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Detective Lavender Mysteries #1
The Heiress of Linn Hagh
Northumberland, November 1809: A menacing figure stalks women through Hareshaw Woods and a beautiful, young heiress disappears from her locked bedchamber at Linn Hagh.
The townsfolk cry 'witchcraft' and the local constabulary are baffled.
Fearing for her safety, Helen Carnaby's worried uncle sends out for help from Bow Street magistrates' court in London. Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Woods now face their toughest and most dangerous case. The servants and the local gypsies won’t speak to them, Helen’s siblings are sly and uncooperative and the sullen local farmers are about to take the law into their own hands.
Isolated in this beautiful but remote community, Lavender and Woods find themselves trapped in the middle of a simmering feud and are alarmed to discover a sinister world of madness and violence lurking behind the heavy oak door of the ancient pele tower at Linn Hagh. Helen Carnaby's disappearance is to prove one of the most perplexing mysteries of Lavender's career.
Why did she flee on that wintry October night? How did she get out of her locked bed chamber? And where is she now?
'The Heiress of Linn Hagh' is the first in a series of Regency mysteries featuring Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Edward Woods.
First published as 'The Missing Heiress.' (Knox Robinson Publishing (2012.)
The townsfolk cry 'witchcraft' and the local constabulary are baffled.
Fearing for her safety, Helen Carnaby's worried uncle sends out for help from Bow Street magistrates' court in London. Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Woods now face their toughest and most dangerous case. The servants and the local gypsies won’t speak to them, Helen’s siblings are sly and uncooperative and the sullen local farmers are about to take the law into their own hands.
Isolated in this beautiful but remote community, Lavender and Woods find themselves trapped in the middle of a simmering feud and are alarmed to discover a sinister world of madness and violence lurking behind the heavy oak door of the ancient pele tower at Linn Hagh. Helen Carnaby's disappearance is to prove one of the most perplexing mysteries of Lavender's career.
Why did she flee on that wintry October night? How did she get out of her locked bed chamber? And where is she now?
'The Heiress of Linn Hagh' is the first in a series of Regency mysteries featuring Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Edward Woods.
First published as 'The Missing Heiress.' (Knox Robinson Publishing (2012.)
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First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Karen Charlton
27 books470 followersKaren Charlton is an international best-selling author of historical crime fiction.
Her Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London.
Her brand new series, The York Ladies' Detective Agency Mysteries, feature a couple of enterprising young women, Jemma and Bobbie, who launch a private inquiry agency in York during WW2.
Her standalone, debut novel Catching the Eagle is the true story of her notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery.
Find out more about Karen's work at http://www.karencharlton.com
Her Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London.
Her brand new series, The York Ladies' Detective Agency Mysteries, feature a couple of enterprising young women, Jemma and Bobbie, who launch a private inquiry agency in York during WW2.
Her standalone, debut novel Catching the Eagle is the true story of her notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery.
Find out more about Karen's work at http://www.karencharlton.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 762 reviews
September 5, 2019
A fun read that sees Detective Lavender and his offsider Constable Woods venture to the north of England, where an heiress has gone missing from a seemingly locked room. Honestly, the plot was transparent, but the writing and the beautiful setting made up for this. I did find the book enjoyable, but really there were no surprises in it.
July 25, 2024
Historical?
This is the first book in a series. The main character, Inspector Stephen Lavender, is based on a true historical character.
The author, herself, has a bit of ancestral history in this story. A family member was involved in a famous robbery.
The book itself, is about a missing heiress, and her danger from her own family and others.
When young Helen disappears from her locked room, one night, her beloved Uncle Armstrong and his daughter, hires Inspector Lavender to find her.
With his trusty sidekick, Constable Woods, they question the family, people of the village and neighboring communities, even the nearby “Gypsies” for help in finding Helen Carnaby.
Despite the lack of help and support that they need, Lavender and Woods are determined not to give up in their search.
Four fabulous stars. ✨✨✨✨
This is the first book in a series. The main character, Inspector Stephen Lavender, is based on a true historical character.
The author, herself, has a bit of ancestral history in this story. A family member was involved in a famous robbery.
The book itself, is about a missing heiress, and her danger from her own family and others.
When young Helen disappears from her locked room, one night, her beloved Uncle Armstrong and his daughter, hires Inspector Lavender to find her.
With his trusty sidekick, Constable Woods, they question the family, people of the village and neighboring communities, even the nearby “Gypsies” for help in finding Helen Carnaby.
Despite the lack of help and support that they need, Lavender and Woods are determined not to give up in their search.
Four fabulous stars. ✨✨✨✨
September 15, 2017
This book was cheap or free on Amazon, and it sounded like everything I would enjoy: a nice British-style mystery set in 1809 featuring Bow Street runners and a locked room, with a whiff of the supernatural – perfect.
Except it was awful.
I've said, in some form or other, and will likely say again that when a writer whose work I enjoy says something that doesn't feel quite right, I will accept it – but when a writer whose work I dislike says something that doesn't feel right, I will get online and do the research to, if possible, prove I'm right and they're wrong so there. It unfortunately didn't take long for me to get to the point that when Karen Charlton had a character say "There’s no cake with candles fer me at a year’s end", I got to digging. As best I can find, it's an anachronism - and, if nothing else, someone in this character's place and position probably couldn't afford it even it was common. The point is, I'm not buying it.
The two so-remarkable detectives at the heart of the story, Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Woods, are ridiculous. Their investigative skills are remarkable only for their absence – an example being that they decide to "stake out the grave of Baxter Carnaby from midnight". Fine; but why arbitrarily midnight and not before? And of course early on they miss the bad guy and basically screw up altogether. It doesn't help that so-wonderful Detective Lavender is – as even his faithful Constable says – "mooning around after " a chance-met so-exotic Spanish woman widow – or is she?? He is so distracted that I wanted to see him come up on charges. The "clever idea" used to get into/out of a room which was barred on the inside was ludicrous; it would have left signs that even the dumbest and most sloppy maid or investigator would have remarked upon, even if they didn't know what they meant.
Lavender muses about "the moments when he knew, for certain, that he could drag a criminal into the dock at the next assizes", to which I responded "the moments when exactly the evidence you require appears as if by magic". And my comment on "They shouted over and over again for Hamilton" was "ooo stealthy", so it had to have been a situation in which yelling was inappropriate.
The badness of the writing was … manifold. There was punctuation abuse (particularly of commas), grammar maltreatment, and unintentional humor all throughout.
"He caught the glint of iron flint in Wood's eyes" is just silly in at least three different directions.
Characters said "God's strewth" – why? "Strewth" is supposed to be slang for "God's truth", so … that makes no sense.
"Woods shuffled uncomfortably on a hard–baked chair by the door." How do you shuffle in a seated position, and how is a chair hard-baked?
And seriously, "orb" is a word which should never be used except in quoting Shakespeare. Or in paranormal investigation.
I don't have any memory of the context of this quote, but in my Kindle highlights I saved: "‘The Lord save us from loose fish!’ Mistress Norris exclaimed." The note I made with it was "THAT is your response to proposed rapine?"
Not-exactly-wealthy characters ladle sugar into their tea like it was the 21st century – but sugar was still pretty darned expensive in 1809.
Someone burns old documents and carelessly doesn't completely destroy one – something so clichéd it should come with a health warning.
I had an idea about what happened, and made a prediction – not something I usually do with mysteries – and when the writer caught up to that idea but went in a different direction, I grumbled some more in my Kindle notes – "that is nonsensical. My idea was better."
"Her accented voice purred like silk" … How does one purr like silk?
Another thing I say all the time is that when I make a lot of highlights or notes on my Kindle, it means a book was either really good or really bad. Obviously, I made a lot of notes on this book.
Imagine my chagrin when I requested another book that sounded awfully good from Netgalley, only to realize – too late – that it was by the same author. I hate it when that happens.
Except it was awful.
I've said, in some form or other, and will likely say again that when a writer whose work I enjoy says something that doesn't feel quite right, I will accept it – but when a writer whose work I dislike says something that doesn't feel right, I will get online and do the research to, if possible, prove I'm right and they're wrong so there. It unfortunately didn't take long for me to get to the point that when Karen Charlton had a character say "There’s no cake with candles fer me at a year’s end", I got to digging. As best I can find, it's an anachronism - and, if nothing else, someone in this character's place and position probably couldn't afford it even it was common. The point is, I'm not buying it.
The two so-remarkable detectives at the heart of the story, Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Woods, are ridiculous. Their investigative skills are remarkable only for their absence – an example being that they decide to "stake out the grave of Baxter Carnaby from midnight". Fine; but why arbitrarily midnight and not before? And of course early on they miss the bad guy and basically screw up altogether. It doesn't help that so-wonderful Detective Lavender is – as even his faithful Constable says – "mooning around after " a chance-met so-exotic Spanish woman widow – or is she?? He is so distracted that I wanted to see him come up on charges. The "clever idea" used to get into/out of a room which was barred on the inside was ludicrous; it would have left signs that even the dumbest and most sloppy maid or investigator would have remarked upon, even if they didn't know what they meant.
Lavender muses about "the moments when he knew, for certain, that he could drag a criminal into the dock at the next assizes", to which I responded "the moments when exactly the evidence you require appears as if by magic". And my comment on "They shouted over and over again for Hamilton" was "ooo stealthy", so it had to have been a situation in which yelling was inappropriate.
The badness of the writing was … manifold. There was punctuation abuse (particularly of commas), grammar maltreatment, and unintentional humor all throughout.
"He caught the glint of iron flint in Wood's eyes" is just silly in at least three different directions.
Characters said "God's strewth" – why? "Strewth" is supposed to be slang for "God's truth", so … that makes no sense.
"Woods shuffled uncomfortably on a hard–baked chair by the door." How do you shuffle in a seated position, and how is a chair hard-baked?
And seriously, "orb" is a word which should never be used except in quoting Shakespeare. Or in paranormal investigation.
I don't have any memory of the context of this quote, but in my Kindle highlights I saved: "‘The Lord save us from loose fish!’ Mistress Norris exclaimed." The note I made with it was "THAT is your response to proposed rapine?"
Not-exactly-wealthy characters ladle sugar into their tea like it was the 21st century – but sugar was still pretty darned expensive in 1809.
Someone burns old documents and carelessly doesn't completely destroy one – something so clichéd it should come with a health warning.
I had an idea about what happened, and made a prediction – not something I usually do with mysteries – and when the writer caught up to that idea but went in a different direction, I grumbled some more in my Kindle notes – "that is nonsensical. My idea was better."
"Her accented voice purred like silk" … How does one purr like silk?
Another thing I say all the time is that when I make a lot of highlights or notes on my Kindle, it means a book was either really good or really bad. Obviously, I made a lot of notes on this book.
Imagine my chagrin when I requested another book that sounded awfully good from Netgalley, only to realize – too late – that it was by the same author. I hate it when that happens.
May 6, 2020
This delightful book is the 1st volume of "The Detective Lavender Mystery" series from, for me a very new and talented author, Karen Charlton.
At the end of the book you'll notice an Author's Note, in which the historical details concerning this book are superbly documented, and these are wonderfully implemented within this mystery.
The author's story-telling is of a superb quality, all figures, whether they are real historical or great fictional, come splendidly to life within this mystery, while also the atmosphere and historical times come beautifully off the pages, and not to forget the mystery itself is very well structured and executed.
This mystery is set at the end of the month of November in the year AD 1809, during the final days of the reign of King George III, but this period is already seen as Regency England.
Detective Stephen Lavender is sent north to Northumberland, with Constable Edward Woods, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Helen Carnaby from a locked chamber at the castle called, Linn Hagh.
Lavender and Woods will get useful information from the elderly Mr Armstrong and his daughter, Katherine, but from Helen's step-siblings, George and Isobel they will only get animosity and threats, while the gypsies and natives of Bellingham are not very talkative as well.
What is to follow is an exciting and intriguing mystery in which Lavender and Woods will have to use their wits and cunning to get to the bottom of this case, and when they finally do, with a thrilling plot they will finally solve this case and reveal the culprit(s) of certain murders and the deceit they caused in an attempt to get their way.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent start of a great mystery series, and what this exciting book is concerned I like to call it: "A Tremendous Lavender & Woods Opening Scene"!
At the end of the book you'll notice an Author's Note, in which the historical details concerning this book are superbly documented, and these are wonderfully implemented within this mystery.
The author's story-telling is of a superb quality, all figures, whether they are real historical or great fictional, come splendidly to life within this mystery, while also the atmosphere and historical times come beautifully off the pages, and not to forget the mystery itself is very well structured and executed.
