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Lady Eleanor #2
The Gatehouse
All he loves is in danger but he can’t hear the murderer’s step ...
Moments before his marriage, Christopher Sterry’s twin brother is murdered. One would expect Christopher to become the next Earl of Longford. No one would be surprised if he married his twin’s almost-bride, Helen Grove. She is, after all, his closest friend and confidante.
Except Christopher is deaf. The world outside Longford Manor believes that a deaf mute must also be a half-wit brute, unfit to be earl and, most certainly, capable of murdering his brother. He is the prime suspect – especially since he found the body.
Helen waits at the altar while her groom lies murdered in the folly. But there is no time to mourn. Christopher is in danger and so, it appears, is she. Ignoring her own risks, Helen crosses into the line of fire to protect the new earl. And in championing his cause, she comes to realize that it was not the dead twin she’d loved, but the deaf one.
Lady Eleanor solves crimes more thoroughly than any male magistrate. So when Christopher, her godson, is condemned without evidence, she sets out to prove both his innocence and his competence as earl. If she fails, Christopher will die… or be returned to an asylum worse than hell.
Book 2 ~ Lady Eleanor Mysteries ~ Regency romantic mystery with a touch of Gothic.
Moments before his marriage, Christopher Sterry’s twin brother is murdered. One would expect Christopher to become the next Earl of Longford. No one would be surprised if he married his twin’s almost-bride, Helen Grove. She is, after all, his closest friend and confidante.
Except Christopher is deaf. The world outside Longford Manor believes that a deaf mute must also be a half-wit brute, unfit to be earl and, most certainly, capable of murdering his brother. He is the prime suspect – especially since he found the body.
Helen waits at the altar while her groom lies murdered in the folly. But there is no time to mourn. Christopher is in danger and so, it appears, is she. Ignoring her own risks, Helen crosses into the line of fire to protect the new earl. And in championing his cause, she comes to realize that it was not the dead twin she’d loved, but the deaf one.
Lady Eleanor solves crimes more thoroughly than any male magistrate. So when Christopher, her godson, is condemned without evidence, she sets out to prove both his innocence and his competence as earl. If she fails, Christopher will die… or be returned to an asylum worse than hell.
Book 2 ~ Lady Eleanor Mysteries ~ Regency romantic mystery with a touch of Gothic.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2017
55 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Becca St. John
17 books48 followersAn Accidental Writer ~
Writing was a tool, not a toy, until a stay in an ancient (I swear it was haunted) hotel on a frightfully stormy night straight from a clichéd novel full of howling wind and creaking floors. The night drove me to a bookcase full of dog eared romances. Sleepless turned to fascination. Hooked I read old romances, new romances, both sexy and sweet until my own tales begged to be written.
Writing was a tool, not a toy, until a stay in an ancient (I swear it was haunted) hotel on a frightfully stormy night straight from a clichéd novel full of howling wind and creaking floors. The night drove me to a bookcase full of dog eared romances. Sleepless turned to fascination. Hooked I read old romances, new romances, both sexy and sweet until my own tales begged to be written.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 11, 2017
"Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review"
I’ve requested this book not because it was a thriller but because of its wounded hero, and I was more interested in the romantic plot than in the suspense one.
I liked how the author treated the hero’s disability and how it was well interwoven throughout the story, demonstrating a wide research of various aspects (historical, social, clinical, etc.). Above all, I liked that she didn’t ‘forget’ the hero’s disability but really incorporated it in the plot, in a realistic and solid way.
The prejudices affecting deafness are also dramatized, with the vision of this condition as dumbness or “a question of mental competence” (quote from ARC), affecting the hero in so many ways.
As the hero is a rich aristocrat, he has an interpreter, another dimension well tackled by the author. He reads lips too, something that always leaves me a bit incredulous (but, unlike other writers, the author introduces this skill very carefully).
I liked the heroine's and Lady Eleanor tireless support of the hero.
I think that the chronological narrative creates some monotonous moments in the story and sometimes there's too much things going on.
Above all I loved a great hero, who his "intelligent, sane and deaf" (quote from ARC).
I'm grateful to the publisher, Winterbourne Farm Publishing, the author, Becca St. John, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
I’ve requested this book not because it was a thriller but because of its wounded hero, and I was more interested in the romantic plot than in the suspense one.
I liked how the author treated the hero’s disability and how it was well interwoven throughout the story, demonstrating a wide research of various aspects (historical, social, clinical, etc.). Above all, I liked that she didn’t ‘forget’ the hero’s disability but really incorporated it in the plot, in a realistic and solid way.
The prejudices affecting deafness are also dramatized, with the vision of this condition as dumbness or “a question of mental competence” (quote from ARC), affecting the hero in so many ways.
As the hero is a rich aristocrat, he has an interpreter, another dimension well tackled by the author. He reads lips too, something that always leaves me a bit incredulous (but, unlike other writers, the author introduces this skill very carefully).
I liked the heroine's and Lady Eleanor tireless support of the hero.
I think that the chronological narrative creates some monotonous moments in the story and sometimes there's too much things going on.
Above all I loved a great hero, who his "intelligent, sane and deaf" (quote from ARC).
I'm grateful to the publisher, Winterbourne Farm Publishing, the author, Becca St. John, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
March 5, 2017
Excellent mystery. Four stars because the romance was a bit convoluted, but a good story all told.
March 30, 2017
Great mystery, indeed!
Christopher, Earl of Longford, is a perfect gentleman with a brilliant, sane mind, who's harshly judged and distrusted by people for being deaf. Many consider him senseless, mentaly incompetent, a dolt, for he can't express himself in words. He endured traumatizing mistreatment and physical punishments in the Conservatory for the Permanently Infirm when he was young, that led him to develop a defensive reaction when approached by behind his back.
It's a shame there's so little romance in this book, I'd enjoyed much more if Longford and Helen had had more time together. Love him!
Christopher, Earl of Longford, is a perfect gentleman with a brilliant, sane mind, who's harshly judged and distrusted by people for being deaf. Many consider him senseless, mentaly incompetent, a dolt, for he can't express himself in words. He endured traumatizing mistreatment and physical punishments in the Conservatory for the Permanently Infirm when he was young, that led him to develop a defensive reaction when approached by behind his back.
It's a shame there's so little romance in this book, I'd enjoyed much more if Longford and Helen had had more time together. Love him!
February 16, 2017
THE GATEHOUSE by Becca St. John is an extraordinary Regency Romance. Book 2 in her amazing "Lady Eleanor Mysteries" series, can be read as a stand alone. See, "Summerton", book 1.
What a unique story, a deaf hero, Christopher Sterry, the possible next Earl of Longford, after his brother and twin is murdered on what was supposed to be his wedding day and Helen Grove, his brother's almost bride, his best friend and confidante. But will Christopher's disability cause him more harm, or will his peers be able to accept him for what he really is, a capable, deaf mute in an incapable world, or will he lose all, and be condemned as a murderer, because of his disability. Helen puts herself in the sights of a killer, and to save the man who holds her heart. Enter.....Christopher's god mother, Lady Eleanor, who solves crime better than any man could do, and is determined to prove her god son's innocence and his competence to be the next Earl of Longford. Or will Christopher be sent back to an asylum?
Fast paced and very impressive. I loved how Ms. St. John interweaves Christopher's disability into the story, into the plot in a realistic way, without deeming the hero as incompetent. She also emphasised how Christopher reads lips and uses an interpreter . Well done! The reader can tell how much research and hard work went into developing Christopher's character. I loved how Christopher's god mother, Lady Eleanor, and Helen supported his innocence and how they supported him throughout the story.
Ms. St. John, took a story that had many complications and made it her own. Whew, she has written a masterfully and brilliant story. This story has so much to offer readers in this complicated, but well thought out story. A page turner for sure! Bravo, Becca St. John. You don't want to miss "The Gatehouse". An absolutely must read Regency Romance with a touch of Gothic intrigue. A unique story with some very unique characters and a very different plot. Enjoyable and satisfying read.
I received a complimentary copy.
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR
What a unique story, a deaf hero, Christopher Sterry, the possible next Earl of Longford, after his brother and twin is murdered on what was supposed to be his wedding day and Helen Grove, his brother's almost bride, his best friend and confidante. But will Christopher's disability cause him more harm, or will his peers be able to accept him for what he really is, a capable, deaf mute in an incapable world, or will he lose all, and be condemned as a murderer, because of his disability. Helen puts herself in the sights of a killer, and to save the man who holds her heart. Enter.....Christopher's god mother, Lady Eleanor, who solves crime better than any man could do, and is determined to prove her god son's innocence and his competence to be the next Earl of Longford. Or will Christopher be sent back to an asylum?
Fast paced and very impressive. I loved how Ms. St. John interweaves Christopher's disability into the story, into the plot in a realistic way, without deeming the hero as incompetent. She also emphasised how Christopher reads lips and uses an interpreter . Well done! The reader can tell how much research and hard work went into developing Christopher's character. I loved how Christopher's god mother, Lady Eleanor, and Helen supported his innocence and how they supported him throughout the story.
Ms. St. John, took a story that had many complications and made it her own. Whew, she has written a masterfully and brilliant story. This story has so much to offer readers in this complicated, but well thought out story. A page turner for sure! Bravo, Becca St. John. You don't want to miss "The Gatehouse". An absolutely must read Regency Romance with a touch of Gothic intrigue. A unique story with some very unique characters and a very different plot. Enjoyable and satisfying read.
I received a complimentary copy.
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR
November 13, 2018
The Gatehouse
The second book was as good as the first and fellow readers, it stands alone nicely. This writer has captured my praise for good writing. Great new characters in this book, while keeping wonderful Eleanor, our great sleuth of a bygone era. The ending was thrilling. Such a great chase scene. Thank you for writing clean, historical romance mysteries. I'm hooked!
The second book was as good as the first and fellow readers, it stands alone nicely. This writer has captured my praise for good writing. Great new characters in this book, while keeping wonderful Eleanor, our great sleuth of a bygone era. The ending was thrilling. Such a great chase scene. Thank you for writing clean, historical romance mysteries. I'm hooked!
June 5, 2017
Becca St. John.... Lady Eleanor at her best.
Very exciting Read .Becca St. John. Know s how to keep her characters evolving. The novel is a wonderful mystery with more secret s ,twists and turn s,and unexpected truth s. Enjoy!
Very exciting Read .Becca St. John. Know s how to keep her characters evolving. The novel is a wonderful mystery with more secret s ,twists and turn s,and unexpected truth s. Enjoy!
June 19, 2019
Complex mystery
Good period piece with nice romance. But too many deaths in a blink of an eye to be believable. Would like to see the character Eleanor in subsequent less violent mysteries.
Good period piece with nice romance. But too many deaths in a blink of an eye to be believable. Would like to see the character Eleanor in subsequent less violent mysteries.
November 8, 2017
Great mystery
Love this book with all the twists and turns. It would lead one direction and then it would go another. Took me almost the entire book before I caught on.
Love this book with all the twists and turns. It would lead one direction and then it would go another. Took me almost the entire book before I caught on.
June 26, 2017
Great mystery!
This book is interesting and very detailed. The murders and the love story are very interesting. Lady Elenore has her hands full trying to figure out who did these and why. The characters are very believable and well developed. I had to read it in a day because it was so captivating.
This book is interesting and very detailed. The murders and the love story are very interesting. Lady Elenore has her hands full trying to figure out who did these and why. The characters are very believable and well developed. I had to read it in a day because it was so captivating.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews