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Daisy Dalrymple #1
Death at Wentwater Court
This first installment of a cozy mystery series transports listeners back to the bygone era of 1923 Britain, where unflappable flapper and fledgling journalist Daisy Dalrymple daringly embarks on her first writing assignment, and promptly stumbles across a corpse.
No stranger to sprawling country estates, wealthy Daisy Dalrymple is breaking new ground in having scandalously traded silver spoon for pen and camera to cover a story for Town and Country magazine. But her planned interviews with the inhabitants of Wentwater Court give way to interrogation after suave Lord Stephen Astwick meets a dire fate on the tranquil skating pond.
Armed with evidence that his fate was anything but accidental, Daisy joins forces with Scotland Yard to examine an esteemed collection of suspects and to see that the unlikely culprit doesn't slip through their fingers just as the unfortunate Astwick slipped through the ice.
©1994 Carola Dunn; (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks
No stranger to sprawling country estates, wealthy Daisy Dalrymple is breaking new ground in having scandalously traded silver spoon for pen and camera to cover a story for Town and Country magazine. But her planned interviews with the inhabitants of Wentwater Court give way to interrogation after suave Lord Stephen Astwick meets a dire fate on the tranquil skating pond.
Armed with evidence that his fate was anything but accidental, Daisy joins forces with Scotland Yard to examine an esteemed collection of suspects and to see that the unlikely culprit doesn't slip through their fingers just as the unfortunate Astwick slipped through the ice.
©1994 Carola Dunn; (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks
252 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
302 people are currently reading
8920 people want to read
About the author
Carola Dunn
91 books886 followersCarola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she arrived a month ago.
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,161 reviews
August 4, 2019
Murder at Wentworth Court by Carola Dunn is a 2006 Kensington publication. (Originally published in 1994)
A genuine whodunit set back in the 1920s!
When Daisy Dalrymple, a photographer and journalist arrives at Wentworth Court to work on a feature article about the historical home, she soon finds herself embroiled in a host of family dramas, while trying to discourage a rather ardent admirer.
But, when another guest is found dead, the apparent victim of an ice -skating mishap, Daisy suspects foul play. After Daisy alerts Alec Fletcher of her suspicions, the pair team up, making an unlikely but very effective detective team. But, can they draw out a potential murderer and discover their motive?
Believe it or not, I have never read a book by Carola Dunn. It's not that I was unaware of her, but somehow, I just never got around to reading any of her work. My library and Hoopla have been prominently displaying her mystery novels recently, and even have them in audio- which I’ll have to try with the next book in the series. When I realized this series was set during the 1920s, despite my solemn vow not to start another series, I couldn’t resist, especially since the books aren’t very long.
I loved, loved, loved all the 1920s vernacular, and Daisy is definitely a woman ahead of her time. The mystery is very well done, with a ‘golden age’ atmosphere to it. A house full of possible suspects, the process of elimination, and then the big surprise reveal- which turned out to be a total surprise. It’s a formula that’s been used countless times, but, if it is done right, it always seems to work.
Overall, the mystery is light, clean, fun, and pretty much what I expected it to be. I’m glad I caved and added yet another series to my TBR pile. It’s fun to slip into a ‘cosy’ style mystery with familiar characters from time to time. So, I’m going to stop worrying about how many series I start or how long it takes to finish them. I’m having fun discovering new series and old ones too, and enjoy all of them- and that’s all that matters, right?
I think I’m going to like Daisy Dalrymple a lot and can’t wait to see what she gets up to next.
4 stars
A genuine whodunit set back in the 1920s!
When Daisy Dalrymple, a photographer and journalist arrives at Wentworth Court to work on a feature article about the historical home, she soon finds herself embroiled in a host of family dramas, while trying to discourage a rather ardent admirer.
But, when another guest is found dead, the apparent victim of an ice -skating mishap, Daisy suspects foul play. After Daisy alerts Alec Fletcher of her suspicions, the pair team up, making an unlikely but very effective detective team. But, can they draw out a potential murderer and discover their motive?
Believe it or not, I have never read a book by Carola Dunn. It's not that I was unaware of her, but somehow, I just never got around to reading any of her work. My library and Hoopla have been prominently displaying her mystery novels recently, and even have them in audio- which I’ll have to try with the next book in the series. When I realized this series was set during the 1920s, despite my solemn vow not to start another series, I couldn’t resist, especially since the books aren’t very long.
I loved, loved, loved all the 1920s vernacular, and Daisy is definitely a woman ahead of her time. The mystery is very well done, with a ‘golden age’ atmosphere to it. A house full of possible suspects, the process of elimination, and then the big surprise reveal- which turned out to be a total surprise. It’s a formula that’s been used countless times, but, if it is done right, it always seems to work.
Overall, the mystery is light, clean, fun, and pretty much what I expected it to be. I’m glad I caved and added yet another series to my TBR pile. It’s fun to slip into a ‘cosy’ style mystery with familiar characters from time to time. So, I’m going to stop worrying about how many series I start or how long it takes to finish them. I’m having fun discovering new series and old ones too, and enjoy all of them- and that’s all that matters, right?
I think I’m going to like Daisy Dalrymple a lot and can’t wait to see what she gets up to next.
4 stars
May 1, 2020
Daisy Dalrymple is off to Wentwater Court. She is going to be staying there while writing about the estate for Town and Country magazine. What she doesn’t expect to walk into is a death. At first it appears it may be an accident but several things don’t quite add up. An investigation ensues. It is later revealed to be much more serious than that.
I don’t often read these very English type of mysteries and it took me a while to get used to the style with various expressions like ‘ spiffing ‘and men who insist on calling women the care about, ‘old thing’ or ‘old bean.’ Once I settled into the rhythm of the writing, I found this quite an enjoyable read. I liked aspiring journalist Daisy Dalrymple, the main character, who is used to dealing with others in the upper class.. I enjoyed the insights into English class society of the 1920s and I liked Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, the affable and circumspect Scotland Yard detective.
It’s a short book and quite a light read. The time period and characters are interesting enough to maintain interest, if not make it a completely gripping read. But the ending. Oh dear! Firstly I was never convinced by it and who was responsible. Not at all. Secondly, I had all sorts of ethical issues with the ending and the way it was handled. I won’t go into those here because it would require spoilers which I don’t do. It instantly lost stars from me at this point. As a result I doubt I will bother to read any more in this series, even though there seems to be a multitude of books featuring Daisy that follow.
I don’t often read these very English type of mysteries and it took me a while to get used to the style with various expressions like ‘ spiffing ‘and men who insist on calling women the care about, ‘old thing’ or ‘old bean.’ Once I settled into the rhythm of the writing, I found this quite an enjoyable read. I liked aspiring journalist Daisy Dalrymple, the main character, who is used to dealing with others in the upper class.. I enjoyed the insights into English class society of the 1920s and I liked Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, the affable and circumspect Scotland Yard detective.
It’s a short book and quite a light read. The time period and characters are interesting enough to maintain interest, if not make it a completely gripping read. But the ending. Oh dear! Firstly I was never convinced by it and who was responsible. Not at all. Secondly, I had all sorts of ethical issues with the ending and the way it was handled. I won’t go into those here because it would require spoilers which I don’t do. It instantly lost stars from me at this point. As a result I doubt I will bother to read any more in this series, even though there seems to be a multitude of books featuring Daisy that follow.
November 10, 2018
Shades of Downton Abbey! Well, that was the reason I tried it. I really liked Downton Abbey & hadn't thought I would, but there's a charm & many lessons in the old manor lifestyle during the sweeping changes of the 1920s which we're undergoing as well.
What was surprising was that a 'cozy mystery' could be so well done. The mystery was quite a good one & I was given the same information as the investigators, so had the same opportunity to solve it. I really appreciate that & the way everything finally came together.
There are several romantic threads throughout the book, but they were quite well done. They weren't gooey or overblown. Instead, they made a lot of sense & enhanced the story. No gore, either. This is a story I'd be comfortable recommending to all of my friends no matter how savage or delicate their tastes.
It was very well narrated with just enough accents to enhance, but not enough to make it unintelligible to my ear which is awful at understanding them. I'll definitely look for more in the series.
What was surprising was that a 'cozy mystery' could be so well done. The mystery was quite a good one & I was given the same information as the investigators, so had the same opportunity to solve it. I really appreciate that & the way everything finally came together.
There are several romantic threads throughout the book, but they were quite well done. They weren't gooey or overblown. Instead, they made a lot of sense & enhanced the story. No gore, either. This is a story I'd be comfortable recommending to all of my friends no matter how savage or delicate their tastes.
It was very well narrated with just enough accents to enhance, but not enough to make it unintelligible to my ear which is awful at understanding them. I'll definitely look for more in the series.
January 14, 2015
This lighthearted Downton Abbey era 1920’s mystery totally charmed me. Daisy Dalrymple comes from a titled family, but after her brother was killed in the Great War and her father died in the flu epidemic their estate passed to a distant relative (shades of Jane Austen!) leaving the remaining female family members somewhat impoverished. Daisy is quite cheerful about working for a living though, and being a society girl doors open for her, so she’s off to Wentwater Court to to write a story for Town & Country magazine. Then nasty Lord Stephen Astwick dies in what looks like an early morning ice skating accident bringing police on the scene. Naturally Daisy is ready to help officials and the family in any way she can, placing her in the heart of the investigation. The handsome detective in charge isn’t, of course, in her class, but Daisy is an open minded young woman so who knows what may develop in the course of this series? This is the first of so far 21 books and another is coming out in June 2015 so I envision many happy hours of reading.
October 17, 2017
England 1923: Die 25-jährige Daisy Dalrymple ist zwar adelig, dennoch möchte sie als Journalistin arbeiten. Nach dem Tod ihres Vaters möchte sie nicht auf die Mildtätigkeiten ihrer Mutter oder anderer Verwandter angewiesen sein. So ist sie glücklich, dass sie für eine Zeitschrift eine Serie über alte Herrenhäuser schreiben darf. Ihr erster Auftrag führt sie nach Wentwater Court, wo neben der Familie auch gerade ihr alter Freund Philipp sowie ein Freund der Familie zu Gast sind. Eines Morgens wird am zugefrorenen Teich auf dem Grundstück eine Leiche entdeckt und Daisy gerät mitten in die Ermittlungen von Scotland Yard.
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich habe schon vor einigen Jahren ein Buch über Miss Daisy gelesen und war nun sehr froh zu erfahren, dass es Neuauflagen der Romane geben soll! So habe ich diesen ersten Band der Reihe mit großen Erwartungen gelesen und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Es war einfach schön, wieder in diese ganz besondere Atmosphäre, wie sie Carola Dunn schaffen kann, einzutauchen. Die Geschichte ist „very british“ und Miss Daisy erinnert mich ein bisschen an eine jüngere Ausgabe von Miss Marple, die ich auch sehr liebe.
Die Geschichte spielt in den 1920er Jahren in England, was für mich ein großer Pluspunkt ist. Ich mag dieses Setting und diese ganz besondere Atmosphäre sehr gerne. Von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite konnte ich eintauchen in diese Geschichte und Miss Daisy eine Weile begleiten.
