Category: Historical Mystery

Murder in Bloomsbury by D. M. Quincy

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Mystery, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Murder in Bloomsbury (Atlas Catesby #2)Murder in Bloomsbury by D.M. Quincy

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Atlas Catesby #2
Publication Date: 2/13/18

Excellent! What a great read. Well written, well plotted, interesting and well developed main characters – and a very believable plot. Actually, the plot is based on a very real case that took place in Scotland in about the same time period. I’m loving this series and highly recommend that you read the first book in the series before this one. You don’t have to, you can begin with this one, but the first one is great and shows the development of the relationships between many of the main characters. I read this book from beginning to end – in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down. I say that as I sit here bleary-eyed – with toothpicks holding my eyes open. One thing I do have to say though – for some reason, this book (and the first) often made me think of the Victorian era rather than the Regency.

Atlas Catesby is, by his own description and thinking, not quite a gentleman. That isn’t meant to describe his behavior – because, in that, he is every inch a gentleman – even a bit of a prig. No, it means that he is more on the edge of society – the fourth child of a baron – no title and only a modest fortune. Imagine his dismay when he found himself very much in love with the sister of a very powerful duke in the last book. He knew nothing could come of the relationship, so being the traveler and adventurer he is, he left on a voyage. This book begins nine months after the last book ended and Atlas has just returned from Jamaica.

Atlas is rudely awakened by his valet, Jamie, after a night where he’d gotten very, very drunk. That is something he just doesn’t do – but it was a night filled with things he just doesn’t do. The valet excitedly tells him that there is a liveried servant with an urgent message. Atlas groans, but when Jamie tells him that the livery is black and gold, he quickly goes on alert because he recognizes it as the Duke of Somerville’s livery – Lilliana’s brother. Panic – something must have happened to Lilliana.

Thus began an intriguing mystery. It turns out that Lilliana’s maid, Tracy, doesn’t believe her brother died naturally. She’s convinced that he was murdered and is very distraught. The authorities have ruled it an accident, but the maid is sure that isn’t the case. Atlas can’t pass up any puzzle – and he also can’t pass up the opportunity to spend more time with Lilliana, so he takes on the task of investigating.

As Atlas and Lilliana discover more and more about the deceased, they can definitely believe that he might have been murdered – and there are suspects aplenty. What a nasty, nasty man he was. He ruined so many young lives and tried to keep ruining them even after death. What an interesting case filled with twists and turns and some nasty people. The solution isn’t as simple as it appears to be and Atlas is puzzled almost to the very end.

While the investigation is continuing, Atlas is struggling with his feelings for Lilliana. He has long known that he loves her and was even going to offer for her until he found she was the sister of a Duke (book 1). He left after that because he knew he wasn’t good enough for her – she deserved better than him – someone of title and fortune. Now, she’s being courted by a Marquess. Can Atlas walk away a second time? Will Atlas turn away and find another love? You won’t know until the last page.

The returning characters are great and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to visit with them again – Jamie, of course, because it is great to see how he’s changed and grown. Then, the Earl of Charlton is always a delightful character. Watching his infatuation with Atlas’ sister, Thea, is endearing and funny – and her reactions to him are priceless. Then, there is a new character, Atlas’ nephew, who makes an appearance and it will be interesting to watch and see what happens with him. You just know there is going to be quite a story there!

Just one question her though — why do authors sometimes get hung up on characters with similar names? I hate to try to keep them straight. In this book, we have Lavinia and Lilliana. Why couldn’t Lavinia be Barbara (a perfectly acceptable Regency name) or Mary or . . . Well — just something else.

I highly recommend the book, the author, and the series!  See my review for the first book in the series, Murder in Mayfair.

Please check out my reviews at:
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

The Gate Keeper by Charles Todd

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939), MysteryLeave a comment

The Gate Keeper (Inspector Ian Rutledge #20)The Gate Keeper by Charles Todd

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Inspector Ian Rutledge #20
Publication Date: 2/6/18

How in the world did I manage to miss this series until it was up to the twentieth book in the series? I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with our damaged WWI hero. It is two years after the war is over and he’s still struggling with his shell shock and has to constantly fight to stay in control. You have to admire him for his valiant fight and his way of dealing with his issues. I’m not sure how Hamish was explained in earlier books, so my explanation probably isn’t a good one – but – I think Hamish is Ian’s way of dealing with the shell shock. Ian carries on a constant dialogue with Hamish – in his head – and Hamish’s comments often save Ian from injury. It wouldn’t take much, even two years later, to push Ian over the edge.

I love mysteries, but usually only like them long-term if there is a romance involved, so I’m not sure if it is a series I’d stick with for very long. The series is twenty books in, and there is no love interest and doesn’t appear to be headed in that direction. This book also made me sad because the victims were genuinely nice people whose lives were cut short.

The writer’s descriptions of the time and people just transports you to that era – lovely cottages still heated with wood fires, motor cars that had to be hand cranked, telephones were almost non-existent, ladies wearing lovely feathered hats – just a gentler time in a country that had been devastated by war.

Ian Rutledge’s much-adored sister has just married and Ian is having a bit of a panic attack, so he flees London. No destination in mind – just mindless driving – somewhat lost and reliving scenes from the war – he ends up much farther afield than he had intended. He doesn’t actually even know where he is and then he spots a car stopped in the middle of the road and a woman, covered in blood, standing over the lifeless body of a man.

Knowing that he can’t face returning to London at the moment, he finagles around to take over the investigation. As he learns more and more about the young man who has died, Ian comes to like and respect him and can’t imagine that he’d have an enemy in the world. He was a very nice, generous and caring young man – who in the world could have wanted him dead. As he investigates, he finds some intriguing clues, but can’t find anything to which they actually relate.

Then – a few days later – a second murder committed in the same way and with the same intriguing clues left behind. Again, the victim is a war hero, widower, nice, generous and not an enemy in the world. Again, as Ian investigates and gets to know the man, he comes to like and respect him.

As the investigation continues there is no link that Ian can find between the two men – yet they had the same enemy. Then – Ian hears of another death, assigned to another investigator, that sounds the same as Ian’s case.

Ian does good solid police work and continues to investigate until he has all the answers. You won’t like some of those answers, but I’d say that it is probably a very true-to-life investigation and case. The writing is excellent, the plot well laid out, the pacing was good and you come to like and be invested in the characters.

I recommend the book.

Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview

“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”