Category: George V – 1910- 1936

The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency by Lydia Travers

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, George V - 1910- 1936, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency (The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency, #1)

Barbara’s rating: 3.6 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency #1
Publication Date: 4/27/23
Period: 1911 Edinburgh – George V
Number of Pages: 340

I love historical mysteries and I love Scotland, so this sounded like the perfect book! I believe this is the author’s first book under this pen name, but she has written other books under the name Linda Tyler. This series is set in a politically turbulent time in England and Scotland. The country is still dealing with the loss of King Edward and George V ascending to the throne. There are whispers of war and the females of the population are demanding the vote and to be recognized as people rather than property.

Miss Maud McIntyre is a fortunate young woman. She has money of her own (from her mother) and a father who is doting enough and supportive enough to allow her to try to follow her lifelong dream of being a detective. She has read and practically memorized every detective story ever written (and you will see quotes from them as you move through the book) and she is particularly fond of Sherlock Holmes. Maude has invested a great deal of her money into setting up the agency along with her friend and former lady’s maid – so, when a potential client walks through the door on that first day – excitement abounds. Only to be lost again when he promptly leaves after discovering that the M. McIntyre Agency is run by females rather than males. He’ll come to regret that.

Daisy Cameron is Maud’s former lady’s maid who became a dear friend and is now her assistant at the detective agency. They work very well together with each augmenting the other’s weaknesses. Daisy is pragmatic, saucy, and grateful to be working where she is rather than being in service.

While their first potential client may have walked out the door, he was soon replaced by an even better one – the Duchess of Duddington. The Duchess is having a house party and since there has been a recent rash of thefts at house parties, the Duchess wants Maude and Daisy to catch the thief if they are at her house party.

There is a fairly quick but unsatisfying end to the case at the house party – and that case is quickly followed by three others – a missing dog, missing letters, and a missing fiancé. When those last cases are solved, there is still that unsatisfying end to the first case. Was the wrong man arrested? If not him, who? Then – Maud and Daisy are attacked – again. Why?

I liked this book, but I did not love this book. I liked it well enough to want to read the next book to see if it solves any of the issues I had with this one. For me, there was just way too much historical detail. Having the historical details around the suffragette movement would have been great had there just been less of it. I felt as if the mystery was just there as some filler space for all of the suffragette information. The story was also fairly slow and plodding during most of the book – no real excitement at all. Perhaps this is the author’s first attempt at a mystery, so I’ll definitely try another book to see how things go.

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A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality by Kate Khavari

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, George V - 1910- 1936, Historical Mystery, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939), Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality (Saffron Everleigh Mystery, #2)

Barbara’s rating: 4.3 out of 5 Stars
Series: Saffron Everleigh Mystery #2
Publication Date: 6/6/23
Period: 1920’s London – George V – Interwar Period
Number of Pages: 352

Saffron Everleigh has worked hard, defied her family, and found success at a time and place where women were relegated to fetching coffee, typing notes, and running a home. Were it not for her hard-headed determination and brilliant mind, she’d still be doing all of those things. Instead, she is a researcher at University College with her own office and a research grant. That grant comes with a partner, Dr. Lee, who is handsome, suave, and very dedicated to medicine. Their task is to investigate poisonings from poisonous plants and to document the plant, its location, the effect on the person who was poisoned, etc. Saffron is very excited about the project because it means she’ll have a published paper before she even starts her masters program at the university.

If you read the first book, you’ll remember Inspector Green who was constantly trying to keep Saffron out of his investigation. This time, he’s come to her asking for help. It seems there have been three murders – all by different methods – but all victims received strange flower arrangements prior to or at the time of their deaths. The murders are all definitely related – but how – and what prompted these strange bouquets? The inspector is interested in having Saffron identify the plants – which she does. She also discovers the old meanings (floriography) of the different plants and passes that along as well.

Being Saffron, she also inveigles more information from the Inspector and takes it upon herself to begin investigating – even bringing a reluctant Dr. Lee into it. They trek through dingy clubs where drugs are as prevalent as alcohol, and they befriend people who have much to hide. Who among the denizens of this dark world could have wanted three people dead? Or, are they even looking in the right place?

I’m definitely a romantic and I just have to have a romance in my mysteries. I’m not sure where this series is headed in that area, but I’m ready for the male romantic lead to be settled. I’m not one for the will-they/won’t-they scenario and that is what this is so far. Yes, this is only the second book, but we should have a pretty clear view of where this is headed by now – and we don’t. I’m pretty sure Dr. Lee is currently out of the romantic picture and Ashton may or may not be. I’m guessing Ashton will be the romantic lead, especially with how the third book is set up at the end of this one – but – you never know.

As for Saffron, I have to wonder a bit about her. She is brilliant and dedicated, but she seems to be oblivious to the feelings of those around her – at least the male portion of the population. They are all supposed to be totally supportive and understanding of her, but she seems to have no clue about them. For instance – Dr. Lee wanted to drop out of the investigation – so she just got angry with him rather than wondering (or asking) what the reason was. Then, there is Ashton with PTSD and she doesn’t seem to want to make any allowances for his feelings of protectiveness or his personal battles with flashbacks. Yes, he has a real problem with actually expressing his feelings, but she doesn’t seem to care enough about him to delve into why any of that might be. While I find her mind to be very sharp, I find her heart to be a tad slow, selfish, and dull. I’m hoping that will change with the next book.

I recommend this book and this series and I hope you will enjoy it. There are plenty of twists and turns, lots of red herrings, plenty of danger for all of our characters, and a thoroughly satisfying wrap-up for the villain. Then, of course, there is the set-up for the next book and I can’t wait to see where that one leads us. BTW – you do not have to have read the first book to enjoy this one – however, I believe it will add much to your enjoyment of this book if you understand more about Saffron’s journey to get to where she is now.

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

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