Der Krimi ist zwar eher ruhig, aber keineswegs langweilig! Ich fand es sehr interessant, die einzelnen Charaktere nach und nach immer besser kennenzulernen und sie als Verdächtige entweder auszuschließen oder aber ins Auge zu fassen.
Immer wieder gab es auch überraschende Wendungen oder neue Erkenntnisse, die durchaus glaubhaft waren und die Spannung erhöhten.
Miss Daisy ist eine Figur, die ich sofort ins Herz schließen konnte. Ich mag ihre sympathische und aufgeschlossene Art sehr gerne und hoffe, noch viele weitere Romane mit ihr als Protagonistin lesen zu können.
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich habe schon vor einigen Jahren ein Buch über Miss Daisy gelesen und war nun sehr froh zu erfahren, dass es Neuauflagen der Romane geben soll! So habe ich diesen ersten Band der Reihe mit großen Erwartungen gelesen und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Es war einfach schön, wieder in diese ganz besondere Atmosphäre, wie sie Carola Dunn schaffen kann, einzutauchen. Die Geschichte ist „very british“ und Miss Daisy erinnert mich ein bisschen an eine jüngere Ausgabe von Miss Marple, die ich auch sehr liebe.
Die Geschichte spielt in den 1920er Jahren in England, was für mich ein großer Pluspunkt ist. Ich mag dieses Setting und diese ganz besondere Atmosphäre sehr gerne. Von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite konnte ich eintauchen in diese Geschichte und Miss Daisy eine Weile begleiten.
Der Krimi ist zwar eher ruhig, aber keineswegs langweilig! Ich fand es sehr interessant, die einzelnen Charaktere nach und nach immer besser kennenzulernen und sie als Verdächtige entweder auszuschließen oder aber ins Auge zu fassen.
Immer wieder gab es auch überraschende Wendungen oder neue Erkenntnisse, die durchaus glaubhaft waren und die Spannung erhöhten.
Miss Daisy ist eine Figur, die ich sofort ins Herz schließen konnte. Ich mag ihre sympathische und aufgeschlossene Art sehr gerne und hoffe, noch viele weitere Romane mit ihr als Protagonistin lesen zu können.
November 27, 2024
I listened to this story that I purchased with Chirp. Death at Wentwater Court is a great mystery in a nice English countryside setting. There are likable characters. I enjoyed listening to the narrator for an authentic British voice for all the characters. I look forward to reading the next Daisy Dalrymple mystery.
February 25, 2023
‘I haven’t been able to place Lord Stephen, though the name Astwick is familiar. Who exactly is he?’
‘The younger brother of the Marquis of Brinbury. Always a bit of a black sheep, I’m afraid. In fact rumour has it his father disinherited him, but he made good in the City, though Hugh doesn’t trust him an inch.’
Jolly spiffing, what? This tangled tale of a golden-age mystery has much going for it: an arch-cad, a handsome detective, the lead figure in the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple, a bright young woman determined to make her own way in life, who finds herself torn between helping the police and protecting her host’s family.
The first in a series but the foibles of the minor aristocracy, their butlers, footmen and maids, and their attitude to the police left me wanting. (Not helped by recently reading the excellent debut A Test of Wills, also set in the post WWI period, the investigation led by a detective suffering from PTSD.) Here, I just wish some of the characters were less than clichéd cut outs and added more to the story.
Verdict: May suit cosy mystery readers but nothing here inspires me to read on.
‘The younger brother of the Marquis of Brinbury. Always a bit of a black sheep, I’m afraid. In fact rumour has it his father disinherited him, but he made good in the City, though Hugh doesn’t trust him an inch.’
Jolly spiffing, what? This tangled tale of a golden-age mystery has much going for it: an arch-cad, a handsome detective, the lead figure in the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple, a bright young woman determined to make her own way in life, who finds herself torn between helping the police and protecting her host’s family.
The first in a series but the foibles of the minor aristocracy, their butlers, footmen and maids, and their attitude to the police left me wanting. (Not helped by recently reading the excellent debut A Test of Wills, also set in the post WWI period, the investigation led by a detective suffering from PTSD.) Here, I just wish some of the characters were less than clichéd cut outs and added more to the story.
Verdict: May suit cosy mystery readers but nothing here inspires me to read on.
July 14, 2020
When journalist Daisy Dalrymple goes to Wentwater Court to write a magazine article about the estate, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. One of the guests is found face down in the nearby pond and Chief Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard has come to investigate. He relies on Daisy’s help to get the information he needs. Strange and intense secrets come to light between family members and guests at the estate.
Death at Wentwater Court is the first installment in the Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries by Carola Dunn. I listened to an audio edition published by Blackstone Audio Inc. Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey in this story set in Britiain 1923. We follow Daisy Dalrymple who comes from a wealthy family, but wants to work as a journalist. She discovers intrigue both past and present among the family and guests. Lord Stephen Astwick is found face down in the nearby pond. Many of the inhabitants had it in for him as he was a swindler, extortionist and a cad. Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard comes to investigate the case. Daisy is a skilled stenographer and takes very helpful forensic photographs for the police and helps with valuable insight into the family.
Main character Daisy Dalrymple, 25, is the daughter of a baron. Family and guests trust her and she clearly knows her way around the rich and titled, but I felt she took over and behaved a bit like the hostess instead of the guest at times.
Supporting character Annabel, Countess of Wentwater seems desperately unhappy. I was pleased to see Annabel trusted Daisy because she seemed to be in need of a friend. She was my favorite character in this story.
Different from Agatha Christie’s plots is that the sleuth arrives before the murder happens. The setting is an isolated opulent place. Guests and people who live at the manor all become suspects. While investigation is ongoing, police order everyone to stay put. All this is similar to Agatha Christie’s plots. Not similar is the questioning of servants as a vital source of information about the family.
