Category: Historical Mystery

The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, George V - 1910- 1936, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, World War II Era (1939-1945)Leave a comment

The Key to Deceit (Electra McDonnell, #2)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Electra McDonnell #2
Publication Date: 6/21/22
Period: WWII – London
Number of Pages: 288

This series was off and running no-holds-barred with the first book in the series, A Peculiar Combination, and now this one is proudly carrying the torch. With strong major characters and strong supporting characters, this book (and this series) will definitely leave you with a pounding heart and fraught nerves! The mystery is excellently plotted and the book is well-written and perfectly paced.

I had wondered if there would be any movement in the quasi-love triangle that was set up in the first book – and the answer is – there is and there isn’t. While the Major’s interest in Ellie is quite obvious to the reader, it isn’t at all obvious to Ellie because she thinks he only tolerates her because he has to. Then there is her childhood friend Felix who is developing feelings for her. Or is he? I wonder if it is more to do with him being injured, etc. and he sees Electra as a solid in his life. Not that he doesn’t care for her, but I wonder if it is ‘the real thing’. I guess we’ll just have to continue to read and find out – but I hope it doesn’t drag on too long because that gets tiring to me – and seems unfair to the character who doesn’t ‘win’.

Everyone is on tenterhooks waiting for the German bombings that they know are coming. They know they are coming, but they are also in denial – until the bombs actually start dropping. Amid the tensions, Major Ramsey arrives at the McDonnell home to ask for their assistance with a lock – which happens to be on the wrist of a body at the morgue. Ellie takes a big breath and then agrees to help – little knowing that it would lead to a search for a nest of German spies who are helping to target London locations for the bombers.

There are banks to rob, suspects to follow, bodies to identify, and spymasters to catch all while London is being bombed into oblivion by the Germans. Before the search is over, the entire McDonnell clan along with Felix and an interesting new character will be involved. While they are pursuing the spies, Ellie and Felix are searching for information on Ellie’s mother (FYI – her mother died in prison after being convicted of murdering Ellie’s father – and she was pregnant with Ellie at the time she was convicted.)

I highly recommend both this book and the series. I hope you will read it and love it as much as I did.

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

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Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd

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

Miss Morton and the English House Party MurderBarbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: A Miss Morton Mystery #1
Publication Date: 5/31/22
Period: Victorian – 1837
Number of Pages: 296

As a huge fan of this author’s Kurland St. Mary series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest mystery series. It was definitely worth the wait. The characters – especially the featured characters – were excellently done. You didn’t learn everything about them right in the beginning, it was doled out a bit at a time – and some of what you thought you knew, it turns out you didn’t. 😊 You aren’t sure who the good guys are – or who the bad guys are. You THINK you know, but do you?

Lady Caroline Morton, daughter of the deceased Earl of Morton, is penniless and without reputation, through no fault of her own. No, not her fault at all, but society tars her and her sister with the same brush as her father when he kills himself and everyone finds he is deeply in debt. Fortunately, her aunt and uncle take them in and that works fine while they are still pretty young, but children have a habit of growing up. Caroline finally realized that she could strike out on her own and seek employment – or – she could stay with her aunt and uncle and become an unappreciated, unpaid drudge within their home. Being the strong, independent, forthright, intelligent woman she was, she arranged employment as a companion to Mrs. Frogerton. Mrs. Frogerton turns out to be an adventurous lady and one who is anxious to see her daughter marry well. She has tons of money, but their background is tainted with the stench of ‘business’ and ‘work’. Caroline and Mrs. Frogrton are perfect partners in crime-solving – and goodness – do they have some crimes to solve!

A few months after Caroline leaves her Aunt Eleanor’s home, Eleanor pays a visit to Mrs. Frogerton’s home to request Caroline attend a house party being given in honor of Eleanor’s daughter for her birthday. Caroline declines, but Mrs. Frogerton is delighted to attend. It appears they are going to have an adventure after all.

Not long after Caroline, Mrs. Frogerton, and her daughter arrive, bodies begin to drop. While Lady Eleanor refuses to acknowledge that any murders occurred in her home, Caroline and the local physician, Dr. Harris, know otherwise. As they investigate, Caroline begins receiving threats – veiled and not so veiled. Clues turn up in the oddest places, and large sums of money appear in places they should not be. And what about all of those charity children in the nursery? Oh – this is going to be a handful to solve.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, it is interesting, well-plotted, well-paced, and excellently delivered. The book was, very, very busy and had a lot of characters and subplots that weren’t necessary to the story or my enjoyment of it. I will also add that I didn’t care for the punishments (or non-punishment) for the murderers. Should you choose to read the book, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

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