Barbara’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries
Publication Date: 10/3/23
Period: 1905 – Highlands of Scotland (Edwardian)
Number of Pages: 304
This book is basically two novellas totally unrelated in everything except place. The book blurb makes it sound as if something in the story from the past helped solve the mystery from 1905. That isn’t the case. The two storylines are alternated throughout the book – one chapter from 1905, the next chapter from 1676, etc. I read it that way for a while, but it really got annoying and detracted from the enjoyment of each story. So, I just went through and read all of the chapters from 1676 and then I read all of the chapters from 1905. I honestly saw no point in including the 1676 story other than to fill pages so it would be a ‘book’ rather than a ‘novella’. Both stories were excellent and I enjoyed both, but I didn’t care for the delivery method.
1676 – Tasnim (Tansy) was the daughter of well-to-do Moors. She spoke several languages and was well-educated. Then, she was kidnapped and made a slave to a sea captain who used her for his own pleasure – then gave her away. She was finally given as a wedding present to the wife of a Highland Laird. This is an excellent story of slavery, selfishness, betrayal – and witch hunts which were rampant in Scotland at that time. However, I was left wondering – Did Tansy ever actually make it home to reunite with her family? Did she get the life she so richly deserved? I sort of felt as if that was left hanging.
1905 – Lady Emily along with her husband Colin, their three children, and a crocodile have traveled to the Highlands for a family vacation with Emily’s lifelong friend, Jeremy Sheffield, the Duke of Bainbridge. Not long after their arrival, the brutally murdered body of Jeremy’s gamekeeper was discovered by the loch. He was a well-liked man and much admired by all of the ladies, though he didn’t encourage them – so, who murdered him? With a close-knit and tight-lipped community, it was really hard for Emily and Colin to get the information they needed to solve the crime. But goodness, when they did – what a crime and resolution it was! There are lots of red herrings for you to analyze and discard – or keep – and there are many very likable characters to keep you smiling.
One thing that took away from my enjoyment – though I’m sure it was supposed to add a lighter touch – was the ten-year-old boy walking around with a crocodile on a leash. I cringed every time I read that. I loved having the boys along as more than just afterthoughts in the story, but the crocodile. No, just no. I grew up in a state filled with alligators, and there is no way I would have let a grown-up, much less a child anywhere near one. Yet, this story had ten-year-olds walking an alligator’s older, meaner brother on a leash.
So, I enjoyed both stories – other than the crocodile – but the way it was delivered was just annoying. Having two stories included seems to be a hallmark of this series, and I’m just tired of the flipping back and forth between storylines. While I enjoyed the mystery, I would not read it again, and I think it will be a good while before I read another book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Flippin' Pages Book Reviews 