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Manor House Mysteries #9
An Unmentionable Murder
Meet Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton. She's the house-rich, money-poor keeper of the manor—and keeper of the peace...
In World War II England, the quiet village of Sitting Marsh is faced with food rations and fear for loved ones. But Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton, lady of the Manor House, stubbornly insists that life must go on. Sitting Marsh residents depend on Elizabeth to make sure things go smoothly. Which means everything from sorting out gossip to solving the occasional murder...
In the thick of the Allied invasion, Elizabeth is sick with worry for Major Earl Monroe. To make matters worse, people and things keep going missing from the manor—namely Martin, the elderly butler, and ladies’ knickers from the washing line. Before Elizabeth can track either down, a man is found shot dead. Few will miss bad-tempered Clyde Morgan, and the police are ready to call it a suicide. But Elizabeth’s not so sure…
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2006
38 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Kate Kingsbury
90 books570 followersKate Kingsbury grew up in London, England, and at a very early age began telling stories to her school friends during the London Blitz of WW II while huddling in bomb shelters. Kate moved to the U.S. in the early sixties, and had passed her 50th birthday when she published her first book. Writing as Doreen Roberts, (her real name at the time) she published 26 romance novels for Harlequin/Silhouette. In 1991 her first Pennyfoot Hotel book was published and since then Kate has written 35 mysteries, including the Manor House mysteries, the Bellehaven House mysteries(written as Rebecca Kent) and the Raven's Nest mysteries, (written as Allison Kingsley.) Her new series, The Merry Ghost Inn Mysteries debuted in January, 2017 with Dead and Breakfast, featuring a B & B on the Oregon coast. She has one son, Regan, and lives with her husband, Bill, in the beautiful state of Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 3, 2020
I've enjoyed this series. These books are quick, easy reads. I enjoy reading about Britain on the home front during WWII. There wasn't much to the mystery but I enjoyed it and all the other little side mysteries. I found it to be a satisfying conclusion to the series and I will miss it.
January 3, 2014
This is the final book in the Manor House series, following “Wedding Rows.” The action begins about 3 weeks after the conclusion of the previous novel and about 3 days into the Allied Invasion at Normandy in 1944.
Earl Monroe is gone – flying bomber runs in the Allied Invasion. The knickers are gone – stolen from the clothesline. And Martin is just plain gone – disappeared, gone. Then there’s the life that has gone out of the body of Clyde Morgan, who has just been found in the rubble of the burned out munitions factory.
As far as the murder plotline goes, it is actually quite sophisticated for a cozy genre mystery. Clyde Morgan, the local used goods seller, has apparently committed suicide – the gun is in his own hand. But it is in his right hand, and the man is left-handed. Not to mention, the man lost his right eye earlier in the war and wears a patch. So a shot to the right temple by the right hand of a right-eye blinded man is not exactly the best evidence of suicide, no matter what PC Dalrymple says.
So, as in each of the prior books, Lady Elizabeth takes it upon herself to investigate and expose a murderer. And, as in each of the prior books, she fails to tell anyone in her household where she is specifically headed, even though she is forever angry at Violet and Martin for doing the same. And, as in each of the prior books, she gets violently surprised by the murderer and is inches from death when the rescue comes.
In many respects, it is good that this is the last volume in the series. While the author has progressed Lady Elizabeth’s character emotionally, she has not progressed her character intellectually. Kingsbury has not allowed Lady Elizabeth to learn from her mistakes and that can be the death of a reader’s sympathy for a protagonist.
Kingsbury’s ability to write emotional scenes, via dialogue and internal monologue, is one of the best I have encountered in my many years of reading fiction. She expresses confusion, enlightenment, elation and sorrow in a manner that touches the soul and elicits those same reactions in the reader.
And, it is with this skill in writing emotional context, that Kingsbury brings us to the point that we have expected for the last eight novels. Major Earl Monroe does not return from a bombing run unscathed. This situation, in turn, drives the novel to its conclusion. And the ending that we get is one that is well earned and well delivered.
Earl Monroe is gone – flying bomber runs in the Allied Invasion. The knickers are gone – stolen from the clothesline. And Martin is just plain gone – disappeared, gone. Then there’s the life that has gone out of the body of Clyde Morgan, who has just been found in the rubble of the burned out munitions factory.
As far as the murder plotline goes, it is actually quite sophisticated for a cozy genre mystery. Clyde Morgan, the local used goods seller, has apparently committed suicide – the gun is in his own hand. But it is in his right hand, and the man is left-handed. Not to mention, the man lost his right eye earlier in the war and wears a patch. So a shot to the right temple by the right hand of a right-eye blinded man is not exactly the best evidence of suicide, no matter what PC Dalrymple says.
So, as in each of the prior books, Lady Elizabeth takes it upon herself to investigate and expose a murderer. And, as in each of the prior books, she fails to tell anyone in her household where she is specifically headed, even though she is forever angry at Violet and Martin for doing the same. And, as in each of the prior books, she gets violently surprised by the murderer and is inches from death when the rescue comes.
In many respects, it is good that this is the last volume in the series. While the author has progressed Lady Elizabeth’s character emotionally, she has not progressed her character intellectually. Kingsbury has not allowed Lady Elizabeth to learn from her mistakes and that can be the death of a reader’s sympathy for a protagonist.
Kingsbury’s ability to write emotional scenes, via dialogue and internal monologue, is one of the best I have encountered in my many years of reading fiction. She expresses confusion, enlightenment, elation and sorrow in a manner that touches the soul and elicits those same reactions in the reader.
And, it is with this skill in writing emotional context, that Kingsbury brings us to the point that we have expected for the last eight novels. Major Earl Monroe does not return from a bombing run unscathed. This situation, in turn, drives the novel to its conclusion. And the ending that we get is one that is well earned and well delivered.
December 16, 2017
I did not realize that this book was the final one of a 9-book series. Therefore, I can only judge it as a stand alone. Lady Elizabeth's beloved American flier is off participating in D-Day. The village is slightly upset by the death of the rag-picker, the disappearance of "unmentionables" from various washlines, and the secretive departures and returns of Lady Elizabeth's butler. All is almost explained in the end.
January 30, 2018
Found this at the Seniors' College and started it while waiting for my ride.
This series is set in England during WWII and in this volume we're just past the D day landings. Lady Elizabeth is desperately worried about her American Major who is in the Army Air Force (It wasn't a separate branch yet) and has been helping provide air cover for the invasion. There are many things I don't understand: if there is an American air base nearby why are the officers billeted at the manor house instead of being on the base? and it was surely not all that easy bringing food off the base and wouldn't you have to turn in coupons if you ate away from home? and did buzz bombs come in 1944?
To start the mysteries off, ladies' knickers have been disappearing from laundry lines and the women are concerned because it isn't easy to replace them. Then the butler starts staying out at night and refuses to explain anything about it. The War Office is alleged to have phoned for him and he is very secretive about returning the call. Crews arrived to knock down the armament factory but they've no sooner swung the wrecking ball a few times when the body of Clyde Morgan, the rag and bone man, is discovered. He appears to have shot himself with the German luger he claims shot out his right eye. The only problem is that everyone knows that Clyde is left handed and the pistol was found next to his right hand.
One final item: I made Lord Woolton's Pie and don't understand the moaning about it since it was very good. I'm not sure where they'd have got gravy unless it was some sort of ersatz stuff but I put in a teaspoon of beef extract instead of the vegetarian cube called for. Later I made another one with the last bits of chicken before I boiled a carcass and used chicken essence. That was really good and I put drop biscuits on top instead of the pastry I used before.
These things are all straightened out and the women are all hoping the war will soon be over when there will be some decisions to arrive at, namely how many of them are going to want to go to the U.S. with their sweethearts?
This is a piece of fluff about the war but it does deal with the daily concerns of British women enduring a fairly harsh rationing system which continued for a long while after the war. Trying to run a kitchen virtually without meat, butter, eggs, and sugar was not easy and it was quite understandable that when some of those items came to you, you snapped them up. It was an item of anger, too, that American forces had food the Brits couldn't obtain.
This series is set in England during WWII and in this volume we're just past the D day landings. Lady Elizabeth is desperately worried about her American Major who is in the Army Air Force (It wasn't a separate branch yet) and has been helping provide air cover for the invasion. There are many things I don't understand: if there is an American air base nearby why are the officers billeted at the manor house instead of being on the base? and it was surely not all that easy bringing food off the base and wouldn't you have to turn in coupons if you ate away from home? and did buzz bombs come in 1944?
To start the mysteries off, ladies' knickers have been disappearing from laundry lines and the women are concerned because it isn't easy to replace them. Then the butler starts staying out at night and refuses to explain anything about it. The War Office is alleged to have phoned for him and he is very secretive about returning the call. Crews arrived to knock down the armament factory but they've no sooner swung the wrecking ball a few times when the body of Clyde Morgan, the rag and bone man, is discovered. He appears to have shot himself with the German luger he claims shot out his right eye. The only problem is that everyone knows that Clyde is left handed and the pistol was found next to his right hand.
One final item: I made Lord Woolton's Pie and don't understand the moaning about it since it was very good. I'm not sure where they'd have got gravy unless it was some sort of ersatz stuff but I put in a teaspoon of beef extract instead of the vegetarian cube called for. Later I made another one with the last bits of chicken before I boiled a carcass and used chicken essence. That was really good and I put drop biscuits on top instead of the pastry I used before.
These things are all straightened out and the women are all hoping the war will soon be over when there will be some decisions to arrive at, namely how many of them are going to want to go to the U.S. with their sweethearts?
This is a piece of fluff about the war but it does deal with the daily concerns of British women enduring a fairly harsh rationing system which continued for a long while after the war. Trying to run a kitchen virtually without meat, butter, eggs, and sugar was not easy and it was quite understandable that when some of those items came to you, you snapped them up. It was an item of anger, too, that American forces had food the Brits couldn't obtain.
January 24, 2019
Not nearly enough of Elizabeth and the major together in this one, but at least there is closure. And this final mystery in the series was depressing with no good ending for anyone involved. Also, no real closure for any of the secondary characters. What happens to Sadie and Polly? Does Joe survive the war? And I can't imagine Martin moving willingly to Wyoming. I really wish Kate Kingsbury had continued on with this series. Or started a new series with Sadie and Polly as the main characters. Now that would be fun. But at least Lady Elizabeth got her happy ending. :)
February 11, 2010
Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton has her hands full watching over the residents of Sitting Marsh, England, during World War II. She is worried about American Major Earl Monroe who, as a pilot, is fighting the war in the air. Elizabeth has other problems - her elderly butler, Martin, keeps disappearing for hours at a time and someone is stealing ladies knickers from clotheslines all over the village. Elizabeth soon has a bigger problem; a dead body is found when a munitions factory is torn down. Although the police and his widow insist that Clyde Morgan committed suicide, Elizabeth is convinced it was murder and decides to investigate. Little does she realize that someone will do anything to prevent Elizabeth from finding out the truth.
Although I've enjoyed the entire Manor House mystery series, I found "An Unmentionable Murder", the last book in the series, to be a bit of a disappointment. The mystery itself was fine, with a poignant twist at the end. But the book felt rushed, as Kate Kingsbury tried to tie everything up neatly at the end. The last chapter especially felt rushed, I would have liked a few more pages wrapping things up. The subplot about Martin's disappearance was somewhat amusing, if unbelievable. The explanation of who was stealing the knickers was also a bit disappointing. And Kingsbury failed to even mention the "three musketeers", a serious oversight since she had built up that particular mystery over the course of several books.
Fans of this series will want to read "An Unmentionable Murder" if only to find out what happens to Elizabeth and Earl at the end, but it's not one of the better books in the series.
Although I've enjoyed the entire Manor House mystery series, I found "An Unmentionable Murder", the last book in the series, to be a bit of a disappointment. The mystery itself was fine, with a poignant twist at the end. But the book felt rushed, as Kate Kingsbury tried to tie everything up neatly at the end. The last chapter especially felt rushed, I would have liked a few more pages wrapping things up. The subplot about Martin's disappearance was somewhat amusing, if unbelievable. The explanation of who was stealing the knickers was also a bit disappointing. And Kingsbury failed to even mention the "three musketeers", a serious oversight since she had built up that particular mystery over the course of several books.
Fans of this series will want to read "An Unmentionable Murder" if only to find out what happens to Elizabeth and Earl at the end, but it's not one of the better books in the series.
August 11, 2014
So this was the last one. I enjoyed the whole series more or less, as a "Foyle's War" fan it was quite a familiar atmosphere, and the author does deliver that. The ending seemed a bit rushed, as others have remarked, there are a few loose ends left. I really miss an epilogue to answer these questions and more. So only three stars from me.
January 26, 2015
Last book in the series and I must say I am disappointed! Nothing was really wrapped up and an epilogue was sorely missed. Nothing was said about the 3 musketeers who have caused havoc in the last few books. what was Martin really doing when he disappeared? What happens to Polly and Sadie? Do Violet and Martin go to America? And why dies Elizabeth have to go to America? Why can't Earl stay in England instead?
Readers have become immersed in these people's lives over the course of 9 books and Kingsbury has just left us dead in the water. Very poor ending to the series all around.
Readers have become immersed in these people's lives over the course of 9 books and Kingsbury has just left us dead in the water. Very poor ending to the series all around.
March 9, 2016
This was a great series that in enjoyed. The setting in England during WWII and I hate to see the end. Well written with a cast of great characters. I wish it was another series like this so it would never end.
January 6, 2014
The last book in a very cozy series, this book wraps it all up relatively nicely.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/748772...
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/748772...
November 9, 2018
For Shame!!!
Where is the ending? I tolerated the quick endings with a lack of resolution to certain matters in the previous books in the series, but this is the last book! I've read every book within a week, including the two that were not eligible for Kindle Unlimited (that was a jerk move, by the way), and I am now invested in these characters. But we will never know if Polly and her pen pal soldier ever met. Did she reunite with Sam? What happened to him? Did Sadie realize that she loved Joe and go back to America with him? Did he stay in England to be with her? What exactly was Martin doing for the War Office? What happened to Violets beau, Charlie? Did Marlene make it home and become a nurse? What about the husbands? Did Rita's husband come home? Did Nellie ever find someone? What happens to the Manor House? The Title? All of these unanswered questions are why I don't read romance! Marketing them as mysteries was false advertising at its finest. The authors lackluster attempts to emulate Agatha Christie were shoddy and ill conceived. The constant repetition of facts and the "one thing niggling" in the back of Elizabeth's mind were over used to the point of frustration on the readers part. Shame on the author! Shame on the publisher!
Where is the ending? I tolerated the quick endings with a lack of resolution to certain matters in the previous books in the series, but this is the last book! I've read every book within a week, including the two that were not eligible for Kindle Unlimited (that was a jerk move, by the way), and I am now invested in these characters. But we will never know if Polly and her pen pal soldier ever met. Did she reunite with Sam? What happened to him? Did Sadie realize that she loved Joe and go back to America with him? Did he stay in England to be with her? What exactly was Martin doing for the War Office? What happened to Violets beau, Charlie? Did Marlene make it home and become a nurse? What about the husbands? Did Rita's husband come home? Did Nellie ever find someone? What happens to the Manor House? The Title? All of these unanswered questions are why I don't read romance! Marketing them as mysteries was false advertising at its finest. The authors lackluster attempts to emulate Agatha Christie were shoddy and ill conceived. The constant repetition of facts and the "one thing niggling" in the back of Elizabeth's mind were over used to the point of frustration on the readers part. Shame on the author! Shame on the publisher!
October 9, 2020
A Happy Ending For Manor House Mysteries
I enjoyed the entire Manor House Mysteries series. In this final book, Elizabeth looks into the alleged suicide of a man no one mourns including his own family. Meanwhile elderly butler Martin begins disappearing for hours and refusing to answer questions about where and what he's been up to thus frustrating the manor household. And as if these concerns weren't enough, someone is stealing ladies unmentionables throughout Sitting Marsh village.
I'm sorry that the series over because even though most of the characters and storylines were neatly concluded I still want more.
I want to know what happens to Sadie and Polly? And the Housewives League led by bitter Rita, is she still bullying those ladies into hunting German soldiers whenever she sees a stranger in Sitting Marsh? But most of all what about Lady Elizabeth and Major Earl? Do they get their long overdue well deserved happily ever after? You know a series is good when you can't let go of the characters.
I enjoyed the entire Manor House Mysteries series. In this final book, Elizabeth looks into the alleged suicide of a man no one mourns including his own family. Meanwhile elderly butler Martin begins disappearing for hours and refusing to answer questions about where and what he's been up to thus frustrating the manor household. And as if these concerns weren't enough, someone is stealing ladies unmentionables throughout Sitting Marsh village.
I'm sorry that the series over because even though most of the characters and storylines were neatly concluded I still want more.
I want to know what happens to Sadie and Polly? And the Housewives League led by bitter Rita, is she still bullying those ladies into hunting German soldiers whenever she sees a stranger in Sitting Marsh? But most of all what about Lady Elizabeth and Major Earl? Do they get their long overdue well deserved happily ever after? You know a series is good when you can't let go of the characters.
October 11, 2021
I'm sorry to see this series end. yes, the ending is rushed-but there is a good explanation. Direct quote from the author- " if the last book seems rushed, it's because the publishers ended the series before I was ready, and I had to beg them to let me change the ending. "
the characters are likeable and grow throughout the series. Yes, like many a cozy mystery, the main protagonist (in this, Elizabeth) normally doesn't share where she is going, what she is doing, and often finds herself in jeopardy at the end of the novel. I often overlook these details if the series warrants my continued interest.
the characters are likeable and grow throughout the series. Yes, like many a cozy mystery, the main protagonist (in this, Elizabeth) normally doesn't share where she is going, what she is doing, and often finds herself in jeopardy at the end of the novel. I often overlook these details if the series warrants my continued interest.
April 25, 2022
A challenge took me to the end of a series that I hadn't read any of, but I didn't have any trouble following what was going on. I enjoyed the book and the characters. The murder was well-written and the solution satisfying, but the thefts of the "unmentionables" was incredibly amusing. I had read one of Kingsbury's books previously and didn't care for it, but this led me to give her other series a shot.
September 23, 2019
I am going to miss this series but was satisfied with the conclusion! Enjoyed very much.
June 17, 2021
Two mysteries with very different endings.
March 10, 2008
Basically what this is is a "Finish" for the series. Kate Kingsbury wants to wrap things up neatly for us and this is the way she does it.
There is almost no mystery--and what there IS is just Lady Elizabeth deciding that there IS a mystery with no real evidence or even any serious hints that there is a mystery.
Still it was a "feel good" ending to the series and lets us know that all our favourite charcters are off to better lives with the ending of the war.
There is almost no mystery--and what there IS is just Lady Elizabeth deciding that there IS a mystery with no real evidence or even any serious hints that there is a mystery.
Still it was a "feel good" ending to the series and lets us know that all our favourite charcters are off to better lives with the ending of the war.
January 16, 2015
I love the Manor House Mysteries by Kate Kingsbury. Lady Elizabeth is the lady of the manor in Sitting Marsh, England during WWII. American soldiers are stationed at the manor. In this book the butler has gone missing. Also, unmentionables have been stolen as they were drying on the clothes' line. The Major she loves has been hurt. On top of that a man's body has been found. Is it suicide or murder? There is a lot to keep you turning the pages. I enjoyed this book a lot.
September 21, 2009
An okay cozy ( or cosy, since it's an English story). Didn't realize I was coming in at the end of a series, but it stands alone well enough. It starts out with what looks like a light, fluffy story line but soon goes into another, darker one.
March 15, 2013
3.5 stars. For those that like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they like. Or words to that effect. Luckily tis the sort of thing I like.
March 6, 2015
Love my comfy cozy series! Love Lady Elizabeth's meddling! Just what's needed during a snowy March cooped up inside with a yummy cuppa Earl Grey.
May 31, 2015
Book 9
I loved all the books in this series. Hope they will be made available through audible soon. I am sorry Kate chose to end this series.
I loved all the books in this series. Hope they will be made available through audible soon. I am sorry Kate chose to end this series.
August 16, 2016
This book was excellent as was the entire series !
Enjoyed all nine books!!! Will read entire series again!! Thankyou
November 4, 2018
During WW II conditions were difficult for the people of the small village of Sitting Marsh in England. Part of the Manor House was used by a group of American pilots. Elizabeth Compton, Lady of the Manor was in love with Major Monroe, but she had to keep things together on the manor. When the Americans were off on a campaign, things became difficult. The Rags & Bone man was found murdered, ladies knickers were disappearing from the clotheslines, and Martin, the Elderly Butler of the Manor was disappearing at nights. Could Elizabeth deal with these problems and keep the manor running evenly?
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews