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Rating: 
Summary: An engaging entertainment . .
Review: The life of an unattached woman in England was not always an easy one. Even when the woman has some talent, as inherited from her parents (Henry Mayhew, the tragedian, and his wife, Sophia Thredbourne, known as Madame Palestrini) Elmira Mayhew did not find the success she might have expected. Now, rather middle-aged, but persistent in her pursuit of a career as a singer, Elmira is on her way to Barbury Hall, having been invited there to perform for her cousin, Drusilla, who is now the Viscountess Barbury. Traveling with her accompanist, M. Mauvoisin, they are accosted by a highwayman before they get there, and the handsome dastard steals the small diamond pin from the cover of Elmira's scrapbook. Elmira and M. Mauvoisin had been rehearsing a song attributed to the tragic Marie Antoinette, the only copy of said song being in the possession of M. Mauvoisin. Poor Elmira, doomed to constant disillusionment. While her parents traveled in pursuit of their careers, she was sent to Miss Parkington's Academy for Young Ladies, and it was while she was there, that the sad news was brought to her -- her parents had died in a fire in Trieste. Elmirea then became a governess until, in 1814, she was taken up by the Dowager Countess of Withington, and became something of a success as a singer/actress. To her greater distress, Barbury Hall is great pile, incredibly disorganized, with secret stairways and a totally incompetent staff. Of course it is Miss Mayhew who, in the middle of the night, discovers the body of the elderly, lecherous Viscount, stabbed, a scrap of paper clutched tightly in his fist. Then begins the chase. She is a genteel combination of Miss Marple and Mrs Malaprop. All of the traditional house party guests may be found at Barbury Hall; beautiful young women, handsome young and not-so-young gentlemen, including of course, the dandy and the scalawag! Soon a second murder occurs, and after accusing nearly everyone in turn of the murders, some more than once, finally, Elmira accuses her cousin of both murders. Not so. Drusilla certainly knew the identity of the highwayman, but after all, he was only accumulating funds, so they could run off together. This is a well-plotted, engaging mystery set during the English Regency. There is even the occasional nod to romance, and those who read and enjoy the latter genre should enjoy this book as well. The author has mastered the Regency 'voice' and sprinkles the words of that special language throughout. A super critical person might wish for a better proof-reader, but for a first book, one could also do much worse! Actually, this reader wishes for more of Miss Mayhew.
Rating:
Summary: An engaging entertainment . .
Review: The life of an unattached woman in England was not always an easy one. Even when the woman has some talent, as inherited from her parents (Henry Mayhew, the tragedian, and his wife, Sophia Thredbourne, known as Madame Palestrini) Elmira Mayhew did not find the success she might have expected. Now, rather middle-aged, but persistent in her pursuit of a career as a singer, Elmira is on her way to Barbury Hall, having been invited there to perform for her cousin, Drusilla, who is now the Viscountess Barbury. Traveling with her accompanist, M. Mauvoisin, they are accosted by a highwayman before they get there, and the handsome dastard steals the small diamond pin from the cover of Elmira's scrapbook. Elmira and M. Mauvoisin had been rehearsing a song attributed to the tragic Marie Antoinette, the only copy of said song being in the possession of M. Mauvoisin. Poor Elmira, doomed to constant disillusionment. While her parents traveled in pursuit of their careers, she was sent to Miss Parkington's Academy for Young Ladies, and it was while she was there, that the sad news was brought to her -- her parents had died in a fire in Trieste. Elmirea then became a governess until, in 1814, she was taken up by the Dowager Countess of Withington, and became something of a success as a singer/actress. To her greater distress, Barbury Hall is great pile, incredibly disorganized, with secret stairways and a totally incompetent staff. Of course it is Miss Mayhew who, in the middle of the night, discovers the body of the elderly, lecherous Viscount, stabbed, a scrap of paper clutched tightly in his fist. Then begins the chase. She is a genteel combination of Miss Marple and Mrs Malaprop. All of the traditional house party guests may be found at Barbury Hall; beautiful young women, handsome young and not-so-young gentlemen, including of course, the dandy and the scalawag! Soon a second murder occurs, and after accusing nearly everyone in turn of the murders, some more than once, finally, Elmira accuses her cousin of both murders. Not so. Drusilla certainly knew the identity of the highwayman, but after all, he was only accumulating funds, so they could run off together. This is a well-plotted, engaging mystery set during the English Regency. There is even the occasional nod to romance, and those who read and enjoy the latter genre should enjoy this book as well. The author has mastered the Regency 'voice' and sprinkles the words of that special language throughout. A super critical person might wish for a better proof-reader, but for a first book, one could also do much worse! Actually, this reader wishes for more of Miss Mayhew.
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