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Rosalind Thorne Mysteries #2
A Purely Private Matter
The Rosalind Thorne mystery series—inspired by the novels of Jane Austen—continues as the audacious Rosalind strives to aid those in need while navigating the halls of high society...
Rosalind Thorne has slowly but assuredly gained a reputation as “a useful woman”—by helping respectable women out of some less-than-respectable predicaments.
Her latest endeavor is a tragedy waiting to happen. Desperate Margaretta Seymore is with child—and her husband is receiving poisoned pen letters that imply that her condition is the result of an affair with the notorious actor Fletcher Cavendish. Margaretta asks Rosalind to find out who is behind the scurrilous letters. But before she can make any progress, Cavendish is found dead, stabbed through the heart.
Suddenly, Rosalind is plunged into the middle of one of the most sensational murder trials London has ever seen, and her client’s husband is the prime suspect. With the help of the charming Bow Street runner Adam Harkness, she must drop the curtain on this fatal drama before any more lives are ruined.
Rosalind Thorne has slowly but assuredly gained a reputation as “a useful woman”—by helping respectable women out of some less-than-respectable predicaments.
Her latest endeavor is a tragedy waiting to happen. Desperate Margaretta Seymore is with child—and her husband is receiving poisoned pen letters that imply that her condition is the result of an affair with the notorious actor Fletcher Cavendish. Margaretta asks Rosalind to find out who is behind the scurrilous letters. But before she can make any progress, Cavendish is found dead, stabbed through the heart.
Suddenly, Rosalind is plunged into the middle of one of the most sensational murder trials London has ever seen, and her client’s husband is the prime suspect. With the help of the charming Bow Street runner Adam Harkness, she must drop the curtain on this fatal drama before any more lives are ruined.
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First published May 2, 2017
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About the author
Darcie Wilde
19 books677 followersDarcie Wilde is a pseudonym for Sarah Zettel, author of mysteries, science fiction, romance and Young Adult fiction, including the New York Times Notable Book Fool’s War and the bestselling Rosalind Thorne mysteries A Useful Woman. She also writes under the names Delia James, Sarah Zettel, Jennifer Hawkins C. L. Anderson and Marissa Day.
Darcie writes her classically styled (not to mention stylish) mysteries as well as adventurous romances from a university town in a certain northern-midwestern state that has been known to bear some passing resemblance to a mitten. When not writing, she’s reading, cooking, hiking, swimming, climbing things, embroidering other things, raising her rapidly growing son and trying to convince her cat — Buffy the Vermin Slayer — not to do any further damage to the furniture.
Darcie writes her classically styled (not to mention stylish) mysteries as well as adventurous romances from a university town in a certain northern-midwestern state that has been known to bear some passing resemblance to a mitten. When not writing, she’s reading, cooking, hiking, swimming, climbing things, embroidering other things, raising her rapidly growing son and trying to convince her cat — Buffy the Vermin Slayer — not to do any further damage to the furniture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
December 20, 2019
It's been a few years, but I finally got to the follow up of a fabulous Regency Era mystery series featuring a bright, undaunted Rosalind Thorne. Miss Thorne took her family's fall from grace as a challenge instead of an epitaph by carving out a place on the peripheral of society as a useful woman including getting her charges out of the sticky problem of murder. This latest continues the intriguing personal story lines and character development behind the mystery itself that kept me reading swiftly and not wishing to put aside the book.
A Purely Private Matter is book two in a series that offers standalone mysteries with each new installment, but reads best in order because of series plot threads carrying over.
Rosalind is holding household with her varying and often complex tasks set by her clients though her latest task has left her off balance because she could have sworn she caught sight of her vanished sister. Has Charlotte returned and if so, why has she not made herself known to Rosalind?
But, a new case involving a poetress wishing Rosalind to help her avoid her husband bringing a criminal suit her male actor friend and divorce to her for infidelity, is definitely enough to keep Rosalind distracted. She is already convinced that while the situation is nasty enough that she has not been given the whole truth least of which by the woman herself and then a bloody murder follows. Rosalind has disconcerting encounters with the man she once thought to marry and he's still interested mixed with brushes with Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness who also makes her heart flutter. Rosalind sets herself to the task of getting to the truth even though people deliberately obscure it and work against her and she is glad to have Mr. Harkness doggedly working the case through official channels.
As with the first book, I was struck with a feeling of being immersed in the Regency period and world of London at that time. The characters come from more than one social strata lending a nice rich variety. I enjoy the dual narration of Rosalind and Adam though Rosalind gets more narration time. The pace and build up is slow, but sure as it layers the life of Rosalind with the mystery.
Rosalind is a complex character. She was reared to be part of London High Society, but then her father getting into gambling and debts before disappearing disgraced her family leaving her chances of a good match and comfortable future shot to pieces. Her older sister left with her father and seventeen year old Rosalind lived with a troubled mother until her death when Rosalind used her remaining society contacts to build a life as a 'useful woman' who could aid with social situations to secrets and lately murder. This has made her leery of giving up her hard-fought for independence and yet she knows her financial stability is precarious at best. This creates the tug o' war she feels when her heart yearns toward either of the men interested in her and both ineligible for two different reasons. Her past has hardened her and made her cynical. She also knows she's smarter, more skilled, and more able than most of the women and men of her acquaintance so she hates that they tend to look with pity or down their noses at her because of her father's actions. By saving their bacon and helping them keep their troubles and sometimes dirty secrets tucked away, she gets a bit of her own back.
That brings me to the themes and elements of a woman's world that appear in this one. I seem to learn something new each time I pick one of these up. In this case, it is how cases of accused infidelity were handled. Because the woman is legally her husband's property, the legal filing is against the accused man suing for damage of property just like one would sue if the guy busted up the furniture or shot the guy's horse. Further, I was intrigued by how a woman getting paid for her poetry is celebrated and brought into society's salons after growing up beneath society. Fascinating was also the women who ran gambling houses right out of their own homes with 'by invitation only' type parties. I was startled to learn that a person with a stutter was thought to be mentally impaired and might even find themselves committed to a mad house when in the care of the wrong guardian.
I enjoyed the authentic feel to the criminal investigation and then judicial follow-up. Very fascinating how evidence was gathered and how the coroner and later court proceedings went. It's tough to wrap one's mind around the guilty until proven innocent way which is the reverse of things now. The theater world at the time was also given some good page time and I loved that real theater characters were mixed in.
Though, as far as authenticity went, I did get mildly annoyed with the address of upper and lower aristocracy and gentry in this book. I don't remember it being a problem in the first book, but it has been a few years. To hear a duke addressed as 'Lord Casselmain' instead of 'His Grace, the Duke of...' or 'Your Grace' while a Marquis got addressed as 'Your Grace' instead of 'my lord' or 'Lord so and so'. The most often misused one was man with a knighthood (or maybe it was a baronet, but either way...) and his wife. He was Sir Bertram Seymore which should have made it 'Sir Bertram and Lady Seymore' but instead we got 'Sir (without his first name) and Lady Bertram' every time. I know this is piddling compared to the heart of the story and the characters and the settings, but since it was always happening, I was distracted.
All in all, it was a solid story that kept me engaged and left me eager for more of the series. Those who enjoy well-painted historical settings and world, developed characters, and layered plots should definitely pick these up.
A Purely Private Matter is book two in a series that offers standalone mysteries with each new installment, but reads best in order because of series plot threads carrying over.
Rosalind is holding household with her varying and often complex tasks set by her clients though her latest task has left her off balance because she could have sworn she caught sight of her vanished sister. Has Charlotte returned and if so, why has she not made herself known to Rosalind?
But, a new case involving a poetress wishing Rosalind to help her avoid her husband bringing a criminal suit her male actor friend and divorce to her for infidelity, is definitely enough to keep Rosalind distracted. She is already convinced that while the situation is nasty enough that she has not been given the whole truth least of which by the woman herself and then a bloody murder follows. Rosalind has disconcerting encounters with the man she once thought to marry and he's still interested mixed with brushes with Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness who also makes her heart flutter. Rosalind sets herself to the task of getting to the truth even though people deliberately obscure it and work against her and she is glad to have Mr. Harkness doggedly working the case through official channels.
As with the first book, I was struck with a feeling of being immersed in the Regency period and world of London at that time. The characters come from more than one social strata lending a nice rich variety. I enjoy the dual narration of Rosalind and Adam though Rosalind gets more narration time. The pace and build up is slow, but sure as it layers the life of Rosalind with the mystery.
Rosalind is a complex character. She was reared to be part of London High Society, but then her father getting into gambling and debts before disappearing disgraced her family leaving her chances of a good match and comfortable future shot to pieces. Her older sister left with her father and seventeen year old Rosalind lived with a troubled mother until her death when Rosalind used her remaining society contacts to build a life as a 'useful woman' who could aid with social situations to secrets and lately murder. This has made her leery of giving up her hard-fought for independence and yet she knows her financial stability is precarious at best. This creates the tug o' war she feels when her heart yearns toward either of the men interested in her and both ineligible for two different reasons. Her past has hardened her and made her cynical. She also knows she's smarter, more skilled, and more able than most of the women and men of her acquaintance so she hates that they tend to look with pity or down their noses at her because of her father's actions. By saving their bacon and helping them keep their troubles and sometimes dirty secrets tucked away, she gets a bit of her own back.
That brings me to the themes and elements of a woman's world that appear in this one. I seem to learn something new each time I pick one of these up. In this case, it is how cases of accused infidelity were handled. Because the woman is legally her husband's property, the legal filing is against the accused man suing for damage of property just like one would sue if the guy busted up the furniture or shot the guy's horse. Further, I was intrigued by how a woman getting paid for her poetry is celebrated and brought into society's salons after growing up beneath society. Fascinating was also the women who ran gambling houses right out of their own homes with 'by invitation only' type parties. I was startled to learn that a person with a stutter was thought to be mentally impaired and might even find themselves committed to a mad house when in the care of the wrong guardian.
I enjoyed the authentic feel to the criminal investigation and then judicial follow-up. Very fascinating how evidence was gathered and how the coroner and later court proceedings went. It's tough to wrap one's mind around the guilty until proven innocent way which is the reverse of things now. The theater world at the time was also given some good page time and I loved that real theater characters were mixed in.
Though, as far as authenticity went, I did get mildly annoyed with the address of upper and lower aristocracy and gentry in this book. I don't remember it being a problem in the first book, but it has been a few years. To hear a duke addressed as 'Lord Casselmain' instead of 'His Grace, the Duke of...' or 'Your Grace' while a Marquis got addressed as 'Your Grace' instead of 'my lord' or 'Lord so and so'. The most often misused one was man with a knighthood (or maybe it was a baronet, but either way...) and his wife. He was Sir Bertram Seymore which should have made it 'Sir Bertram and Lady Seymore' but instead we got 'Sir (without his first name) and Lady Bertram' every time. I know this is piddling compared to the heart of the story and the characters and the settings, but since it was always happening, I was distracted.
All in all, it was a solid story that kept me engaged and left me eager for more of the series. Those who enjoy well-painted historical settings and world, developed characters, and layered plots should definitely pick these up.
September 1, 2017
A Purely Private Matter is the second Regency mystery starring Rosalind Thorne, a plucky gentlewoman who has fallen on hard times through no fault of her own. She maintains a tenuous position in society by serving as what would these days be called a crisis manager for women of ton.
This is a series that would probably best be read in order: while this tale could stand alone, I feel readers would have more of an attachment to the heroine if her backstory were more fully fleshed out by reading the first novel in the series (A Useful Woman).
The author is a pro: she ticks off all the plot boxes for mystery novels with romantic elements. There are the two potential suitors, each with his pros and cons; the wisecracking sidekick; the climactic scene when the perpetrator brandishes a pistol at the heroine; and so forth. That the stories don’t feel overly formulaic is owed to two factors—the unusual premise and some fairly elegant Regency-esque prose. I’m a reader who gets knocked out of the story whenever there are anachronisms or grammatical errors, and there aren’t many here (though there are a few: the author, for instance, needs to learn the difference between like and as if and how each should be used; for another example, I don’t think “slumming” was a term in the early nineteenth century).
The plot is satisfyingly intricate and the dénouement is psychologically plausible. One of the two romantic possibilities got rather short shrift in this book, but he’s still in the running and I look forward to developments in the next story. I enjoyed following the trail of clues; the Regency setting is nicely realized—especially when it comes to servant characters, who are often overlooked in stories written in this era. This is a solid historical mystery series.
This is a series that would probably best be read in order: while this tale could stand alone, I feel readers would have more of an attachment to the heroine if her backstory were more fully fleshed out by reading the first novel in the series (A Useful Woman).
The author is a pro: she ticks off all the plot boxes for mystery novels with romantic elements. There are the two potential suitors, each with his pros and cons; the wisecracking sidekick; the climactic scene when the perpetrator brandishes a pistol at the heroine; and so forth. That the stories don’t feel overly formulaic is owed to two factors—the unusual premise and some fairly elegant Regency-esque prose. I’m a reader who gets knocked out of the story whenever there are anachronisms or grammatical errors, and there aren’t many here (though there are a few: the author, for instance, needs to learn the difference between like and as if and how each should be used; for another example, I don’t think “slumming” was a term in the early nineteenth century).
The plot is satisfyingly intricate and the dénouement is psychologically plausible. One of the two romantic possibilities got rather short shrift in this book, but he’s still in the running and I look forward to developments in the next story. I enjoyed following the trail of clues; the Regency setting is nicely realized—especially when it comes to servant characters, who are often overlooked in stories written in this era. This is a solid historical mystery series.
July 22, 2023
“Except when scandal affects the middling classes,” she said slowly, “sometimes it’s not called a scandal, is it?”
“No,” said Rosalind. “It’s called a crime.”
I had a good time reading the second Rosalind Thorne mystery, but thought the execution was somewhat convoluted. In this book, Rosalind is pulled into the investigation when a prominent actor is murdered at the Theater Royale. The issue is that Rosalind has far fewer connections to the characters of the murder investigation than in the first book, and she is involved in the actual judicial process of the trial (since she's one of the last people to see the victim alive). Though it's interesting to see the court system work, it's harder to believe that Rosalind can get away with this socially.
The returning characters are great, but they get significantly less page time. I liked that we finally meet again, and that Rosalind spends time with both Devon and Adam Harkness. A lot of those interactions feel like setup for the next book, so hopefully there's a mystery that lands closer to home.
August 3, 2020
Rounding up a star because the audio narrator is delightful. I can't decide if I like the writing or just her voice.
But perhaps I ought to remove the star because I found it thoroughly confusing keeping track of all the characters. And for that I partially blame the narrator..but I'll let her keep her star because it isn't her fault I couldn't keep track of the family tree.
