long before Catesby figured them out or was told, though one (Lilliana Warwick's connection to the duke) was possibly only obvious because I knew I was reading a novel, which made it predictable. (I'm never good at plot discussion w/o spoilers, and mysteries are the worst, so I just won't try beyond that one vague sentence.)
The fact that the gentleman lead was unusually egalitarian, and open-minded (re. a married woman's right to say No, and re. discovering someone was gay), didn't make me say, "Impossible, no one like that existed in those days," because there have always been iconoclasts. Just think of real-life historical lady explorers, for example. I prefer not to have a protagonist so period-typical as to be unlikable (consider Pride and Prejudice's Mrs. Bennet or the Bingley sisters vs. Elizabeth herself). I actually thought it was unusually realistic to have Catesby re-evaluating an ignorant assumption based on what he actually witnesses.
I did find it slightly harder to believe that "delicate" topics such as the murdered husband having suspected his wife was not a virgin on their wedding night were brought up with a not-even-related person of the opposite sex, and explained, with so little reaction to the impropriety from either party.
The legal powerlessness of women in the British system at the time, and the folly of the legal fiction that a wife did not exist as a separate individual outside the will of her husband, are demonstrated.
Catesby's attraction to Mrs. Warwick, however, seemed to be merely compassion followed by attraction, which will require further development in later volumes to convince me if they're meant to be in love. I did like his honest enjoyment of teaching her boys tricks with rolling hoops, having fun himself. I'll note as a semi-spoiler, though, that
I read this in hardcover from the library, and I haven't decided yet whether I'll give the second volume, Murder in Bloomsbury, a try. My TBR queues, both physical and virtual, are already so out of control, I may not bother.
The writing itself was fine, though I vaguely recall having reacted to a couple nonessential sentences with (once each), "Was that a minor inconsistency?" and "That's a factual error, isn't it?" but unfortunately paper books (especially un-write-in-able library property) aren't as easy to jot down notes about while reading as on Kindle, and I didn't even think to mark the relevant pages, so I have no specifics to give, and can't set forth my confusion for correction if applicable.
(Oh, as a humorous aside, I can't believe I read two stories containing a character named Hermes in the same week! Here, it's a minor character, one of Atlas Catesby's siblings, and the other was an urban fantasy featuring a version of the Greek gods themselves.)
July 30, 2018
Move over, Captain Lacey!
Finally! I have a hero/book boyfriend to stand alongside Captain Gabriel Lacey, the wonderful protagonist of Ashley Gardener’s Regency Era mystery series. Atlas Catesby, the star of Murder in Mayfair, has many of the same honorable traits and tendencies of the good Captain and is just as dashing. He is handsome, somewhat angst ridden, intelligent, doggedly persistent, and honorable.
As a writer, Ms. Quincy also compares very favorably with Ms.
Gardener. The character development is outstanding, the central mystery is interesting, the pacing is good and the ending believable and satisfying. In fact, there are many striking similarities between the two authors and their books.
Bottom line: the bad news is that there is only one other book in the series. I certainly hope Ms. Quincy is inclined to write more of them.
Finally! I have a hero/book boyfriend to stand alongside Captain Gabriel Lacey, the wonderful protagonist of Ashley Gardener’s Regency Era mystery series. Atlas Catesby, the star of Murder in Mayfair, has many of the same honorable traits and tendencies of the good Captain and is just as dashing. He is handsome, somewhat angst ridden, intelligent, doggedly persistent, and honorable.
As a writer, Ms. Quincy also compares very favorably with Ms.
Gardener. The character development is outstanding, the central mystery is interesting, the pacing is good and the ending believable and satisfying. In fact, there are many striking similarities between the two authors and their books.
Bottom line: the bad news is that there is only one other book in the series. I certainly hope Ms. Quincy is inclined to write more of them.
October 4, 2019
Gentlemen and gentlewomen and members of the peerage some times come off as stuffy and priggish in mysteries and historical fic but not in this series. I found the characters, with the exception of the victim, to be quite amenable and even humorous. I did guess the murderer about midway through but even so I'm still glad I took a chance with this series. I enjoyed it immensely and already purchased the second audiobook. And speaking of audiobooks, the narrator, Matthew Lloyd Davies was also really good. I usually like female narrators more so then I do male narrators but Davies was excellent. I am going to take a look at the other books he's narrated to see if there are any that might be of interest to me.
October 22, 2019
I really wasn't sure what to expect when I bought this as an audio book. I typically gravitate to female protagonists in mysteries, but I really enjoyed this book!
I found Atlas to be a wonderful, engaging character that it was easy to root for. He is an honorable man and a good soul.