This mystery is set at the end of the month of November in the year AD 1809, during the final days of the reign of King George III, but this period is already seen as Regency England.
Detective Stephen Lavender is sent north to Northumberland, with Constable Edward Woods, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Helen Carnaby from a locked chamber at the castle called, Linn Hagh.
Lavender and Woods will get useful information from the elderly Mr Armstrong and his daughter, Katherine, but from Helen's step-siblings, George and Isobel they will only get animosity and threats, while the gypsies and natives of Bellingham are not very talkative as well.
What is to follow is an exciting and intriguing mystery in which Lavender and Woods will have to use their wits and cunning to get to the bottom of this case, and when they finally do, with a thrilling plot they will finally solve this case and reveal the culprit(s) of certain murders and the deceit they caused in an attempt to get their way.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent start of a great mystery series, and what this exciting book is concerned I like to call it: "A Tremendous Lavender & Woods Opening Scene"!
January 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this. I am currently working my way through the Sebastian St.. Cyr Regency series so my interest was piqued by a different series set in the time period. But also I read another book about the Bow Street runners recently and knew hardly anything about them so I found it fascinating. Lavender, our main investigator in this novel, is a Bow Street Runner too. So really the odds were stacked in my favour that I would enjoy it. The mystery was intriguing and well done.
October 17, 2022
I enjoyed this book right from the start. Strong well drawn characters and good plot. The mystery held my interest till the end. Intelligent women and men that made this book interesting with unexpected twists. I am looking forward to the next in the series. The tying up of the mystery was a bit convoluted so the books rates 4.25*
August 23, 2020
This book surprised me a little. I had it expected it more to lean toward historical/cosy/romance but I found it to be quite gritty and intriguing. It also was quite brutal in some of the descriptions of scenes and acts.
It is set in the early 1800's and focuses on Detective Stephen Lavender. He has been commissioned to investigate the disappearance of a young heiress not far off coming into her fortune. It is set in rural England and the weather is bleak. Assisted by a loyal officer Ned Woods he tries to find out the goings on in what appears to be a secretive and closed community who are distrustful of outsiders.
This is an era where gentility and money could buy testimony, evidence and a pardon from terrible crimes. Although the story behind the mystery is not difficult to guess, the telling of the story is quite engaging and the historical content quite interesting.
This is the first in the Detective Lavender mysteries and I can recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.
It is set in the early 1800's and focuses on Detective Stephen Lavender. He has been commissioned to investigate the disappearance of a young heiress not far off coming into her fortune. It is set in rural England and the weather is bleak. Assisted by a loyal officer Ned Woods he tries to find out the goings on in what appears to be a secretive and closed community who are distrustful of outsiders.
This is an era where gentility and money could buy testimony, evidence and a pardon from terrible crimes. Although the story behind the mystery is not difficult to guess, the telling of the story is quite engaging and the historical content quite interesting.
This is the first in the Detective Lavender mysteries and I can recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.
June 7, 2017
This story gave me characters that I loved to hate. Detective Lavender is a no nonsense, interesting fellow. When a girl disappears from a locked bedroom, how she did it and where she went is the mystery, but the deeper mystery that comes to light is why? Onto the next in the series.
January 4, 2017
Well, I'll say this: Ms. Charlton certainly knows her way around an adjective. Or six. Or sixteen. To wit: "Occasionally, they saw a derelict, roofless stone farmhouse or a mournful flock of bleating sheep dotting the barren hilltops. Stunted alder and oak trees stretched out their bare limbs, silhouetted against the frozen sun like sentinels of the last outpost." Yep. Just like that. For 264 pages. Including, I kid you not, an instance of "frustration burning in his stirring manhood." Thin on plot; heavy on melodrama. So once again, I am not the target audience - apparently for an entire genre. This bitterly ends my brief, painful, seemingly endless foray into "historical mysteries."
February 18, 2019
Really great mystery. I admit that the beginning was a bit off for me, it felt confusing. However, I soon grew to love the characters of Detective Lavender and Constable Woods. I really enjoyed the secondary characters of this story as well--I really liked the farmers!. Romance is little to none IMO. I personally would have maybe liked to see a little more--nothing over the top though. Lot's of mystery and entertainment though. So despite the slow start I was engrossed until the very end.