Anyway, this was enjoyable. About three stars in some places but I like the various 'dead ends' left by the author. The love triangle is okay--one guy has the personality of a wet blanket, the other gets a POV. Perhaps I'm wrong but it seems easy to tell who to root for.
Definitely going to grab the third one.
But perhaps I ought to remove the star because I found it thoroughly confusing keeping track of all the characters. And for that I partially blame the narrator..but I'll let her keep her star because it isn't her fault I couldn't keep track of the family tree.
Anyway, this was enjoyable. About three stars in some places but I like the various 'dead ends' left by the author. The love triangle is okay--one guy has the personality of a wet blanket, the other gets a POV. Perhaps I'm wrong but it seems easy to tell who to root for.
Definitely going to grab the third one.
May 28, 2022
I’ll admit that this second installment in the Rosalind Thorne series took me a bit to get through. I found the large cast of secondary characters a little hard to track.
I am enjoying the development of the primary characters and am especially entertained by the love triangle! I hope we get to see some of Charlotte in the next book!
I am enjoying the development of the primary characters and am especially entertained by the love triangle! I hope we get to see some of Charlotte in the next book!
July 1, 2017
A Purely Private Matter continues the crime-solving adventures of Rosalind Thorne. The story takes place in the early portion of the 1800’s where Rosalind’s family has fallen on hard times, and she is tenuously holding onto her position in London society as a “useful woman”, meaning she extricates respectable women from less-than-savory situations. In A Purely Private Matter, Rosalind is approached by Margaretta Seymore regarding threatening notes Margaretta has been receiving. What starts out as a seemingly straightforward request quickly morphs into a much more complicated matter that Rosalind much work to resolve without creating a stain on her own reputation.
Darcie Wilde captures the essence of the time period beautifully – food, manners, the streets of London, and the position of women. She also creates clever and sympathetic characters and provides them with snappy and witty dialogue. This series is a ton of fun to read, and I look forward to the next book.
Darcie Wilde captures the essence of the time period beautifully – food, manners, the streets of London, and the position of women. She also creates clever and sympathetic characters and provides them with snappy and witty dialogue. This series is a ton of fun to read, and I look forward to the next book.
June 24, 2017
3.5 to 4 stars.
The mystery in this was good. Took a lot of twists and spins and off the map roads that I didn't see coming/couldn't predict. I liked that and it made me want to keep reading, trying to figure out things along with Rosalind. I did have a slight quibble with the mystery in regards to
I did like Rosalind more in this book then then the first. Her character was fleshed out more, her relationships were explored more and I just felt I got to see more of her. I especially liked how this book showed that Rosalind hated being lied to. That is an important character trait to have, especially one for a female detective. There is a slight carry over from the first book, in terms of characters and plot but not much. I think this is a series that could be read on its own, not in any particular order which might be nice depending on how many books the author ends up writing. There is still the hint/neon sign of a love triangle that is not a love triangle yet because Rosalind doesn't know her heart yet. It was brought up a few times in here and I'm intrigued by which direction the author will take it in the future. I do have my preferences on which one Rosalind can truly be herself with and which one she is holding onto but that is just me. That can be off putting to readers (who wants long drawn out love triangles through multiple books?!?!?!) but since that part was only like 10% of the book and the other 90% was the mystery it did not bother me too much while reading. Also all three characters know about the other so it's not a secret. But I could see other readers not liking it especially if it continues to be drawn out through this series.
I'd read the next one when it gets published. I enjoyed the mystery and the glimpses of the different parts of London society during this time.
The mystery in this was good. Took a lot of twists and spins and off the map roads that I didn't see coming/couldn't predict. I liked that and it made me want to keep reading, trying to figure out things along with Rosalind. I did have a slight quibble with the mystery in regards to
I did like Rosalind more in this book then then the first. Her character was fleshed out more, her relationships were explored more and I just felt I got to see more of her. I especially liked how this book showed that Rosalind hated being lied to. That is an important character trait to have, especially one for a female detective. There is a slight carry over from the first book, in terms of characters and plot but not much. I think this is a series that could be read on its own, not in any particular order which might be nice depending on how many books the author ends up writing. There is still the hint/neon sign of a love triangle that is not a love triangle yet because Rosalind doesn't know her heart yet. It was brought up a few times in here and I'm intrigued by which direction the author will take it in the future. I do have my preferences on which one Rosalind can truly be herself with and which one she is holding onto but that is just me. That can be off putting to readers (who wants long drawn out love triangles through multiple books?!?!?!) but since that part was only like 10% of the book and the other 90% was the mystery it did not bother me too much while reading. Also all three characters know about the other so it's not a secret. But I could see other readers not liking it especially if it continues to be drawn out through this series.
I'd read the next one when it gets published. I enjoyed the mystery and the glimpses of the different parts of London society during this time.
July 17, 2017
Is okay. *shrugs*
I think something about the story telling in these doesn't work for me. It feels too vague at times--sometimes misleading, sometimes just not giving enough info for the reader to figure anything out.
I think something about the story telling in these doesn't work for me. It feels too vague at times--sometimes misleading, sometimes just not giving enough info for the reader to figure anything out.
May 29, 2017
Rosalind Thorne has made herself useful to ladies of the ton solving little matters that need the utmost discretion. When her friend Alice comes to her with a friend in need of Rosalind's help, Rosalind isn't sure she can help. Beautiful Margaretta Seymore seems to have it all but beneath the surface, her life is falling apart. Her husband, a former officer with the Royal Navy, is a drunkard and disappointed in life. Now he is accusing Margaretta of having an affair with the handsome actor Fletcher Cavendish and wants to sue Margaretta for criminal conversation [i.e. divorce her on grounds of adultery]. Margaretta maintains her innocence and wants Rosalind to help her out of her predicament, not for her own sake, but for her unborn child's. If she has a son and he is declared a bastard, he will never inherit the Marquisate from her husband's cousin (granted the cousin never marries and produces an heir). Matters become more complicated when Fletcher Cavendish is found dead in his dressing room. Who killed him becomes a matter of public speculation as the female population of London goes into mourning. Margaretta or her wronged husband seem the most obvious choices but Rosalind isn't sure it's that easy. She's determined to figure out the truth, even if it means hurting her new friend. She enlists the aid of Adam Harkness, Bow Street Runner. Meanwhile, she is also searching for information about a mysterious woman of the demi-monde she thinks might be her long lost sister Charlotte. Can she trust anyone to help her? Does she really want to know what Charlotte has been up to all these years? If she finds Charlotte, does she want to be a family again or is she happy living alone? Could she give up her occupation and her sister to marry her childhood love Devon Winterbourne, now the Duke of Castlemain? Rosalind decides to tackle one problem at a time!
I really really liked this mystery much better than the first. Now the characters and world have been established, the mystery started almost right away. It kept me reading until I was too tired to keep my eyes open. I dreamed about the story and woke up early to keep reading. I couldn't put it down until the end. I never guessed who the murderer was-ever-not even when it became clear. I was almost there but not entirely. The story is so complicated and takes many twists and turns that mystery fans will love it. My only real complaint is actually a big one. Can a peer pass on a title to his wife's sister's offspring? I didn't think it worked that way. I was under the impression it would pass to his sons and then his brother's heirs or cousins to the nth degree or in some cases MAYBE his sister's child but his wife's sister's child? A huge part of the plot hinges on this and many other coincidences. (I did like how she used the names Sir and Lady Bertram- a nod to Mansfield Park). The only other thing keeping this book from 5 stars is personal taste. I'm not sure Rosalind made the right choice. Though she couldn't have predicted exactly what would happen, she surely could have guessed she would destroy at least one family. I don't know if I could have made the same choice.
