This book was over run with characters. The main characters were worth hanging on for. Their story was strong and I liked his family, which with the arriving cousins from the country made a lot. I also liked her brother Lewis, and her ladies maid, who was, but wasn't ton. I know, that should have its own story. The book was a tangle of inter woven stories, with in the main story. It was very distracting. I just kept reading and stopped trying to figure out who was who, in the plot. Through all this mis - mash there is also fires being set, over a letter. The book begins with a horrible family death, then does not go back, and explain it till the end. I would only recommend this book to someone who can ignore all the buzzing bees of what seemed unimportant comings, and goings, and stick to the main characters. It was a three for me, and I'm generous, but I liked the last half of the book,and the ending.