Tag: 20th century

Mini-Reviews: Afterlife, Thirteen, Crime

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Kirsty Greenwood, The Love of My Afterlife

When twentysomething Delphie chokes on a microwavable hamburger and dies, she finds herself in a strange version of the afterlife. She’s greeted by Merritt, a quirky and enthusiastic “afterlife coach,” and also meets a handsome man named Jonah who isn’t dead, just unconscious during a dental surgery. Merritt, a lover of romance novels, decides to give Delphie a second chance: She claims that Delphie and Jonah are soulmates, and if she can find him on Earth and get him to kiss her within 10 days, she’ll get her life back. Finding Jonah is more difficult than Delphie expected, but as she looks for him, she also starts to see her life and the people around her in a new light. I stayed up way too late to read this book in a single sitting, and I’d definitely recommend it to romantic comedy fans! But it’s a surprisingly emotional book, too; Delphie’s initial loneliness is heart-wrenching, and it’s satisfying to see her slowly open up to the people in her life. Overall, I liked this one a lot and will look out for more by Greenwood.

J. Jefferson Farjeon, Thirteen Guests

Lord Aveling has invited 12 guests to his country house for a hunting party. They’re a strange assortment that includes a politician, an actress, a painter, a journalist, and a rich tradesman’s family. A last-minute 13th guest observes various tensions among the group—tensions that come to a head with vandalism, a dead dog, and finally murder. I liked a lot of things about this book: The plot is twisty without being overly complicated, and several of the characters are three-dimensional and interesting. However, it’s hard to know whom to care about or root for because there’s no clear protagonist. At first it seems like the 13th guest, John Foss, and his love interest are the main characters, but they’re largely abandoned in the middle for the police inspector and a few sleuths among the guests. I found the shifts in focus distracting and frustrating, and I also didn’t love the ultimate solution of the mystery. Overall, a decent read, but I’m not eager to read more by Farjeon.

Ally Carter, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

Maggie Chase is a successful writer of cozy mysteries. Ethan Wyatt writes blockbuster thrillers for the same publisher. She’s hated him for years, viewing him as a golden boy who’s able to coast through life, while he continually calls her Marcie. But the two find themselves unlikely allies when they’re both invited to the estate of Eleanor Ashley, the world’s greatest living mystery writer, for Christmas. When Eleanor disappears from a locked room—and many of her guests have a motive for wanting her gone—Maggie and Ethan team up to solve the mystery, and perhaps to find love in the process. I enjoyed this book, but it didn’t give me the same sense of pure, unadulterated glee as The Blonde Identity. There was just a little too much going on between Eleanor’s disappearance, Maggie’s and Ethan’s individual pasts, and their budding romance. It’s definitely heavier than the fun Christmas caper I was expecting. I did like the book overall, but sadly not quite as much as I was hoping to.

Mini-Reviews: Appointment, Doctor, Invisible

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Mimi Matthews, Appointment in Bath

Meg Burton-Smythe is a shy wallflower with unfashionable red hair, freckles, and a stammer. Her neighbor Ivo Beresford, by contrast, is handsome, well off, and worldly. He’d never look at her twice—especially because their parents have been enemies since before she was born (as detailed in Gentleman Jim). So when Ivo goes out of his way to befriend her, Meg is suspicious at first but soon comes to hope that he might actually be interested in her. But will their parents’ feud quash their budding romance? Mimi Matthews continues to be one of my go-to authors for steamless historical romance, and I really enjoyed this book! I love a wallflower heroine, and Meg’s loneliness is especially poignant when contrasted with Ivo’s boisterous, loving family. I was rooting for her happily-ever-after and liked seeing her gain confidence throughout the book. Now I’m even more excited for the next installment of the series!

P.G. Wodehouse, Doctor Sally

This short comic novel features Sally Smith, a doctor whom no one takes seriously because she’s a young and attractive woman. “Doctor Sally” has no interest in falling in love, but her resolve is tested when Bill Bannister is instantly smitten with her. Unfortunately, he’s trying to extract himself from a previous romantic entanglement with a lower-class woman who isn’t willing to let him go. Luckily, Bill’s affable but dimwitted friend, Lord Tidmouth, is on hand to come to the rescue. This little book is pure delight—Wodehouse is an absolute master of comic farce, and Lord Tidmouth is a lovable idiot worthy of Bertie Wooster. If you’re looking for a nice quick read that will make you laugh out loud, I highly recommend this one!

Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library

Irene works for the Library, a secret organization that collects rare and unique books throughout the multiverse. Her latest mission is to retrieve a particular Grimm manuscript from an alternate Victorian world, and her partner will be a student assistant, Kai, who hasn’t been on a mission yet. What should be a fairly routine retrieval immediately goes awry: The manuscript has been stolen, and they’re not the only ones trying to find it. Not to mention, a rogue Librarian seems bent on destroying both this world and the Library itself—unless Irene and Kai can stop him first. This is a fun read with a lot of action and interesting world-building. The writing style is confident and made me feel like the author knows what she’s doing. I do think this book barely scratches the surface of the possibilities of this world, but fortunately there are several more books in the series! I’m excited to continue with book #2 next month.

Mini-Reviews: Bookshop, Notebooks, Vampire

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Madeline Martin, The Last Bookshop in London

Grace and her best friend Viv are excited to move to London from the countryside, both of them dreaming of working in a fashionable clothing shop. But the only job Grace can get is as an assistant at the disorganized and overcrowded Primrose Hill Books. At first she just wants to work there long enough to get a good reference, but gradually she comes to find fulfillment in her job, as well as a new love of literature. However, her joy in her work is tempered by the onset of World War II, in which she experiences the horrors of the Blitz firsthand. I have to say, much as I enjoy a book set during the Blitz, this one did nothing for me. The writing style felt awkward and unpolished, and while the author obviously did some research, it intruded on the narrative rather than being subtly incorporated. I wasn’t impressed with this one and won’t seek out more by this author.

John Curran, Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making

This book is based on a collection of Agatha Christie’s notebooks, in which she jotted down the ideas and worked out the plots that would eventually become her published novels, stories, and plays. Curran, obviously a huge fan, compares Christie’s notes with her finished works and thereby paints a picture of her creative process. I think Christie aficionados would enjoy this book, but it’s definitely not for the casual fan as it assumes in-depth knowledge of her work (though Curran does provide spoiler warnings). Many of the notes aren’t particularly detailed or interesting, though they do shed a fun light on Christie’s somewhat haphazard process. The book also feels disorganized, with photos of the notebooks and little informational boxes interrupting the main narrative, sometimes for several pages. Basically, I’d only recommend this one to the true die-hard fans, but it did make me want to go back and reread some of my favorite Christie novels!

Jenna Levine, My Roommate Is a Vampire

Struggling artist Cassie is about to be evicted, so when she sees a “roommate wanted” ad on Craigslist for a great apartment with a suspiciously low rent, she’s desperate enough to check it out. Her would-be roommate, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, seems strange and old-fashioned but harmless – that is, until she discovers the bags of human blood in the refrigerator. Yes, Frederick is a vampire, and he needs Cassie’s help to navigate the modern world. A romance soon develops between them, but people from Frederick’s past seek to keep them apart. I liked the premise of this book and found it a fun read, but I was unable to suspend my disbelief about Frederick’s situation. There are too many inconsistencies in what he knows about the modern world vs. what he doesn’t, and very little time is spent on what vampire life is like, whether Cassie will be “turned” and what that will mean for her, etc. Those hoping for a modern vampire story that makes sense will be disappointed, but if you’re just looking for a cute contemporary romance with paranormal trappings, you might like this one.

Mini-Reviews: Spade, Satterthwaite, Conjuring

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Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust

Passionate chemist and adolescent sleuth Flavia de Luce is back on the case when Buckshaw’s cook, Mrs. Mullet, is accused of killing a Bishop’s Lacey resident with poisoned mushrooms. Flavia knows Mrs. Mullet is innocent and decides to clear her name. The dead man, Major Greyleigh, seemed reasonably well liked, so who had a motive to kill him? As Flavia digs deeper, she uncovers a shocking secret that will upend her whole life. I’ve read every book in this series, which I enjoy for Flavia’s breezy, often hilarious narration (though I’m not convinced she’s a realistic or even a coherent character). But the mysteries tend to be weak, and that’s certainly the case here. I also don’t love the direction in which this book seems to be taking the series; it doubles down on some of my least favorite plot elements from previous books. Overall, it’s mid, as the kids say. But if another Flavia book comes out, I’ll most likely read it!

