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WISE Enquiries Agency #5
The Case of the Disgraced Duke:
THE DUKE’S REPUTATION IS IN PERIL – can the women of the WISE ENQUIRIES AGENCY save the day?
Henry Devereaux Twyst, eighteenth duke of Chellingworth, is desperate to disprove murderous rumors about his ancestor before his first child is born, so he enlists the help of the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency.
However, Annie is working undercover – on a case that turns out to be more deadly than anyone had imagined, and Carol is finding it difficult to juggle her responsibilities – especially when faced with a puzzling theft in the village. Meanwhile, Christine is consumed with fears about Alexander's shady colleagues, and Mavis is trying to manage the dowager's dispute with the local vicar.
In the fifth WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery stately Chellingworth Hall, and the charming Welsh village of Anwen-by-Wye, both of which have more than their fair share of quirky inhabitants, are once again subjected to a host of problems that need to be solved…and the WISE women are ready to use their considerable skills to do so.
Henry Devereaux Twyst, eighteenth duke of Chellingworth, is desperate to disprove murderous rumors about his ancestor before his first child is born, so he enlists the help of the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency.
However, Annie is working undercover – on a case that turns out to be more deadly than anyone had imagined, and Carol is finding it difficult to juggle her responsibilities – especially when faced with a puzzling theft in the village. Meanwhile, Christine is consumed with fears about Alexander's shady colleagues, and Mavis is trying to manage the dowager's dispute with the local vicar.
In the fifth WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery stately Chellingworth Hall, and the charming Welsh village of Anwen-by-Wye, both of which have more than their fair share of quirky inhabitants, are once again subjected to a host of problems that need to be solved…and the WISE women are ready to use their considerable skills to do so.
261 pages, Paperback
Published July 27, 2022
49 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Ace
47 books387 followersCathy Ace migrated from her native Wales to Canada at the age of 40. She is the award-winning author of the traditional Cait Morgan Mysteries featuring her Welsh Canadian criminology professor sleuth who travels the world tripping over corpses, which have now been optioned for TV. She also writes the cozier WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries featuring a quartet of female PIs who run their business out of a Welsh stately home. Both series have been well-reviewed. Her award-winning standalone, THE WRONG BOY, is a gripping novel of psychological suspense, set in Wales, and has also been optioned for TV.
"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail
Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com
"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail
Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 9, 2022
This is another delightful edition to the WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery series. I love the characters! They've become like old friends, and I love getting immersed in their Welsh village. I'm always dreaming of living in a village in the UK, so this is my way of "pretending" I'm there! I truly hope that this series has many more books coming!
September 14, 2022
I am so happy that there is a new WISE Enquiries mystery out. It’s been quite a wait for a book from one of my favorite series, but Cathy Ace makes it easy to jump right back into the charming, quirky Welsh setting of Awen-by-Wye in The Case of the Disgraced Duke. She has put together a cast of characters for this series who are not easily forgotten, ones a reader are always eager to return to. And, while there are the four main characters of the WISE Enquiries Agency, there just as many supporting characters readers can’t get enough of. That is quite the accomplishment for an author. Of course, a good story and interesting setting are also needed, and check, check on those elements. There is always a case, or two, that requires the superpowers of the four women (and the Dowager Duchess Althea, who usually manages to get in on the action).
The WISE women are a diverse group of private investigators who, despite their different backgrounds and skills, work brilliantly together. WISE is comprised of one Welsh woman named Carol, who is a whiz at culling information from the computer and assembling it for use; Irish Christine, who is a titled Irish aristocrat with a sharp mind and lots of helpful connections; Scottish Mavis, a retired nurse of wounded soldiers and the organized leader of the group; and English Annie, whose warm and unassuming nature can get almost anyone to open up to her. Those who underestimate these women, like the police and criminals, learn the foolishness of that mistake.
There’s lots that seems to be happening in this new book, both personally for the women and work-wise for the agency, and the main focus is a problem at Chellingworth Hall. The WISE Agency has a close, like family, connection with the Duke and Duchess of Chellingworth, and the Dower Duchess. Their first case was for Henry Devereaux Twyst, the eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, and it is through this case that the women came to the village of Anwen-by-Wye. They even have their offices in a converted barn on the Chellingworth estate, and Christine lives in an apartment in this barn. Mavis lives with Althea, the Dower Duchess, in the Dower House on the estate. So, the Chellingworths and the WISE women have become an intricate part of one another’s lives.
Henry is in a state, which isn’t unusual for him. His wife Stephanie is pregnant with their first child, and he’s far more nervous than she is. And, there’s a danger to the reputation of the Chellingworth legacy that has just been discovered. The thirteenth Duke of Chellingworth, Frederick, is rumored to have been an addict who killed two people on the estate without having faced consequences from the law, and Frederick is suspected of committing suicide to end his life. Both Henry and Stephanie are eager to investigate these rumors and, hopefully, put them to rest before the baby is born under a tarnished line.
The WISE Agency is just the resource needed to uncover the truth about Frederick. However, at this time, Annie is off on an undercover assignment, Carol is spending every minute she can on a rush background check for a client, and Christine is still not completely recovered from her gunshot wound. This might be a problem for some investigators, but this group can double down like no other. A central command center is set up in the Chellingworth Hall library where books with information pertaining to the time of Duke Frederick are stored. Mavis is there to order the troops, Christine feels she’s up to this work and is there, Henry and Stephanie take an active part to protect their family reputation, Christine’s boyfriend Alexander and a friend of Stephanie’s join in, and there is always the Dower Duchess Althea in the thick of it. There will be a secret report, church records, and documents from a most unexpected source discovered in the search for the truth.
As the major operation is taking place at Chellingworth Hall, Annie is off on a covert assignment to Swansea. Two sisters are worried about their elderly father who is involved with a much younger woman, who is also his carer. The sisters are aware of family possessions, such as their mother’s jewelry being sold off recently, and the carer/girlfriend of their father is blocking access to him. Annie poses as another carer come to the area looking for work, and she makes friends with the father's carer in a hotel bar. Annie is unsure whether the woman is taking advantage of the man, but she does know the woman is a heavy drinker. While on this case, Annie is also pondering her relationship with the pub owner in Awen-by-Wye.
Carol is working furiously to get a thorough and rushed background check done for a client who is uncertain of the buyer for her hair salon business. Carol’s husband is out of town, and baby Alfred is not making it easy for her to work and get any sleep. She is stretched thin, and the last thing she needs is for her neighbor across the road to ask for help in a theft of jars of jam from her shop. Yet, Carol doesn’t like to turn a fellow villager down who needs help.
It’s a mixed bag of results for the different cases in this story, but all the cases show just how dedicated and successful this WISE group is. All the results have long-reaching effects for the clients and I’m predicting for the investigators as well. Annie’s case will have a profound effect on her, and I am wondering what changes the next book will bring in her life. Christine and Carol are also poised for some major decision making, and Mavis is facing a scary situation for someone she loves.
I thought that this new addition to the series was a brilliant one. The WISE women are settled into a successful business now, but they aren’t so settled personally. Cathy Ace has given readers a great story in The Case of the Disgraced Duke, and she has set up questions to be answered in the next story. These are not what you might consider traditional cliffhangers, but as is natural in life, a progression towards figuring out what’s important. Fans of this series are going to love this book, and readers just coming into the series will be spurred on, or back, to read the preceding books. Just please don’t keep us waiting for #6 so long this time, Ms. Ace.
The WISE women are a diverse group of private investigators who, despite their different backgrounds and skills, work brilliantly together. WISE is comprised of one Welsh woman named Carol, who is a whiz at culling information from the computer and assembling it for use; Irish Christine, who is a titled Irish aristocrat with a sharp mind and lots of helpful connections; Scottish Mavis, a retired nurse of wounded soldiers and the organized leader of the group; and English Annie, whose warm and unassuming nature can get almost anyone to open up to her. Those who underestimate these women, like the police and criminals, learn the foolishness of that mistake.
There’s lots that seems to be happening in this new book, both personally for the women and work-wise for the agency, and the main focus is a problem at Chellingworth Hall. The WISE Agency has a close, like family, connection with the Duke and Duchess of Chellingworth, and the Dower Duchess. Their first case was for Henry Devereaux Twyst, the eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, and it is through this case that the women came to the village of Anwen-by-Wye. They even have their offices in a converted barn on the Chellingworth estate, and Christine lives in an apartment in this barn. Mavis lives with Althea, the Dower Duchess, in the Dower House on the estate. So, the Chellingworths and the WISE women have become an intricate part of one another’s lives.
Henry is in a state, which isn’t unusual for him. His wife Stephanie is pregnant with their first child, and he’s far more nervous than she is. And, there’s a danger to the reputation of the Chellingworth legacy that has just been discovered. The thirteenth Duke of Chellingworth, Frederick, is rumored to have been an addict who killed two people on the estate without having faced consequences from the law, and Frederick is suspected of committing suicide to end his life. Both Henry and Stephanie are eager to investigate these rumors and, hopefully, put them to rest before the baby is born under a tarnished line.
The WISE Agency is just the resource needed to uncover the truth about Frederick. However, at this time, Annie is off on an undercover assignment, Carol is spending every minute she can on a rush background check for a client, and Christine is still not completely recovered from her gunshot wound. This might be a problem for some investigators, but this group can double down like no other. A central command center is set up in the Chellingworth Hall library where books with information pertaining to the time of Duke Frederick are stored. Mavis is there to order the troops, Christine feels she’s up to this work and is there, Henry and Stephanie take an active part to protect their family reputation, Christine’s boyfriend Alexander and a friend of Stephanie’s join in, and there is always the Dower Duchess Althea in the thick of it. There will be a secret report, church records, and documents from a most unexpected source discovered in the search for the truth.
As the major operation is taking place at Chellingworth Hall, Annie is off on a covert assignment to Swansea. Two sisters are worried about their elderly father who is involved with a much younger woman, who is also his carer. The sisters are aware of family possessions, such as their mother’s jewelry being sold off recently, and the carer/girlfriend of their father is blocking access to him. Annie poses as another carer come to the area looking for work, and she makes friends with the father's carer in a hotel bar. Annie is unsure whether the woman is taking advantage of the man, but she does know the woman is a heavy drinker. While on this case, Annie is also pondering her relationship with the pub owner in Awen-by-Wye.
Carol is working furiously to get a thorough and rushed background check done for a client who is uncertain of the buyer for her hair salon business. Carol’s husband is out of town, and baby Alfred is not making it easy for her to work and get any sleep. She is stretched thin, and the last thing she needs is for her neighbor across the road to ask for help in a theft of jars of jam from her shop. Yet, Carol doesn’t like to turn a fellow villager down who needs help.
It’s a mixed bag of results for the different cases in this story, but all the cases show just how dedicated and successful this WISE group is. All the results have long-reaching effects for the clients and I’m predicting for the investigators as well. Annie’s case will have a profound effect on her, and I am wondering what changes the next book will bring in her life. Christine and Carol are also poised for some major decision making, and Mavis is facing a scary situation for someone she loves.
I thought that this new addition to the series was a brilliant one. The WISE women are settled into a successful business now, but they aren’t so settled personally. Cathy Ace has given readers a great story in The Case of the Disgraced Duke, and she has set up questions to be answered in the next story. These are not what you might consider traditional cliffhangers, but as is natural in life, a progression towards figuring out what’s important. Fans of this series are going to love this book, and readers just coming into the series will be spurred on, or back, to read the preceding books. Just please don’t keep us waiting for #6 so long this time, Ms. Ace.
January 5, 2024
"The Case Of The Disgraced Duke" is book #5 in the "WISE Enquiries Agency" series by Cathy Ace.
"Henry Devereaux Twyst, eighteenth duke of Chellingworth, is desperate to disprove murderous rumors about his ancestor before his first child is born, so he enlists the help of the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency.
However, Annie is working undercover – on a case that turns out to be more deadly than anyone had imagined, and Carol is finding it difficult to juggle her responsibilities – especially when faced with a puzzling theft in the village. Meanwhile, Christine is consumed with fears about Alexander's shady colleagues, and Mavis is trying to manage the dowager's dispute with the local vicar."
My thoughts:
History was never one of my better subjects in school, so I found my interest dragging a bit at all the fuss about the 13th duke and what was happening in the 1840's and 50's. The Twyst's were determined to find the truth no matter what dusty hidey-holes they had to search. Admittedly, the entire duke saga did become more interesting as certain facts and evidence came to light - before a stunning conclusion.
I actually found Annie's case and its aftermath to be more interesting. I had suspected something along the lines of what turned out to be the truth.
Carol had her hands full with a fussy baby and trying to work on a fast turn around case for a client - all while her husband was away on business. That she held things together as well as she did, spoke volumes to her strength and dedication to motherhood and her work career. I had figured out what had happened to the missing preserves well before Carol put the pieces together.
Christine and Alexander make a great couple but hit a bit of a rough patch with trust and communication. Even so, they do manage to make headway in their respective cases and with each other.
Mavis and Althea have their own moments. Althea can be stubborn and a bit of an imp. Mavis tries her best to look out for her dear friend without crossing any lines.
Henry, as always is a bit stodgy and overprotective of Stephanie but he means well. Thankfully, Stephanie is not afraid to call him out and stand up for herself.
Even though some of the history was a bit on the dry side for me, I did enjoy most of the read. The characters are a diverse blend with interesting backgrounds and believable relationships. 4/5 stars.
"Henry Devereaux Twyst, eighteenth duke of Chellingworth, is desperate to disprove murderous rumors about his ancestor before his first child is born, so he enlists the help of the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency.
However, Annie is working undercover – on a case that turns out to be more deadly than anyone had imagined, and Carol is finding it difficult to juggle her responsibilities – especially when faced with a puzzling theft in the village. Meanwhile, Christine is consumed with fears about Alexander's shady colleagues, and Mavis is trying to manage the dowager's dispute with the local vicar."
My thoughts:
History was never one of my better subjects in school, so I found my interest dragging a bit at all the fuss about the 13th duke and what was happening in the 1840's and 50's. The Twyst's were determined to find the truth no matter what dusty hidey-holes they had to search. Admittedly, the entire duke saga did become more interesting as certain facts and evidence came to light - before a stunning conclusion.
I actually found Annie's case and its aftermath to be more interesting. I had suspected something along the lines of what turned out to be the truth.
Carol had her hands full with a fussy baby and trying to work on a fast turn around case for a client - all while her husband was away on business. That she held things together as well as she did, spoke volumes to her strength and dedication to motherhood and her work career. I had figured out what had happened to the missing preserves well before Carol put the pieces together.
Christine and Alexander make a great couple but hit a bit of a rough patch with trust and communication. Even so, they do manage to make headway in their respective cases and with each other.
Mavis and Althea have their own moments. Althea can be stubborn and a bit of an imp. Mavis tries her best to look out for her dear friend without crossing any lines.
Henry, as always is a bit stodgy and overprotective of Stephanie but he means well. Thankfully, Stephanie is not afraid to call him out and stand up for herself.
Even though some of the history was a bit on the dry side for me, I did enjoy most of the read. The characters are a diverse blend with interesting backgrounds and believable relationships. 4/5 stars.
July 15, 2023
A WISE Enquiry Agency mystery is like getting together with a bunch of friends, as they bounce ideas off one another. Several cases are being investigated, including the titular one, which involves what really happened to the 13th Duke and his two gardeners. But in addition to these various investigations, there are also the relationships between the four WISE women and their friends and relatives. Interesting, believable characters combined with an imaginative plot make this book hard to put down. Recommended.
Read
October 4, 2024I've enjoyed all the books in this series, but this one feels richer to me than some of the previous ones. The characters and relationships are maturing and are becoming more interesting. I like the extra bits of Welsh culture that appear in this one. What really strikes me is that the series would be wonderful as a television series. It has a great cast of recurring characters and is set in an interesting and scenic part of the world. Hope "someone" spots it and presents it to another audience in TV format!
February 10, 2023
Hurray for another great book and the WISE Women !
The series keeps getting better! Enjoy the romance Without being mushy or trashy ... I feel like I've made a whole new set of friends. love that Annie is coming into her own. I'd sit down and have a G&T with her and Tude. MS Ace has a clever way of showing everyone's perspective! Please give us many more adventures with this wonderful gang of Quirky,Fun,Witty and Heartwarming women and their friends and Family!
The series keeps getting better! Enjoy the romance Without being mushy or trashy ... I feel like I've made a whole new set of friends. love that Annie is coming into her own. I'd sit down and have a G&T with her and Tude. MS Ace has a clever way of showing everyone's perspective! Please give us many more adventures with this wonderful gang of Quirky,Fun,Witty and Heartwarming women and their friends and Family!
July 19, 2024
3.75 stars
I enjoy these tales of a four woman inquiry agency. They are different in background and skills and it makes for interesting reading. It did seem to me that this time around the narrative was a lot angstier than usual.
Carol, their Welsh computer genius, is a new mom whose husband is out of town and she is barely hanging on with a temperamental infant. Christine, an Irish aristocrat, is having love life problems which impact her work. Annie is undercover and dealing with guilt about a death she couldn't prevent. And Mavis is coping with her old friend Althea's foibles and infirmities.
Simultaneously the local Duke, a friend of the ladies, is coping with incipient parenthood and the possibility of an old family scandal being aired on the BBC. It all makes for a fun and somewhat harried mix as we watch everyone try to sort out what's happening with honesty and truth.
I enjoy these tales of a four woman inquiry agency. They are different in background and skills and it makes for interesting reading. It did seem to me that this time around the narrative was a lot angstier than usual.
Carol, their Welsh computer genius, is a new mom whose husband is out of town and she is barely hanging on with a temperamental infant. Christine, an Irish aristocrat, is having love life problems which impact her work. Annie is undercover and dealing with guilt about a death she couldn't prevent. And Mavis is coping with her old friend Althea's foibles and infirmities.
Simultaneously the local Duke, a friend of the ladies, is coping with incipient parenthood and the possibility of an old family scandal being aired on the BBC. It all makes for a fun and somewhat harried mix as we watch everyone try to sort out what's happening with honesty and truth.
October 9, 2022
This is the first of the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries that I’ve read and I must say, it was fabulous. Well defined characters, great storylines (as there is more than one mystery being solved) and fantastic setting. I will defined be looking for more in this series to read! Reminded me of the MC Beaton books I love to read!
October 20, 2022
There was quite a bit of unrest among the main characters with the result the mysteries seemed to take a back seat in the plot. I was beginning to wonder if that would be resolved as it got a bit unpleasant toward the end. That said, the way things did resolve themselves redeemed the story as a whole.
Even taking a back seat, the mysteries were well done and enjoyable.
Even taking a back seat, the mysteries were well done and enjoyable.
November 12, 2022
Enjoyable
Its busy time for the ladies of WISE. Their cases include a gold digger, missing preserves and saving a family's good name. Along the way friendships deepen , lovers bond and mothers adjust to their lot. All these themes are combined into an enjoyable book with fascinating characters and storyline. Love this series.
Its busy time for the ladies of WISE. Their cases include a gold digger, missing preserves and saving a family's good name. Along the way friendships deepen , lovers bond and mothers adjust to their lot. All these themes are combined into an enjoyable book with fascinating characters and storyline. Love this series.
January 12, 2023
In spite of reading this one out of order, I enjoyed it - more, I think, than the one that followed. There seemed to be less attempted regional dialect and more character rounding. While I still find the number of strands (‘cases’) running in each book a bit overwhelming and confusing, I grant that Ace is pretty skilled at the juggle.
Roll on no7!
Roll on no7!
April 4, 2023
The Case of the Disgraced Duke: the WISE women are out to clear the name of the 13th Duke of Chellingworth. Did he really murder two people and bury them in the garden? Meanwhile, Annie does some undercover work out of town and it really goes off the rails.
This series continues to be great! It was so fun learning more about the Twyst family and Chellingworth Hall. The hall has like 250 rooms and I want to know what is in each one. Can I get a map? And one of the village too? I loved the scenes of everyone gathered together, doing research, sharing their finds. And this mystery was SO interesting! I like how the mysteries in this series are really varied, not just murders.
But poor Annie! It was really enjoyable seeing her work undercover, but I just hated what happened to her. Annie is wonderful and I only want good things for her!
This series continues to be great! It was so fun learning more about the Twyst family and Chellingworth Hall. The hall has like 250 rooms and I want to know what is in each one. Can I get a map? And one of the village too? I loved the scenes of everyone gathered together, doing research, sharing their finds. And this mystery was SO interesting! I like how the mysteries in this series are really varied, not just murders.
But poor Annie! It was really enjoyable seeing her work undercover, but I just hated what happened to her. Annie is wonderful and I only want good things for her!
March 19, 2024
4 1/2 Stars
I give this fifth book in the Wise Enquiries Agency Mysteries series 4 1/2 stars. It is a very entertaining and fun book. There is romance without being trashy, and several mini-mysteries in each book of the series in which we get to see the individual main characters shine. I do so enjoy reading these books, and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I give this fifth book in the Wise Enquiries Agency Mysteries series 4 1/2 stars. It is a very entertaining and fun book. There is romance without being trashy, and several mini-mysteries in each book of the series in which we get to see the individual main characters shine. I do so enjoy reading these books, and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
October 15, 2022
The women of the WISE Enquiries Agency juggle several balls in this outing, among them an attempt to investigate the truth about the thirteenth Duke, thought to have murdered a couple of locals.
I enjoyed the character development in this novel, and the complexity of the plot lines.
I enjoyed the character development in this novel, and the complexity of the plot lines.
July 9, 2023
Fun and entertaining as always
I've become hooked to this series. I love the assortment of characters from the Duke to a newborn naked Albert. It's fun to read, plus I love that it mostly takes in Powys, a mysterious place in itself.
I've become hooked to this series. I love the assortment of characters from the Duke to a newborn naked Albert. It's fun to read, plus I love that it mostly takes in Powys, a mysterious place in itself.
January 6, 2023
Ace has done well in this book to present something creative and interesting. As with the earlier books in the series the ensemble cast is an asset, and the creativity of the plots is appreciated.
January 20, 2023
Brilliant
This series just gets better. The characters are well rounded and interesting with great quirks. Storylines have a great number of twists along the way
This series just gets better. The characters are well rounded and interesting with great quirks. Storylines have a great number of twists along the way
January 23, 2023
I love this series. The author is an amazing storyteller. You really feel connected to the characters, as if you actually know them. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
February 26, 2023
Love this series you get multiple small mysteries solved with each book.
Read
March 10, 2023Loved it!
March 14, 2023
Brilliant
What a joy to read the characters are so real and the things they get up too are marvellous.brilliant plot bring on book six
What a joy to read the characters are so real and the things they get up too are marvellous.brilliant plot bring on book six
January 22, 2024
I like the range of characters in this series, I look forward to the next.
September 21, 2023
Wonderful mystery by a new author I met on a cruise vacation. I look forward to reading her other titles.
Reread before starting # 6, 7, & 8.
Reread before starting # 6, 7, & 8.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews