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Beatrice Hyde-Clare #1
A Brazen Curiosity
Nothing ruins a lovely house party like bloody murder.
At the decrepit old age of six-and-twenty, Miss Beatrice Hyde-Clare has virtually no hope of landing a husband. An orphan living off her relatives' charity, her job is to sit with her needlework and to keep her thoughts to herself.
When Bea receives an invitation to an elegant country party, she intends to do just that. Not even the presence of the aggravatingly handsome Duke of Kesgrave could lead this young lady to scandal. True, she might wish to pour her bowl of turtle soup on his aristocratic head - however, she would never actually do it. But a lady can fantasize.
But, when she stumbles upon the dead body of another houseguest, all Bea's good intentions fly out the well-appointed window. Although the magistrate declares it a suicide, she knows better.
Time for some very unladylike behavior.
At the decrepit old age of six-and-twenty, Miss Beatrice Hyde-Clare has virtually no hope of landing a husband. An orphan living off her relatives' charity, her job is to sit with her needlework and to keep her thoughts to herself.
When Bea receives an invitation to an elegant country party, she intends to do just that. Not even the presence of the aggravatingly handsome Duke of Kesgrave could lead this young lady to scandal. True, she might wish to pour her bowl of turtle soup on his aristocratic head - however, she would never actually do it. But a lady can fantasize.
But, when she stumbles upon the dead body of another houseguest, all Bea's good intentions fly out the well-appointed window. Although the magistrate declares it a suicide, she knows better.
Time for some very unladylike behavior.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2018
3608 people are currently reading
6340 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Messina
65 books661 followersLynn Messina is author of more than a dozen novels, including the best-selling Fashionistas, which has been translated into sixteen languages, and a series of Regency romance novels. Her essays have appeared in Self, American Baby and the New York Times Modern Love column. She lives in New York City with her sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 875 reviews
September 22, 2018
This Regency cozy mystery surprised me a lot. While I find that Regency romances and mysteries are usually "much of a muchness," without much to really distinguish one from another, the witty banter in this one took it to the next level for me.
Beatrice is a 26-year-old spinster who lives with her aunt and two cousins. They are all making a visit to family friends. Late one night Beatrice can't sleep, so, as anyone would, she heads off to the library for a suitable book. While there she stumbles upon A BODY (gasp!) AND who else should be standing over it but the Duke of Kesgrave, the one member of the house party that she absolutely despises, and always wants to throw food at.
Beatrice is a shy, uncomfortable sort of girl in society, but this unexpected turn of events leads her to doing things she would never have dreamt of in the pursuit of justice. I enjoyed her blossoming personality. And I really enjoyed the standoffs between her and Kesgrave. This is a very funny book that had me chuckling more than usual.
Not that it's without its flaws. Scenes of dialogue tend to stall while too much time is being spent narrating Beatrice's thoughts, and it seems that whoever she's talking to is just silently standing around while she ponders things. A bit unnatural. But a forgivable flaw in such a funny book with characters that I really want to revisit.
I am happy to note that two more books in the series were released at the same time as this one, so I will be able to continue Beatrice's adventures without delay.
Thanks to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for this advance review copy.
Beatrice is a 26-year-old spinster who lives with her aunt and two cousins. They are all making a visit to family friends. Late one night Beatrice can't sleep, so, as anyone would, she heads off to the library for a suitable book. While there she stumbles upon A BODY (gasp!) AND who else should be standing over it but the Duke of Kesgrave, the one member of the house party that she absolutely despises, and always wants to throw food at.
Beatrice is a shy, uncomfortable sort of girl in society, but this unexpected turn of events leads her to doing things she would never have dreamt of in the pursuit of justice. I enjoyed her blossoming personality. And I really enjoyed the standoffs between her and Kesgrave. This is a very funny book that had me chuckling more than usual.
Not that it's without its flaws. Scenes of dialogue tend to stall while too much time is being spent narrating Beatrice's thoughts, and it seems that whoever she's talking to is just silently standing around while she ponders things. A bit unnatural. But a forgivable flaw in such a funny book with characters that I really want to revisit.
I am happy to note that two more books in the series were released at the same time as this one, so I will be able to continue Beatrice's adventures without delay.
Thanks to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for this advance review copy.
September 16, 2020
I totally recommend this book. Great mystery, wonderful banter and I could not put it down. I did not guess who did it. I am already reading the next in the series.
September 29, 2018
5* https://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogsp...
Lynn Messina! Sign me up! You are becoming my ‘go to’ for a fun getaway. Light and easy reads is what you deliver time and again. I adored this book! Lynn has proven herself to be a truly witty and very clever author of Regency genre. I mean a ‘posthaste’ nap sounds inviting to me!
“Aunt Vera, having decided it was her niece who had ruined the mood, rather than Mr. Otley’s corpse, reiterated her demand that Bea take a nap posthaste.”
This book is indeed a lot of fun and ticks so many boxes - historic details, an escape to the country, a murder to be solved, a little romance and all tied together with humour. You will love Beatrice, our main heroine and an old maid at 26! The way she does a character analysis on those gathered at this country retreat is wonderful, with her desire to throw food at them in abomination truly hysterical. However, there is also that touch of sadness about her situation and she recognises that which makes the reader truly feel for her.
“The difference between who she perceived herself to be and who she actually was was vast, and if she had any fight left in her, she would resent how easily she’d succumbed to everyone’s low expectations, including her own.”
Bea found herself wanting to hurl a dinner roll at him just to elicit a lecture on the throwing arch of flour-based projectiles.”
So when a murder occurs in the library late one night, Bea sees this as her opportunity. This has a good ol’ game of ‘Cluedo’ written all over it - Mr So and So, in the library with the .... what is there not to appreciate? As Beatrice and the Duke put their heads together in an attempt to reveal the murderer, the complexity of the clues is such, that you will not see the culprit until the final reveal.
“Beatrice couldn’t believe they were debating decorum while the dead body of Mr. Otley cooled before their eyes.”
I cannot recommend this book highly enough (and I am off to search up the remaining two in the series) for an all round entertaining read. It is a fun mystery, filled with an array of stereotypical, yet enticing, characters from that era with many a laugh out loud moment.
“I had quite a lot of tea.”
“Bea!” her aunt exclaimed, appalled at this display of outrageous behavior. “We just talked about this. Ladies do not admit to any biological functions.”
“Yes, Bea,” Flora said, smirking. “Weren’t you listening? It was in the section on hygiene.”
“Of course, I remember,” Bea lied smoothly. “The hygiene section was a favorite. I do particularly love disavowing my own physiological processes.”
Lynn Messina! Sign me up! You are becoming my ‘go to’ for a fun getaway. Light and easy reads is what you deliver time and again. I adored this book! Lynn has proven herself to be a truly witty and very clever author of Regency genre. I mean a ‘posthaste’ nap sounds inviting to me!
“Aunt Vera, having decided it was her niece who had ruined the mood, rather than Mr. Otley’s corpse, reiterated her demand that Bea take a nap posthaste.”
This book is indeed a lot of fun and ticks so many boxes - historic details, an escape to the country, a murder to be solved, a little romance and all tied together with humour. You will love Beatrice, our main heroine and an old maid at 26! The way she does a character analysis on those gathered at this country retreat is wonderful, with her desire to throw food at them in abomination truly hysterical. However, there is also that touch of sadness about her situation and she recognises that which makes the reader truly feel for her.
“The difference between who she perceived herself to be and who she actually was was vast, and if she had any fight left in her, she would resent how easily she’d succumbed to everyone’s low expectations, including her own.”
Bea found herself wanting to hurl a dinner roll at him just to elicit a lecture on the throwing arch of flour-based projectiles.”
So when a murder occurs in the library late one night, Bea sees this as her opportunity. This has a good ol’ game of ‘Cluedo’ written all over it - Mr So and So, in the library with the .... what is there not to appreciate? As Beatrice and the Duke put their heads together in an attempt to reveal the murderer, the complexity of the clues is such, that you will not see the culprit until the final reveal.
“Beatrice couldn’t believe they were debating decorum while the dead body of Mr. Otley cooled before their eyes.”
I cannot recommend this book highly enough (and I am off to search up the remaining two in the series) for an all round entertaining read. It is a fun mystery, filled with an array of stereotypical, yet enticing, characters from that era with many a laugh out loud moment.
“I had quite a lot of tea.”
“Bea!” her aunt exclaimed, appalled at this display of outrageous behavior. “We just talked about this. Ladies do not admit to any biological functions.”
“Yes, Bea,” Flora said, smirking. “Weren’t you listening? It was in the section on hygiene.”
“Of course, I remember,” Bea lied smoothly. “The hygiene section was a favorite. I do particularly love disavowing my own physiological processes.”
December 5, 2018
Meh... We heard WAY too much of the MC's internal meanderings. I wouldn't have minded them so much if a) they weren't so plodding and b) she wasn't such a wimp. And I skipped through the prattling and preaching of the aunt. How many pages can you REALLY dedicate to an adult being scolded by a sanctimonious prig (and taking it!!)? Many readers seem to find it funny; I don't. Just unbelievably tiresome.....
May 6, 2023
Much to my surprise, this was actually quite good. In fact, I'm quite determined to get my hands on the rest of the series.
Beatrice Hyde-Clare is on the shelf at 26 and used to her status as poor relation. But when a guest ends up murdered at a house party she also is attending--possibly at the hands of a most annoying duke--she decides to solve the mystery.
Beatrice's supposedly 'mousy' attitude clashed some with the strong, independent young woman the reader gets to know. The change feels a little too fast and possibly too motivated by the male hero. But that's about as much as I can say about that. The romance was good and under the surface. Love the promise of its continuation in future books.
The murderer proved predictable and the motive outlandish but nothing too horrible.
For the quality of the book, maybe 3.5 stars. But considering that it outpaces most of its genre, I'm willing to round up.
Silly but delightful.
Beatrice Hyde-Clare is on the shelf at 26 and used to her status as poor relation. But when a guest ends up murdered at a house party she also is attending--possibly at the hands of a most annoying duke--she decides to solve the mystery.
Beatrice's supposedly 'mousy' attitude clashed some with the strong, independent young woman the reader gets to know. The change feels a little too fast and possibly too motivated by the male hero. But that's about as much as I can say about that. The romance was good and under the surface. Love the promise of its continuation in future books.
The murderer proved predictable and the motive outlandish but nothing too horrible.
For the quality of the book, maybe 3.5 stars. But considering that it outpaces most of its genre, I'm willing to round up.
Silly but delightful.
April 20, 2019
A house party full of different personalities. An arrogant, yet handsome Duke. A quiet young spinster (on the outside). On the inside she is smart and full of snark. And all she wants to do is hurl a dinner roll at the know-it-all (yet very handsome) Duke. A body found dead in the the library, at night by spinster and Duke. She gets to sleuthing. He is astonished at how much she sleuths (all the info and tidbits about their fellow housepartiers). They trade snappy barbs. She dramatically unmasks a killer with his help (and really the killer's help who found the unmasking to be taking too long).
Snappy little amateur sleuth mystery. No romance but if those two don't end up together in some future book, I'll be very surprised.
Looking forward to reading the others.
Snappy little amateur sleuth mystery. No romance but if those two don't end up together in some future book, I'll be very surprised.
Looking forward to reading the others.
abandoned
May 4, 2019Abandoned. There were some very funny moments, but heavens, it was wordy, with every trivial sentence analyzed to the nth degree by the heroine. I just wanted to get to the action. It’s also part of a projected long-running series, with a romance building slowly, and that’s not particularly interesting. I did like the pedantic duke, however.
September 4, 2023
Bonus points for starting off with food, and the desire to fling it at a particular character. This was my first experience with a cozy mystery, or so I thought until I read about this genre on Wikipedia and learned that some Agatha Christie's Miss Marple novels can be classified as cozies, so I probably read some of those when I was a kid. Overall I don't think this genre is really for me. I thought it was fun, but I don't feel compelled to read any more of the series, although the book club discussion was delightful.
Partway through this book I set it down thinking this has got to be a parody. The language was so over-the-top and the characters spoke in such extreme and caricatured manner, for example:
Who the fuck talks like that about themselves? Then again, now that I think about it, I know at least one person who spends a lot of time on Facebook self-aggrandizing himself and how much different he is from everyone else, so maybe I need to re-assess. But here's some more:
My note on my kindle for that quote is just "Jesus fuck."
This book is filled with instances like these. I can't help thinking that if this book were turned into a play, I would actually enjoy it more. I can envision this on stage with a good cast being very entertaining if they leaned into flowery language and the melodrama for humorous effect.
Everything is presented through Beatrice Hyde-Clare's PoV and she clearly overlays her interpretation on top of the words and actions of each character, and thus everything Kesgrave does or says is arrogant, even when it might be sensible, and I guess that other characters are put through a similar filter.
A couple things that I noticed. 1) After Beatrice leaves the murder scene she goes to bed without ever washing her hands of the blood. I would have thought that would have been at least mentioned. 2) Beatrice assumes early on that the killer is male.
Also, I learned a new phrase: High in the instep. I hope to be able to use it sometime, but most likely I will forget it before the opportunity knocks.
Partway through this book I set it down thinking this has got to be a parody. The language was so over-the-top and the characters spoke in such extreme and caricatured manner, for example:
It would not be so pronounced, except your ashen complexion makes the contrast particularly stark.
"My eyes, as well, for they become luminescent in grief, not at all bloodshot, which I know is the more common reaction," she said before launching into a list of other ways her beauty had always set her apart.
Who the fuck talks like that about themselves? Then again, now that I think about it, I know at least one person who spends a lot of time on Facebook self-aggrandizing himself and how much different he is from everyone else, so maybe I need to re-assess. But here's some more:
Flora squeaked lightly in distress, then rallied with the insistence that if her cheeks flushed as becomingly as Miss Otley's, she would wear pink all the time.
My note on my kindle for that quote is just "Jesus fuck."
I'm an exquisite young lady with stunning features, magnificent hair and a figure of such pleasing proportions it cannot fail to appeal to all men.
This book is filled with instances like these. I can't help thinking that if this book were turned into a play, I would actually enjoy it more. I can envision this on stage with a good cast being very entertaining if they leaned into flowery language and the melodrama for humorous effect.
Everything is presented through Beatrice Hyde-Clare's PoV and she clearly overlays her interpretation on top of the words and actions of each character, and thus everything Kesgrave does or says is arrogant, even when it might be sensible, and I guess that other characters are put through a similar filter.
A couple things that I noticed. 1) After Beatrice leaves the murder scene she goes to bed without ever washing her hands of the blood. I would have thought that would have been at least mentioned. 2) Beatrice assumes early on that the killer is male.
Also, I learned a new phrase: High in the instep. I hope to be able to use it sometime, but most likely I will forget it before the opportunity knocks.
July 19, 2020
I read this for a book club (our first virtual meeting), so I'm just going to tidy up my personal notes a bit and leave that as my review.
Tells you what food to serve for the bookclub in the very first paragraph! How convenient. Especially since I don't actually have to serve any of that, since it's virtual. That does preclude actually throwing that food at anyone, though, so not quite as fun as in the book.
I hear it in my head being narrated with a fake British accent.
This Duke fellow is either going to be killed, or is the love interest of the protagonist.
Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, KG, PC, FRS (/ˈtaʊnzənd/; 18 April 1674 – 21 June 1738) was an English Whig statesman. He served for a decade as Secretary of State for the Northern Department, 1714–1717, 1721–1730. He directed British foreign policy in close collaboration with his brother-in-law, prime minister Robert Walpole. He was often known as Turnip Townshend because of his strong interest in farming turnips and his role in the British Agricultural Revolution.
"Smother her with a book"??
"As she was neither a leopard nor a grizzly bear at the Tower of London, she took offense at his tone." Huh?
"No house party that contained a murdered corpse could be described as a complete success."
"she wasn't a damp parsnip with no understanding of the natural world"
"noodle-headed nodcocks"
At 74% mark: it is [one of three characters, one of whom did turn out to be the killer, but there were at least two other characters I was plausibly suspecting could be the one, so not too obvious then].
fus·tian
/ˈfəsCHən/
noun: fustian
1. thick, durable twilled cloth with a short nap, usually dyed in dark colors.
2. pompous or pretentious speech or writing.
Bea never did actually announce "whodunnit", the windup to that point caused a confession. Was this all part of the plan? Did Bea not actually know whodunnit, and she was just bluffing? She did have a tendency to throw herself into a conversation without having worked out in advance what her story would be, and making it up as she went along, so it's not impossible.
Bea could speak up for herself in any situation which Aunt Vera hadn't trained her for; she lost her voice in ordinary situations. This, I theorize, was why she found the experience of investigating a murder more thrilling and liberating than intimidating; she could shrug off the years and years of training from Aunt Vera on how one was to behave, since Aunt Vera hadn't told her what to do (or not do) in the presence of a murdered corpse.
...and that was that. All in all, while I doubt it will turn me into a regular "cozy" reader, it was entertaining, in a kind of fluffy way. Odd that a murder is the plot device around which such a genre is based. Perhaps the dark subject allows the rest of the tale to be more purely gossipy, without the need to be gritty. Or maybe it's just that Agatha Christie sent them down that path and that is the archetype all these stories are building on.
All in all, if like me you are not a "cozy" reader but are curious as to what that genre is about, this was an entirely painless and even enjoyable introduction.
Tells you what food to serve for the bookclub in the very first paragraph! How convenient. Especially since I don't actually have to serve any of that, since it's virtual. That does preclude actually throwing that food at anyone, though, so not quite as fun as in the book.
I hear it in my head being narrated with a fake British accent.
This Duke fellow is either going to be killed, or is the love interest of the protagonist.
Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, KG, PC, FRS (/ˈtaʊnzənd/; 18 April 1674 – 21 June 1738) was an English Whig statesman. He served for a decade as Secretary of State for the Northern Department, 1714–1717, 1721–1730. He directed British foreign policy in close collaboration with his brother-in-law, prime minister Robert Walpole. He was often known as Turnip Townshend because of his strong interest in farming turnips and his role in the British Agricultural Revolution.
"Smother her with a book"??
"As she was neither a leopard nor a grizzly bear at the Tower of London, she took offense at his tone." Huh?
"No house party that contained a murdered corpse could be described as a complete success."
"she wasn't a damp parsnip with no understanding of the natural world"
"noodle-headed nodcocks"
At 74% mark: it is [one of three characters, one of whom did turn out to be the killer, but there were at least two other characters I was plausibly suspecting could be the one, so not too obvious then].
fus·tian
/ˈfəsCHən/
noun: fustian
1. thick, durable twilled cloth with a short nap, usually dyed in dark colors.
2. pompous or pretentious speech or writing.
Bea never did actually announce "whodunnit", the windup to that point caused a confession. Was this all part of the plan? Did Bea not actually know whodunnit, and she was just bluffing? She did have a tendency to throw herself into a conversation without having worked out in advance what her story would be, and making it up as she went along, so it's not impossible.
Bea could speak up for herself in any situation which Aunt Vera hadn't trained her for; she lost her voice in ordinary situations. This, I theorize, was why she found the experience of investigating a murder more thrilling and liberating than intimidating; she could shrug off the years and years of training from Aunt Vera on how one was to behave, since Aunt Vera hadn't told her what to do (or not do) in the presence of a murdered corpse.
...and that was that. All in all, while I doubt it will turn me into a regular "cozy" reader, it was entertaining, in a kind of fluffy way. Odd that a murder is the plot device around which such a genre is based. Perhaps the dark subject allows the rest of the tale to be more purely gossipy, without the need to be gritty. Or maybe it's just that Agatha Christie sent them down that path and that is the archetype all these stories are building on.
All in all, if like me you are not a "cozy" reader but are curious as to what that genre is about, this was an entirely painless and even enjoyable introduction.
June 18, 2025
This was a fun romp through a house party.
Makes me want to go on to the next one for more pedantry and bread rolls.
Makes me want to go on to the next one for more pedantry and bread rolls.
July 22, 2022
Regency, England. 1816. Lynn Messina’s A Brazen Curiosity (Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #1) finds Beatrice Hyde-Clare at a house party in the Lake District. I shall be straight with you. I had to start this mystery, the first in a rather long series, three times as I just could not get into it. Needless to say, I was very frustrated, but it seems that I did not do ‘my homework’, and for a retired teacher that is not good!! Every time I attempted to read this book, I ended up putting it down, muttering to myself, “Someone can not really be that dumb.” Yes, I confess that I did ‘mutter’ those exact words, and for a teacher and as a teacher, I never thought a student was ‘dumb’. Heaven Forbid! But this character, Beatrice Hyde-Clare, appeared to be the dumbest bunny I had ever come across, and believe me, with all the students I taught that is a MAJOR statement! Well, to my surprise, I finally discovered the author wrote this character this way so she would scream “Dumb!”, and I ‘fell’ for it. I hang my head in shame, but no longer! Now that I know what is actually taking place, it is on to #2. Wish me luck, please! 4 stars.
April 28, 2021
One of the books I found really well-written but that I just couldn't enjoy as it probably deserved.
I think it was well-written because it seemed to get the gist of the times (it took place) and of the genre. The characters were created with attention.
I haven't enjoyed it more, because I am a hard reader when it comes to mystery/detective stories. I think that the mystery and how the main couple solved it was properly written but to me, there was too much thinking and speaking about it.
I also didn't like that Bea a few times said 'Kesgrave' instead of 'your grace' or something other more appropriate. I don't think she could have mistaken it. It looked more like an author's errors.
Still, it was amusing. Give it a try if you are a fan of the genre. Perhaps I will try the next parts someday too.
PS The book was much much better than The Bolingbroke Chit by the same writer.
I think it was well-written because it seemed to get the gist of the times (it took place) and of the genre. The characters were created with attention.
I haven't enjoyed it more, because I am a hard reader when it comes to mystery/detective stories. I think that the mystery and how the main couple solved it was properly written but to me, there was too much thinking and speaking about it.
I also didn't like that Bea a few times said 'Kesgrave' instead of 'your grace' or something other more appropriate. I don't think she could have mistaken it. It looked more like an author's errors.
Still, it was amusing. Give it a try if you are a fan of the genre. Perhaps I will try the next parts someday too.
PS The book was much much better than The Bolingbroke Chit by the same writer.
July 31, 2022
I’m completely charmed. Was the banter a little outrageous? Yes. Were the characters exaggerated? Sure. Did it make this a fun romp? Absolutely.
Beatrice is a 26 year old who has lived with her uncle’s family since her parents drowned in an accident when she was five. She has lived her life in the shadows of her cousins and overbearing aunt and suffered through six seasons in society with crippling shyness. She has amassed significant knowledge through reading while relegated to second-class status in her family and society.
While at a house party with her family, she discovers a pompous Duke standing over the dead body of another guest during a visit to the library late at night. Both she and the Duke think they’re confronting the murderer when they meet. Hilarity ensues and they work together to solve the crime.
I can’t count how many times I laughed out loud while reading this book. The sleuthing is impressive, but the repartee shines. I’m completely on board for this series.
Beatrice is a 26 year old who has lived with her uncle’s family since her parents drowned in an accident when she was five. She has lived her life in the shadows of her cousins and overbearing aunt and suffered through six seasons in society with crippling shyness. She has amassed significant knowledge through reading while relegated to second-class status in her family and society.
While at a house party with her family, she discovers a pompous Duke standing over the dead body of another guest during a visit to the library late at night. Both she and the Duke think they’re confronting the murderer when they meet. Hilarity ensues and they work together to solve the crime.
I can’t count how many times I laughed out loud while reading this book. The sleuthing is impressive, but the repartee shines. I’m completely on board for this series.
August 1, 2022
I do enjoy Regency period books and have certainly read my fair share, but this murder mystery, first of a series, displayed a vein of delightful humour in the creation of a young lady with a penchant for
bold and daring investigation when someone is murdered at a house party.
I intend to follow on to the next as soon as possible, as this one brought smiles.
Kindle Unlimited
bold and daring investigation when someone is murdered at a house party.
I intend to follow on to the next as soon as possible, as this one brought smiles.
Kindle Unlimited
May 9, 2023
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
This was delightful.
This was delightful.
September 20, 2022
Beatrice Hyde-Clare hat nicht den besten Stand in der Gesellschaft: Im vorgerückten Alter von 26 Jahren ist sie noch immer unverheiratet und fristet ihr Dasein als mittellose Waise im Haushalt ihrer Tante Vera. Normalerweise weiß sie ihre Gedanken für sich zu behalten, als sie jedoch bei einer eleganten Hausgesellschaft in Lakeview Hall dem so arroganten wie gutaussehenden Duke of Kesgrave begegnet, wird ihre Wohlerzogenheit auf eine harte Probe gestellt. Die Ereignisse überschlagen sich, nachdem Beatrice mitten in der Nacht in der Bibliothek über die Leiche eines anderen Hausgastes stolpert - und neben dem eingeschlagenen Kopf des armen Mr. Otley steht niemand Geringeres als der Duke, der am nächsten Morgen auch noch alles daran setzt, den Mord als Selbstmord zu vertuschen...
Eine kluge Protagonistin, ein Mord in feiner Gesellschaft und ein stattliches Anwesen auf dem englischen Land zur Regency-Zeit - was für ein Kriminalroman könnte besser in einen verregneten Herbstabend passen? "Mord in bester Gesellschaft" ist der erste Band der Krimi-Reihe von Lynn Messina um Beatrice Hyde-Clare, in der Übersetzung von Karl-Heinz Ebnet, und hat mich angenehm gut unterhalten. Eine junge Dame hat es als Ermittlerin in der Zeit zwischen 1810 und 1820 natürlich nicht leicht, Beatrice Hyde-Clare ist jedoch in ihrem Auftreten ebenso gewitzt wie beherzt und hat sich schnell meine Sympathie gesichert.
Der Roman benötigt etwas Zeit, um in Fahrt zu kommen, auch werden - wie so oft im Whodunit-Genre - die in den Ermittlungen gesammelten Informationen immer wieder wiederholt, was doch zu einigen Längen beim Lesen geführt hat. Aber auch wenn dieser Krimi nicht mit Hochspannung aufwarten konnte, so hat er für mich schon allein durch die Zeit, zu der er spielt, und das großartige herrschaftlich-englische Setting, in dem sich der Mord ereignet, gepunktet. Hinzu kommt eine wohl durchdachte Auflösung, ganz in guter Agatha-Christie-Manier zum Schluss des Buches vor versammelter Gesellschaft verkündet - für so etwas bin ich einfach immer zu haben!
Für mich ist "Mord in bester Gesellschaft" daher ein erfrischender und zerstreuender Auftaktband, der zwar einige Luft nach oben lässt, aber zugleich viel Potential für die Folgebände offenhält. Ich werde diese gemütliche Krimi-Reihe bestimmt weiterverfolgen 🕯
Eine kluge Protagonistin, ein Mord in feiner Gesellschaft und ein stattliches Anwesen auf dem englischen Land zur Regency-Zeit - was für ein Kriminalroman könnte besser in einen verregneten Herbstabend passen? "Mord in bester Gesellschaft" ist der erste Band der Krimi-Reihe von Lynn Messina um Beatrice Hyde-Clare, in der Übersetzung von Karl-Heinz Ebnet, und hat mich angenehm gut unterhalten. Eine junge Dame hat es als Ermittlerin in der Zeit zwischen 1810 und 1820 natürlich nicht leicht, Beatrice Hyde-Clare ist jedoch in ihrem Auftreten ebenso gewitzt wie beherzt und hat sich schnell meine Sympathie gesichert.
Der Roman benötigt etwas Zeit, um in Fahrt zu kommen, auch werden - wie so oft im Whodunit-Genre - die in den Ermittlungen gesammelten Informationen immer wieder wiederholt, was doch zu einigen Längen beim Lesen geführt hat. Aber auch wenn dieser Krimi nicht mit Hochspannung aufwarten konnte, so hat er für mich schon allein durch die Zeit, zu der er spielt, und das großartige herrschaftlich-englische Setting, in dem sich der Mord ereignet, gepunktet. Hinzu kommt eine wohl durchdachte Auflösung, ganz in guter Agatha-Christie-Manier zum Schluss des Buches vor versammelter Gesellschaft verkündet - für so etwas bin ich einfach immer zu haben!
Für mich ist "Mord in bester Gesellschaft" daher ein erfrischender und zerstreuender Auftaktband, der zwar einige Luft nach oben lässt, aber zugleich viel Potential für die Folgebände offenhält. Ich werde diese gemütliche Krimi-Reihe bestimmt weiterverfolgen 🕯
July 26, 2020
Regency.
I liked this quirky little story. One of 6 books (!)
about this couple. It had wit and romance.
Bea, an orphan, lived with her aunt, uncle & 2 cousins.
Aunty expected shy Bea to conform a certain way IE
blend into the scenery. All 4, excepting uncle, attended
a house party hosted by a baron & his wife. Also invited
toplofty Duke of Kesgrave (the H), who no one called by
his 1st name. Also present: a viscount, an earl and spice
trader Mr. Otley, his wife and perfectly beautiful dtr
Amelia. But there were lies and secrets afoot.
At the house party, Mr. Otley was discovered dead: suicide
vs homicide? The H & h investigated this on the sly. He was
exacting with details & she observant of attitudes, habits,
& non-verbal cues of others. He gradually, reluctantly gave
her credit for smarts. Their dialogue was choice. She felt
more comfortable over time asserting herself. They had
more in common than they knew?
Mystery solved. Outcome for this couple: TBD.
I liked this quirky little story. One of 6 books (!)
about this couple. It had wit and romance.
Bea, an orphan, lived with her aunt, uncle & 2 cousins.
Aunty expected shy Bea to conform a certain way IE
blend into the scenery. All 4, excepting uncle, attended
a house party hosted by a baron & his wife. Also invited
toplofty Duke of Kesgrave (the H), who no one called by
his 1st name. Also present: a viscount, an earl and spice
trader Mr. Otley, his wife and perfectly beautiful dtr
Amelia. But there were lies and secrets afoot.
At the house party, Mr. Otley was discovered dead: suicide
vs homicide? The H & h investigated this on the sly. He was
exacting with details & she observant of attitudes, habits,
& non-verbal cues of others. He gradually, reluctantly gave
her credit for smarts. Their dialogue was choice. She felt
more comfortable over time asserting herself. They had
more in common than they knew?
Mystery solved. Outcome for this couple: TBD.
March 11, 2020
3.5 really. As the title states, this is indeed a “cozy” mystery and quite enjoyable. Nothing too awful—just one body, unlike some authors who seem to be modeling their plots after Midsomer Murder. I think I’ll listen to the next in the series.
April 12, 2021
4.5-3.75 stars rounded up
Six and twenty year old spinster Beatrice Hyde-Clare has been at the mercy of her relatives for 19 years as a poor relation. She must keep her mouth shut and her head down. Beatrice is grateful for the shelter, food and basic necessities her aunt by marriage has given her but part of her longs for love. She knows that is impossible. Without a dowry or a pretty face Beatrice's prospects are none. Which is why she is dragged along to a house party at her aunt's old friend Lady Skeffington's estate, forced to listen to the pompous Duke of Kresgrave pontificating on Lord Nelson's ships at the Battle of the Nile. She ponders what foods would make the best projectiles to throw at his head... if she could... but she can't. He's a Duke, she's a poor relation. While Beatrice is searching for a book to help her sleep she stumbles across the bloody body of a fellow house guest, Mr. Otley and the Duke of Kesgrave standing over the body! The Duke swears he didn't kill the man but Beatrice isn't so sure. She is incensed when the Duke manages to convince everyone Mr. Otley's death was a suicide! How can a man bash in his own head with a candlestick? Beatrice is determined to show up the arrogant Duke and solve the mystery herself!
This is a fun new Regency cozy mystery series. I took advantage of Amazon's Kindle Unlimited Cyber Week sale so I could read this book. I had trouble getting into the story at first. The Duke of Kesgrave's long winded speeches bored me to sleep. I wasn't even that interested once the body was discovered so I put the book down. I picked it up again the next night and couldn't put it down. I tried to guess who killed Mr. Otley and why. I was never so shocked at the reveal! My quibble is that it happened to quickly I was confused so I didn't gasp. I had to go back and read again and then speed read down the page to make sure I read correctly. Kudos to the author for completely stumping everyone, even the know-it-all Duke (I'm sure he'd say he figured it out). There's just enough period detail to know that it's set in the Regency era. The author must have read etiquette manuals because certain passages involving Aunt Vera read like an etiquette manual. It suits the story but drags the plot a bit.
I really liked Beatrice. Bea is smart and witty. I love her sarcastic sense of humor and I don't blame her for wanting to throw food at the Duke of Kesgrave. I've met many men like that (they're always men!) and have felt the same way. Bea's character development is excellent as she works to solve the mystery. She does do a lot of stupid things she shouldn't be doing and gets herself into silly and dangerous situations because she's being nosy. I wouldn't be brave enough to do what Bea does. I couldn't believe she solved the mystery. The Duke of Kesgrave is arrogant in a Mr. Darcy sort of way but unlike Darcy, he can laugh at himself. I like how Bea challenges him and he seems to enjoy teasing her. I'm not sure if he's sincere in his pontificating or if he's playing everyone for a fool because they "toad eat" him. I wouldn't go so far as to fall in love with him or even really like him but I can say he does make a good detecting partner.
The secondary characters are all well drawn, especially the ladies. Bea's Aunt Vera is seriously annoying. She gives Bea all the basic necessities but there's no love between them. Bea is a duty she'd rather not have. Aunt Vera is a stickler for etiquette.... except when it comes to sucking up to a Duke. She can't decide whether it's better to get on his good side by chastising Bea or agreeing with whatever he says. I thought her treatment of Bea towards the end of the novel was kind but Bea doesn't see it that way. Bea's cousin Flora is a simpering miss but she seems to have some cousinly feelings for Bea and if she were a modern teen, she'd be rolling her eyes at her mother. Miss Otley seems to be an empty headed, vain foolish girl, yet Bea discovers hidden depths in her. I felt really awful that a young lady lost the father she loved and found out things about her parents that she didn't like. While her dialogue made me laugh, her story is tinged with sadness. I felt kind of bad for Mrs. Otley but not entirely. She is not all that likable. Lady Skeffington is the most likable of the older women. She's a kind and gracious hostess.
The secondary gentlemen are not as well developed as the ladies. Lord Skeffington is as kind as his wife. He loves his family and is a good host despite the tragedy that occurs. His son and heir lacks some brains as is typical of youths his age. He's rude and arrogant at times but he's also very young and rather naive. His friend, Lord Amersham, is also foolish. Viscount Nuneaton doesn't have any personality at all. Bea can't figure him out aside from the fact he appears to be a dandy. Bea's cousin Russell is afflicted with hero worship for the older men and lovesickness for Miss Otley. He's young and over eager but he doesn't seem as stupid as the other young men. He appears to have a sense of humor and is willing to support his cousin- perhaps only to protect the family name but he seems like he will grow up to be a decent gentleman.
I really liked this book and can't wait to read the other two. I intended to switch genres but I'm interested to see what Bea gets up to next and how her relationship with Kesgrave develops because well- this IS a Regency romance even if there's no romance yet!
Six and twenty year old spinster Beatrice Hyde-Clare has been at the mercy of her relatives for 19 years as a poor relation. She must keep her mouth shut and her head down. Beatrice is grateful for the shelter, food and basic necessities her aunt by marriage has given her but part of her longs for love. She knows that is impossible. Without a dowry or a pretty face Beatrice's prospects are none. Which is why she is dragged along to a house party at her aunt's old friend Lady Skeffington's estate, forced to listen to the pompous Duke of Kresgrave pontificating on Lord Nelson's ships at the Battle of the Nile. She ponders what foods would make the best projectiles to throw at his head... if she could... but she can't. He's a Duke, she's a poor relation. While Beatrice is searching for a book to help her sleep she stumbles across the bloody body of a fellow house guest, Mr. Otley and the Duke of Kesgrave standing over the body! The Duke swears he didn't kill the man but Beatrice isn't so sure. She is incensed when the Duke manages to convince everyone Mr. Otley's death was a suicide! How can a man bash in his own head with a candlestick? Beatrice is determined to show up the arrogant Duke and solve the mystery herself!
This is a fun new Regency cozy mystery series. I took advantage of Amazon's Kindle Unlimited Cyber Week sale so I could read this book. I had trouble getting into the story at first. The Duke of Kesgrave's long winded speeches bored me to sleep. I wasn't even that interested once the body was discovered so I put the book down. I picked it up again the next night and couldn't put it down. I tried to guess who killed Mr. Otley and why. I was never so shocked at the reveal! My quibble is that it happened to quickly I was confused so I didn't gasp. I had to go back and read again and then speed read down the page to make sure I read correctly. Kudos to the author for completely stumping everyone, even the know-it-all Duke (I'm sure he'd say he figured it out). There's just enough period detail to know that it's set in the Regency era. The author must have read etiquette manuals because certain passages involving Aunt Vera read like an etiquette manual. It suits the story but drags the plot a bit.
I really liked Beatrice. Bea is smart and witty. I love her sarcastic sense of humor and I don't blame her for wanting to throw food at the Duke of Kesgrave. I've met many men like that (they're always men!) and have felt the same way. Bea's character development is excellent as she works to solve the mystery. She does do a lot of stupid things she shouldn't be doing and gets herself into silly and dangerous situations because she's being nosy. I wouldn't be brave enough to do what Bea does. I couldn't believe she solved the mystery. The Duke of Kesgrave is arrogant in a Mr. Darcy sort of way but unlike Darcy, he can laugh at himself. I like how Bea challenges him and he seems to enjoy teasing her. I'm not sure if he's sincere in his pontificating or if he's playing everyone for a fool because they "toad eat" him. I wouldn't go so far as to fall in love with him or even really like him but I can say he does make a good detecting partner.
The secondary characters are all well drawn, especially the ladies. Bea's Aunt Vera is seriously annoying. She gives Bea all the basic necessities but there's no love between them. Bea is a duty she'd rather not have. Aunt Vera is a stickler for etiquette.... except when it comes to sucking up to a Duke. She can't decide whether it's better to get on his good side by chastising Bea or agreeing with whatever he says. I thought her treatment of Bea towards the end of the novel was kind but Bea doesn't see it that way. Bea's cousin Flora is a simpering miss but she seems to have some cousinly feelings for Bea and if she were a modern teen, she'd be rolling her eyes at her mother. Miss Otley seems to be an empty headed, vain foolish girl, yet Bea discovers hidden depths in her. I felt really awful that a young lady lost the father she loved and found out things about her parents that she didn't like. While her dialogue made me laugh, her story is tinged with sadness. I felt kind of bad for Mrs. Otley but not entirely. She is not all that likable. Lady Skeffington is the most likable of the older women. She's a kind and gracious hostess.
The secondary gentlemen are not as well developed as the ladies. Lord Skeffington is as kind as his wife. He loves his family and is a good host despite the tragedy that occurs. His son and heir lacks some brains as is typical of youths his age. He's rude and arrogant at times but he's also very young and rather naive. His friend, Lord Amersham, is also foolish. Viscount Nuneaton doesn't have any personality at all. Bea can't figure him out aside from the fact he appears to be a dandy. Bea's cousin Russell is afflicted with hero worship for the older men and lovesickness for Miss Otley. He's young and over eager but he doesn't seem as stupid as the other young men. He appears to have a sense of humor and is willing to support his cousin- perhaps only to protect the family name but he seems like he will grow up to be a decent gentleman.