Mimi Matthews, Return to Satterthwaite Court

This Victorian romance centers around Lieutenant Charles Heywood, son of the couple from The Work of Art, and Lady Katherine Beresford, daughter of the couple from Gentleman Jim. They meet in passing and are instantly smitten, and their relationship develops as they investigate an anonymous letter that hints at a past wrongdoing involving Charles’s mother. Much as I love Mimi Matthews, this is not one of my favorites by her. The central romance just seemed a bit bland to me; Charles and Kate didn’t feel like fully fleshed out characters, though I did like that Kate knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Still, I found myself much more interested in the hints of romance among the secondary characters—two of Kate’s brothers are the heroes of the next two books in the series. It’s a perfectly good (and steamless!) historical romance, and I did enjoy reading it, but it didn’t blow me away.

V.E. Schwab, A Conjuring of Light

Immediately after the events of A Gathering of Shadows, Kell finds himself in White London being confronted by Osaron, a god (or demon) whose magic threatens to ruin everything in its path. Kell defies Osaron, but the latter still manages to get to Red London, where he promptly enslaves or murders most of its residents. It’s up to Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard et al. to stop Osaron before he destroys their entire world—and perhaps the neighboring worlds as well. This conclusion to the Shades of Magic trilogy is huge—my hardcover is more than 600 pages long, and the margins are small—but it’s also a page-turner. That said, I would have preferred a shorter book; we didn’t really need all the flashbacks, nor the chapters from non-protagonist POVs. I did enjoy the story and think this book gives a satisfying ending to the series (though I believe the author has since written more books in this world). Overall, I’m glad I finally read this whole trilogy, but it’s not a keeper for me.

Mini-Reviews: Like, Gentleman, Aristocrat

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Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like

Jewelry store owner Eliza is dismayed when she sees on social media that her ex-boyfriend has just gotten engaged. To console herself, she tries on the store’s most extravagant ring and takes a photo – then accidentally posts it to Instagram. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers thousands of new social media followers, as well as several big online orders from the store. Since her fake engagement is good for business, she decides to keep up the charade. But as her little white lie spirals out of control, she risks losing both her business and a chance at love. I thought this book sounded cute, but Eliza’s behavior made me so mad! Basically, she starts dating a guy in the hope that he’ll actually become her fiancé (and thus make the lie true)…but she 100% leads him on and manipulates him into falling in love with her, not telling him the truth until after he proposes. I thought it was irredeemably awful of her, and her subsequent happy ending felt undeserved. Not recommended.

Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim

Ten years ago, stableboy Nicholas Seaton and young lady Margaret Honeywell fell in love, but the cruel interference of a rival suitor forced Nicholas to run away, and Maggie hasn’t heard from him since. Now, visiting a friend in London, she encounters Lord St. Clare, an enigmatic viscount who has recently come to England after years spent abroad. Maggie is convinced that St. Clare is Nicholas, but he staunchly denies it, while at the same time determinedly pursuing a relationship with her. Who is St. Clare, and what’s his purpose in coming to London? I haven’t hit a bad Matthews book yet, and this one is just as well written and entertaining as her others. It’s explicitly inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so if you know that story, the plot is pretty predictable. I also found the central romance a bit farfetched, given that Maggie and Nicholas were so young when they initially fell in love. But then, second-chance romance really just isn’t my trope. I did like the book and plan to continue with the series, though this installment can 100% stand alone.

Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat

Nurse Sarah Keate is called to the home of the wealthy and prominent Thatcher family when one of its members, Bayard, is shot in the arm. The family claims the shot was an accident that occurred while Bayard was cleaning his gun, but Bayard tells Nurse Keate that someone in the household tried to kill him. His claim seems to be proved true when he’s later found dead in the library. The family then coerces Nurse Keate into staying at the house, where more sinister things occur, including another death. This was my first book by Mignon G. Eberhart, and I quite liked it! The sensible Nurse Keate is a great narrator, and I appreciated the way the mystery unfolded; new evidence came to light at a good pace and so forth. The suspense aspects of the plot (lots of “had I but known” moments) aren’t really my thing, but they’re not too intrusive here. I’ll certainly read more by Eberhart, especially if I can get my hands on some other Nurse Keate books.

