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Strangers #1
Stranger at the Dower House
A widow moves into the long disused Dower House and makes a horrible discovery in the wine cellar.
Thirty-year-old widow Louisa Middlehope is determined to escape from her late husband’s family and live life for herself for the first time. The tiny village of Great Maeswood offers her the peace and quiet her heart craves, and perhaps it might provide a little entertainment, too. But the house she has leased has been empty for a quarter of a century and who knows what secrets it holds?
Laurence Gage is still mourning his beloved wife, while raising his two children, and at forty, declining gently into a rather dull middle age. Until, that is, the intriguing Mrs Middlehope arrives in the village and upends his placid life. She’s nothing at all like his perfect wife, but he’s oddly drawn to her anyway and to his surprise, she seems to like him too. Whoever would have thought it? But what exactly is she looking for? Friendship, marriage — or something else entirely?
This is a complete story with a happy ever after. Book 1 of a 6 book series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom.
Thirty-year-old widow Louisa Middlehope is determined to escape from her late husband’s family and live life for herself for the first time. The tiny village of Great Maeswood offers her the peace and quiet her heart craves, and perhaps it might provide a little entertainment, too. But the house she has leased has been empty for a quarter of a century and who knows what secrets it holds?
Laurence Gage is still mourning his beloved wife, while raising his two children, and at forty, declining gently into a rather dull middle age. Until, that is, the intriguing Mrs Middlehope arrives in the village and upends his placid life. She’s nothing at all like his perfect wife, but he’s oddly drawn to her anyway and to his surprise, she seems to like him too. Whoever would have thought it? But what exactly is she looking for? Friendship, marriage — or something else entirely?
This is a complete story with a happy ever after. Book 1 of a 6 book series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2020
854 people are currently reading
616 people want to read
About the author
Mary Kingswood
68 books479 followersI live in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland with my husband. I like chocolate, whisky, my Kindle, massed pipe bands, long leisurely lunches, chocolate, going places in my campervan, eating pizza in Italy, summer nights that never get dark, wood fires in winter, chocolate, the view from the study window looking out over the Moray Firth and the Black Isle to the mountains beyond. And chocolate. I dislike driving on motorways, cooking, shopping, hospitals.
The lovely lady in my avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.
NOTE: I read Regency romances as well as write them, and I review them all on my website, or you can find them right here on Goodreads on my real-name account at Pauline M. Ross.
The lovely lady in my avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.
NOTE: I read Regency romances as well as write them, and I review them all on my website, or you can find them right here on Goodreads on my real-name account at Pauline M. Ross.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
December 16, 2020
I am a Mary Kingswood fan. Her writing is always consistently solid and I never pick one up and think "will this be a winner or a loser." My favorite series of hers is the "Sons of the Marquess." I loved how each book showcased one of the Marquess' brothers and had a different tone for each so you didn't feel like you were reading the same story over and over. I would say my second favorite was the "Sisters of Woodside" series, especially The Governess. I confess I had trouble with the last book of that series and again with the last book of the "Silver Linings" series. Don't even get me started on the "Daughters of Allamont Hall" which I hope to tackle one day when I eventually heal from reading "Amy." I have a love/hate relationship with that book.
Back to this book. I honestly loved it. It was a solid read throughout, didn't drag at any point, added more characters to the network of characters that populate all of her series so you feel like you're "still in the neighborhood" with a lot of beloved characters and last but most importantly the H and h are just so likable.
The H resembled the H in "The Governess" in that he was a nice, "dull," and likable gentleman. Yet, he was very warm, loving and rather funny. I loved the open discussions that the H and h had about everything: their previous marriages, their disappointments and hopes and dreams. How they were friends on the verge of being lovers and maybe something much more. In fact, their discussion of the pros and cons of taking the step to MAYBE being lovers was funny and flirty and yet very open and down to Earth. And when the H delves deeper into the realities of his former marriage, it is heart breaking. There is also a murder mystery to solve which I felt didn't detract from the story and worked to create interaction among the various characters.
I think what I ultimately loved about the story was towards the end, when the h looks around at the guests at her dinner party. She notices how each person interacts and where there may be possible romance or misguided hope. She finds herself interested to see how these play out and what ends up happening. It was so subtle but I felt was a commentary on life. We read a story focused on a couple and they seem larger than life. But when you step back, murder mystery aside, the H and h were quite ordinary living quietly as they did in the country among a small circle of acquaintances. It was like saying every one of us have our own grand stories to live and tell about. No matter how seemingly mundane we may think it or it may appear. I just loved that sentiment.
This series is off to a fantastic start and I can't wait to read the next as it centers around a character we hear about but do not actually meet in this first book. And what we hear is enough to make us FURIOUS. So let's see if Ms. Kingswood can turn our initial feelings towards this character around...
Back to this book. I honestly loved it. It was a solid read throughout, didn't drag at any point, added more characters to the network of characters that populate all of her series so you feel like you're "still in the neighborhood" with a lot of beloved characters and last but most importantly the H and h are just so likable.
The H resembled the H in "The Governess" in that he was a nice, "dull," and likable gentleman. Yet, he was very warm, loving and rather funny. I loved the open discussions that the H and h had about everything: their previous marriages, their disappointments and hopes and dreams. How they were friends on the verge of being lovers and maybe something much more. In fact, their discussion of the pros and cons of taking the step to MAYBE being lovers was funny and flirty and yet very open and down to Earth. And when the H delves deeper into the realities of his former marriage, it is heart breaking. There is also a murder mystery to solve which I felt didn't detract from the story and worked to create interaction among the various characters.