Following some exciting twists and turns, the ending was a thoroughly shocking surprise I could never have anticipated.
The dialogue and language in this story were very entertaining. It felt like seeing a movie. Skating as the winter activity for the wealthy was an enjoyable and different element I haven’t read about before. I loved the unique and amusing, posh language which drew me into the story. My favorite part of the story was descriptions of Alec’s thought process and deliberations during the investigation and when Alec and Daisy discussed the findings of the investigations.
My least favorite part was descriptions of the intrigue and dysfunctional family relationships within this family.
Conclusion: Death at Wentwater Court is the Agatha Christie meets Downton Abby like story which included some exiting twists along the way and a surprise ending in more ways than one.
Fans of Carola Dunn will love this book. As will readers who enjoy the cozy mysteries genre. Similar authors to explore might be Rhys Bowen or Victoria Thompson.
Rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: interesting plot, great language and dialogue, very surprising ending
Death at Wentwater Court is the first installment in the Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries by Carola Dunn. I listened to an audio edition published by Blackstone Audio Inc. Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey in this story set in Britiain 1923. We follow Daisy Dalrymple who comes from a wealthy family, but wants to work as a journalist. She discovers intrigue both past and present among the family and guests. Lord Stephen Astwick is found face down in the nearby pond. Many of the inhabitants had it in for him as he was a swindler, extortionist and a cad. Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard comes to investigate the case. Daisy is a skilled stenographer and takes very helpful forensic photographs for the police and helps with valuable insight into the family.
Main character Daisy Dalrymple, 25, is the daughter of a baron. Family and guests trust her and she clearly knows her way around the rich and titled, but I felt she took over and behaved a bit like the hostess instead of the guest at times.
Supporting character Annabel, Countess of Wentwater seems desperately unhappy. I was pleased to see Annabel trusted Daisy because she seemed to be in need of a friend. She was my favorite character in this story.
Different from Agatha Christie’s plots is that the sleuth arrives before the murder happens. The setting is an isolated opulent place. Guests and people who live at the manor all become suspects. While investigation is ongoing, police order everyone to stay put. All this is similar to Agatha Christie’s plots. Not similar is the questioning of servants as a vital source of information about the family.
Following some exciting twists and turns, the ending was a thoroughly shocking surprise I could never have anticipated.
The dialogue and language in this story were very entertaining. It felt like seeing a movie. Skating as the winter activity for the wealthy was an enjoyable and different element I haven’t read about before. I loved the unique and amusing, posh language which drew me into the story. My favorite part of the story was descriptions of Alec’s thought process and deliberations during the investigation and when Alec and Daisy discussed the findings of the investigations.
My least favorite part was descriptions of the intrigue and dysfunctional family relationships within this family.
Conclusion: Death at Wentwater Court is the Agatha Christie meets Downton Abby like story which included some exiting twists along the way and a surprise ending in more ways than one.
Fans of Carola Dunn will love this book. As will readers who enjoy the cozy mysteries genre. Similar authors to explore might be Rhys Bowen or Victoria Thompson.
Rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: interesting plot, great language and dialogue, very surprising ending
June 16, 2014
An entertaining cosy...
It’s 1923, and the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple, daughter of a viscount, has broken with tradition by getting a job. Hired by an up-market magazine to write articles on stately homes, her aristocratic background is useful in allowing her to mingle on an equal footing with the owners and their families. So as the book begins, Daisy is on her way to stay at Wentwater Court, home of the Earl of Wentwater.
Daisy is not the only guest and she soon finds that the house is filled with tensions and misunderstandings. The Earl’s new young wife Annabel seems isolated and unhappy and is being pursued by another guest, the obviously wicked Lord Stephen Astwick. The Earls’ three grown-up children from his previous marriage are also visiting – James, showing every sign of resenting his new stepmother and hinting that she is returning Lord Stephen’s affections; Marjorie, who fancies herself in love with Lord Stephen and is wildly jealous of Annabel; and Geoffrey, his outwardly quiet manner hiding the fact that he has fallen in love with the wrong woman. Add in an old admirer of Daisy’s, and the house party is hardly set to be a great success. But when Lord Stephen falls to his death through the ice on the frozen lake at first everyone assumes it’s an accident…until Daisy’s photographs reveal that a human hand may have been at work…
This is a highly entertaining mystery with all the hallmarks of a ‘cosy’ – the deeply unlikeable victim who ‘deserves’ all he gets, a rural location with a limited cast of suspects, an amateur detective. All it needs is a nice romance – enter the delicious Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of the CID! Will he be the man who can help Daisy to get over the loss of her fiancé in the war? Within hours, Alec and Daisy hve developed a mutual trust and understanding that sees them begin to work together as a team to solve the mystery of Lord Stephen’s death.
OK, the plot is a bit silly really, with the various misunderstandings being not unlike a Wodehouse plot on a particularly busy day. One quick conversation between Annabel and the Earl could have resolved everything long before murder was ever required, and the ending requires the reader not just to suspend disbelief but to strangle it. But then the book is very convincingly emulating the style of the Golden age, and the same could be said of many of them. Both Daisy and Alec are attractive characters and their budding romance looks like it will be an enjoyable one. The book is well written, with plenty of humour but with enough weight to the plot to make it interesting as well as enjoyable. Altogether this is a fun read and I look forward to reading some of the others in the series.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
It’s 1923, and the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple, daughter of a viscount, has broken with tradition by getting a job. Hired by an up-market magazine to write articles on stately homes, her aristocratic background is useful in allowing her to mingle on an equal footing with the owners and their families. So as the book begins, Daisy is on her way to stay at Wentwater Court, home of the Earl of Wentwater.