August 27, 2015
The Heiress of Linn Hagh is a detective novel that has a gothic feel. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to more in the series. Detective Lavender is called in when an heiress goes missing from a locked bedchamber. As they investigate, they find lots of strange happenings and uncooperative attitudes in the community. They have to determine if someone kidnapped the heiress, or if she managed to escape her locked bedroom and flee on her own. This was a very intriguing mystery that kept me interested. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.
May 16, 2018
A Regency era mystery with some Gothic overtones? 'nuff said! I wasn't familiar with this series, but I was glad for the opportunity to pick up book one and meet Lavender and Woods in a case that took this pair of Bow Street Runners far from London into the Northumberland countryside.
The story opens with the introduction of the main pair of detectives and then drops back a little into the past and introduces the people and situation where the disappearance took place. It ends up going back and forth between the detectives and the family situation so the reader gets both aspects.
The details of historical setting and description of situation were good. The author didn't skimp on painting in details of the Regency time period and police work in that time.
The characters were not as developed, but I liked how a little more detail was sketched in here and there as it went along. Lavender is something more than he seems and can be brooding while Woods is open and known from the start.
The mystery is a locked room type and relies heavily on atmosphere which was done well. It was not one that was hard to figure out the who or even the why - that is a given, but there are some details that come out later to make things even more interesting about the Carnaby family and how it was done.
I had a sense that I was dropped into an existing series because there were references back to other cases, but it was explained in the author notes at the end that Lavender and Woods were side characters in an unrelated book that she felt needed their own stories s0 this truly was the first of a new series.
There is an introduction to a romance interest for Lavender when he encounters a fiery Spanish woman on his journey north. She is above him in class and has her own secrets so it will be interesting to see where that series thread goes from there.
All in all, I enjoyed this introduction to a new to me historical mystery series and can definitely recommend it.
The story opens with the introduction of the main pair of detectives and then drops back a little into the past and introduces the people and situation where the disappearance took place. It ends up going back and forth between the detectives and the family situation so the reader gets both aspects.
The details of historical setting and description of situation were good. The author didn't skimp on painting in details of the Regency time period and police work in that time.
The characters were not as developed, but I liked how a little more detail was sketched in here and there as it went along. Lavender is something more than he seems and can be brooding while Woods is open and known from the start.
The mystery is a locked room type and relies heavily on atmosphere which was done well. It was not one that was hard to figure out the who or even the why - that is a given, but there are some details that come out later to make things even more interesting about the Carnaby family and how it was done.
I had a sense that I was dropped into an existing series because there were references back to other cases, but it was explained in the author notes at the end that Lavender and Woods were side characters in an unrelated book that she felt needed their own stories s0 this truly was the first of a new series.
There is an introduction to a romance interest for Lavender when he encounters a fiery Spanish woman on his journey north. She is above him in class and has her own secrets so it will be interesting to see where that series thread goes from there.
All in all, I enjoyed this introduction to a new to me historical mystery series and can definitely recommend it.
September 8, 2016
What a great start for what is a new author and series for me. I love her writing style -- straightforward, descriptive, well developed characters, etc. Lavender seems to be a cross between Sherlock Holmes and MacGyver. He's exceedingly smart, well educated and perceptive, but not particularly 'people adept'.
I love the relationship between Lavender and Constable Woods. They are friends, but it seems much more than that -- almost father/son. Woods is the 'people person'. He's one of those good natured, affable kinds of people who has never met a stranger. People instinctively trust him and talk to him easily.
As a principal investigator for the famed Bow Street Runners, Lavender is often called to various parts of England to solve cases that local investigators cannot solve. As often as possible, Lavender takes Constable Woods with him.
An heiress is missing -- from a room that is locked from the inside. Her uncle contacts Bow Street and Lavender and Woods are sent to Northumberland to solve the mystery and find the heiress.
It doesn't take them long to figure out that there is more going on than just a missing heiress. There is true madness and evil at Linn Hagh and more than one victim. The mystery is sort of gothic in nature - brooding like Wuthering Heights.
I've seen a number of questions about the accuracy of the Bow Street runners scenario's on other reviews. I was questioning at first as well, but the author includes her research and information at the end of the book in the Author's Notes section that are really interesting. Seems there REALLY was a principal investigator named Lavender and some of the stories seem based on actual cases from that time.