The story was well-conceived, if not terribly hard to figure out. The pacing was good, encouraging the reader to keep reading.
The supporting characters were also interesting and likable, and I can definitely see myself looking for future books in this series. I enjoyed this very much!
I found Atlas to be a wonderful, engaging character that it was easy to root for. He is an honorable man and a good soul.
The story was well-conceived, if not terribly hard to figure out. The pacing was good, encouraging the reader to keep reading.
The supporting characters were also interesting and likable, and I can definitely see myself looking for future books in this series. I enjoyed this very much!
July 16, 2017
Perhaps my favorite book of 2017. It has everything a reader could want and left me wanting the next book. Ms Quincy set her world up in a smart and simple way using characters and places that keep the reader turning the page for more. I felt she left the clues for me to find right before exposing them in the story. Brilliant. I loved every page and would recommend it to any fans of light mystery.
December 8, 2018
This was another book club book. Not my usual deep thriller or sci-fI. During the the English period when Royalty and common man came to terms this was indeed refreshing. Murder, mystery and unrequited love were all we’ll written throughout. I’m glad I read it. Very refreshing.
Read
February 5, 2021This is an elegant and compulsively readable Regency murder mystery, set in a small country village in 1810. The featured sleuth is Atlas Catesby, the fourth son of a baron who holds little love for the separation of class and the prejudice that entails. He always comports himself with honor and as a gentleman, and that is how he becomes wrapped up with Lilliana Warwick. They meet when Lilliana’s husband tries to sell her off in the street, which disgusts Atlas so thoroughly that he buys her.
Needless to say, their relationship is shaky at first, but when her reprehensible husband is murdered, they become the prime suspects. Together, they must discover the truth, which isn’t easy to do, since Godfrey Warwick had his fair share of enemies.
Atlas is just one charming character among many, like his friend Earl Charlton, his sister Thea, and Lilliana herself. They maneuver this intensely class-conscious Regency world to pick apart the cleverly plotted mystery. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader invested, as well as slow-burning romance and a strong sense of place. –AD
Click here to place a hold: Murder in Mayfair .
For a similarly sophisticated historical mystery, try Cut to the Quick by Kate Ross, or move on to book two in the series, Murder in Bloomsbury .
Needless to say, their relationship is shaky at first, but when her reprehensible husband is murdered, they become the prime suspects. Together, they must discover the truth, which isn’t easy to do, since Godfrey Warwick had his fair share of enemies.
Atlas is just one charming character among many, like his friend Earl Charlton, his sister Thea, and Lilliana herself. They maneuver this intensely class-conscious Regency world to pick apart the cleverly plotted mystery. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader invested, as well as slow-burning romance and a strong sense of place. –AD
Click here to place a hold: Murder in Mayfair .
For a similarly sophisticated historical mystery, try Cut to the Quick by Kate Ross, or move on to book two in the series, Murder in Bloomsbury .
July 26, 2017
Do you enjoy a good murder mystery with a strong historical fiction bent and a wee bit of romance? If yes, then this is the book for you. The opening scene alone brings shock and scandal immediately to the fore. Of course, the on-looking gentleman rescues the woman in trouble yet she truly hates being beholden to any man. So they're off to a prickly start but the tale warms up and the characters develop richly throughout the story. The identity of the woman is as much a mystery as is the death of her husband. Who is this Lilliana Warwick, really? Does she have it in her to murder her horrible husband? Or is she even more at risk now that her husband's gone.
Author D.M. Quincy deftly captures the feel of Regency England in this first book of her Atlas Catesby Mystery series. The streets of Regency London and Slough are immediately brought to mind. The sumptuous silken fabrics are vividly described and the nuanced expressions of the characters provide insight into what makes them tick. This was a terrific and entertaining read. I eagerly await the arrival of the next book in this series.
I am grateful to author D.M. Quincy, publisher Crooked Lane Books and Goodreads First Reads for having provided a copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Author D.M. Quincy deftly captures the feel of Regency England in this first book of her Atlas Catesby Mystery series. The streets of Regency London and Slough are immediately brought to mind. The sumptuous silken fabrics are vividly described and the nuanced expressions of the characters provide insight into what makes them tick. This was a terrific and entertaining read. I eagerly await the arrival of the next book in this series.
I am grateful to author D.M. Quincy, publisher Crooked Lane Books and Goodreads First Reads for having provided a copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
June 19, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
It is 1810 and our hero, Atlas Catesby, finds himself in the middle of wife sale. Yep, some yahoo is selling his wife. But Atlas can't stand to see this woman dishonored so he makes a very high bid and walks away with, well, a woman. He settles her in with his sister while they try to decide what can be done for the poor woman. But it is not long until the husband decides he wants her back. And it shortly after that that said husband is found dead, by Atlas (of course).
Golly, I loved this book. All the manners and silly rules of the time come together together with an interesting mystery and compelling characters to create a great read. There is a lot going on but it the story does not bog down. There is even a nice bit of romance thrown in. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
It is 1810 and our hero, Atlas Catesby, finds himself in the middle of wife sale. Yep, some yahoo is selling his wife. But Atlas can't stand to see this woman dishonored so he makes a very high bid and walks away with, well, a woman. He settles her in with his sister while they try to decide what can be done for the poor woman. But it is not long until the husband decides he wants her back. And it shortly after that that said husband is found dead, by Atlas (of course).
Golly, I loved this book. All the manners and silly rules of the time come together together with an interesting mystery and compelling characters to create a great read. There is a lot going on but it the story does not bog down. There is even a nice bit of romance thrown in. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 25, 2018
Regency fun
Noble men and noblemen, damsels in distress, evil men who get what they deserve--this book has it all! Atlas Catesby, an unwillingly idle gentleman, happens upon an odd occurrence: a man auctioning his wife off in a village square. He buys the woman to spare her from degradation. She turns out to be a mystery: too elegant to be the tradesman's wife that circumstances make her seem to be and not willing to play the role that is a woman's lot in Regency England. Georgette Heyer used to write Regency novels featuring spirited women somewhat ahead of their time. This novel does a good job of mingling our 21st century mindset on the roles of women and men with the early 19th century norms. Open minded, tolerant gentlemen and women willing to push the boundaries of their societal roles move through a fast-paced story with many twists and turns. You may figure out early on who murdered the thoroughly nasty dead man, but the journey to the conclusion will keep you entertained to the end.
Noble men and noblemen, damsels in distress, evil men who get what they deserve--this book has it all! Atlas Catesby, an unwillingly idle gentleman, happens upon an odd occurrence: a man auctioning his wife off in a village square. He buys the woman to spare her from degradation. She turns out to be a mystery: too elegant to be the tradesman's wife that circumstances make her seem to be and not willing to play the role that is a woman's lot in Regency England. Georgette Heyer used to write Regency novels featuring spirited women somewhat ahead of their time. This novel does a good job of mingling our 21st century mindset on the roles of women and men with the early 19th century norms. Open minded, tolerant gentlemen and women willing to push the boundaries of their societal roles move through a fast-paced story with many twists and turns. You may figure out early on who murdered the thoroughly nasty dead man, but the journey to the conclusion will keep you entertained to the end.
June 1, 2022
I love to discover new authors. At a book sale I found book #2 and it sounded quote interesting and I was lucky that my library had 1 and 3. Atlas Catesby is a 4th son of a poet who was awarded a barony, so he is actually a man between worlds, who is very smart and gallant. When he comes upon a woman being mistreated, he acts.
There are many story threads throughout this book that I look forward to following in the next book.
Well written with a good mystery as Atlas solves a murder and also falls in love.
There are many story threads throughout this book that I look forward to following in the next book.
Well written with a good mystery as Atlas solves a murder and also falls in love.
Read
July 17, 2018I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. I'm always on the lookout for a good historical mystery series and this series has been added to my list of favorites series. Atlas Catesby is traveling back from a visit to Bath with his friend the Earl of Charlton when he comes across a commotion at an inn. He finds that a local gentleman (Warwick) is selling his wife to the highest bidder; being a true gentleman and haunted by the death of his oldest sister he finds himself "buying" the young woman. Lilliana doesn't trust her savior and soon runs off to re-unite with her sons. Finding herself facing the goal, Lilliana ends up traveling to London with Atlas and installed at his sister's house. After several run ins with her husband (who owns a haberdashery in London) and determining that she has little hope of seeing her sons unless her husband relents, Atlas finds Warwick dead. Finding himself and Lilliana suspected by the Bow Street Runner, he determines he will need to find the killer himself. There are no lack of suspects with motives which keeps both Atlas and the reader on their toes until the killer is finally revealed. A mystery surrounding Lilliana's background prior to her marriage and intriguing secondary characters including Charlton, Atlas's family, and a duke help keep the reader entertained until the final sentence. I can't wait to read the next entry in this new series.
November 19, 2019
"Murder in Mayfair" - written by D M Quincy and published in 2017 by Crooked Lane Books, an imprint of The Quick Brown Fox & Company. Atlas Catesby rescues a woman being sold by her husband and shortly thereafter mayhem ensues, with murders, deceptions and romance. That all sounds exciting, but in this book it was all just "ho hum." Quincy writes a well-plotted story that moves along briskly, but it was too bland, too sedate for me. The third in the series comes out December 2019.
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