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Gilded Age Mystery #4
Death Brings a Shadow
For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th century elite in this gripping series of riveting mysteries…
Investigators Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter discover all that glitters is not gold in the Gilded Age, whether on the island of Manhattan or an island off the coast of Georgia ...
DEATH BRINGS A SHADOW
In spring 1889, Prudence and Geoffrey set sail from New York Harbor on a private yacht bound for Bradford Island, where her friend Eleanor Dickson is to be wed. The Sea Islands along the Georgia coast serve as a winter playground for the likes of the Carnegies, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Dicksons. Despite her Yankee pedigree, Eleanor is marrying a Southern gentleman, Teddy Bennett, and Prudence is thrilled to be the maid of honor.
But days before the wedding, the bride is nowhere to be found. A frantic search of the island turns up her drowned corpse in an alligator-infested swamp. Prudence is devastated, but as they prepare the body for burial, she and Geoffrey discover evidence of bruising that indicates Eleanor was held under--most dishonorably murdered.
Determined to seek justice for her beloved friend, Prudence begins to investigate with Geoffrey's help and is quickly led into a morass of voodoo spells and dark deeds from the days of slavery. As Prudence and Geoffrey pursue a killer, they soon discover that Eleanor will not be the last to die on Bradford Island ...
Investigators Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter discover all that glitters is not gold in the Gilded Age, whether on the island of Manhattan or an island off the coast of Georgia ...
DEATH BRINGS A SHADOW
In spring 1889, Prudence and Geoffrey set sail from New York Harbor on a private yacht bound for Bradford Island, where her friend Eleanor Dickson is to be wed. The Sea Islands along the Georgia coast serve as a winter playground for the likes of the Carnegies, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Dicksons. Despite her Yankee pedigree, Eleanor is marrying a Southern gentleman, Teddy Bennett, and Prudence is thrilled to be the maid of honor.
But days before the wedding, the bride is nowhere to be found. A frantic search of the island turns up her drowned corpse in an alligator-infested swamp. Prudence is devastated, but as they prepare the body for burial, she and Geoffrey discover evidence of bruising that indicates Eleanor was held under--most dishonorably murdered.
Determined to seek justice for her beloved friend, Prudence begins to investigate with Geoffrey's help and is quickly led into a morass of voodoo spells and dark deeds from the days of slavery. As Prudence and Geoffrey pursue a killer, they soon discover that Eleanor will not be the last to die on Bradford Island ...
311 pages, Hardcover
First published November 26, 2019
161 people are currently reading
2618 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Simpson
17 books385 followersRosemary Simpson's What the Dead Leave Behind is set in Gilded Age New York where the Great Blizzard of 1888 brings both disaster and independence to her wealthy and unconventional heroine. Lies that Comfort and Betray is the second in the Gilded Age Mystery series, to be followed by Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets
Rosemary is also the author of two stand-alone historical novels, The Seven Hills of Paradise and Dreams and Shadows.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Historical Novel Society. Educated in France and the United States, she now lives near Tucson, Arizona.
Rosemary is also the author of two stand-alone historical novels, The Seven Hills of Paradise and Dreams and Shadows.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Historical Novel Society. Educated in France and the United States, she now lives near Tucson, Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
September 18, 2025
This is a series I have enjoyed until this book. It hits on most things I dislike....deep south post reconstruction, poverty and swampy gothic feel mystery. First let me say this was one of the most brutal killers who shows no remorse (it's a small pool of suspects) (plus several of the killings seemed to add nothing to the plot). A really (I mean really) unbelievable storyline. The main characters who usually strike me as well balanced become bitchy and regressive. Another book that had over a 4* rating so maybe me not the book. But alas I am the reader, so my opinion is the one that counts.
January 13, 2025
One of my Dad’s family’s vacation spots was on Jekyll Island, part of GA’s Emerald Isles. We’ve taken several extended family vacations there in the last 30 years and each has been delightful… mostly because the island belongs to the state (although in recent years, development has run rampant— I’m not sure if I want to return)— and our memories are legendary- from hearing how I handled my first camping trip (army tents) as a 6-month-old to spending some of the last days with my father walking on his favorite stretch of beach to sprinkling his ashes in the same spot along the Atlantic, just a year later.
The Bradford Island of this story so closely reminded me of Jekyll that I couldn’t help but round up a 3-3.5 star read to 4. Simpson’s descriptions of a development-free island and the glories of and not so glorious post-Civil War South was spot on and a delight to read.
But as far as mysteries go, this one, while it certainly shined a harsh light on slavery and the debaucheries of male slave owners, was too slight not to be guessed so far in advance that I was truly disappointed.
That said, I will compliment the ending, which used some creativity in serving justice. That was much appreciated!
Our detective duo, Geoffrey (this is certainly more his book) and Prudence, saw their companionable partnership tried and maybe dented a bit as they often found themselves at odds with the Southern way of life. While I wish Prudence hadn’t been a collection of high and lows in her behavior (strong, shrewish, measured, overdramatic in turns), the ending renewed my interest in where their partnership may be headed, upon returning to their home turf, New York City.
Sad to leave behind the wilds of GA’s live oak islands, barrier beaches and exotic scenery, but I’m always happy to arrive back in 19th century NYC.
The Bradford Island of this story so closely reminded me of Jekyll that I couldn’t help but round up a 3-3.5 star read to 4. Simpson’s descriptions of a development-free island and the glories of and not so glorious post-Civil War South was spot on and a delight to read.
But as far as mysteries go, this one, while it certainly shined a harsh light on slavery and the debaucheries of male slave owners, was too slight not to be guessed so far in advance that I was truly disappointed.
That said, I will compliment the ending, which used some creativity in serving justice. That was much appreciated!
Our detective duo, Geoffrey (this is certainly more his book) and Prudence, saw their companionable partnership tried and maybe dented a bit as they often found themselves at odds with the Southern way of life. While I wish Prudence hadn’t been a collection of high and lows in her behavior (strong, shrewish, measured, overdramatic in turns), the ending renewed my interest in where their partnership may be headed, upon returning to their home turf, New York City.
Sad to leave behind the wilds of GA’s live oak islands, barrier beaches and exotic scenery, but I’m always happy to arrive back in 19th century NYC.
November 5, 2019
Rosemary Simpson does a complete change of venue in Death Brings a Shadow. We're wisked from the bustling streets of New York City to the swampy, heavy vegetation of Bradford Island, Georgia. There's going to be plenty oppressive heat and dastardly characters that frame this one in the summer of 1889.
Prudence MacKenzie is the daughter of the late Judge MacKenzie of New York. She had been apprenticed under her father in the study of law. She also has been blessed with a fine-tuned investigative ability. That's what led her to Geoffrey Hunter, a former Pinkerton detective who has opened a practice along with Prudence.
This time Prudence and Geoffrey are heading to the Old South of Georgia to attend the wedding of a dear friend of Prudence. Eleanor, though a big city girl of the North, is to be wed to Teddy Bennett whose family lives in an antebellum house on Bradford Island. The wedding will be small with only close friends and family.
Early the next morning, Eleanor goes missing. The search party finds her body in the swamp. Both Prudence and Geoffrey know that this was no accident. Who had such hate for this bride-to-be? But Eleanor won't be the only victim in Death Brings a Shadow.
Simpson carves deeply into this story with the unhealed wounds of division after the Civil War. Geoffrey was born in the South and tries to explain a far different way of life while painting hues of a very complicated, ages old saga of human indignity and generational families. Prudence must cut through all of this in order to center on who is eliminating people on this small, isolated island. Her own life will be in danger.
While this is the fourth book in the series, it does read well as a standalone. Simpson does a fine job with the character of Prudence who suffers with an earlier addiction to laudanum which was given to women for every ache and pain. Prudence is a feisty individual and Simpson keeps her actions within the time period unlike other authors who bathe their heroines in 21st Century attributes. There is limited romance between her and Geoffrey for which I am eternally grateful. Save us from dewy eyes and swooning. Mystery is what Simpson does best and there's plenty here for the reader's delight.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Publishers and to Rosemary Simpson for the opportunity.
Prudence MacKenzie is the daughter of the late Judge MacKenzie of New York. She had been apprenticed under her father in the study of law. She also has been blessed with a fine-tuned investigative ability. That's what led her to Geoffrey Hunter, a former Pinkerton detective who has opened a practice along with Prudence.
This time Prudence and Geoffrey are heading to the Old South of Georgia to attend the wedding of a dear friend of Prudence. Eleanor, though a big city girl of the North, is to be wed to Teddy Bennett whose family lives in an antebellum house on Bradford Island. The wedding will be small with only close friends and family.
Early the next morning, Eleanor goes missing. The search party finds her body in the swamp. Both Prudence and Geoffrey know that this was no accident. Who had such hate for this bride-to-be? But Eleanor won't be the only victim in Death Brings a Shadow.
Simpson carves deeply into this story with the unhealed wounds of division after the Civil War. Geoffrey was born in the South and tries to explain a far different way of life while painting hues of a very complicated, ages old saga of human indignity and generational families. Prudence must cut through all of this in order to center on who is eliminating people on this small, isolated island. Her own life will be in danger.
While this is the fourth book in the series, it does read well as a standalone. Simpson does a fine job with the character of Prudence who suffers with an earlier addiction to laudanum which was given to women for every ache and pain. Prudence is a feisty individual and Simpson keeps her actions within the time period unlike other authors who bathe their heroines in 21st Century attributes. There is limited romance between her and Geoffrey for which I am eternally grateful. Save us from dewy eyes and swooning. Mystery is what Simpson does best and there's plenty here for the reader's delight.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Publishers and to Rosemary Simpson for the opportunity.
February 1, 2024
I’ve having such a great time with these books. Watching Prudence and Geoffrey come together and then retreat is highly entertaining. The mysteries are unapologetically commenting on society, this time on the cruelty of slavery and the lack of progress in the post-reconstruction south.
I find myself questioning whether Prudence and Geoffrey will ever get together. She is disturbed by his acceptance of how things work in the south. He’s unwilling to open up to her.
I find myself questioning whether Prudence and Geoffrey will ever get together. She is disturbed by his acceptance of how things work in the south. He’s unwilling to open up to her.
December 10, 2019
I have some complicated feelings about this one.
Let's get the small stuff out of the way first: Prudence and Geoffrey are both pretty annoying in this one. She is reckless and foolish; he's stilted and odd. I couldn't handle either of them, especially for the first half of this book.
Secondly, the murderer is way too obvious. Like they might as well have "I'm a killer" written across their forehead.
And that leads me to my complicated feelings. I'm not black so take this with a grain of salt.
This book takes place in the American South after the Civil War but not that long after. (I don't think an exact year is given, and I don't remember all the context dates/ages, but the Civil War was less than 30 years before). Considering the South will still refer to the Civil War as the "War of Northern Aggression" today, you can imagine the sentiments at the time. There's a fair bit of historical accuracy here, as far as I can tell, but the killer is where my main issue lay.
The killer is all around awful. Literally, no redeeming qualities whatsoever. No sympathy, no respect, no anger management skills, no care to anyone around them that I observed during the course of the book. Not even to their family. And that's a huge problem when we talk about racism and anti-black sentiments. Racism is an institutionalized, societal issue. Reducing it to something only "evil" people do--quotes there because racism is of course evil, but I'm using it in context of a remorseless killer--is damaging. People aren't racist because they're evil; they're racist because the society they live in, the media they consume, and their families and friends are racist. And they can unlearn that, although it probably wasn't very likely in the American South, post Civil War. Reducing a societal issue to "only evil people do it" means that no one will want to believe it of themselves and thus no progress will be made in eradicating it.
I think the author was trying to show more complicated people than that, but it never really worked. Teddy's probably supposed to be the one who is likable and well-meaning but ultimately is not capable of understanding or not willing to understand how badly black people were treated (to the degree that anyone who hasn't experienced something like that can understand). And at the end, he sort of does, understanding that there will not be justice because the victims were black. But that's not really enough for him to leave it behind in the end.
All the other Southerners are pretty stereotypical. Teddy's family is just atrocious, and the rest of the Southerners show up only two or three times. Geoffrey, a Southerner by birth, is supposedly horribly guilty about all the atrocities committed by his family, but it's written in such a detached manner that it has no impact whatsoever. (This is a huge fault of the narrative in general: characters' emotions aren't given enough room to be shown and developed so they mean nothing in the grand scheme. Especially Prudence's and Geoffrey's.)