I really liked this book and can't wait to read the other two. I intended to switch genres but I'm interested to see what Bea gets up to next and how her relationship with Kesgrave develops because well- this IS a Regency romance even if there's no romance yet!
April 5, 2020
“A Brazen Curiosity” is a delightful concoction of cozy mystery, social satire, witty banter, and Regency-style food fights. Well, the food fights only take place in the heroine’s imagination, but they are delightful all the same. This book made me laugh so much, the whodunit was clever, and the writing was great. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for this digital advance review copy.
This book as well as the two that follow are available in paperback and in the Kindle store (FREE for Kindle Unlimited subscribers).
Book 2: A Scandalous Deception (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...)
Book 3: An Infamous Betrayal (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...)
Thanks to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for this digital advance review copy.
This book as well as the two that follow are available in paperback and in the Kindle store (FREE for Kindle Unlimited subscribers).
Book 2: A Scandalous Deception (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...)
Book 3: An Infamous Betrayal (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...)
June 22, 2021
I don't love when books are absolutely insistent that their heroines are so totally mousy and uninteresting and dull but suddenly attract the attention of handsome dukes and randomly start hunting killers, but despite that sticking point (which I choose to ignore as a low self esteem issue on the narrator's part) this was very fun and a solid mystery! I'm pleaseto know there's like 9 in the series already.
October 23, 2019
Witty, Wonderful Writing
I really think Miss Austen would approve. A story with a fascinating whodunit (the Duke, in the Library, with the candlestick?) and also a caustic book of manners -- I learned so much about calling cards and India's climates.
This is a funny, charming book and I can't wait to read the next one!
I really think Miss Austen would approve. A story with a fascinating whodunit (the Duke, in the Library, with the candlestick?) and also a caustic book of manners -- I learned so much about calling cards and India's climates.
This is a funny, charming book and I can't wait to read the next one!
April 13, 2025
Victorian-esque vibe + murder mystery + <300 pages! What else could you possibly want?
I wanted to clear my palate after reading so much fantasy and this hit all the right notes. Bea is an orphan being kindly tolerated by her aunt and uncle and has learnt to be quiet and supplicant, because that is the only way to survive, especially now that she is a spinster with no prospects. That does not stop her from being an intelligent person who likes to read about all kinds of topics and have witty remarks or smart thoughts about people. She is very likeable for the most part and her way of doing things was a bit too forward, but also really on-point with how she was portrayed.
Bea's banter with Duke of Kesgrave was always giving me smiles, because both seem such fun and smart characters! There is no actual romance in this, but it does give you small things here and there to keep you wanting for a bit more! The other characters were refreshing, really. Some might have been a bit more caricatured in their existence, but honestly, it just made the book even more fun!
The mystery? It was cozy and fairly fast. I figured out the murderer around the middle of the book, but the whole revelation was a thing to behold!
All in all, this was such a fun read and for the victorian-esque vibe it was going for, the vocabulary was a bit upper level and I learnt a decent amount of words!
I wanted to clear my palate after reading so much fantasy and this hit all the right notes. Bea is an orphan being kindly tolerated by her aunt and uncle and has learnt to be quiet and supplicant, because that is the only way to survive, especially now that she is a spinster with no prospects. That does not stop her from being an intelligent person who likes to read about all kinds of topics and have witty remarks or smart thoughts about people. She is very likeable for the most part and her way of doing things was a bit too forward, but also really on-point with how she was portrayed.
Bea's banter with Duke of Kesgrave was always giving me smiles, because both seem such fun and smart characters! There is no actual romance in this, but it does give you small things here and there to keep you wanting for a bit more! The other characters were refreshing, really. Some might have been a bit more caricatured in their existence, but honestly, it just made the book even more fun!
The mystery? It was cozy and fairly fast. I figured out the murderer around the middle of the book, but the whole revelation was a thing to behold!
All in all, this was such a fun read and for the victorian-esque vibe it was going for, the vocabulary was a bit upper level and I learnt a decent amount of words!
August 27, 2022
3,5 Sterne
Das erste Buch aus der Serie um Beatrice Hyde-Clare hat mich richtig gut unterhalten, aber ich kann die negativen Bewertungen auch nachvollziehen. Es gibt sehr wenig Handlung und als Krimi ist das Buch eher ein Reinfall. Es passiert eigentlich nichts, da das Buch von den Dialogen lebt. Die Kappeleien zwischen Beatrice und dem Duke und überhaupt die ironische Zunge der Hauptperson haben mich köstlich amüsiert und ich bin geradezu durch das Buch geflogen. Anders als in vielen aktuellen Regency-Romanen gibt es hier null sexuellen Inhalt und auch sonst keine wirkliche Roamantik. Das fand ich sehr erfrischend. Ich freue mich schon auf den zweiten Band, den der Verlag glücklicherweise kurz nach dem ersten herausbringt. Noch ein Wort zur Haptik: ich habe erstmal überlegt, ob ich mir das Buch für 20€ wirklich kaufe, dann aber aus einem Impuls heraus zugegriffen. Der Einband des Hardcovers ist schön gemacht, Lesebändchen und sehr dickes Papier. Insgesamt macht es einen sehr hochwertigen Eindruck und ich habe den Kauf nicht bereut.
Das erste Buch aus der Serie um Beatrice Hyde-Clare hat mich richtig gut unterhalten, aber ich kann die negativen Bewertungen auch nachvollziehen. Es gibt sehr wenig Handlung und als Krimi ist das Buch eher ein Reinfall. Es passiert eigentlich nichts, da das Buch von den Dialogen lebt. Die Kappeleien zwischen Beatrice und dem Duke und überhaupt die ironische Zunge der Hauptperson haben mich köstlich amüsiert und ich bin geradezu durch das Buch geflogen. Anders als in vielen aktuellen Regency-Romanen gibt es hier null sexuellen Inhalt und auch sonst keine wirkliche Roamantik. Das fand ich sehr erfrischend. Ich freue mich schon auf den zweiten Band, den der Verlag glücklicherweise kurz nach dem ersten herausbringt. Noch ein Wort zur Haptik: ich habe erstmal überlegt, ob ich mir das Buch für 20€ wirklich kaufe, dann aber aus einem Impuls heraus zugegriffen. Der Einband des Hardcovers ist schön gemacht, Lesebändchen und sehr dickes Papier. Insgesamt macht es einen sehr hochwertigen Eindruck und ich habe den Kauf nicht bereut.
June 16, 2021
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries. Right now there are eight books in this series, with another expected to be published later in 2021. I got this as an audiobook from Audible.com.
Audiobook Quality (4/5): The narration here was fine. Smith does a good job with character voices and is pleasant to listen to.
Story (2/5): I got about 40% through this and then returned the audiobook. This was just flat out boring, maybe I am just not a cozy mystery fan. I honestly don't care who killed the man in the library with a candlestick because I kind of wish whoever did it would have continued his/her murder spree on the rest of the insipient characters in this novel...I did not like this.
Characters (2/5): I actively and intensely disliked the characters in this book. I really disliked how much our heroine is constantly down on herself and how she is treated by the people around her. Additionally, the male lead is pretty much a jerk and constantly insults Beatrice. I think all of this insulting is supposed to come off as cute or funny, but it ended up being more nauseating to me.
Setting (2/5): The setting was a generic regency type of setting. We barely even leave the house with Beatrice, I would have liked to see more of the area Beatrice lived in.
Writing Style (2/5): This took so long to get moving and was so very boring. I thought how awful everyone was to Beatrice all the time was...well...just awful. I didn’t enjoy anything about this book aside from the narrator’s generically pleasant English voice. On a side note I continue to be very pleased that Audible will let you return unfinished audiobooks because I was pretty sad to have spent a credit on this one.
My Summary (2/5): Overall this was not for me, not even a little bit. I thought this was going to be a cute little historical mystery set in the Victorian time frame. It ended up being a boring exercise in watching Beatrice get verbally beat up by everyone around while the reader is supposed to think that it’s cute. As mentioned above, I intensely disliked the characters and the plot was too slow to make up for any of this. I will not be reading future books in the series.
Audiobook Quality (4/5): The narration here was fine. Smith does a good job with character voices and is pleasant to listen to.
Story (2/5): I got about 40% through this and then returned the audiobook. This was just flat out boring, maybe I am just not a cozy mystery fan. I honestly don't care who killed the man in the library with a candlestick because I kind of wish whoever did it would have continued his/her murder spree on the rest of the insipient characters in this novel...I did not like this.
Characters (2/5): I actively and intensely disliked the characters in this book. I really disliked how much our heroine is constantly down on herself and how she is treated by the people around her. Additionally, the male lead is pretty much a jerk and constantly insults Beatrice. I think all of this insulting is supposed to come off as cute or funny, but it ended up being more nauseating to me.
Setting (2/5): The setting was a generic regency type of setting. We barely even leave the house with Beatrice, I would have liked to see more of the area Beatrice lived in.
Writing Style (2/5): This took so long to get moving and was so very boring. I thought how awful everyone was to Beatrice all the time was...well...just awful. I didn’t enjoy anything about this book aside from the narrator’s generically pleasant English voice. On a side note I continue to be very pleased that Audible will let you return unfinished audiobooks because I was pretty sad to have spent a credit on this one.
My Summary (2/5): Overall this was not for me, not even a little bit. I thought this was going to be a cute little historical mystery set in the Victorian time frame. It ended up being a boring exercise in watching Beatrice get verbally beat up by everyone around while the reader is supposed to think that it’s cute. As mentioned above, I intensely disliked the characters and the plot was too slow to make up for any of this. I will not be reading future books in the series.
April 21, 2020
This is the first book in the Beatrice Hyde Clare Mystery collections by Lynn Messina. Beatrice or as she’s known Bea is a plain 26-year-old orphan spinster who lives with her aunt and uncle and their two children 18-year-old Flora and 20-year-old Russell.
The murder mystery is a classic and quite delightful “whodunit”. It begins at a house party at the home of Lord and Lady Skeffington, Lake View Hall. With Bea at the house party, there is her aunt Vera, her two cousins, the Duke of Kesgrave Damian Maddock (who Bea can’t stand) as well a few other guests.
One night unable to sleep Bea goes to the library to find something to read, there she comes across the dead body of Mr. Oatley, one of the house party guests, and what’s worst the Duke of Kesgrave is standing right in front of her next to the body. Frightens she believes for a moment that the Duke might have killed the man but soon realizes that he, like her, just happened to run into the body After that she decides to embark on an investigation of who killed Mr. Oatley and finds herself allied with the very Duke, she could not tolerate. As they dig deeper into the investigation of the murder a growing bond grows between the two as they gain mutual respect for one another.
It’s a very charming story, humorous and intriguing. The murder mystery is interesting and keeps you curious but it’s the characters that keep you engaged. The characters are endearing, faults and all and the growing friendship between Bea and the Duke of Kesgrave is thoroughly enjoyable an believable.
Score 4/5
The murder mystery is a classic and quite delightful “whodunit”. It begins at a house party at the home of Lord and Lady Skeffington, Lake View Hall. With Bea at the house party, there is her aunt Vera, her two cousins, the Duke of Kesgrave Damian Maddock (who Bea can’t stand) as well a few other guests.
One night unable to sleep Bea goes to the library to find something to read, there she comes across the dead body of Mr. Oatley, one of the house party guests, and what’s worst the Duke of Kesgrave is standing right in front of her next to the body. Frightens she believes for a moment that the Duke might have killed the man but soon realizes that he, like her, just happened to run into the body After that she decides to embark on an investigation of who killed Mr. Oatley and finds herself allied with the very Duke, she could not tolerate. As they dig deeper into the investigation of the murder a growing bond grows between the two as they gain mutual respect for one another.
It’s a very charming story, humorous and intriguing. The murder mystery is interesting and keeps you curious but it’s the characters that keep you engaged. The characters are endearing, faults and all and the growing friendship between Bea and the Duke of Kesgrave is thoroughly enjoyable an believable.
Score 4/5
July 8, 2019
2-2.5 stars, or “just okay” on my personal scale. There was some humor and a few funny lines, but a lot of the prose was clunky, the situations drawn out and unrealistic, and several characters rather wooden. It didn’t help that I had just read a brilliant Georgette Heyer book - the author who pretty much invented the sparkling Regency romance - very few modern authors can approach her. I was looking for something fun and light for the holiday weekend, but this was just okay. Don’t know if I will bother to read further in the series.
October 25, 2018
A throughly enjoyable read, with entertaining dialogue and characters. I found myself laughing at the witty heroine and the absurd things the secondary characters would say. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series as soon as possible!
Thanks to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for this digital review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for this digital review copy.
November 21, 2022
The plain h is much smarter than anyone realized; she even shocked herself. The H is very handsome, arrogant and shocked by impertinence. Loved how his respect for her grew, especially after he learns how she's treated by her 'family'. Great writing, great pace and romance is surely in the next book.
January 13, 2023
Loved this! Messina has given us a very likeable sleuth type heroine and a Duke with a twinkle in his eye.
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