You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

One of the group reads for September is Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer. Please discuss the book in this thread.

Cherie will be leading the discussion.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during August 2022.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

A note on discussion: Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc.

In addition to this, the group reads are meant to be a "read along" so it is preferable that you discuss the book as you read rather than wait until you've finished the book.

And finally, discussion is not about just listing your thoughts. Please interact with the other group members, comment on their thoughts, and if they comment on yours, respond to them. This is what makes a good book discussion!

You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.

Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

I started this today and am about 15% .

My initial impressions is that it reads like a play. I can practically see the curtain come down between scenes. It also reads like it’s from another time. I was surprised because my edition was published in 2007 but then I checked and it was originally published in 1966.

I’m expecting a fun read.

I will start this evening when I get done working.

Marnie - I’m glad to see that you are enjoying it so far. 🤓

I could not locate the paperback copy of this book that I “supposedly” owned according to my book spreadsheet so I am now the proud owner of the ebook version from Barnes & Nobel. My cover has the blue car with the headlights shining up the road on the hill.
The table of contents shows 246 pages and twenty chapters.

I finished reading chapter One. (view spoiler)[We met Mr. Frank Amberley, driving up and down the country lanes looking for a home where he is supposed to be having dinner. He is lost, late and angry. He meets a young woman standing next to a car on the side of the road. Bla, bla bla, and then he drives off. (hide spoiler)].

This book is definitely set in a different time period. Even the language is dated. It reminds me of the Agatha Christie novels that I have read and loved.
Chapter One(view spoiler)[ What surprised me was that Frank drove away and left the girl (Shirley) still standing beside the car where he met her, after discovering a dead man in the car and giving her back her gun. He did not ask her where her car was, or how she got there nor offer to give her a ride. She walks off across the fields to a house where her brother, Mark is recovering from being drunk. I wonder what the thing is that they are trying to get their hands on? (hide spoiler)]

I finished chapter Two.
This chapter felt a lot longer than the first one but my Nook registers only 12% done. It felt longer. I will have to get on-line to enter my spoilers. The mobile app on my iPod limits the number of characters that I can enter. That is why I had to split my last comments up. 🤓

I will be starting this as soon as I finished my current book, probably by the end of today or tomorrow.
I will be reading this as an audiobook, narrated by Matt Addis, it says it was published in 2021.
This will be my first book with you guys as I’ve only just joined the group so I’m looking forward to discussing this!

Cherie wrote: "This book is definitely set in a different time period. Even the language is dated. It reminds me of the Agatha Christie

I was surprised by that as well.

Firstly, welcome to your first themed read Nilesh.

My thoughts on Frank Amberley...
(view spoiler)[

I’m not sure if I like him or not... lol. He’s obviously smart but is he supposed to come across as witty or arrogant. Still not sure. (hide spoiler)]

Through chapter 7.

(view spoiler)[ Frank let the brother go now. I guess shooting a gun at someone is no big deal if he isn’t your murder suspect. I think Frank told the police to watch him, not because he is a threat but that he is in danger. Curiouser and curiouser. (hide spoiler)]

Welcome, Niles!

Please make sure to enclose your comments about anything specific that happens in the story in a spoiler bracket. Let us know where you are in the story (chapter/page/% read -although I know that it is a little more difficult with an audio book) that you are commenting about. General observations are ok to comment on without spoilers, but we do not want to give anything away to someone coming along reading behind us.

People can start the book any time during the month and can choose to read spoilers and make comments as they progress this way.

There is a “How Do I” thread that explains how to format a spoiler. Check the some html link above the comment box too, if you are on line.

Sorry, I didn’t have a chance to get on-line yesterday (Saturday). I am reading a Penn Cage book and could not put it down! I am almost done with it. 😊

Thank you both and don’t worry I will make sure I use the spoiler tags!

First five chapters…

(view spoiler)[
@Marnie: I don’t think I would have realised it if you hadn’t mentioned it, but since you have, yes I can see this book being performed as a play.
I think, so far I quite like Frank Amberley, there’s something about his smooth arrogance and rudeness that makes me want to hear more from him. I suspect as the story goes on, I will probably end up not liking him.

