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The Discreet Investigations of Lord and Lady Calaway #1
Murder at Mondial Castle
Adelia’s broken free of the restraints that Victorian society puts on a woman. By using her wit, unconventional intelligence and good humour, she’s risen to marry an earl who dotes on her; she’s raised and married off seven beautiful daughters; what more is there for her now?
What, indeed. Adelia’s looking for a new adventure. She’s not ready for her twilight years of slumber just yet…
Then her daughter’s friend is found brutally murdered in the grounds of Mondial Castle – in the company of a man who is not her husband. That man is the Marquis of Mondial but he’s also injured and obviously above suspicion. Yet his subsequent peculiar behaviour soon sets fashionable tongues wagging…
Adelia negotiates the gossips of the drawing room while her husband Theodore wrestles with the other gentlemen and their foibles.
Adelia and Theodore are shocked as they peel back layers of deadly secrets in the household of the castle but the truth at the heart of it threatens their own daughter’s marriage … and their whole family’s place in society.
Unmasking the murderer is impossible alone but working as a team, they are unique.
And unstoppable.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 101 reviews
December 27, 2019
This is the first of a new mystery series with, refreshingly, an older couple as investigators. It's set in the nineteenth century, and this was the first problem I had with the book--WHEN in the nineteenth century? Victorian, says the blurb--but the overall tone was more Regency than anything else (I'm pretty sure people referred to the ton and that is Regency or very, very early Victorian at best), and there's a vast difference between the two eras. There was absolutely no historical background that I spotted to give a clue as to when we were; that might not bother readers who care more about the mystery and just want a country house setting, but it bothers me.
There was very little actual plot, but Brooke spun it out as far as she could--granted, this was a first in series so there was a certain amount of space taken up by setting up future story lines. If you're going to play it that way (and I am guilty of exactly the same) you've got to have great characters and scenes to keep things going, and while I thought Adelia and Theodore had potential I wished there had been more to keep me interested. The fact that I took a month to get through this book speaks volumes.
There was the commonly-encountered problem of the aristocracy addressing each other as "my lord" and "my lady". Only servants and the lower classes addressed the aristocracy as "my lord" and "my lady"--between themselves, posh people called each other "Lord Mondial" or "Lady Harriet" depending on what kind of title the other person had--a man who knew Lord Mondial well would refer to him simply as "Mondial", rarely by his first name, and even if he knew Lady Harriet well he'd still call her "Lady Harriet" unless he was her husband, and then only in private.
I have to admit I cheat a bit on first names myself, though, because it sounds weird to 21st-century readers--but a strange convention seems to have grown up among historical novelists that "my lord" and "my lady" are the only polite forms of address...whereas in fact they showed a degree of subservience that no aristocrat would employ. The aristocracy weren't, in fact, all that polite--they didn't need to be, as their superiority was evident from the way they talked, dressed, behaved at dinner and so on. If you're reading this and are completely confused, I recommend chapter 10 of Medieval Underpants and Other Blunders: A Writer's (and Editor's) Guide to Keeping Historical Fiction Free of Common Anachronisms, Errors, and Myths which uses Downton Abbey as an example. In fact, you could do worse than watch Downton Abbey a few times and note how people speak to one another, since the DA writers get it right almost every time. Almost.
But I digress...I also noted quite a few words and terms that I'm pretty sure didn't belong in the nineteenth century (examples: get a wriggle on, freshen up, hangover, input, hands-on, parked herself) and, alas, towards the end of the novel some grammatical errors. My overall impression was of a book that had been rushed, and why? The writer is indie and can take as long as she likes. I blame the prevailing belief in indie circles that the only way to make money is by producing several books a year, which is nonsense. Readers remember good books and will wait for the next one, but a disappointing read just means you won't give the writer another chance.
There was very little actual plot, but Brooke spun it out as far as she could--granted, this was a first in series so there was a certain amount of space taken up by setting up future story lines. If you're going to play it that way (and I am guilty of exactly the same) you've got to have great characters and scenes to keep things going, and while I thought Adelia and Theodore had potential I wished there had been more to keep me interested. The fact that I took a month to get through this book speaks volumes.
There was the commonly-encountered problem of the aristocracy addressing each other as "my lord" and "my lady". Only servants and the lower classes addressed the aristocracy as "my lord" and "my lady"--between themselves, posh people called each other "Lord Mondial" or "Lady Harriet" depending on what kind of title the other person had--a man who knew Lord Mondial well would refer to him simply as "Mondial", rarely by his first name, and even if he knew Lady Harriet well he'd still call her "Lady Harriet" unless he was her husband, and then only in private.
I have to admit I cheat a bit on first names myself, though, because it sounds weird to 21st-century readers--but a strange convention seems to have grown up among historical novelists that "my lord" and "my lady" are the only polite forms of address...whereas in fact they showed a degree of subservience that no aristocrat would employ. The aristocracy weren't, in fact, all that polite--they didn't need to be, as their superiority was evident from the way they talked, dressed, behaved at dinner and so on. If you're reading this and are completely confused, I recommend chapter 10 of Medieval Underpants and Other Blunders: A Writer's (and Editor's) Guide to Keeping Historical Fiction Free of Common Anachronisms, Errors, and Myths which uses Downton Abbey as an example. In fact, you could do worse than watch Downton Abbey a few times and note how people speak to one another, since the DA writers get it right almost every time. Almost.
But I digress...I also noted quite a few words and terms that I'm pretty sure didn't belong in the nineteenth century (examples: get a wriggle on, freshen up, hangover, input, hands-on, parked herself) and, alas, towards the end of the novel some grammatical errors. My overall impression was of a book that had been rushed, and why? The writer is indie and can take as long as she likes. I blame the prevailing belief in indie circles that the only way to make money is by producing several books a year, which is nonsense. Readers remember good books and will wait for the next one, but a disappointing read just means you won't give the writer another chance.
May 15, 2023
The first quarter was humorous and reasonably fun. The middle had me frequently skimming through. The ending, while well written and interesting plot-wise, was wholly unsatisfying.
The author writes very well, providing many very quotable lines and clever turns of phrase. Unfortunately there is a little too much going on with the back stories of the leads and the actually investigation portion was somewhat lackluster.
Also, nothing to do with the story itself, but why do the covers all have a young 20-somethingish woman on the covers when this series is about a pair of grandparents solving crimes?
The author writes very well, providing many very quotable lines and clever turns of phrase. Unfortunately there is a little too much going on with the back stories of the leads and the actually investigation portion was somewhat lackluster.
Also, nothing to do with the story itself, but why do the covers all have a young 20-somethingish woman on the covers when this series is about a pair of grandparents solving crimes?
October 25, 2020
4.5 I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was mysterious and very well told. It was very funny as well, the interaction between Lord and Lady Calaway is hysterical. They have the best relationship. I will be sure to keep reading this series.
August 9, 2020
Self-published books can be varied in their quality, but I enjoyed this one, and plan to read future books in this series.
First off, for sticklers, this book does have some minor errors that a professional editor could have helped remove from the book and are distracting in a small way. Missing words, naming the wrong character as who is speaking, that sort of thing are present here. They are minor, but they are there.
That said, the author has a wonderful way with her characters, and I enjoyed them a great deal here. Adelia and Theodore in particular are both delightful on their own, but their relationship as a couple doubles their charm and I liked them both very much!
Even the supporting characters: Dido, Theodore's mother Grace, and Adelia's friend Harriet in particular were likable and charming and added to the enjoyment of this story. There is plenty of cheeky humour and cleverness in the way the characters in this book express themselves, and interact with one another and that also added to my enjoyment of the book.
The plot and the investigation of the murder was at the end sad and a bit disturbing [which is all I'll say to avoid spoilers] but it was a good story, with interesting, at times exciting moments and I though it was well-conceived, given the world these people lived in.
Overall, the characters, and their quirks made this a good read for me, and as I said earlier, I want to go on more investigative adventures with Adelia and Theodore, so I will read others in this series.
First off, for sticklers, this book does have some minor errors that a professional editor could have helped remove from the book and are distracting in a small way. Missing words, naming the wrong character as who is speaking, that sort of thing are present here. They are minor, but they are there.
That said, the author has a wonderful way with her characters, and I enjoyed them a great deal here. Adelia and Theodore in particular are both delightful on their own, but their relationship as a couple doubles their charm and I liked them both very much!
Even the supporting characters: Dido, Theodore's mother Grace, and Adelia's friend Harriet in particular were likable and charming and added to the enjoyment of this story. There is plenty of cheeky humour and cleverness in the way the characters in this book express themselves, and interact with one another and that also added to my enjoyment of the book.
The plot and the investigation of the murder was at the end sad and a bit disturbing [which is all I'll say to avoid spoilers] but it was a good story, with interesting, at times exciting moments and I though it was well-conceived, given the world these people lived in.
Overall, the characters, and their quirks made this a good read for me, and as I said earlier, I want to go on more investigative adventures with Adelia and Theodore, so I will read others in this series.
October 26, 2020
Very light yet entertaining
It’s been awhile since I read something like this. I like the way it was written; the writing was simple yet engaging and I really wanted to know if my suspicions were correct.
Early on, it was, and the motive was eventually revealed, although this one has an open ending. There are two ways to take it, just accept it or be annoyed. I chose the first one.
It’s been awhile since I read something like this. I like the way it was written; the writing was simple yet engaging and I really wanted to know if my suspicions were correct.
Early on, it was, and the motive was eventually revealed, although this one has an open ending. There are two ways to take it, just accept it or be annoyed. I chose the first one.
November 7, 2022
4.25/5
I quite enjoyed this book. It was a murder mystery, it was set in Victorian England, it had a strong female lead.
Lord and Lady Calaway go to Mondial castle to visit their daughter and her husband, Marquis Mondial. While there, the murder of an unwed woman is committed and the Marquis and his butler are acting very strange.
Lord Calaway decides to put his critical thinking skills to use, and with the help of Lady Calaway, his wife, helps to solve the case.
What I enjoyed about this book was the characters, the interaction between Lord and Lady Calaway and other characters in the book.
The ending was a bit obvious, and Lord Mondial made me want to throttle him, causing me to not give this book 5 stars.
Overall this was a good mystery and was true to the time period it was set in. I recommend this to anyone who loves Victorian-era and historical mysteries in general.
I quite enjoyed this book. It was a murder mystery, it was set in Victorian England, it had a strong female lead.
Lord and Lady Calaway go to Mondial castle to visit their daughter and her husband, Marquis Mondial. While there, the murder of an unwed woman is committed and the Marquis and his butler are acting very strange.
Lord Calaway decides to put his critical thinking skills to use, and with the help of Lady Calaway, his wife, helps to solve the case.
What I enjoyed about this book was the characters, the interaction between Lord and Lady Calaway and other characters in the book.
The ending was a bit obvious, and Lord Mondial made me want to throttle him, causing me to not give this book 5 stars.
Overall this was a good mystery and was true to the time period it was set in. I recommend this to anyone who loves Victorian-era and historical mysteries in general.
October 11, 2020
If you are looking for an escape into a world where the servants are well trained and happily at your beck and call, spending your time in gorgeous castles of the British peerage of great wealth, where you just flit from one social activity to another, there is a lot of that in this debut novel for a husband and wife investigative team. Theodore is an earl who has become a doctor. Practically, he is knowledgeable, but he is terribly blunt with no social awareness or bedside manner, so he must find a new pursuit. Luckily, his wife Amelia can handle that aspect incredibly well, and as they are in their fifties, they have learned to trust each other for their own strengths. A childhood friend of their daughter's is murdered in the garden while they were all there for a visit, and their daughter's husband, the marquess, has forbidden any police involvement. And so it begins.
Unfortunately, the mystery component is rather weak here. Characters are not flushed out, and there's a lot of repeating the accumulated evidence that bogs the flow down. The couple has seven daughters, each with her own gorgeous castle or estate, and it looks like each book will be a visit to another daughter.
Unfortunately, the mystery component is rather weak here. Characters are not flushed out, and there's a lot of repeating the accumulated evidence that bogs the flow down. The couple has seven daughters, each with her own gorgeous castle or estate, and it looks like each book will be a visit to another daughter.
October 24, 2019
It is a pleasant change to have protagonists who are not in the first flush of youth. Both of the main characters have social challenges, but the way that they deal with the world in general and each other is both gently humorous and quietly amusing. A decent mystery, although perhaps not the most subtle of plots. I will definitely read the sequel.
September 26, 2020
no way it ends like that
while i am no scholar, i have read plenty enough books set in england in the 1700/1800s. and NO way it ends like that (notice i am not giving it away). mystery was so-so. i did enjoy the characters. i think i will get tired of adelia’s brother though. i’ll try the next book and see if the murder mystery gets better.
while i am no scholar, i have read plenty enough books set in england in the 1700/1800s. and NO way it ends like that (notice i am not giving it away). mystery was so-so. i did enjoy the characters. i think i will get tired of adelia’s brother though. i’ll try the next book and see if the murder mystery gets better.
October 27, 2020
I found this book too slow for me. It describes life in a household of the time very well and for most of the book focussed on the interaction between houseguests and servants. Not enough happened to keep my interest piqued.
The characters were believable but unfortunately not enough for me to move on to the next book in the series.
The characters were believable but unfortunately not enough for me to move on to the next book in the series.
June 24, 2020
Nice enough little story or murder and mayhem, told in a rather roundabout style. I actually read more about the habits and ways of life during the time period than I did about the murder, and the ending was not at all satisfying from my point of view. OK but nothing I would rave about.
January 16, 2021
Adequate Mystery
The setting and background were good, and the characters interesting. The plot suffered from too many side notes, many unresolved. The guilty party is fairly obvious to the reader, but not to the investigators.
The setting and background were good, and the characters interesting. The plot suffered from too many side notes, many unresolved. The guilty party is fairly obvious to the reader, but not to the investigators.
February 2, 2021
Entertaining
The mystery plot was pretty farfetched, and the story began to drag about two thirds of the way in. The ending them seemed abrupt. But the characters were likable and interesting.
The mystery plot was pretty farfetched, and the story began to drag about two thirds of the way in. The ending them seemed abrupt. But the characters were likable and interesting.
November 2, 2020
Predictable but charming mystery
January 8, 2021
What a wonderful change to read of an older couple as main characters and definitely comfortable with each other. Snippets of their past lives are interwoven in to the storyline allowing the reader to piecemeal snippets of information pertaining to our MC's.
Theodore we learn, had a lifelong ambition to be a doctor, which is considered as 'trade' and frowned upon by Society. Upon inheriting his Earldom from the death of a brother, Theodore had to abandon his career. After his daughters have come out and subsequently married, Theodore has taken up his medical practice. His 'bedside manner' leaves a lot to be desired and has eventuated in being sued.
Adelia is Theodore's second wife and she had saved him from a life of dissolution when he became and earl and his first wife died.
Adelia is able to converse and wheedle information out of people, which fits hand in glove with Theo's analytical skills.
Some of the dialogue and paragraphs had me in stitches, especially with Harriet, Adelia's dearest friend.
This couple have been together for 30 years, with Theo being in his late 50's and Adelia in her early 50s. They have 7 or so daughters and several grandchildren. The identity of the daughters are revealed in subsequent books.
As with a lot of these Regency or Victorian cozy mysteries, there is that uncomfortable theme of how women were viewed and how those 'troublesome' ones were shipped off to Asylums or 'excommunicated' by being shipped to remote properties far away from their husbands.
The notion of marrying for producing heirs and how offspring were treated by their parents is also explored in this book.
I have had this series of books in a saved list and glad that I have gotten around to reading them.
Theodore we learn, had a lifelong ambition to be a doctor, which is considered as 'trade' and frowned upon by Society. Upon inheriting his Earldom from the death of a brother, Theodore had to abandon his career. After his daughters have come out and subsequently married, Theodore has taken up his medical practice. His 'bedside manner' leaves a lot to be desired and has eventuated in being sued.
Adelia is Theodore's second wife and she had saved him from a life of dissolution when he became and earl and his first wife died.
Adelia is able to converse and wheedle information out of people, which fits hand in glove with Theo's analytical skills.
Some of the dialogue and paragraphs had me in stitches, especially with Harriet, Adelia's dearest friend.
This couple have been together for 30 years, with Theo being in his late 50's and Adelia in her early 50s. They have 7 or so daughters and several grandchildren. The identity of the daughters are revealed in subsequent books.
As with a lot of these Regency or Victorian cozy mysteries, there is that uncomfortable theme of how women were viewed and how those 'troublesome' ones were shipped off to Asylums or 'excommunicated' by being shipped to remote properties far away from their husbands.
The notion of marrying for producing heirs and how offspring were treated by their parents is also explored in this book.
I have had this series of books in a saved list and glad that I have gotten around to reading them.
February 13, 2021
An interesting diversion for the times when you don't want anything too deep, but not as superficial as others I've read. I warmed to Lord and Lady Calaway. Perhaps I saw something of myself and my almost-26-years-husband in the way they interacted. They made me smile and I was very comfortable with them. Just a couple of omitted words or autocorrections was refreshing, rather than persistent carelessness found in other novels. Yes, I'm a pedant - sue me. I think the only part which had me a little dismayed was the finding of the murder weapons. Forgive me, but there's no way I can imagine Theodore leaping onto a bale of hay. I'm sorry, but I can't! I think there might be better ways of discovering this clue without taking the characters so far beyond the personality on display, certainly in the first book. Maybe he'll develop more and we'll see him stepping outside his rank and behavioural expectations in further books, but it was jarring and far too convenient for the first glimpse of the gentleman. I'd have felt more authenticity if the stallion he later rode was to skitter into the hay or a stable boy had tripped over something, for example.
That being said, the second in the series is available to me through the Kindle Unlimited programme, so now I'm going to dig into that one.
Recommended for an otherwise witty, endearing sojourn into the lives of the Victorian elite socialite scene and their upper-crust shenaningans.
That being said, the second in the series is available to me through the Kindle Unlimited programme, so now I'm going to dig into that one.
Recommended for an otherwise witty, endearing sojourn into the lives of the Victorian elite socialite scene and their upper-crust shenaningans.
March 18, 2020
Enjoyable! Well written but slow:
This cozy mystery is very well written, with well developed characters and backgrounds. The story is so descriptive that you could imagine yourself in the scenes through out. While it moved very, very slowly, the story played out well. The plot of the killer and accomplices was revealed at 70% into the book, so the remainder was more detail and dragged out, which came to a slow rolling end. I enjoy books of this time and the author was true to the period. The only critical point I can make of the author's writing style is that there are conversations taking place with the speaker not being identified. Even between two characters, you're not certain which character is speaking. This did cause interruption to a clean read. The only detail that was not factual was that the daughter's pulse was 'slow and weak, but regular'. The pulse cannot be both regular and slow. There are numerous editing issues mostly with words missing, but not enough to slow the forward progress of the read. While I usually read one to two books every day, this book took me four sittings to read. It didn't draw me in to keep me reading each day, but it did draw be back to keep reading to completion.
This cozy mystery is very well written, with well developed characters and backgrounds. The story is so descriptive that you could imagine yourself in the scenes through out. While it moved very, very slowly, the story played out well. The plot of the killer and accomplices was revealed at 70% into the book, so the remainder was more detail and dragged out, which came to a slow rolling end. I enjoy books of this time and the author was true to the period. The only critical point I can make of the author's writing style is that there are conversations taking place with the speaker not being identified. Even between two characters, you're not certain which character is speaking. This did cause interruption to a clean read. The only detail that was not factual was that the daughter's pulse was 'slow and weak, but regular'. The pulse cannot be both regular and slow. There are numerous editing issues mostly with words missing, but not enough to slow the forward progress of the read. While I usually read one to two books every day, this book took me four sittings to read. It didn't draw me in to keep me reading each day, but it did draw be back to keep reading to completion.
April 1, 2020
The Unfortunate Situation that Happened Outside
4.5 stars - first book in series - some rough edges (whatever I mean by that!) need to be smoothed out.
Suitable for teen - adult
No sex
No harsh language
No violence - the murder is discovered after it's happened. No horribly gory details given.
Adelia and Theodore are attending a house party at their daughter, Dido's, home.
When the murder of a guest is discovered, Adelia suggests that she and Theodore investigate. The reason for her suggestion is that Dido's husband, the Marquis of Mondial was found, also injured, at the scene. The Marquis adamantly rejects the idea of common policemen tramping through his home and causing scandal as well as gossip among the commoners. (Nice to be of the aristocracy, right?)
Although neither Adelia nor Theodore are detectives, Adelia convinces both Theodore and the Marquis that her husband's logical mind is perfectly suited to the task. Surprisingly, the Marquis agrees to their plan.
There are not an overabundance of suspects within the household, yet the idea of a passing tramp committing the crime in broad daylight is illogical.
Enjoyable puzzle.
Recommended.
I will definitely read the next in the series.
4.5 stars - first book in series - some rough edges (whatever I mean by that!) need to be smoothed out.
Suitable for teen - adult
No sex
No harsh language
No violence - the murder is discovered after it's happened. No horribly gory details given.
Adelia and Theodore are attending a house party at their daughter, Dido's, home.
When the murder of a guest is discovered, Adelia suggests that she and Theodore investigate. The reason for her suggestion is that Dido's husband, the Marquis of Mondial was found, also injured, at the scene. The Marquis adamantly rejects the idea of common policemen tramping through his home and causing scandal as well as gossip among the commoners. (Nice to be of the aristocracy, right?)
Although neither Adelia nor Theodore are detectives, Adelia convinces both Theodore and the Marquis that her husband's logical mind is perfectly suited to the task. Surprisingly, the Marquis agrees to their plan.
There are not an overabundance of suspects within the household, yet the idea of a passing tramp committing the crime in broad daylight is illogical.
Enjoyable puzzle.
Recommended.
I will definitely read the next in the series.
January 9, 2023
My daughter gave me this book as a surprise in January.
I had not heard of this author before, but my daughter knows that I like mysteries and ones set in Victorian times as this one is was a treat. Lady Adelia Calaway and her husband, Theodore, who is a practicing physician, decide it's time to get out of town and they go to visit their married daughter at Mondial Castle. Lord Calaway is a practicing physician. He's extremely smart, but has no bedside manner. He is being sued by the wife of one of his deceased patients. They are happy to see their daughter, Dido, her husband Viscount Mondial, and family, plus the daughter's dear friend. An accident happens in which her unmarried friend is shot and killed in the arms of Dido's husband. He, too, has been injured. Theodore turns from doctoring to investigating along with his wife. Something just doesn't seem right.
I enjoyed this book. The author did a great job with the characters and the conventions of the Victorian Era. I kind of figured out who was behind it, but there were a lot of genuine suspects. Thank you, daughter, for the book.
I had not heard of this author before, but my daughter knows that I like mysteries and ones set in Victorian times as this one is was a treat. Lady Adelia Calaway and her husband, Theodore, who is a practicing physician, decide it's time to get out of town and they go to visit their married daughter at Mondial Castle. Lord Calaway is a practicing physician. He's extremely smart, but has no bedside manner. He is being sued by the wife of one of his deceased patients. They are happy to see their daughter, Dido, her husband Viscount Mondial, and family, plus the daughter's dear friend. An accident happens in which her unmarried friend is shot and killed in the arms of Dido's husband. He, too, has been injured. Theodore turns from doctoring to investigating along with his wife. Something just doesn't seem right.
I enjoyed this book. The author did a great job with the characters and the conventions of the Victorian Era. I kind of figured out who was behind it, but there were a lot of genuine suspects. Thank you, daughter, for the book.
November 6, 2021
This is a classic with vivid canvas replete with Lords, Earls and the royalty of the Victorian era. Smooth flowing narrative, interesting characterizations, quirky manners and idiosyncrasies - the book has it all. A murder at the castle where, Protagonists are invited as their daughter is married to the Lord Mondial, even though Theodore is not too keen, but agrees to, to be away from possible litigation that he faces from his patients, as he has started acting a Doctor, and that too a blunt one, which offends his patients and their loved ones. At the castle, there's a shooting incident in which a young girl loses her life and the lord gets hurt. Theodore starts investigation as the Lord does not want the police to be involved and he believes that the shooting was done by a passing robber. Theodore and his wife Adelia get down to work meticulously and the unraveling of the case is what the story is about. Quite enjoyable, though I thought that the finale was a bit underwhelming. Recommended reading.
December 7, 2022
I very much enjoyed this unexpected mystery set in Victorian times. The characters are varied and entertaining, each with their unique traits, flaws, positive points and humor. We watch one character with chuckles, even in the midst of a chase: "He tried to shout as he went but he was in his late fifties and he had to make the choice between breathing well and running silently."
Themes slip into the story regularly: "...diatribes from learned clergy bemoaning the death of God and falling church attendances, and every day people still crossed themselves and swore on the Bible and prayed in their hour of need, regardless." And, "Justice falls only to those who can pay for it, after all."
I salute the author for her fresh and light treatment of the mysterious and murderous plot. Highly entertaining. A nice change.
Themes slip into the story regularly: "...diatribes from learned clergy bemoaning the death of God and falling church attendances, and every day people still crossed themselves and swore on the Bible and prayed in their hour of need, regardless." And, "Justice falls only to those who can pay for it, after all."
I salute the author for her fresh and light treatment of the mysterious and murderous plot. Highly entertaining. A nice change.
December 30, 2022
Murder most Foul
The characters were good, those who were to be liked were likeable and those to be disliked were also well defined. The story line was good and there were many instances of laughable statements as well as actions. I do not think that the inclusion of Lady Calaway's brother added anything to the story, it was more of a distraction than anything. Readers were left up in the air with respect to the contents of the letter from her sister in law. Why was it included in the story? Was it the cliffhanger?
I liked Lord Calaway, as atypical as he was, I also liked his mother, she was a treat!
The book on the whole was readable and enjoyable, even though it included too many untold stories.
The characters were good, those who were to be liked were likeable and those to be disliked were also well defined. The story line was good and there were many instances of laughable statements as well as actions. I do not think that the inclusion of Lady Calaway's brother added anything to the story, it was more of a distraction than anything. Readers were left up in the air with respect to the contents of the letter from her sister in law. Why was it included in the story? Was it the cliffhanger?
I liked Lord Calaway, as atypical as he was, I also liked his mother, she was a treat!
The book on the whole was readable and enjoyable, even though it included too many untold stories.
June 8, 2021
This begins with the curious note to the reader that it is written in British English – clearly anticipating an American audience. I felt for a British reader this aroused expectations of good grammar, and for the most part this was what I found (there are some lapses, and some modern phrases, and I was a bit surprised to find that every one of the earl’s daughters was married to a range of husbands, but these things can happen. Grouse hunting, rather than grouse shooting, was a novelty for me). It’s set in the 1890s (though it feels earlier), and kept my interest fairly well, setting itself up for the start of a series.
July 14, 2021
Not compelling
It's hard to really like this book. I appreciate that the author tried to do something different -- an older couple with failings as the sleuths, but the failings are caricatures. Lord Callaway is so oblivious to the feelings of others one wonders how he reached adulthood. For a period piece, there is virtually nothing to show this is Victorian era. The reference to Labradors is one of the few (Labrador retrievers didn't exist until the 1830s and then only at malmesbury). The other clue is a reference to bow street. Beyond that? I didn't find either of the Calaways personable or likeable. The other characters were wooden. It's too bad.
It's hard to really like this book. I appreciate that the author tried to do something different -- an older couple with failings as the sleuths, but the failings are caricatures. Lord Callaway is so oblivious to the feelings of others one wonders how he reached adulthood. For a period piece, there is virtually nothing to show this is Victorian era. The reference to Labradors is one of the few (Labrador retrievers didn't exist until the 1830s and then only at malmesbury). The other clue is a reference to bow street. Beyond that? I didn't find either of the Calaways personable or likeable. The other characters were wooden. It's too bad.
October 10, 2020
A fun read among the titles in the English countryside. There is a shooting! A death and an injury! But what are the facts of what happened? And is the information about the assailant correct or might someone in the household be the villain. And so a Lord (who is also a Doctor) takes on the case with his Lady’s able assistance! And the inner working of the household and all the dishes required to feed a house party also feature to create a sense of yesteryear and its excesses among the titles gentry.
February 18, 2021
if you are looking for some totally escapist pandemic reading, this is a great series. The characters are so fun--a somewhat Aspie lord and his wife, who is good with people. Together, they are a detecting team, and the dialogue between them is really entertaining. Each book in the series focuses on a mystery involving one of their seven daughters, each of whom is eccentric or "interesting" in her own way. The plots are basically an excuse to write about all these characters, but that's totally fine because the books are just plain fun to read.
March 14, 2021
Wonderful descriptions of characters with a man that everyone likes to hate
This book was a surprise; the people involved were so well done you felt like you were right there with them. It was incredible all of the different "rules" there were for the upper class; what type of bedroom they were given, where they sat at the dinner table, and who was invited to a party just to make the host "look good". Pretty disgusting, in my opinion! The best part was the ending; I was completely fooled. I am definitely getting the next book, but I will miss Theodore as a doctor.
This book was a surprise; the people involved were so well done you felt like you were right there with them. It was incredible all of the different "rules" there were for the upper class; what type of bedroom they were given, where they sat at the dinner table, and who was invited to a party just to make the host "look good". Pretty disgusting, in my opinion! The best part was the ending; I was completely fooled. I am definitely getting the next book, but I will miss Theodore as a doctor.
August 1, 2021
While I had to agree with Jane Steen's criticisms of this book, I still enjoyed reading the story. Yes, it felt much more like Regency than Victorian and the way people addressed each other was off, but the characters were so well done that I really liked them. Adelia and Theodore have raised and married off seven daughters. That's quite an accomplishment even for an Earl. He's trained as a doctor and is brilliant, but he's much too blunt for anyone's health or liking. So now he's turning his brilliance to solving crimes, and he's quite good, especially when Adelia helps out. Recommended.
October 22, 2020
Classic!
Lord Theodore and Lady Adelia are invited to their Son-in-law's Mondial Castle for a party. Their daughter Dido is thrilled by their presence as she's sure her mother will find a match for her best childhood friend, Ms. Phillipa. Her wish is almost fulfilled if not for the terrific murder of her best friend and injury to her husband.
Lord and Lady Theodore taken it upon them to find out as to who the murderer is.
Loved the usage of classic English in this novel.
Lord Theodore and Lady Adelia are invited to their Son-in-law's Mondial Castle for a party. Their daughter Dido is thrilled by their presence as she's sure her mother will find a match for her best childhood friend, Ms. Phillipa. Her wish is almost fulfilled if not for the terrific murder of her best friend and injury to her husband.
Lord and Lady Theodore taken it upon them to find out as to who the murderer is.
Loved the usage of classic English in this novel.
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