Today I welcome Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours back to the blog with an historical fiction mystery. I invite you to read my review and enter to win your own copy of the book (US only).
My Review:
Set at the turn of the 20th Century, just before the Great War, this mystery takes place on the lavish estate of Lord and Lady Montfort after their annual summertime ball. I have read many reviews that have compared the setting of this book with that of Downton Abbey and I would say that is a very accurate assessment. The narrative jumps back and forth between Lord and Lady Montfort and their privileged class, and the servants which include maids, footmen, cooks, and butlers, who are “below stairs.”
After the traditional summer costume ball, Lord Montfort’s reprobate nephew, Teddy, is found murdered and everyone who is at the ball becomes a suspect. All of the guests are required to stay on the estate while the authorities conduct their investigation. As the story unfolds, it seems that many people had a reason to want Teddy out of the way.
The author spends a lot of time describing the British upper class and their insistence on observing traditional roles and divisions of class that have existed in that country for centures. When the Lady of the house and her housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, team up together to solve the murder mystery, they are both uncomfortable with breaking of the traditional servant-master relationship.
The strongest part of the book was the last quarter of it in which Mrs. Jackson is actively conducting her investigation and more details are revealed about the last hours of Teddy’s life. Is it one of the nobility that could have pulled off such a heinous crime, or could one of the servants have had a grudge against this dishonorable man?
About The Author:
Tessa Arlen, the daughter of a British diplomat, had lived in or visited her parents in Singapore, Cairo, Berlin, the Persian Gulf, Beijing, Delhi and Warsaw by the time she was sixteen. She came to the U.S. in 1980 and worked as an H.R. recruiter for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games, where she interviewed her future husband for a job. DEATH OF A DISHONORABLE GENTLEMAN is Tessa’s first novel. She lives in Bainbridge Island, Washington.
Giveaway:
Open to US residents only. Giveaway ends 2/6
– Must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
-To enter, leave a comment below and let me know you want to win! The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond.
The Winner of the Giveaway is: Carl S.
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The Book Binder's Daughter 