Category: Historical Mystery

The Curse of Morton Abbey by Clarissa Harwood

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Gothic Historical, Historical Mystery, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Curse of Morton AbbeyBarbara’s rating: 3.6 of 5 Stars
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: 10/26/21
Period: Victorian
Number of Pages: 361

The Curse of Morton Abbey is Clarissa Harwood’s third novel, but it is the first of hers I’ve read. For me, it wasn’t a quick-paced, exciting read, but it was a slow and steady build to a tingling end. This is a book that was crying for an epilogue because the ending was just so abrupt, I found myself sitting there with my mouth open asking – Is this it?

Vaughan Springthorpe grew up in her father’s law office learning the law at his knee. The time spent in those law offices was the best of her life because her mother and sisters were dismissive, condescending, and full of criticism and pity for her. She was as good a solicitor as her father was, but, of course, at that time women didn’t become solicitors. When he passed away, Vaughan finished up all of his legal work for him and was then determined to find a job for herself rather than live with her older sister and mother. Wasn’t she lucky that the perfect opportunity presented itself in the form of Sir Peter Spencer? He hired her, sight unseen, to put his estate, Morton Abbey, into shape so he could sell it and she couldn’t wait to get started. Should she tell him she is a female? Maybe . . . later.

Morton Abbey is certainly an eye-opener for Vaughan. When she arrives, she finds a cold, forbidding, unwelcoming edifice populated with people who definitely do not welcome her. Granted, it is winter, and most places look stark and cold in the winter, but there is something more sinister about Morton Abbey. The door is opened by Bedford, the scowling, unwelcoming butler who reminds her of a specter hovering in the entry. Mrs. Wilson was the pink-cheeked, round-faced housekeeper who seemed more welcoming, but distrustful. Were they the only two people in residence? No, Sir Peter’s sickly brother Nicholas (Nick) Spencer was also in residence. Then, as the only bright spot, there is Joe Dixon, the gardener.

Somebody is trying to frighten Vaughan away, but she’s having none of it. She is steady and pragmatic and doesn’t believe in ghosts. Yet, the nightly crying – by a child is unsettling. Could it really be a ghost? Perhaps the ghost of Nick Spencer’s deceased child?

Vaughan perseveres in her task for Sir Peter as she makes friends with Nick and Joe. Still, everyone isn’t who they seem. What is going on at Morton Abbey? Why? The answer will surprise you as there is more than one villain.

I enjoyed the story, but I did feel it was a bit draggy in places and I found myself skimming. Then, there was the ending – it was just too abrupt, too quick. I always love an epilogue, but this book just begged for one – especially since I just didn’t buy the fact that the couple was devotedly in love if she could just leave as she did and he didn’t contact her for almost a year. No, the end was definitely dissatisfying for me. I will recommend the story as it was interesting – but I’m not recommending it as enthusiastically as I normally would. This story didn’t make me want to go back and read the previous books by this author nor did it make me want to seek out future books.

View all my reviews

Murder in the Eternal City by Ashley Gardner

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

Murder in the Eternal City (Captain Lacey #16)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Captain Lacey #16
Publication Date: 9/20/22
Period: Regency (1820)
Number of Pages: 314

Goodness, it has been a long dry spell since we’ve had a new Captain Lacey to read – almost two years – 1 year and 10 months actually – but who is counting? The Regency period was much more formal in thought, speech, dress, and actions, and I love how this author holds true to that without the story feeling overly formal or stilted. She really does an outstanding job of conveying the feel of the time without making us feel all prim and starched. This author also writes a great mystery and she’s outdone herself again.

Captain Lacey’s good friend Mr. Grenville has rented a villa in Italy for himself and his family, and he has graciously invited Captain Lacey and his family to join them. The plan is for them all to stay at the villa for a while and then Lacey and Grenville will head south to view the ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum since the ladies aren’t interested in ruins.

Poor Lacey – he never met a mystery he didn’t want to solve or a person he didn’t want to help. That, of course, always gets him entangled in many troubles. So, that is what happened during their stop-over in Rome. Lacy saw someone he thought he knew, got lost in the backstreets while he was pursuing the man, and then ran smack-dab into another man. Whew! The man he runs into gets Lacey embroiled in his family affairs and the man he thought he knew – well – that man has been dead for over a year. Welcome to Rome Captain Lacey! As if that isn’t enough, Lacey is supposed to make a purchase for Mr. Denis – a major crime boss in London. Whew – again! Things are already so busy you wonder if they’ll ever get to even see the ruins. They do.

There are attempts on Lacey’s life, a man is murdered, the domestic situation still isn’t under control, and everyone keeps wanting Lacey to help them. Danger abounds and Lacey, Brewster, and Grenville are all placed in grave danger at one time or another. Can Lacey figure it all out before someone murders him? Where did all of those antiquities at the murdered man’s house come from? Who was the man he thought he knew? What does a deaf man have to do with any of it?

This was such an interesting and exciting story that I read it all the way through in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down. You’ll never guess who the murderer is – nor why? It is a tightly woven mystery with many threads to pull and pulling only one thread won’t get you all of the answers.

I highly recommend this book, this author, and this series. It was lovely to visit with all of the series regulars as well – especially Brewster because he always tickles me with his grumbling about Lacey. Yes, it was an exciting, fun read, and I sincerely hope you’ll give the book a read and love it as much as I did. I also sincerely hope it won’t be two years before we get the next book.

View all my reviews