Some people may find the writing style a little dry -- sort of like the old Dragnet series on TV, but I enjoyed it thoroughly and can't wait to start the next one.
I love the relationship between Lavender and Constable Woods. They are friends, but it seems much more than that -- almost father/son. Woods is the 'people person'. He's one of those good natured, affable kinds of people who has never met a stranger. People instinctively trust him and talk to him easily.
As a principal investigator for the famed Bow Street Runners, Lavender is often called to various parts of England to solve cases that local investigators cannot solve. As often as possible, Lavender takes Constable Woods with him.
An heiress is missing -- from a room that is locked from the inside. Her uncle contacts Bow Street and Lavender and Woods are sent to Northumberland to solve the mystery and find the heiress.
It doesn't take them long to figure out that there is more going on than just a missing heiress. There is true madness and evil at Linn Hagh and more than one victim. The mystery is sort of gothic in nature - brooding like Wuthering Heights.
I've seen a number of questions about the accuracy of the Bow Street runners scenario's on other reviews. I was questioning at first as well, but the author includes her research and information at the end of the book in the Author's Notes section that are really interesting. Seems there REALLY was a principal investigator named Lavender and some of the stories seem based on actual cases from that time.
Some people may find the writing style a little dry -- sort of like the old Dragnet series on TV, but I enjoyed it thoroughly and can't wait to start the next one.
September 1, 2016
This was a surprisingly good mystery! I love the 1800s time period and while I thought I had things figured out, there was a twist in the end. I enjoyed it!
August 19, 2016
The first two chapters were full of nope.
June 13, 2019
Ok wow totalty did not expected this to be a five star loved it.
looked-into-decided-against
July 27, 2018Tracey's review was warning enough for me.
May 29, 2015
NOTE: Received as an ARC from Netgalley.
Interesting Regency mystery with a family as dysfunctional as that in Wuthering Heights, if Jane Eyre's nasty cousin John Reed and Mr. Rochester's wife lived there too. Anna is far and away the best character (she reminds me of Daisy in Downton Abbey). It started off a little slow for me, but then I got hooked. I look forward to future books in the series.
Interesting Regency mystery with a family as dysfunctional as that in Wuthering Heights, if Jane Eyre's nasty cousin John Reed and Mr. Rochester's wife lived there too. Anna is far and away the best character (she reminds me of Daisy in Downton Abbey). It started off a little slow for me, but then I got hooked. I look forward to future books in the series.
March 24, 2017
This poor little book...it reads like a high school essay and a spoof of detective novels all at once. I finished it, but it was painful.
March 19, 2020
The Heiress of Linn Hagh is book one in the Detective Lavender Mysteries. Detective Stephen Lavender and his assistant Constable Woods was requested by John Armstrong to search for his nieces who disappeared from her locked bedroom at Linn Hagh. However, on arrival in Bellingham and the visit to Linn Hagh Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Woods realise that this case is not as straight forward as they thought. The readers of The Heiress of Linn Hagh will continue to follow Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Woods investigation into the missing heiress.
The Heiress of Linn Hagh is the first book I have read of Karen Charlton, and I enjoy it. The Heiress of Linn Hagh is a historical mystery set in England, and at first, I was not sure if I would enjoy reading this book. However, the Heiress of Linn Hagh engaged me from the first page, and it caused me to added another series to my growing TBR. I love Karen Charlton portrayal of the characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The Heiress of Linn Hagh is well written and researched by Karen Charlton. I like the way Karen Charlton described the settings and the way it compliments the plot of this book.
The readers of The Heiress of Linn Hagh will learn about the Bow Street Runners and the Bow Street Horse Patrol. Also, the readers of The Heiress of Linn Hagh will learn about living in Northumberland in eighteenth-century England.
I recommend this book.
The Heiress of Linn Hagh is the first book I have read of Karen Charlton, and I enjoy it. The Heiress of Linn Hagh is a historical mystery set in England, and at first, I was not sure if I would enjoy reading this book. However, the Heiress of Linn Hagh engaged me from the first page, and it caused me to added another series to my growing TBR. I love Karen Charlton portrayal of the characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The Heiress of Linn Hagh is well written and researched by Karen Charlton. I like the way Karen Charlton described the settings and the way it compliments the plot of this book.
