The Belvedere Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 22, 2024

The Belvedere Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired Scotland Yard detective Jonathan Swift are asked by Lord Belvedere to attend a ball at his fabulous country estate to keep an eye on his daughter's suitor, a man named Jack Dutton who he believes is a a gold digger after his daughter's money. Despite their best efforts, during the ball, someone manages to shove Dutton from the roof of the mansion. 

Another adventure for Lennox and Swift, #11 in the series. The mystery here reminds me of books like Murder on the Orient Express, where all the characters have some connection to the murder victim. Furthermore, he is a shady character who needs to get murdered (no one likes a blackmailer or a drug dealer). I love a country house mystery, and this one ticks all the boxes: a beautiful house, a ball, aristocrats, jewels and ball gowns, snooty rich people who think they're above the law, a locked-room mystery. While you don't need to read the series in order, do it because the books are so much fun. Recommended for readers who enjoy British historical mysteries and dry humor.

Iron Age barrow in the the Cotswolds

What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris

October 24, 2019

What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris

When a well-known and much-despised gem dealer/loan shark is found murdered, there aren’t a lot of people mourning his passing.  The police quickly arrest a man who was found standing over the body and then fled the scene.  But the man, Russell Yates, insists that he is innocent and his wife asks for Sebastian’s help to find the real killer.  The only problem is that Yates’ wife is none other than the actress Kat Boleyn, Sebastian’s ex-lover.  Although Sebastian agrees to help them, he fears that unresolved feelings for Kat will again be stirred up.  Complicating his attempts to discover the true killer and his worry over his wife's Hero’s safety is his grief over the mysterious death of an old army friend.

The Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries are a wonderful mix of historical fiction, political intrigue, mystery, social justice, and gossip.  A constant round of parties, balls, and receptions, lots of eating and drinking, a fat spoiled prince, and even the men changed their clothes at least six times a day – wasn’t Regency England fabulous (at least, it was if you were rich and connected)!  Plus, Sebastian’s family is back in all its messy glory – I suggest reading the series in order to really get a picture of the complicated St. Cyr family.  Although the author does a good job of summarizing important information from previous titles, the books are just too much fun to miss.  This is one of the best entries in the series so far, and even though it is described as historical fiction, anyone who enjoys Regency romances should also enjoy the St. Cyr mysteries.  A very enjoyable read.