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heidenkind's review against another edition
3.0
Not as delightful as Dinner Most Deadly. The mystery was better, though.
b_nour's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
ccgwalt's review
4.0
Julia, Lady Fieldhurst is again in her relatives' black books, and is bundled off to chaperone her three nephews on their trip to Scotland. On the way, she and the eldest nephew decide they should detour from the plan to visit the family's estate and have a vacation on the coast. In order to feel really free, they decide to use another name, and Julia decided on the name, Mrs. Pickett, thinking of the young Bow Street Runner that helped clear her name of murder in the first book.
With this rather tenuous set-up, the reader will not be surprised when a murder happens and the man himself is summoned to investigate. What are the odds? In fiction, I'd say just about 100%! Even though the author does have to twist some unlikely events around to make the fake "marriage" situation work, the book is very entertaining. The murder mystery wasn't as complex as the previous ones, but still well done. Lady Fieldhurst and Mr. Pickett's relationship moves forward some, and an interesting revelation at the end means Book 4 should prove interesting for the pair.
With this rather tenuous set-up, the reader will not be surprised when a murder happens and the man himself is summoned to investigate. What are the odds? In fiction, I'd say just about 100%! Even though the author does have to twist some unlikely events around to make the fake "marriage" situation work, the book is very entertaining. The murder mystery wasn't as complex as the previous ones, but still well done. Lady Fieldhurst and Mr. Pickett's relationship moves forward some, and an interesting revelation at the end means Book 4 should prove interesting for the pair.
melaniebopp's review
4.0
Full review available on All About Romance - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=10309
When Lady Julia Fieldhurst is banished by her late husband's family (along with her three nephews), she wasn't expecting to stumble upon a body on the beach. Luckily, the body in question survives, but this leads to a new conundrum - is this truly the long lost daughter of the local Laird? Or is she an imposter, looking to cause trouble or to get her hands on the inheritance from an old, ill man? Plus, in her attempt to stay anonymous, Julia had given the name Pickett to the innkeeper - who do you guess is called from London to investigate?
Okay, let’s get the actual historical question out of the way first - didn’t the Bow Street Runners operate in London? I looked around and found no evidence that they would have gone (or even been called) to Scotland. Usually, snags like this in a story bother me - I am too much an academic at heart, I guess, to just ignore them. Luckily, I was able to set it aside, as the relationship between John and Julia was really too cute to miss.
I really enjoyed both John and Julia - their backstory is alluded to throughout their conversations (the short version is Julia was suspected of her husband’s murder, and John was the only one both able and willing to help her), and definitely colors their relationship. I am always on the lookout for new historical mysteries, especially those with a light (or occasionally heavy) hand of romance, and I’m glad I picked this one up. The mystery was definitely the star of the show here, which was a nice change, and at times it read a lot like classic Sherlock Holmes, complete with interrogation scenes, scoping out the crime scenes, and the big reveal at the end.
When Lady Julia Fieldhurst is banished by her late husband's family (along with her three nephews), she wasn't expecting to stumble upon a body on the beach. Luckily, the body in question survives, but this leads to a new conundrum - is this truly the long lost daughter of the local Laird? Or is she an imposter, looking to cause trouble or to get her hands on the inheritance from an old, ill man? Plus, in her attempt to stay anonymous, Julia had given the name Pickett to the innkeeper - who do you guess is called from London to investigate?
Okay, let’s get the actual historical question out of the way first - didn’t the Bow Street Runners operate in London? I looked around and found no evidence that they would have gone (or even been called) to Scotland. Usually, snags like this in a story bother me - I am too much an academic at heart, I guess, to just ignore them. Luckily, I was able to set it aside, as the relationship between John and Julia was really too cute to miss.
I really enjoyed both John and Julia - their backstory is alluded to throughout their conversations (the short version is Julia was suspected of her husband’s murder, and John was the only one both able and willing to help her), and definitely colors their relationship. I am always on the lookout for new historical mysteries, especially those with a light (or occasionally heavy) hand of romance, and I’m glad I picked this one up. The mystery was definitely the star of the show here, which was a nice change, and at times it read a lot like classic Sherlock Holmes, complete with interrogation scenes, scoping out the crime scenes, and the big reveal at the end.
vesper1931's review
4.0
Lady Fieldhurst and her three young cousins are staying at an inn in south west Scotland, when they come across an unconscious female. The nearest house is Ravenscroft Manor, and she may be the missing daughter Elspeth Kirkbride, presumed drowned 15 years ago. John Pickett is sent to investigate.
An enjoyable and well-written historical mystery
An enjoyable and well-written historical mystery
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