Mini-Reviews: Screenplay, Montesoro, Listening

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Emma Thompson, The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen’s Novel to Film

I recently rewatched Emma Thompson’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and loved it—I hadn’t seen it in a while and had almost forgotten how great it is! I enjoyed it so much that I watched it again with the DVD commentary featuring Thompson and producer Lindsay Doran. And then I remembered that I own this book, which (as the title suggests) includes the shooting script of the film and Thompson’s diary entries that covered the filming process. There’s also an introduction by Doran explaining how she got the idea for the movie and how Thompson was chosen to be the screenwriter. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a peek behind the scenes of your favorite movies, this book is for you. The script is maybe the least interesting part, since most of it does appear in the final film, but it’s fun to see the stage directions and think about how the actors interpreted the printed words. Thompson’s diary entries are hilarious—I laughed out loud several times—but she’s very kind and respectful about everyone she worked with. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book for fans of the movie!

Stella Riley, The Montesoro Legacy

This final book in the Brandon Brothers trilogy focuses on the youngest brother, Leo, one of London’s most fashionable painters. When he is invited to a house party to paint a young debutante, he meets Mariella Talbot, who is trying to escape from her cruel, inheritance-stealing stepbrother. A society scandal forces Leo and Mariella into a fake engagement, so they team up to thwart the wicked stepbrother and secure Mariella’s rightful legacy. Stella Riley’s historical romances are always a treat, and this one is no exception. But I do wish the book had focused more on the central couple; instead, much of the plot deals with catching and punishing the villain. Further, Adam and Camilla, the couple from the previous book, play a big role in this story, and much as I like them, I felt they already had their book and I didn’t need to see quite so much of them here. Leo and Mariella feel underdeveloped by comparison, and their love story is basically resolved about halfway through the novel. Overall, it’s still an enjoyable read, but it’s not as romance-centric as I’d expected.

D.E. Stevenson, Listening Valley

I was in need of a cozy, quiet read, so naturally I turned to D.E. Stevenson. This particular novel follows Tonia, a quiet, dreamy girl who’s always been somewhat overshadowed by her bright, vivacious sister, Lou. But when Lou marries and moves away, Tonia comes into her own a bit, and she slowly begins to learn what she truly wants out of life. I really enjoyed this book, which is a quiet slice-of-life story with a bit of romance that also contains some heartbreaking elements. It was published in 1944, so World War II is a presence throughout the story, and there’s one very memorable scene where Tonia experiences an air raid in London. I feel the novel is a quintessential example of Britain’s “keep calm and carry on” mentality, and it’s fascinating to read books that were actually written during this period, when the outcome of the war was still uncertain. Definitely recommended if you like this kind of thing!

Mini-Reviews: Heartless, Blunt, Mere

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Mary Balogh, Heartless

For the past decade, Lucas Kendrick has lived in Paris, cultivating a reputation as a man without a heart. Ever since he was betrayed by and banished from his family 10 years ago, he’s resisted any hint of love or vulnerability. Now Luke has inherited a dukedom and must return to England to fulfill his duties. He also needs to marry and decides upon the beautiful, vivacious Anna Marlowe, though he has no intention of actually falling in love with his wife. Their relationship slowly deepens but is tested when Anna’s traumatic past catches up with her. I liked this book fine, but it would have been even better without the suspense subplot. I think romances are most interesting when the obstacles are internal to the people involved — character flaws they need to overcome, fears they need to face, etc. Luke and Anna have plenty of those obstacles, so the external conflict with the villain from Anna’s past felt like overkill. So while this is an enjoyable read, I don’t feel a need to keep it on my shelves.

Georgette Heyer, A Blunt Instrument

When Ernest Fletcher is found dead in his study with his head bashed in, everyone is shocked — he was well-liked and seemingly had no enemies. But as the police begin their investigation, they soon unearth plenty of possible motives and suspects. There’s the dead man’s nephew, Neville Fletcher, who stands to inherit a fortune. There’s neighbor Helen North, whose gambling debts Ernest was using to blackmail her — and her husband, John, who may have been jealous of Ernest. But before the police can arrest anyone, they need to solve two problems: given the evidence at hand, how could anyone have had time to commit the murder? And what did the killer do with the weapon? This is one of Heyer’s best mysteries, in my opinion, with a clever solution and an entertaining cast of characters. My one quibble is that I wanted even more of Neville & co.; frankly, I felt the relationships among the suspects were more interesting than the mystery!

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

A small group of people at my church decided to form a book club during Lent and chose this book. I’d read it before, years ago, but I’m really glad I decided to reread it now. Lewis is deservedly famous for his writings on Christianity; he has a gift for explaining complex ideas in a straightforward, accessible way. In this book, he suggests some arguments supporting belief in Christianity, states the religion’s core beliefs (shared by all denominations), discusses various aspects of Christian morality, and delves a bit into theological concepts such as the Trinity. Throughout the book, he emphasizes practical concepts such as what people must do in order to truly follow Jesus, and why it matters. I feel like most people interested in the topic have already read this book, but if it’s been a while since you’ve read it, I’d definitely encourage you to revisit it!

Mini-Reviews: Fate, Bigger, Don’t

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Stella Riley, A Trick of Fate

Max Brandon has a problem: Someone has been purchasing expensive goods and running up bills in his name, which he’s now being asked to pay. This minor nuisance becomes a major problem when the thief’s actions harm Frances Pendleton, Max’s first love. Now Max and Frances must team up to find the thief, and their quest leads them on a wild-goose chase throughout England and Scotland. After loving Stella Riley’s Rockliffe series, I had to continue with the spinoff Brandon Brothers trilogy (Max is Arabella’s brother from Cadenza). I don’t think you have to read any of the Rockliffe books to follow this one, but the two series are definitely set in the same universe. The love story in this book is a bit lightweight; while the obstacles originally dividing Max and Frances made sense, there was no reason for them not to be together in the present. But I love Riley’s writing and enjoyed the book anyway — especially since it also provides a peek at Elizabeth and Sherbourne, a couple from Cadenza whose story I’d wanted more of. I’d definitely recommend this book and author to historical romance fans and am eager to continue with the series.

Erle Stanley Gardner, The Bigger They Come

Most people know Erle Stanley Gardner as the author of the Perry Mason books, but he also wrote another series, featuring private detectives Bertha Cool and Donald Lam, under the pseudonym A.A. Fair. Narrated by Lam, this first book in the series describes how he got the job with Bertha Cool’s detective agency. It also details Lam’s first assignment: He’s tasked with serving divorce papers to an unfaithful husband, but no one seems to know where the man is. As Lam searches, he uncovers various secrets and even a murder — and demonstrates how, using a legal loophole, a person can commit murder and get away with it. This book is an enjoyable noir novel with plenty of fights, femmes fatales, and damsels in distress. The mystery itself isn’t terribly innovative, but Lam’s humorous narration keeps things light, and the book moves at a quick pace. I didn’t love the constant negative commentary on people’s sizes — part of the book’s “humor” comes from the fact that Bertha is a large woman, while Lam is a shrimpy guy — but I suppose that’s of its time. Overall, I liked the book and am interested in trying more by Gardner at some point.

Chloe Angyal, Pas de Don’t

Heather Hays’s dance career is finally taking off when she learns that her fiancé, a world-famous dancer in the same NYC ballet company, has been cheating on her. Desperate to get as far away as possible, she accepts a guest position with the Australian National Ballet. There she meets Marcus Campbell, a dancer recovering from an injury and grieving the recent death of his father. The two are immediately attracted to one another, but the ballet company has a firm no-dating policy. Will Heather and Marcus risk their jobs to follow their hearts? I have absolutely zero dance ability, but I’ve always enjoyed movies and TV shows about dancing, so the premise of this book intrigued me. I might have liked all the ballet background more than the actual romance, which is fine but a bit pedestrian. I did like the third-act conflict between Heather and Marcus, which felt realistic given the setup, and I enjoyed the resolution as well. A sequel is coming out in May, featuring Heather’s best friend, and I plan to get it from my library when it’s available.

Mini-Reviews: Tower, Flatshare, Aunt

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Sally Nicholls, Yours from the Tower

This epistolary novel centers around the correspondence between three school friends who are taking their first steps into adulthood. Tirzah is stuck being her strict grandmother’s companion in a remote Scottish village, but she longs for excitement and adventure. Sophia is in London for the Season and hopes to gain financial security through marriage, but she’s soon attracted to a penniless charmer. And Polly loves her job as a teacher in an orphanage, but complications ensue when she tries to find the father of one of her students. This book is wholesome and charming and delightful, and I really enjoyed it! Each girl is vividly drawn, with her own distinctive voice, and I found all three equally compelling. The letters are chatty and wide-ranging, covering everything from the minutiae of daily life to the girls’ deeper hopes and dreams. There are some some dark moments in the book involving alcoholism and depression, but the overall tone is light and hopeful. This is a YA novel, but I’d recommend it to adult fans of light historical fiction as well. I definitely want to read more by Sally Nicholls!

Beth O’Leary, The Flatshare

After moving out of her ex-boyfriend’s London flat, Tiffy desperately needs a new place to live. She sees an ad for a flatshare: The current tenant, Leon, works nights and will only be in the flat from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., while Tiffy’s at work. The rent is cheap, so Tiffy jumps at the chance, even though she isn’t able to meet Leon in person before moving in. At first, they both find it odd to share their living space with a stranger, but as they start leaving notes for each other around the flat, they slowly become friends. When they finally do meet in person, they’re surprised by their mutual attraction, but difficulties arise when Tiffy’s ex reappears in her life. I feel like my summary of the book doesn’t do it justice at all. Both Tiffy and Leon are such endearing characters! Their notes to each other are adorable, and I like that they have jobs and friends and relatives and lives that don’t revolve solely around each other. Tiffy’s experiences with her ex are hard to read — the book does a great job of slowly revealing just how horrible he is — but the central romance is lovely. I’m glad I reread this one and would definitely recommend it to fans of contemporary romance!

Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt

Edward Powell lives in a small Welsh village with his Aunt Mildred. He hates Wales, the countryside, and everyone around him, especially his aunt. He only stays because she controls his finances; without the allowance he gets from her, he’d have nothing. As Edward broods over his distasteful circumstances, he realizes that his life would be much better if Aunt Mildred were to die. Soon he starts plotting possible murder scenarios, but his plans don’t work out the way he expects. This is both a funny and a grim book: Edward is a magnificently unreliable narrator whose misreading of conversations and events is often amusing, but he’s so snobbish and hateful that it’s tough to spend time in his head. I must admit, though, I didn’t find Aunt Mildred entirely sympathetic either! The ending is a surprise, but a well-plotted and foreshadowed one. Overall, this book isn’t strictly speaking a mystery—and certainly not a detective novel—but it’s worth reading for the narrative style and dramatic irony.

Mini-Reviews: Bird, Clockwork, Murder

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Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

When Lydia Bird’s fiancé, Freddie, dies in a car accident, she’s absolutely devastated. Even mundane daily tasks like bathing and eating feel unbearably difficult, and sleep is out of the question. But when she takes an experimental sleeping pill her doctor prescribes, she has a vividly lucid dream — or perhaps enters a parallel universe — in which Freddie is still alive. Soon her waking life becomes a chore as she waits desperately for the next time she can sleep and be with Freddie. But as time passes, she must decide where she truly belongs. This was an interesting book to start the new year with, since it’s all about exploring what-if scenarios, remembering the past, and making choices about the future. The novel is very slow-paced, but that makes sense, as more than anything else it’s a story about grief and navigating life after a big loss. There’s a slight element of romance that I didn’t find totally satisfying, but otherwise I liked the book and would recommend it if the premise appeals to you.

Nancy Campbell Allen, Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

In this steampunk twist on the gothic novel, Lucy Pickett travels to Blackwell Manor to care for her beloved cousin, Kate, who is suffering from a mysterious illness after her recent marriage to the earl of Blackwell’s younger brother. At the manor, Lucy experiences many terrors, from ghostly apparitions to the earl himself, whose surly and intimidating demeanor hides dangerous secrets. She and the earl, Miles, eventually team up to discover what’s causing Kate’s illness, who’s behind a spate of vampire attacks in the area, and who murdered Miles’s recently deceased wife and sister. So yes, there’s a lot going on in this book (and I didn’t even mention the werewolf!), but it’s easy enough to follow the narrative. I liked plucky Lucy and brooding Miles, and though the book is steamless, their mutual attraction is clear. I wasn’t as impressed with the book as I remember being when I first read it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and look forward to continuing with the series.

Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder

Jane Hamish, a clerk in a London law office, is writing a mystery novel in which her coworkers and legal clients are the main characters. Her boyfriend, Dagobert Brown, instigated the project and insists that Mrs. Robjohn, an elderly client who’s convinced mysterious men are out to get her, should be the murder victim. But when Mrs. Robjohn really does die — apparently due to an accidental gas leak in her home — Dagobert is convinced she was actually murdered and decides to investigate. This is my first encounter with Golden Age mystery writer Delano Ames, but it won’t be my last because I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Jane narrates the story and has a delightfully witty voice, and I’m intrigued by her relationship with Dagobert (this is book #1 in the series, but there’s clearly some interesting backstory that will hopefully be explored in later installments). The mystery itself is fine but not remarkable; the book’s strengths are its characterizations and style. I’ll be looking out for more in this series.