Daisy is not the only guest and she soon finds that the house is filled with tensions and misunderstandings. The Earl’s new young wife Annabel seems isolated and unhappy and is being pursued by another guest, the obviously wicked Lord Stephen Astwick. The Earls’ three grown-up children from his previous marriage are also visiting – James, showing every sign of resenting his new stepmother and hinting that she is returning Lord Stephen’s affections; Marjorie, who fancies herself in love with Lord Stephen and is wildly jealous of Annabel; and Geoffrey, his outwardly quiet manner hiding the fact that he has fallen in love with the wrong woman. Add in an old admirer of Daisy’s, and the house party is hardly set to be a great success. But when Lord Stephen falls to his death through the ice on the frozen lake at first everyone assumes it’s an accident…until Daisy’s photographs reveal that a human hand may have been at work…
This is a highly entertaining mystery with all the hallmarks of a ‘cosy’ – the deeply unlikeable victim who ‘deserves’ all he gets, a rural location with a limited cast of suspects, an amateur detective. All it needs is a nice romance – enter the delicious Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of the CID! Will he be the man who can help Daisy to get over the loss of her fiancé in the war? Within hours, Alec and Daisy hve developed a mutual trust and understanding that sees them begin to work together as a team to solve the mystery of Lord Stephen’s death.
OK, the plot is a bit silly really, with the various misunderstandings being not unlike a Wodehouse plot on a particularly busy day. One quick conversation between Annabel and the Earl could have resolved everything long before murder was ever required, and the ending requires the reader not just to suspend disbelief but to strangle it. But then the book is very convincingly emulating the style of the Golden age, and the same could be said of many of them. Both Daisy and Alec are attractive characters and their budding romance looks like it will be an enjoyable one. The book is well written, with plenty of humour but with enough weight to the plot to make it interesting as well as enjoyable. Altogether this is a fun read and I look forward to reading some of the others in the series.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
April 22, 2019
Some undemanding reading for a change. A light mystery set in the 1920s England, somewhat a cross between Downton Abbey and Phryne Fisher, the TV-show (since I haven't read the books and both Essie Davis and Nathan Page are positively delightful). A bit too heavy on the aristocratic slang of the time but I assume that it shows that the author did her research (also, how silly is that slang?!) Don't think I'll continue the series as there is nothing special about it but I did enjoy reading this one regardless.
October 27, 2015
3.5 stars
I have indulged in quite a few detective novels recently and this one is my favorite so far. I get why people refer to it as a "cozy." Its a comfortable read, light and fun but still puzzling. Who killed Lord Astwick? Everyone has a motive but our flapper-turned-journalist heroine. I liked Daisy's character, she's charming. I like Chief Inspector Alec, who lets be honest, reminded me of Chief Inspector Jack Robinson from Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (the show, not those awful books.) Daisy and Alec's relationship has great potential.
The switching viewpoints wasn't particularly confusing and conveyed an array of emotions although the characters aren't entirely distinct. The writing was good but not remarkable. Its the characters that push the plot along.
Overall, an enjoyable light read with a good mystery and some satisfying romantic spark. I look forward to getting the sequel.
I have indulged in quite a few detective novels recently and this one is my favorite so far. I get why people refer to it as a "cozy." Its a comfortable read, light and fun but still puzzling. Who killed Lord Astwick? Everyone has a motive but our flapper-turned-journalist heroine. I liked Daisy's character, she's charming. I like Chief Inspector Alec, who lets be honest, reminded me of Chief Inspector Jack Robinson from Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (the show, not those awful books.) Daisy and Alec's relationship has great potential.
The switching viewpoints wasn't particularly confusing and conveyed an array of emotions although the characters aren't entirely distinct. The writing was good but not remarkable. Its the characters that push the plot along.
Overall, an enjoyable light read with a good mystery and some satisfying romantic spark. I look forward to getting the sequel.
January 18, 2020
3.5 stars
An enjoyable cosy crime mystery set in 1920's England.
The Honourable Daisy Dalrymple is young and ambitious in a time when ladies of the aristocracy are expected to marry and run their household.
Not Daisy; she is writing an article for Town & Country magazine and hoping to break into journalism. And when there is a murder at Wentwater Court she is eager to help Scotland Yard solve the crime.
I like Daisy and the story was good but the way the murderer is discovered is a little disappointing, as were the subsequent events that followed.
I would like to read more in the series as Daisy is a great character; kind and empathetic but also practical and insightful.
An enjoyable cosy crime mystery set in 1920's England.
The Honourable Daisy Dalrymple is young and ambitious in a time when ladies of the aristocracy are expected to marry and run their household.
Not Daisy; she is writing an article for Town & Country magazine and hoping to break into journalism. And when there is a murder at Wentwater Court she is eager to help Scotland Yard solve the crime.
I like Daisy and the story was good but the way the murderer is discovered is a little disappointing, as were the subsequent events that followed.
I would like to read more in the series as Daisy is a great character; kind and empathetic but also practical and insightful.
July 6, 2022
Refreshing , with quite an interesting end !
Love the 1920's slang and jargon ! The dialogue felt much more authentic than most historical novels.
I found Daisy's character to be so refreshing. Although she is a working independent woman in the 20's she isn't a flapper ,instead she's a sensible young woman without a bob and a good head on her shoulders . She seems rather old fashioned when compared to most women in novels of this sort .
Though this is a murder mystery it was so cozy ! With ice skating parties , nights spent around the fire playing cards , hot tea , the only thing that could make it any better is reading it in the winter ! Daisy spends quite a bit of time working on her article , taking picturesque photos , and developing them in the darkroom , which I found even more cozy !
Content ;
Mild Language
Injuries and details of murder discussed
Man chasing after a married woman
Attempted rape
Talk about a man trying to seduce a woman ( nothing graphic )
Love the 1920's slang and jargon ! The dialogue felt much more authentic than most historical novels.
I found Daisy's character to be so refreshing. Although she is a working independent woman in the 20's she isn't a flapper ,instead she's a sensible young woman without a bob and a good head on her shoulders . She seems rather old fashioned when compared to most women in novels of this sort .
Though this is a murder mystery it was so cozy ! With ice skating parties , nights spent around the fire playing cards , hot tea , the only thing that could make it any better is reading it in the winter ! Daisy spends quite a bit of time working on her article , taking picturesque photos , and developing them in the darkroom , which I found even more cozy !
Content ;
Mild Language
Injuries and details of murder discussed
Man chasing after a married woman
Attempted rape
Talk about a man trying to seduce a woman ( nothing graphic )
January 2, 2018
A cozy mystery is a good choice for a light read. I enjoyed this first installment about Daisy Dalrymple, who is trying to establish herself as magazine writer. The mystery was a good one, and there is a hint of a later romance. I think I will look at others in this series.
January 7, 2019
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
I really wanted another detective series, a little along the lines of Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher (without being a total clone, of course — that’s just boring). I tried Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs, and I found the first book less than satisfying — the writing choices took any possible tension out of it, while I found Maisie herself rather a cold fish, and more in the Sherlock Holmes line than the kind of sleuth I prefer. Reading my review of that book back now, I can’t even remember one of the major things that bothered me!
So, digression aside, did Daisy Dalrymple fit the bill for me? Thankfully, yes! She’s the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, which is the same rank as Phryne, which made me go “hmmmmm” at first — but in many other ways she isn’t like Phryne, being rather less fashionable (she hasn’t even bobbed her hair!), and pretty rather than having major sex appeal. She works for her living rather than relying on endless amounts of money, and her past is not quite so dramatic as Phryne’s (no ambulance-driving during the war). Likewise, her romantic choice is fairly clear. Her inspector isn’t so far from Phryne’s Jack in temperament and such, but he’s a widower with a child, which introduces another interesting element to the personal side of the story.
The plot itself is fairly typical for a cosy. Daisy goes to photograph a rich family’s home and write an article about it, and during her time there a singularly unpleasant person is murdered. Daisy finds herself constantly trying to help the police, and ultimately has totally divided loyalties. There’s nothing new or startling about the plot, but it works as one of those books I read in the bath, and Dunn is good enough with characters that I sympathise with them, worry about whodunnit, and generally get involved enough to make it worth the time invested.
Having finished it, I ordered up the next few books, and dove straight into the second, which I luckily had on hand. I think it’s a good bet Daisy’s here to stay, at least for a few books more. (Then we’ll see if the formula gets repetitive, or keeps working despite being repetitive, and all that sort of thing.)
I really wanted another detective series, a little along the lines of Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher (without being a total clone, of course — that’s just boring). I tried Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs, and I found the first book less than satisfying — the writing choices took any possible tension out of it, while I found Maisie herself rather a cold fish, and more in the Sherlock Holmes line than the kind of sleuth I prefer. Reading my review of that book back now, I can’t even remember one of the major things that bothered me!
So, digression aside, did Daisy Dalrymple fit the bill for me? Thankfully, yes! She’s the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, which is the same rank as Phryne, which made me go “hmmmmm” at first — but in many other ways she isn’t like Phryne, being rather less fashionable (she hasn’t even bobbed her hair!), and pretty rather than having major sex appeal. She works for her living rather than relying on endless amounts of money, and her past is not quite so dramatic as Phryne’s (no ambulance-driving during the war). Likewise, her romantic choice is fairly clear. Her inspector isn’t so far from Phryne’s Jack in temperament and such, but he’s a widower with a child, which introduces another interesting element to the personal side of the story.
The plot itself is fairly typical for a cosy. Daisy goes to photograph a rich family’s home and write an article about it, and during her time there a singularly unpleasant person is murdered. Daisy finds herself constantly trying to help the police, and ultimately has totally divided loyalties. There’s nothing new or startling about the plot, but it works as one of those books I read in the bath, and Dunn is good enough with characters that I sympathise with them, worry about whodunnit, and generally get involved enough to make it worth the time invested.
Having finished it, I ordered up the next few books, and dove straight into the second, which I luckily had on hand. I think it’s a good bet Daisy’s here to stay, at least for a few books more. (Then we’ll see if the formula gets repetitive, or keeps working despite being repetitive, and all that sort of thing.)
January 5, 2016
Mostly enjoyable first book in a cozy mystery series set in England during the 1920s. I did find myself questioning some of the slang used (such as a maid in a country house saying "wizard" to mean 'cool', 'neat', 'exciting' -- I know that this term originated in the early 1920s but it seems out of place for this character).
I also had some problems with the ending. Because of this, I am unsure whether I will continue with this series...
I also had some problems with the ending. Because of this, I am unsure whether I will continue with this series...
October 5, 2020
I’m still partly in the (temporary, let’s hope) mode of reading only for mindless escape and distraction. I found this new-to-me series on Audible Plus.
It meets the spec by not making me crazy with an overdose of fluff, silliness, whimsy, romance, angst, strained humor, or sweetness—the places so many light reads like to go. Someone as picky and curmudgeonly as I am about light genre fiction should probably leave it alone, but I don’t.
The series set-up is certainly not new—aristocratic young woman wants a career and needs the money, to the horror of family and peers. The plot of the first in the series is interesting enough to hold light attention, which is what I was after.
It meets the spec by not making me crazy with an overdose of fluff, silliness, whimsy, romance, angst, strained humor, or sweetness—the places so many light reads like to go. Someone as picky and curmudgeonly as I am about light genre fiction should probably leave it alone, but I don’t.
The series set-up is certainly not new—aristocratic young woman wants a career and needs the money, to the horror of family and peers. The plot of the first in the series is interesting enough to hold light attention, which is what I was after.
October 21, 2020
A good and enjoyable read with lots of what seemed to me to be believable period detail and atmosphere
June 12, 2012
Reading this book was pure, unmitigated pleasure. Although it is the first novel of the series, it’s not the first Daisy Dalrymple mystery I’ve read. I have already read several others in no particular order and I have to admit: I enjoyed them all. I love the lead characters, I love the setting – England in the 1920s – and I absolutely adore Carola Dunn’s easy and expressive writing style. Especially her sweet British vocabulary, which makes the experience of reading her novels so delightful.
In almost every novel of the series, I discovered at least one word I didn’t know, a British slang or an oldie, which sent me to a dictionary. In this particular novel, I found two such little pearls: tippet and tommyrot. I’ll definitely use tommyrot somewhere in my own writing; the word sounds and feels funny.
This novel is a fair representative of one of my favorite genres: a cozy English mystery. The writer does a good job of introducing the protagonists of the series: the budding journalist Daisy Dalrymple and the Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard Alec Fletcher. At the outset, Daisy arrives at a country estate of an earl to write an article about his beautiful centuries-old mansion. The lives of the inhabitants of the mansion might look untroubled on the surface, but the currents of tension run underneath their illusionary complacency.
A couple days later, one of the guests at the mansion gets murdered. Reluctantly, the earl calls the police to investigate, and Alec Fletcher arrives on the scene. Together, Alec and Daisy find the murderer, and the beginning of their tentative romance made me feel happy for them both. Although she is an Honorable, a daughter of a peer, and he is a middle-class copper, the social chasm between them doesn’t seem as deep as it would’ve been before the WWI. The author’s depiction of the years between the wars, the years of profound change in England, might not be very deep, but it is lighthearted, tasteful, and true.
Dunn pays much more attention to details and the psychology of the murder than to physical action, so the plot moves slowly, but every minute counts. We also get to meet a score of wacky secondary characters (some reviewers say too many too soon), and each of them adds flavor to the story and complications to the investigation. As in every enclosed mystery, the number of suspects is limited, the motivations tangled, and the timeline deceiving. And although I could guess the identity of the murderer a bit before Daisy and Alec, it didn’t detract from the attraction of the story.
My favorite quote: “The Hampshire countryside surrounding the station was hidden by a blanket of snow, sparkling in the sun. Frost glittered on skeletal trees and hedges. The only signs of life were the train, now gathering speed, the uniformed man carrying her stuff across the line behind it, and a crow huddled on the station picket fence.” Simple and elegant.
Definitely recommended.
In almost every novel of the series, I discovered at least one word I didn’t know, a British slang or an oldie, which sent me to a dictionary. In this particular novel, I found two such little pearls: tippet and tommyrot. I’ll definitely use tommyrot somewhere in my own writing; the word sounds and feels funny.
This novel is a fair representative of one of my favorite genres: a cozy English mystery. The writer does a good job of introducing the protagonists of the series: the budding journalist Daisy Dalrymple and the Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard Alec Fletcher. At the outset, Daisy arrives at a country estate of an earl to write an article about his beautiful centuries-old mansion. The lives of the inhabitants of the mansion might look untroubled on the surface, but the currents of tension run underneath their illusionary complacency.
A couple days later, one of the guests at the mansion gets murdered. Reluctantly, the earl calls the police to investigate, and Alec Fletcher arrives on the scene. Together, Alec and Daisy find the murderer, and the beginning of their tentative romance made me feel happy for them both. Although she is an Honorable, a daughter of a peer, and he is a middle-class copper, the social chasm between them doesn’t seem as deep as it would’ve been before the WWI. The author’s depiction of the years between the wars, the years of profound change in England, might not be very deep, but it is lighthearted, tasteful, and true.
Dunn pays much more attention to details and the psychology of the murder than to physical action, so the plot moves slowly, but every minute counts. We also get to meet a score of wacky secondary characters (some reviewers say too many too soon), and each of them adds flavor to the story and complications to the investigation. As in every enclosed mystery, the number of suspects is limited, the motivations tangled, and the timeline deceiving. And although I could guess the identity of the murderer a bit before Daisy and Alec, it didn’t detract from the attraction of the story.
My favorite quote: “The Hampshire countryside surrounding the station was hidden by a blanket of snow, sparkling in the sun. Frost glittered on skeletal trees and hedges. The only signs of life were the train, now gathering speed, the uniformed man carrying her stuff across the line behind it, and a crow huddled on the station picket fence.” Simple and elegant.
Definitely recommended.
July 5, 2016
A comfortable enough historical cozy with likable characters, most notably the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple who hasn't let drastic changes in her family's fortunes get her down. The mystery behind the murder was interesting enough but failed to find traction as the mystery is eventually solved through confession as opposed to any specific sleuthing. The ending also was a bit of a disappointment due to my feeling that the author let everyone off far too easily. Or maybe I just like a bit more darkness in my murder mysteries. All that said though, I did like Daisy and the Chief Inspector from Scotland Yard so I plan to read a few more books in the series to see if more substance develops.
March 28, 2020
Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn is the first book in the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series. Novice reporter and photographer, Daisy Dalrymple, is covering a story for Town and Country magazine on Wentwater Court when one of the guests is killed in an apparent ice-skating mishap, but Daisy's photographs ahow that an axe was used to weaken the ice. A charming introduction to the series. Daisy is a strong, ambitious and likeable character. The main letdown was that the crime was not actually solved by detective work but rather the culprit confessed. Otherwise a delightful cozy mystery.
December 3, 2020
Better as an audio book the second time around! To the point that I plan on reading more books in this series.
February 7, 2017
Anfangs ziemlich viele Charaktere, aber dann hatte mich die Story.
January 12, 2019
This has been my car audiobook. I read the printed book several years ago. I enjoyed both the story (which I’d pretty much forgotten) and the narrator’s interpretation.
December 22, 2020
Netter Cozy-Krimi im Downton Abbey Stil
December 29, 2021
Book 1
This is my go to genre. I love a good British murder mystery book. I listened to this book on audio. The audio was clear, the characters were entertaining, enjoyed the few twist and turns and what I hope is a happily ever after ending. The story was a little hard to follow but that kept it interesting for me. I was totally engaged to see who, what, when and how the murder was committed. And also how about that cover, gets me every time!!
This is my go to genre. I love a good British murder mystery book. I listened to this book on audio. The audio was clear, the characters were entertaining, enjoyed the few twist and turns and what I hope is a happily ever after ending. The story was a little hard to follow but that kept it interesting for me. I was totally engaged to see who, what, when and how the murder was committed. And also how about that cover, gets me every time!!
December 23, 2014
Ugh. Well that was a flat story.Flat like an opened Coke bottle that has resided in the fridge for over a week, and in a moment of desperation for something sweet and refreshing you lunge for said beverage and gulp it down, only to fall weeping to the floor as you try to scrape away the sensation of fizz-less syrup congealing to your tongue, and no feeling of satisfaction to be found anywhere.
I thought I could happily get away with reading a fun, light, mystery. One that happened to be magically already on my Kindle and show itself when I was having an insatiable urge to read a "vintage" crime novel. It didn't have to be great, it just had to be enjoyable. But it gave nothing! The characters had nothing, in fact they were the most one dimensional characters I have ever come across. The story had nothing. Oh the cliches! A cliche definitely has its place when used correctly, but there was complete and utter failure here. But what really gets my goat, what irks me to no end, was the random placement of 1920's Slang. It was like the author forgot that her book was based in any kind of era and suddenly remembered, only to whack in some delightful phrases and words like "corking", "spiffing", "old bean", "ripping" and I could go on. "What ho! Good show old bean, ripping performance, what a corker of BKSDHVN,ADNVKAHFKJSANDFNSADFNSDFNMBV." Shameful. And then to top it all off, my curiosity had me reading till the end, because hey, who was the murderer? But I couldn't flip pages like a maniac to find the end because it was on a Kindle. There is no such thing as fast kindle flipping!
Phew, well that was fun to rant about. On to find another book that might fill this vacuous hole in my brain.
I thought I could happily get away with reading a fun, light, mystery. One that happened to be magically already on my Kindle and show itself when I was having an insatiable urge to read a "vintage" crime novel. It didn't have to be great, it just had to be enjoyable. But it gave nothing! The characters had nothing, in fact they were the most one dimensional characters I have ever come across. The story had nothing. Oh the cliches! A cliche definitely has its place when used correctly, but there was complete and utter failure here. But what really gets my goat, what irks me to no end, was the random placement of 1920's Slang. It was like the author forgot that her book was based in any kind of era and suddenly remembered, only to whack in some delightful phrases and words like "corking", "spiffing", "old bean", "ripping" and I could go on. "What ho! Good show old bean, ripping performance, what a corker of BKSDHVN,ADNVKAHFKJSANDFNSADFNSDFNMBV." Shameful. And then to top it all off, my curiosity had me reading till the end, because hey, who was the murderer? But I couldn't flip pages like a maniac to find the end because it was on a Kindle. There is no such thing as fast kindle flipping!
Phew, well that was fun to rant about. On to find another book that might fill this vacuous hole in my brain.
July 27, 2019
The Honourable Daisy Dalrymple has taken an
assignment for the Town and Country magazine
to photograph and write an article on the
Wentwater Court estate.
Daisy has a wealthy background and her taking a
job is unusual for a woman in 1923 Britain. But
she forges on to do her own photography and
writing.
Little did she know that she would find herself
involved in a murder investigation. Her photographs
show that the man death staged to look like an
accident were deliberate.....meaning murder.
Daisy works along side of the handsome Scotland
Yard Detective as he investigates.
Add a series of robberies to the mix for good read.
Artfully created characters plus detailed description
of the house.
A good historical era mystery.
assignment for the Town and Country magazine
to photograph and write an article on the
Wentwater Court estate.
Daisy has a wealthy background and her taking a
job is unusual for a woman in 1923 Britain. But
she forges on to do her own photography and
writing.
Little did she know that she would find herself
involved in a murder investigation. Her photographs
show that the man death staged to look like an
accident were deliberate.....meaning murder.
Daisy works along side of the handsome Scotland
Yard Detective as he investigates.
Add a series of robberies to the mix for good read.
Artfully created characters plus detailed description
of the house.
A good historical era mystery.
August 27, 2020
3.5 stars
Spiffing! Topping! Right-o! These and more are the fun words found in this mystery. Daisy is a delight of a main character and I look forward to reading more in the series. I bumped this a half star down because I'm not sold on Daisy's involvement with the ending...Don't want to spoil the ending, but it worked out not completely satisfyingly for me.
2020 challenge: A book set in the 1920s
Spiffing! Topping! Right-o! These and more are the fun words found in this mystery. Daisy is a delight of a main character and I look forward to reading more in the series. I bumped this a half star down because I'm not sold on Daisy's involvement with the ending...Don't want to spoil the ending, but it worked out not completely satisfyingly for me.
2020 challenge: A book set in the 1920s
April 12, 2017
Ein unterhaltsamer britischer Krimi!
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