Death is in the Air

Manor House Mysteries #2

by Kate Kingsbury

When a German pilot escapes into the nearby woods, locals are in a panic. But Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton believes the pilot is a harmless young boy -- until a local girl is found murdered.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Cozy

199 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Kate Kingsbury grew up in London, England, and at a very early age began telling stories to her school friends during the London Blitz of WW II while huddling in bomb shelters. Kate moved to the U.S. in the early sixties, and had passed her 50th birthday when she published her first book. Writing as Doreen Roberts, (her real name at the time) she published 26 romance novels for Harlequin/Silhouette. In 1991 her first Pennyfoot Hotel book was published and since then Kate has written 35 mysteries, including the Manor House mysteries, the Bellehaven House mysteries(written as Rebecca Kent) and the Raven's Nest mysteries, (written as Allison Kingsley.) Her new series, The Merry Ghost Inn Mysteries debuted in January, 2017 with Dead and Breakfast, featuring a B & B on the Oregon coast. She has one son, Regan, and lives with her husband, Bill, in the beautiful state of Oregon.

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death Is in the Air is a cozy little English village mystery by Kate Kingsbury. It is set during World War II in the village of Sitting Marsh. Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton is the Lady of the Manor--the first woman to lead the village alone in hundreds of years. She is just earning the villagers respect when she does the unthinkable and allows American officers to be housed in the Manor. Feelings run deep--the locals and the British soldiers both take it hard that their girls are running after those "Yanks." Lady Elizabeth works on a plan--a dance!--to try and bring the two sides together, but soon they are brought together by something far more sinister....murder and mayhem!

A German pilot crash-lands near the village and manages to escape into the woods. That very night, a local land girl is found murdered in those very woods. Soon soldiers from both sides of the Atlantic and the remaining local constabulary are joined by a militant band of village housewives bearing kitchen cutlery in a hunt to bring the murderous German to justice. But Lady Elizabeth caught a glimpse of the terrified young boy in the pilot's uniform and is not so sure that he's to blame for the girl's death. There's a bit of jealousy running rampant among the men who sought her affections and the girls who thought she'd stolen their fellows. The culprit may be closer to home than the villagers think....

This was a very pleasant weekend read. The pace is quick and the characters are quite likeable. I definitely enjoyed the growing friendship between Lady Elizabeth and Major Monroe. The mystery isn't a particularly deep or complex one--but the motive is believable. No heavy-duty thinking necessary--I spotted the murderer and the reason fairly early--but it was great fun watching Lady Elizabeth figure it out and bring the crime home to culprit.

This is actually the second on the "Manor House Mysteries" by Kingsbury, but I didn't feel like I had missed anything in not having read the first one. I'm sure there was some background that might have been useful--but nothing that was absolutely necessary to the mystery itself. The setting and the characters are good enough to ensure that I'll look for the next installment. Three stars for a nice cozy mystery.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun sequel, if a bit too silly some times. 3.5/5 stars rounded up.

This series is full of fun, and this one is no different. The characters grow a bit here, and we see some more development between Elizabeth and Earl (a long way to go!). The mystery isn't bad, although it gets a bit too on the nose and silly at some points. You're badgered to believe something that's clearly not true, so it fails to be a viable red herring for the characters or the reader. Some of the characters can feel a bit one note (looking at you Rita), but not so much to be annoying. This is definitely a good sequel, and I'm enjoying my reread!

Much like the previous book, a lot is the same here. The writing quality is solid, and the characters are the real magic of the whole series. The characters do grow a bit, but they feel similar if you've read the other books. While the mystery did get a little underwhelming, it was still an enjoyable read overall.

I would easily recommend the series, and I'm enjoying my reread of book three as I write!

Quick hits:
+ The best parts of the previous book are on display here too.
+ We get some expansion of the world that adds depth.
+/- The mystery can get a little too silly.
- Some of the plot points are really meh (looking at you Polly).

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy these books and the look at English country look during WWII. Lady Elizabeth is a fun character and I like how she solves crimes.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this book and series have been pretty good. This book alone had some hilarious moments. However there's a few things that annoy me which I'll get to after the good parts.
The story opens with Elizabeth needing a haircut desperately. She heads for the hair salon in time to witness a German plane crash landing. They all watch as the pilot parachutes out to safety and eventually lands in the town square. His plane crashes on the beach harmlessly. While waiting for the police to arrive Rita and her band of followers who I want to call mom's army since they are kind like the old TV show Dad's army surround him and decide they needhis parachute silk to make clothes for themselves. In the resulting foray the pilot escapes into the woods. Next day a local land army girl is found dead in the woods and the German is blamed. Elizabeth disagrees and sets out to investigate. As mentioned this book was hilarious. From the crazed women trying to get at the parachute silk, to Martin and his antics in the attic involving gun powder, to mom's army tearing the town apart while weilding kitchen knives most of them against their will and the ending when the German was found had me howling with laughter. Now to the annoying parts. This isn't particular to this series it goes with most cozies. Elizabeth a random person thinks she can waltz in and solve the crime better than anyone else. Her butting in constantly started to aggravate me. Why are the police always so incompetent in these books? I mean George and Sid are at least portrayed as decent men but they just jumped in there with the mob? And a woman who's only qualification is that she had an aristocratic father can do a better job that two men who served for years on the force? Again that's not just this series it's shockingly common in cozies. So that was my rant. Otherwise the book was engaging and fun, very quick. There's even talk of a ghost now which made me wonder if one of Elizabeth's long dead parents namely her father would actually turn up in person still alive given the little hints that his body never was actually recovered as there wasn't much left of it. Who knows maybe he will turn up. Or it could be a ghost they do like to linger around old homes after all. Maybe Elizabeth won't be so obnoxiously pushy in the next book this one certainly set it up that way. I guess I'll have to read on to find out.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, light read and an improvement from book one. Maybe because all the backstory is now out of the way and the narrative flowed more smoothly. I like the characters and the setting even if the mystery isn't all that complicated (once again, I had the culprit pegged almost from the get go).

I do like that most of the characters are nuanced and not one-dimensional. I'm intrigued to see where the relationship between Elizabeth and Major Monroe goes. It's not moving with any speed and there are only nine books total. Perhaps that's because Elizabeth will not do anything improper (the major does have a wife back in the States), no matter her feelings. Sigh. Despite the fact I think Major Monroe is no longer in love with his wife, I see heartbreak ahead for Elizabeth. I'm also curious to see what will happen between Polly and Sam. Still love Martin, the butler. He's always good for a few chuckles.

[Amybarker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read book 1 of the series, but it was easy enough to pick up on the premise: a Lady of the Manor House in a small countryside village in England during World War II solves local murders. The characters were entertaining and the mystery was interesting enough, though not completely stimulating. My guess is that the local drama will be what makes this series fun. I even found myself giggling out loud in a few places! My biggest complaint (which is small) is that the dialog is occasionally annoying. (Do people really use each other's names so much when they are talking back and forth?) But I liked this book enough to add the rest of the series to my want-to-read shelf.

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Elizabeth is in the village for a hair cut when a Nazi plane develops trouble and crashes nearby. The pilot parachutes down on the green. Before he is caught he escapes to the woods. Overnight a local land girl is discovered dead in the woods. The German seems the logical murderer. Lady Elizabeth isn’t sure. Her short view of him was of a scared and very young boy. The local Constabulary consists of two policemen recalled from retirement. She decides to assist by asking questions. The secondary characters are plentiful and add greatly to the story. There is also a love interest or two. Good short entry to the series.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series. There’s something so sweet about it. I love Violet and Martin and how they’re all so devoted to each other. I love the setting and the time period is one of the most interesting to me. Major Monroe is quite a dish and I really hope he’s divorced or somehow available. The mystery was easily solved and not overly complicated but the reveal was still dramatic. I don’t have the next book in the series but I’m definitely going to look for it because I’m anxious to find out what happens next.

[Jeanette C. Montgomery]

A cozy mystery set in 1940's English village. A German plane crashes and the young pilot escapes into the woods. The next day a young woman is found murdered in the woods. Locals assume the German pilot killed her but Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh doesn't agree and sets out to find out who the real murder is. An enjoyable read.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like 2.5 rating. Liked the setting, locale, and characters. Just too much reminding by the main character that she is "the lady of the manor." Still, I will look for the next in the series.

[Rachel Vryhof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming is a good description of this cozy mystery. While I particularly enjoyed the likable characters and setting, I was left wishing the mystery were more mysterious. I figured this one out pretty quickly and I'm no Sherlock Holmes.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The land girls of England did remarkable work and helped a lot with the war effort. Interesting.

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery and interesting characters.

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read. I didn't much care for book 1 but this second book in the series was really good. Nice character development and a story line that was interesting and totally held my attention.

[Claudia Ainsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick enjoyable read

I was looking for a book I could read for pure enjoyment. This one fits the bill perfectly. The story was good and the romance is still a big question mark.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read, interesting storyline, intriguing characters.

[AmyLeong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clan cozy read. Golden era

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series.

[IslandRiverScribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 2nd book in the Manor House series begins about 1 week after the 1st book ends. The American AAF officers have moved into the Manor House and all has gone quite uneventfully so far.

This book continues the themes of the townspeople’s bias against the Americans and Lady Elizabeth’s growing attraction to the married Major Monroe. And, of course, there is the pesky problem of a land girl being murdered, presumably by the pesky problem of a German pilot who parachuted into the town square.

I don’t know if the author was being a bit obvious about the clues in this book or not but I thought I had the identity of the murderer figured out by the end of Chapter 5. Lady Elizabeth, using the exact same clues and one other clue presented several chapters later, came up with an entirely different suspect and never once considered the one I had chosen. And, as it turned out, I was right and she was wrong.

So why didn’t Lady Elizabeth suspect the real murderer? Well, this is only Lady Elizabeth’s 2nd murder, so she is quite naturally a bit unpracticed in understanding the combination of means, opportunity and particularly motive. And the author is quite adept at presenting the 1940’s as being a time, due to the world war, when age-old British concepts regarding motivation for actions, the status of the noble class and personal honor are quickly changing.

But one of the good things about this series is that Lady Elizabeth is not a reluctant sleuth nor is she an unintelligent one. And she is willing and able to use her position in the gentry, dwindling and tentative as it may be, to help the townspeople for whom she is essentially the “mayor.”
The author has, in two books, made these people feel “real” to me. Her writing style flows smoothly as she transitions between characters and events. She builds the suspense while interjecting non-murder related events naturally, as would happen in “real life.”

Quite frankly, I like her books. They leave you feeling “right” when they are done. And they are worth tracking down, as many are out of print, not all are in electronic format yet, and thus must be scoured for in libraries and used book venues.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death is in the Air by Kate Kingsbury is the second book of the Manor House cozy mystery series set in the English countryside during WWII. Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton (Lizzie) is Lady of the Manor in the village of Sitting Marsh, since her parents were killed in a London bombing raid. She takes her authority and responsibility seriously, but she's hampered by lack of funds, an old house sorely needing repairs, and 2 aging eccentric servants. American soldiers are billeted in her spare rooms. She is attracted to their commander Major Monroe, but trying to suppress the feeling.

Lizzie and the villagers watch as a German bomber plane crashes, its pilot parachutes into a nearby field, and he escapes into the woods. Next day, a young woman who worked as a farm hand is found dead. Of course all the villagers assume the German killed her. Visiting the farm where the victim worked, Lizzie suspects another possibility (and eventually proves it). Besides the manhunt for the suspected killer, Lizzie has another cause for concern: hard feelings are increasing between the American soldiers and the village. The young women of the village are no longer interested in local lads, instead are frantic for the goodies they can get by chasing after Americans (wine, whiskey, chocolate, nylons, steak). Fights break out between the American and English soldiers. So Lizzie decides to smooth over relations by holding a dance. She recruits all the village residents to make the dance a success, instead of running down the Americans in gossip. It almost works...

It's hard to imagine a woman feeling responsible for the welfare of an entire village in the 20th century, but the writing is superb, and the period details ring true. An entertaining read.

[Timothy VanderWall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am enjoying reading through Kate Kingsbury's Manor House mystery series; but I like her Pennyfoot Hotel series more. The Manor House series takes place in rural England during World War II. Our detective is the lady of the manor of the village of Sitting Marsh, Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh (Compton). She inherited the estate (and the manor and the village) when her parents were killed by a bomb during the German blitz while visiting London. There hasn't been a non-male "lord" of the manor for hundreds of years and Lady Elizabeth is trying very hard to earn the respect of the villagers. While doing so, she also has to contend with an American aerodrome that has been established near Sitting Marsh. This is the setting in which we find "Lizzie" Hartleigh solving murders and bringing the murderers to justice.

Death is in the Air is the second in the series and tells us about the time that a German pilot makes an emergency parachute landing on the green at Sitting Marsh, is able to escape a crowd of angry and beligerant village women, goes into hiding, and is promptly blamed for the murder of a "land girl" from a nearby farm. Did he kill the girl? Lady Elizabeth doesn't think so; and so she sets off to discover who did kill the teenage girl.

This is a very pleasant and fun-to-read mystery series. In fact, I haven't read anything by Kate Kingsbury that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Kingsbury's Pennyfoot hotel series, so I was excited to read the books of her Manor House series. While the writing style I like from this author was present, the story was not quite as interesting. But overall it was fine. 2.5 for the books, but another .5 star for the fact that enough interest was built for the characters that I want to read the next book.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #21 read in 2007

I love this series! This book left off just where the first one ended. Lady Elizabeth becomes more endearing the more I read. All of the supporting characters are great too! I have the third in the series as well and I can't wait to read that!

Sent to a bookcrosser

[cloudyskye · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little wartime story, just like its predecessor, "A bicycle built for murder". Some questions remain unanswered, but the case itself is rather neat. The German pilot's story could have been enlarged a bit, perhaps. Never mind. I've ordered the next two of the series. :)

[Allison Ketchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/20...

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 3 out of 5]

A re-read of an enjoyable series and book. The very definition of a cozy mystery.

Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/665037...

[Lollyletsgo · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmm.. not my cuppa..

[Elisha (lishie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in a cozy series I enjoy that takes place during WWII in England. I figured out the "whodunnit" but enjoy the setting & the characters.

[Homerun2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A very readable, if unremarkable British cozy set during WWII.

[joyce parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Kingsbury did it again.

Book was well written. You have the mystery plus just a touch of romance. The ending is always a surprise. And I love the characters.