Newcomers to the Regency genre can jump right in with no prior knowledge of the haut ton. Rosalind fills the reader in on the rules of etiquette and social customs. The epigraphs from court cases and a servants' manual will add to the background knowledge.
I liked Rosalind better in this novel. She's more sure of herself but still has some lingering doubts over whether she's doing the right thing. I think she realizes, deep down, that she's happy being useful and living an independent life. If she married/marries Devon, she'd have all the duties and responsibilities of being a Duchess and maybe a mother. She wouldn't be able to solve problems for people or venture where she shouldn't be. She wouldn't have to but I think she WANTS to and needs to in order to be completely happy. I really appreciate reading about an independent spinster. Rosalind does have a love triangle but so far, she isn't aware it's a triangle and hasn't made any firm decisions.
I still have mixed feelings about Devon. I do feel sort of sorry for him. He has duties and responsibilities he never wanted and he can choose whether to help Rosalind or to withhold information. I still can't entirely forgive him for something in the first book but I almost did until the end. I really liked seeing him with his silly cousin Louisa. I think being with her shows him he doesn't want a debutante for a bride. His cousin is enough to deal with!
Some of the story is from Adam's point-of-view. Like Rosalind, he believes in truth and justice and he is very good at his job. It was nice seeing him in his element at the inquest and seeing just how good a fit his occupation is for him. His point-of-view also gives the reader his private thoughts about Rosalind. He's attracted to her for the right reasons but knows she's above him in station and thinks they could never be together even if she cared for him. I think she does care and they're a good fit- more than Rosalind and Devon.
Devon's young cousin Louisa adds some humor to the story. She's in Town for her debut season and is quite young and silly. Her raptures over Fletcher Cavendish and her insistence on full mourning for him are very funny-unintentionally on her part of course. I remember being that age and infatuated with celebrities and being very silly so I think she's spot on for her age. I just found her amusing. Her aunt is a sharp lady. She wants what makes her nephew happy and won't cause a scandal. She's willing to accept a little impropriety because the older generation was less stuffy than the current one.
The newest characters are involved in the mystery. This is a tale of two sisters- one married a brewer and one married a peer (sound familiar Mansfield Park). The brewer's sons William Seymore and Sir Bertram are unhappy with their lot in life. Perpetual complainers, they always want want want and feel someone screwed them over. I actually did feel sorry for William. His biggest problem was that he loved unwisely. His love for his wife, or his infatuation for a beautiful woman, may send him to the gallows. He also has a difficult decision to make. He's stuck between a rock and a hard place with no easy way out. Rosalind didn't like him but I did. His brother, Sir Bertram, on the other hand, is awful. He's selfish and greedy. His wife seems like she could possibly rival Lady Macbeth while still appearing to care about appearances and the dictates of Society. There was a third brother, Cecil, whose widow and daughters reside in the Bertram household. I really liked Virginia. She's a complicated character and I didn't want her to be involved in such a sordid mess. I was surprised by her actions and didn't pity her after that.
The Marquis of Weyland's family is a mixed lot. Lady Weyland is a terrible mother. She focuses all her attention on spoiling her eldest son because he's ill. I found him creepy. It's a good thing he isn't well or he would be preying on beautiful women to add to his collection of objects. His brother, Adolphus, seems like an honorable, upright man. He does his best to smooth over any family scandals and works tirelessly to keep the family name honorable. I liked him at first because he seemed kind but I think there's more than meets the eye and so does Rosalind.
Margaretta is the major player the mystery centers around. She's beautiful but brittle. She's one of those unfeeling women that populate the pages of these types of novels. I think she does have feelings and she cares about her husband, in her own way. She cares about her unborn child enough to try to extricate herself and the child from the scandal of criminal conversation. I don't think Rosalind really liked her. I'm not sure how I feel about her. I don't really feel a lot of sympathy for her based on her actions.
Though this story is on my Regency shelf, it's not much of a romance.
Read this if you love Jane Austen, the Regency period, and clean mysteries. I hope to read more about Rosalind!
I really really liked this mystery much better than the first. Now the characters and world have been established, the mystery started almost right away. It kept me reading until I was too tired to keep my eyes open. I dreamed about the story and woke up early to keep reading. I couldn't put it down until the end. I never guessed who the murderer was-ever-not even when it became clear. I was almost there but not entirely. The story is so complicated and takes many twists and turns that mystery fans will love it. My only real complaint is actually a big one. Can a peer pass on a title to his wife's sister's offspring? I didn't think it worked that way. I was under the impression it would pass to his sons and then his brother's heirs or cousins to the nth degree or in some cases MAYBE his sister's child but his wife's sister's child? A huge part of the plot hinges on this and many other coincidences. (I did like how she used the names Sir and Lady Bertram- a nod to Mansfield Park). The only other thing keeping this book from 5 stars is personal taste. I'm not sure Rosalind made the right choice. Though she couldn't have predicted exactly what would happen, she surely could have guessed she would destroy at least one family. I don't know if I could have made the same choice.
Newcomers to the Regency genre can jump right in with no prior knowledge of the haut ton. Rosalind fills the reader in on the rules of etiquette and social customs. The epigraphs from court cases and a servants' manual will add to the background knowledge.
I liked Rosalind better in this novel. She's more sure of herself but still has some lingering doubts over whether she's doing the right thing. I think she realizes, deep down, that she's happy being useful and living an independent life. If she married/marries Devon, she'd have all the duties and responsibilities of being a Duchess and maybe a mother. She wouldn't be able to solve problems for people or venture where she shouldn't be. She wouldn't have to but I think she WANTS to and needs to in order to be completely happy. I really appreciate reading about an independent spinster. Rosalind does have a love triangle but so far, she isn't aware it's a triangle and hasn't made any firm decisions.
I still have mixed feelings about Devon. I do feel sort of sorry for him. He has duties and responsibilities he never wanted and he can choose whether to help Rosalind or to withhold information. I still can't entirely forgive him for something in the first book but I almost did until the end. I really liked seeing him with his silly cousin Louisa. I think being with her shows him he doesn't want a debutante for a bride. His cousin is enough to deal with!
Some of the story is from Adam's point-of-view. Like Rosalind, he believes in truth and justice and he is very good at his job. It was nice seeing him in his element at the inquest and seeing just how good a fit his occupation is for him. His point-of-view also gives the reader his private thoughts about Rosalind. He's attracted to her for the right reasons but knows she's above him in station and thinks they could never be together even if she cared for him. I think she does care and they're a good fit- more than Rosalind and Devon.
Devon's young cousin Louisa adds some humor to the story. She's in Town for her debut season and is quite young and silly. Her raptures over Fletcher Cavendish and her insistence on full mourning for him are very funny-unintentionally on her part of course. I remember being that age and infatuated with celebrities and being very silly so I think she's spot on for her age. I just found her amusing. Her aunt is a sharp lady. She wants what makes her nephew happy and won't cause a scandal. She's willing to accept a little impropriety because the older generation was less stuffy than the current one.
The newest characters are involved in the mystery. This is a tale of two sisters- one married a brewer and one married a peer (sound familiar Mansfield Park). The brewer's sons William Seymore and Sir Bertram are unhappy with their lot in life. Perpetual complainers, they always want want want and feel someone screwed them over. I actually did feel sorry for William. His biggest problem was that he loved unwisely. His love for his wife, or his infatuation for a beautiful woman, may send him to the gallows. He also has a difficult decision to make. He's stuck between a rock and a hard place with no easy way out. Rosalind didn't like him but I did. His brother, Sir Bertram, on the other hand, is awful. He's selfish and greedy. His wife seems like she could possibly rival Lady Macbeth while still appearing to care about appearances and the dictates of Society. There was a third brother, Cecil, whose widow and daughters reside in the Bertram household. I really liked Virginia. She's a complicated character and I didn't want her to be involved in such a sordid mess. I was surprised by her actions and didn't pity her after that.
The Marquis of Weyland's family is a mixed lot. Lady Weyland is a terrible mother. She focuses all her attention on spoiling her eldest son because he's ill. I found him creepy. It's a good thing he isn't well or he would be preying on beautiful women to add to his collection of objects. His brother, Adolphus, seems like an honorable, upright man. He does his best to smooth over any family scandals and works tirelessly to keep the family name honorable. I liked him at first because he seemed kind but I think there's more than meets the eye and so does Rosalind.
Margaretta is the major player the mystery centers around. She's beautiful but brittle. She's one of those unfeeling women that populate the pages of these types of novels. I think she does have feelings and she cares about her husband, in her own way. She cares about her unborn child enough to try to extricate herself and the child from the scandal of criminal conversation. I don't think Rosalind really liked her. I'm not sure how I feel about her. I don't really feel a lot of sympathy for her based on her actions.
Though this story is on my Regency shelf, it's not much of a romance.
Read this if you love Jane Austen, the Regency period, and clean mysteries. I hope to read more about Rosalind!
June 7, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this one as well. I really, really like the characters. All of the regulars are fairly great. A few notes:
-The mystery is generally solid. I like how the mysteries generally require people not being completely honest, because to do so would invite scandal.
-The love triangle is showing signs of getting annoying, merely because while not annoying yet, eventually the current limbo will start feeling vaguely untenable.
-The opening scene has little connection to anything, and felt weird.
-Also weird, the references to Harkness as "Adam," when Rosalind is ostensibly narrator. Weird in a historical.
-
All in all, I really enjoyed this though. Immensely readable.
-The mystery is generally solid. I like how the mysteries generally require people not being completely honest, because to do so would invite scandal.
-The love triangle is showing signs of getting annoying, merely because while not annoying yet, eventually the current limbo will start feeling vaguely untenable.
-The opening scene has little connection to anything, and felt weird.
-Also weird, the references to Harkness as "Adam," when Rosalind is ostensibly narrator. Weird in a historical.
-
All in all, I really enjoyed this though. Immensely readable.
June 20, 2022
Regency Era. London, England. Darcie Wilde’s A Purely Private Matter (Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, #2) has Rosalind Thorne, a gentlewoman whose father disappeared with with her sister, Charlotte, after the family money had also ‘disappeared’, continuing to make her self ‘useful’ to members of the
“haute monde of the early nineteenth century London”. Rosalind, having been raised with the education of a female who would be taking her place in the ‘ton’ of London society, had found a way to continue to be accepted by London society and earn a living (Oh, my…) as her father actions had precluded Rosalind’s natural entry to Society. Rosalind helps Society’s women who find themselves in ‘awkward’ positions. This time includes a Mrs Seymour, the Theater Royal’s Fletcher Cavendish, Captain Seymour, Mrs. Seymour’s insanely jealous husband who imbibes way too much, and quite possibly the entire Seymour family which includes a marquis. Also making an appearance is Devon Winterbourne, a childhood friend of Rosalind’s, second son of a Duke, and Rosalind’s “first love”, but now Devon is the 8th Duke of Casselmain, and Rosalind must support herself (and previously her mother also). Thus, an thoughts of love and marriage between Rosalind and Devon are now out of the question according to Society’s rules. I like the characters of Rosalind, Mrs Kendricks, Rosalind’s do everything person, and the basic plot, but I feel this entry is too long, too convoluted, and just too much of everything, but I am looking forward to reading #3. 3.5 stars.
“haute monde of the early nineteenth century London”. Rosalind, having been raised with the education of a female who would be taking her place in the ‘ton’ of London society, had found a way to continue to be accepted by London society and earn a living (Oh, my…) as her father actions had precluded Rosalind’s natural entry to Society. Rosalind helps Society’s women who find themselves in ‘awkward’ positions. This time includes a Mrs Seymour, the Theater Royal’s Fletcher Cavendish, Captain Seymour, Mrs. Seymour’s insanely jealous husband who imbibes way too much, and quite possibly the entire Seymour family which includes a marquis. Also making an appearance is Devon Winterbourne, a childhood friend of Rosalind’s, second son of a Duke, and Rosalind’s “first love”, but now Devon is the 8th Duke of Casselmain, and Rosalind must support herself (and previously her mother also). Thus, an thoughts of love and marriage between Rosalind and Devon are now out of the question according to Society’s rules. I like the characters of Rosalind, Mrs Kendricks, Rosalind’s do everything person, and the basic plot, but I feel this entry is too long, too convoluted, and just too much of everything, but I am looking forward to reading #3. 3.5 stars.
February 24, 2022
Book 2 of 5
This series is one of my go to reads. I love how the story line and the characters flow from one book to the next. Don't let the cover fool you, even though the cover is what got my attention. This book is very detail, there are multiple characters, serious story lines and plots, very many twist and turns and then at the end of solving the mystery you never saw it coming. You have to really pay attention to the story because you will get lost in all of the characters and their roles. This book will definitely keep your attention and there is never a dull moment.
*I just had one question, who's the father of the baby? Somehow I missed that!!
Kudos to the author for writing such great mystery books. I am not sure how you are able to put and keep these stories together but please keep them coming. The characters and their voices on audio are amazing.
This series is one of my go to reads. I love how the story line and the characters flow from one book to the next. Don't let the cover fool you, even though the cover is what got my attention. This book is very detail, there are multiple characters, serious story lines and plots, very many twist and turns and then at the end of solving the mystery you never saw it coming. You have to really pay attention to the story because you will get lost in all of the characters and their roles. This book will definitely keep your attention and there is never a dull moment.
*I just had one question, who's the father of the baby? Somehow I missed that!!
Kudos to the author for writing such great mystery books. I am not sure how you are able to put and keep these stories together but please keep them coming. The characters and their voices on audio are amazing.
September 5, 2020
I am sorely disappointed in this book. I read the first in the series a couple of years ago and gave it 5 stars. I found little to recommend the mystery. The story never went anywhere. There were no clues and little mystery. The end came out of nowhere. Other readers have mentioned a lovers triangle. I even found that to be tepid at best. There were parts of the story that could have made it interesting but were not fleshed out. I do not know if I will read the next in the series as I gave the first a 5 star and the second a 2 star.
May 17, 2017
Very engrossing mystery, with the clues being slowly revealed. I had to keep reading, intensely interested in what our intrepid heroine would discover next.
On the surface, it appears to be a straightforward mystery. Captain William Seymore believes that his lovely wife Margaretta has been unfaithful and that the child she carries was fathered by famous actor Fletcher Cavendish. Margaretta hires Rosalind Thorne (our heroine) to find who is writing anonymous letters to her husband; letters that bolster his belief in her guilt. To complicate matters Margaretta freely admits that she and Cavendish have known each other for many years and are good friends, but definitely not lovers. Cavendish is murdered several days later--And the Captain finds himself in prison, awaiting trial for murdering Cavendish. It is not a spoiler to say he didn't do it. But who did?
