Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Gravesyde Priory Mysteries #2
Publication Date: 10/6/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 328

Oh! If you love mysteries, then this is the book for you because it is chock full of them! There are two overarching mysteries where the residents of Wycliffe Manor must manage to find the hidden family jewels in order to support themselves and the Manor, and the actual ownership of the Manor. Can they save the Manor from Snidely Whiplash the banker and continue with their hodge-podge family? With the additional mysteries of who is after their cook and why – as well as – will Oliver be taken away? Then, of course, there is the murder, who did that? Ah! Yes, mysteries aplenty, action aplenty, dastardly characters aplenty, and all of them seem to find their way to Wycliffe Manor.

What isn’t there plenty of? Weddings! Lots of romances, we just haven’t gotten around to a wedding yet. Soon – I’m sure there will be weddings soon! Perhaps we are going to wait and have some big group wedding in one of the books. I like weddings and I like HEAs and I can’t wait for these to start. Of course, I guess we’ll have to wait for some part of the HEA since the mystery of the Priory isn’t solved – and I’m sure that once it is solved, the series will end. Bummer! I can hardly wait to see who the next featured couple will be. I really hope there is a bang-up Epilogue in the last book that will show the Manor and its residents several years in the future. It will be so much fun to see how such a disparate group of folks will manage to make it all work. I really like all of these characters and want to be sure their HEA really is a lasting one.

Lieutenant Jack de Sackville is making a years-overdue delivery to Oliver Owen who is the seven-year-old nephew of Clarissa (Clare) Knightley (The Secrets of Wycliffe Manor) when he discovers the body of a man along the road. What in the world was Basil Culpepper doing this far away from London and in such a remote area? Needless to say, he’s welcomed with a bit of suspicion when he delivers a dead body to the village of Gravesyde Priory. However, someone at the Manor recognizes Jack and does her very best to keep him from recognizing her.

Lady Elspeth (Elsa) Villiers is a heiress who grew up in a family that didn’t value her and allowed her younger step-brother to torment and abuse her. Her escape from the abuse was the kitchen where she could lose herself in cooking. Elsa’s brother is now trying to force her into marriage with an odious man, so she escapes them all and finds refuge at Wycliffe Manor. At Wycliffe, she is welcomed with open arms and she finds the acceptance and family she never had.

Soon after Jack arrives, others begin to arrive. Elsa has been found! Will her new family manage to protect her from all of the villains who keep arriving at the door? Will Elsa have to flee yet again?

This book has something for everyone. There is murder and mayhem, kidnappings, and attempted murders along with an eclectic, diverse cast that will immediately endear themselves to you. Then, when you add in wounded soldiers returned from war, but not welcomed home and cute puppies – not to mention romance. Goodness! Yes, I can definitely recommend this book and I hope you’ll love it as much as I did.

Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews