Review #95
A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery.
Writer, the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, and her collaborator pal, photographer Lucy (Lady Gerald), leave their families behind to travel to Appsworth Hall. The pair are working on a book about eighteenth-century architectural follies, and the grotto at Appsworth may qualify.
Soon enough Daisy and Lucy have landed in the middle of an old-fashioned country-house mystery, taking place in 1926 England.
The daunting list of characters and suspects includes the owner of the grotto, Mr. Pritchard of Pritchard's Plumbing Products, his sister-in-law and nephew. Then there is the impoverished military widow, Lady Beaufort, her daughter, Julia, and several suitors for the beautiful Julia’s hand. The guests are rounded out by a minor government official, Sir Desmond and his flirty wife, Ottaline.
One of Julia's suitors is the thoroughly unpleasant Lord Rydal, known as Rhino because of his build and thick skin. Rhino is killed when the grotto mysteriously explodes just as Daisy's husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, arrives for the weekend. It soon becomes clear that foul play was involved. Both Alec and Daisy are recruited to help solve the mystery by local Police Inspector Boyle.
Daisy is at the top of her game in this entertaining, old-school story of drawing-room manners mixed with murder.
No comments:
Post a Comment