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Beatrice Hyde-Clare #8
A Malevolent Connection
Despite suffering a few initial setbacks, the former Beatrice Hyde-Clare has settled into her new position nicely.
Thanks to Lady Abercrombie’s machinations, she has secured the admiration of society and finally earned the respect of her staff. Even the lessons in defending herself, which her husband, the Duke of Kesgrave, insists she take if she wants to continue in her dangerous avocation, are going well. Save for the dreaded pineapple chunks chef André insists on putting in her beloved rout cakes, everything is perfect.
But then she learns from a most unlikely source that Kesgrave’s malevolent uncle is scheming to destroy her happiness. Determinedly, she resolves to meet the threat head on—a plan that immediately goes awry when the duke asks her to allow him to handle the matter.
Stand idly by while dark forces muster?
Well, no, Bea can’t possibly do that—especially not when the villainous relation winds up bludgeoned to death with a candlestick.
Thanks to Lady Abercrombie’s machinations, she has secured the admiration of society and finally earned the respect of her staff. Even the lessons in defending herself, which her husband, the Duke of Kesgrave, insists she take if she wants to continue in her dangerous avocation, are going well. Save for the dreaded pineapple chunks chef André insists on putting in her beloved rout cakes, everything is perfect.
But then she learns from a most unlikely source that Kesgrave’s malevolent uncle is scheming to destroy her happiness. Determinedly, she resolves to meet the threat head on—a plan that immediately goes awry when the duke asks her to allow him to handle the matter.
Stand idly by while dark forces muster?
Well, no, Bea can’t possibly do that—especially not when the villainous relation winds up bludgeoned to death with a candlestick.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2021
322 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Messina
64 books660 followersLynn Messina is author of more than a dozen novels, including the best-selling Fashionistas, which has been translated into sixteen languages, and a series of Regency romance novels. Her essays have appeared in Self, American Baby and the New York Times Modern Love column. She lives in New York City with her sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
November 7, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for this arc.
A Malevolent Connection is the 9th book in this series. I read the 1st book, A Brazen Curiosity prior to this one for the character introductions, but have yet to catch up on the others (that will be remedied). These are fun reads, mostly historical cozy mysteries with some romance tossed in for some spice.
The characters are great. Beatrice is truly the master of the mannerly understatement, while Damien provides a so so dry - dehydrated - comic commentary to it all. The two of them have fallen into a ridiculous habit of separately tripping over murdered, dead bodies together while they out trying to live their lives. Beatrice just has to figure out why (because she's nosy and dead bodies are a lot more interesting than needlework).
Once I got used to Beatrice's ever-running internal monologues (the fun understatements), these books are easy
well-paced reads. While it's not strictly necessary to read them in order, I've got to go back to #s 2-8 to figure out WHY Beatrice is being plagued by pineapples!
4 stars
A Malevolent Connection is the 9th book in this series. I read the 1st book, A Brazen Curiosity prior to this one for the character introductions, but have yet to catch up on the others (that will be remedied). These are fun reads, mostly historical cozy mysteries with some romance tossed in for some spice.
The characters are great. Beatrice is truly the master of the mannerly understatement, while Damien provides a so so dry - dehydrated - comic commentary to it all. The two of them have fallen into a ridiculous habit of separately tripping over murdered, dead bodies together while they out trying to live their lives. Beatrice just has to figure out why (because she's nosy and dead bodies are a lot more interesting than needlework).
Once I got used to Beatrice's ever-running internal monologues (the fun understatements), these books are easy
well-paced reads. While it's not strictly necessary to read them in order, I've got to go back to #s 2-8 to figure out WHY Beatrice is being plagued by pineapples!
4 stars
March 18, 2022
This latest addition to the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series will be enjoyed by fans who have been following her since the beginning. In the first half of the book in particular, the relationship between her and the Duke of Kesgrave seems to come full circle, as the focus shifts from the troublesome past of Beatrice's family to the troublesome past of the duke's.
The premise of having Bea's archnemesis, the woman who obliterated her chances of social success in early years, suddenly come groveling with outlandish gestures to gain forgiveness, is a fresh plot line and probably the most amusing and fun part of the book.
The mystery itself didn't grab my attention, especially in the last half, as it seemed to be mainly a revolving question of which suspects knew what facts at what point and I couldn't bring myself to care who was actually the culprit, so I found myself skimming through some of the hypothesizing.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for this digital review copy!
The premise of having Bea's archnemesis, the woman who obliterated her chances of social success in early years, suddenly come groveling with outlandish gestures to gain forgiveness, is a fresh plot line and probably the most amusing and fun part of the book.
The mystery itself didn't grab my attention, especially in the last half, as it seemed to be mainly a revolving question of which suspects knew what facts at what point and I couldn't bring myself to care who was actually the culprit, so I found myself skimming through some of the hypothesizing.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for this digital review copy!
November 5, 2021
Barbara’s rating: 3.7 of 5 Stars
Series: Beatrice Hyde-Clare #9
Publication Date: 11/11/21
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 261
Although Beatrice (Bea) Hyde-Clare, still hasn’t managed to deal with her chef putting pineapple into everything she eats, she’s nicely settled into her month-long marriage to Damien Matlock, the sixth Duke of Kesgrave. The pineapple fiasco is her own fault though – and she knows it – and she’ll deal with it – just not today. She loves being married to a man she adores and who treats her as an equal partner – until she feels he doesn’t treat her that way. Oops.
When Bea’s archnemesis tries to weasel her way into Bea’s good graces by telling Bea about a plot on her life, Bea doesn’t know whether to believe the woman or not. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time Mrs. Norton had born tales designed to hurt Bea in some way. This tale though, if true, will have major repercussions on both Bea and Damien. The plot, you see, is that Damien’s uncle, Lord Myles Matlock, is hiring a thug to murder Bea. That would allow his son, Mortimer, to become the duke’s heir.
Although Bea agrees to allow Damien to handle the situation, she manages to parse her agreement so she feels she can still investigate on her own. What does she find? She finds Damien, with a bloody silver candlestick in his hand, standing over the dead body of his uncle. Oops – again. Beatrice knows Damien didn’t murder his uncle – but who did? Their investigations lead them through many suspects from barristers to criminal kingpins and everything in between. It seems his uncle was a very unsavory character.
The only other book I’ve read in the series is A Sinister Establishment, and I did not enjoy this one as much as I did that one. The crime, the victim, the suspects, nor the motive intrigued me and I found the investigation to be slow and a bit plodding. I do love the wit and banter between Damien and Bea, but I’m not sure I like Bea much at all. In this book, she expects Damien to check with her and get her approval for every little thing he does. I expected to see a place where he asked if he had her permission to go to the restroom. Everything was about her expectations of him – and evidently, he wasn’t allowed to have expectations of her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for female rights, but Bea’s version seems to be that the female is the only one with rights. She chastises, thwarts, and dissembles all the time and I just find it difficult to believe that Damien could love that about her.
I did mostly enjoy the story and may try another one to see if this version of Bea is repeated. If so, I probably won’t continue with the series. However, if they BOTH become equal partners in the relationship, then I believe I would happily continue with the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: Beatrice Hyde-Clare #9
Publication Date: 11/11/21
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 261
Although Beatrice (Bea) Hyde-Clare, still hasn’t managed to deal with her chef putting pineapple into everything she eats, she’s nicely settled into her month-long marriage to Damien Matlock, the sixth Duke of Kesgrave. The pineapple fiasco is her own fault though – and she knows it – and she’ll deal with it – just not today. She loves being married to a man she adores and who treats her as an equal partner – until she feels he doesn’t treat her that way. Oops.
When Bea’s archnemesis tries to weasel her way into Bea’s good graces by telling Bea about a plot on her life, Bea doesn’t know whether to believe the woman or not. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time Mrs. Norton had born tales designed to hurt Bea in some way. This tale though, if true, will have major repercussions on both Bea and Damien. The plot, you see, is that Damien’s uncle, Lord Myles Matlock, is hiring a thug to murder Bea. That would allow his son, Mortimer, to become the duke’s heir.
Although Bea agrees to allow Damien to handle the situation, she manages to parse her agreement so she feels she can still investigate on her own. What does she find? She finds Damien, with a bloody silver candlestick in his hand, standing over the dead body of his uncle. Oops – again. Beatrice knows Damien didn’t murder his uncle – but who did? Their investigations lead them through many suspects from barristers to criminal kingpins and everything in between. It seems his uncle was a very unsavory character.
The only other book I’ve read in the series is A Sinister Establishment, and I did not enjoy this one as much as I did that one. The crime, the victim, the suspects, nor the motive intrigued me and I found the investigation to be slow and a bit plodding. I do love the wit and banter between Damien and Bea, but I’m not sure I like Bea much at all. In this book, she expects Damien to check with her and get her approval for every little thing he does. I expected to see a place where he asked if he had her permission to go to the restroom. Everything was about her expectations of him – and evidently, he wasn’t allowed to have expectations of her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for female rights, but Bea’s version seems to be that the female is the only one with rights. She chastises, thwarts, and dissembles all the time and I just find it difficult to believe that Damien could love that about her.
I did mostly enjoy the story and may try another one to see if this version of Bea is repeated. If so, I probably won’t continue with the series. However, if they BOTH become equal partners in the relationship, then I believe I would happily continue with the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 18, 2021
It's never a dull moment in the Matlock household as the former Beatrice Hyde-Clare discovers. Not only does she have to deal with pineapple in her beloved rout cakes, but a apparently her life is in danger from her husband the Duke of Kesgrave's Uncle. The deliverer of this news is none other than her former nemisis, Mrs. Norton nee Broughton... the woman who labeled Beatrice as drab and doomed her to wallflower status. Now Beatrice not only discovers that Kesgrave has more family than just his grandmother, that apparently they're murderous as well. But before Beatrice can even put her plans into motion, she finds her husband standing over his uncle's cooling corpse with a bloody candlestick in his hand... a situation which feels oddly familiar.
---
Stop! This book will spoil the endings of ALL of the previous books in the series. So if you don't like to be spoiled, then you can't pick this book up and go. If you can't, then I recommend going back and at least reading the first, fifth, and seventh books in the series. The events in those books are very relevant to this book and while the author tries to summarize them they come off as infodump-y and very "as you know." You'll thank me for this later. Seriously, this book spoils everything from the previous books. And it's something I don't love because it means that you spend approximately the first 10% of the book summarizing the events of the previous books. It's annoying and it's one of the reasons this book loses a star. When I skim the entire first 10% of a book, there's a problem.
Additionally this book needs the following trigger warnings: parental death, parental neglect, child abuse, attempted child murder/endangerment, childhood trauma, period appropriate sexism, period appropriate classism, colonialism, period appropriate xenophobia, and ableism. Please make sure you're in a good place before reading.
I have been following the series for a while, but hadn't had time to read some of the more recent books. That was a mistake. When I started reading the ARC of this book, I quickly realized that I needed to go read Flora's book and that I probably should read the book immediately preceding this one if I didn't want to be fully spoiled for the conclusions of those books. If you like this series, then I suggest you do the same. This isn't a book you can just pick up and go... Agatha Christie this is not.
It's nice to see Beatrice and Kesgrave interacting. Yes, Kesgrave is emotionally constipated but that's part of his character arc as is Beatrice still learning to find her voice in situations that don't involve corpses. Their relationship is still one of my favorite things about this series and there are lots of closed door/implied sex scenes in this, but nothing is shown on the page.
On to the other characters! I did like one of the suspects of the murder quite a bit, he's a bit of a gentleman rogue and I have a thing for those. LOL I'm not totally fond of Flora... I wasn't a fan of her book and I'm not a fan of her now. She's incredibly self-centered and self-serving to the point of brow-beating others to get her own way. She's remarkably similar to Mrs. Norton who is Beatrice's "Nemesis" and another character utilized in this book. While I liked the depth and intelligence that she displayed in her one scene.. she really was a one-scene wonder in this book. I wanted a better conclusion with her than just the handwave acknowledgement at the end. I also really didn't like the portrayal of one of the suspects of Kesgrave's uncle's murder who had a speech impediment. This is the first person in the series who has a disability and they are an antagonist/suspected killer. This is not a good look. In addition, his stutter was portrayed haphazardly and true to life he was discounted because of his disability in the story. It just rubbed me the wrong way and felt like a misstep. Disabled people of all kinds all too often are cast as either the victims or the perpetrators of crimes... it's much like how villians for a long time (and still to this day) are coded as LGBTQIA. It's a harmful trope.
Additionally, a major plot point... that the murder victim's son not the murder victim himself will inherit the dukedom didn't make any sense. While it didn't change the outcome of the story, it was a huge inaccuracy. The Uncle would have inherited the dukedom if Kesgrave died without issue... it wouldn't skip to the uncle's son. He can't be disinherited like that. It was something that bugged me... a lot.
That said, once the story got going it was fun until the end which left me feeling a bit... "is that it?" about the whole thing.
It's not one of the stronger entries in the series.
So because of the need to have to essentially read all of the books or risk being spoiled and because of the infodump and because of the iffy treatment of a few characters... particularly one with a disability as well as the huge historical inaccuracy. I'm going to give this....
Two and a half stars rounded up to Three Stars
I received an ARC of this book Via NetGalley
---
Stop! This book will spoil the endings of ALL of the previous books in the series. So if you don't like to be spoiled, then you can't pick this book up and go. If you can't, then I recommend going back and at least reading the first, fifth, and seventh books in the series. The events in those books are very relevant to this book and while the author tries to summarize them they come off as infodump-y and very "as you know." You'll thank me for this later. Seriously, this book spoils everything from the previous books. And it's something I don't love because it means that you spend approximately the first 10% of the book summarizing the events of the previous books. It's annoying and it's one of the reasons this book loses a star. When I skim the entire first 10% of a book, there's a problem.
Additionally this book needs the following trigger warnings: parental death, parental neglect, child abuse, attempted child murder/endangerment, childhood trauma, period appropriate sexism, period appropriate classism, colonialism, period appropriate xenophobia, and ableism. Please make sure you're in a good place before reading.
I have been following the series for a while, but hadn't had time to read some of the more recent books. That was a mistake. When I started reading the ARC of this book, I quickly realized that I needed to go read Flora's book and that I probably should read the book immediately preceding this one if I didn't want to be fully spoiled for the conclusions of those books. If you like this series, then I suggest you do the same. This isn't a book you can just pick up and go... Agatha Christie this is not.
It's nice to see Beatrice and Kesgrave interacting. Yes, Kesgrave is emotionally constipated but that's part of his character arc as is Beatrice still learning to find her voice in situations that don't involve corpses. Their relationship is still one of my favorite things about this series and there are lots of closed door/implied sex scenes in this, but nothing is shown on the page.
On to the other characters! I did like one of the suspects of the murder quite a bit, he's a bit of a gentleman rogue and I have a thing for those. LOL I'm not totally fond of Flora... I wasn't a fan of her book and I'm not a fan of her now. She's incredibly self-centered and self-serving to the point of brow-beating others to get her own way. She's remarkably similar to Mrs. Norton who is Beatrice's "Nemesis" and another character utilized in this book. While I liked the depth and intelligence that she displayed in her one scene.. she really was a one-scene wonder in this book. I wanted a better conclusion with her than just the handwave acknowledgement at the end. I also really didn't like the portrayal of one of the suspects of Kesgrave's uncle's murder who had a speech impediment. This is the first person in the series who has a disability and they are an antagonist/suspected killer. This is not a good look. In addition, his stutter was portrayed haphazardly and true to life he was discounted because of his disability in the story. It just rubbed me the wrong way and felt like a misstep. Disabled people of all kinds all too often are cast as either the victims or the perpetrators of crimes... it's much like how villians for a long time (and still to this day) are coded as LGBTQIA. It's a harmful trope.
Additionally, a major plot point... that the murder victim's son not the murder victim himself will inherit the dukedom didn't make any sense. While it didn't change the outcome of the story, it was a huge inaccuracy. The Uncle would have inherited the dukedom if Kesgrave died without issue... it wouldn't skip to the uncle's son. He can't be disinherited like that. It was something that bugged me... a lot.
That said, once the story got going it was fun until the end which left me feeling a bit... "is that it?" about the whole thing.
It's not one of the stronger entries in the series.
So because of the need to have to essentially read all of the books or risk being spoiled and because of the infodump and because of the iffy treatment of a few characters... particularly one with a disability as well as the huge historical inaccuracy. I'm going to give this....
Two and a half stars rounded up to Three Stars
I received an ARC of this book Via NetGalley
February 14, 2022
Pretty good book. Good mystery however I wish there was some more banter between Bea and Kesgrave
November 14, 2021
Bea is still struggling to adjust to her new role as Duchess. The servants are only just beginning to respect her so how can she tell them she no longer cares for pineapple, especially not with every meal and certainly not in her beloved rout cakes! As she ruminates on a plan to eliminate pineapple from the menu, Bea is surprised by a visit from her nemesis, Mrs. Norton, formerly Miss Brougham, the mean girl who ruined Bea's first season and nearly succeeded in separating Bea and Kesgrave for good. Mrs. Norton has shocking news to impart. She has come to redeem herself and assist Bea by sharing the news that the Duke's uncle has plans to kill Bea! The assassin is already hired and the plan put it motion but Mrs. Norton knows not when! Bea tries to acquiesce to Damien's request that she let him handle it in his own way, but while visiting Mr. Carruthers with Flora, she finds herself being escorted to the rooms of the solicitor, Mr. Jordan where Bea spies her husband standing over the dead body of his uncle with a candlestick. Yes again! So many thoughts flicker through her mind but one thing she knows is her husband is not a murderer. As a Duke he has the law on his side. So, who then killed Lord Myles Matlock? It will take all of Bea's powers of deduction to avoid being harmed and solve the mystery.
This story is so much fun! The series is back on track after a few missteps since Bea and Kesgrave's wedding and a detour into Flora's adventure. The plot is a good blend of romance and mystery. I read this more for the romance than the mystery and I am so happy to see Bea and Damien working out their expectations for married life (and I don't just mean in the bedroom, although there's plenty of that too - behind closed doors). I really appreciate how well they know each other and can read each other's moods. We learn more about Damien's family background and the Matlocks are as dysfunctional as the Hyde-Clares were presumed to be. I don't know how many Dukes and Duchesses actually spent that much time with their children but normal families don't have uncles trying to kill them from the moment of their birth. Myles must be singularly stupid because what's to stop the Duke from having more children? It was legal and within his rights to force his wife to comply even if she didn't wish to- sadly. The Matlock family history explains a lot about why he's so close to his grandmother and why Marlowe is so overprotective.
I just love Bea! I relate to her so much, as an introvert bookworm myself I understand her desire to spend all her days reading. I also share her aversion to pineapple and would probably hesitate to tell the chef fearing he would quit. She's much better than she used to be living with her aunt and uncle. They emotionally abused her and she was in danger of becoming a Fanny Price. Enter the Duke of Kesgrave standing over a dead body! That encounter changed their lives forever. Bea is so clever. I never would have put those clues together. In my reread, I noticed she had a piece of information in her hands but dismissed it. My favorite part is the romance. I adore their witty banter and how they charm each other out of a somber mood with silliness and pedantry. Damien is willing to fight for Bea even when she wants to back down. They talk about their problems and work through them. Being in a love match is all new to both of them and it exceeds either of their expectations. Bea is used to being meek and compliant. Only with Damien is she free to be herself. He has to learn to let go and open up to her more. I appreciate the author having them talk to each other instead of the usual "he/she must not love me!" trope. They're learning and growing. I also appreciate the commentary on women's rights and what women normally can expect from marriage at this time. It's subtle but it's there. Thank goodness someone killed Mr. Otley LOL!
It was hysterically funny to see Mrs. Norton turn unto Bea. She even, sincerely, says to Bea "you cannot know how humiliating it is to realize the event that had a profound impact on your life was but a passing moment to everyone else." HA! That's not the only way she's turning into Bea. I was hoping for these rivals to team up to investigate. I'm not sure Mrs. Norton is truly sincere. She seems to have done a complete 180 turn and is overcompensating for being a meal girl before. I think she wants to get back into Almack's. Yet, the lengths she goes to PROVE to Bea that she's telling the truth show that she may actually be sincere. I could totally have done without Flora and her subplot. It makes the book too long and I still find her immaturity tedious. (You must read A Boldly Daring Scheme before this book.)
Lord Myles Matlock, uncle to the present Duke, younger son of the dowager, was a sad, sorry man. I almost feel bad for him. I would if he wasn't so nasty. Why does he have such a puffed up ego? The Dowager is lovely so why are her two sons so horrid? Her eldest was cruel and nasty. Her younger is a nasty, stupid wastrel who can't solve his own problems. Maybe he's not that stupid, given what the Duke and Duchess uncover during their investigation. So who killed him if it wasn't Damien? It seems kind of obvious. Is it the miscreant who ran out the door when Damien tried to stop him upon arriving on the scene? Tyne, law clerk to Mr. Douglas Jordan, does not seem the murderous type. He's slight, speaks with a stammer and cares about the safety of his parents. A better choice would be Mr. Douglas Jordan, Myles's solicitor. According to Mrs. Norton, Mr. Jordan knows about the plot to kill Bea. Is he so stupid as to go along with it? That's disgusting. Why not tell the Duke? Why does no one think Damien won't move heaven and earth to find out what happened to Bea? Does Mr. Jordan value his job and the money he gets, however, little? Does he value client privilege that much? This is MURDER we're talking here, not stock trading. Murder of a peeress too. Mr. Jordan disappeared and can't be found. Is he safe with an alibi or dead or in danger? I think he's the murderer.
Mr. Tyne points fingers at Mr. Phineas "Hell and Fury" Hawes, "The King of Saffron Hill", a crime lord who has his finger in every pie. Murder is definitely in his line. He has a strong motive for murder but this murder seems a little clumsy for someone like Hawes. However, his hit man may have made a mistake or misunderstood directions. Someone like Hawes wouldn't get his own hands dirty. He's ruthless and scary but can be charming when he wants to be. His interest in Bea and her crime solving skills is disconcerting. Does he know more about the sinister plot to take her life? The hitman, Thomas "Bludge" Bludgeon, certainly seems the type to have killed Myles in the heat of the moment. Sure a candlestick is one of the tools of his trade but he wouldn't be so clumsy as to kill someone in broad daylight if it was premeditated. This was surely a falling out among thieves. He's a comical sort of villain but still terrifying. What about the moneylender? Did he get tired of waiting and go after Myles and have a heated argument that ended in death? If the victim has been Myles's son Mortimer, the moneylender theory would make more sense.
I noted one minor typo, one minor historical error and one possible big error that would keep the plot the same. Wouldn't Myles be the heir after Damien and then once he dies, his son Mortimer? It still makes sense for him to want to murder his nephew and Bea though either way. Chocolate was processed in mills but yes it was difficult to prepare as it came in a block and had to be scraped, flavored, poured into hot milk, frothed and served in the correct chocolate pot and cups. I've tried it and it's AH-MAZING! If you're in the U.S. you can try American Heritage Chocolate (Mars company) at Colonial Williamsburg and buy it there or at Mount Vernon or a few other historic locations.
I eagerly await the next installment! It's hard to believe they've only been married 6 weeks. I hope the happy couple gets a break from murder for a few months at least and I hope Bea is successful in her war against pineapple!
This story is so much fun! The series is back on track after a few missteps since Bea and Kesgrave's wedding and a detour into Flora's adventure. The plot is a good blend of romance and mystery. I read this more for the romance than the mystery and I am so happy to see Bea and Damien working out their expectations for married life (and I don't just mean in the bedroom, although there's plenty of that too - behind closed doors). I really appreciate how well they know each other and can read each other's moods. We learn more about Damien's family background and the Matlocks are as dysfunctional as the Hyde-Clares were presumed to be. I don't know how many Dukes and Duchesses actually spent that much time with their children but normal families don't have uncles trying to kill them from the moment of their birth. Myles must be singularly stupid because what's to stop the Duke from having more children? It was legal and within his rights to force his wife to comply even if she didn't wish to- sadly. The Matlock family history explains a lot about why he's so close to his grandmother and why Marlowe is so overprotective.
I just love Bea! I relate to her so much, as an introvert bookworm myself I understand her desire to spend all her days reading. I also share her aversion to pineapple and would probably hesitate to tell the chef fearing he would quit. She's much better than she used to be living with her aunt and uncle. They emotionally abused her and she was in danger of becoming a Fanny Price. Enter the Duke of Kesgrave standing over a dead body! That encounter changed their lives forever. Bea is so clever. I never would have put those clues together. In my reread, I noticed she had a piece of information in her hands but dismissed it. My favorite part is the romance. I adore their witty banter and how they charm each other out of a somber mood with silliness and pedantry. Damien is willing to fight for Bea even when she wants to back down. They talk about their problems and work through them. Being in a love match is all new to both of them and it exceeds either of their expectations. Bea is used to being meek and compliant. Only with Damien is she free to be herself. He has to learn to let go and open up to her more. I appreciate the author having them talk to each other instead of the usual "he/she must not love me!" trope. They're learning and growing. I also appreciate the commentary on women's rights and what women normally can expect from marriage at this time. It's subtle but it's there. Thank goodness someone killed Mr. Otley LOL!
It was hysterically funny to see Mrs. Norton turn unto Bea. She even, sincerely, says to Bea "you cannot know how humiliating it is to realize the event that had a profound impact on your life was but a passing moment to everyone else." HA! That's not the only way she's turning into Bea. I was hoping for these rivals to team up to investigate. I'm not sure Mrs. Norton is truly sincere. She seems to have done a complete 180 turn and is overcompensating for being a meal girl before. I think she wants to get back into Almack's. Yet, the lengths she goes to PROVE to Bea that she's telling the truth show that she may actually be sincere. I could totally have done without Flora and her subplot. It makes the book too long and I still find her immaturity tedious. (You must read A Boldly Daring Scheme before this book.)
Lord Myles Matlock, uncle to the present Duke, younger son of the dowager, was a sad, sorry man. I almost feel bad for him. I would if he wasn't so nasty. Why does he have such a puffed up ego? The Dowager is lovely so why are her two sons so horrid? Her eldest was cruel and nasty. Her younger is a nasty, stupid wastrel who can't solve his own problems. Maybe he's not that stupid, given what the Duke and Duchess uncover during their investigation. So who killed him if it wasn't Damien? It seems kind of obvious. Is it the miscreant who ran out the door when Damien tried to stop him upon arriving on the scene? Tyne, law clerk to Mr. Douglas Jordan, does not seem the murderous type. He's slight, speaks with a stammer and cares about the safety of his parents. A better choice would be Mr. Douglas Jordan, Myles's solicitor. According to Mrs. Norton, Mr. Jordan knows about the plot to kill Bea. Is he so stupid as to go along with it? That's disgusting. Why not tell the Duke? Why does no one think Damien won't move heaven and earth to find out what happened to Bea? Does Mr. Jordan value his job and the money he gets, however, little? Does he value client privilege that much? This is MURDER we're talking here, not stock trading. Murder of a peeress too. Mr. Jordan disappeared and can't be found. Is he safe with an alibi or dead or in danger? I think he's the murderer.
Mr. Tyne points fingers at Mr. Phineas "Hell and Fury" Hawes, "The King of Saffron Hill", a crime lord who has his finger in every pie. Murder is definitely in his line. He has a strong motive for murder but this murder seems a little clumsy for someone like Hawes. However, his hit man may have made a mistake or misunderstood directions. Someone like Hawes wouldn't get his own hands dirty. He's ruthless and scary but can be charming when he wants to be. His interest in Bea and her crime solving skills is disconcerting. Does he know more about the sinister plot to take her life? The hitman, Thomas "Bludge" Bludgeon, certainly seems the type to have killed Myles in the heat of the moment. Sure a candlestick is one of the tools of his trade but he wouldn't be so clumsy as to kill someone in broad daylight if it was premeditated. This was surely a falling out among thieves. He's a comical sort of villain but still terrifying. What about the moneylender? Did he get tired of waiting and go after Myles and have a heated argument that ended in death? If the victim has been Myles's son Mortimer, the moneylender theory would make more sense.
I noted one minor typo, one minor historical error and one possible big error that would keep the plot the same. Wouldn't Myles be the heir after Damien and then once he dies, his son Mortimer? It still makes sense for him to want to murder his nephew and Bea though either way. Chocolate was processed in mills but yes it was difficult to prepare as it came in a block and had to be scraped, flavored, poured into hot milk, frothed and served in the correct chocolate pot and cups. I've tried it and it's AH-MAZING! If you're in the U.S. you can try American Heritage Chocolate (Mars company) at Colonial Williamsburg and buy it there or at Mount Vernon or a few other historic locations.
I eagerly await the next installment! It's hard to believe they've only been married 6 weeks. I hope the happy couple gets a break from murder for a few months at least and I hope Bea is successful in her war against pineapple!
November 15, 2021
Rating: 4 stars
What I Liked: I enjoyed this instalment to the series. It wasn’t my favourite, but I thought there were some interesting things going on in it. The mystery was a little bit different - it felt less like a traditional murder mystery to me and I thought the way it all resolved was quite clever and unusual. It was fun to try and piece all of it together. It was also good to finally find out some of Damien’s backstory - as terrible as it actually turned out to be.
I also liked the introduction of Hawes as a character. I don’t know if he’ll show up again, but he was exactly the kind of villainous character I like in a novel like this.
I liked some of the development to Beatrice and Damien’s relationship, too. There were some really lovely moments and I thought Damien’s love for Beatrice really shone through.
What I Didn’t: I found it a little slow, especially to get going at the start. Lynn Messina’s writing style is always quite wordy and I normally enjoy this but there were some parts of this that felt very dense to read. I also found some of the conflict between Beatrice and Damien a bit unresolved, for lack of a better phrase.
Overall: This had some interesting ideas and I liked the darker tone running through it. The mystery is well-constructed and, whilst there were no big or shocking twists, it was very satisfying to read it and try to work it out alongside Beatrice. I do like how Lynn Messina writes a mystery - she’s very clever at giving the reader a chance to work out the solution themselves. There was a little bit of conflict between Beatrice and Damien that, whilst I thought it was necessary, I would have liked a bit more resolution on, but overall I enjoyed reading it and thought it was a good addition to the series.
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, if you’ve read the other books in the series and are looking for a cozy regency mystery with an established relationship for romance. I really wouldn’t recommend trying to read this without reading all of the other books in the series first.
Would I Read Something By The Author Again?: Yes, absolutely!
Content Notes:
What I Liked: I enjoyed this instalment to the series. It wasn’t my favourite, but I thought there were some interesting things going on in it. The mystery was a little bit different - it felt less like a traditional murder mystery to me and I thought the way it all resolved was quite clever and unusual. It was fun to try and piece all of it together. It was also good to finally find out some of Damien’s backstory - as terrible as it actually turned out to be.
I also liked the introduction of Hawes as a character. I don’t know if he’ll show up again, but he was exactly the kind of villainous character I like in a novel like this.
I liked some of the development to Beatrice and Damien’s relationship, too. There were some really lovely moments and I thought Damien’s love for Beatrice really shone through.
What I Didn’t: I found it a little slow, especially to get going at the start. Lynn Messina’s writing style is always quite wordy and I normally enjoy this but there were some parts of this that felt very dense to read. I also found some of the conflict between Beatrice and Damien a bit unresolved, for lack of a better phrase.
Overall: This had some interesting ideas and I liked the darker tone running through it. The mystery is well-constructed and, whilst there were no big or shocking twists, it was very satisfying to read it and try to work it out alongside Beatrice. I do like how Lynn Messina writes a mystery - she’s very clever at giving the reader a chance to work out the solution themselves. There was a little bit of conflict between Beatrice and Damien that, whilst I thought it was necessary, I would have liked a bit more resolution on, but overall I enjoyed reading it and thought it was a good addition to the series.
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, if you’ve read the other books in the series and are looking for a cozy regency mystery with an established relationship for romance. I really wouldn’t recommend trying to read this without reading all of the other books in the series first.
Would I Read Something By The Author Again?: Yes, absolutely!
Content Notes:
June 24, 2024
Excellent story, mystery and characters- but I find my interest waning after 8 books (this is mislabeled as #9). I desire to speak proper English as I am reading this series and watching Downton Abbey (again)- its too much!
I love the Duke and this mystery hit close to home for him. Apparently he had a rough upbringing and his Uncle wants Bea and him dead. This was a bit of a stretch, with all the characters coming together there at the end, but I had a few good highlights I enjoyed.
Thinking fondly of her family and their efforts:
And even with their coordinated effort to regulate her conduct, Bea still managed to mortify them.
They had their moments, still adjusting to married life:
"But then you came along, your grace, and set a rigorous schedule for acquiring the various skills necessary to defend myself when any other man in the world would have told me in uncertain terms that I would not be investigating any more murders.
By treating me with more respect and dignity than I could have ever imagined, you set an expectation of equality, and if you are now going to revert to form, which, I concede, you have every right to do as the male of the species, then I must insist you allow me to leave this marriage so that I can wed a man who does not make me yearn for something more.”
Excellent banter:
It was a very neat trick, boxing her in with her own words, and Bea looked at him with admiration mingled with aggravation. “I cannot argue with that, your grace. Nicely done.”
“I know from experience that you can argue with it,” he replied with humor, “and the fact that you choose not to means a great deal to me. Thank you.”
And:
Appalled, Bea stiffened her shoulders and glared at her husband. “Now you tell me this, your grace, after the knot is well and truly tied? Our entire relationship is based on your boring me with the details, and if you had intended to switch to stating only pertinent facts after our marriage, then I do wish you had had the courtesy to share that detail before we wed so that I could have found myself a less interesting beau.”
This surly rebuke, issued with a peevish frown, delighted the duke, whose enthusiastic response left her more than a little breathless.
And:
“Archnemeses, plural?” she asked. “Just how many people do you think I have managed to offend during my six seasons of wallflowering?”
“Given how readily you abuse me, I can only assume the number is legion,” he replied.
This did bother me a bit, how Bea was so hurt that the Duke had moved ahead with plans without consulting her. But every investigation feels like Bea charges along interviewing suspects and making promises without consulting the Duke. It is hypocritical on Bea's part and I hope he brings it up to her.
Taking a break for now but will be happy to return to this series later!
I love the Duke and this mystery hit close to home for him. Apparently he had a rough upbringing and his Uncle wants Bea and him dead. This was a bit of a stretch, with all the characters coming together there at the end, but I had a few good highlights I enjoyed.
Thinking fondly of her family and their efforts:
And even with their coordinated effort to regulate her conduct, Bea still managed to mortify them.
They had their moments, still adjusting to married life:
"But then you came along, your grace, and set a rigorous schedule for acquiring the various skills necessary to defend myself when any other man in the world would have told me in uncertain terms that I would not be investigating any more murders.
By treating me with more respect and dignity than I could have ever imagined, you set an expectation of equality, and if you are now going to revert to form, which, I concede, you have every right to do as the male of the species, then I must insist you allow me to leave this marriage so that I can wed a man who does not make me yearn for something more.”
Excellent banter:
It was a very neat trick, boxing her in with her own words, and Bea looked at him with admiration mingled with aggravation. “I cannot argue with that, your grace. Nicely done.”
“I know from experience that you can argue with it,” he replied with humor, “and the fact that you choose not to means a great deal to me. Thank you.”
And:
Appalled, Bea stiffened her shoulders and glared at her husband. “Now you tell me this, your grace, after the knot is well and truly tied? Our entire relationship is based on your boring me with the details, and if you had intended to switch to stating only pertinent facts after our marriage, then I do wish you had had the courtesy to share that detail before we wed so that I could have found myself a less interesting beau.”
This surly rebuke, issued with a peevish frown, delighted the duke, whose enthusiastic response left her more than a little breathless.
And:
“Archnemeses, plural?” she asked. “Just how many people do you think I have managed to offend during my six seasons of wallflowering?”
“Given how readily you abuse me, I can only assume the number is legion,” he replied.
This did bother me a bit, how Bea was so hurt that the Duke had moved ahead with plans without consulting her. But every investigation feels like Bea charges along interviewing suspects and making promises without consulting the Duke. It is hypocritical on Bea's part and I hope he brings it up to her.
Taking a break for now but will be happy to return to this series later!
November 17, 2021
3.5*
‘Overseeing the finest residence in London, Mrs. Wallace would be deeply troubled to learn that all her new mistress needed was a book, a comfortable chair and enough light by which to read.’
I am such a fan of Lynn’s work and have reviewed many of her books (HERE). Having partaken in her Regency Cozy Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries before, I was eager to return to the story of Beatrice and Damien once more.
A Malevolent Connection is the 9th book in this series and these are fun, light and entertaining reads. A little romance, a little mystery and loads of banter to bring a smile to your dial :)
“I trust in the future you will remember that I am never the problem.”
Quick to read and not necessary to have read others in the series (though obviously, it will enhance your experience) I highly recommend you sample some of Lynn’s writing. The characters are great with the banter between Bea and Damien an absolute highlight. I did find this one a tad slow in parts with the inner monologues from Bea a bit too much - I wanted more interaction.
With murders to solve and chaos to reign in, these light and fun regency romps (solely in the sleuth solving department) are sure to please. It is the perfect book to make that cup of tea with and while away the hour with the quick witted Beatrice and Damien Kesgrave.
‘… life was not lived in the grand moments. No, it was lived in the banal little exchanges that occurred day after day, and it was the accumulation of these insignificant interactions that made up a relationship. That was where the truth resided - in the cracks between grandiosities.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
‘Overseeing the finest residence in London, Mrs. Wallace would be deeply troubled to learn that all her new mistress needed was a book, a comfortable chair and enough light by which to read.’
I am such a fan of Lynn’s work and have reviewed many of her books (HERE). Having partaken in her Regency Cozy Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries before, I was eager to return to the story of Beatrice and Damien once more.
A Malevolent Connection is the 9th book in this series and these are fun, light and entertaining reads. A little romance, a little mystery and loads of banter to bring a smile to your dial :)
“I trust in the future you will remember that I am never the problem.”
Quick to read and not necessary to have read others in the series (though obviously, it will enhance your experience) I highly recommend you sample some of Lynn’s writing. The characters are great with the banter between Bea and Damien an absolute highlight. I did find this one a tad slow in parts with the inner monologues from Bea a bit too much - I wanted more interaction.
With murders to solve and chaos to reign in, these light and fun regency romps (solely in the sleuth solving department) are sure to please. It is the perfect book to make that cup of tea with and while away the hour with the quick witted Beatrice and Damien Kesgrave.
‘… life was not lived in the grand moments. No, it was lived in the banal little exchanges that occurred day after day, and it was the accumulation of these insignificant interactions that made up a relationship. That was where the truth resided - in the cracks between grandiosities.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
November 6, 2021
Review of ARC Edition
The new Duchess of Kesgrave, Beatrice Hyde-Clare, finds herself pitted against the Duke’s uncle, Lord Myles Matlock. It seems that Damien’s uncle has engaged a thug to murder Bea, thus ensuring that his son, Mortimer, will become the Duke’s heir.
But when the Duchess finds her husband standing over the body of his uncle, bloody candlestick in hand, can she find a way to prove that Damien did not murder the man?
=========
“A Malevolent Connection,” ninth in the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, opens with Beatrice’s arch-rival fawning over Bea as she seeks forgiveness. But she also brings a warning of a threat against the Duchess. Although there are many references to the previous book, readers will find that here there is a much stronger focus on the Duke’s family. The characters are well-drawn and believable, the plot twisty and unpredictable.
Bea’s continual insistence on having Damien check with her and receive approval for his actions ultimately becomes annoying and, although the roles of women in the Regency era are quite clear, this feels a bit like being struck over the head with a sledgehammer. However, the relationship between Bea and Damien somewhat tempers this ultra-feminist stance; their banter is one of the highlights of the narrative.
A bit about pineapple running through the story provides a bit of humor in the telling of the tale as the unfolding narrative offers readers a few unexpected surprises as it races toward a satisfactory denouement.
Recommended, especially for fans of the series.
I received a free copy of this eBook from The Book Whisperer, Potatoworks Press and NetGalley
#AMalevolentConnection #NetGalley
The new Duchess of Kesgrave, Beatrice Hyde-Clare, finds herself pitted against the Duke’s uncle, Lord Myles Matlock. It seems that Damien’s uncle has engaged a thug to murder Bea, thus ensuring that his son, Mortimer, will become the Duke’s heir.
But when the Duchess finds her husband standing over the body of his uncle, bloody candlestick in hand, can she find a way to prove that Damien did not murder the man?
=========
“A Malevolent Connection,” ninth in the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, opens with Beatrice’s arch-rival fawning over Bea as she seeks forgiveness. But she also brings a warning of a threat against the Duchess. Although there are many references to the previous book, readers will find that here there is a much stronger focus on the Duke’s family. The characters are well-drawn and believable, the plot twisty and unpredictable.
Bea’s continual insistence on having Damien check with her and receive approval for his actions ultimately becomes annoying and, although the roles of women in the Regency era are quite clear, this feels a bit like being struck over the head with a sledgehammer. However, the relationship between Bea and Damien somewhat tempers this ultra-feminist stance; their banter is one of the highlights of the narrative.
A bit about pineapple running through the story provides a bit of humor in the telling of the tale as the unfolding narrative offers readers a few unexpected surprises as it races toward a satisfactory denouement.
Recommended, especially for fans of the series.
I received a free copy of this eBook from The Book Whisperer, Potatoworks Press and NetGalley
#AMalevolentConnection #NetGalley
November 10, 2021
Thank you to Potatoworks Press and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this novel.
A Malevolent Connection - Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries #9 was challenging to read without the context from the previous books in the series. It was incredibly drawn-out in the beginning - WOW there were a considerable amount of words to get to the point.
This novel is part historical romance and a mystery. The newly wed Duke and Duchess soon find themselves investigating a murder, pointing fingers to uncover the truth. Bea is a strong female protagonist and determinant in her ways. Hence, pineapples! Just how many ways can it be incorporated into a meal?
It was good cozy regency mystery.
A Malevolent Connection - Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries #9 was challenging to read without the context from the previous books in the series. It was incredibly drawn-out in the beginning - WOW there were a considerable amount of words to get to the point.
This novel is part historical romance and a mystery. The newly wed Duke and Duchess soon find themselves investigating a murder, pointing fingers to uncover the truth. Bea is a strong female protagonist and determinant in her ways. Hence, pineapples! Just how many ways can it be incorporated into a meal?
It was good cozy regency mystery.
November 25, 2021
DNF at 30 pages.
I liked the first couple of books of this series. But the third book annoyed me. My biggest complaint was that the author used the entire first part of the book to bring everyone up to speed on what happened in the previous two books in excruciating detail. It stalled the forward momentum of that story.
So I peaced out on this series. Since I still had fond memories if the first couple of books, I decided to jump ahead -- this is book 9 -- to see if the story flowed better.
Nope. The first 20-ish pages is nothing but data dumpy exposition of all the stiff that happened in the preceding books. So. Much. Explanation. I even skipped whole passages hoping we'd get to the start of this story. But I'd land on another spot of meandery long-winded thought.
So I peaced out again.
I liked the first couple of books of this series. But the third book annoyed me. My biggest complaint was that the author used the entire first part of the book to bring everyone up to speed on what happened in the previous two books in excruciating detail. It stalled the forward momentum of that story.
So I peaced out on this series. Since I still had fond memories if the first couple of books, I decided to jump ahead -- this is book 9 -- to see if the story flowed better.
Nope. The first 20-ish pages is nothing but data dumpy exposition of all the stiff that happened in the preceding books. So. Much. Explanation. I even skipped whole passages hoping we'd get to the start of this story. But I'd land on another spot of meandery long-winded thought.
So I peaced out again.
March 13, 2025
Excellent romantic regency murder mystery
Murder isn't cozy, and this story has some definitely uncozy bad guys. The duke's past is revealed, and Bea continues to define her marriage. The romance between these two is the cozy; it's lovely, and heartwarming, and humorous, and satisfying.
Murder isn't cozy, and this story has some definitely uncozy bad guys. The duke's past is revealed, and Bea continues to define her marriage. The romance between these two is the cozy; it's lovely, and heartwarming, and humorous, and satisfying.
February 4, 2022
Original
Sigh. Really did not want this one to end because the next will not be out for a couple of months
This series is truly unique and with the authors wit and humor combined with fascinating characters is one of the best ever. The narrator has been perfect too!
Sigh. Really did not want this one to end because the next will not be out for a couple of months
This series is truly unique and with the authors wit and humor combined with fascinating characters is one of the best ever. The narrator has been perfect too!
October 9, 2022
The mystery in this one wasn’t quite as good as in previous books and I found my mind wandering a bit at times. Bea certainly changed her mind enough times jumping to conclusions about the guilty party. I also felt like Bea overreacted at least once where Kesgrave was concerned and that annoyed me. That said, I still enjoyed the book overall and love the series.
February 22, 2022
3.5 stars. Would recommend to existing fans of the series. The relationship between Bea and Kesgrave is great as ever.
November 8, 2022
Another very enjoyable book in this series. And I’m loving Bea and Kesgrave.
January 8, 2022
another great story
Another enjoyable Beatrice & the duke story. The first 10% was almost all recap, but the story picked up shortly after.
Another enjoyable Beatrice & the duke story. The first 10% was almost all recap, but the story picked up shortly after.
October 26, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC so I could write this too-long review.
I really do love this series, and it's maybe the only clean regency series I actively read, so I can't evaluate this as someone new to the series, and don't think it would necessarily work without the context of the other books (nor do I think it's intended to). Like the other books in this series, it is slow to start and there's a lot of exposition on Bea and her investigating, and her relationship with Kesgrave. The mystery was much less appealing to me this time - she spent most of the book with Kesgrave, making them seem more like partners (similar to the first few books), and I loved how their relationship developed in this book.
If you don't like banter and a h/H who are frequently silly with each other, it probably won't work for you. Fortunately for me, I love banter, and Bea fervently wishing she could fling food items at Damien's head in the first book is one of my favorite details in a romance novel. Bea and Damien have such chemistry that really drives this series, and it was nice to see them have substantial conflict with each other, and to learn more about Kesgrave's life. I wish these books were longer, because it feels like each of them gets is either a satisfying mystery or a satisfying romance, but not both.
A lot of details are brushed over - Bea is taking self-defense lessons, which we learn almost nothing about. There was an entire book in this series from Flora's perspective, but she's only in the rest of the books as Bea's flighty cousin. I want to know about her and Holcroft, which is absolutely something that could be part of the series, even as part of Bea's pserspective. They're mentioned in a chapter of this book, and Holcroft's cousin reappears, but it isn't a satisfying show of growth among their relationship or for Flora alone.
Ironically, since I know my review is verbose, the writing in these books can be so wrought and so specific as to be tedious, but other parts of the stories which would be interesting and still contribute to the story are skimmed over at best. I enjoyed this addition to the series inasmuch as it complicates Bea and Damien's relationship, but found it lacking as a mystery novel and in the development of other characters and the general world/environment Messina has developed in this series.
I really do love this series, and it's maybe the only clean regency series I actively read, so I can't evaluate this as someone new to the series, and don't think it would necessarily work without the context of the other books (nor do I think it's intended to). Like the other books in this series, it is slow to start and there's a lot of exposition on Bea and her investigating, and her relationship with Kesgrave. The mystery was much less appealing to me this time - she spent most of the book with Kesgrave, making them seem more like partners (similar to the first few books), and I loved how their relationship developed in this book.
If you don't like banter and a h/H who are frequently silly with each other, it probably won't work for you. Fortunately for me, I love banter, and Bea fervently wishing she could fling food items at Damien's head in the first book is one of my favorite details in a romance novel. Bea and Damien have such chemistry that really drives this series, and it was nice to see them have substantial conflict with each other, and to learn more about Kesgrave's life. I wish these books were longer, because it feels like each of them gets is either a satisfying mystery or a satisfying romance, but not both.
A lot of details are brushed over - Bea is taking self-defense lessons, which we learn almost nothing about. There was an entire book in this series from Flora's perspective, but she's only in the rest of the books as Bea's flighty cousin. I want to know about her and Holcroft, which is absolutely something that could be part of the series, even as part of Bea's pserspective. They're mentioned in a chapter of this book, and Holcroft's cousin reappears, but it isn't a satisfying show of growth among their relationship or for Flora alone.
Ironically, since I know my review is verbose, the writing in these books can be so wrought and so specific as to be tedious, but other parts of the stories which would be interesting and still contribute to the story are skimmed over at best. I enjoyed this addition to the series inasmuch as it complicates Bea and Damien's relationship, but found it lacking as a mystery novel and in the development of other characters and the general world/environment Messina has developed in this series.
November 20, 2021
A Malevolent Connection: A Regency Cozy (Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries Book 9), Lynn Messina.
Regency, cozy murder-mystery romance.
Told in the third person POV of Beatrice Hyde-Clare, now Duchess Kesgraves, this novel is a Regency, cozy murder-mystery cum romance. Set in Berkley Square, A Malevolent Connection, book 9, was my first of the series. It took a third of the book to get to the plot or mystery. The slow start is unusual in the crime genre and made me flip pages to get to somewhere more interesting. Even once the plot started, the excessive descriptions and setting might not entice other mystery readers like me.
The mystery and investigation gathered momentum after the 60% mark. There were satisfying red herrings and conjectures. Bea and her new husband, Damien Kesgraves, made good sparring partners. I wasn't sure who the murderer was, though there was a scant pool of 3 suspects. That was well done in what should have been a novella. More judicious editing called for perhaps..
Bea speaks before her head has caught up. Her heart falls even further back in her lengthy verbal digressions, which made me skim ahead. She can give offence yet the constant references to the Kesgraves' status and aristocracy seem to make her impervious to harm. In today's age, one expects people to receive merit from their actions rather than their status.
I was not expecting so much exposition from a much published author. So much tell not show. Also, much reference to past crimes solved or murder attempts thwarted, that had no bearing to the current plot. The author demonstrates her extensive vocabulary in verbose writing, overusing adverbs and adjectives, so it's hard to see what point she is making. Devoting a chapter plus to the protagonist's dislike of pineapple, which the cook added to all dishes, savory or sweet, made this reader as overcome with ennui as the heroine. Then the female antagonist of a previous book in the series, Mrs Norton, couldn't get to the point. That she was warning Bea of a threat to her life should have been compelling. But wasn't.
Humour is a personal taste. The humour in A Malevolent Connection was too deliberate for my liking.
Thanks to Potatoworks Press, The Book Whisperer and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. #AMalevolentConnection #NetGalley.
This review also appears in Netgalley, Amazon and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/...
Regency, cozy murder-mystery romance.
Told in the third person POV of Beatrice Hyde-Clare, now Duchess Kesgraves, this novel is a Regency, cozy murder-mystery cum romance. Set in Berkley Square, A Malevolent Connection, book 9, was my first of the series. It took a third of the book to get to the plot or mystery. The slow start is unusual in the crime genre and made me flip pages to get to somewhere more interesting. Even once the plot started, the excessive descriptions and setting might not entice other mystery readers like me.
The mystery and investigation gathered momentum after the 60% mark. There were satisfying red herrings and conjectures. Bea and her new husband, Damien Kesgraves, made good sparring partners. I wasn't sure who the murderer was, though there was a scant pool of 3 suspects. That was well done in what should have been a novella. More judicious editing called for perhaps..
Bea speaks before her head has caught up. Her heart falls even further back in her lengthy verbal digressions, which made me skim ahead. She can give offence yet the constant references to the Kesgraves' status and aristocracy seem to make her impervious to harm. In today's age, one expects people to receive merit from their actions rather than their status.
I was not expecting so much exposition from a much published author. So much tell not show. Also, much reference to past crimes solved or murder attempts thwarted, that had no bearing to the current plot. The author demonstrates her extensive vocabulary in verbose writing, overusing adverbs and adjectives, so it's hard to see what point she is making. Devoting a chapter plus to the protagonist's dislike of pineapple, which the cook added to all dishes, savory or sweet, made this reader as overcome with ennui as the heroine. Then the female antagonist of a previous book in the series, Mrs Norton, couldn't get to the point. That she was warning Bea of a threat to her life should have been compelling. But wasn't.
Humour is a personal taste. The humour in A Malevolent Connection was too deliberate for my liking.
Thanks to Potatoworks Press, The Book Whisperer and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. #AMalevolentConnection #NetGalley.
This review also appears in Netgalley, Amazon and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/...
November 17, 2023
Book nine in this Beatrice Hyde-White series begins as most of her books do, with a recap of what has gone before. It’s tedious, and if a reader is up on the Beatrice and Damien’s happenings, then speed-reading—or even skipping to the second chapter—is advisable. The reader won’t lose the thread of the book’s plot.
Shades of the first book! We have a repeat of the duke standing over a body and the writer cannot resist beating her readers over the head with all Bea’s hyperactive hypothesizing, all carried out in her head. We are privy to the overwhelming forwards/backwards/sideways thoughts our heroine sifts through – is the duke guilty? What caused him to cosh a man over the head? Did he lose his temper? And so on…only to end up with the rationale that of course he didn’t do it. He couldn’t. He just couldn’t. And so, it goes.
Half the book is filled with Beatrice’s meandering thoughts. Some are fascinating as her mind is facile and clever, taking the reader along for a generally interesting ride. However, it can get old and even trite, when Beatrice once again finds herself lacking and cannot stop herself from being critical. It is easy, though, to skip whole paragraphs—pages, even—and not lose a scintilla of the plotline. That’s what I’ve learned to do, and it does not decrease my enjoyment of Ms. Messina’s Hyde-White stories one whit.
This time, Bea’s life is at risk. Book eight ended with her life nearly being taken—and this is mentioned several times in the book—so no spoiler alert needed. The writer has spoiled the ending of the previous book all on her own. A plot to kill the newly minted duchess is unearthed by Mrs. Norton, an unlikely villainess from Bea’s debutante season. She is self-serving in her delivery of the murder plot to the duchess (Bea) because the duke has had Mrs. Norton’s Almack’s vouchers rescinded and Mrs. Norton is bereft without entry to that august body of the bon ton. Mrs. Norton serves her purpose, then exits stage right, never to return, although she’s talked about from time to time.
Every secondary character introduced in this book is self-serving. We meet the king of the underworld, a Mr. Hawes, and one of his henchmen, Thomas “the Bludgeon,” Trudgeon. We also become acquainted with the legal world of lawyers and law clerks. And heaven forfend(!), Flora returns, perhaps one of the most self-serving characters in all the Hyde-Clare books. This time, Flora’s apparent purpose is to get Beatrice into a lawyer’s office then—having served her purpose—she pretty much disappears…all to the good, in my humble opinion. For several books now, I haven’t been able to warm to that character. Perhaps we readers aren’t meant to. If so, mission accomplished!
Where Ms. Messina usually shines is her portrayal of Damian and Beatrice—the Duke and Duchess of Kesgrave—and the staff that runs their palatial home. There’s always a quibble going on. This time it’s pineapples slipped into every dish by their temperamental chef. The chef believes Beatrice loves pineapples and contrives to include them in all sorts of otherwise benevolent dishes. Alas, Beatrice despises them but—like the duke—cannot see her way to complain to any of their servants, let alone their chef.
I like the Damien/Beatrice interactions, and I like the two of them as a couple. In this book their staff is even more adroit in their deference and protection of the couple. This is the best part of the book, for all that it’s a murder mystery. Damien and Beatrice, and their staff, are always entertaining and enjoyable to spend time with. Here, we get a look at Damien’s past as a boy. Unhappily, Beatrice makes even this about herself, and her self-doubts overwhelm her…and the reader, as well. She comes to a rapid conclusion that their marriage is not based on what she had expected, a true equality and meeting of the minds. It is painful reading her maudlin misgivings and a relief when she reaches the other side, with Damien’s help and reassurances. At some point in these books—and this has been the ninth opportunity—Beatrice will surely work through this and come through a better person without crippling uncertainties and recriminations. Now that would be a wonderful character arc.
There are few errors, but there are some places that give a reader pause.
“I would never would have acted….” That’s one too many “woulds.” It appears to be an editing error. One or the other “would” needs to be removed.
There is the usual indiscriminate use of “your grace,” when more than one “grace” is present. Here, it is a lawyer saying, “My goodness, your grace…” with both the duke and duchess standing before him.
Beatrice is thinking about the duke in a poverty-stricken part of London, “The Duke of Kesgrave had no idea what it felt like to be worthless.” Neither does Beatrice, really, not in the sense of extreme poverty that leads people to extreme acts, which is where her thoughts have taken us.
At times, it can be difficult to decide who is being referenced. For instance, Beatrice has been thinking about multiple men in the context of the murder. When the writer tells us, “Instead, she sent Joseph with a missive requesting he meet her in the back parlor,” we don’t know which “he” she is referring to. In a couple paragraphs, it becomes apparent, but initially it pulls the reader out of the story to consider who she’s referencing.
I rated this book 3-stars. It is pedantic, much like the writer’s description of the duke, but without the duke’s humor and kindness. Beatrice goes on far too long with her inner diatribes of self-doubt. The unraveling of the murderer is also couched in long-winded observations where Beatrice knows who the killer is, then takes it back to follow another tack, then returns again. It’s overwritten and overdone. And yet, the Duke and Duchess of Kesgrave remain two of my favorite characters. Their conversations are diverting and their actions—and words—highlight how much they love each other. I will definitely read the next book. Regardless of the irritation of superfluous characters and monotonous inner dialogues, I am completely charmed by Beatrice and her duke.
Sidebar: There is a problem with the Notes feature in Kindle. When I try to find the several notes I made while reading the book, this message displays, “You haven’t made any note or highlights. Any annotations you make will be collected here.” When I open the “Your Clippings” document on my Kindle reader, they display without a problem.
Shades of the first book! We have a repeat of the duke standing over a body and the writer cannot resist beating her readers over the head with all Bea’s hyperactive hypothesizing, all carried out in her head. We are privy to the overwhelming forwards/backwards/sideways thoughts our heroine sifts through – is the duke guilty? What caused him to cosh a man over the head? Did he lose his temper? And so on…only to end up with the rationale that of course he didn’t do it. He couldn’t. He just couldn’t. And so, it goes.
Half the book is filled with Beatrice’s meandering thoughts. Some are fascinating as her mind is facile and clever, taking the reader along for a generally interesting ride. However, it can get old and even trite, when Beatrice once again finds herself lacking and cannot stop herself from being critical. It is easy, though, to skip whole paragraphs—pages, even—and not lose a scintilla of the plotline. That’s what I’ve learned to do, and it does not decrease my enjoyment of Ms. Messina’s Hyde-White stories one whit.
This time, Bea’s life is at risk. Book eight ended with her life nearly being taken—and this is mentioned several times in the book—so no spoiler alert needed. The writer has spoiled the ending of the previous book all on her own. A plot to kill the newly minted duchess is unearthed by Mrs. Norton, an unlikely villainess from Bea’s debutante season. She is self-serving in her delivery of the murder plot to the duchess (Bea) because the duke has had Mrs. Norton’s Almack’s vouchers rescinded and Mrs. Norton is bereft without entry to that august body of the bon ton. Mrs. Norton serves her purpose, then exits stage right, never to return, although she’s talked about from time to time.
Every secondary character introduced in this book is self-serving. We meet the king of the underworld, a Mr. Hawes, and one of his henchmen, Thomas “the Bludgeon,” Trudgeon. We also become acquainted with the legal world of lawyers and law clerks. And heaven forfend(!), Flora returns, perhaps one of the most self-serving characters in all the Hyde-Clare books. This time, Flora’s apparent purpose is to get Beatrice into a lawyer’s office then—having served her purpose—she pretty much disappears…all to the good, in my humble opinion. For several books now, I haven’t been able to warm to that character. Perhaps we readers aren’t meant to. If so, mission accomplished!
Where Ms. Messina usually shines is her portrayal of Damian and Beatrice—the Duke and Duchess of Kesgrave—and the staff that runs their palatial home. There’s always a quibble going on. This time it’s pineapples slipped into every dish by their temperamental chef. The chef believes Beatrice loves pineapples and contrives to include them in all sorts of otherwise benevolent dishes. Alas, Beatrice despises them but—like the duke—cannot see her way to complain to any of their servants, let alone their chef.
I like the Damien/Beatrice interactions, and I like the two of them as a couple. In this book their staff is even more adroit in their deference and protection of the couple. This is the best part of the book, for all that it’s a murder mystery. Damien and Beatrice, and their staff, are always entertaining and enjoyable to spend time with. Here, we get a look at Damien’s past as a boy. Unhappily, Beatrice makes even this about herself, and her self-doubts overwhelm her…and the reader, as well. She comes to a rapid conclusion that their marriage is not based on what she had expected, a true equality and meeting of the minds. It is painful reading her maudlin misgivings and a relief when she reaches the other side, with Damien’s help and reassurances. At some point in these books—and this has been the ninth opportunity—Beatrice will surely work through this and come through a better person without crippling uncertainties and recriminations. Now that would be a wonderful character arc.
There are few errors, but there are some places that give a reader pause.
“I would never would have acted….” That’s one too many “woulds.” It appears to be an editing error. One or the other “would” needs to be removed.
There is the usual indiscriminate use of “your grace,” when more than one “grace” is present. Here, it is a lawyer saying, “My goodness, your grace…” with both the duke and duchess standing before him.
Beatrice is thinking about the duke in a poverty-stricken part of London, “The Duke of Kesgrave had no idea what it felt like to be worthless.” Neither does Beatrice, really, not in the sense of extreme poverty that leads people to extreme acts, which is where her thoughts have taken us.
At times, it can be difficult to decide who is being referenced. For instance, Beatrice has been thinking about multiple men in the context of the murder. When the writer tells us, “Instead, she sent Joseph with a missive requesting he meet her in the back parlor,” we don’t know which “he” she is referring to. In a couple paragraphs, it becomes apparent, but initially it pulls the reader out of the story to consider who she’s referencing.
I rated this book 3-stars. It is pedantic, much like the writer’s description of the duke, but without the duke’s humor and kindness. Beatrice goes on far too long with her inner diatribes of self-doubt. The unraveling of the murderer is also couched in long-winded observations where Beatrice knows who the killer is, then takes it back to follow another tack, then returns again. It’s overwritten and overdone. And yet, the Duke and Duchess of Kesgrave remain two of my favorite characters. Their conversations are diverting and their actions—and words—highlight how much they love each other. I will definitely read the next book. Regardless of the irritation of superfluous characters and monotonous inner dialogues, I am completely charmed by Beatrice and her duke.
Sidebar: There is a problem with the Notes feature in Kindle. When I try to find the several notes I made while reading the book, this message displays, “You haven’t made any note or highlights. Any annotations you make will be collected here.” When I open the “Your Clippings” document on my Kindle reader, they display without a problem.
December 24, 2021
3.5
Overall enjoyed but this book made me realise how selfish and self-centered (and a bit of a hypocrite) Bea could be. Still LOVE Kesgrave tho and would love a few chapters (or a novella ?👀) from his perspective.
Also not fan a Flora 😒.
Overall enjoyed but this book made me realise how selfish and self-centered (and a bit of a hypocrite) Bea could be. Still LOVE Kesgrave tho and would love a few chapters (or a novella ?👀) from his perspective.
Also not fan a Flora 😒.
December 30, 2021
ehhh
It wasn’t bad, but there was too much internal monologue and pedantry. I had to skip bits just to get through it which I don’t normally do.
It wasn’t bad, but there was too much internal monologue and pedantry. I had to skip bits just to get through it which I don’t normally do.
October 19, 2021
I received a free copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given review.
I have to admit I loved this series from the first book. It is a fun series that is part cozy mystery and sweet romance. I love Beatrice Hyde-Clare, newly-minted Duchess of Kesgrave, her intelligence, lack of arrogance, curiosity, love of books, lack of confidence. I quite enjoy her relationship with her new husband, and their dynamic. She cannot quite believe that she, a prior wallflower over-looked for many seasons, managed to stand up to him, and confront him as a possible murderer in the first book, to being a friend and co-investigator/enabler in subsequent stories, to developing an abiding attraction and love later on. In this book, she is now settling into her new role as Duchess, and has been married for over a month to Kesgrave, and they are still working out what that means for the two of them, and she is still not sure how to go about dealing with some aspects of her newly elevated role. For one, she is having trouble finding a way to tell her staff about her dislike of pineapple and how it has invaded her meals, despite requesting it as a rare and exotic treat when she first became the lady of the house.
Bea does not intend on trying to find any dead bodies this time. Much of her time seems to be taken up learning self defense, on Kesgrave's direction, since she was almost murdered in her own home in the last novel. That, and trying to figure out a way out of the pineapple conundrum. So much time taken away from her reading!
One day, she gets a visit from a nemesis from her past, who decided to make up for a wrong by informing her of a danger to her life. Apparently Kesgrave has an uncle; the younger brother of the previous Duke, who thought he would be in line to inherit as the Duke was widowed and with no heir. That was until he got his mistress pregnant and chose to marry her. Apparently this uncle made several attempts to have his nephew killed as a child. Bea was distressed to find out that not only has her marriage now made her a potential target for this uncle, but that there was a lot she did not know about her husband's past.
This goes down the path of finding out if what the nemesis says of the uncle and his plans to have Bea killed or not is true, which leads the finding of a dead body (not Bea or her husband) and obviously they have to investigate further.
Again, I like the humorous, light hearted dialogue, but also the sweet dynamic between the new spouses. I also like the secondary characters. Flora seems to be developing more depth and Bea is noticing this as well - though it is not a smooth path to self-awareness for Flora. Bea seems to have earned some appreciation and respect from her staff; despite the inundation of the pineapple. She and Kesgrave definitely need to work out their new roles as spouses and learn to to be true partners, as opposed to the roles expected by Society. As always, I found this to be an enjoyable addition to the series, though I was thinking, especially as everything so far is written from Bea's point of view and Kesgrave at times can be quite quiet and contemplative, it would be very interesting to hear a bit more of his mind and perspective, similar to that tangent Lynn Messina went with the novel written with Flora as the central character going off on her own adventure, to find out what happened with the (fictitious) beau that Bea invented in the past.
A fun 3.5 stars, and I hope there is more to come.
I have to admit I loved this series from the first book. It is a fun series that is part cozy mystery and sweet romance. I love Beatrice Hyde-Clare, newly-minted Duchess of Kesgrave, her intelligence, lack of arrogance, curiosity, love of books, lack of confidence. I quite enjoy her relationship with her new husband, and their dynamic. She cannot quite believe that she, a prior wallflower over-looked for many seasons, managed to stand up to him, and confront him as a possible murderer in the first book, to being a friend and co-investigator/enabler in subsequent stories, to developing an abiding attraction and love later on. In this book, she is now settling into her new role as Duchess, and has been married for over a month to Kesgrave, and they are still working out what that means for the two of them, and she is still not sure how to go about dealing with some aspects of her newly elevated role. For one, she is having trouble finding a way to tell her staff about her dislike of pineapple and how it has invaded her meals, despite requesting it as a rare and exotic treat when she first became the lady of the house.
Bea does not intend on trying to find any dead bodies this time. Much of her time seems to be taken up learning self defense, on Kesgrave's direction, since she was almost murdered in her own home in the last novel. That, and trying to figure out a way out of the pineapple conundrum. So much time taken away from her reading!
One day, she gets a visit from a nemesis from her past, who decided to make up for a wrong by informing her of a danger to her life. Apparently Kesgrave has an uncle; the younger brother of the previous Duke, who thought he would be in line to inherit as the Duke was widowed and with no heir. That was until he got his mistress pregnant and chose to marry her. Apparently this uncle made several attempts to have his nephew killed as a child. Bea was distressed to find out that not only has her marriage now made her a potential target for this uncle, but that there was a lot she did not know about her husband's past.
This goes down the path of finding out if what the nemesis says of the uncle and his plans to have Bea killed or not is true, which leads the finding of a dead body (not Bea or her husband) and obviously they have to investigate further.
Again, I like the humorous, light hearted dialogue, but also the sweet dynamic between the new spouses. I also like the secondary characters. Flora seems to be developing more depth and Bea is noticing this as well - though it is not a smooth path to self-awareness for Flora. Bea seems to have earned some appreciation and respect from her staff; despite the inundation of the pineapple. She and Kesgrave definitely need to work out their new roles as spouses and learn to to be true partners, as opposed to the roles expected by Society. As always, I found this to be an enjoyable addition to the series, though I was thinking, especially as everything so far is written from Bea's point of view and Kesgrave at times can be quite quiet and contemplative, it would be very interesting to hear a bit more of his mind and perspective, similar to that tangent Lynn Messina went with the novel written with Flora as the central character going off on her own adventure, to find out what happened with the (fictitious) beau that Bea invented in the past.
A fun 3.5 stars, and I hope there is more to come.
January 13, 2024
Lynn Messina's "A Malevolent Connection" is a delightful addition to the Regency mystery genre, filled with wit, charm, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages.
The story follows the former Beatrice Hyde-Clare, who, despite a few initial setbacks, finds herself settling comfortably into her new position. Thanks to Lady Abercrombie's clever manipulations, Beatrice gains admiration from society and earns the respect of her staff. Messina's portrayal of the Regency setting is rich in detail, capturing the essence of the time period with finesse.
What makes this installment stand out is Beatrice's determination to face threats head-on, even when learning of a malevolent plot orchestrated by her husband's uncle. The narrative cleverly weaves together societal expectations, marital dynamics, and Beatrice's foray into self-defense lessons. The author skillfully balances the humor and intrigue, creating a well-rounded and engaging plot.
The characters in "A Malevolent Connection" are a highlight, with Beatrice's strong-willed personality shining through. Her interactions with the Duke of Kesgrave add depth to their relationship, and the dynamics between them are both entertaining and heartwarming. The unexpected twists in the plot, including a murder mystery involving a bludgeoned villainous relation, add a layer of suspense that keeps readers guessing until the very end.
Messina's writing style is a joy to read, with a seamless blend of humor and mystery. The dialogue is sharp and witty, contributing to the overall charm of the narrative. The attention to detail in the historical setting adds authenticity to the story, immersing readers in the world of Regency England.
While the book delivers on the promise of an entertaining mystery, it also explores themes of resilience, determination, and the strength of character. Despite the challenges Beatrice faces, her unwavering resolve to confront adversity adds a satisfying depth to the storyline.
In conclusion, "A Malevolent Connection" is a four-star read for its engaging characters, clever plot twists, and the author's ability to infuse the Regency setting with humor and intrigue. Lynn Messina continues to shine in the historical mystery genre, and fans of the series will not be disappointed with this latest installment.
The story follows the former Beatrice Hyde-Clare, who, despite a few initial setbacks, finds herself settling comfortably into her new position. Thanks to Lady Abercrombie's clever manipulations, Beatrice gains admiration from society and earns the respect of her staff. Messina's portrayal of the Regency setting is rich in detail, capturing the essence of the time period with finesse.
What makes this installment stand out is Beatrice's determination to face threats head-on, even when learning of a malevolent plot orchestrated by her husband's uncle. The narrative cleverly weaves together societal expectations, marital dynamics, and Beatrice's foray into self-defense lessons. The author skillfully balances the humor and intrigue, creating a well-rounded and engaging plot.
The characters in "A Malevolent Connection" are a highlight, with Beatrice's strong-willed personality shining through. Her interactions with the Duke of Kesgrave add depth to their relationship, and the dynamics between them are both entertaining and heartwarming. The unexpected twists in the plot, including a murder mystery involving a bludgeoned villainous relation, add a layer of suspense that keeps readers guessing until the very end.
Messina's writing style is a joy to read, with a seamless blend of humor and mystery. The dialogue is sharp and witty, contributing to the overall charm of the narrative. The attention to detail in the historical setting adds authenticity to the story, immersing readers in the world of Regency England.
While the book delivers on the promise of an entertaining mystery, it also explores themes of resilience, determination, and the strength of character. Despite the challenges Beatrice faces, her unwavering resolve to confront adversity adds a satisfying depth to the storyline.
In conclusion, "A Malevolent Connection" is a four-star read for its engaging characters, clever plot twists, and the author's ability to infuse the Regency setting with humor and intrigue. Lynn Messina continues to shine in the historical mystery genre, and fans of the series will not be disappointed with this latest installment.
November 5, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review A Malevolent Connection. All opinions are my own.
This particular entry in the long-running series by Lynn Messina is all about the new Duchess of Kesgrave and her marriage – and her opinion of her relationship with the duke. Oh, there’s a dead body, don’t worry about that. One that has a quite striking connection to the Duke and Duchess. Bea even gets a visit from an adversary from early books, who appeals to her to lift a curse worth than death – exclusion from society. (This is not a book for a new reader – there are many, many references to events that happened in earlier books!) But what one will learn as they read through A Malevolent Connection is that Beatrice Hyde-Clare is still coming to terms with her new world and her place in it. The slow beginning may not be to everyone’s taste (it isn’t to mine), but the author does have a way with words, I’ll give her that.
What is never in doubt, is that Bea does have a knack for finding out the truth. “I am an investigator, she thought matter-of-factly, and I must investigate.” And even though the wrapping up of the investigation does come awfully easy, our dynamic duo do get a confession, and also see another would-be killer off the streets.
The duke and duchess are as quick-brained as ever, with the witty and clever dialog that is a hallmark of the books. There’s also a bit of a side story with cousin Flora that should provide some smiles. Faithful readers of the series will find no surprises here, but that’s not a bad thing when you have characters that you’ve come to know and appreciate as I do the inhabitants of the mansion on Berkeley Square.
This particular entry in the long-running series by Lynn Messina is all about the new Duchess of Kesgrave and her marriage – and her opinion of her relationship with the duke. Oh, there’s a dead body, don’t worry about that. One that has a quite striking connection to the Duke and Duchess. Bea even gets a visit from an adversary from early books, who appeals to her to lift a curse worth than death – exclusion from society. (This is not a book for a new reader – there are many, many references to events that happened in earlier books!) But what one will learn as they read through A Malevolent Connection is that Beatrice Hyde-Clare is still coming to terms with her new world and her place in it. The slow beginning may not be to everyone’s taste (it isn’t to mine), but the author does have a way with words, I’ll give her that.
What is never in doubt, is that Bea does have a knack for finding out the truth. “I am an investigator, she thought matter-of-factly, and I must investigate.” And even though the wrapping up of the investigation does come awfully easy, our dynamic duo do get a confession, and also see another would-be killer off the streets.
The duke and duchess are as quick-brained as ever, with the witty and clever dialog that is a hallmark of the books. There’s also a bit of a side story with cousin Flora that should provide some smiles. Faithful readers of the series will find no surprises here, but that’s not a bad thing when you have characters that you’ve come to know and appreciate as I do the inhabitants of the mansion on Berkeley Square.
November 17, 2021
A Malevolent Connection is the ninth installment of Messina’s delightful Beatrice Hyde-Clare regency mystery series. I have read one other Beatrice Hyde-Clare book, the first one, and Messina’s newest book follows in the same spirit as the first. It was not difficult to figure out what had happened in the previous books because Messina inserts information from the other plots. However, there were times where it felt a bit excessive.
In A Malevolent Connection, Beatrice is privy to information concerning the Duke’s uncle, who is plotting to kill her. Of course Beatrice isn’t going to let that happen, so even though she promises the Duke that she will not interfere, she makes plans.
“Curiosity was an academic enterprise, separate and apart from meddling” (Messina, 2021).
Before the Duke or Beatrice can enact their separate plans, the Duke’s uncle in murdered! The Duke and Beatrice work together to solve the uncle’s grisly murder. Messina sprinkles in martial woes domestic issues, and troublesome family members. Overall, this was enjoyable. However, there was too much talk of pineapple in the beginning and I almost put the book down because I was wondering when the action was going to start. I appreciated that Beatrice is a bit unsure in her marriage—figuring out a relationship takes time! Although I appreciated Beatrice’s analysis of her marriage, it became a bit tedious toward the end of the book. I had to remind myself that the book covers a short period, so there is not much time for Beatrice to figure these things out.
Messina’s writing is exceptional and her characters are so much fun. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
Great read! Thank you to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for sending me an ARC!
In A Malevolent Connection, Beatrice is privy to information concerning the Duke’s uncle, who is plotting to kill her. Of course Beatrice isn’t going to let that happen, so even though she promises the Duke that she will not interfere, she makes plans.
“Curiosity was an academic enterprise, separate and apart from meddling” (Messina, 2021).
Before the Duke or Beatrice can enact their separate plans, the Duke’s uncle in murdered! The Duke and Beatrice work together to solve the uncle’s grisly murder. Messina sprinkles in martial woes domestic issues, and troublesome family members. Overall, this was enjoyable. However, there was too much talk of pineapple in the beginning and I almost put the book down because I was wondering when the action was going to start. I appreciated that Beatrice is a bit unsure in her marriage—figuring out a relationship takes time! Although I appreciated Beatrice’s analysis of her marriage, it became a bit tedious toward the end of the book. I had to remind myself that the book covers a short period, so there is not much time for Beatrice to figure these things out.
Messina’s writing is exceptional and her characters are so much fun. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
Great read! Thank you to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for sending me an ARC!
September 9, 2023
What I truly liked about this one, is the insight the reader gets into Kesgrave, his very character, and his family and childhood.
I think the book told many things about him, from various points.
Kesgrave telling Bea about his childhood and family himself. But also the details that are given to the reader from Bea's observations
- How his face changes in certain scenes, during certain topics. What sets him off. How he reacts.
(Especially the way he changes and masks his face and emotions was so very saying!)
He even tells Bea, in a scene of frustration, that with the life he had had and the life which was planned for him - How could he be expected to be flawless in their very way of marriage.
I think it was a strong book with the focus on Kesgrave and even on their marriage. They are so full of love and devotion for each other. They might have their disagreements from time to time, but they are never above apologising or realising own mistakes. They are so very strong together and I love the insight this book provided.
The way Bea is observant and the way she notices small details and have these very long inner monologues in the smallest of seconds, is really telling of her skills, mind-working and the very emotions within her. I truly like being in her head and be a witness to how she works, thinks and feels, despite the outcome of those moments being right or wrong.
(I might also add, that I truly ADORE the way very Kesgrave simply loves his wife. It is so very important for him that she mustn't be sad or feel small, and that he only wishes for her to truly feel loved. He is protective of her, gets angry for her, and tries his best to give her the very freedom for her investigational habits ❤)
I think the book told many things about him, from various points.
Kesgrave telling Bea about his childhood and family himself. But also the details that are given to the reader from Bea's observations
- How his face changes in certain scenes, during certain topics. What sets him off. How he reacts.
(Especially the way he changes and masks his face and emotions was so very saying!)
He even tells Bea, in a scene of frustration, that with the life he had had and the life which was planned for him - How could he be expected to be flawless in their very way of marriage.
I think it was a strong book with the focus on Kesgrave and even on their marriage. They are so full of love and devotion for each other. They might have their disagreements from time to time, but they are never above apologising or realising own mistakes. They are so very strong together and I love the insight this book provided.
The way Bea is observant and the way she notices small details and have these very long inner monologues in the smallest of seconds, is really telling of her skills, mind-working and the very emotions within her. I truly like being in her head and be a witness to how she works, thinks and feels, despite the outcome of those moments being right or wrong.
(I might also add, that I truly ADORE the way very Kesgrave simply loves his wife. It is so very important for him that she mustn't be sad or feel small, and that he only wishes for her to truly feel loved. He is protective of her, gets angry for her, and tries his best to give her the very freedom for her investigational habits ❤)
November 13, 2021
I've been a fan of this series since I read the first book and eagerly await the newest installments. This, the latest, is the best to date and I recommend it. It is a relatively quick read but that does not mean it skimps on the mystery or even the romance. But I will caution you that the books all take place over the period of a few months and there are many references to past escapades/murders and events.
Beatrice, newly the Duchess of Kesgrave receives a call from a woman who has done her wrong in the past and as a result has been ostracized. In order to win favor back with the Duke and Duchess, and regain her status she has been investigating the Duke's uncle and cousin and in the process under covered a plot to have Beatrice murdered and implores her to have the Duke visit his uncle's solicitor as his uncle has been spending much time there.
While Beatrice agrees to let her husband handle his uncle, her cousin finagles a visit to the solicitor and Bea rationalizes that this is not interfering. They visit the solicitor, only to find the Duke standing over the body brandishing a bloody candlestick. And the body is not the solicitors, but the Duke's uncle.
And so the search for the murderer begins and there are many twists and turns.
I received an ARC but the opinion expressed is entirely my own.
Beatrice, newly the Duchess of Kesgrave receives a call from a woman who has done her wrong in the past and as a result has been ostracized. In order to win favor back with the Duke and Duchess, and regain her status she has been investigating the Duke's uncle and cousin and in the process under covered a plot to have Beatrice murdered and implores her to have the Duke visit his uncle's solicitor as his uncle has been spending much time there.
While Beatrice agrees to let her husband handle his uncle, her cousin finagles a visit to the solicitor and Bea rationalizes that this is not interfering. They visit the solicitor, only to find the Duke standing over the body brandishing a bloody candlestick. And the body is not the solicitors, but the Duke's uncle.
And so the search for the murderer begins and there are many twists and turns.
I received an ARC but the opinion expressed is entirely my own.
November 16, 2021
Thank you to Net Galley and Potato works Press for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of A Malevolent Connection.
Fans of Beatrice Hyde-Clare who have been following her since the beginning will like this newest instalment in the series. This is my first Lynn Messina novel, and even though it is the ninth in the Beatrice-Hyde Clare Mystery series, I had no trouble reading it as a stand-alone with interesting characters and a wonderful murder mystery that had me amused and intrigued from beginning to end.
I adore Bea and appreciated her interactions with the other characters, particularly her husband, the Duke of Kesgrave. The connection between her and the Duke of Kesgrave appears to come full circle in the first half of the novel, as the focus moves from Beatrice's troubled past to the duke's troubled past.
The idea of Bea's arch nemesis, the woman who destroyed her early ambitions of social success, suddenly appearing groveling with ridiculous gestures to earn forgiveness, is a novel narrative line and possibly the book's most amusing and entertaining aspect.
This was a well-written and enjoyable novel. It was imaginative, with elements of mystery, Regency romance, and wit. I enjoyed guessing who the culprit in the murder mystery was, and I enjoyed reading about the pursuit. This was a fun book to read.
Fans of Beatrice Hyde-Clare who have been following her since the beginning will like this newest instalment in the series. This is my first Lynn Messina novel, and even though it is the ninth in the Beatrice-Hyde Clare Mystery series, I had no trouble reading it as a stand-alone with interesting characters and a wonderful murder mystery that had me amused and intrigued from beginning to end.
I adore Bea and appreciated her interactions with the other characters, particularly her husband, the Duke of Kesgrave. The connection between her and the Duke of Kesgrave appears to come full circle in the first half of the novel, as the focus moves from Beatrice's troubled past to the duke's troubled past.
The idea of Bea's arch nemesis, the woman who destroyed her early ambitions of social success, suddenly appearing groveling with ridiculous gestures to earn forgiveness, is a novel narrative line and possibly the book's most amusing and entertaining aspect.
This was a well-written and enjoyable novel. It was imaginative, with elements of mystery, Regency romance, and wit. I enjoyed guessing who the culprit in the murder mystery was, and I enjoyed reading about the pursuit. This was a fun book to read.
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