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Edwardian Murder Mysteries #4
Our Lady of Pain
Lady Rose Summer is a wayward Edwardian debutante. Her engagement to private detective Captain Harry Cathcart is only to stop her parents shipping her to India for a husband. But curvy seductive French Dolores Duval hires Harry and is everywhere at his side. Rose threatens Dolores, and next day is found over her dead body. Can Harry and Scotland Yard Supt. Kerridge clear Rose?
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First published January 1, 2006
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About the author
Marion Chesney
139 books750 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
April 8, 2021
I absolutely love Marion Chesney's historical romances. And I love M C Beaton's Hamish Macbeth mysteries. And as they are the same person, I assumed that this blending of the two genres: an Edwardian romance series about a private detective and the woman he loves/solves murders with, would be the best of both worlds. But alas!
The problem was the characters. Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart shouldn't have gotten together at the end. They hated each other in the first book, but instead of taking the path of enemies-to-lovers, or even enemies-to-friends, it was more like, enemies-to-casual-associates-whatever-we-might-as-well-marry. Rose never seemed to know what she wanted, and though she had good intentions, she remained naive and spoiled until the very end. She didn't seem to learn and grow at all, and I'm still not convinced she loves Harry, but more that she wants to get away from her awful parents. (I can't say I blame her. Awful people.) Harry has almost no personality, except to get angry whenever people don't do what he wants, whether they be servants, other aristocrats, or Lady Rose. They're going to fight constantly, but rather than it being tense, sexy fighting, it's just going to be frustrating and ultimately go nowhere.
And I really think that Daisy and Beckett (but mostly Daisy) got done dirty by this ending. Beckett's character seems to have done a complete 180 in this last book, and not in a good way. Also, for four books it's been hinted that he comes from a posh background, but we're not given anything. His mysterious origins are brought up once, Daisy says even she doesn't know, and it's done. What the CRAP was going on with that? Why even bother to hint at it if there's no follow through?
I feel like this whole series was falling apart by the end. Characters didn't show any growth, or any more depth than they had at the beginning. Lady Polly, in the last book, kept dwelling on the seven other babies who had died in childbirth, but still wants to essentially get rid of her one surviving child (Rose) because she's unconventional. We never see Harry's thoughts, except when he gets angry or jealous. (Red flag, anyone?) I feel like she realized she needed to tie this up with book four, and had meant to go on longer, so she had to hurry and give everyone a happy(ish) ending that doesn't quite work.
The murder, however, is very well done and kept me guessing to the end!
The problem was the characters. Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart shouldn't have gotten together at the end. They hated each other in the first book, but instead of taking the path of enemies-to-lovers, or even enemies-to-friends, it was more like, enemies-to-casual-associates-whatever-we-might-as-well-marry. Rose never seemed to know what she wanted, and though she had good intentions, she remained naive and spoiled until the very end. She didn't seem to learn and grow at all, and I'm still not convinced she loves Harry, but more that she wants to get away from her awful parents. (I can't say I blame her. Awful people.) Harry has almost no personality, except to get angry whenever people don't do what he wants, whether they be servants, other aristocrats, or Lady Rose. They're going to fight constantly, but rather than it being tense, sexy fighting, it's just going to be frustrating and ultimately go nowhere.
And I really think that Daisy and Beckett (but mostly Daisy) got done dirty by this ending. Beckett's character seems to have done a complete 180 in this last book, and not in a good way. Also, for four books it's been hinted that he comes from a posh background, but we're not given anything. His mysterious origins are brought up once, Daisy says even she doesn't know, and it's done. What the CRAP was going on with that? Why even bother to hint at it if there's no follow through?
I feel like this whole series was falling apart by the end. Characters didn't show any growth, or any more depth than they had at the beginning. Lady Polly, in the last book, kept dwelling on the seven other babies who had died in childbirth, but still wants to essentially get rid of her one surviving child (Rose) because she's unconventional. We never see Harry's thoughts, except when he gets angry or jealous. (Red flag, anyone?) I feel like she realized she needed to tie this up with book four, and had meant to go on longer, so she had to hurry and give everyone a happy(ish) ending that doesn't quite work.
The murder, however, is very well done and kept me guessing to the end!
August 15, 2016
This is no worse (or better) than the other books in the series, really. It manages to keep up a ridiculous will-they-won’t-they about both main couples, and the same string of coincidences, the same issue where the supposedly smart main characters make silly mistakes. Daisy’s storyline is more interesting than Rose’s, really, but in the latter half of the book I was just rooooolling my eyes at the manufactured drama.
This isn’t a good series. It’s fluff, fine if you like this sort of thing and okay for a quiet evening, but it’s not substantial enough for me in any way — not plot, mystery, character development or setting.
Originally posted here.
This isn’t a good series. It’s fluff, fine if you like this sort of thing and okay for a quiet evening, but it’s not substantial enough for me in any way — not plot, mystery, character development or setting.
Originally posted here.
January 10, 2015
This is the second time I've read this book, as well as the series it is the final part of. And as much as I love MC Beaton's work I do have a problem with this book. It is the usual fun, easy read she is renowned for and the light Edwardian setting was its usual delight of descriptive fashion and fads. However the editing of this book really let it down.
It comes across as if it was written with gaps in between where the author possibly went off to work on other projects and then came back to it, so it was full of contradicting statements (Miss Friendly made Daisy’s wedding dress and then seemed surprised when they met for tea and Daisy informed her she had been married) as well as conversations repeated and each time appearing to be the first time the characters are discussing it. This is not necessarily the authors fault, as the editor should have picked these minor flaws up and fixed them.
It is an okay book and a vaguely enjoyable end to the series… though it also came across as ending so suddenly it came across as “oooh, I’ve written the required word count, one or two quick sentences and I’m free of it!” Not saying this is the case, I am a cynic. This series started really well, but other books in it had similar hiccups (see the engagement ring given by the Captain in book two turning into something Rose had to buy with her own pin money come book three)… but this won’t stop me from enjoying MC Beaton’s work as they are really tiny blemishes to stories created by a witty, smart and highly enjoyable author.
It comes across as if it was written with gaps in between where the author possibly went off to work on other projects and then came back to it, so it was full of contradicting statements (Miss Friendly made Daisy’s wedding dress and then seemed surprised when they met for tea and Daisy informed her she had been married) as well as conversations repeated and each time appearing to be the first time the characters are discussing it. This is not necessarily the authors fault, as the editor should have picked these minor flaws up and fixed them.
It is an okay book and a vaguely enjoyable end to the series… though it also came across as ending so suddenly it came across as “oooh, I’ve written the required word count, one or two quick sentences and I’m free of it!” Not saying this is the case, I am a cynic. This series started really well, but other books in it had similar hiccups (see the engagement ring given by the Captain in book two turning into something Rose had to buy with her own pin money come book three)… but this won’t stop me from enjoying MC Beaton’s work as they are really tiny blemishes to stories created by a witty, smart and highly enjoyable author.
January 10, 2009
This final book in the series features a role reversal, because it's Harry Cathcart whose thoughtless actions cause a social scandal when he's seen spending time with his latest client, an infamous courtesan. Since everyone is supposed to believe that their engagement is real, Lady Rose is a likely suspect when she's found over the woman's dead body.
This book is a bit of a mess. On the plus side, it isn't full of those goofy accidents that the earlier ones used to quickly resolve aspects of the mystery. But both the investigation and the personal side of the story are really scattered.
The idea of Rose's parents sending her off for her own good is reused, with a nunnery standing in for the madhouse that she visited before. The romance is awkward, because the "constant arguments" style of courtship is difficult to make believable. Daisy and Beckett were great in the previous books, but apparently they work better in the background. Their drama got too many pages that would have been better spent developing more of a real relationship between Harry and Rose.
The mystery was too full of coincidence, and honestly, the less said of it the better.
This book is a bit of a mess. On the plus side, it isn't full of those goofy accidents that the earlier ones used to quickly resolve aspects of the mystery. But both the investigation and the personal side of the story are really scattered.
The idea of Rose's parents sending her off for her own good is reused, with a nunnery standing in for the madhouse that she visited before. The romance is awkward, because the "constant arguments" style of courtship is difficult to make believable. Daisy and Beckett were great in the previous books, but apparently they work better in the background. Their drama got too many pages that would have been better spent developing more of a real relationship between Harry and Rose.
The mystery was too full of coincidence, and honestly, the less said of it the better.
May 16, 2013
So badly written, such silly characters doing such stupid things. I finished it because I had hope but I won't be reading any more from this author.
December 16, 2010
After finishing this book, I can't think what made me continue to read this series. Everything's too short (like this is the outline for a real book?), and the characters are all irritating, except maybe Sup't Kerridge who didn't appear as much as usual. So how is it I still wanted to know what happened next? On the up side, I can't think of any other ways Chesney can manage to keep apart the hero and heroine, and the series must have wrapped up here. Like Number One Ladies Detective Agency without the charm or wit...