I think what I ultimately loved about the story was towards the end, when the h looks around at the guests at her dinner party. She notices how each person interacts and where there may be possible romance or misguided hope. She finds herself interested to see how these play out and what ends up happening. It was so subtle but I felt was a commentary on life. We read a story focused on a couple and they seem larger than life. But when you step back, murder mystery aside, the H and h were quite ordinary living quietly as they did in the country among a small circle of acquaintances. It was like saying every one of us have our own grand stories to live and tell about. No matter how seemingly mundane we may think it or it may appear. I just loved that sentiment.
This series is off to a fantastic start and I can't wait to read the next as it centers around a character we hear about but do not actually meet in this first book. And what we hear is enough to make us FURIOUS. So let's see if Ms. Kingswood can turn our initial feelings towards this character around...
January 25, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyable
I read the entirety of this book in one happy day. It has the four things I like best in a narrative: intelligent, relatable characters; interesting mysteries, sweet romance; and a satisfying, happy ending. Plus, the author works hard to maintain historical accuracy throughout the book, but this is Mary Kingsley, so that goes without saying.
This novel also avoids several common sins: there are NO frustrating misunderstandings between the protagonists, and the main characters act like actual adults. They TALK, and their open, candid conversations are some of the best literature that I’ve read for quite some time. Instead of immature angst-driven drama, the author describes a love that grows in the manner of Jane Austen’s fiction - through heartfelt conversation.
Simply put, I adored it. I hope the next books in this series are as good as the first.
I read the entirety of this book in one happy day. It has the four things I like best in a narrative: intelligent, relatable characters; interesting mysteries, sweet romance; and a satisfying, happy ending. Plus, the author works hard to maintain historical accuracy throughout the book, but this is Mary Kingsley, so that goes without saying.
This novel also avoids several common sins: there are NO frustrating misunderstandings between the protagonists, and the main characters act like actual adults. They TALK, and their open, candid conversations are some of the best literature that I’ve read for quite some time. Instead of immature angst-driven drama, the author describes a love that grows in the manner of Jane Austen’s fiction - through heartfelt conversation.
Simply put, I adored it. I hope the next books in this series are as good as the first.
October 23, 2021
A weak, amateurish historical romance. The plot is unfocused. It meanders, bombarding the readers with unnecessary scenes and inner monologues. The characters have less than 2 dimensions. The leading guy, Laurence, is a pathetic, gutless wussy. He worships his 'ideal' dead wife and can't even conceive an affair with a pretty living widow. The widow, Louisa, is a bubbly but empty-headed woman. She only cares about her clothes, her cook, and her pleasures. Both drink a lot. Their drinking encounters are all described in minute details. Not that I care about their endless alcohol consumption. Even the mystery of a 25-year-old corpse found in Louisa's basement doesn't enliven this gelatinous story.
Overall: I regret spending the time to read it.
Overall: I regret spending the time to read it.
December 3, 2020
Another great book by Mary Kingswood! I found myself smiling during the entire book. The characters were delightfully imperfect, the plot was intriguing, the setting was compelling and comfortable, and love story was real. The best part was the promise of another wonderful story that will appear with the next book! If you are new to Mary Kingswood, you are lucky because there are so many delightful books you have yet to read! The books remind me of Jane Austen’s settings and manners and the robust characters of Charles Dickens.
December 13, 2020
I was so happy to hear there was a new series coming out from Mary Kingswood as I’ve enjoyed every one of her others. And this one didn’t disappoint. I read the free prequel novella which was great and then received this as a pre-release copy (lucky me!). I loved the start of this series. Mary always gives us strong, opinionated female characters and there’s always an interesting twist. She gives just a little intrigue into the following books so that you’re waiting in anticipation for the next one (but didn’t need it for the ending of this one). Can’t wait for the next one!
March 10, 2025
Louisa and Laurence can come to a party at my place any time. It’s really sweet when two nice, sweet people who were unlucky in love find each other for a second chance.
I know Edgerton plays a larger role in this series and it was fun to see him at work along with his friends.
I know Edgerton plays a larger role in this series and it was fun to see him at work along with his friends.
January 11, 2021
3.5 stars.
What an odd book. I didn’t expect it to be a murder mystery, as I assumed for whatever reason that the discovery alluded to in the blurb would be something salacious rather than sinister, which was clearly erroneous. The mystery solving is approached as a collective effort of a group of characters rather than the deductive efforts of the two lead characters, which is a style I haven’t encountered before. The book is pretty evenly divided between furthering the romantic plot and uncovering the mystery, and as a result it seemed a little unfocused at times. Certainly there are a series of loose ends and unanswered questions which are apparently to be addressed in future installments in the series.
The romance is enjoyable enough. I would recommend the book to fans of the regency period — it keeps to a relatively strict reflection of the times. The characters aren’t given modern sensibilities, which makes it a little uncomfortable to read about the class system, since the servants are very much treated as inferior and the possibility of them becoming more is never considered. At least, not in most instances. There is one example of a character “reaching above her station”, but she does it unethically and it ends poorly — . But I found the story compelling despite that, and I wanted to see how the romance would be resolved.
What an odd book. I didn’t expect it to be a murder mystery, as I assumed for whatever reason that the discovery alluded to in the blurb would be something salacious rather than sinister, which was clearly erroneous. The mystery solving is approached as a collective effort of a group of characters rather than the deductive efforts of the two lead characters, which is a style I haven’t encountered before. The book is pretty evenly divided between furthering the romantic plot and uncovering the mystery, and as a result it seemed a little unfocused at times. Certainly there are a series of loose ends and unanswered questions which are apparently to be addressed in future installments in the series.
The romance is enjoyable enough. I would recommend the book to fans of the regency period — it keeps to a relatively strict reflection of the times. The characters aren’t given modern sensibilities, which makes it a little uncomfortable to read about the class system, since the servants are very much treated as inferior and the possibility of them becoming more is never considered. At least, not in most instances. There is one example of a character “reaching above her station”, but she does it unethically and it ends poorly — . But I found the story compelling despite that, and I wanted to see how the romance would be resolved.
March 13, 2024
4.5 stars
My first Mary Kingswood, and I can see why her books get such high ratings.
There was a plethora of interesting characters in this novel. The pacing was fast and interesting and the romance was really lovely, unrushed and well executed.
The writing was good, and the historical accuracy was spot on. Often language or historical mistakes pull me out of regency novels, but there were none here.
I’ll admit that to begin with I wasn’t sure if I would like it. It seemed very predictable and syrupy sweet at the start, but quickly, I realised my error. I was delighted to be surprised by some of the characters’ actions and the story, which made it far from predictable and all the more enjoyable.
I’ll definitely be reading more in this series.
My first Mary Kingswood, and I can see why her books get such high ratings.
There was a plethora of interesting characters in this novel. The pacing was fast and interesting and the romance was really lovely, unrushed and well executed.
The writing was good, and the historical accuracy was spot on. Often language or historical mistakes pull me out of regency novels, but there were none here.
I’ll admit that to begin with I wasn’t sure if I would like it. It seemed very predictable and syrupy sweet at the start, but quickly, I realised my error. I was delighted to be surprised by some of the characters’ actions and the story, which made it far from predictable and all the more enjoyable.
I’ll definitely be reading more in this series.
December 13, 2020
The first full-length installment in the new Strangers series, 'Stranger at the Dower House' follows Louisa Middlehope, a young widow and almost-baroness who flees to a small town in Shropshire for a fresh start - and to escape her vulgar sister-in-law, her brother in law (the new baron), and their passel of children. This is a novel about two cultivated, intelligent adults who find a second chance at love with a murder mystery wrapping.
Taking up residence at the dower house (rented from the Saxby family whose plight is introduced in the Strangers prequel, Stranger at the ParsonageStranger at the Parsonage), she's the object of much speculation and gossip. To the horror of village busybodies, she bonds with lonely widower Laurence Gage over a love of wine. One boozy morning at her home, the pair stumble across a long-hidden body in her wine cellar and the investigation begins. Who was the unfortunate person who met their end at the Dower House? Why were they killed? In solving the mystery, familiar - and flamboyant- faces from other Kingswood novels appear to lend their skills to the effort.
The relationship between Louisa and Laurence develops over many glasses of wine and spirits, late night talks and country rambles, plus the shared pain of realizing their previous marriages weren't all they were cracked up to be. It can be difficult to have your beloved fall, even posthumously, from their pedestal, and the two protagonists help each other to pick up the pieces. It was also refreshing to read a Regency-themed novel with "older" love interests - Louisa is 30 and Laurence is 40 - who alternatively acknowledge and celebrate their desire. I've always found it unrealistic, even in that time period, that two worldly (especially aristocratic) adults would never express a need for physical passion. Some off-page lovemaking is implied at the end of the novel, which has a HFN ending and leads us into the next in the series.
Louisa also seems to be childfree in that she doesn't express any distress at her childless state, and seems more perturbed by the loss of her excellent chef and the prospect of middling food and no alcohol! Laurence is a loving, engaged father, and is, in my opinion, the more tender-hearted of the two. It's a nice turn of character to have a strong yet nurturing man and a woman who is his intellectual equal. They felt like soulmates, with mutual interests and a deep affection and respect for each other. Friends before lovers, with a few detours.
As with many of Kingswood's novels, there is an overarching mystery presented early in the series, with other characters' issues tying into the puzzle in unforeseen ways. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for this pair and learning who killed the person in the wine cellar!
I received a pre-release copy of this novel in digital format in exchange for an honest review.
Taking up residence at the dower house (rented from the Saxby family whose plight is introduced in the Strangers prequel, Stranger at the ParsonageStranger at the Parsonage), she's the object of much speculation and gossip. To the horror of village busybodies, she bonds with lonely widower Laurence Gage over a love of wine. One boozy morning at her home, the pair stumble across a long-hidden body in her wine cellar and the investigation begins. Who was the unfortunate person who met their end at the Dower House? Why were they killed? In solving the mystery, familiar - and flamboyant- faces from other Kingswood novels appear to lend their skills to the effort.
The relationship between Louisa and Laurence develops over many glasses of wine and spirits, late night talks and country rambles, plus the shared pain of realizing their previous marriages weren't all they were cracked up to be. It can be difficult to have your beloved fall, even posthumously, from their pedestal, and the two protagonists help each other to pick up the pieces. It was also refreshing to read a Regency-themed novel with "older" love interests - Louisa is 30 and Laurence is 40 - who alternatively acknowledge and celebrate their desire. I've always found it unrealistic, even in that time period, that two worldly (especially aristocratic) adults would never express a need for physical passion. Some off-page lovemaking is implied at the end of the novel, which has a HFN ending and leads us into the next in the series.
Louisa also seems to be childfree in that she doesn't express any distress at her childless state, and seems more perturbed by the loss of her excellent chef and the prospect of middling food and no alcohol! Laurence is a loving, engaged father, and is, in my opinion, the more tender-hearted of the two. It's a nice turn of character to have a strong yet nurturing man and a woman who is his intellectual equal. They felt like soulmates, with mutual interests and a deep affection and respect for each other. Friends before lovers, with a few detours.
As with many of Kingswood's novels, there is an overarching mystery presented early in the series, with other characters' issues tying into the puzzle in unforeseen ways. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for this pair and learning who killed the person in the wine cellar!
I received a pre-release copy of this novel in digital format in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2022
Kindle Unlimited 16/?
This was a weird one.
I was expecting a lot more mystery, but really the whodunit was positively substandard and took a back burner to the romance and the general everyday living of Louisa.
I liked the companionable friendship and relationship of Louisa and Gage. Their romance is so understated and I thought their friendship was genuinely sweet, even if it mostly seemed to be based off liquor lol.
Not one I would return to. There is just nothing special here, and the mystery aspect might as well be thrown out the window.
This was a weird one.
I was expecting a lot more mystery, but really the whodunit was positively substandard and took a back burner to the romance and the general everyday living of Louisa.
I liked the companionable friendship and relationship of Louisa and Gage. Their romance is so understated and I thought their friendship was genuinely sweet, even if it mostly seemed to be based off liquor lol.
"You said once that we could be friends, or we could be lovers, or we could be husband and wife, and whichever one we settled on, we both had to want the same thing… do you remember that?” She nodded mutely. “Well, I should like us to be all of those.”
Not one I would return to. There is just nothing special here, and the mystery aspect might as well be thrown out the window.
December 26, 2020
The characters’ personalities and “motives” are slowly revealed, while the main character gets involved in an old murder mystery and a complicated romance. The author made it clear that the Christian church is boring and repressive, based on her characterizations. Nothing inspiring, pleasant or particularly interesting (to me) - I found myself skipping ahead the closer I got to the end.
April 17, 2021
Why is she a lush?!
I'm only 20% in and I'm already having issues with the widow. She drinks way too much for someone who just enjoys a nice glass of wine. Why is everyone just over looking her nonchalant reaction about the body in her wine cellar and overall brash attitude?
I'm only 20% in and I'm already having issues with the widow. She drinks way too much for someone who just enjoys a nice glass of wine. Why is everyone just over looking her nonchalant reaction about the body in her wine cellar and overall brash attitude?
June 9, 2022
This was fun and enjoyable. It was lighter than I thought it would be given there was a mysterious murder, but there were many other things going on that the focus was not often on the murder. I liked Louisa and Gage and thought they were well suited and interesting. I always appreciate when the protagonists are less than perfect, which was the case here. It makes them more real and easier to identify with and relate to. I did feel that the book ended a bit abruptly. The resolution and ending were rushed and some things didn't feel very resolved and satisfying. Overall, it was a pleasant and engaging book that had a decent plot and kept my attention.
March 22, 2022
4.25 stars
March 8, 2022
I've been reading and enjoying Mary Kingswood's books since the Sisters of Woodside series, and I also love her blog, which has introduced me to many other similar writers (such as Jayne Davis and Jenny Hambly). I think her skill as a writer has improved with each series, and this book just hit me in the sweet spot.
In a way, not much happens - Louisa, a 30-year-old widow, moves to a new small town. People pay calls. She makes friends with a local widower, Laurence, and finds a body in her basement. At the beginning I was a bit overwhelmed because a lot of characters are mentioned right off the bat. But once the friendship between Laurence and Louisa gets going, it's just charming! Here we have two main characters who are truly friends; they banter, they joke, they confide in and support each other, and also challenge each other at times. It's a beautiful romance because it grows naturally out of the friendship. I was sad when this book ended - I could happily read a whole book of just Louisa and Laurence drinking together and teasing each other, making witty references to drainpipes and days of the week. I enjoyed small details such as difficulty finding/training new staff and inconvenient relatives blithely coming to visit getting on everyone's nerves.
I look forward to the next book in the series!
In a way, not much happens - Louisa, a 30-year-old widow, moves to a new small town. People pay calls. She makes friends with a local widower, Laurence, and finds a body in her basement. At the beginning I was a bit overwhelmed because a lot of characters are mentioned right off the bat. But once the friendship between Laurence and Louisa gets going, it's just charming! Here we have two main characters who are truly friends; they banter, they joke, they confide in and support each other, and also challenge each other at times. It's a beautiful romance because it grows naturally out of the friendship. I was sad when this book ended - I could happily read a whole book of just Louisa and Laurence drinking together and teasing each other, making witty references to drainpipes and days of the week. I enjoyed small details such as difficulty finding/training new staff and inconvenient relatives blithely coming to visit getting on everyone's nerves.
I look forward to the next book in the series!
March 27, 2021
Five Stars
Giving a book stars is a complicated thing.
A five star Lee Child doesnt compare with this five star book.
I rate my reads on enjoyment. Major errors, like changing a character's name midway through, is very irritating and despite the cleverness of the plot will definitely lose stars.
So I gave this top marks because I enjoyed it and it maintained my interest throughout.
I started to read this as I have loved Georgette Heyer since I was a teenager. This is very different.
There was less detail on clothes. Manners and modes of speech were less contrived and, really, how are we to fully know how they spoke then? We have no recordings with which to match them.
We do have contemporary letters but written conversation is more formal than spoken, so I wasn't at all fazed by the casual conversations here.
I was a little surprised by the amount of booze Louisa could put away as none of Georgette's heroines were lushes but why would Louisa not like a glass of wine or three?
The investigation of the murder and subsequent investigation also was quite believable considering the times as was the uncovering of the fraud. And all's well that ends well.
I will continue with the series but not just yet. I need a bit more action but I will return.
Thanks you for writing this book.
Giving a book stars is a complicated thing.
A five star Lee Child doesnt compare with this five star book.
I rate my reads on enjoyment. Major errors, like changing a character's name midway through, is very irritating and despite the cleverness of the plot will definitely lose stars.
So I gave this top marks because I enjoyed it and it maintained my interest throughout.
I started to read this as I have loved Georgette Heyer since I was a teenager. This is very different.
There was less detail on clothes. Manners and modes of speech were less contrived and, really, how are we to fully know how they spoke then? We have no recordings with which to match them.
We do have contemporary letters but written conversation is more formal than spoken, so I wasn't at all fazed by the casual conversations here.
I was a little surprised by the amount of booze Louisa could put away as none of Georgette's heroines were lushes but why would Louisa not like a glass of wine or three?
The investigation of the murder and subsequent investigation also was quite believable considering the times as was the uncovering of the fraud. And all's well that ends well.
I will continue with the series but not just yet. I need a bit more action but I will return.
Thanks you for writing this book.
December 22, 2020
Book review
---------
Stranger at the dowerhouse
By Mary Kingswood
First of all, I am a great fan of the books by Mary Kingswood, that said I can tell you that this book is no exception, it is a solid well constructed novel about two wonderful people who got hurt during their past marriages, one is still in the illusion that he had the perfect wife, but he is sadly mistaken about that. The main characters are lovable creatures, very human, with their little deficits... They love books, cognac and dogs... But is that enough? A skeleton in the wine cellar brings salt and pepper to the budding love story and a lot more than that.
Some characters appear and reappear in the novels and this is one of the main reasons I keep on reading this great stories. You feel at home in these books. The problem with the stranger in the Dower House is the fact that I couldn't put it down and I am ready for the next book in this series when the evil brother appears from the shadows...
I got a free copy of the book before publishing.
---------
Stranger at the dowerhouse
By Mary Kingswood
First of all, I am a great fan of the books by Mary Kingswood, that said I can tell you that this book is no exception, it is a solid well constructed novel about two wonderful people who got hurt during their past marriages, one is still in the illusion that he had the perfect wife, but he is sadly mistaken about that. The main characters are lovable creatures, very human, with their little deficits... They love books, cognac and dogs... But is that enough? A skeleton in the wine cellar brings salt and pepper to the budding love story and a lot more than that.
Some characters appear and reappear in the novels and this is one of the main reasons I keep on reading this great stories. You feel at home in these books. The problem with the stranger in the Dower House is the fact that I couldn't put it down and I am ready for the next book in this series when the evil brother appears from the shadows...
I got a free copy of the book before publishing.
March 12, 2021
Very happy to have discovered this author. She's a true student of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, but uses elements of suspense instead of the comical antics of secondary characters, as Heyer does, to carry the plot along. Also, Kingswood has some of the gravitas of Austen. I'm amazed, given how prolific she is, at the quality of her writing.
I have the impression she uses one mystery arc throughout a series; I made the mistake of jumping into a series which is mostly incomplete, so I'm SOL in terms of finding out what all the shady/murky business in books 0.5 and 1 is about. I appreciate her telling us that the ambiguity in the prequel will not be resolved until book 6. Book 6?!
And so, although book 2 is set to launch any day now, I am going to wait until this series is complete before diving back in, hoping I'll be able to remember enough from the first two. Since I am not a patient guy I will start in on her back catalogue. An embarrassment of riches :)
I have the impression she uses one mystery arc throughout a series; I made the mistake of jumping into a series which is mostly incomplete, so I'm SOL in terms of finding out what all the shady/murky business in books 0.5 and 1 is about. I appreciate her telling us that the ambiguity in the prequel will not be resolved until book 6. Book 6?!
And so, although book 2 is set to launch any day now, I am going to wait until this series is complete before diving back in, hoping I'll be able to remember enough from the first two. Since I am not a patient guy I will start in on her back catalogue. An embarrassment of riches :)
February 6, 2022
Quality mature (not in a s3xual way) novel
It is a Regency novel but realistic with mature characters. Louise is a barren widow of a high ranking nobleman who now has financial independence. Coming from a marriage of convenience to her father's caring elderly friend she now plans to go and enjoy herself. She rents a dower house in the country and befriends her widower neighbour who is in his early fourties. They discover a dead body in her wine cellar. Investigating they also discover other crimes and a lot better knowledge of their own lives.
The book is beautifully written and the characters very sympathetic and easy to identify with. It is a layered story eith different storylines interacting and interesting secondary characters. The writer is good in picturing the scenery
I recommend this mix of seceral genres.
It is a Regency novel but realistic with mature characters. Louise is a barren widow of a high ranking nobleman who now has financial independence. Coming from a marriage of convenience to her father's caring elderly friend she now plans to go and enjoy herself. She rents a dower house in the country and befriends her widower neighbour who is in his early fourties. They discover a dead body in her wine cellar. Investigating they also discover other crimes and a lot better knowledge of their own lives.
The book is beautifully written and the characters very sympathetic and easy to identify with. It is a layered story eith different storylines interacting and interesting secondary characters. The writer is good in picturing the scenery
I recommend this mix of seceral genres.
February 21, 2021
A very different heroine
This might be set in the Regency era but Louisa, our heroine, has very modern sensibilities for that time period. I won’t provide any spoilers but suffice to say that her move to the country after the death of her much older husband is for *scandalous* reasons. Beyond that her approach to living, her friendship with Laurence, as well as her general attitudes about life are all fairly unique for this time period as compared to most women as portrayed in Regency novels. She is no shrinking violet, does not modify her behavior to seek approval, and is non-apologetic, and knows what she wants. Indeed, she is one of the liveliest Regency heroines I’ve ever read.
Mary Kingswood has never disappointed me.
This might be set in the Regency era but Louisa, our heroine, has very modern sensibilities for that time period. I won’t provide any spoilers but suffice to say that her move to the country after the death of her much older husband is for *scandalous* reasons. Beyond that her approach to living, her friendship with Laurence, as well as her general attitudes about life are all fairly unique for this time period as compared to most women as portrayed in Regency novels. She is no shrinking violet, does not modify her behavior to seek approval, and is non-apologetic, and knows what she wants. Indeed, she is one of the liveliest Regency heroines I’ve ever read.
Mary Kingswood has never disappointed me.
April 25, 2021
A regency romance mixed with murder mystery. And a lot of wine.
A fairly enjoyable read, even if the solution to the mystery is a bit disappointing (the most obvious culprit).
I liked Laurence more than I liked Louisa. Their romance is definitely more mature than your typical regency love story, not the kind to sweep you off your feet, but still pleasant.
My favourite quote:
“Very well, then we shall be friends on Mondays and Thursdays, lovers on Tuesdays and Fridays, and respectably married on Wednesdays and Saturdays. How does that sound?”
“How absurd you are! What about Sundays?”
“We shall be excessively pious, and pretend we have never met before.”
Overall 3.25 stars and I'm ready to read the next book in the series.
A fairly enjoyable read, even if the solution to the mystery is a bit disappointing (the most obvious culprit).
I liked Laurence more than I liked Louisa. Their romance is definitely more mature than your typical regency love story, not the kind to sweep you off your feet, but still pleasant.
My favourite quote:
“Very well, then we shall be friends on Mondays and Thursdays, lovers on Tuesdays and Fridays, and respectably married on Wednesdays and Saturdays. How does that sound?”
“How absurd you are! What about Sundays?”
“We shall be excessively pious, and pretend we have never met before.”
Overall 3.25 stars and I'm ready to read the next book in the series.
August 11, 2024
This story centres on Louisa and Laurence, both of whom have been married before, and their mutual friendship and admiration leads to something more. Alongside this there is a murder mystery and forgery. So there’s quite a lot going on in this book and sometimes I wonder if there was a bit TOO much going on. I enjoyed it but can’t say any more than that.
February 8, 2021
Wanted to love it but booooring
I feel like it’d be better as a mini-series. And we didn’t *really* solve the mystery. Or maybe they inserted it between pages and pages and pages of minute details. The premise why Louisa moved to the dower house was unbelievable and weird. I also felt like she seemed far too 21st century.
I feel like it’d be better as a mini-series. And we didn’t *really* solve the mystery. Or maybe they inserted it between pages and pages and pages of minute details. The premise why Louisa moved to the dower house was unbelievable and weird. I also felt like she seemed far too 21st century.
October 23, 2022
Could never get into it. Started skimming half way through, as it just felt off and could tell by the ending it wasn’t worth my time.
January 2, 2023
This book has unexpected layers, and that was the biggest surprise for me, because I was expecting Hallmark and I got layers.
The heroine is meh and that's alright. Louisa represents a quietly powerful millennial woman dream, and she is therefore incredibly easy to empathize with. She wants to read books, drink wine and stretch her wings. Get a dog. Maybe try her had at gardening. After a lot of power fantasy kick-ass smart ass lone wolf heroines, Louisa is inspiring. After being married and widowed young, she is down-to-earth, self-deprecating and trying hard to stare down her insecurities, in a world where women's having freedom, comfort and independence is a rarity.*
*This is further explored in book 2, with Marie the lady's maid set as a counterpoint.
The narrator doesn't give you everything, and it feels absolutely natural. A lot of romance books make the books moral framework and foreshadowing really ham-fisted. Everything the heroine says, or most of it is probably the letter of the law. You, as the reader, would know this, because whenever people did what the heroine wanted, they would receive 'good' outcomes. (This is genre-specific and mostly the case with cookie-cutter happy ending books). Reassuring, but a bit dull with time. Again, not the case here. To give one example, how do you feel about reading the diaries of a recently dead family member? Take some time.
If this was your run-of-the-mill romance, Louisa's opinion (that it should be done) would turn out to be the correct one. Instead, the author then provides both positive outcomes (closure) and negative consequences (eavesdroppers and diary readers getting truth mixed with lies and not recognizing it).
Whee, the book made me think.
Let's talk setup: There is a recipe for a lot of romance novels series, where each book is mostly disconnected from the previous ones, except by a rather flimsy world-building, or family connections, or proximity of another sort. What's fascinating here, is that on the periphery of Louisa's life, you start seeing incredible amounts of setup being set up. It's like going to school every day and noting that a hotel is being built, and a park, and a factory, while you live your normal life thinking of homework and extracurricular activities.
There's a (dead) main villain, who never makes an appearance and stays in book 1, a (dead) secondary villain who never makes an appearance (relevant to both books 1 and 2), a tertiary villain (alive) who gets some compeuppance, and all the while you uncover pretty sordid info about the unassuming village where Louisa wanted to set down roots.
Can I just say, I really like dead villain 2, even if
Finally, the bad and the ugly
- While gushing over the unorthodox plot, it might be worth saying that the same plot will come across as strange, meandering and possibly unevenly-paced for most people. I liked each part of the story, but if you don't, it's a mixed bag.
- The book is full of snippets of French and some Latin. While the French becomes a relevant plot point in book 2, it's really annoying, because it's translated right after it, so you know what Marie says, even if Louisa barely grasps it. The one Latin snippet is irritating because I know enough to recognise Louisa adressing a stallion as 'my (female) friend' in Latin. This might be a plot point at some point in the series, but since it's never addressed in this book it made me wonder whether Kingswood or her editor were careless idiots, and that was irritating
The characters
- Viola constantly butchers Louisa's name throughout a good chunk of the book despite being corrected. For a class of society that seemed so particular about correct behaviour, this seemed exceedingly stupid of her.
- Louisa, for all her good attributes, shows some lack of curiosity. Oh well.
- Laurence's fanatical devotion to his wife's 'perfection' was never explained
- The deus ex machina characters invited to help the main characters are what, in fantasy, would be called overpowered. Not a fan of deus ex machina solutions, and, as mentioned in my review of 'book 2', since this author dislikes Heyer's plotting character the Duke, I find it hypocritical that her solution to the characters' problems is an all-capable lawyer wanting to help for free. (Let's not split hairs, board and expenses were already provided)
The heroine is meh and that's alright. Louisa represents a quietly powerful millennial woman dream, and she is therefore incredibly easy to empathize with. She wants to read books, drink wine and stretch her wings. Get a dog. Maybe try her had at gardening. After a lot of power fantasy kick-ass smart ass lone wolf heroines, Louisa is inspiring. After being married and widowed young, she is down-to-earth, self-deprecating and trying hard to stare down her insecurities, in a world where women's having freedom, comfort and independence is a rarity.*
*This is further explored in book 2, with Marie the lady's maid set as a counterpoint.
The narrator doesn't give you everything, and it feels absolutely natural. A lot of romance books make the books moral framework and foreshadowing really ham-fisted. Everything the heroine says, or most of it is probably the letter of the law. You, as the reader, would know this, because whenever people did what the heroine wanted, they would receive 'good' outcomes. (This is genre-specific and mostly the case with cookie-cutter happy ending books). Reassuring, but a bit dull with time. Again, not the case here. To give one example, how do you feel about reading the diaries of a recently dead family member? Take some time.
If this was your run-of-the-mill romance, Louisa's opinion (that it should be done) would turn out to be the correct one. Instead, the author then provides both positive outcomes (closure) and negative consequences (eavesdroppers and diary readers getting truth mixed with lies and not recognizing it).
Whee, the book made me think.
Let's talk setup: There is a recipe for a lot of romance novels series, where each book is mostly disconnected from the previous ones, except by a rather flimsy world-building, or family connections, or proximity of another sort. What's fascinating here, is that on the periphery of Louisa's life, you start seeing incredible amounts of setup being set up. It's like going to school every day and noting that a hotel is being built, and a park, and a factory, while you live your normal life thinking of homework and extracurricular activities.
There's a (dead) main villain, who never makes an appearance and stays in book 1, a (dead) secondary villain who never makes an appearance (relevant to both books 1 and 2), a tertiary villain (alive) who gets some compeuppance, and all the while you uncover pretty sordid info about the unassuming village where Louisa wanted to set down roots.
Can I just say, I really like dead villain 2, even if
Finally, the bad and the ugly
- While gushing over the unorthodox plot, it might be worth saying that the same plot will come across as strange, meandering and possibly unevenly-paced for most people. I liked each part of the story, but if you don't, it's a mixed bag.
- The book is full of snippets of French and some Latin. While the French becomes a relevant plot point in book 2, it's really annoying, because it's translated right after it, so you know what Marie says, even if Louisa barely grasps it. The one Latin snippet is irritating because I know enough to recognise Louisa adressing a stallion as 'my (female) friend' in Latin. This might be a plot point at some point in the series, but since it's never addressed in this book it made me wonder whether Kingswood or her editor were careless idiots, and that was irritating
The characters
- Viola constantly butchers Louisa's name throughout a good chunk of the book despite being corrected. For a class of society that seemed so particular about correct behaviour, this seemed exceedingly stupid of her.
- Louisa, for all her good attributes, shows some lack of curiosity. Oh well.
- Laurence's fanatical devotion to his wife's 'perfection' was never explained
- The deus ex machina characters invited to help the main characters are what, in fantasy, would be called overpowered. Not a fan of deus ex machina solutions, and, as mentioned in my review of 'book 2', since this author dislikes Heyer's plotting character the Duke, I find it hypocritical that her solution to the characters' problems is an all-capable lawyer wanting to help for free. (Let's not split hairs, board and expenses were already provided)
October 28, 2021
This was very disappointing, although I suppose I shouldn't have expected much. In some ways, the book clearly shows an awareness of regency behaviour and culture, and some evidence of research into the historical period. The characters of the neighbours are, for the most part, cleverly and simply drawn through little pieces of dialogue and the kind of casual observations that a reasonably intelligent character would make on moving to a new place. And I liked the premise -- the widowed woman of independent financial means trying to see whether she might be happy in a small country village. And cue the suspicious and friendly and condescending neighbours, who did turn out to be the best part, and all the little irritations and surprises that can arise from that situation. But it seemed like this wasn't enough for the author, who then bizarrely dropped a murder mystery into the plot (which quickly became a source of entertainment for pretty much everyone, and which did not actually impinge upon the narrative in any real way, thereby being both unnecessary and jarringly atonal). The worst part, however, was the romance. The male romantic partner must be one of the most idiotic and shallow men I have ever had the misfortune to read about, and the 'terrible discovery' he makes that allows him to pursue the female character feels utterly unrealistic to human behaviour. I wasn't a huge fan of the heroine, by the end of the book, but was still thoroughly rooting for her to leave the village and get as far away from him as possible.
July 17, 2023
This was well written, historically grounded, entertaining, and also clearly a determined effort to write an emotionally equal, green-flag-y relationship without making it twee or judgemental, which I appreciated. However I enjoyed the setup a lot more than the payoff.
The cast of characters and all their interactions was great fun - I loved how much they wound each other up and didn't necessarily 'get' each other, but also loved each other and generally did their best with what they had. The growing attraction between the two main characters and their hopeful but mistimed fumblings wanting different things from each other at different times was sweet. Even the murder mystery was promising.
But as we headed towards a resolution it was like a switch flipped and everything got suddenly a bit logistical instead of relationship-focused. This seems to have been in order to tie everything up neatly, but I didn't find it satisfying personally. I don't mind everyone being showered with money, and yes that does make many problems go away, but all these deep tensions and compromises that had felt so well observed and realistic just melted away as though they'd never existed. The murder mystery also squashed itself into nothing, and ended up having no impact on anyone. And worst of all the mystery of the internal life of the perfect (deceased) wife was the most boring and convenient one possible.
Also the alcoholism situation could not have been more strongly signposted, but then never went anywhere. I'm not quite sure what was going on with that.
The cast of characters and all their interactions was great fun - I loved how much they wound each other up and didn't necessarily 'get' each other, but also loved each other and generally did their best with what they had. The growing attraction between the two main characters and their hopeful but mistimed fumblings wanting different things from each other at different times was sweet. Even the murder mystery was promising.
But as we headed towards a resolution it was like a switch flipped and everything got suddenly a bit logistical instead of relationship-focused. This seems to have been in order to tie everything up neatly, but I didn't find it satisfying personally. I don't mind everyone being showered with money, and yes that does make many problems go away, but all these deep tensions and compromises that had felt so well observed and realistic just melted away as though they'd never existed. The murder mystery also squashed itself into nothing, and ended up having no impact on anyone. And worst of all the mystery of the internal life of the perfect (deceased) wife was the most boring and convenient one possible.
Also the alcoholism situation could not have been more strongly signposted, but then never went anywhere. I'm not quite sure what was going on with that.
February 6, 2022
This is a mature novel and I do not mean it is full of sex. On the contrary it is not.
It is a Regency novel but realistic with mature characters. Louise is a barren widow of a high ranking nobleman of 30 who now has financial independence. Coming from a marriage of convenience to her father's caring elderly friend she now plans to go and enjoy herself. She rents a dower house in the country and befriends her widower neighbour who is in his early forties. Although his wife is dead for many years he still is totally in love. The two neighbours get on fabulously and become fast friends. They discover a dead body in her wine cellar. Investigating they also discover other crimes and a lot better knowledge of their own pasts. The way they see the world and they feel things is very realisticly developed.
The book is beautifully written and the characters very sympathetic and easy to identify with. It is a layered story with different storylines interacting and interesting secondary characters. The writer is good in picturing the scenery. you can almost see the houses and the village
I recommend this mix of several genres.
It is a book you hate to finish. Luckily there are sequels around other family members.
It is a Regency novel but realistic with mature characters. Louise is a barren widow of a high ranking nobleman of 30 who now has financial independence. Coming from a marriage of convenience to her father's caring elderly friend she now plans to go and enjoy herself. She rents a dower house in the country and befriends her widower neighbour who is in his early forties. Although his wife is dead for many years he still is totally in love. The two neighbours get on fabulously and become fast friends. They discover a dead body in her wine cellar. Investigating they also discover other crimes and a lot better knowledge of their own pasts. The way they see the world and they feel things is very realisticly developed.
The book is beautifully written and the characters very sympathetic and easy to identify with. It is a layered story with different storylines interacting and interesting secondary characters. The writer is good in picturing the scenery. you can almost see the houses and the village
I recommend this mix of several genres.
It is a book you hate to finish. Luckily there are sequels around other family members.
May 12, 2025
Thirty-year-old widow Louisa Middlehope is determined to escape from her late husband’s family and live life for herself for the first time. The tiny village of Great Maeswood offers her the peace and quiet her heart craves, and perhaps it might provide a little entertainment, too.
Laurence Gage is still mourning his beloved wife, Mary, while raising his two children, and at forty, declining gently into a rather dull middle age. Until, that is, the intriguing Mrs Middlehope arrives in the village and upends his placid life. She’s nothing at all like his perfect wife, but he’s oddly drawn to her anyway and to his surprise, she seems to like him too.
But Louisa has a plan - not a very good one as Laurence points out to her. So what will she do now? Especially when it becomes obvious they are growing more dependent on each other and that their friendship is at risk.
The secondary story that keeps them all busy involves solving the mystery of the long-dead body found in the wine cellar. Laurence learns a great deal while reading Mary's diaries which sets his mind racing and his heart crushed. and Louisa's sister-in-law, Pamela, keeps us entertained.
Also, I think Louisa and Laurence are drunks. I have never read a book where so much alcohol was consumed!
Laurence Gage is still mourning his beloved wife, Mary, while raising his two children, and at forty, declining gently into a rather dull middle age. Until, that is, the intriguing Mrs Middlehope arrives in the village and upends his placid life. She’s nothing at all like his perfect wife, but he’s oddly drawn to her anyway and to his surprise, she seems to like him too.
But Louisa has a plan - not a very good one as Laurence points out to her. So what will she do now? Especially when it becomes obvious they are growing more dependent on each other and that their friendship is at risk.
The secondary story that keeps them all busy involves solving the mystery of the long-dead body found in the wine cellar. Laurence learns a great deal while reading Mary's diaries which sets his mind racing and his heart crushed. and Louisa's sister-in-law, Pamela, keeps us entertained.
Also, I think Louisa and Laurence are drunks. I have never read a book where so much alcohol was consumed!
March 22, 2022
The author models herself on Georgette Heyer, but this book is more like George Elliot’s Middlemarch with all the fun of getting to know a small community but without Middlemarch’s gloom and morality.
The two lead characters are delightful but relatable. Widow Louisa is pleased to arrive at a small village far away from her remaining family. Widower Laurence is warm and good fun, but obsessed with the perfection of his dead wife.
Soon after becoming firm friends they discover a decayed body in the dower house cellar. The mystery of the body is just one of the curious tales that unwind in a very satisfying way. Why won’t Lawrence accept that his late wife had imperfections ? Who is Louisa’s maid with her witty French quips and a desire to never marry? Who is the handsome vicar really courting?
This is one of those books where you enjoy every chapter because of great tension, realistic characters and entertaining descriptions. I read earlier books by this author and some were hard to get through, but with the ‘Strangers’ series, it is clear that Mary Kingswood is an excellent author.
The two lead characters are delightful but relatable. Widow Louisa is pleased to arrive at a small village far away from her remaining family. Widower Laurence is warm and good fun, but obsessed with the perfection of his dead wife.
Soon after becoming firm friends they discover a decayed body in the dower house cellar. The mystery of the body is just one of the curious tales that unwind in a very satisfying way. Why won’t Lawrence accept that his late wife had imperfections ? Who is Louisa’s maid with her witty French quips and a desire to never marry? Who is the handsome vicar really courting?
This is one of those books where you enjoy every chapter because of great tension, realistic characters and entertaining descriptions. I read earlier books by this author and some were hard to get through, but with the ‘Strangers’ series, it is clear that Mary Kingswood is an excellent author.
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