A review by slferg
The Withdrawing Room by Charlotte MacLeod

4.0

I love Charlotte MacLeod. This is the second Sarah Kelling/Max Bittersohn book. Sarah is trying to recover from the loss of her husband and trying to keep the properties that were fraudulently mortgaged by her mother-in-law's conniving lover. Sarah is fighting to keep them until the decision can be made whether they belong to her or the bank. So, she has decided to take the house in Tulip Street and turn it into a boarding house. Not all of her relatives approve and she has to shout down Cousin Dolph to tell him that Aunt Emma and Anora Protheroe approve of the idea. So she gets Dolph to get her the necessary permits and Uncle Jeremy helps to chivvy the workers to get alternations done to the house. Sarah interviews prospective borders with Mariposa and Charles to help. She has fired the unhelpful and angry Edith, and will take on the cooking and housekeeping with Mariposa's help. Charles, Mariposa's friend, is going to play the butler in the evenings since he works in a factory during the day (doing his bit for room and board). Several of the relatives have sent boarders to her, and she has to weed out those who are looking for a handout from those who can pay.
Anora brings her Mr. Quiffen, an unpleasant man, but he can pay the amount she is charging for the private suite she had made from the withdrawing room.