The Mystery of Montague Morgan

Heathcliff Lennox #7

by Karen Baugh Menuhin

"Murder, mystery and a dog of distinction. Heathcliff Lennox investigates. Ladies man, dandy, charming rogue, thief. Montague Morgan has a buccaneering reputation and he doesn't give a damn--until he falls in love. He has a plan, he needs money and he knows how to get it. He and his lover conspire to escape to exotic lands with stolen gold. But the gold belongs to dangerous people and plans can go awry. Morgan disappears, has he escaped, or has he fallen prey to lethal retribution? Lennox's friend, ex Chief Inspector Swift is embroiled, and Lennox steps in to help, but his wedding is fixed for Christmas Eve and it's only a few days away. As the mystery around Montague Morgan deepens, so the tension rises. Major Heathcliff Lennox--ex WW1 war pilot, 6 feet 3 inches, tousled dark blond hair, age around 30--named after the hero of Wuthering Heights by his romantically minded mother--much to his great annoyance"--Page [4] of cover.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Christmas

303 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2021

About the author

1920's, Cozy crime, Traditional Detectives, Downton Abbey - I love them!
Along with my family, my dog and my cat.
At 60 I decided to write, I don't know why but suddenly the stories came pouring out, along with the characters. Eccentric Uncles, stalwart butlers, idiosyncratic servants, machinating Countesses, Fogg the dog and the hapless Major Heathcliff Lennox.
Suddenly a whole world built itself upon the page and I just followed along.

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I need to admit that I have loved this series since I read the first book. Nothing has changed my opinion.

Heathcliff Lennox is a war hero as well as a pretty fair solver of crimes. He hates his first name and requests that everyone please call him Lennox. He is being married to his one true love, Persi, on Christmas Eve. But, it seems that before he gets to the church on time, he must solve a few homicides.

Retired Scotland Yard detective Swift is Lennox’s partner in detection. Swift is now married to a lovely Scottish lass, they have a little boy and they make very good Scotch whiskey.

Swift believes that the man who was brokering his whiskey sales, Montague Morgan, has been shot. And if Morgan is no longer living, Swift can lose everything.

That idea leads Lennox and Swift to a group of people who are also planning to sell spirits and their broker is also Montague Morgan. The fact that there seem to be a number of dead bodies around, adds to the adventure.

The varied characters are each a star in their own right. Everyone from the staff of the mansion to the foreign visitors are fascinating. Not all of them are likable but they are all entertaining.

I am a fan of mysteries set in the years between the two world wars. Ms Menuhin is a master at creating the atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties. The reader is immersed in the sense of adventure, the feeling of abandon as well as the idea that many people have no moral compass. Selling spirits to the United States during prohibition is illegal, but why let a little thing like breaking the law interfere with making money.

Lennox is a tall, handsome man who loves his dog, his cat and his butler, not necessarily in that order. He takes all of them with him when he travels to solve a mystery. Although he does not always show his intelligence and his ability to problem solve, those qualities are right there. He has an analytical mind. He also has an absolute knowledge of human nature and the foibles of his fellow human beings.

This book can work as a stand alone, but I recommend starting with the first book and reading them in order.

I loved this book. It has humor and mystery. The characters completely drew me into the story.

Spending time with Heathcliff Lennox was wonderful. I hope to do it again in his next adventure. I hope there is a next adventure.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The majority of the action in this book can be described as chaos or melodramatic mayhem. A lot of ground must be covered to solve the whiskey/money crisis that so concerns ex-Detective Chief Inspector Swift, and with the help of Heathcliff Lennox murders/theft/deception gets untangled enough to allow Lennox to make it to his Christmas wedding. Phew, what a tangle!

Kindle Unlimited

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Lennox is getting ready for breakfast when there is a message from Swift that Montague Morgan is missing. There is a phone ☎ call and a gun 🔫 shot and they are off to find out what is going on? It will have to be quick as Lennox is getting married in on Christmas eve. There are two more murders all around the smuggling of liquors to America during prohibition. It all comes together with the arrest of smugglers and a killer. Lennox and Swift race to make it to the wedding. Lennox and Persi are married. I would highly recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 😀👒😡🏰

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Etude in Lennox Major

The author seems to be exploring variations in themes with this book, and that is fun to watch.

The plot is a sort of reverse "locked room" puzzle. Instead of a dead body in a locked room, all the suspects are "locked" on an island during a snowstorm.

And, Lennox and Swift get to reverse their personalities. Swift is personally affected by the case and becomes distracted and forgetful, leaving Lennox to step in to try to keep Swift focused and on track. The results are amusing.

In fact, the whole tale is amusing. The cast of characters includes Brits, an American, an Australian, and a very dramatic Spanish señora. Most of them do not have their dialogue written with their accents--a blessing in most cases--but I didn't always remember which nationality went with which character.

The plot contains enough twists to hold readers' interest.

The mystery I couldn't solve was: I don't remember Swift having to keep stopping to tighten his trench coat belt. Did he finally make repairs, or did he give up and buy a new coat?

[Geraldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas treat for Mystery lovers

This is the Christmas Murder Mystery with everything - a complex plot, a 1920s setting, an island in the Thames almost cut off by snow and ice, dastardly gangsters, aristocrats with dark secrets, good food and cute animals. As usual, Major Heathcliff Lennox is a loveable intuitive detective but this time the stakes are particularly high. The disappearance of a wine merchant Montague Morgan has placed Ex-Inspector Swift in dire financial trouble but investigating this possible murder might make Lennox late for his own wedding.

There is plenty of Baugh Menuhin's characteristic humour in this novel but she treats the actual murders and their effects on the bereaved with seriousness and compassion. Understanding the character of the missing wine merchant proves key to solving the murders so the title has more than one meaning. It is possible to enjoy this story without having read the previous six books in the series but if you are new to Major Lennox and his faithful dog and cat I'd urge you to go straight
to Volume 1 and keep going until you've caught up. You have a lot of quality entertainment ahead of you...

[Amy Prosenjak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always fun for my walks.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this one for ages (the audio) and it did not disappoint--for the most part.

Heathcliff is still his semi-grumpy, totally awkward, utterly delightful self. Percy is... Percy. Greiggs is Greiggs (Having never actually READ them, I don't even know if I spelled that right!), and Swift--totally swift. To the toes. Seriously, he was PERFECTION in this book.
I did miss the more natural intertwining of Foggy and Tubbs. In this one, they felt a tad bit tacked on.

That said... the mystery was delicious! I had a blast with the characters, and Menuhin did a brilliant job with her red herrings this time. Way to go on those. I loved the way she got Swift caught up in all the things he wouldn't want to. I loved the twists and turns, and even the denouement, though I anticipated it, didn't disappoint as much as I thought it would.

Just a reminder, this is general market fiction, so people used to seeing me review Christian fiction should know that. I wouldn't want the author to receive reviews complaining about things that are expected in general market mysteries. Some of those are included in this book, but I considered them realistically and tastefully done.

[Uhhmainduhmeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well well well well well well weeelllll

Here we have another murder mystery where the killer (and life-decimating thief) is supposedly justified because he's gay.

At least in this case not EVERY character agreed everything was A-OK.

Other than that, I continue to enjoy the premise and mystery-solving team of these books. Side characters are amusing and slightly unbelievable. Main characters are unusually competent. Genre perfection, really.

[Cheryl Ervin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all her books

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Golden-Age-type mystery set in England between the wars. The puzzle includes discovering the sources behind a whiskey smuggling racket.

This series is best read in order because there is an underlying plot arc.

[Rosava Doshchyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Можливо, не зовсім правильне рішення читати після першої частини одразу сьому, але оскільки це детектив й мені хотілося ще одну зимову оповідку, то можна.
Життя Гіткліффа Леннокса незабаром зміниться: на Різдво він одружується з коханою жінкою Персі. Ось-ось прибуде його дружба Свіфт — інспектор Скотлан-Ярду у відставці — і вони затишно проведуть останні дні його парубкування. Чого Гіткліфф не чекав, то це того, що товариш втягне його у розслідування вкрай дивної і бентежної справи зі зникнення брокера Монтег'ю Морґана. Але чого не зробиш заради дружби? Навіть попливеш на острів, щоб дізнатися, вбили того ошуканця чи ні.
Плюси (мінусів нема):
+ заплутаний і місцями тривожний сюжет: збожеволілий дворецький, кров на руках, промерзлий острів, мафія та контрабанда, дивний охоронець маяка і підозріла фінансова схема, в яку вліз інспектор Свіфт;
+ загадка Монтег'ю Морґана: він утік з усіма грошима чи його вбили? І якщо останнє, то хто?
+ обмежений час: Гіткліфф має розібратися з усім цим швидко, щоб встигнути на власне весілля;
+ відчуття крижаної зими і безжальності вод: бррр!
+ але деякі герої цієї історії попри макабричні події не забувають про святкову атмосферу й розпивають запаси сторічного алкоголю;
+ як завжди, чудова начитка від Сема Дьюгарста-Філліпса.
Чи я рекомендую "Загадку Монтег'ю Морґана"? Так!

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. It has a nice ending but the plot was convoluted with a multitude of characters. At least I knew some of them since I read this series.

[Nanette Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heathcliff Lennox is an appealing hero, and Lennox and Swift an interesting crime-solving team. Set in England in the time between the wars, which is always a frenetic, anxious period.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner in a terrific series. While there are secondary characters in the series this one concentrates primarily on Lennox and Swift, which was a nice change after the romance angst of the last few books. Thankfully Greggs was on hand to provide laughs and to prevent Lennox from possibly missing a meal. Audible edition: Sam Dewhurst-Phillips deserves 10 stars as usual.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liddle returned alone. ‘What are you doin’ there, then?’ I brushed pine needles off my trousers. ‘Looking for dead bodies.’ He beamed. ‘We keep them in the cellar wrapped in bandages, like them Egyptian mummies.’

Story: 8
Writing: 8 ✍️
First MC: 9
Second MC: -
Secondary characters: 7
Mystery: 6
Sexual tension: -
Humor: 6
Hotness: -
Product placement: 2
Ridiculousness: 2
Annoying: 1
Audio: 10
To re-read: 10

What a sad sad tale..
Liddle is such a delight! Lennox wants his food!

[Dorothea Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly love these books. I find Swift and Lennox to be an engaging and well-matched pair. Unlike Sherlock and Watson, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. I like how Lennox hates to skip meals and enjoy all the characters.
The mystery was engaging.
I really enjoy the Audible books too. They are so well read.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY RATING GUIDE: 4 Stars. I read a variety of mysteries. The Lennox series is toward the lighter end of my spectrum but still manages to include interesting historical information, puzzling mysteries and books I can see myself revisiting in the future. Sam Dewhurst-Phillips turns the titles into pure entertainment. I enjoyed TMOMM; it pulled me in. I caught myself both snickering and then conflicted by the ending.

1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved this; it was great! (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).

Approaching Christmas Eve, 1922 or 1923 ~
Retired Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Swift (now a fine whiskey brewer) contacts his friend, amateur sleuth Major Lennox/MC, with concerns that Swift’s whiskey merchant has absconded with his payment for a large shipment of whiskey (which had been delayed due to the war). The amount of money involved is significant enough to drive Swift and his wife’s family into complete bankruptcy. Together, Lennox and Swift begin searching for answers. Where is the liquor merchant and what has he done with the money? Lennox’s wedding date is set for Dec 31st, less than a week away. Swift’s potential financial disaster must be resolved quickly or Lennox’s joyful celebration will be compromised.

Comments ~
1) I enjoy Menuhin’s 1920’s British Mystery series and find them perfect for decompressing. Each title contains sound mystery elements, a light tone and humor without being too silly. Each title reads quickly, keeps me engaged and smiling.
2) I listened to the audio version of THE MYSTERY OF MONTAGUE MORGAN. Sam Dewhurst-Phillips again did an excellent job voicing the various characters and accents, of which there were many. I have already purchased the next 2 titles in the series and plan to purchase more.
3) The main character, Lennox, was nicely introduced in the prequel Short Story HEATHCLIFF LENNOX - FRANCE 1918. Each successive title continues to develop his character and his relationships (such as with former CID Swift). I prefer reading book series chronologically but each title can be read independently, as a standalone mystery.
4) I enjoy the historical and scientific details included in each book (alcohol sales during the US Prohibition enters into this mystery). The author’s notes at the end of many books encourage me to do a bit of a researching on my own.
5) I recommend the Heathcliff Lennox 1920’s Mysteries to readers who enjoy:
> Cozy and/or British Mysteries (MC Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth, Agatha Christie, etc).
> James Herriot’s Yorkshire veterinarian fiction series (All Creatures Great and Small) as the tone is similar.
> lighter mysteries which provide a welcome break from the real world.

READER CAUTIONS ~
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used occasionally.
VIOLENCE - PG. Not dark or graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.

[Jan Vasilius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heathcliff gets a clue - finally

The leading character, Heathcliff Lennox, has a lot going for him. He is tall, blonde and handsome. He is an athlete, a war hero and is a lord with a manor house and sufficient means to live a life of leisure. What he lacks are social skills and much intellect. He solves mysteries, but does so not by brilliant detection, but largely by bungling into the solution. In this book he actually solves the mystery without being hit over the head with it (sometimes literally).
The series is enjoyable, the 1920s are recreated with just enough detail, eccentric and audacious characters abound, there is a pair of diverting pets, locations are interesting and is blessedly free of typos and errors. Ms. Menuhin writes well and has great pacing. This book was very well plotted. I was very smug, as I thought I had guessed the murderer halfway through the book. I rarely guess the murderer and was feeling very pleased with myself. Turns out that I was wrong; the real killer made perfect sense and the loose ends were neatly tied. Very enjoyable, even if my smugness suffered.
Start with the first book. This could be read as a stand alone but characters and events have been woven through the series. Enjoy!

[Carol Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading/listening to this series since the beginning and always enjoy them. Lennox, our sleuth, is a war hero who is now one of those gentlemen who have money but not a job, so of course, he solves mysteries. This time around he’s helping his friend, retired Scotland Yard Detective Swift. Swift’s family makes whiskey, but their broker has disappeared, with their money. The mystery leads the pair to an island where they get snowed in with a group of people – one of whom is a murderer. Oh, and they have to solve the case quickly so Lennox can make it to his Christmas Eve wedding.

I enjoyed the story, but I’m already invested in Lennox and Swift. There are a lot of characters, from the friends staying at the house to the staff, and the plot was rather convoluted. We got love affairs and murder and smuggling and plenty of secrets. I guess there was maybe too much going on for me to really care. Swift is not his usual rational self, which made sense given how worried he was, but still annoyed me. Lennox is his usual charming, sometimes clueless.

The Mystery of Montague Morgan was fine, but definitely not my favorite of the series. I’m looking forward to the next though. Hopefully, Persi, Lennox’s new wife, will be along for the adventure.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible version: I s0 look forward to these cozy Heathcliff Lennox mysteries. Lennox and his sidekick Swift are a good pair, the mysteries are always interesting in some way. This time, it was Swift's whiskey business getting all messed up right in time for the detective work to get in the way of Heathcliff's marriage to Percy. Lennox remains his grumpy, kind self with his dog and cat ( I love the well-placed little barks!), and if you're someone who rolls your eyes at cozies with animals, don't let that stop you from this one. The animals are not really part of the mysteries, they're just there like pets are in the lives of anyone who has them and help to show how sweet Heathcliff really is. Sam Dewhurst-Phillips is FANTASTIC! While I haven't read read any of these, I still say with confidence that these must be listened to! SDP does such a great job with all of the voices and I wouldn't want these books any other way!

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.
Ex-Inspector Swift turning up at Heathcliffe Lennox’s house - as he is due to be best man, now that Lennox has conquered his nerves and is set to marry Persi - receives a phone call that turns his life on its head.
With the prospect of Swift losing his livelihood (he runs a distillery back in Scotland) he and Lennox head off to Frobisher Hall to get to the bottom of the trouble.
They have only a few days to sort things out before the wedding. At least it takes Lennox’s mind off being nervous about it all. Swift, however, couldn’t be more stressed out if he tried.
Lovely amusing interaction between them both and Liddle, the young try-out butler at the hall. They have to deal with unhelpful guests, smuggling, murder and general skullduggery. Lennox is a super character ably abetted by the more volatile ex inspector Swift, his manservant Greggs, his dog Mr Fogg and cat Tubbs.

[Lana Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so it begins...mischief, murder, mayhem, marriage!

Another excellent stop on the road for Lennox and Swift as they journey towards his wedding to Persi. Twist at mystery"s end made it even more tragic and profound. Lack of one star was due to my dislike of many of the characters we meet on the island who somehow Menuhen was able to redeem a bit at the end. Also, it reflects a near absence of her most excellent since of charm and humor usually present. Perhaps that is due to Swift's dire situation here but still it is missed. All in all though another winning entry to Lennox and Persi's story and a must read.

[Ann Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Delightful Major Lennox Romp

Once again Ms. Baugh Menuhin takes us on another delightful romp with Major Lennox and Chief Inspector Swift as they solve the mystery of Montague Morgan. Funny, witty, and charming, the characters come to life as the reader escapes into their world of smuggling and murder among star-crossed lovers as the clock ticks down to the impending nuptials of Major Lennox and his beloved Persi.

Each book in the series gets better and more delightful. And, I certainly hope their are more Major Lennox books to come!

[PR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun in spots. A bit confusing. But good nonetheless.

Enjoy her books. Find some discussions and situations a bit confusing but all comes right in the end. Should change things up a bit now that Lennox and Persi are now married...remains to be seen...WILL recommend these to anyone who likes a bit of a cozy and well plotted mystery with a cast of finely described characters, especially Foggy and Tubbs! Can't wait to see what happens next.. Egypt and King Tut? Should be interesting...

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I thought

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book mainly because I find it hard to understand why everyone has to be married to be happy. I suppose I'll be waiting in vain for someone to just be happy on their own. Don't get me wrong I don't begrudge anyone their happiness, I just don't think everyone needs a significant other to be happy. Hence, I always give a little sigh when get another of my favourite characters gets hitched. Still, the story was good.

[Cathy McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to agree that Karen Baugh Menuhin is a really wonderful author. She has brought her protagonist/hero to life in Sir Heathcliff Lennox and I'm smitten. He reminds me a bit of Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey only more lighthearted and fun. Lennox (please don't call me Heathcliff!) has all the endearing traits of a bemused peer of the realm tempered with an ability to detect the truth of the many murderous puzzles invented by this talented author. I never know "who done it" until the big reveal. Tremendously enjoyable reading!

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars. For some reason, the plot did not jive with me and I got confused a lot. I’d say it’s because I was distracted, but I listen to a ton of audiobooks while I do chores and don’t have a similar problem. I think the author is losing sight of what made these books charming and enjoyable when she started the series: a good mystery, solid plot and likable characters. One out of three on this book, and even then the characters aren’t nearly as charming as they once were. Also, holy supporting actors! So many side characters with their own little background stories. Goodness.

[Carolyn Shaddick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has you in total suspense throughout this tale of murder, money and mystery. The complicated plot is laid out perfectly with a myriad of fascinating characters with a surprising twist at the very end. All the time the clock is ticking, only a few days to solve the mystery of what happened to Montague Morgan...us he dead? Is he alive? Who is killing people on this isolated island? Another top notch read from Karen Baugh Menuhin in this excellent series. Highly recommend the reader to begin with number one Murder At Melrose Court. You will be hooked.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Lennox and Persi's wedding only a few days away, on Christmas Eve, it isn't the ideal time for Swift to ask for help. Swift believes the man brokering his family's whisky has been murdered, which leaves Swift without the inventory of whisky and without the vast amount of money he paid to the broker. Lennox and Swift travel to an estate on an island in the Thames which contains a warehouse for storing more of the broker's deceived clients' goods. Another murder occurs, and everyone is either a suspect or an angry client, or possibly both.

[Gina P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one wasn’t my favorite of the series but it still eked four stars from me because every time I put it down I wanted to keep reading. I feel like the description on Goodreads (and perhaps on the book flap?) is loaded with spoilers. Luckily I didn’t read it until I came to write this review. My favorite parts of this one were the mystery elements and my least favorite parts were stereotypes that came through. Still waiting for some more fleshed out female characters! Maybe Persi will make more of an appearance in the next one.