Bow Street officer Adam Harkness and Rosalind are racing against time to solve that mystery. The trial could be held any day and matters are looking grim.
I am a sucker for a cleverly plotted mystery full of interesting characters and Ms Wilde delivers the goods. The Captain's younger brother and his wife are particularly well-drawn, as is Cavendish. And then there are the rich cousins: the dying Marquis of Weyland, his younger brother Lord Adolphus, and their reclusive mother, the Dowager. Just how do they figure into the whole mess?
Also making a return appearance is Devon Winterbourne, Duke of Casselmain, Rosalind's beau when they were both younger. He is still smitten and Rosalind is still conflicted. Some humor is provided by Devon's young cousin Louisa, who has a major fangirl crush on Cavendish.
You need not have read the first book to enjoy this one. The returning characters are presented with enough backstory to keep new readers up to date.
I am looking forward to the next one
On the surface, it appears to be a straightforward mystery. Captain William Seymore believes that his lovely wife Margaretta has been unfaithful and that the child she carries was fathered by famous actor Fletcher Cavendish. Margaretta hires Rosalind Thorne (our heroine) to find who is writing anonymous letters to her husband; letters that bolster his belief in her guilt. To complicate matters Margaretta freely admits that she and Cavendish have known each other for many years and are good friends, but definitely not lovers. Cavendish is murdered several days later--And the Captain finds himself in prison, awaiting trial for murdering Cavendish. It is not a spoiler to say he didn't do it. But who did?
Bow Street officer Adam Harkness and Rosalind are racing against time to solve that mystery. The trial could be held any day and matters are looking grim.
I am a sucker for a cleverly plotted mystery full of interesting characters and Ms Wilde delivers the goods. The Captain's younger brother and his wife are particularly well-drawn, as is Cavendish. And then there are the rich cousins: the dying Marquis of Weyland, his younger brother Lord Adolphus, and their reclusive mother, the Dowager. Just how do they figure into the whole mess?
Also making a return appearance is Devon Winterbourne, Duke of Casselmain, Rosalind's beau when they were both younger. He is still smitten and Rosalind is still conflicted. Some humor is provided by Devon's young cousin Louisa, who has a major fangirl crush on Cavendish.
You need not have read the first book to enjoy this one. The returning characters are presented with enough backstory to keep new readers up to date.
I am looking forward to the next one
May 17, 2023
2.25 Stars
This was slow and needlessly complicated.
My main gripe is the author doesn't really understand British Aristocracy, inheritance or the use of proper titles so this storyline was just doomed.
This was slow and needlessly complicated.
My main gripe is the author doesn't really understand British Aristocracy, inheritance or the use of proper titles so this storyline was just doomed.
January 17, 2025
this would go so hard as a serialized adaptation (I keep imagining something sort of in the vein of BBC's Sherlock, but not modernized)
July 3, 2017
I enjoyed this second book in the Rosalind Thorne mystery series, but not quite as much as I did the first book.
I still love the character of Rosalind, and her capability to make a life for herself within a social structure that is mean, petty, judgmental and self-important. Rosalind, through no fault of her own was changed overnight from a proper lady within the "ton" to a penniless nobody with nothing, and she managed to build a new life without becoming a whore or marrying some horrid nasty man just to survive. That makes for an interesting, likable character. The fact that Rosalind uses her intelligence and her connections from her previous life to help other women survive problems offers plenty of fodder for a good story.
I think the reason I didn't love this book as much as the first is the subject-matter of the mystery. It drifted into the maudlin for me by the end, and the hyper-dramatics of the relationship matters of this era are not of particular interest to me. It was still a good, well-written story, and Rosalind was given plenty of opportunity to show her intelligence and ability to find things out and get things done. I was just a little less interested in the matters on which she was putting her skills to use this time around.
I love the series, this world, and Rosalind, and will definitely read a next book in this series [I hope there will be one although I realize it may be a while until that would happen given this one is only recently published].
I still love the character of Rosalind, and her capability to make a life for herself within a social structure that is mean, petty, judgmental and self-important. Rosalind, through no fault of her own was changed overnight from a proper lady within the "ton" to a penniless nobody with nothing, and she managed to build a new life without becoming a whore or marrying some horrid nasty man just to survive. That makes for an interesting, likable character. The fact that Rosalind uses her intelligence and her connections from her previous life to help other women survive problems offers plenty of fodder for a good story.
I think the reason I didn't love this book as much as the first is the subject-matter of the mystery. It drifted into the maudlin for me by the end, and the hyper-dramatics of the relationship matters of this era are not of particular interest to me. It was still a good, well-written story, and Rosalind was given plenty of opportunity to show her intelligence and ability to find things out and get things done. I was just a little less interested in the matters on which she was putting her skills to use this time around.
I love the series, this world, and Rosalind, and will definitely read a next book in this series [I hope there will be one although I realize it may be a while until that would happen given this one is only recently published].
March 11, 2021
This was a disappointment. I enjoyed the first one so thoroughly, and this one was such a mess. I liked that the first one was very light on romance, but this follow up has not only leaned in harder to that element, but as a love triangle, which, no, no thank you. The mystery was convoluted to the point of not particularly making sense. Worse, it hinged on a title inheritance that is not a thing -- two sisters, one marries a marquess, the other a tradesman, and then tradesman's children are in line for their cousins' title. No. That's not how it works. I saw someone speculating that it was a typo, but if so, it happened twice, in two different conversations. I don't know how you get to this point in historical fiction without researching inheritance, especially if it's the meat of your mystery. I won't be continuing with the series.
September 24, 2019
2 1/2 stars
Time and time again I was left scratching my head while reading this book. Where was the stuff in this story coming from? Character motivations were thin at best, and most of the “clues” to the mystery consisted of broad assumptions, wild guesses, and shots in the dark – all culminating in a big red bow at the end.
The author has an engaging style of writing, but it is a shame that her plot points are so very weak. Sadly, I do not think writing mysteries is her forte.
Time and time again I was left scratching my head while reading this book. Where was the stuff in this story coming from? Character motivations were thin at best, and most of the “clues” to the mystery consisted of broad assumptions, wild guesses, and shots in the dark – all culminating in a big red bow at the end.
The author has an engaging style of writing, but it is a shame that her plot points are so very weak. Sadly, I do not think writing mysteries is her forte.
May 3, 2022
Totally fascinating look at the strictures of the ton through the eyes of the oh so sedate Rosalind Thorne. Scandal, gossip and the uneasy ladder of social heights or disdain, mixed up with murder.
June 2, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/a-...
A Purely Private Matter
Rosalind Thorne Mystery, Book #2
By Darcie Wilde
ISBN #9780425282380
Author Website: darciewilderomance.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Rosalind Thorne has slowly but assuredly gained a reputation as “a useful woman”—by helping respectable women out of some less-than-respectable predicaments.
Her latest endeavor is a tragedy waiting to happen. Desperate Margaretta Seymore is with child—and her husband is receiving poisoned pen letters that imply that her condition is the result of an affair with the notorious actor Fletcher Cavendish. Margaretta asks Rosalind to find out who is behind the scurrilous letters. But before she can make any progress, Cavendish is found dead, stabbed through the heart.
Suddenly, Rosalind is plunged into the middle of one of the most sensational murder trials London has ever seen, and her client’s husband is the prime suspect. With the help of the charming Bow Street runner Adam Harkness, she must drop the curtain on this fatal drama before any more lives are ruined. (Goodreads)
Review:
A Purely Private Matter is an entertaining study in the lengths to which people will go in the name of greed to get what they think they are entitled to and to keep secrets. Full of intrigue and great storytelling, this series holds a firm place on my “must read” list.
In this installment, Rosalind, who is making a name for herself as a “useful woman” or someone who helps society women solve their more delicate problems, is hired by a friend of a friend to find out who is writing damaging anonymous letters to her husband. Margaretta Seymore has been friends with famous actor Fletcher Cavendish for many years, but because of these letters her husband Captain William Seymore is now convinced that the pair has been having an affair and that the child Margaretta carries is not his own. Unfortunately, Fletcher is found dead, stabbed in the heart, before Rosalind can get very far in her investigations. When William is quickly arrested for the crime, Rosalind feels time is of the essence to find the real perpetrator – even if all clues seem to lead to Margaretta.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is that it delves into the everyday lives of both the ton and more modest folk. I enjoy the scenes set at the Bow Street station and the bowls of the Theatre Royal just as much as those in the morning rooms of the affluent. The multi-layered mystery unfolds at a steady pace, woven amidst these varied settings. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, Ms. Wilde would reveal a twist that had me reconsidering. All of the different threads come together for a satisfying resolution. There is a small subplot concerning Rosalind’s long absent sister Charlotte. It is nice to know a little more about her, but I feel the bit concerning her is rushed. If there is anything to not like about the book it is the dreaded love triangle. Up until now, Rosalind and Devon, Lord Casselman, have played a form of cat and mouse based on their past relationship. Bow Street runner Adam and Rosalind have danced around their feelings for each other. Both relationships have progressed in an organic way thus far, but I do hope that Ms. Wilde resolves the triangle sooner rather than later.
Rosalind makes a fine protagonist. She is intelligent, level headed, ingenious, and a young woman of integrity. She is first and foremost intent on finding the truth and justice, sometimes without regard to how it will affect her social standing. Adam is my favorite character; his honesty and sense of justice are his finest qualities. His awkwardness, even if only portrayed in his mind, around Rosalind is endearing. The characters central to this book, mostly the Seymore family, are all well drawn and interesting. William’s younger brother and his wife are particularly well developed and are ever so easy to dislike. Fletcher is oily and too charming for his own good, but I can see why he had so many devoted fans. And speaking of fans, one of the most delightful scenes in the book involves Devon’s cousin Louisa, in full fan girl mode, decked out in full mourning and wilting in the heat. Also of note is the handwriting analyst Miss Onslow. I would greatly like to see her again.
A Purely Private Matter is sure to please readers who enjoy historical mysteries, especially the Regency period in England. It is smart and compelling. I do hope that there will be many more books in this series. I impatiently look forward to my next adventure with Rosalind.
A Purely Private Matter
Rosalind Thorne Mystery, Book #2
By Darcie Wilde
ISBN #9780425282380
Author Website: darciewilderomance.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Rosalind Thorne has slowly but assuredly gained a reputation as “a useful woman”—by helping respectable women out of some less-than-respectable predicaments.
Her latest endeavor is a tragedy waiting to happen. Desperate Margaretta Seymore is with child—and her husband is receiving poisoned pen letters that imply that her condition is the result of an affair with the notorious actor Fletcher Cavendish. Margaretta asks Rosalind to find out who is behind the scurrilous letters. But before she can make any progress, Cavendish is found dead, stabbed through the heart.
Suddenly, Rosalind is plunged into the middle of one of the most sensational murder trials London has ever seen, and her client’s husband is the prime suspect. With the help of the charming Bow Street runner Adam Harkness, she must drop the curtain on this fatal drama before any more lives are ruined. (Goodreads)
Review:
A Purely Private Matter is an entertaining study in the lengths to which people will go in the name of greed to get what they think they are entitled to and to keep secrets. Full of intrigue and great storytelling, this series holds a firm place on my “must read” list.
In this installment, Rosalind, who is making a name for herself as a “useful woman” or someone who helps society women solve their more delicate problems, is hired by a friend of a friend to find out who is writing damaging anonymous letters to her husband. Margaretta Seymore has been friends with famous actor Fletcher Cavendish for many years, but because of these letters her husband Captain William Seymore is now convinced that the pair has been having an affair and that the child Margaretta carries is not his own. Unfortunately, Fletcher is found dead, stabbed in the heart, before Rosalind can get very far in her investigations. When William is quickly arrested for the crime, Rosalind feels time is of the essence to find the real perpetrator – even if all clues seem to lead to Margaretta.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is that it delves into the everyday lives of both the ton and more modest folk. I enjoy the scenes set at the Bow Street station and the bowls of the Theatre Royal just as much as those in the morning rooms of the affluent. The multi-layered mystery unfolds at a steady pace, woven amidst these varied settings. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, Ms. Wilde would reveal a twist that had me reconsidering. All of the different threads come together for a satisfying resolution. There is a small subplot concerning Rosalind’s long absent sister Charlotte. It is nice to know a little more about her, but I feel the bit concerning her is rushed. If there is anything to not like about the book it is the dreaded love triangle. Up until now, Rosalind and Devon, Lord Casselman, have played a form of cat and mouse based on their past relationship. Bow Street runner Adam and Rosalind have danced around their feelings for each other. Both relationships have progressed in an organic way thus far, but I do hope that Ms. Wilde resolves the triangle sooner rather than later.
Rosalind makes a fine protagonist. She is intelligent, level headed, ingenious, and a young woman of integrity. She is first and foremost intent on finding the truth and justice, sometimes without regard to how it will affect her social standing. Adam is my favorite character; his honesty and sense of justice are his finest qualities. His awkwardness, even if only portrayed in his mind, around Rosalind is endearing. The characters central to this book, mostly the Seymore family, are all well drawn and interesting. William’s younger brother and his wife are particularly well developed and are ever so easy to dislike. Fletcher is oily and too charming for his own good, but I can see why he had so many devoted fans. And speaking of fans, one of the most delightful scenes in the book involves Devon’s cousin Louisa, in full fan girl mode, decked out in full mourning and wilting in the heat. Also of note is the handwriting analyst Miss Onslow. I would greatly like to see her again.
A Purely Private Matter is sure to please readers who enjoy historical mysteries, especially the Regency period in England. It is smart and compelling. I do hope that there will be many more books in this series. I impatiently look forward to my next adventure with Rosalind.
May 24, 2017
With this second entry in the series, the Rosalind Thorne Mysteries have become must reads for me. I enjoy protagonist Rosalind's integrity and intelligence. Great storytelling in a socially complicated era and plenty of intrigue. My only quibble is the love triangle.
I received a copy of this title from the publisher. The opinions here are my own.
I received a copy of this title from the publisher. The opinions here are my own.
February 5, 2018
I am really enjoying this series so far! This is only the second book in Darcy Wide’s Rosalind Thorne mystery series, but I was so enthralled with the first in the series (A Useful Woman) that I decided to buy this second mystery as soon as it came out. I was saving it for a time when I could really savor an engrossing read...
Once again, I was entranced by the author’s writing and grasp of the restrictions and social rules applying to gentlewomen of the Regency period. Rosalind Thorne lost everything when her profligate father took her older sister Charlotte and abandoned Rosalind and her mother about 10 years previously; her mother died and left Rosalind alone to cope as best she might. Despite the scandal that destroyed her family, and the personal pain still haunting Rosalind, she has survived on the fringes of polite society and even built a business and supported herself by being a useful woman: at first, by using her polish, organizational abilities and social knowledge to help arrange functions and events, but now she also helps gentlewomen of the ton recover from embarrassing or scandalous situations.
I think my favorite thing about Wilde’s writing is that the mystery and pace build slowly until the reader is engrossed; all of the characters are multi-dimensional, with layers of motivations. In that way Wilde reminds me of another favorite mystery writer, Ann Perry, and her Victorian mystery series. With the upper classes of both periods, so much of life is dictated by society and expectations of station and background. It makes for an enthralling mystery.
I also enjoyed returning characters from the first mystery: Rosalind’s old friends Alice and George Littlefield, a brother and sister also forced to earn their living by writing for a London newspaper, and Devon Winterbourne, Duke of Casselmain and Rosalind‘s first love, who is still around to tempt Rosalind to toss aside the independent life she has built and become a duchess.
Also returning is Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness, who is investigating the death of notorious actor Fletcher Cavendish. Rosalind has been asked by Margaretta Seymore, a poetess of some renown, to investigate blackmail letters her husband has received, suggesting she was having an affair with Cavendish. Margaretta’s husband is threatening divorce, but then Cavendish is found dead. Rosalind once again finds yourself embroiled in a multilayered intricate mystery - this time, surrounding the grasping, avaricious Seymore family, and the mysterious Cavendish.
I can’t wait for the next book in this exciting series. I love that it is set in the Regency, and inspired by Jane Austen. The author seems very aware of the strict manners and expectations governing society, and a gentlewoman like Rosalind Thorne, who has barely survived the fallout of her scandalous family and could lose everything again. Fascinating multilayered mystery building to an exciting conclusion -delightful!
Once again, I was entranced by the author’s writing and grasp of the restrictions and social rules applying to gentlewomen of the Regency period. Rosalind Thorne lost everything when her profligate father took her older sister Charlotte and abandoned Rosalind and her mother about 10 years previously; her mother died and left Rosalind alone to cope as best she might. Despite the scandal that destroyed her family, and the personal pain still haunting Rosalind, she has survived on the fringes of polite society and even built a business and supported herself by being a useful woman: at first, by using her polish, organizational abilities and social knowledge to help arrange functions and events, but now she also helps gentlewomen of the ton recover from embarrassing or scandalous situations.
I think my favorite thing about Wilde’s writing is that the mystery and pace build slowly until the reader is engrossed; all of the characters are multi-dimensional, with layers of motivations. In that way Wilde reminds me of another favorite mystery writer, Ann Perry, and her Victorian mystery series. With the upper classes of both periods, so much of life is dictated by society and expectations of station and background. It makes for an enthralling mystery.
I also enjoyed returning characters from the first mystery: Rosalind’s old friends Alice and George Littlefield, a brother and sister also forced to earn their living by writing for a London newspaper, and Devon Winterbourne, Duke of Casselmain and Rosalind‘s first love, who is still around to tempt Rosalind to toss aside the independent life she has built and become a duchess.
Also returning is Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness, who is investigating the death of notorious actor Fletcher Cavendish. Rosalind has been asked by Margaretta Seymore, a poetess of some renown, to investigate blackmail letters her husband has received, suggesting she was having an affair with Cavendish. Margaretta’s husband is threatening divorce, but then Cavendish is found dead. Rosalind once again finds yourself embroiled in a multilayered intricate mystery - this time, surrounding the grasping, avaricious Seymore family, and the mysterious Cavendish.
I can’t wait for the next book in this exciting series. I love that it is set in the Regency, and inspired by Jane Austen. The author seems very aware of the strict manners and expectations governing society, and a gentlewoman like Rosalind Thorne, who has barely survived the fallout of her scandalous family and could lose everything again. Fascinating multilayered mystery building to an exciting conclusion -delightful!
May 20, 2021
This second book of the Rosalind Thorne Mysteries was not bad, but did not live up to my expectations. I really loved the first book in the series and maybe that’s why I had such lofty expectations for this next installment which set me up for disappointment. I don’t regret reading it, it was a decent story.
April 17, 2022
An intelligent, sensible and observant heroine, a riveting supporting cast and an intriguing mystery that (in my opinion) is gritty enough not to be classified 'cosy' - and I have discovered another historical mystery series that I definitely want to read more of. Set in Regency London it is reminiscent of Jane Austen's style with the same no nonsense yet realistic outlook. Right up my alley and highly recommended!
March 17, 2025
this series is everything i want right now.
March 19, 2017
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2017/03...
The second book in Wilde's Rosalind Thorne series is just as entertaining as its predecessor--I love historical mysteries where ladies get things done! In this one, Rosalind is asked by a friend of a friend to help prove she is innocent of adultery--so the child she is carrying won't be labeled a bastard. Wilde does such a good job highlighting the issues of women in this era, while also filling her books with super awesome ladies. The mystery here is a bit convoluted but the storytelling is riveting--though I do hope the love triangle is resolved sooner rather than later, because that has the potential to become really repetitive. Anyway, I look forward to reading more in this series for sure. B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 2nd.
The second book in Wilde's Rosalind Thorne series is just as entertaining as its predecessor--I love historical mysteries where ladies get things done! In this one, Rosalind is asked by a friend of a friend to help prove she is innocent of adultery--so the child she is carrying won't be labeled a bastard. Wilde does such a good job highlighting the issues of women in this era, while also filling her books with super awesome ladies. The mystery here is a bit convoluted but the storytelling is riveting--though I do hope the love triangle is resolved sooner rather than later, because that has the potential to become really repetitive. Anyway, I look forward to reading more in this series for sure. B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 2nd.
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October 7, 2019Really wanted to like this. I enjoyed the first one despite the authors seeming disregard of the way a dukes title etc is used. Everything else seemed well done... I had hoped that someone had worded her up between the books but the title references are even worse this time she can’t even stick to what title her duke would be referred to as. ,
Adding to that a bit where she said she wasn’t going to a dinner But then did with no explanation for the change, the odd overly complicated for no reason decision to make a second son a Knight (thus a sir) not wrong and perfectly possible see Wellington eventually eclipsing his elder brother in rank just overly complicated and unneeded
Then did I hallucinate the fact the two branches of the family were related via the mothers? How did the second branch begin to think they could inherit the title from the other branch? Not even a letters patent ( think that is the term) that is attached to a small number. Of titles which allows female inheritance would help as its female inheritance still down the male line not over to a wife’s sisters family. But I might have hallucinated and I want to hope I did so have not gone back to check.
Adding to that a bit where she said she wasn’t going to a dinner But then did with no explanation for the change, the odd overly complicated for no reason decision to make a second son a Knight (thus a sir) not wrong and perfectly possible see Wellington eventually eclipsing his elder brother in rank just overly complicated and unneeded
Then did I hallucinate the fact the two branches of the family were related via the mothers? How did the second branch begin to think they could inherit the title from the other branch? Not even a letters patent ( think that is the term) that is attached to a small number. Of titles which allows female inheritance would help as its female inheritance still down the male line not over to a wife’s sisters family. But I might have hallucinated and I want to hope I did so have not gone back to check.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2019
Rosalind Thorne on another case. Who has killed the famous actor and why? Moved along quickly and the ever-present love triangle. Well-written but wasn't overly memorable for me.
November 20, 2021
Great little mystery - part of a really fun series. High point (for me) are when the mores and manners of the day are explained. 4 glowing stars
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