Category: Historical Mystery

The Secrets of Wycliffe Manor by Patricia Rice

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)3 Comments

The Secrets of Wycliffe Manor (Gravesyde Priory Mysteries #1)Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Gravesyde Prioy Mysteries #1
Publication Date: 7/11/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 334

The Secrets of Wycliffe Manor is the first book in the Gravesyde Priory Mysteries series, and it is an interesting blend of gothic romance and historical mystery, with just a tad of paranormal. The story mostly follows Clarissa (Clare) Knightly and American Army Captain Alastair Huntley (Hunt) as they search for Hunt’s grandmother’s diaries and attempt to save Wycliffe Manor for all of the beneficiaries of the Earl’s will. Hunt just wants to find his grandmother’s diaries and leave for America so he can give the diaries to his mother. Clare, on the other hand, wants a safe haven for herself, her nephew, and her best friend.

Little do they know the danger they are in nor the direction from which it comes. Yet, in order to save the Manor, they must face danger, find the diaries, chase down the clues, outwit the villain, and rescue themselves from danger. Whew! Can they do all of that? Will they survive? Just how many villains can there be?

I loved all of the supporting characters and the idea of this very open home, but I wonder how it is all going to work for future books. I sort of began to feel we were creating the non-Malcolm version of Wystan Castle with all of the loosely connected people who were – or might be in the future – residing in the manor. I’m definitely not opposed to that because I think it would make for some very interesting stories. So, I’ll be very interested to see where the series heads with the second book.

For me personally, I really need a romance with a HEA in my mysteries. I felt a little short-changed in that respect. We certainly had what appeared to be two romances, but no complete HEA at all. I was left with many questions, but I won’t list them because – well – plot points, or maybe we’ll get the explanation in the next book. Anyway, I have no clue if Clare and Hunt actually marry or not because it was all left sort of hanging. Then, there is the other implied romance between Daniel Walker and Meera Abrams which never seems to have come to fruition either.

I can happily recommend this book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. However, if you, like me, need a full-blown HEA romance in the story, then you’ll be a bit disappointed. I can make conjectures and say – Of course he stayed in England – Of course she didn’t go back to London – Of course they got married and settled happily into the manor, etc. but none of that was spelled out. Perhaps it will all be made clear in the next book. Happy Reading!

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

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Penance for the Dead by Cara Devlin

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

Penance for the Dead (Bow Street Duchess Mystery #4)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Bow Street Duchess Mystery #4
Publication Date: 6/3/23
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 238

I have been totally smitten by this author’s virtuoso performance in creating mysteries that perplex and characters that endear. Each book in the series has provided us with a pulse-pounding fast-paced mystery and a further look at the slow-burn romance between Audrey and Hugh. How smitten am I? Well, I’m still reading the series even though I have very strong feelings about adultery no matter the reasons behind it.

We’ve met – and not loved – Hugh’s estranged, dysfunctional family. In this book, we are dealing with them directly because Hugh’s half-sister has been murdered – and Hugh is the accused. Well, WE all know Hugh didn’t do it – and Hugh’s close friends know he didn’t do it – but Bow Street is another matter. They are looking for him everywhere. Can he keep out of their clutches and find his sister’s murderer – and also track down the truth of the story she told him shortly before she was murdered?

Audrey, Duchess of Fournier, and her husband Philip discovered the body of Hugh’s sister Eloisa just after her death. When Audrey learns Hugh is being sought for the murder, she knows she has to help him. She also knows Bow Street will be watching her every move because of her friendship with Hugh. How can she escape them and find Hugh? How can she help him? Can she solve it on her own?

You’ll be holding your breath throughout the fast-paced, spine-tingling tale that has plot twists that spin the whole narrative on its head. Audrey and Hugh must work together to thwart Bow Street, find a murderer, and untangle a web of lies and deceit that has been almost 30 years in the making.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and this series. By the way – I highly recommend you read the series in order to get the full feel for Audrey, Hugh, Philip, Sir, and Audrey’s secret that she must keep hidden from the world. However, as much as I’m loving it – I’m also questioning where it is going. I have strong feelings about infidelity of any sort, for any reason, and in my view, Hugh and Audrey are just there – right on the edge. So, how is this author going to manage to deal with the duke in a way that will allow Hugh and Audrey to have a true HEA? The duke makes a suggestion in this book – but, for me, it wouldn’t work. Neither would him dying because that would hurt Audrey. So, I’m anxious to see what is going to happen in the next book.

Anyway – this is a finely told tale and I hope you will love reading it!

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