Alex and Kate are finally getting married! Beatrice throws them a lovely destination wedding at her stately home, Parkview. We meet Kate's parents. And the wedding itself goes off without any problems at all. But the very next day, the first morning of their honeymoon, Alex and Kate are staying at a cozy cottage - when they are awakened by the police. A dead body has been found in the hedge maze at Parkview, and since the man apparently attended the wedding, the police want to know if Kate or Alex can identify the man. They have no idea. But it turns out that Kate's mother knew the man in California, she had contacted him about her genealogy project. Kate's father had retired to run a Midwestern bookstore, and being a mystery fan he helps Kate and Alex run down clues.
Kate, Alex, Kate's father, and even Kate's mother make for a mystery-solving odd couple. But the mystery is a wonderfully complex one - with red herrings, false accusations, tiny bits of information showing up at the oddest moments, it's wonderfully written.
Kate is even attacked in her honeymoon cottage when someone lights a fire in the living room and turns on the cooking gas. Luckily she escapes and isn't seriously hurt. Alex had gone out to find a surprise breakfast and returns to a disheveled and shaking Kate. But the attack leads to Kate doing some last-minute sleuthing, with her mom, and figuring out exactly what's going on. And the case has one of the best resolutions yet. So again, loved the book, loved the series, and I really want to read more.
For now, unfortunately, this is the last book in this series. I've read a few books in the High Society Lady Detective series and will no doubt read more, but I would love to see Alex and Kate Norcutt solve mysteries together Mr. and Mrs. North style. Or like Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Anyway, the entire series is worth a read. Highy recommended.