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Jasper Shrig Mysteries #7
The Ninth Earl
When a storm blew away part of the crumbling masonry of the old tower at Ravenhurst Castle it revealed a skeleton, hidden for many years, which was without doubt that of the seventh earl. Few people believed that the rightful heir whose existence until then had been unknown would be found so quickly - or that he would prove to be the person that he did. But they counted without the presence of the ubiquitous Jasper Shrig, the Bow Street runner, in their sleepy Sussex village of Ravenhurst.
One by one he unravelled the many mysteries which surrounded the castle and its curious inhabitants; the sullen eighth Earl, his frivolous son Viscount Hurst, the lovely Lady Clytie Moor and the dangerous Sir Humphrey Carr, his nephew. By listening to village gossip, by piecing together the few shreds of evidence which he possessed he was able to reach a solution, which events proved to be only too correct.
One by one he unravelled the many mysteries which surrounded the castle and its curious inhabitants; the sullen eighth Earl, his frivolous son Viscount Hurst, the lovely Lady Clytie Moor and the dangerous Sir Humphrey Carr, his nephew. By listening to village gossip, by piecing together the few shreds of evidence which he possessed he was able to reach a solution, which events proved to be only too correct.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1950
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About the author
Jeffery Farnol
408 books30 followersJohn Jeffery Farnol was born in Aston, Birmingham, England, UK, son of Kate Jeffery and Henry John Farnol, a factory-employed brass-founder. The marriage had three more children, two boys and a girl.] He was brought up in London and Kent. He attended the Westminster School of Art, after he had lost his job in a Birmingham metal-working firm.
In 1900 he married Blanche Wilhelmina Victoria Hawley (1883–1955), the 16 years old daughter of the noted New York scenic artist H. Hughson Hawley; they moved to the United States, where he found work as a scene painter. The marriage had a daughter, Gillian Hawley. He returned to England around 1910, and settled in Eastbourne, Sussex. In 1938, he divorced and remarried with Phyllis Mary Clarke on 20 May, and adopted her daughter, Charmian Jane.
On 9 August 1952, he died aged 73 in Eastbourne, after a long battle with cancer.
Farnol published his first romance novel My Lady Caprice in 1907. The success of his early novels led Farnol toeventually become a professional writer. He produced around 40 novels and volumes of stories, and some non-fiction and children's books. His last book was completed by his second wife Phyllis.
From Wikipedia
In 1900 he married Blanche Wilhelmina Victoria Hawley (1883–1955), the 16 years old daughter of the noted New York scenic artist H. Hughson Hawley; they moved to the United States, where he found work as a scene painter. The marriage had a daughter, Gillian Hawley. He returned to England around 1910, and settled in Eastbourne, Sussex. In 1938, he divorced and remarried with Phyllis Mary Clarke on 20 May, and adopted her daughter, Charmian Jane.
On 9 August 1952, he died aged 73 in Eastbourne, after a long battle with cancer.
Farnol published his first romance novel My Lady Caprice in 1907. The success of his early novels led Farnol toeventually become a professional writer. He produced around 40 novels and volumes of stories, and some non-fiction and children's books. His last book was completed by his second wife Phyllis.
From Wikipedia
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January 29, 2024
In the 1790s, George is a lawyer who is tasked with assisting Jasper Shrig to investigate a murder which took places decades ago. Jasper has many agents in the area, listening to old tales of the Earl and the scandal of years ago that may have led to his death. George is entirely confused about the mystery, but he meets a young lady, Clyte, and the two begin a vexatious flirtation. At first they annoy and tease each other, but gradually their irritation turns to love.
The story is much more focused on the romance, rather than the murder mystery. No less than three different couples meet, fall in love at first sight, and get engaged through the story. The mystery had some weird plot holes that did not make sense to me. The whole scandal of the Earl's cousin was never quite explained.
I did not like how Clyte's personality kept changing. In the beginning, I thought she was a villain. George despises her, because she has a cold and haughty look, and she swears and has bad manners. He literally calls her "evil" more than once, and tells everyone how much he hates her. Then a few chapters later, it's like she has a different personality. She still swears a little, but now she's all loveliness and kindness and grace. It just felt really weird to change gears so quickly.
The characters are really one-dimensional. The dialogue is painfully dramatic and trite. But it is delightfully old-fashioned and fun!
The story is much more focused on the romance, rather than the murder mystery. No less than three different couples meet, fall in love at first sight, and get engaged through the story. The mystery had some weird plot holes that did not make sense to me. The whole scandal of the Earl's cousin was never quite explained.
I did not like how Clyte's personality kept changing. In the beginning, I thought she was a villain. George despises her, because she has a cold and haughty look, and she swears and has bad manners. He literally calls her "evil" more than once, and tells everyone how much he hates her. Then a few chapters later, it's like she has a different personality. She still swears a little, but now she's all loveliness and kindness and grace. It just felt really weird to change gears so quickly.
The characters are really one-dimensional. The dialogue is painfully dramatic and trite. But it is delightfully old-fashioned and fun!
Displaying 1 of 1 review