@Cherie: I actually thought the fact that Frank just left Shirley stood there while he drove off was kind of funny. I felt it played well into his arrogant ‘I don’t care’ attitude.
However I did think it was a little strange that he didn’t ask her about her vehicle or anything like that as surely this would be important for the investigation?
I also think it’s curious that Frank still has not disclosed any information about Shirley, nor has he mentioned that she was at the murder scene, not even to the police.

I agree with what both of you are saying about the book seeming like it’s in a different time period. The language is very old school, I don’t often read books like this but I am very much enjoying it so far!

I’m looking forward to seeing more interaction between Frank and Shirley, I think their conversations are quite entertaining.

My first thought was that the butler had been killed over a secret diary exposing the family he served, however this seems a bit too obvious now and from what I know about the story so far, wouldn’t really make much sense .
(hide spoiler)]

I have just started and read through Chapter 2. I have to confess to having to write down the characters as there seems to be a lot and I was having trouble keeping them straight.
(view spoiler)[ So, in Chapter 1, the big question for me is What’s up with Shirley? Why are she and Mark interested in the dead man and what is he supposed to have? Also curious…why didn’t Amberley report Shirley’s presence at the murder scene to the police? I do like Frank. His bluntness appeals to me. I can see this as a play.

Chapter 2: We now know the dead man is the Fountain’s butler. We haven’t yet met Basil, Joan’s stepbrother, just impressions from the others. So far, I like Wolf, the Alsatian, the most. Curious that Shirley has shown up again. (hide spoiler)]

I am glad I am not the only one, Sharon. I started to create a score card, just so I could keep track of all of the characters we met in chapter 2, because there were so many. I had to laugh at how they talk to each other. I think it is just the "British humor" thing though. It always feels so sarcastic to me. I find myself stopping to think about what they say and decide if they were serious or only teasing or not. I haven't figured Frank Amberley out yet

Marnie - It does not feel like a play to me, but one of the old black and white movies with from the 1940s with Cary Grant like Mr. Smith Builds a House I think Mr. Frank Amberley reminds me of him. He is so flippant. (view spoiler)[ or like you said, arrogant. (hide spoiler)]

Good job, on your spoiler, Nilesh. ;o)

I just finished chapter Six.
It is hard to write one spoiler to here because so much has happened. It really needs to be broken down, so I will go back.

chapter Two (view spoiler)[Frank is grumbling to himself about leaving the girl he met. He was amused by her "self-possession" but not attracted "by" her. "A sulky-looking wench!" But he did not think she had done the murder. I thought it was interesting that he decided to stop at the police station and report it, even thought he was still put out at being late for dinner. He could have just driven away - but that would have been another story, huh? I thought he only told the girl that he was going to report it to see what she would say. Seemed that he knew the Police Sargent though but the Constable didn't like him.
I like Lady and Sir Humphrey Matthews. The meeting in town the next day was almost too much. Anthony Corkran's conversation was a hoot. The murdered man was the butler for the Fountains at Norton Manor. The dog fight and meeting with Shirley Brown and the news that Frank found the dead man and that he was going to give evidence at the inquest was an interesting point in the story. It allowed Frank to see how Shirley took the news. She definitely seemed worried. I love it when the reason for the title of the book is revealed in a story! And now, we know that there is some kind of mystery at the house where the Fountains live - with the people in it. Snooping and being watched, according to Corkran. Seems Brother Basil is a strange fellow too. "sort of fellow who drinks his bath water." The school chums don't like those "hearty blokes that calls you old boy and slaps you on the back." Yes, definitely more of that British humor stuff. (hide spoiler)] I know that this is long, but it was a lot to take in.

I just finished chapter 12

I see your point Cherie about the Cary Grant reference.

No spoilers to report but I am getting more in the rhythm of the story. I’m mixing in this book while reading other books. It’s very easy to pick back up and not lose the train.

I am reading a few chapters at a time while reading others as well, Marnie.

chapter Three (view spoiler)[ It seems like none of the local policemen like Frank. Seems like Frank is some sort of amateur detective although he is a barrister. Evening at Norton Manner and we meet Collins, the valet - filling in for the dead butler, Dawson. (just trying to keep everyone straight). Collins told Felicity that he and Dawson were not friendly, although they had served together in the same house for several years. I don't think I would like Basil much either, the way he is portrayed in the story. Of course, they all want to hear details of the murder. They all seem upset at the servants wanting to hear details of the discovery of the murdered man, or was it just at Collins? They were disappointed at the lack of details that Frank was willing to divulge. "very brief, even a little bald." Strange term, huh? I had to look up what was "a three ball game of golf". I played golf for many years but never heard that term. "Oh my godfathers". Another term I have never seen before. I got quite an education reading The joy of slang on BBC News. ;o) Did anyone else have to look up persiflage and quixotry? I am always grateful to have my iPod with me as I read to look things up!
So - the inquest was dry and unenlightening although Sergeant Gubbins declared it a queer case, because there was "nothing queer about it." Their conversation reminded me of the times Sherlock Holmes talked to Inspector Lestrade during a case. Lestrade could never tell if Holmes was making fun of him or not. Seems Gubbins wants Frank to help them out on this one. Seems like Dawson had quite a bit of money. The two school chums played golf and then went to the club house and talked about golf, the case, and old school chums. Anthony told Frank that he was going to leave the Manor after the Ball, but Basil has asked him to stay until the wedding (in a month). Anthony thinks it is because he does not want to be left alone, but he does not know why. After Frank left Anthony, he drove into town and met Mark Brown, drunk and leaning against his car. After he mentioned his sister, Shirley, Frank decided to take him home. He was so drunk, nothing he said made sense. Frank took him up to the door, and then upstairs and put him into his bed. Shirley thanked him, and then they had a very sarcastic conversation. They both seemed to enjoy swapping barbs at each other, but then she intimated to him that he should leave. He wanted her to come clean with him, but she would not. She was angry that he might have pumped Mark for information, but he finally assured her that he was not that kind of a cad. He called her "an objectionable little fool", after she asked him what he thought of her, but he also admitted that he did not think she was a murderess. She called him "a beast" but said she rather liked him also. He told her that he did not like her at all, but would be seeing her again. Strange! (hide spoiler)]

chapter Four (view spoiler)[I got a kick out of Corkran at the ball, stabbing and tripping people with his sword to his Faust costume, until Amberley told him it was "not good form to dance with a sword at one's side" and Joan told him he could take it off. After Frank danced with the contadina (Italian farm girl?) they sat on a sofa and talked exchanged barbs. I've never heard of a "hock-cup" but I suspect it was some kind of a mixed drink. After he told her that he was a barrister in the criminal court, she got up and tried to leave him. It was obvious that the contadina was Shirley Brown and that she had crashed the party. After she left him, he decided to look for his cousin went upstairs and interrupt her tete-a-tete with a young man that he did not like the looks of.
He met Mr. Fountain while he was looking at a wall of paintings. He admitted to Amberley that he did not like the house. "Too many worries". The valet caught the Italian contadina with her hand in the drawer of a tallboy. He was escorting her downstairs when he was taken in-hand by Fountain. The contadina now tried to slip away. She went back upstairs and searched the drawer in the tallboy she had opened before. It had a false back, but there was nothing in there. Amberly, in his Mephistopheles costume - minus his mask, was leaning against the archway to the hall and watching her. Amberley saved her from being unmasked by Fountain and made her angry by telling her that he was watching her but that he was not going to give her away to the police. Then she stomped off. What I did not get, was the handkerchief she dropped. Was it her mask? (hide spoiler)]

chapter Five (view spoiler)[ I loved the description of Mr. Amberley "with a sloth his cousin found disgusting", spent his time laying about in the garden the next morning after the ball. His aunt rousted him out of the hammock to talk to Colonel Watson. He is there to talk Amberley into helping the police to solve the murder of Dawson. He does not like him, nor really want him, but he also does not want to have to call in Scotland Yard if Inspector Fraser cannot solve it. The Colonel thinks there is no data to solve the case, but Frank puts him straight with all the things he has thought about and observed. Did you catch all of the clues? Frank was just as sarcastic with the Colonel as he is with Shirley. He told his uncle that even if he gave Messrs Watson, Fraser, and Company all of the information and suspicions he had that they were not up to solving the case, so he had better do it himself. (hide spoiler)]

chapter Six (view spoiler)[So, now we know that Greythorne is is an hour away from London - in a fast car. Frank went to the Times office and searched through back issues of newspapers and finally found some information that he had wanted. He sent a coded telegram and then visited the firm of private inquiry agents. He was back at Greythorne by 5:30pm. He found Corkran having tea with Felicity and complaining about Basil, who had gotten some bad news and was in a snit. He tried to tease Amberley with an outrageous description of the person who delivered the bad news to Basil and was rewarded with a thrown library book from Frank. Corkran did not know what the bad news was. I loved the description of Basil getting the bad news. "Well, when a chap opens a letter, reads it and turns sort of pea-green, and sits staring at the fatal document like one struck with the palsy, the astute spectator at once divines the cause." It was a letter from a private detective agency. Hmm - did this have something to do with the information Frank found at the times and did he get the agency to send it? The next day, it seems that there was a row between Basil and Collins in the study. Basil drove off to London, Corkran and Joan walked over
to visit Felicity and Frank, and later, Frank went off in his car to visit Ivy Cottage. He was waved down by Sergeant Gubbins on a bicycle, so he stopped to talk to him. While he was talking to the Sergeant, he saw Collins coming into the lane from Ivy Cottage and going up the road to Fawcett's farm. After the Sergeant and Frank parted, Frank proceeded on to Ivy Cottage and overheard Mark yelling at Shirley through the open front window of the living room. He knocked on the door, was let in by Mark and Shirley was sent off to make tea. Mark told him that they were on holiday for a month. He worked in a bank and she was a secretary to a novelist named Anne March. Amberley guessed Mark was out of work. After Mark went into the kitchen to clear-up the tea things, Shirley and Amberley had another nasty, sarcastic back and forth and he left. (hide spoiler)] That is it. I am caught up to where I left off, at chapter seven.

I know that there are others in the group that read her novels but this is my first novel by Georgette Heyer. I have three others on my TBR list and so far, I think I will look forward to reading more of her. ;o)

I have just finished Chapter 5. I agree with Cherie that I will read others by the author. I am delighted with her dialogue and the swift and cutting discussions between the characters.
(view spoiler)[ Collins seems like a rather miserable character. Is he a red herring or does he have something to do with the murder? The descriptions of “unhealthily pale”, “cold”, “remorseless” and “veiled eyes” brings to mind a snake!

I also found it interesting that Dawson had money laid aside. Is that what Shirley and Mark were after? Possibly, but I think there must have been something else. After leaving the golf club, Amberley meets Mark, intoxicated and loose tongued. I really enjoy the back and forth between Amberley and Shirley.

Why was Shirley searching the tall boy? Seems like a risk for just money. And Collins was just plain creepy!

I do agree with Colonel Watson that Amberly is conceited and “an insufferable young man” but I think his wit is just part of his intelligence and distain of the seemingly slow witted police. Still, I wonder if it might not just be a defense mechanism. spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

Sharon wrote: "I have just finished Chapter 5. I agree with Cherie that I will read others by the author. I am delighted with her dialogue and the swift and cutting discussions between the characters.
Collins se..."

Re Collins. (view spoiler)[ He really does seem to be a sad sack kind of guy. I cannot figure out if he is a red herring or not. I think it would be tough to fill in as a butler after being a valet for so long. Seems like an entirely different kind of job. I have seen some do both though, if he is the only one in charge of a house for someone. (Mac, in the series Barker & Llewelyn comes to mind). (hide spoiler)]

Re Dawson (view spoiler)[ I wonder if he had an extra source of income because maybe he was blackmailing someone.?? (hide spoiler)]

Just finished Chapter 7. The more I read, the more I am convinced that I like Amberley. He is a bit on the caustic side, but he cuts through the um…unnecessary details.
(view spoiler)[ I think that Collins might be a red herring, but I don’t like Baker, the new butler. At least I am supposing that is who got off the rain at the end of Chapter 7. I understand why Amberly wants Mark watched…to keep him out of trouble! What did Basil get from the private detective that put him in such a bad mood. And I wonder too, Cherie, if Dawson was blackmailing the American. I think I have more questions than answers at this point.

As an aside… you can tell this was written in a much earlier time period: “ Amberly…He somewhat savagely cursed the inaccuracy of females on the all important subject of dates.” That wouldn’t play today. (hide spoiler)]

I’ve read through chapter 15

Sharon I agree with your aside (view spoiler)[ It definitely wouldn’t play today but it does feel more authentic to the time. I sometimes read historical fiction and can tell it was written with modern audiences in mind. It’s a funny balancing act... authenticity or sensitivity. (hide spoiler)]

Also... I am enjoying the side characters so much. Felicity and Lady Matthews are easy to picture. Lots of humor thrown in.

I just finished chapter Seven
(view spoiler)[ Seems like blackmail might be where Dawson was getting his “extra money”, at least Fountain’s story implies it. Do you think Mark Brown was really trying to kill Collins? I wonder what the game is? Collins must have the something that Shirley and Mark want! Amberley‘s conversation with the Inspector was funny. I wonder what the “one vital clue” is that Amberley has? The man that got off of the train seemed to catch that Amberley was maybe watching out for him but Amberley was hiding behind his newspaper when he went by. Strange. (hide spoiler)]

I finished.

I struggled with rating this book. I enjoyed it and would probably read another book by this author but I’m not sure I’d recommend it as a must read. It would be a good series to keep in mind for a toppler though because it’s quick and enjoyable.

I thought the ending was satisfying and I’d figured out most of it beforehand. Will look forward to reading your thoughts.

I have finished through Chapter 11. The action seems to be picking up!
(view spoiler)[ Well now…Mark is dead. Drowned. But was it really an accident and did Collins really try to rescue him or was he responsible for pushing him in and then trying to cover his tracks by rescuing him?

Then Amberley taking the sergeant to the cottage at night (after filching the key) and almost catching the hooded culprit until Anthony blundered it. But, Amberly thinks he saw Bakers face by the shed. That would go along with how suspicious he was at the train station.

When Sir Humphries and Felicity visit Basil to complain about the head keeper, Sir Humphries removes a book. But then Collins Keats obviously put out about Sir H taking the book. What is inside? Whatever it is, Shirley finds it after Sir H. and Felicity visit and leave the book behind. Now, Collins doesn’t know that and a break in occurs at Greythorne. The book is safe upstairs with Sir H, but the thief wouldn’t know that Shirley already has the item. So…is it Baker, Collins or both? What is the item? Why did Dawson die for it? I just have a lot of questions now!
(hide spoiler)]

Now through Chapter 15 and things are heating up.
(view spoiler)[first of all…Shirley. While it is quite obvious that Shirley is a part of the goings on, we don’t yet know the what and the why. We do know she has some courage. She goes to the pavilion to meet Collins which was very creepy with all the mist and such. After meeting Collins and fleeing, she is followed and happens upon Amberley who had followed her, but not before she glimpses Baker.

Collins: Amberly figured out that Collins killed Dawson, and probably Mark. He goes to Greythorne to retrieve the book that Shirley has already found something in. He is later found dead by Amberley and the sergeant with his head blown off. So, now three dead bodies.

Baker: I really don’t like him at all! He is creepy, sneaky and all around up to no good. Why does he call Greythorne? To meet Amberley or to get to Greythorne for questionable reasons.

Lady Matthews: I think she has a lot of spunk, is very smart and wish she wasn’t so hampered by living during her time. (hide spoiler)]

So, I have been given lots of pieces and clues. Tomorrow, I should finish and see I’d I have guessed correctly!

Marnie - I saw your post in the reporting thread. The book was originally published in 1933, not 1966.

I am glad you liked it enough to finish it. :0)

I finished chapters Eight through Eleven.
I had the same observations and questions as your first spoiler in message 31, Sharon.

In chapter Eleven (view spoiler)[ When Sir Humphrey was in the library and Fountain came in. Did you catch what Sir Humphrey said to him? "I have been looking over your books. My dear sir, are you aware that they are all arranged according to size?" That cracked me up! My daughter's friend has his books arranged that way too. Not only that, he takes the dust jacket covers off because he thinks it makes the books look better on the shelves. I really want to know what Shirley found in the book too! (hide spoiler)]

I finished chapter Twelve
(view spoiler)[The meeting between Collins and Shirley Brown didn’t go well! I keep thinking that the new butler is Amberley’s man maybe, sent to spy on Collins. Collins certainly seemed freaked out about someone following him. Did Amberley rescue Shirley from some unknown person or the new butler or Collins? I don’t know. Amberley almost got Shirley to trust him. I wonder what she is so terrified of? (hide spoiler)]

Finished! The last several chapters went very quickly and tied up all the loose ends. The last chapter is very detailed and what a crooked path we were led on! I admit there were a lot of subtleties and red herrings. I did manage a guess at the villain but I was never entirely sure. I do not want to disclose the villain, so be sure not to peak at the spoiler or you will be disappointed.
(view spoiler)[ What a horrible way the murderer had planned for Shirley to die! That was despicable. I had narrowed down the suspects to Fountain or Cochran hoping all the time it wasn’t Tony. There were so many twists and turns, and I did enjoy the mystery. I didn’t even mind the proposal as it was not the focus of the book and no one was ‘swooning with desire”. I enjoyed the repartee between all of the characters. I enjoy sarcastic humor so I especially enjoyed the conversations between Frank and Shirley. I can only imagine what married bliss will be like for these two! I have to add…I just loved Aunt Marion. She had quite a quick wit herself and I now know where Amberley got his! (hide spoiler)] I enjoyed the book and was glad to be introduced to Ms. Heyer.

It’s taken me a lot longer than usual to read this book. Firstly because I keep picking up other addictive books, but mainly because there is a lot going on in quick succession and there are a lot of characters to keep up with. I’m not saying that I’m not enjoying the book because I am enjoying it very much, I just think that if I was just reading it and not having to worry about discussing it as well I probably would have finished it by now.
I’m not very good at writing reviews and discussions which is why I joined this group, to try and improve, however I think I may have chosen a bit of a difficult book to discuss for my first attempt. I also think that perhaps choosing to read the audiobook may not have been the best decision.
From chapter 6 to the end of chapter 13
(view spoiler)[
So we now have 3 bodies, Frank seems to think that Colins is responsible for the first 2, even though he doesn’t seem to think that it’s significant. I’ve just come across the third body with his head blown off, I’ve got a feeling I’m about to find out that Collins is now dead.
I was quite amused in the way that Frank and the inspector tried and failed to catch the suspect as they thought he might come in and try to kill Shirley.
It’s still bugging me that Frank has not told the police about Shirley‘s presence at the murder scene, I guess it doesn’t seem as important anymore but it’s still bugging me a little bit.
I’ve decided I do like Frank, I know a lot of people, in particular most of the police department don’t like him, but I think he is aware of this and doesn’t really care very much.
I still find the dialogues between Frank and Shirley very amusing, they claim not to like each other, or at least Frank is adamant that he doesn’t like her. But I think if this was a series, by the third book they would be bumping uglies LOL. Seriously, I think they would make a great couple.
(hide spoiler)]I’m hoping to have finished this book by the end of today.

No rush on finishing the book, Niles. Our discussions will go on to the end of the month as people start and finish. No pressure on what you want to comment on or to either. Long or short or just your musings or questions, it is up to you to decide. No one here will judge you or be mean. We are a pretty laid back and friendly group.

Sometimes I want to capture everything and get carried away with my spoilers and other times, I just want to ask “what is (this character thinking?”

Haven’t you ever been reading a story and just ache to talk to someone about it? 🙃

Sorry, Nilesh. My iPod screen shows your name as Niles at the bottom of your comments. I cannot correct/edit my last update because I am using the mobile app right now and I am away from home to get on line. Please forgive me for getting it wrong.

Cherie thanks for the publication correction. Makes the book even more enjoyable knowing that- not sure why.

Nilesh- I enjoy audiobooks too. The hardest part about discussing them in a group for me is the spelling of character’s names. I mess it up all the time. Fortunately this is a great group and no one cares. The point is to have fun and chat when you feel like it.

Cherie thanks, I do read and discuss books with my friends, but that is usually face-to-face or on zoom or something like that, so we discuss it as we are reading. This is something different I need to get used to because I need to actually remember the things I want to write about whilst I am reading.
Don’t worry about spelling my name wrong, it’s totally fine I don’t mind. It happens all the time, apparently I have a difficult name to pronounce so I have a lot of different abbreviations and variations of my name LOL. There is one person I used to know who got so tired of trying to say my name correctly, he just ended up calling me Bob LOL.
Marnie yes, the other problem I have found with audiobooks is I’m usually doing something whilst I’m listening, so by the time I sit down to write something, I forgotten what I wanted to say. This is why for my next group read I will actually read the book rather than listen to it, that way I can take notes whilst I’m reading.
I have now finished this book, I gave it three stars, for similar reasons to Marnie. I enjoyed the book a lot, and at some point I probably Will read another book from this author. I just can’t see myself recommending it to other people too much.
The rest of the book.
(view spoiler)[
Obviously, seeing as the book has now finished we know who Collins killer is. I’m not going to mention the name just in case someone accidentally opens this boiler too early.

I will admit that I did not see that coming. I had a few theories, but that was not one of them.
As for Frank and Shirley, I told you didn’t I :-) I knew they were going to get it on. I really wanted them to get together so I was very happy to see that.
(hide spoiler)]
Well, I’m going to see about getting my first shiny badge :-).
You may still hear from me again because I enjoy reading what other people have to say as well.

I was reading chapter thirteen last night when I fell asleep. My tablet clunking onto the floor woke me up and I stumbled off to bed. I remember a few things that happened (view spoiler)[ Amberly said that Collins killed Dawson, but that the police would never get a conviction. I was surprised! Did the new butler send Collins over to Sir Humphrey's to get the loaned book? Is Collins missing? (hide spoiler)]

Oh, chapter thirteen (view spoiler)[ Collins is dead. Gruesome! (hide spoiler)]

In chapter fourteen At Norton Manor:
(view spoiler)[Interesting that Amberley spoke up for Baker regarding Fanshawe and the address. I can’t figure out if Baker is working for Amberley or not. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Fifteen
(view spoiler)[ Lots of he said/she said. Fountain, Baker, Joan and Corkran now know that Shirley had the book briefly, after Sir Humphrey left it at the Boar’s Head. The butler call Greythorne to leave a message for Frank that Fountain was going to London to his club. Did he really want to talk to Frank? Now, Frank also knows that Shirley had the book too. Frank is off! Where to? To see Shirley? Surely not to go to London. I like Lady Matthews. 😉 (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Sixteen
Oh no!

Chapter Seventeen
(view spoiler)[ Does Amberley have feelings for the girl like the sergeant believes? Wild chase! Poor sergeant. (hide spoiler)]

Cherie wrote: "This book is definitely set in a different time period. Even the language is dated. It reminds me of the Agatha Christie novels that I have read and loved.
Chapter One[spoilers removed]"

Cherie I also wondered why (view spoiler)[ Frank left her there! Maybe he feared the police would immediately arrest her and not investigate further. He must really think she is innocent. Based on her conversation with her brother, I don't think she killed the man, but clearly she's involved in something bad. (hide spoiler)]

Sorry I have been gone all week. Busy at work and working outside now that we have had some nicer weather.

I finished chapter eighteen
(view spoiler)[ Wow, the car chase and the motorboat rescue was exciting! Yay for Mr. Amberley! (hide spoiler)]

So - I finally finished last night.

I think we all had pretty much the same thoughts about the characters and the killings. I enjoyed the whole wrap up at the end and the Frank and Shirley show. I really liked Aunt Marion and could see where Frank got his quick wit from.
(view spoiler)[ I was happy to find out that Baker was Frank's man - I was right about one thing, at least. I had no idea that it was Basil Fountain who killed Collins and Mark though, mostly, because I could not fathom that the document(s) they were all chasing around for was a will. After the fact, it all made sense, but I never guessed that Mark and Shirley were children of Jasper's son. I did feel sorry for Basil because of the blackmail until he tried to kill Shirley. And yes, Sharon - that was a terrible, the way he tried to get rid of her. I was not sorry for him after that. It was horrible that he was allowed to take his own life though. (hide spoiler)]

The story and dialogue was dated, but I really enjoyed finally getting to reading a book by Ms. Heyer that I have had on my TBR list for such a long time. I am always happy to learn new words too. I had to look up several through out the story.

I thought Ms. Heyer's writing was quite witty. The story was not quite as atmospheric as Agatha Christie, but I enjoyed the chase.

Thank you, Marnie, Sharon, Lara and Nilesh for reading along and discussing it with me. :o)