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Manor House Mysteries #7
Fire When Ready
The seventh book in the fabulous Manor House Mystery Series by Kate Kingsbury, the bestselling author of the Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries! Enthralling mystery, lots of laughter and a little bit of romance – that’s village life in wartime England…. Left with only a muddle-headed butler, a bossy cook/housekeeper and a couple of energetic maids, Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton has enough problems on her hands. Not only is she struggling to upkeep the sprawling Manor House and vast acres she inherited, she must also take care of her numerous tenants, while coping with the inconveniences and sacrifices of wartime England. Fortunately Sitting Marsh is far removed from the bombing going on in London and other cities. That doesn’t mean that peace prevails in the tiny village. There’s the handsome American major who takes over the Manor House for officers’ quarters, and the group of belligerent housewives determined to take on the German invaders, not to mention a murder or two… Lovers of Agatha Christie’s books will find much to enjoy in this tale of intrigue and laughter in an English village, and Emily Brightwell fans will fall in love with the offbeat characters of Sitting Marsh. FIRE WHEN READY When a newly-constructed munitions factory in Sitting Marsh blows up, killing the owner, the local authorities declare it an accident. The victim had been receiving threatening letters, however, and that’s enough to put Lady Elizabeth on the scent of a killer. Many people in the village wanted that factory gone, and it takes a clever mind and nerves of steel to unravel this puzzle. Lady Elizabeth is up to the task, however, even though a major distraction has her mind spinning with opportunities.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
39 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Kate Kingsbury
90 books570 followersKate Kingsbury grew up in London, England, and at a very early age began telling stories to her school friends during the London Blitz of WW II while huddling in bomb shelters. Kate moved to the U.S. in the early sixties, and had passed her 50th birthday when she published her first book. Writing as Doreen Roberts, (her real name at the time) she published 26 romance novels for Harlequin/Silhouette. In 1991 her first Pennyfoot Hotel book was published and since then Kate has written 35 mysteries, including the Manor House mysteries, the Bellehaven House mysteries(written as Rebecca Kent) and the Raven's Nest mysteries, (written as Allison Kingsley.) Her new series, The Merry Ghost Inn Mysteries debuted in January, 2017 with Dead and Breakfast, featuring a B & B on the Oregon coast. She has one son, Regan, and lives with her husband, Bill, in the beautiful state of Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 12, 2021
Elizabeth, Lady of the Manor house and amateur detective took it upon herself to solve two murder cases, and to fish out an arsonist.
The plot was not bad but the whole detective thing was not in the least bit suspenseful. It wasn't much of a mystery since the culprit was so easy to guess.
The plot was not bad but the whole detective thing was not in the least bit suspenseful. It wasn't much of a mystery since the culprit was so easy to guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2018
This is a consistently good series. The mystery did revert back to being easily solved, however. And I had a hunch Earl would be back, I just didn't know if his return would be in this book or the next. I am disappointed that Sam didn't return with him. I feel bad for Polly, especially since I think other characters are making too much of the age difference. My dad was 12 1/2 years older than my mom (she was 19 and he was 32 when they married) and they had a long and happy marriage. So maybe I'm biased, but I just can't see Polly happy with someone other than the man she loves. Come on, it's 1944. Is the age gap really so unusual for the time period?
Back to the mystery. I had the culprit pegged very early on and even guessed the reason and his intended target as soon as Elizabeth spoke with Zora (took her a little longer).
For the second book in a row, Elizabeth seemed a little more self-involved than usual. She was worried about Ray stumbling upon her while she searched his room (with good reason, it turns out), yet she never seemed concerned that Polly was on a date with a probable murderer. After her actions, it's hard to take her thought process serious regarding her feelings of responsibility toward Polly. Of course, poor Polly might end up traumatized no matter what Elizabeth does. First, Sam dumps her. Then, she hooks up with a murderer. Talk about bad luck!
I also felt a couple of references to the war were inaccurate. References to the troops in the trenches and female ambulance drivers both seem much more in line with WWI than WWII. WWII did not feature trench warfare, yet Elizabeth and others refer to the soldiers in the trenches. Maybe the expression just lingered in Britain after the first world war. Also, there might have been female ambulance drivers in WWII, but its definitely an image more associated with WWI, at least in my mind.
Back to the mystery. I had the culprit pegged very early on and even guessed the reason and his intended target as soon as Elizabeth spoke with Zora (took her a little longer).
For the second book in a row, Elizabeth seemed a little more self-involved than usual. She was worried about Ray stumbling upon her while she searched his room (with good reason, it turns out), yet she never seemed concerned that Polly was on a date with a probable murderer. After her actions, it's hard to take her thought process serious regarding her feelings of responsibility toward Polly. Of course, poor Polly might end up traumatized no matter what Elizabeth does. First, Sam dumps her. Then, she hooks up with a murderer. Talk about bad luck!
I also felt a couple of references to the war were inaccurate. References to the troops in the trenches and female ambulance drivers both seem much more in line with WWI than WWII. WWII did not feature trench warfare, yet Elizabeth and others refer to the soldiers in the trenches. Maybe the expression just lingered in Britain after the first world war. Also, there might have been female ambulance drivers in WWII, but its definitely an image more associated with WWI, at least in my mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2009
In this mystery, set in the small town of Sitting Marsh in England during World War II, residents are not happy when a munitions factory is built near the town. So unhappy, in fact, that Douglas McNally, manager of the plant, shows Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton some threatening letters he has received. When McNally and a cleaning woman are found dead after a fire at the factory, the Fire Marshall rules the fire an accident, which satisfies the police, but Elizabeth isn't convinced, especially when she hears the victims bodies were found inside a locked office. She decides to investigate the deaths herself, but unless she's careful, things might get too hot for her!
This is another delightful cozy mystery in Kate Kingsbury's Manor House series. The mystery itself is slight, there aren't that many suspects and it's pretty obvious who the murderer is. But I read the mysteries more for the characters and what is going on in their lives. Elizabeth is a good strong heroine, although a little too full of her "position" in the village at times. Fans of the series will be glad to hear that Earl is back, but you'll have to read the book to find out how and why! Violet and Martin, are a bit of a cliché as the faithful household retainers, but Kingsbury writes them in such a way that you care for them and actually hold your breath when Martin walks down the stairs, hoping he'll make it. And Martin is involved in some of the most humorous moments in the book, making a reader wonder if he is as dotty as he sometimes seems to be. Housemaids Sadie and Polly show what life was like for young girls in war torn England.
This is a good book for fans of cozy, humorous mysteries.
This is another delightful cozy mystery in Kate Kingsbury's Manor House series. The mystery itself is slight, there aren't that many suspects and it's pretty obvious who the murderer is. But I read the mysteries more for the characters and what is going on in their lives. Elizabeth is a good strong heroine, although a little too full of her "position" in the village at times. Fans of the series will be glad to hear that Earl is back, but you'll have to read the book to find out how and why! Violet and Martin, are a bit of a cliché as the faithful household retainers, but Kingsbury writes them in such a way that you care for them and actually hold your breath when Martin walks down the stairs, hoping he'll make it. And Martin is involved in some of the most humorous moments in the book, making a reader wonder if he is as dotty as he sometimes seems to be. Housemaids Sadie and Polly show what life was like for young girls in war torn England.
This is a good book for fans of cozy, humorous mysteries.
May 14, 2009
Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton, lady of the Manor House of the quiet village of Sitting Marsh has another mystery on her hands. A munitions factory has just been built to help the war effort but not everyone is happy about it.
The Americans are still ruffling feathers as well as the locals who are not happy about the new munitions factory. But who would stop it?
Lady Compton cannot let such happenings go on in her village. As usual she proceeds to find the cause.
The Americans are still ruffling feathers as well as the locals who are not happy about the new munitions factory. But who would stop it?
Lady Compton cannot let such happenings go on in her village. As usual she proceeds to find the cause.
August 11, 2014
Not too bad, not the best in the series, either. Things are progressing nicely between the lady and the major. I like Sadie. I hope things turn out well for Polly. And I hope Rita Crumm meets her match. She annoys me no end, although sometimes I feel a bit sorry for her. All in all nice touches describing the home front. Two more volumes to go ...
January 23, 2015
2 more books to go. Its very obvious how they will end romantically.
It is starting to annoy me how a very logical strong woman can do the stupidest things and has to be rescued by the leadng man at the very last minute in every single book. Just once I'd like to see her use her smarts and get out of it herself!
It is starting to annoy me how a very logical strong woman can do the stupidest things and has to be rescued by the leadng man at the very last minute in every single book. Just once I'd like to see her use her smarts and get out of it herself!
July 23, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyable, for the mystery, the love story and the descriptions of WWII in England. How the British coped with rationing, black-outs, rumors and trusting neighbors is touches on some of the isolation and feelings of 2020 with Covid-19 demanding change in our lives. Kate Kingsbury reminds us of the depth of friendship and love to protect one another, all wrapped up in a mystery of a fire in a gun factory.
February 20, 2017
This story begins eight months after the conclusion of the previous novel, “Berried Alive.” Major Earl Monroe left Sitting Marsh – and Lady Elizabeth – all those months ago to return to America when his son was critically injured in an accident. In those eight months, Elizabeth has only heard from Earl twice, once to let her know that the son was recovering and then a generic Christmas card essentially addressed to the entire household.
And now, as the story opens, Lady Elizabeth is doing exactly what she has done every single day for the last eight months. She is putting one foot in front of the other and doing her duty to the village as befitting her position as Lady of the Manor. And she is trying to accept her life as it now is, lonely, on the edge of poverty and alone but for her servants and employees.
Then two events transpire on consecutive days. First, the newly opened and actively despised munitions factory is set ablaze, in the middle of the night, killing its manager and a cleaning lady. And on the next day, Lady Elizabeth returns from her initial investigation into the fire and finds a familiar Jeep parked in its special place in the courtyard.
Kingsbury does a marvelous job of constructing the mystery surrounding the fire and deaths at the munitions factory. Even though this is the seventh book in the series, the author is able to create fresh situations and misadventures for Elizabeth to get into. No two murders or murderers or motives are ever the same. These may be cozies by genre, but they are not cookie-cutter books. Each entry advances the personal storyline of each character, major and secondary, and incorporates the events of the mystery into their personalities.
If I have one complaint about this series – and this book – it is the author’s constant need to make Elizabeth incredibly logical one minute and pitifully naïve the next. Kingsbury writes Lady Elizabeth as a character who is highly intelligent, incredibly observant and honorable almost to a fault. Then she belies that intelligence by writing her as a woman with a tendency toward absolutes, constantly using modifiers such as “never,” “always” and “couldn’t possibly.”
And while Kingsbury has Earl repeatedly warn Elizabeth that one day he may not be there or get to her in time to save her from her impetuousness, Elizabeth still, after at least four near-death experiences, believes otherwise. And I quote: “…she went with him into the cool, dark night, secure in the knowledge that no matter what scrapes she might get into, he would always be there for her.”
I realize that this type of statement is an oh-so-romantic end to the book, but it is not realistic. In fact, it clashes with everything else that Kingsbury has had Elizabeth express through her internal monologues. Its as if Lady Elizabeth, at the end of the story, develops complete amnesia regarding the last eight months without Earl and has truly deluded herself to the fact that he still pilots bombers over Germany.
There are still two books left in the series. Any reader with a lick of experience in a mystery series that has continuing characters can see where this is heading.
And now, as the story opens, Lady Elizabeth is doing exactly what she has done every single day for the last eight months. She is putting one foot in front of the other and doing her duty to the village as befitting her position as Lady of the Manor. And she is trying to accept her life as it now is, lonely, on the edge of poverty and alone but for her servants and employees.
Then two events transpire on consecutive days. First, the newly opened and actively despised munitions factory is set ablaze, in the middle of the night, killing its manager and a cleaning lady. And on the next day, Lady Elizabeth returns from her initial investigation into the fire and finds a familiar Jeep parked in its special place in the courtyard.
Kingsbury does a marvelous job of constructing the mystery surrounding the fire and deaths at the munitions factory. Even though this is the seventh book in the series, the author is able to create fresh situations and misadventures for Elizabeth to get into. No two murders or murderers or motives are ever the same. These may be cozies by genre, but they are not cookie-cutter books. Each entry advances the personal storyline of each character, major and secondary, and incorporates the events of the mystery into their personalities.
If I have one complaint about this series – and this book – it is the author’s constant need to make Elizabeth incredibly logical one minute and pitifully naïve the next. Kingsbury writes Lady Elizabeth as a character who is highly intelligent, incredibly observant and honorable almost to a fault. Then she belies that intelligence by writing her as a woman with a tendency toward absolutes, constantly using modifiers such as “never,” “always” and “couldn’t possibly.”
And while Kingsbury has Earl repeatedly warn Elizabeth that one day he may not be there or get to her in time to save her from her impetuousness, Elizabeth still, after at least four near-death experiences, believes otherwise. And I quote: “…she went with him into the cool, dark night, secure in the knowledge that no matter what scrapes she might get into, he would always be there for her.”
I realize that this type of statement is an oh-so-romantic end to the book, but it is not realistic. In fact, it clashes with everything else that Kingsbury has had Elizabeth express through her internal monologues. Its as if Lady Elizabeth, at the end of the story, develops complete amnesia regarding the last eight months without Earl and has truly deluded herself to the fact that he still pilots bombers over Germany.
There are still two books left in the series. Any reader with a lick of experience in a mystery series that has continuing characters can see where this is heading.
March 30, 2016
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
October 8, 2016
In the small town of Sitting Marsh they have decided to build a Munitions Building for the war. Rita & her group of women have decided that it's much too risky & could put their town on the map for being bombed by the Germans. So she decides to rally a protest, when the factory explodes & they find two victims dead. The town police are ruling it an accident but Lady Elizabeth isn't so sure. In any case murder will not be tolerated by Lady Elizabeth so obviously she has to step in & investigate this case as usual. I just can't get enough of THE MANOR HOUSE SERIES. To my chagrine, there are only two more books in the series. I would be happy with another dozen or more.
October 4, 2012
Good book set in a small village in England during WWII. I like the characters & will continue on with this series (I mistakenly thought this was book #1, but, in fact, it is #7... so onward to #8 ;) )
October 6, 2013
Nice cozy mystery.
March 28, 2015
Another good story
Love the continuing stories of lady Elizabeth adventures and her dilemma with earl. Violet and Martin add to the flavor of this series
Love the continuing stories of lady Elizabeth adventures and her dilemma with earl. Violet and Martin add to the flavor of this series
January 6, 2014
Lovely cozy re-read.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/748632...
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/748632...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews