Congiunti Mortali: Un Giallo Storico Georgiano (I Gialli Di Alec Halsey)

Alec Halsey Mystery #4

by Lucinda Brant

Estate 1764. Alec e Selina stanno ansiosamente aspettando la nascita del loro primo figlio nella loro tenuta nel Kent. Dovrebbe essere un periodo festoso per la famiglia, ma la morte di un giovane bracconiere in quello che appare un omicidio per vendetta costringe Alec a indagare. E quando i restauri dell'enorme residenza portano alla scoperta di un luogo di sepoltura segreto, insieme ai resti viene alla luce anche uno spaventoso segreto di famiglia. Viene nuovamente messo in discussione tutto ciò che Alec pensava di sapere sulla propria nascita, insieme al suo legame speciale con l'irascibile zio Plantagenet.
Libri Molti lettori amano leggere i libri di Lucinda Brant come parte di una serie più ampia, visto che i suoi personaggi vivono nello stesso 18° secolo, frutto di meticolose ricerche, e i personaggi e gli eventi si incontrano e si
I Gialli di Alec Halsey Primavere 1763: FIDANZAMENTO MORTALE (ricevimento in casa, omicidio e caos) Autunno 1763: RELAZIONE MORTALE (Un vicario avvelenato e la misteriosa Miranda) Inverno 1763: PERICOLO MORTALE (Un intrigo sanguinario all'estero) Estate 1764: CONGIUNTI MORTALI
Serie Salt Hendon 1763. La sposa di Salt Hendon (Magnus e Jane) 1767: Il ritorno di Salt Hendon (Antony e Caroline) La Saga della Famiglia Roxton 1740 NOBILE SATIRO (Renard e Antonia) 1760 MATRIMONIO DI MEZZANOTTE (Julian e Deb) 1770 DUCHESSA D'AUTUNNO (Antonia e Jonathon) 1770 DAIR DEVIL - Il signore degli inganni (Dair e Rory) 1770 PROUD MARY (Mary e Christopher) 1780 IL FIGLIO DEL SATIRO (Henri-Antoine e Lisa) ETERNAMENTE Le lettere della famiglia Roxton-Primo volume PER SEMPRE Le lettere della famiglia Roxton-Secondo volume

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Georgian, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Romance

324 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2019

About the author

Hello! I'm a history geek who loves the 18th Century!
I write about families, creating worlds that are full of history, heart, and Happily Ever Afters. When I'm not in my writing cave in the 1700s I live in the middle of a koala reserve, so the neighbors are cute and cuddly and sleep all day!
I write because I must, and I write from the heart, and only what I love to read.
My books have been on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, and Audible bestseller lists, and have won numerous awards. All are available as audiobooks narrated by British actors Alex Wyndham, Mary Jane Wells and Matthew Lloyd Davies, and voice talent Marian Hussey. My books are also available in translation— French, German, Italian, and Japanese languages. I love to hear from my readers.

Reviews

[OLT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucinda Brant knows her history and the Georgian world. Her Roxton series, the Salt Hendon books, and the Alec Halsey series give the reader the opportunity to become immersed in a long-ago England that is fascinating in its politics, culture, food, and fashion. I've read them all and admire Brant's world-building and storytelling. However, not all of the many books she has written are winners for me in plot or character development.

This fourth Alec Halsey novel, for example, is my least favorite of the four, but that's not because of the world-building or the historical aspects. Those are first rate here. I learned a few new things reading this (not that I knew so very many old ones) about 1700s England, especially about inheritance laws. Primogeniture, or right of succession to the eldest son, which I had thought to be common to all of England, was not the inheritance pattern found in Kent, where Alec's estate lies.

No, in Kent (and actually also in Wales and Ireland) "gavelkind" was the succession law, that is to say, division of property equally among all sons or other heirs. This is an important aspect of the plot, since "gavelkind" through the decades could almost decimate a family fortune through all those divisions of that family's property.

Another historical tidbit, about the Black Act of 1723, is another important plot point. That law was mainly a response to poaching and made it punishable by death. I'd recommend googling this law because it's more complicated than that, but the poaching aspect of the law is what's an important part of this story.

So we have gavelkind in Kent and a no-poaching law. How the residents of the area responded to these two laws to either circumvent or follow them is very important, and Alec and his family and life have been affected greatly by it. There's some fascinating devious behavior here in the story. And...Alec finally, finally, learns the whole truth about his parentage. And it's a bit of a convoluted truth.

Unfortunately, Brant seems to feel that her readers are clodpated slowtops. She goes over every detail here myriad times to make sure we are following everything well. In addition, secrets held by Alec's beloved Uncle Plantagenet and other characters were revealed painfully slowly, in such dribs and drabs that I became extremely impatient for all of it to get out. But no, we must put up with intermissions in the Big Reveals. So much time spent and so much repetition that almost all the big secrets could be figured out and were anticlimactic by the time Alec had learned everything.

It is lovely, I'll admit, to see Selina and Alec so happy and awaiting their first child. It has taken four books (and I don't know how many years of their real time) to get to this point. In addition, I appreciate Brant's characters and the fact that their relationships here aren't as treacly as I find those in Mary Balogh's or the more-recent Stella Riley's books. I like flaws in people and cracks in their relationships.

But that doesn't make up for Brant's wordiness and laborious plot development and the insult to my intelligence, with the implication that I can't grasp information unless it's said enough times to penetrate my thick skull.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this an A- for narration and a B- for content at AudioGals.

It’s been a while since Lucinda Brant released the last book in her series of Georgian-era historical mysteries featuring former diplomat, reluctant marquess and amateur sleuth Alec Halsey. (When I checked, I saw that book three, Deadly Peril came out in November 2015.) I enjoyed the previous instalments in the series very much; Ms. Brant’s eye for period detail is remarkable, her plots are tightly written and full of devious twists and turns and she’s created a truly memorable leading man in the handsome, urbane and fiercely intelligent Halsey.

Eagle-eyed (eared?) listeners will notice that the narrator’s chair for Deadly Kin is occupied by the reliably good Matthew Lloyd Davies (who has taken over from Alex Wyndham) and I’m pleased to be able to say that his performance is top-notch.

Deadly Kin opens some months after the conclusion of Deadly Peril and sees Alec and his wife Selina residing at Alec’s family estate of Deer Park in Kent while they await the birth – any day now – of their first child. Alec’s elevation to the marquessate of Halsey is recent and not completely welcome; he had made himself a name in diplomatic circles, and is still adjusting to the change of pace that has come along with his change in status. Along with his new title, he has inherited his late brother’s crumbling Kentish estate at Delvin Park – which he has renamed Deer Park – and if were up to him, he’d pull it down and build something more modern, but Selina loves the old pile and Alec loves Selina so… renovation it is.
Their relative peace – if living amid all the noise and upheaval of the repairs can be said to be in any way peaceful – is disturbed when Alec is informed that the workmen have discovered an underground room or crypt beneath the flagstones of the Stone Court that doesn’t appear on any of the plans of any of the buildings that comprise the house. Even more surprising is the reaction of his long-time steward Paul Turner, who protests Alec’s instructions to have all the flagstones removed and safely re-laid, insisting instead that the hole should be boarded up without any investigation into the room below so that work can continue without incurring delays and extra expense.

Further disturbance comes quickly on the heels of that discovery, when Alec learns receives news of the murder of thirteen-year-old Hugh Turner, the steward’s son. Hugh’s body has been found in the woods of Deer Park, his throat cut, his right hand severed from his arm, a traditional way of punishing poachers. But Alec’s gamekeeper is adamant that there is no poaching on the estate – although Alec has cause to doubt that assertion. Even more puzzling, a second hand – a second right hand – is found close to Hugh’s body… but who does it belong to, and where is the victim?

These two seemingly unrelated events see Alec once again bringing his considerable intellect and sleuthing experience to bear as he investigates Hugh’s death and begins to uncover a number of shocking family secrets. One of the threads running through the series has been the mystery surrounding Alec’s paternity; the rumours abounding in society have it that he’s the product of his mother’s affair with a mulatto footman, although the author has dropped hints throughout the earlier books that this may not have been the case and that the truth is much more complicated. (Spoiler: It really is!)

One of the foundations of Alec’s life and something which has been a delight to hear in every book, is his relationship with his irascible, radical and wonderfully supportive uncle, Plantagenet Halsey, who has been so much more than a father figure to Alec – he brought him up and has been a father to him in all but name. Here, however, their relationship becomes strained as “Uncle Plant” is obviously keeping secrets from Alec (as are a number of those living on the estate or nearby, villagers and gentry alike). The revelations – when they come – come thick and fast, some of them things I’d guessed at before, some of them quite new, and I very much appreciated finally learning about Alec’s early life and why he was cast out by his family. Both mysteries are well-conceived, and the one surrounding Alec is especially engrossing, based as it is on an ancient law of inheritance known as Gavelkind that applied mostly in Kent in England (as well as in Wales and Ireland) and which, unlike the prevailing system of primogeniture, saw inheritances divided between male heirs rather than being inherited by only the eldest. Another important plot point revolves around the Black Act of 1723, a law that responded initially to poaching but which also specified a large number of other capital crimes and intensified the punishments for offenders convicted of them.

However. While the plot and the historical background behind it are fascinating, the story takes a looooong while to get going. For around half the book, we’re bogged down in repetitive explanations and long, rambling conversations that don’t seem to arrive anywhere conclusive and which are too often interrupted at key moments in what seemed to be an obvious strategy to delay the Big Reveals. Not only was this frustrating, it also meant that by the time the reveals finally came around, I’d figured most of them out anyway and they ended up being somewhat anticlimactic.

Something that wasn’t anticlimactic though was Matthew Lloyd Davies’ excellent narration. I’ve listened to and enjoyed a number of his performances, so I was delighted when I saw he’d signed on to narrate Deadly Kin. His smooth, rich baritone is a perfect fit for historicals, and his portrayal of Alec is superb, expertly capturing the character’s intrinsic decency, his humour and his kindness, and switching seamlessly – and with the slightest change in tone – between that man and the powerful aristocrat who doesn’t suffer fools. Uncle Plant is equally well served with a gruffer timbre and lively delivery, and all the secondary characters, from servants to gentry, are clearly differentiated. I was especially fond of his portrayal of Alec’s poisonous aunt, Lady Ferris, whose ultra-posh, nasally tone made her all the easier to dislike! It’s a well-paced, expressive performance overall – but I can’t close this review without giving special mention to Mr. Lloyd Davies’ work on some particularly emotional scenes between Alec and his uncle, which was perfectly judged.

If you’re a fan of historical mysteries, this is a series I’d definitely recommend, although I’d suggest starting at the beginning with Deadly Engagement so as to gain more insight into the characters and their backgrounds. If, like me, you’ve been waiting for more of Alec Halsey having enjoyed the previous instalments… well, I have to confess Deadly Kin proved to be a little bit of a disappointment when compared with the tension and drama of Deadly Peril. The storylines themselves are gripping, but the way they were drawn out did them a disservice and meant that any anticipation and tension the author built up was quickly dissipated. That said, things picked up in the second half of the book and Matthew Lloyd Davies’ terrific performance was a definite asset throughout – so I’m recommending with reservations.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last the highly anticipated Deadly Kin (Alec Halsey Mystery, #4) by Lucinda Brant is here... and the wait was worth it.

Marquess, diplomat and amateur sleuth, Alec Halsey, and wife, Selina, have taken up residence at their country seat, Deer Park, as they await the birth of their first child. It’s only months since Alec’s harrowing, near-death experience in Midanich (Deadly Peril #3) and the family are home and enjoying their time together. Alec has withdrawn from diplomatic duties to concentrate on impending fatherhood, and, while anxiously awaiting the birth of his child, has taken on the long overdue and monumental task of renovating his sprawling and crumbling home with the help of his beloved uncle, Plantagenet Halsey. Despite the need for some simple family time and longed for peace, events soon begin to emerge that disturb the tranquility - an unexplained, grisly murder of a young boy on his estate, and the discovery by workmen of a hidden and sealed underground chamber. Soon further events unfold which escalate with intriguing and horrifying results and we are plunged once again into Ms.Brant’s opulent but fascinating Georgian world.

Fans of Ms. Brant’s will be thrilled with this latest addition to her highly addictive Halsey mystery series. There has always been a question mark over Alec’s paternity and we finally learn the truth in Deadly Kin (as the title implies). But also, who is the mysterious, vicious murderer we ‘meet’ in the prologue? Why did he/she kill a thirteen year old poacher? What is the connection between his murder and the conspiracy of silence in their corner of Kent?

As always, Lucinda Brant brings her brilliant, glittering Georgian world to life in a clever and skilful manner, sending us in all directions as we try to unravel her thought processes. But even during her machinations, Ms. Brant manages to slip in carefully researched historical facts, and I am always astounded and wiser after reading one of her books.

I know that fans and new readers alike will love this latest addition to the Halsey Mysteries, but to fully appreciate this book read the three previous books. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Deadly Kin is a fabulous addition to Lucinda Brant’s much loved Georgian mystery series, and I urge you to read this masterfully researched and historically brilliant mystery series. Five stars for one of the best books I’ve read this year.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series: Alec Halsey Mystery #4
Publication Date: 11/15/19
Number of Pages: 414

We’ve had to wait sooooooo long for this book that I had begun to fear that we’d never see it. Four years is a long time between books in a series and I really wish I’d gone back and re-read the first three before I started this book. This one can certainly be read as a stand-alone, but the relationships between all of the characters are much richer to you if you’ve read them all. I understand that more books are planned for the series – thank goodness – and this book nicely sets up what I’m guessing will be the next book.

As with any Lucinda Brant book, the writing is excellent, the characters are fully developed and robust, and the research is impeccable. Happily, I learned something new in this book (and it is a large part of the focus of the book) – and the Author’s Notes section explains it very well. I have always thought that Primogeniture was the ONLY law dealing with succession, estates, inheritance, etc. – but that isn’t the case. One lone county, Kent, in England has a different law – Gavelkind. It is certainly different from Primogeniture and I can see where it would definitely take a huge bite out of a family’s wealth and soon leave them with nothing.

Alec Halsey, diplomat, husband, father-to-be and Marquess has come to his huge, sprawling, long-neglected estate in Kent, along with his wife Selina to await the birth of their first child. Alec inherited the vast estate about a year earlier when his brother was murdered. If it were up to Alec, he’d tear the pile down and build a new and modern structure with all of the updates and comforts of a newer home. However, Selina loves the old place and Alec will do anything to keep the love of his life happy. So, they are pouring boatloads of money into repairing, refurbishing and updating the old place. Both Selina and Alec are very anxious about the impending birth and having the estate to focus on gives them a bit of relief from the constant worry.

Alec very quickly gets more distractions than he knows what to do with – a boy goes missing and when his body is found they discover he was brutally murdered. Then, beneath a section where they were replacing the paving stones, they find a room that isn’t on any of the architectural drawings of the estate. Is it a crypt? What could a poor thirteen-year-old boy have done to be so brutally murdered? Alec has a lot more questions than answers, but he’s determined to solve ALL of the mysteries.

Alec quickly realizes that not all is as it seems at Deer Park and people have been keeping secrets from him as well as ignoring his orders. Chief among those secret keepers is his beloved uncle, Plantagenet Halsey. Why is his uncle thwarting his efforts and keeping secrets? Who murdered that poor boy they found and caused the death of yet another young boy?

If you’ve read the three earlier books, you probably had your suspicions about certain things. Well, you’ll find which suspicions were true and which weren’t. If you haven’t read the earlier books, you’ll still learn all about Alex’s early life and why his family cast him out. You’ll also learn a number of things about the Halsey family that weren’t even hinted at in earlier works – so new information for all of us there.

I thought that some of the revelations – especially with his uncle – drug out a bit too long. I was already very tired of it – and knew what it was going to be – long before it happened. There really wasn’t any reason for it to drag on that long and it had no bearing on the solution to the murder. I also wish we could have seen more of Selina this time around, but, she was ready to give birth at any second and couldn’t be out tromping around the countryside. Maybe we’ll get more of her in the next book.

I highly recommend this author, this book and this series. I can’t wait for the next one – and hopefully, it won’t be four years in the making.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Alec Halsey Mysteries and, once again, Lucinda Brant weaves a gripping tale of murder and shocking family secrets. While this book can be read as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the other books in the series first to fully appreciate this one. It’s no hardship as each one is excellent in its own right.

Alec and Selina have removed from London to Deer Park, the Halsey ancestral home in Kent, to await the birth of their first child. This is no quiet retreat however, as the long-neglected Jacobean manor house is in desperate need of modernisation to make it habitable. Overseeing the work provides a welcome distraction from Alec’s fears over Selena and the forthcoming birth.

However, when a young boy is found brutally murdered, and his workmen discover a secret vault below the flagstones, Alec is determined not only to find the murderer but also to uncover the secrets the vault holds. The more he investigates, the more certain he becomes that the murder, the vault, and the conspiracy of silence that pervades among the villagers, are all interconnected in some way. But Alec is unaware that in uncovering the truth, everything he thought he knew about his past will be turned upside down.

The chilling Prologue sets the scene for an intricately plotted story in which Ms. Brant builds the suspense with plenty of unexpected twists and turns, leading to a dramatic climax. The identity of Alec’s father has always been the subject of conjecture and it is one of the revelations in this story, although I did already have my suspicions. Alec has always believed that his mother simply abandoned him, but the truth is far more complex, and the letter she leaves in the vault for Alec is both heartbreaking and strangely uplifting, so much so, that it brought tears to my eyes.

I enjoyed the quiet moments of intimacy between Alec and Selina which provided a welcome contrast to the darker elements of the story. I loved how they are so attuned to one another’s thoughts and I could certainly sympathise with Alec’s fears about childbirth.

Ms. Brant’s books are always rich in history and detail, creating a strong sense of place - of being transported back to the Georgian era. I like how the Black Act and Gavelkind (full details are provided in the Author’s Notes) are woven into and form the backbone of the story.

As with all her books, there is an extensive, well-developed and colourful cast of secondary characters, many of whom were introduced in the previous books.

- Alec’s irascible, republican uncle, Plantagenet Halsey, (who seems to be hiding secrets of his own), and Alec’s formidable, aristocratic godmother, Olivia, The Duchess of Romney St. Neots, who have formed a most unlikely romantic attachment.

- Hadrian Jeffries, Alec’s valet, and apothecary, Thomas (Tam) Fisher, whose devotion to Alec brings them together as unexpected allies.

- Clive Vesey, Earl of Cobham, Selina’s idiot brother and Head of the Foreign Department, who supplies some much needed light relief.

”I want to strangle someone every time I trip over a confounded cushion or Lady Cobham shoves a bowl of that Frenchie stuff under m’nose and tells me to sniff. Once got a piece of dried orange peel lodged up a nostril. Painful bloody business!”

The other secondary characters provided an abundance of potential murder suspects.

MY VERDICT: Another brilliant addition to this excellent series and I’m looking forward to meeting up with my favourite characters again soon in DEADLY DIPLOMACY.

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read the previous book a long time ago, but I could still catch what's happening in this one.

Yes, I still like the story, but in this book I just couldn't feel the connection between Alec and Selina they had in the previous books!

Alec was so protective of her that he sheltered her too much! It was like he regressed to the stereotype of the male of that period, where Selina's intelligence and capability were diminished by her pregnancy! Even if he states in words that it is not so, his acts deny it! He doesn't want to "upset" her and keeps things from her! That I didn't like at all!

Also Planategent's actions were very wrong! He keeps important secrets from Alec, like Alec were a teen and not a grown up man! And these secrets impact very much on Alec's investigation and personal life too!

Still, I liked the story, but it was not up to the previous books: 3,5 rounded up!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure if this series had been completed, but to my delight, Lucinda Brant’s Deadly Kin (Alec Halsey #4) appeared. I received it and immediately dove right in. Setting: Summer 1764, Kent, England at the now Marquess Halsey’s ‘country pile’ that comes with about 15 thousand acres renamed Deer Park formerly Fivetrees. Selina, Alec’s wife and marchioness, and Alec are expecting their first child any minute. Plantagenet Halsey, Alec’s uncle, is back. What an enjoyable character he is! Alec has renovations taking place as this ‘country pile’ had almost become uninhabitable. Suddenly, an underground vault is discovered in Stone Court as its roof has collapsed, and all the major players are whispering secretly, running to find certain papers - everyone but Alec who does not have a clue as to what is happening. Then a 13 year old ‘poacher’ dies, and Alec wonders just what is taking place, and just whom am I! Fascinatingly written and quick-moving! Highly recommended. 4.75 stars.

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand it was fabulous to finally discover the secrets behind Alec Halsey's background but on the other - my goodness but the denouement felt very stretched out. His story stopped and started with so many interruptions I felt like screaming. And while he was dragging the skeletons out from the closet with the very reluctant help of Uncle Plant, there were so many very obvious questions he didn't ask, I wanted to shake him. That said, it was an excellent back story, and the front story was good too - if again rather too drawn out. I love Alec, and I really, really love Uncle Plant. But now we know all his history, what I'd really love is for him to quit playing the country squire and get back to some intrigue.

[Doris Brase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family,Fear,and Fortune

The events that underly the supposed Kent philosophy are so horrendous that I do hope that they are the invention of the author. The unraveling of the conspiracy shakes the foundation of Alec and his Uncle Plant. Alec, ever the relentless dectective, pursues the clues until he uncovers the murderer of a young boy and the family histories of his neighbors.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book very much. Alec is home with his wife and awaiting the arrival of their baby. There are two mysteries to clear up, one in the present day ( who is the murderer) and one connected to the past that seems to involve a number of people. I certainly didn’t work out who was the murderer as there were a number of possibilities. Alec also gets to know the truth about his birth. There are a number of interesting secondary characters and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

[Kiesha ~ Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been eagerly awaiting the return of Alec and the gang. I went in with an open mind as there is a new narrator but he quickly won me over. His accents and pronunciations were spot on and he made each character unique. Compared to the previous three stories, this one was told at a slower pace in my opinion. It made the story feel cozy, as if you were actually there and was perfect for a country estate setting. There are two mysteries, a new estate to run and baby Halsey on the way. Needless to say, Alec has a lot going on but true to his nature, he handles it. For me, the murder mystery although intriguing was secondary. I was more concerned with catching up with my "fictional family" and unraveling the other mystery, the family secrets! I also enjoyed the vast historica detail from day to day life, to how estates are ran and the information surrounding the Black Act & the ancient inheritance law specific to Kent (I will be doing further research on this). There was even a bit of American history shared with the reader. I love all of Lucinda's Georgian novels but I've always been overly fond of the Alec Halsey series. The characters are well developed, the story was great and we solved a mystery. At one point, I even shed a tear. It's crazy but they really feel like family. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't WAIT for more. Thank you Lucinda for sharing your gift with us. Thank you Matthew for the wonderful narration. Until next time.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike previous books in this series, this one was frustrating to get through. We get the mystery of Alec's birth and true parentage, the mystery of his ancestors' crimes, the mystery of a strange "blessing" that is the catalyst to his ancestors' actions and then there is a murder to be solved. All of these mysteries are connected in one way or another. The reveals to these mysteries were doled out in bits and pieces in long, dissembled conversations which stopped short of actually saying anything noteworthy. There were some things which were never stated outright or given any explanation, thus left to conjecture, such as the questionable relationship of Alec's mother and true father.

This book needed some editing in the plotting and pacing.

[Please Pass the Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Kin: A Georgian Historical Mystery by Lucinda Brant is the fourth book in the Alec Halsey Mystery Series, preceded by Deadly Engagement, Deadly Affair, and Deadly Peril. In this instalment, which reads as a standalone, Lord Alec Halsey and his wife Selina, are enjoying the comfort of wedded bliss and expecting their first child. News of the disappearance of Hugh, the errant teenage son of a family in Alec's employ—the steward of Deer Park, Paul Turner—and a discovery under the flagstone on his Kent property bring a quite that has only been intermittently disturbed by groundwork to an end. News of a secret regarding his uncle and father throw everything Alec thought he knew about his family history into doubt, “And there's more, a lot more, but that'll have to wait for another day.”

Lucinda Brandt offers up another Alec Halsey triumph with Deadly Kin, tightening the threads of an intricately woven quilt that is Lord Halsey's life. The historical detail is stunning and the overlapping mysteries allow for a balance of Georgian beauty and trademark Brandt tension on every page. In Deadly Peril we learnt how imperfect the perfect Alec actually was, but Deadly Kin digs deeper into the Halsey past and brings forth some dark secrets that his Uncle Plantagenet (and who else remains to be seen) has guarded closely for Alec's entire life. This book ranks in the top three I have read all year and I am officially a die-hard fan of the Alec Halsey Mystery Series.

Review written for Readers' Favorite.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1764. The Halseys are staying ar their estate in Kent awaiting the birth of their first child. When a 13 year old son of the steward is found dead. Alec Halsey decides to investigate but what secrets will he reveal about the local families, his family and his personal history
Although too much prevarication, overall it was an enjoyable enough read.

[kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

audio version...a great listen and the narrator was awesome.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have waited a very long time to read this much anticipated book. I was not disappointed. I became caught up in the world of Alec Halsey from the very first book Deadly Engagement. I quickly went through the next two books and found myself waiting and waiting for book four. I t finally came out in 2019 but circumstances prevented me from getting down to reading it until now, the last month of 2020. Again I was not disappointed but now must await the next installment. As Deadly Kin opens, it's the summer of 1764 and Alec and Selina are awaiting the birth of their first child. Alec's Uncle Plantagenet is also in residence with them at the family estate that Alec is having renovated. When a local lad goes missing and later turns up dead by the hands of an unknown assailant, an old family secret, one Plantagenet has been trying to keep from Alec, raises it's ugly head. As Alec begins to investigate it becomes apparent that the secret is not only a Halsey family secret but involves the whole county. Could the horrific secret be a blessing in disguise, for will Alec finally learn the truth about his birth? Great storyline that keeps you guessing with memorable characters. Matthew Lloyd Davies does an excellent job with the narration. I can hardly wait now for book number five to be release and hopefully it will not take four years as this one did. This is really a great series.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone looking for a total immersion in the 18th century, Lucinda Brant’s novels are a great place to start. Ms Brant lives and breathes her period, her novels populated by men in pastel colours, in frock coats and lavishly embroidered waistcoats, while her leading ladies recline on elegantly upholstered furniture dressed in silk while sipping coffee from a saucer or tea from a cup. All of this luxury is elegantly contrasted with the darker aspects of her stories, whether it be torture and coup d’états or, as in this her latest, the consequences of the Black Act and the restrictive inheritance laws that governed England’s landed classes.

Deadly Kin has at its centre Alec Halsey and his wife, Selina. This is the fourth book about Alec, and over the previous books (all of them most warmly recommended) we have seen Alec develop from a bitter if successful man, a man who drowns his unhappiness in work and welcoming female arms, to a man recently elevated to the peerage and with a wife he dearly loves.

As an Alec fan, let me tell you I am utterly thrilled by his good fortune, although his having become an earl and thereby inherited a huge pile of a house in Kent is not necessarily something to congratulate him on. You see, with house and title come a lot of obligations—and the growing sensation that there is a very, very nasty family secret hidden among the ancient stones of the family home.

Mind you, there are several secrets floating about, starting with who was Alec’s real father. He was not raised on the Halsey estate; instead he was torn out of his mother’s arm after only one day and carried away from what should have been his inheritance by his uncle. There are murmurs about adultery, whispers that the countess who birthed Alec was carrying on an affair with a servant. But is it true? Alec has his suspicions and the whys behind this makes for a heart-wrenching story that Ms Brant reveals bit by bit.

When a young boy is found murdered on Halsey ground, when an illegal poaching business is revealed, when Alec realises that everyone—including his uncle, the man who raised him and protected him—is in cahoots to keep him in the dark about…something…his keen mind goes into overdrive and slowly he starts putting the pieces together. The completed puzzle is not pretty—at all.

Other than Alec and his heavily pregnant Selina, Deadly Kin presents us with a fascinating cast of characters. There is Alec’s unhinged (hmm) maternal aunt—and what a delicious harpy she is!—there is Alec’s OCD afflicted valet/secretary, there is Plantagenet Halsey (Alec’s uncle) Alec’s godmother who happens to be a Duchess and Selina’s delightfully depicted idiot of a brother. And that is only upstairs: downstairs teems with disgruntled stewards, a plethora of young people named Fisher and a bevy of servants.

Engaging and elegantly constructed, Deadly Kin is a book it is difficult to put down. My only gripe is Ms Brant’s propensity for head-hopping which at times I find quite distracting and utterly unnecessary for a writer of Ms Brant’s acumen. Despite this, I must congratulate Ms Brant on yet another marvellous read and hope the wait for the next book in the Alec Halsey series will not be as long as the wait for this instalment was!

Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
#DDRevs

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit convoluted but still enjoyable

I was introduced to the Lucinda Brant’s writing in the Salt series which I thoroughly enjoyed. So naturally, I was delighted to find her Alec Halsey mystery series and have read all the books prior to this one. While I don’t find them as enthralling as the Salt series, they’re still quite good because Ms. Brant knows how to develop characters, write good dialogue and move her stories along with good pacing.

So, why only 4 stars? Complex mysteries are a hallmark of this series but the TWO mysteries of this book, one involving the murder of two boys and the other the mystery of Alec Halsey’s birth and family connections, were a bit too convoluted for my taste. The boys’ murder almost felt like window dressing compared to trying to figure out the dramatic ins-and-outs of Alec’s family tree. You might need a spreadsheet to keep all the characters straight and I felt like the pacing bogged down from time to time requiring me to work a bit too hard to enjoy this story.

I did totally enjoy Alec’s relationship with his wife, his anticipation of the birth of his first child, his sense of responsibility for the people in his employ and under his aegis on his estate and the village of Fivetrees. He is a very likable and believable character much in the same vein as Captain Lacey in Ashley Gardener’s Regency mystery series. I like books with strong, decent main characters who have to look beyond their own baggage to do the good they must do in the world. I also like books that tell a story beyond the trappings of fashion, manners, mores and insta-lust found in so many period romance novels. To my mind, the best historical novels teach the reader something and this book did that. I am thoroughly familiar with primogeniture but knew nothing of gavelkind which figures large in this story. It will be worth it to read the author’s notes at the end of the story.

[☠tsukino☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho fatto un po' di fatica con la comprensione in inglese per cui fino quasi la fine non avevo capito quale fosse l'impedimento alle nozze di Plantagenet con la madre di Alec, perchè sì, ci viene svelato che lo zio è in realtà suo padre, che Alec non è un figlio illegittimo nato dalla tresca della madre con il servo mulatto che poi sarebbe il fratello illegittimo di Plantagenet e quindi lo zio di Alec che oltretutto sarebbe il vero erede in quanto Plantagenet è il primogenito della casata e non il fratello a cui ha ceduto gli onori e la moglie in cambio della salvezza di Alec... il defunto duca e supposto fratello di Alec era in realtà il figlio della sorella e di suo marito quindi suo cugino, perchè a quanto pare il fratello di Plantagenet non aveva interesse nel genere femminile ...🤯
tornando all'impedimento ancora non mi è chiaro se è perchè, in virtù di quella tradizione barbarica i due erano fratello e sorella inconsapevoli e più verosimilmente solamente cugini inconsapevoli e qui allora tutta la catena di eventi che hanno fatto seguito al "matrimonio che non s'aveva da fare" ha una base di argilla. Tralasciando che il matrimonio tra cugini in molte società non è illegale (anche in Italia non è vietato) tra i nobili di un tempo era frequente (la Regina Victoria e il principe Albert erano cugini per citare una coppia) ma forse a questo punto erano fratelli? Dovrei rileggere.
Voglio anche aggiungere che non capisco la scelta di Plantagenet, secondo me avrebbe avuto maggior successo nelle sue battaglie se fosse rimasto Duca (come poi ha fatto il Marchese Alec con le sue disposizioni) piuttosto che diventare lo zimbello della Camera dei Lords il tutto è un grandissimo giramento di testa degno della peggior telenovelas brasiliana anni '80, che fa passare in secondo piano tutta la parte gialla.
Mi rendo conto che dal riassunto che ho fatto sembra una schifezza, in realtà nonlo è e mi è piaciuto.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book on my TBR list for quite a while in both Audible and Kindle versions. Initially I held off reading because I was a bit disappointed that the narrator had been changed for the Audible version. However, ultimately I did really appreciate Matthew Lloyd Davies' narration.

I honestly am always amazed at the writing of Lucinda Brant. Her characters are so well defined that they are recognizable in any given situation. Alec is an incredible character and, of course, It is beautiful to finally see Alec and Selina together after hoping and waiting for it throughout this series. So, in this way, the story was a delight.

However, there was an aspect of the story that was so dark, it was depressing and difficult for me to read. And I did struggle with that. Also, who could not possibly see his Uncle as a constant blessing and support in his life throughout this series. However, Plantagenet, in trying to protect Alec from unhappy truths, has kept a MULTITUDE of secrets from Alec in this addition to the story and at times it just totally frustrated me. In fact, it made Alec appear foolish to some extent in that practically everyone in Kent were keeping major secrets from him, as well as defying the limitations that he had established on his estate. That did not sit well with me. Ultimately, in addition to some shocking revelations, there are so many secrets and mysteries in this one that I was having trouble tracking and following them.

However, I loved the updates on the main characters: Alec, Selina, Olivia, Plantagenet, Tam, Hadrian, and now Helen. I am intrigued to learn more about the various "Fishers" as well as Hugh Turner. I so look forward to more of this series!

[Tina Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellently written, as are all Lucinda Brant books. The story has several twists and turns. This time I figured out the secret of Fivetrees and Plants secret long before it was revealed in the story. That made me a bit impatient for the story to get on with things when it seemed to be drawing everything out too long with far too many explanations and diversions. But it was a fascinating concept and Brant has a wonderful imagination. Her writing can always put you right into the life of her book, you can feel as if you are right there with the characters.

I was sorry that we see so little of Selina in this story. But it’s to be expected, women are usually left out of the action, particularly when in an interesting condition.

For a change, I wasn’t too enthralled with Plant. As Plants character is fully exposed to the reader, we find many surprises, some wonderful and some shocking. If I were Halsey, I’m not sure I would be as ready and quick to embrace Plant as he does once he finds out all the unlovely details.

A surprising climax and a lovely ending. The next book should be interesting when we will see how life continues to treat Alec and Selina and their family.
I’ll be looking forward to reading Deadly Diplomacy.

And just a quick recommendation that you watch the simply fabulous video included at the end of the book (and Brants Facebook page) of the photoshoot for one of her book covers. Fascinating!

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Kin is the fourth book in the Alec Halsey Mystery series by Lucinda Brant. It can be read as a standalone but I think you will appreciate it much more if you have read the other books in the series beforehand.

I have had the pleasure of reading all of the books and up until now, I have happily awarded them 5 stars. I am happy to say this is another 5-star review. As always the author has obviously researched the time period. It's wonderful to read a book where you know you will undoubtedly learn something new about the era and place it is set in. I also love how Lucinda easily paints a picture of the scenery, the people, the clothing etc. That is one of the things I really loved about this book and all of her books. I am a huge fan.

I have to admit that I got a bit lost here and there, there was such a lot going on with twists and turns and secrets being revealed. This definitely isn't a light read. You need to be able to concentrate to keep up with what is happening. At least I do. That said, with a little re-reading here and there I managed to keep up. A couple of revelations really had me reeling. There were some very emotional moments that had me close to tears, but there were some lovely moments that had me smiling from ear to ear. I love a book that makes me run the gamut of emotions and this one truly did.

I am more than happy to recommend this book and the whole series. I am very much looking forward to the next in the series!

[Rosanne Lortz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alec Halsey has returned to Kent as lord of the estate, but both the steward and his uncle Plantagenet Halsey seem determined to keep him ignorant about neighborhood inheritance customs, the ongoing poaching on the estate, and a secret underground chamber beneath the sprawling old manor. As Selina approaches her due date with their first child, Alec tries to keep his mind off the dangers of childbirth by untangling the mysteries surrounding the death of a youth in the forest. In the end, everything, it turns out, is connected. Secrets will out, and when they do, Alec's relationship with his gruff old uncle Plantagenet will be forever altered.

This fourth book in the Alec Halsey series is an utter delight. I didn't know how Lucinda Brant could top book three, with Halsey's nightmarish diplomatic trip to the unhinged ruler of Midanich, but this book makes a valiant effort with its own unnervingly Gothic themes. Just what were the murderous Halsey ancestors getting up to in the peculiar province of Kent? I particularly enjoyed how Brant switches point of view throughout the tale, allowing minor characters like Halsey's valet Hadrian Jeffries to have a voice in the narration. The best news of all is that book five is currently in the works, so we will get to see more of Alec Halsey's keen mind and more of the glitteringly grim Georgian world that Lucinda Brant has created.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, Secrets and Gavelkind
Alec Halsey expects to be bored in the country whilst awaiting the birth of his first child. Despite the fact that his renovations, to repair the neglect of many years and make his birthplace comfortable, are causing noise and chaos, he is used to London, the Foreign Office and his busy diplomatic career. However, a hole appearing in his courtyard under which is a secret vault not on any house plans and the murder of a thirteen year old boy, give him something to think about other than his dread that he might lose his wife to childbirth.
Note: I’d never heard of gavelkind before this story and I can well see that all children from a marriage inheriting equally would in a couple of generations reduce a large estate to practically nothing. There must have been a way that families got around this inheritance law or there would be no castles or large estates left in Kent today!
Read in Kindle Unlimited

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucinda does it again with another Alec Halsey novel. This time there are two mysteries to be discovered. Though if you have read/listen to the series, one of the mysteries isn't so much a mystery! At least not to me, it just confirmed what I thought. The other is a family secret, only known to a few others and Alec was totally unaware of it. His mind is filled with running the estate he inherited after his brother's death but also anxious as Selina is just a couple of weeks away to have their 1st baby. Needless to say, as Alec uncovers these mysteries, he is shocked, surprised and delighted in the end. A must read/listen too! Though I must say that the new narrator, Matthew Lloyd Davies, did an excellent job in the telling!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marquess, former diplomat and amateur sleuth Alec Halsey and his pregnant wife, Selina, have returned to the country property that he has inherited. While they nervously await the birth of their child, Alec focuses on renovating the property. Naturally in this series, he is faced with having to solve a complex and vicious murder and other mysteries.
As always, Lucinda Brant provides a well researched and very gripping tale. Alec Halsey and Selina are sympathetic and all of the other characters are well-drawn. There is a wealth of historical detail seamlessly woven into the story.
Matthew Lloyd Davies is an exceptional narrator, providing memorable and distinct voices for both male and female characters of all backgrounds.
Very highly recommended.

[Mrs A Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended, especially if you’ve read the previous Halsey books in order.

Ms Brant never fails to entrance. This story is involved and complicated, and as always, draws one in. I really like Alec Halsey, especially the respect he has for women. Ms Bryant’s female characters are strong, and yet believable - unlike some authors, she doesn’t simply place 21st century behaviour onto her women, which would be utterly out of place in the 18th century, but gives them intelligence and self belief. And what a relief not to have endless sex scenes, which, frankly, bore one to death - it takes skill to create relationships based on real and deep emotion, rather than titillating scenes that rarely move a story on.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steep in traditions

Alec and Salina have retired to the country to await the birth of their first child! A murder of a 13 year old lad open a Pandora box of unimaginable horrors and traditions in this right knit community! As previous customs and secrets come to light Alec is more than stunned and realizes he did not really know his Uncle? At all? Selina is due to give birth any day Akec must sort of the secrets of his birth his Uncle? In love? Find a murderer, a poacher and repair his home! If that's not enough Selina brother arrives and requests his assistance with matters of the state!!! Non stop action in this riveting page turner!!!

[Bonnie Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth in the series, this is the story of an eerie killing of a young boy who was poaching deer on Alec’s land. Many of our favorite characters are here as well as new ones (some unsavory). Add the facts that Alec is uncovering details of his parentage, Plantagenet Halsey is desperate to keep secrets, and Selina is close to giving birth to their firstborn. Just like Lucinda Brant’s other books, there’s no shortage of intrigue throughout. Overall it’s a very good read with a satisfying end.
In the Audible version the narrator was good, especially considering he had to follow Alex Wyndham who narrated the first three books. He was, however, a bit flat in places.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fourth instalment of the Alec Halsey series, Lucinda Brant neatly switches from her hero swashing a buckle in international politics to the gloomy Gothicity of his sprawling country pile and the dark secrets it holds.

I enjoyed the plot, but the telling of it was somewhat over-convoluted and verbose, to the point that some elements were repeated over and again and other crucial plot twists were easily missed amongst all those words. However, I did thoroughly enjoy the story and the excellent character development of the supporting cast of the books.