October 11, 2016
Well, thank God that's done and happily, there are no more books to this series. They weren't completely bad, but essentially nothing happened differently from one book to the next except how I felt about the main characters (which involved a lot of eye rolling and the strong desire to slap Rose upside the head).
Anyways, they were a light diversion and it was what I needed at the time. Just glad to shut the cover on them and carry on to something a wee bit meatier.
Anyways, they were a light diversion and it was what I needed at the time. Just glad to shut the cover on them and carry on to something a wee bit meatier.
June 9, 2016
I had to read something starting with "O" and this is what my local library had. I decided not to be prejudiced by my dislike of Agatha Raisin and give MC Beaton another go. The best thing about this book in all honesty was that is was brief. That, in the circumstances was a merciful thing.
I will not discuss everything I disliked about the actual plot and characters because there is far too much I could say on that topic, and more importantly because the quality of writing does not warrant that serious treatment. It seems like a whole big pile of M C Beaton books seem to have suddenly burst upon the bookshops, and this one read as if it was written in a hurry with many stylistic habits of a high school child so I am at a loss how (according to the blurb) The Globe and Mail (whatever that is) could have hailed her as the "Queen of Crime" (which originally was a title bestowed on Agatha Christie. I wonder at that, and I also wonder that such slipshod and hurried writing gets published so easily! Is this a writer with plenty of money to push her writing out on an unsuspecting world? Because it is hard to see how else this got published (and without editing).
The book is self-consciously set in Edwardian times, which means we get quite a few stilted paragraphs of explanation, some of which (like the one early on in the book about language) seem quite silly. It seems in lieu of real research for the setting, the author googled some random facts and threw them in to explain and educate (or really bore) the reader. Again and again "Beaton" breaks the fourth wall, which if I charitably interpret the intent of the book as comedy would be forgivable except that the asides add nothing. Note p102 where Rose tries to think about sex and fails because she is oh so Edwardian and has modest clothes to prove it. I suppose the deadpan way we are told this is meant to pass for ironic or something!
Then p209: "The condom had been around since the time of the Egyptian pharaohs....Dr Condom....animal-tissue sheaths". Fascinating factoid. Relevance to story? Zero! Likelihood author found it on Google and couldn't resist telling us? High. Need for a good editor? Excruciating!
I did chuckle on pp171-172 where the earl and Lady Polly are so "diligent at looking after their staff. That Daisy was no longer in their employ did not matter. It was still their responsibility to take care of her." Yes. Quite! Unlike their actual child who throughout the novel they ignore, abandon, belittle and oppress. Lovely sense of priorities there and so believable!
I did not think the way the character behaved and spoke or the narration made the setting believable. I didn't find anything in this book that would lead me to recommend it even to people who like books about romance, fashion and a determined effort to be apolitical even when explicitly discussing gender and class. If you want a book starting in "O" and it is the only one on offer, then at least as I mentioned it is brief (unlike my review). If you expect the title to have any relationship whatsoever to the plot however you will once again be disappointed! You have been warned...
I will not discuss everything I disliked about the actual plot and characters because there is far too much I could say on that topic, and more importantly because the quality of writing does not warrant that serious treatment. It seems like a whole big pile of M C Beaton books seem to have suddenly burst upon the bookshops, and this one read as if it was written in a hurry with many stylistic habits of a high school child so I am at a loss how (according to the blurb) The Globe and Mail (whatever that is) could have hailed her as the "Queen of Crime" (which originally was a title bestowed on Agatha Christie. I wonder at that, and I also wonder that such slipshod and hurried writing gets published so easily! Is this a writer with plenty of money to push her writing out on an unsuspecting world? Because it is hard to see how else this got published (and without editing).
The book is self-consciously set in Edwardian times, which means we get quite a few stilted paragraphs of explanation, some of which (like the one early on in the book about language) seem quite silly. It seems in lieu of real research for the setting, the author googled some random facts and threw them in to explain and educate (or really bore) the reader. Again and again "Beaton" breaks the fourth wall, which if I charitably interpret the intent of the book as comedy would be forgivable except that the asides add nothing. Note p102 where Rose tries to think about sex and fails because she is oh so Edwardian and has modest clothes to prove it. I suppose the deadpan way we are told this is meant to pass for ironic or something!
Then p209: "The condom had been around since the time of the Egyptian pharaohs....Dr Condom....animal-tissue sheaths". Fascinating factoid. Relevance to story? Zero! Likelihood author found it on Google and couldn't resist telling us? High. Need for a good editor? Excruciating!
I did chuckle on pp171-172 where the earl and Lady Polly are so "diligent at looking after their staff. That Daisy was no longer in their employ did not matter. It was still their responsibility to take care of her." Yes. Quite! Unlike their actual child who throughout the novel they ignore, abandon, belittle and oppress. Lovely sense of priorities there and so believable!
I did not think the way the character behaved and spoke or the narration made the setting believable. I didn't find anything in this book that would lead me to recommend it even to people who like books about romance, fashion and a determined effort to be apolitical even when explicitly discussing gender and class. If you want a book starting in "O" and it is the only one on offer, then at least as I mentioned it is brief (unlike my review). If you expect the title to have any relationship whatsoever to the plot however you will once again be disappointed! You have been warned...
March 8, 2019
I'm glad that I am finished w/ this series.... All the characters were becoming so very predictable and BORING!
Lady Rose & Captain Harry Cathcart's on/off again engagement is tedious.
Her companion Daisy & his man, Becket get married only to have Becket's entire personality change & Daisy longing for a divorce.
A well known courtesan receives death threats & is murdered... Lady Rose finds her and picks up the weapon... enter the police & arrest Lady Rose... and off we go.
Ho-hum..... I'm done!
Lady Rose & Captain Harry Cathcart's on/off again engagement is tedious.
Her companion Daisy & his man, Becket get married only to have Becket's entire personality change & Daisy longing for a divorce.
A well known courtesan receives death threats & is murdered... Lady Rose finds her and picks up the weapon... enter the police & arrest Lady Rose... and off we go.
Ho-hum..... I'm done!
February 19, 2015
This is my first and last book written by M C Beaton. I found it formulaic and quick oddly episodic. This was little more than an outline of a book. Considering the output by this author, under many pseudonyms, I should not be surprised. It was like each chapter was a list. First this happened, then this, then this, etc. Fortunately, it is short. There is no detail, no emotion, no feeling. I suggest everyone read other authors.
August 4, 2022
2.8⭐��
Une mini déception pour cette fin de saga.
Ce que j’aimais avec Les Enquêtes de Lady Rose, c’est la légèreté avec laquelle on suit le récit. Il n’y a pas vraiment de profondeur, ni dans l’intrigue, ni dans les personnages, ni même dans les relations qu’ils entretiennent. Et ça m’allait ! J’écoutais l’audio, avec une narratrice à la voix très plaisante, pendant toute une journée ça m’occupait tout en me distrayant ! Faut dire que l’ambiance du Londres edwardien me plaisait.
J’ai pas vraiment grand chose à dire sur l’intrigue en elle même car j’avoue que je lisais la saga principalement pour l’ambiance et les relations des persos que je voulais voir se développer. Mais dans ce tome-ci les personnages prennent des décisions stupides qui m’ont plus que saoulée !
La relation de Rose et Harry est basée sur un manque de communication énorme. Si sur les 2 premiers tomes leurs chamailleries me faisaient rire, elles m’ont lassée sur les 2 derniers. C’est toujours 1 pas en avant, 3 pas en arrière !
Et puis je n’ai pas compris les dramas de fin… L’autrice s’est dit : je vais chambouler toutes les relations. Je vois pas trop l’intérêt à part énerver le lecteur, surtout si c’est pour que tout se règle en même pas une page. Dommage car sans ça on frôlait la bonne lecture !
Je garde quand même un bon souvenir de cette saga et je continue avec l’autrice avec la suite d’Agatha Raisin.
Une mini déception pour cette fin de saga.
Ce que j’aimais avec Les Enquêtes de Lady Rose, c’est la légèreté avec laquelle on suit le récit. Il n’y a pas vraiment de profondeur, ni dans l’intrigue, ni dans les personnages, ni même dans les relations qu’ils entretiennent. Et ça m’allait ! J’écoutais l’audio, avec une narratrice à la voix très plaisante, pendant toute une journée ça m’occupait tout en me distrayant ! Faut dire que l’ambiance du Londres edwardien me plaisait.
J’ai pas vraiment grand chose à dire sur l’intrigue en elle même car j’avoue que je lisais la saga principalement pour l’ambiance et les relations des persos que je voulais voir se développer. Mais dans ce tome-ci les personnages prennent des décisions stupides qui m’ont plus que saoulée !
La relation de Rose et Harry est basée sur un manque de communication énorme. Si sur les 2 premiers tomes leurs chamailleries me faisaient rire, elles m’ont lassée sur les 2 derniers. C’est toujours 1 pas en avant, 3 pas en arrière !
Et puis je n’ai pas compris les dramas de fin… L’autrice s’est dit : je vais chambouler toutes les relations. Je vois pas trop l’intérêt à part énerver le lecteur, surtout si c’est pour que tout se règle en même pas une page. Dommage car sans ça on frôlait la bonne lecture !
Je garde quand même un bon souvenir de cette saga et je continue avec l’autrice avec la suite d’Agatha Raisin.
March 27, 2016
M.C. Beaton/Marion Chesney's 'Agatha Raisen' books are are highly appraised and this led me to reading her Georgian comedic series of books. When I found all four in the Edwardian series I expected the same quality reads. Sadly I was very disappointed. The final book in the series 'Our Lady of Pain' is rather dire, written as if fitted in between other commitments. The story did not flow or pull you in and the main characters of Rose and Harry needed their heads banging together as both were so stubborn and silly as to really annoy. That said I would advise anyone who reads these books first not to give up on Chesney as I found her Georgian series an absolute treat and so funny! Maybe she stepped out of her writing comfort zone when skipping to the Edwardian era?
November 25, 2015
Meh. Very disappointing ending to the series. The mystery was convoluted (in an uninteresting way), Harry and Rose were even more on again / off again than usual, and Daisy and Becket both suffered from character assassination. :/
May 5, 2020
unnecessarily complicated mystery
all the random places they went. the superfluous events. the thing at the end that delays things unnecessarily. why? moving relationships forward. but it felt clumsy.
all the random places they went. the superfluous events. the thing at the end that delays things unnecessarily. why? moving relationships forward. but it felt clumsy.
November 30, 2008
These books are not very good, but a quick mystery read.
August 9, 2011
Ugh. Even Davina Porter, a fantastic audio book talent, isn't saving this one for me.
June 7, 2022
Après lecture de ce quatrième tome, je ne suis toujours pas réconciliée avec les personnages. Et je continue de soupçonner M.C. Beaton d'avoir une dent contre la gent féminine. Lady Rose est capricieuse et volage. Daisy, superficielle et indécise. Dolores, diablement séduisante et cupide. Lorsque cette dernière s'affiche au bras de Harry, notre jeune héritière voit rouge. Quel affront. Elle s'en va donc lui dire ses quatre vérités. Puis se fait surprendre auprès du corps sans vie de la courtisane, l'arme du crime à la main ! Encore un scandale à fuir. Encore une mise au vert forcée. Encore des disputes avec les parents qui s'arrachent les cheveux tellement ils ne savent plus quoi faire de leur fille. Le capitaine Cathcart a tenté sa chance avant d'abdiquer face aux complications. Depuis, Rose et lui s'évitent ou ne se comprennent plus. Daisy a également renoncé à mettre son grain de sel (elle est obsédée par sa situation et va céder au numéro de charme de son prétendant). Un mariage aura vraisemblablement lieu, escorté par son lot de déconfiture.
Au terme des quatre tomes des Enquêtes de Lady Rose, mon bilan est donc mitigé. Si j'ai été séduite par les prémices de l'histoire et la personnalité de l'héroïne, j'ai peu à peu déchanté en réalisant que son caractère était changeant et imbuvable. La relation entre Rose et Harry est lassante car trop puérile. Par contre, l'intrigue déborde de vivacité. Il y a en effet des meurtres, des suspects, des rebondissements, du danger et du suspense. La lecture est divertissante jusqu'au bout. En bref, ça reste une découverte sympa mais pas folichonne non plus.
Au terme des quatre tomes des Enquêtes de Lady Rose, mon bilan est donc mitigé. Si j'ai été séduite par les prémices de l'histoire et la personnalité de l'héroïne, j'ai peu à peu déchanté en réalisant que son caractère était changeant et imbuvable. La relation entre Rose et Harry est lassante car trop puérile. Par contre, l'intrigue déborde de vivacité. Il y a en effet des meurtres, des suspects, des rebondissements, du danger et du suspense. La lecture est divertissante jusqu'au bout. En bref, ça reste une découverte sympa mais pas folichonne non plus.
February 5, 2017
After loving the first installment in this four book Edwardian-era mystery series I was underwhelmed by books two and three. Thankfully this final book lived up to the promise of the first. I'm going to miss the characters and their crazy antics.
August 10, 2020
Not the best book in the series but a satisfying end nonetheless.
June 10, 2024
Predictable and boring!
May 2, 2018
I really enjoyed the first three books in this series, but this one just falls flat.
I enjoyed that there was more of a 'mystery' element to this book,
So much of this was weirdly unresolved, unnecessary, and with 10 minutes left in the book, the author ties it up in a bow by Like...wtf.
I had such high hopes for this book, but it was like the author forgot that these are romance-mysteries. I almost wonder if someone else wrote this--it's just not as charming as the previous three.
Also, as another reviewer mentioned (Janis Hill), there are numerous editing errors--the disappearing/reappearing engagement ring; the footman named Charlie who was actually Jeffrey that ran away and then reappeared as a regular footman with some useful information; repeated conversations, etc. There's something I've noticed with established authors, and I call it "Golden Goose Syndrome" and it's basically this: editors seem terrified of scaring off their authors ("meal tickets"), so rather than fiercely editing later books, they accept manuscripts and then publish them with little to no editing. This results in excessively long second, third, &c. novels, spelling errors, continuity errors, and characters who become caricatures of themselves. This book definitely qualifies.
Despite Ms Davina Porter's narration, emphatically not recommended. Read the first three and then let your imagination get Harry and Rose together.
I enjoyed that there was more of a 'mystery' element to this book,
So much of this was weirdly unresolved, unnecessary, and with 10 minutes left in the book, the author ties it up in a bow by Like...wtf.
I had such high hopes for this book, but it was like the author forgot that these are romance-mysteries. I almost wonder if someone else wrote this--it's just not as charming as the previous three.
Also, as another reviewer mentioned (Janis Hill), there are numerous editing errors--the disappearing/reappearing engagement ring; the footman named Charlie who was actually Jeffrey that ran away and then reappeared as a regular footman with some useful information; repeated conversations, etc. There's something I've noticed with established authors, and I call it "Golden Goose Syndrome" and it's basically this: editors seem terrified of scaring off their authors ("meal tickets"), so rather than fiercely editing later books, they accept manuscripts and then publish them with little to no editing. This results in excessively long second, third, &c. novels, spelling errors, continuity errors, and characters who become caricatures of themselves. This book definitely qualifies.
Despite Ms Davina Porter's narration, emphatically not recommended. Read the first three and then let your imagination get Harry and Rose together.
July 20, 2014
Lady Rose Summer's engagement to Captain Harry Cathcart is back on, but as usual he's too busy working to squire Rose around to various social events. His latest client is a French high-flyer, Dolores Duval, who has been receiving threatening notes. Harry likes Dolores' easy charm but Rose is jealous. How dare her fiance consort with that tart?! Their engagement is one of convenience but still... he's making Rose a laughingstock. Rose has the audacity to confront Dolores and threaten her in front of everyone. The next time Rose sees Dolores, she's lying dead and Rose is the chief suspect. Harry knows Rose didn't do it and he's determined to keep her out of the press and away from crazed murderers. Will she comply this time? Actually, she does want peace and quiet and she seems to find what she longs for in a most suitable suitor but he doesn't rouse her passions the way Harry does. Meanwhile, Daisy and Becket want to get married. They're making plans for their future but will things work out as planned if Rose doesn't marry Harry?
I really couldn't get into this story. The mystery starts and stops and starts again too often. It's too random and disjointed to really follow and I frankly didn't care. I was more interested in the romantic plots. I didn't like Daisy's story. It's too cliched and unrealistic. I wanted more of Rose and Harry. Their plot takes too long to wrap up and it's very hastily sketched out before the story draws to a close. It left me unsatisfied. I liked that Rose showed some character growth finally. She still doesn't know what she wants but she's getting there. Even Lord and Lady Hadshire had moments when they made me like them, but mainly they're as awful as ever. Daisy annoyed me a lot and I didn't like the way she acted. There are a few new characters to add comic relief but they also made me angry and sad for Rose.
I enjoyed this series even though it's not great literature. If you're looking for some good beach books this summer while you wait for the next season of Downton Abbey (if there was such a thing... as far as I am concerned, it all ended with a jolly cricket match!), I suggest picking up this series. If you like Marion Chesney's Regency and Edwardian romances you might like these too, though her Regencies are much better.
I really couldn't get into this story. The mystery starts and stops and starts again too often. It's too random and disjointed to really follow and I frankly didn't care. I was more interested in the romantic plots. I didn't like Daisy's story. It's too cliched and unrealistic. I wanted more of Rose and Harry. Their plot takes too long to wrap up and it's very hastily sketched out before the story draws to a close. It left me unsatisfied. I liked that Rose showed some character growth finally. She still doesn't know what she wants but she's getting there. Even Lord and Lady Hadshire had moments when they made me like them, but mainly they're as awful as ever. Daisy annoyed me a lot and I didn't like the way she acted. There are a few new characters to add comic relief but they also made me angry and sad for Rose.
I enjoyed this series even though it's not great literature. If you're looking for some good beach books this summer while you wait for the next season of Downton Abbey (if there was such a thing... as far as I am concerned, it all ended with a jolly cricket match!), I suggest picking up this series. If you like Marion Chesney's Regency and Edwardian romances you might like these too, though her Regencies are much better.
November 29, 2021
Edwardian End
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (December 2008) of the original Minotaur hardcover (April 2006)
Our Lady of Pain concludes the story of Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart in the 4th of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries. The mystery elements were mostly secondary in these plots and are more like MacGuffins. The main story arc was always the 'will they or won't they' courtship of the 2 principles. This concluding episode ties things up in the inevitable fashion but does so almost at the last instant, so there is the mild suspense of thinking it will still fall apart.
I've completed my pandemic reading splurge of cozy mysteries by M.C. Beaton, the penname used by Marion Chesney (1936-2019) for her popular Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. Chesney first became a writer with various historical romances from 1977 onwards, before branching out into the crime genre with her first Hamish Macbeth in 1985 and first Agatha Raisin in 1992. Romances are not my genre, but Chesney's mini-series of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries sounded like enough of a crossover between her historical fiction and her cozy mysteries to follow up on.
The narration by veteran Davina Porter (approx. 230 book narrations to her credit) was excellent throughout. Porter is especially good with her range of voices that is able to effectively mimic male as well as female tones.
All of the Edwardian Murder Mysteries series are available free to Audible Plus members.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (December 2008) of the original Minotaur hardcover (April 2006)
O splendid and sterile Dolores,
Our Lady of Pain.
- excerpt from the poem Dolores (Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs) by Algernon Charles Swinburne, used as the epigram for Chapter 1 of Our Lady of Pain
Our Lady of Pain concludes the story of Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart in the 4th of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries. The mystery elements were mostly secondary in these plots and are more like MacGuffins. The main story arc was always the 'will they or won't they' courtship of the 2 principles. This concluding episode ties things up in the inevitable fashion but does so almost at the last instant, so there is the mild suspense of thinking it will still fall apart.
I've completed my pandemic reading splurge of cozy mysteries by M.C. Beaton, the penname used by Marion Chesney (1936-2019) for her popular Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. Chesney first became a writer with various historical romances from 1977 onwards, before branching out into the crime genre with her first Hamish Macbeth in 1985 and first Agatha Raisin in 1992. Romances are not my genre, but Chesney's mini-series of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries sounded like enough of a crossover between her historical fiction and her cozy mysteries to follow up on.
The narration by veteran Davina Porter (approx. 230 book narrations to her credit) was excellent throughout. Porter is especially good with her range of voices that is able to effectively mimic male as well as female tones.
All of the Edwardian Murder Mysteries series are available free to Audible Plus members.
October 4, 2014
After swearing that I would never read another book in this series, what do I do but pick up the next and final book of the series and midway through wonder what was I thinking.
The farce of Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart’s engagement is continuing, but there just might be a crack in the armor when Lady Rose realizes that another man that she had suddenly taken an interest in is weak and if there is any more danger heading her way, she will need a stronger man – someone like Cathcart. Whereas, Cathcart is trying his best to become what Lady Rose needs but he is easily distracted with business and when they are separated, they both see what the other has to offer.
Rose’s companion Daisy finally marries Harry’s manservant Beckett, but once in, Daisy is bored to tears and Beckett is turning into a person that no one in their right mind could stand being in a room with.
All of this takes place in the background as Harry takes on courtesan Dolores Duval as a client. Jealous Rose threatens the vamp and next thing you know Dolores is found dead. Yada, Yada, Yada, Rose is found to not be the murderer but that part ends too soon, so Marion Chesney or MC Beaton, depending on which version of this book that you are reading, adds in more intrigue and foolishness among the wealthy and low and behold we reach the end and exhale a sigh of relief that this is the final book in the Lady Rose Summer saga.
It is truly amazing how you can love one series (Agatha Raisin) from an author but barely be able to pick up other books that she writes in other series. Now back to Agatha and we can finally say good-bye to Lady Rose.
The farce of Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart’s engagement is continuing, but there just might be a crack in the armor when Lady Rose realizes that another man that she had suddenly taken an interest in is weak and if there is any more danger heading her way, she will need a stronger man – someone like Cathcart. Whereas, Cathcart is trying his best to become what Lady Rose needs but he is easily distracted with business and when they are separated, they both see what the other has to offer.
Rose’s companion Daisy finally marries Harry’s manservant Beckett, but once in, Daisy is bored to tears and Beckett is turning into a person that no one in their right mind could stand being in a room with.
All of this takes place in the background as Harry takes on courtesan Dolores Duval as a client. Jealous Rose threatens the vamp and next thing you know Dolores is found dead. Yada, Yada, Yada, Rose is found to not be the murderer but that part ends too soon, so Marion Chesney or MC Beaton, depending on which version of this book that you are reading, adds in more intrigue and foolishness among the wealthy and low and behold we reach the end and exhale a sigh of relief that this is the final book in the Lady Rose Summer saga.
It is truly amazing how you can love one series (Agatha Raisin) from an author but barely be able to pick up other books that she writes in other series. Now back to Agatha and we can finally say good-bye to Lady Rose.
February 22, 2013
It is really difficult to write in another period's formulas and not stumble. It is also difficult to stay within the probabilities of another period. Edwardian should be fairly easy but isn't. You couldn't be a lady just by dressing and acting like one and Becket would never in a million years be a gentleman. It wouldn't matter what Daisy had been, she married into the servant class and that's where she would be. It's the reason why girls had to be careful about who they married. Your title was that of your husband's wife unless you were titled in your own right. How did Rose's parents get home from Cairo in two+ days? By ship from Cairo to Marseilles, train to Paris (and we're not talking TGV), train to the coast - Callais - boat to Dover and train to London. Really? The demi monde is just that, neither upper nor lower class and the police would have cared about Dolores because she had high class friends who would have asked questions. She had probably been generous to police at various times. All kinds of other things I could say but the book is meant to be a piece of fluff, not a deep piece of writing, so better not. I actually cared about those two silly girls and it was a little unfair about Roger's character.
February 20, 2016
I was disappointed in the final installment of this series. I had originally picked this book up first from our library's Downton Abbey read alike display without realizing it was the last book in the series, so I've been reading the previous 4 books to get caught up. To be honest, I think the only thing that made me continue is wanting to see how Harry and Rose actually got together, so it was very irritating to me that the will-they-won't-they business was STILL going on until the very last page. Someone else's review mentioned that in this book we had a reversal of the usual format with Harry making the big social faux pas and instead of making it more interesting, it just made me even more irritated because it meant everyone was behaving more stupidly than usual (which is saying something). The resolution to the Daisy/Becket subplot was also depressing so that on the whole, when I finished with this book I was more depressed than anything else. Not the kind of feeling you want from a cozy mystery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2021
The first book was fun. The second book was still fun but seemed to follow a very similar storyline to the first. The third book just made me feel like I'd been tricked into reading a genre I try to avoid -- the romance novel. But, with just one more book to complete the series, I soldiered on but just didn't love the very predictable plot and ending of book #4.
I'm not sure this series was actually even written by Marion Chesney (aka M.C. Beaton -- one of my favorites) but rather, I think it might have been written under her name and perhaps even her supervision by another author?
I'm not sure this series was actually even written by Marion Chesney (aka M.C. Beaton -- one of my favorites) but rather, I think it might have been written under her name and perhaps even her supervision by another author?
March 28, 2022
So glad there are no more in this series. The first book seemed like the beginning of something interesting but things have gone downhill since then. The ridiculous and nonsensical back-and-forth in Harry and Rose's relationship somehow got even worse. But more egregious to me was the completely unbelievable change in the characters of Daisy and Beckett. Don't know why I bothered to finish this but very relieved it's done.
Wonderful narration by Davina Porter.
Wonderful narration by Davina Porter.
September 20, 2017
How sad this being the last book is the one I felt the weaker.
It wasn't as fun in certain moments and I totally disagree with the end! Not even a compelling epilogue or something, it was disappointing not to have a more developed or serious scene with the main characters.
It wasn't as fun in certain moments and I totally disagree with the end! Not even a compelling epilogue or something, it was disappointing not to have a more developed or serious scene with the main characters.
September 4, 2021
Not bad.
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