I don't know that I'm explaining it well. It's after midnight and I've had a headache all day so I may not make sense. This book handles the rape of female slaves by the white male landowners, but there's little room for discussion on how this affected them, only a handful of comments, mostly from Geoffrey for some reason and a couple of the older women. The focus is on the Dicksons, who lost their daughter, Teddy, who lost his fiancee, and the Bennett family. There are lots of black characters who motivate the plot (and get killed) but they are all little more than plot devices. The morality is absolute--these people are good, these people are bad--but as I said, it's too obvious and heavy-handed, and more than that, the good characters like Teddy are given their goodness despite clearly being willing to turn a blind eye. To quote one of the quotes at the beginning of the book the author included: "You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know." (William Wilberforce). Yet Teddy wants to pretend.
To summarize, I felt it was a bit exploitative. Well meaning, maybe, but ultimately, it creates a dichotomy that doesn't challenge society or help anyone. It just makes for a miserable read.
Let's get the small stuff out of the way first: Prudence and Geoffrey are both pretty annoying in this one. She is reckless and foolish; he's stilted and odd. I couldn't handle either of them, especially for the first half of this book.
Secondly, the murderer is way too obvious. Like they might as well have "I'm a killer" written across their forehead.
And that leads me to my complicated feelings. I'm not black so take this with a grain of salt.
This book takes place in the American South after the Civil War but not that long after. (I don't think an exact year is given, and I don't remember all the context dates/ages, but the Civil War was less than 30 years before). Considering the South will still refer to the Civil War as the "War of Northern Aggression" today, you can imagine the sentiments at the time. There's a fair bit of historical accuracy here, as far as I can tell, but the killer is where my main issue lay.
The killer is all around awful. Literally, no redeeming qualities whatsoever. No sympathy, no respect, no anger management skills, no care to anyone around them that I observed during the course of the book. Not even to their family. And that's a huge problem when we talk about racism and anti-black sentiments. Racism is an institutionalized, societal issue. Reducing it to something only "evil" people do--quotes there because racism is of course evil, but I'm using it in context of a remorseless killer--is damaging. People aren't racist because they're evil; they're racist because the society they live in, the media they consume, and their families and friends are racist. And they can unlearn that, although it probably wasn't very likely in the American South, post Civil War. Reducing a societal issue to "only evil people do it" means that no one will want to believe it of themselves and thus no progress will be made in eradicating it.
I think the author was trying to show more complicated people than that, but it never really worked. Teddy's probably supposed to be the one who is likable and well-meaning but ultimately is not capable of understanding or not willing to understand how badly black people were treated (to the degree that anyone who hasn't experienced something like that can understand). And at the end, he sort of does, understanding that there will not be justice because the victims were black. But that's not really enough for him to leave it behind in the end.
All the other Southerners are pretty stereotypical. Teddy's family is just atrocious, and the rest of the Southerners show up only two or three times. Geoffrey, a Southerner by birth, is supposedly horribly guilty about all the atrocities committed by his family, but it's written in such a detached manner that it has no impact whatsoever. (This is a huge fault of the narrative in general: characters' emotions aren't given enough room to be shown and developed so they mean nothing in the grand scheme. Especially Prudence's and Geoffrey's.)
I don't know that I'm explaining it well. It's after midnight and I've had a headache all day so I may not make sense. This book handles the rape of female slaves by the white male landowners, but there's little room for discussion on how this affected them, only a handful of comments, mostly from Geoffrey for some reason and a couple of the older women. The focus is on the Dicksons, who lost their daughter, Teddy, who lost his fiancee, and the Bennett family. There are lots of black characters who motivate the plot (and get killed) but they are all little more than plot devices. The morality is absolute--these people are good, these people are bad--but as I said, it's too obvious and heavy-handed, and more than that, the good characters like Teddy are given their goodness despite clearly being willing to turn a blind eye. To quote one of the quotes at the beginning of the book the author included: "You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know." (William Wilberforce). Yet Teddy wants to pretend.
To summarize, I felt it was a bit exploitative. Well meaning, maybe, but ultimately, it creates a dichotomy that doesn't challenge society or help anyone. It just makes for a miserable read.
November 19, 2019
In spring 1889, Prudence and Geoffrey set sail from New York Harbor on a private yacht bound for Bradford Island, where her friend Eleanor Dickson is to be wed. The Sea Islands along the Georgia coast serve as a winter playground for the likes of the Carnegies, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Dicksons. Despite her Yankee pedigree, Eleanor is marrying a Southern gentleman, Teddy Bennett, and Prudence is thrilled to be the maid of honor.
But days before the wedding, the bride is nowhere to be found. A frantic search of the island turns up her drowned corpse in an alligator-infested swamp. Prudence is devastated, but as they prepare the body for burial, she and Geoffrey discover evidence of bruising that indicates Eleanor was held under—most dishonorably murdered.
This was an ok addition to the series. I liked it but I didn't. I feel like this series started out really strong. I loved the first book, and really liked the second one, but the last two have not been as good. They both have the same problems really. One, there is no real mystery as to who the murderer is in this book. It was very obvious. The mystery was about why they did it, but that wasn't too hard to figure out either. Once again Prudence was stupidly reckless in the name of independence. She wants to be taken seriously but then does something stupid and gets mad and stamps her foot when Geoffrey follows her. The foot stamping was just childish.
I didn't particularly like the setting of this book. It felt weird and out of wack with the tone of the previous ones. I also thought the dangers of the Island; alligators, snakes, the swamp, etc. were played up a little bit too much. It seemed like no one could go anywhere without something happening.
The whole big theme of this book was the South and how it struggled to recover after slavery. There was a lot of emphasis on how prejudiced the South still was years after the slaves were freed. I've no doubt that was true. There was a mentality there that could only be erased after several generations passed, and unfortunately some still have it. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how people can look at another person as not a human being, but chattel just because they are different.
At this point I think I will continue on with the series, but that could end up changing. I'm slightly on the fence.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
But days before the wedding, the bride is nowhere to be found. A frantic search of the island turns up her drowned corpse in an alligator-infested swamp. Prudence is devastated, but as they prepare the body for burial, she and Geoffrey discover evidence of bruising that indicates Eleanor was held under—most dishonorably murdered.
This was an ok addition to the series. I liked it but I didn't. I feel like this series started out really strong. I loved the first book, and really liked the second one, but the last two have not been as good. They both have the same problems really. One, there is no real mystery as to who the murderer is in this book. It was very obvious. The mystery was about why they did it, but that wasn't too hard to figure out either. Once again Prudence was stupidly reckless in the name of independence. She wants to be taken seriously but then does something stupid and gets mad and stamps her foot when Geoffrey follows her. The foot stamping was just childish.
I didn't particularly like the setting of this book. It felt weird and out of wack with the tone of the previous ones. I also thought the dangers of the Island; alligators, snakes, the swamp, etc. were played up a little bit too much. It seemed like no one could go anywhere without something happening.
The whole big theme of this book was the South and how it struggled to recover after slavery. There was a lot of emphasis on how prejudiced the South still was years after the slaves were freed. I've no doubt that was true. There was a mentality there that could only be erased after several generations passed, and unfortunately some still have it. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how people can look at another person as not a human being, but chattel just because they are different.
At this point I think I will continue on with the series, but that could end up changing. I'm slightly on the fence.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
February 2, 2020
This fourth tale is a wonderful addition to author Rosemary Simpson's, "A Gilded Age Mystery" series. Having moved the venue from New York City to an island off the coast of Georgia, Ms. Simpson has crafted a rather dark yet moving story of conflicting cultures, challenging circumstances, and a host of family secrets. The story is wrought with twists and turns, horrendous dangers, and a few red herrings for good measure. Already 24 years past the conclusion of the American Civil War, the South is still reeling from its slow reconstruction. Some folks never recovered financially and one might ask, what has the war accomplished and what has really changed? The introduction of white and black magic practiced by a couple of the islanders along with the general superstitious nature of the island inhabitants, brings a bit of eerie atmosphere to story.
Spring, 1889 - our two detectives - Prudence MacKenzie and her partner (and former Pinkerton agent) Geoffrey Hunter - are takinga bit of time away from their detective agency to sail down to Bradford Island as witnesses to the marriage of Prudence's dear friend Eleanor Dickson to her Georgia-born sweetheart, Teddy Bennett. Eleanor has asked Prudence to be her Maid of Honor, for which Pru is thrilled. The island sits off the coast of Georgia with its beautiful beaches, warm breezes and the delicate scent of wafting honeysuckle. All were warned to keep to the paths and not go traipsing into the live oak forest alone as venomous snakes and further dangers lurk within. Sure enough, one wanders off and is later discovered dead. Theirs was not the only death. Who is preying upon these folks and what is their motive. Prudence and Geoffrey have no intention of leaving Bradford Island until the deaths are adequately investigated and resolved.
Ms Simpson's winding story and masterful prose provides a wonderful wandering into a world so distant from my own. Her historical research is spot on. If you enjoy well written historical fiction with a touch of mystery, then perhaps this series is one for you. I certainly have enjoyed each book in the series and eagerly await future installments.
I am grateful to author Rosemary Simpson and her publisher, Kensington Books, for having provided a free advance reader's copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Spring, 1889 - our two detectives - Prudence MacKenzie and her partner (and former Pinkerton agent) Geoffrey Hunter - are takinga bit of time away from their detective agency to sail down to Bradford Island as witnesses to the marriage of Prudence's dear friend Eleanor Dickson to her Georgia-born sweetheart, Teddy Bennett. Eleanor has asked Prudence to be her Maid of Honor, for which Pru is thrilled. The island sits off the coast of Georgia with its beautiful beaches, warm breezes and the delicate scent of wafting honeysuckle. All were warned to keep to the paths and not go traipsing into the live oak forest alone as venomous snakes and further dangers lurk within. Sure enough, one wanders off and is later discovered dead. Theirs was not the only death. Who is preying upon these folks and what is their motive. Prudence and Geoffrey have no intention of leaving Bradford Island until the deaths are adequately investigated and resolved.
Ms Simpson's winding story and masterful prose provides a wonderful wandering into a world so distant from my own. Her historical research is spot on. If you enjoy well written historical fiction with a touch of mystery, then perhaps this series is one for you. I certainly have enjoyed each book in the series and eagerly await future installments.
I am grateful to author Rosemary Simpson and her publisher, Kensington Books, for having provided a free advance reader's copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
December 9, 2019
In the 4th installment of the Gilded Age Mysteries the detecting team of Prudence McKenzie and Geoffrey Hunter travel to an island off the coast of Georgia for the wedding of Prudence’s friend Eleanor. Their plans are abruptly upended when the bride is found dead in the swamp. Though deemed an accident, Prudence finds indications of foul play. She and Geoffrey investigate and unearth disturbing facts about the island and its once grand family—the kind of facts gentlemen don’t speak of, and the former slaves wouldn’t dare reveal.
I thought I’d miss the New York City setting, but the island with its swamps, mists, voodoo, and Southern tradition create a foreboding atmosphere in this suspenseful mystery. Looking forward to the next.
I thought I’d miss the New York City setting, but the island with its swamps, mists, voodoo, and Southern tradition create a foreboding atmosphere in this suspenseful mystery. Looking forward to the next.
November 23, 2019
Set in the Gilded Age of the North, Prudence travels to Bradford Island, Georgia to be a bridesmaid for her close friend Eleanor. The bride's family is wealthy and the marriage will help secure her fiance's family's precarious financial situation. The Bennetts were once wealthy but have suffered severe setbacks since the South's loss in the Civil War. When Eleanor's body is found dead in a swampy area, her fiance Teddy goes into deep mourning. Prudence, accompanied by her investigate partner Geoffrey set out to solve the mystery surrounding Eleanor's death.
I wanted to read this book because of the of the beautiful nature and scenery I experienced on Cumberland Island, Georgia--which seems to be a model on which the novel is based-the long miles of unspoiled beach, wild horses, and sand dunes protected by sea oats combined with the ruins of Dungeness: the summer home of the Carnegie family.
Back to the book--I didn't know it was part of a series but I didn't have any trouble following the plot. I enjoyed Geoffrey's character the most because of his internal struggle between his upbringing in the Antebellum era on a North Carolina plantation, his job as a Pinkerton detective during the War, and his new life as a "Yankee" in New York. I didn't care for Prudence's character: she takes unnecessary risks and her behavior is out of place for the period and the setting. The pace seemed to drag at times but I would be interested in reading prior and future books in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC. My review is voluntary.
I wanted to read this book because of the of the beautiful nature and scenery I experienced on Cumberland Island, Georgia--which seems to be a model on which the novel is based-the long miles of unspoiled beach, wild horses, and sand dunes protected by sea oats combined with the ruins of Dungeness: the summer home of the Carnegie family.
Back to the book--I didn't know it was part of a series but I didn't have any trouble following the plot. I enjoyed Geoffrey's character the most because of his internal struggle between his upbringing in the Antebellum era on a North Carolina plantation, his job as a Pinkerton detective during the War, and his new life as a "Yankee" in New York. I didn't care for Prudence's character: she takes unnecessary risks and her behavior is out of place for the period and the setting. The pace seemed to drag at times but I would be interested in reading prior and future books in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC. My review is voluntary.
November 3, 2019
In 1889, Prudence Mackenzie and her partner a former Pinkerton detective travel to Bradford Island off the coast of Georgia for a friend’s wedding. The friend, Eleanor, is marrying into a dispossessed but once-wealthy Southern family who used to own Bradford Island. Eleanor’s father, Philip Dickson bought the island and has built a beautiful mansion well away from Wildacre, the family home of Teddy Bradford, Eleanor’s betrothed. Eleanor confides in Prudence that lately on walks on the island, she feels as if she is being watched. Prudence attempts to allay her friend’s fears and puts it down to pre-wedding jitters.
Nevertheless, it seems that Eleanor was sensing danger because the day after they arrive on the island she goes missing. A search party is formed by Teddy, his father, and brother, Philip, Prudence, Geoffrey, and the local sheriff and his men. They comb the island, including the treacherous swampland where they find Eleanor’s body.
The death devastates Teddy, Eleanor’s family, Prudence, and Geoffrey. The Bradford’s seem similarly distraught. Prudence and Geoffrey immediately vow to find the killer. The Civil War may be over, but the South hasn’t forgotten its wounds. Prudence and Geoffrey sense tension and know they are stirring up long-buried secrets when she talks to former slaves of the Bradford’s. These slaves include Aunt Jessa and Queen Lula, practitioners of ju-ju, or voodoo.
Rosemary Simpson’s mystery is a well-plotted novel that provides insight into the South during Reconstruction. There are a couple of things that I wanted to mention. First, this book is not the first in the series. I did not, however, have trouble following the story. Secondly, for me, it took a while before Prudence became likable. She is rightfully outraged at the many injustices she encounters, but sometimes she comes across as high-handed especially when she makes decisions that are not hers to make. I refer to the scene where she is washing Eleanor’s body to provide a service to her friend but allows Geoffrey to be in attendance without Eleanor’s parents’ permission. She also decides on the disposal of Eleanor’s trousseau without consulting Eleanor's mother.
Overall, the mystery is enthralling. The reader may see some things coming, but not all. Mystery-lovers and historical fiction readers should enjoy this novel. I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.
Nevertheless, it seems that Eleanor was sensing danger because the day after they arrive on the island she goes missing. A search party is formed by Teddy, his father, and brother, Philip, Prudence, Geoffrey, and the local sheriff and his men. They comb the island, including the treacherous swampland where they find Eleanor’s body.
The death devastates Teddy, Eleanor’s family, Prudence, and Geoffrey. The Bradford’s seem similarly distraught. Prudence and Geoffrey immediately vow to find the killer. The Civil War may be over, but the South hasn’t forgotten its wounds. Prudence and Geoffrey sense tension and know they are stirring up long-buried secrets when she talks to former slaves of the Bradford’s. These slaves include Aunt Jessa and Queen Lula, practitioners of ju-ju, or voodoo.
Rosemary Simpson’s mystery is a well-plotted novel that provides insight into the South during Reconstruction. There are a couple of things that I wanted to mention. First, this book is not the first in the series. I did not, however, have trouble following the story. Secondly, for me, it took a while before Prudence became likable. She is rightfully outraged at the many injustices she encounters, but sometimes she comes across as high-handed especially when she makes decisions that are not hers to make. I refer to the scene where she is washing Eleanor’s body to provide a service to her friend but allows Geoffrey to be in attendance without Eleanor’s parents’ permission. She also decides on the disposal of Eleanor’s trousseau without consulting Eleanor's mother.
Overall, the mystery is enthralling. The reader may see some things coming, but not all. Mystery-lovers and historical fiction readers should enjoy this novel. I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.
January 15, 2024
I listened to this book on audio, and it made it very exciting and interesting. Sarah Zimmerman did a great job narrating this book. In this story we find Prudence and Jeffery in the deep south. Prudence has never been to Georgia, but Jeffery was raised there. Prudence finds a whole new and different world and a totally different Jeffery in the wild oaks on an island off the coast of Georgia. The war between the states had ended 30 years ago, but the people that live on this island have not changed a bit. They no longer own slaves, but they treat their freed blacks like slaves still. Prudence is on the island because her best friend Eleanor is marrying a man from a plantation on the island and she is there as Eleanor's bridesmaid. Eleanor's family has purchased a large piece of land on the island, but they are New Yorkers and considered foreigners in this land. Everything seems idyllic on the beautiful island, but just days before her wedding, Eleanor is found drowned in an alligator-infested swamp. Jeffrey determines that she had been held under the water until she drowned, so Prudence and Jeffery set out to investigate the crime since it appears that no law enforcement is going to come to the island to do so. As they pursue their enquiries Prudence enters the world of voodoo, magic charms and hexes when she meets some of the old conjure women who had been former slaves. Danger and secrets are everywhere, and unfortunately they both found Eleanor. Prudence finds out more and more unimaginable things that open her eyes to what living in the deep south is like. And to top it off, Jeffery seems to have become a totally different man since he has returned to the land of his birth. This was an excellent story that kept me going right from the very beginning. Ms. Simpson has created a magical world here. It rings of authenticity and human drama from beginning to end. This is the fourth book in this very excellent series, and I think it is the best so far. I highly recommend this book, and this entire series.
February 3, 2022
What was to be a happy time becomes a murder investigation for Prudence and Geoffrey. Eleanor is set to be married but she disappears before her wedding day. What secrets I’d the island and its inhabitants hiding? Who is killing islanders to keep these secrets?Great series as we watch Prudence and Geoffrey’s relationship change.
September 24, 2021
This is an enjoyable series. Although not up to the standards of the initial three books, Death Brings a Shadow is still worth the read. Prudence and Geoffrey, partners in a New York legal investigation firm in the late 1800’s, find themselves enmeshed in a series of suspicious deaths during their stay on a remote island off the Georgia coast. Prudence has accompanied her good friend to stand up as Maid of Honour for her at her wedding to a local Southern man. Why Geoffrey has come along on this excursion is never made totally clear other than he was born in the South. Therein lies some of the weakness in this particular story as the situation of Prudence and Geoffrey together on this wild and mysterious island is,in itself, somewhat contrived. As is the fact that the motive and perpetrator of these island crimes are easily guessed. Finally, all of the great secondary characters in this series like the formidable Josiah Gregory and the resourceful and invaluable hansom driver Danny are missed. That said, the spotlight on the disturbing and cruel ways of the old South, the voodoo magic references and the still numerous twists and turns and suspense in this instalment makes it worth your time.
February 21, 2020
I received a copy of this from the publisher via a Goodreads giveaway.
This story is a visit to the Old South, post-Civil War, but certainly not "post" in the minds and hearts of those who live there. Prudence must endure the murder of a close friend just before she is to be married and as Prudence and Geoffrey investigate the case further, they become entangled with ex-slaves who practice the dark arts and former slaveholders who live as though nothing has changed. Prudence realizes she is actually from a very different country, coming from the North, while Geoffrey is haunted by reminders of his childhood years everywhere he looks.
What a thought-provoking and engrossing mystery! I was not familiar with the author or series, but this certainly whetted my appetite to go back to the beginning and see how the detective duo of Prudence and Geoffrey get started. There are tantalizing hints of their respective pasts throughout and it seems like a slow-burn type of relationship for the future.
Favorite quotes: "Men in uniform were always irresistibly attractive. Until the uniforms were ripped and stained with blood."
"Which was better? To remain emotionally independent enough to take charge of one's own destiny? Or to lose oneself in a delirium of happiness and delight that might be short-lived and never come again?"
This story is a visit to the Old South, post-Civil War, but certainly not "post" in the minds and hearts of those who live there. Prudence must endure the murder of a close friend just before she is to be married and as Prudence and Geoffrey investigate the case further, they become entangled with ex-slaves who practice the dark arts and former slaveholders who live as though nothing has changed. Prudence realizes she is actually from a very different country, coming from the North, while Geoffrey is haunted by reminders of his childhood years everywhere he looks.
What a thought-provoking and engrossing mystery! I was not familiar with the author or series, but this certainly whetted my appetite to go back to the beginning and see how the detective duo of Prudence and Geoffrey get started. There are tantalizing hints of their respective pasts throughout and it seems like a slow-burn type of relationship for the future.
Favorite quotes: "Men in uniform were always irresistibly attractive. Until the uniforms were ripped and stained with blood."
"Which was better? To remain emotionally independent enough to take charge of one's own destiny? Or to lose oneself in a delirium of happiness and delight that might be short-lived and never come again?"
December 25, 2019
I thought maybe in this one we'd finally see something between Prudence and Geoffrey, maybe even a little happiness, but no the usual hodge podge of depressing occurrences, crime and dark suppositions. This time our hero and heroine head South to attend a wedding. Prudence is to be maid of honor but by page 25 the bride is dead. She is the victim of an incredible coincidence that leads to her murder and leads to a long litany of life in the South after the Civil War and examples of Yankee carpetbaggers.
The closest we get to romantic declarations is when Prudence is in a coma and Geoffrey refuses to leave her side. He also has to face his past life in the South.
The closest we get to romantic declarations is when Prudence is in a coma and Geoffrey refuses to leave her side. He also has to face his past life in the South.
August 26, 2019
Investigators Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter discover all that glitters is not gold in the Gilded Age, whether on the island of Manhattan or an island off the coast of Georgia …
DEATH BRINGS A SHADOW
In spring 1889, Prudence and Geoffrey set sail from New York Harbor on a private yacht bound for Bradford Island, where her friend Eleanor Dickson is to be wed. The Sea Islands along the Georgia coast serve as a winter playground for the likes of the Carnegies, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Dicksons. Despite her Yankee pedigree, Eleanor is marrying a Southern gentleman, Teddy Bennett, and Prudence is thrilled to be the maid of honor.
But days before the wedding, the bride is nowhere to be found. A frantic search of the island turns up her drowned corpse in an alligator-infested swamp. Prudence is devastated, but as they prepare the body for burial, she and Geoffrey discover evidence of bruising that indicates Eleanor was held under—most dishonorably murdered.
Determined to seek justice for her beloved friend, Prudence begins to investigate with Geoffrey's help and is quickly led into a morass of voodoo spells and dark deeds from the days of slavery. As Prudence and Geoffrey pursue a killer, they soon discover that Eleanor will not be the last to die on Bradford Island …This was an excellent installment to this series. Very well done!
DEATH BRINGS A SHADOW
In spring 1889, Prudence and Geoffrey set sail from New York Harbor on a private yacht bound for Bradford Island, where her friend Eleanor Dickson is to be wed. The Sea Islands along the Georgia coast serve as a winter playground for the likes of the Carnegies, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Dicksons. Despite her Yankee pedigree, Eleanor is marrying a Southern gentleman, Teddy Bennett, and Prudence is thrilled to be the maid of honor.
But days before the wedding, the bride is nowhere to be found. A frantic search of the island turns up her drowned corpse in an alligator-infested swamp. Prudence is devastated, but as they prepare the body for burial, she and Geoffrey discover evidence of bruising that indicates Eleanor was held under—most dishonorably murdered.
Determined to seek justice for her beloved friend, Prudence begins to investigate with Geoffrey's help and is quickly led into a morass of voodoo spells and dark deeds from the days of slavery. As Prudence and Geoffrey pursue a killer, they soon discover that Eleanor will not be the last to die on Bradford Island …This was an excellent installment to this series. Very well done!
January 31, 2020
I did not finish this book. First, I didn’t know it was the fourth in a series and I felt it. Conversations were had that insinuated previous experiences which left me feeling confused and left out. The writing was repetitive in way of story. It was a lot of Prudence trying to ask intelligent questions and being shut down because she is a woman, except even her investigating partner won’t speak up for experience. I did not feel it was worth to continue to read.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for sending me an advanced readers copy for my unbiased and honest opinion.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for sending me an advanced readers copy for my unbiased and honest opinion.
November 27, 2019
Death Brings A Shadow is the fourth book in The Gilded Edge Mystery series.
This is a wonderful addition to this exciting and informative series.
Prudence MacKenzie and Geoffrey Hunter are heading for Bradford Island, Georgia for the wedding of Prudence’s childhood friend, Eleanor Dickson, at their winter home. On the trip down, Eleanor had confided in Prudence that she felt eyes on her after she and Teddy Dickson had announced their engagement.
The next morning Mrs. Dickson comes to Prudence’s room looking for Eleanor. A quick search of the house fails to turn Prudence. Prudence and Geoffrey, along with the Teddy and his family organize a search party and set out to scour the island. The body of Eleanor is found face down in the swamp, with the Bennett family calling it an accidental drowning. But Prudence and Geoffrey aren’t so sure and set off to determine what exactly happened for Eleanor to lose her life. The Bennett family isn’t used to the independence that Prudence shows and Geoffrey has to tread softly between the two. They will soon get some valuable information from some former slaves to get them going in the right direction.
I really enjoy this series and the main characters and how they are able to work out the solution without any of the current technology. Although Prudence’s independent thinking causes some problems, Geoffrey is able to correct the situation before either come to too much harm.
The book is well-written and plotted and has a cast of interesting believable cast of characters. The author doesn’t overdo the historical information, but just enough to enlighten the reader to how life was at that time.
I’m looking forward to the next book in this informative and interesting series.
This is a wonderful addition to this exciting and informative series.
Prudence MacKenzie and Geoffrey Hunter are heading for Bradford Island, Georgia for the wedding of Prudence’s childhood friend, Eleanor Dickson, at their winter home. On the trip down, Eleanor had confided in Prudence that she felt eyes on her after she and Teddy Dickson had announced their engagement.
The next morning Mrs. Dickson comes to Prudence’s room looking for Eleanor. A quick search of the house fails to turn Prudence. Prudence and Geoffrey, along with the Teddy and his family organize a search party and set out to scour the island. The body of Eleanor is found face down in the swamp, with the Bennett family calling it an accidental drowning. But Prudence and Geoffrey aren’t so sure and set off to determine what exactly happened for Eleanor to lose her life. The Bennett family isn’t used to the independence that Prudence shows and Geoffrey has to tread softly between the two. They will soon get some valuable information from some former slaves to get them going in the right direction.
I really enjoy this series and the main characters and how they are able to work out the solution without any of the current technology. Although Prudence’s independent thinking causes some problems, Geoffrey is able to correct the situation before either come to too much harm.
The book is well-written and plotted and has a cast of interesting believable cast of characters. The author doesn’t overdo the historical information, but just enough to enlighten the reader to how life was at that time.
I’m looking forward to the next book in this informative and interesting series.
December 26, 2019
3.5 STARS
This is the darkest book of the series. I kind of wish I hadn't read this durning this holiday season, as the disturbing subject matter made it more difficult to embrace this time of year. It seemed like Prudence and Geoffrey couldn't work together either. Overall, not a bad installment. I look forward to their return to NY.
This is the darkest book of the series. I kind of wish I hadn't read this durning this holiday season, as the disturbing subject matter made it more difficult to embrace this time of year. It seemed like Prudence and Geoffrey couldn't work together either. Overall, not a bad installment. I look forward to their return to NY.
January 24, 2020
the writer comes up with a appealing detective duo.
July 19, 2020
Love the series. Can’t wait for the next one.
August 14, 2022
I just can't stand Prudence from time to time...
November 17, 2019
Full review to come.
October 14, 2019
For those readers, like myself, who read historical novels to effortlessly learn a little history, DEATH BRINGS A SHADOW was less of a history lesson than a cultural immersion exercise. The south featured in this novel was not interested in accepting racial equality and was still struggling to accept the defeat of the Confederacy.
Those of us who were not Southern born and Southern bred may have a hard time grasping why or how some of those attitudes and prejudices are still prevalent today. This book, through its series of murders and family tragedies, exposes the pride of family, pride of place, and other traits that some of us have never experienced and never understood.
It was the mind-set, more than the history, that was illuminating to me and that is what brought the period to life for me through Ms. Simpson's mystery. I was not aware that this book is part of a series and it can stand alone very effectively. I think the strength of the novel was the oppressive atmosphere that the author created---you could feel the heat, fear the snakes (!!!), and almost crave the mint julep. The story itself felt drawn-out to me, but I appreciated the immersion in to the post-Civil War culture of Georgia's barrier islands.
NetGalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
Those of us who were not Southern born and Southern bred may have a hard time grasping why or how some of those attitudes and prejudices are still prevalent today. This book, through its series of murders and family tragedies, exposes the pride of family, pride of place, and other traits that some of us have never experienced and never understood.
It was the mind-set, more than the history, that was illuminating to me and that is what brought the period to life for me through Ms. Simpson's mystery. I was not aware that this book is part of a series and it can stand alone very effectively. I think the strength of the novel was the oppressive atmosphere that the author created---you could feel the heat, fear the snakes (!!!), and almost crave the mint julep. The story itself felt drawn-out to me, but I appreciated the immersion in to the post-Civil War culture of Georgia's barrier islands.
NetGalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
October 7, 2019
The setting for this series in this 4th installment moves from Manhattan to a small coastal sea island (fictitious Bradford Island) in Georgia, 1889. Prudence & Geoffrey have travelled there for her best friend’s wedding when tragedy strikes (and a murderer continues to strike).
This story explores the history of the two island landowners, the Bennetts & the Dicksons and how that history has shaped the wedding couple’s lives (Eleanor Dickson & Teddy Bennett). Prudence gets a brutal and unforgettable lesson in post-war southern attitudes about slavery as she & Geoffrey struggle to untangle how past sins have affected the present. It’s a fairly tangled plot, and was actually more of an emotional read for me than her previous books.
We also begin to get a glimpse into Geoffrey’s conflict over his family’s southern background as well, as he is thrown back into a South that he has been scrupulously avoiding. I simply love these characters and this series.
Out 11/26.
Thanks to #KensingtonBooks and #NetGalley for providing the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
This story explores the history of the two island landowners, the Bennetts & the Dicksons and how that history has shaped the wedding couple’s lives (Eleanor Dickson & Teddy Bennett). Prudence gets a brutal and unforgettable lesson in post-war southern attitudes about slavery as she & Geoffrey struggle to untangle how past sins have affected the present. It’s a fairly tangled plot, and was actually more of an emotional read for me than her previous books.
We also begin to get a glimpse into Geoffrey’s conflict over his family’s southern background as well, as he is thrown back into a South that he has been scrupulously avoiding. I simply love these characters and this series.
Out 11/26.
Thanks to #KensingtonBooks and #NetGalley for providing the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
November 12, 2019
"Death Brings a Shadow" by Rosemary Simpson is the fourth installment of the series, but can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. I have not read the previous three books (but I definitely will now) and had no difficulty following the plot. In this story, which takes place only a few decades after the Civil War, Prudence and Geoffrey travel from New York to a small island off the Georgia coast to attend the wedding of Prudence's dear friend Eleanor. Unfortunately, a series of tragedies occur and it is up to Prudence to unravel the mystery of the multiple murders in a culture that is largely foreign to her.
I was thoroughly engaged by the plot of this book. The mystery-lover in me really liked the "who dunnit" aspect, while the historical fiction-lover in me greatly enjoyed the historical backdrop, how, even though the Civil War had been over for many years, life had not changed very much for former slaves,. It was pretty clear to me early on who the murderer was, but that did not discourage me from reading further to find out why the killer violently took the lives of the victims. Overall, the characters were well developed and multi-dimensional. The plot was realistic and the author did an amazing job at setting the scene.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was thoroughly engaged by the plot of this book. The mystery-lover in me really liked the "who dunnit" aspect, while the historical fiction-lover in me greatly enjoyed the historical backdrop, how, even though the Civil War had been over for many years, life had not changed very much for former slaves,. It was pretty clear to me early on who the murderer was, but that did not discourage me from reading further to find out why the killer violently took the lives of the victims. Overall, the characters were well developed and multi-dimensional. The plot was realistic and the author did an amazing job at setting the scene.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 12, 2019
"Death Brings a Shadow" by Rosemary Simpson is the fourth installment of the series, but can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. I have not read the previous three books (but I definitely will now) and had no difficulty following the plot. In this story, which takes place only a few decades after the Civil War, Prudence and Geoffrey travel from New York to a small island off the Georgia coast to attend the wedding of Prudence's dear friend Eleanor. Unfortunately, a series of tragedies occur and it is up to Prudence to unravel the mystery of the multiple murders in a culture that is largely foreign to her.
I was thoroughly engaged by the plot of this book. The mystery-lover in me really liked the "who dunnit" aspect, while the historical fiction-lover in me greatly enjoyed the historical backdrop, how, even though the Civil War had been over for many years, life had not changed very much for former slaves,. It was pretty clear to me early on who the murderer was, but that did not discourage me from reading further to find out why the killer violently took the lives of the victims. Overall, the characters were well developed and multi-dimensional. The plot was realistic and the author did an amazing job at setting the scene.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was thoroughly engaged by the plot of this book. The mystery-lover in me really liked the "who dunnit" aspect, while the historical fiction-lover in me greatly enjoyed the historical backdrop, how, even though the Civil War had been over for many years, life had not changed very much for former slaves,. It was pretty clear to me early on who the murderer was, but that did not discourage me from reading further to find out why the killer violently took the lives of the victims. Overall, the characters were well developed and multi-dimensional. The plot was realistic and the author did an amazing job at setting the scene.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 22, 2021
Well, I learned some things, but this one was rough. I cannot for the life of me figure out why, when confronted with a Mulatto slave who looked like Eleanor's sister... they would not first assume that she's... Eleanor's sister (and all that that naturally implies). To immediately assume that the doppelganger is her fiancé's sister is such an unnatural first assumption that it nearly ruined the rest of the book. I couldn't focus on anything but that seeming... idiocy. The resolution gave the answer, but it was bizarre and the story convoluted (and extremely "convenient"). Besides all of that, it would take a seriously novice reader not to figure this out from the first introduction of characters... no surprises there. And finally, Simpson is still so stingy with these characters, spending more time on atmosphere than on fleshing these two out until you actually care for them. I keep reading because there are bright spots, but I can't help constantly drawing comparisons to Deanna Raybourn, Anna Lee Huber... who are much better at getting that right first, then wrapping the story around the characters. These two are bit players in their own dramas. I already have the next one on my shelf so I'm pressing on, but I continue to be a bit disappointed.
March 24, 2023
I really enjoy this series, and this book was just as well written and cleverly conceived as the earlier books.
This installment's murder investigation was very sad, and probably because of the subject matter that included the Civil War and it's long and painful aftermath, it may not have been my favourite of the series, but I do enjoy this author's writing and perspective and also her skill with creating and developing characters.
Prudence and Geoffrey are wonderful, complex and multi-faceted and I enjoy getting to know both of them better with each succeeding book. I definitely plan to continue with this series. Excellent reads all of them so far.
This installment's murder investigation was very sad, and probably because of the subject matter that included the Civil War and it's long and painful aftermath, it may not have been my favourite of the series, but I do enjoy this author's writing and perspective and also her skill with creating and developing characters.
Prudence and Geoffrey are wonderful, complex and multi-faceted and I enjoy getting to know both of them better with each succeeding book. I definitely plan to continue with this series. Excellent reads all of them so far.
June 10, 2025
Tell me you’ve never been to the South without saying you’ve never been to the South.
This is not the first book in the series that I’ve read, so I was a bit surprised at how absolutely ridiculous the plot and characters were. For someone with such a “scholarly mind,” Prudence is as thick as a plank. The author repeated and contradicted herself multiple times, listed several historical inaccuracies and I swear if I’d drank a shot every time she’d written “live oak” or “code duello” I’d have to join AA.
This is not the first book in the series that I’ve read, so I was a bit surprised at how absolutely ridiculous the plot and characters were. For someone with such a “scholarly mind,” Prudence is as thick as a plank. The author repeated and contradicted herself multiple times, listed several historical inaccuracies and I swear if I’d drank a shot every time she’d written “live oak” or “code duello” I’d have to join AA.
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