Horrible relations, vile murder, vengeful ghosts, and a plot that thickens better than my gravy. No, this is not Shakespeare's Hamlet, it's a fresh new twist on the marriage of convenience trope with a full serving of who-dun-it liberally seasoned with romance and suspense. Mix well and serve up as "The Ghost of Spring" by Mel Stone.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were dynamic and believable, the settings were moody and set the stage well, and the way the characters built and grew with (or in spite of) each other was wonderfully written. I initially thought Duke Fenwick would turn out to be the lecherous old man taking advantage of the leading lady's plight. Instead, he is sweet schemer with delightful plans for Mary and what he thinks will make her happy. Fortunately, Mary is far from a martyr or damsel in destress. She refuses to be dominated by the machinations of her dastardly brother - a man who could give Cinderella's step-mother tips on being horrendous. She is bright, determined, and relatable.
The mystery is well paced throughout the story and the romance is a well-built slow-burn, but the author manages to balance both sides of the plot adroitly. I never felt like the mystery was being rushed to make room for the romance or vice versa. I felt the time period was well represented as well.
Recommended for fans of Sarah M. Eden, Laurie King, and Nancy Campbell Allen
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.