The readers of The Heiress of Linn Hagh will learn about the Bow Street Runners and the Bow Street Horse Patrol. Also, the readers of The Heiress of Linn Hagh will learn about living in Northumberland in eighteenth-century England.
I recommend this book.
February 23, 2020
This was an intriguing read which will keep you guessing until the end. The main characters of Stephen Lavender and Ned Woods were very engaging and the two personalities complimented each other. This is set at a time when superstitions were rife and this comes into play in this story. There are a number of family secrets to be discovered before the truth can be revealed. There is no romance as such but there is an interest and a suggestion of things to come. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
May 9, 2019
Detective Lavender and Constable Woods-what a dynamic team! ‘Northumberland’ 1809. Karen Charlton’s The Heiress of Linn Hagh (The Detective Lavender Mysteries #1) is an enthralling beginning of this series. The author’s writing is descriptive as well as entertaining be it setting, characterizing, or plot. For example, “Fungi erupted like obscene cancers in the wood. Fallen ash and sycamores gaped like huge, twisted, moss-coated serpents around them.”; “When her bony arms reached out to steady herself against the stone walls, Lavender thought she resembled an ungainly and vengeful black bat.”; “Both of them were acting out a part: Lavender was the embodiment of calm, reassuring solace; Isobel Carnaby, the distraught little housekeeper, was nearly hysterical over a couple of missing candles. Fascinated, Woods watched the charade unfold before his eyes.” I pictured the woods, visualized the ‘bony’ and ‘vengeful black bat’ of Isobel, and smiled as I ‘watched the charade’ with Constable Woods. I was and am definitely into this book, and I am looking forward to reading the next mystery in this beguiling series. Well done, Ms. Charlton! 5 stars.
December 24, 2015
I don't really have much to say about this book. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it. It was just kind of midway for me. I honestly think it may have been the characters that put me off so much. Detective Lavender is sort of disagreeable, yet at times he breaks out of his shell a bit. His story with Magdallena drove me absolutely insane. It was really an unnecessary plot line that didn't do much for the story overall. It just added some sexual tension that made me feel a bit uncomfortable, really. Woods was okay. He made the story flow a little better for me, as I had a better understanding of his attitude throughout the book. The mystery itself was entertaining, but it was also extremely obvious.
Overall, I really enjoyed the world building and the tiny details of the book. The writing is very descriptive and allows you to really step into the world. The overall tone of the book was dark and mysterious, yet it didn't absolutely amaze me. It just fell sort of flat, and unfortunately I don't plan to pick up another book in this series.
Overall, I really enjoyed the world building and the tiny details of the book. The writing is very descriptive and allows you to really step into the world. The overall tone of the book was dark and mysterious, yet it didn't absolutely amaze me. It just fell sort of flat, and unfortunately I don't plan to pick up another book in this series.
August 9, 2018
2.5 stars. The Heiress of Linn Hagh had appealing features for a lazy summertime read: a locked-room mystery, a missing, possibly abducted heiress, her miserably mean siblings, a 19th century northern England setting, a castle, hints of the supernatural, and the lean, cerebral detective called up from London to solve the case. I enjoyed the premise, and the novel sustained my curiosity, for the most part. Several of the minor characters, like Constable Woods and the maid Anna, were well-developed and memorable. The novel is limited by its plot; granted, it’s a locked-room mystery so is by definition formulaic, but even so, there was little playing with the genre’s conventions and little suspense. The writing needed further editing, in spots, as well. It was bogged down by redundant adjectives and unnecessary, tangential exposition. This was the first in a series, so subsequent novels may be more polished. Overall, it was a light, entertaining read for a summer evening.
May 14, 2022
DNF @ 20%.
The MC really acted very self-important and the rampant sexism was too much for me. I get trying for historical accuracy but even the writing was sexist. Did you really need the only beautiful woman in the carriage filled with people to lift her skirt in front of everyone to take off her stocking? Did we really need a scene with a drunk prostitue having to be searched by a policeman while a crowd of men yelled disgusting encouragements?
The MC really acted very self-important and the rampant sexism was too much for me. I get trying for historical accuracy but even the writing was sexist. Did you really need the only beautiful woman in the carriage filled with people to lift her skirt in front of everyone to take off her stocking? Did we really need a scene with a drunk prostitue having to be searched by a policeman while a crowd of men yelled disgusting encouragements?
March 5, 2017
I loved this book. The writing was excellent, the plot was good, and the characters came to life and made me want to know more about them. I'm looking forward to reading the upcoming books.
September 30, 2018
Detective Lavender and his friend, Constable Woods, are dispatched to Linn Hagh to investigate the disappearance of Helen (a young heiress), who disappeared from her locked room one night. As the two men get deeper into the investigation, they learn that the Carnaby family has some dark secrets. Secrets that undoubtedly made Helen fear for her life and try to run away.
I listened to the audio version of this story and enjoyed it. It was a decent mystery which unfolded at a good pace and was logical. Lavender is a good detective and an interesting character, but I liked Woods a tad better. I can't say I was surprised at the end, but I did feel entertained the entire time. Not sure if I will continue the series or not. Sometimes I like your average mystery and this was one of them, thus the average rating.
I listened to the audio version of this story and enjoyed it. It was a decent mystery which unfolded at a good pace and was logical. Lavender is a good detective and an interesting character, but I liked Woods a tad better. I can't say I was surprised at the end, but I did feel entertained the entire time. Not sure if I will continue the series or not. Sometimes I like your average mystery and this was one of them, thus the average rating.
September 11, 2018
Pretty good historical mystery......although I had it figured out pretty early on.
6/10
6/10
June 4, 2020
I read this as part of the Noblebright kindle box set.
Two flashbacks in 4 chapters is ridiculous.
I do hope the missing heiress saved herself as her family was horrible. I wonder if the middle brother was as he was due to head trauma from the elder siblings. 😡
I skipped ahead basically reading the last page of a chapter and a few of the next and skipped ahead again. So technically finished, some things I was correct and some surprises then again I skipped 80% of each chapter.
Two flashbacks in 4 chapters is ridiculous.
I do hope the missing heiress saved herself as her family was horrible. I wonder if the middle brother was as he was due to head trauma from the elder siblings. 😡
I skipped ahead basically reading the last page of a chapter and a few of the next and skipped ahead again. So technically finished, some things I was correct and some surprises then again I skipped 80% of each chapter.
April 26, 2017
The Heiress of Linn Hagh by Karen Charlton was a fun gothic mystery set in Regency England. Detective Lavender bears striking resemblance to Sherlock Holmes, but with a little more humanity to him. And Constable Wood is an admirable sidekick and Watson stand-in. The basic mystery here is how a young heiress disappeared from her locked bedroom in the middle of the night, leaving no trace.
I read another person's very nitpicky one-star review, and will admit that I have read books that hit me the same way, one thing bothered me at the beginning and then everything else just stands out that much more until it drives you crazy. I did not have that experience with this book.
The Heiress of Linn Hagh is a light quick read, with characters similar enough to Holmes and Watson that you feel at home in the story right away. I didn't find the central mystery or the various twists and turns to be that surprising, I had most of it figured out well before the reveal. However, I generally prefer a mystery that I can figure out to one where the answer is completely out of left field that you could never have figured out based on the clues you were given. I felt like the author had a fairly light touch with her clues. I have read others where the author all but beats you over the head with the clues to the point that you are yelling at the characters for having not figured it out yet.
This was a fun story and I will probably try the next in the series as well. I would recommend this one for fans of historical mysteries.
I read another person's very nitpicky one-star review, and will admit that I have read books that hit me the same way, one thing bothered me at the beginning and then everything else just stands out that much more until it drives you crazy. I did not have that experience with this book.
The Heiress of Linn Hagh is a light quick read, with characters similar enough to Holmes and Watson that you feel at home in the story right away. I didn't find the central mystery or the various twists and turns to be that surprising, I had most of it figured out well before the reveal. However, I generally prefer a mystery that I can figure out to one where the answer is completely out of left field that you could never have figured out based on the clues you were given. I felt like the author had a fairly light touch with her clues. I have read others where the author all but beats you over the head with the clues to the point that you are yelling at the characters for having not figured it out yet.
This was a fun story and I will probably try the next in the series as well. I would recommend this one for fans of historical mysteries.
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