The intrepid female detectives of Mayfair 100 are up against a deadly and elusive enemy—and the darkest secrets of Britain’s upper crust In the dark days of World War I, an aristocrat’s suspicious suicide propels a one-of-a-kind crime-fighting team into a sordid world of blackmail, betrayal, and tragic secrets. When the phone rings at the Mayfair 100 exchange, the news is rarely good, and this … news is rarely good, and this time is no exception. The Duchess of Penhere’s daughter, notorious society gossip queen Lady Adeline Treborne, has been found dead in her room in what appears to be a suicide–but her family suspects foul play.
The secret Mayfair team of amateur female detectives has been restlessly awaiting their next case, and this will prove one of their thorniest. When Dr. Caroline Allardyce performs an autopsy, she is able to conclusively prove that the woman was murdered. Lady Treborne had made many enemies through her vicious gossip column, so there’s no shortage of suspects.
Supported by a cadre of professional police officers, the Mayfair women launch their investigation, but there’s much more to this case than meets the eye. As they venture into a world that lays bare London high life at its lowest, the team soon begins to comprehend the danger at hand—and how this tangled web of treachery could ensnare anyone who gets too close.
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“Death in Chelsea” by Lynn Brittney the 2nd instalment in the “Mayfair 100 Mystery” series. I had not read the first book ”Murder in Belgravia” but I was able to read as a stand alone, I do recommend reading in order though.
I found myself enjoying the story and reading over several days. As a few others stated I liked the idea of a female crime solving unit, especially during this period of history where women were taking on more men’s roles because of the war. I did find some things might of been to modern but it did not take away from the story.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which there are a lot of them. It was sometimes hard to keep track of them. Most of the characters are well developed and a likeable bunch.
I recommend this series to all my historical mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Scotland Yard Inspector Breech is assigned to investigate the death of gossip columnist Lady Adeline Treborne. She also the daughter of The Duchess of Penhere, a wealthy socialite. The death looks like a suicide but the Duchess insists her daughter would never kill herself. The autopsy result is murder. The team investigates the victim’s lifestyle. Lady Adeline acquired numerous enemies as she blackmailed her way into a story. The initial crime of murder lead into other crimes. So the team had to solve the lesser crimes to solve the bigger crime.
I received this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting mystery. The time period after World War ! the setting of the book represented a change in society. It set in motion for women to work outside the home. Although Inspector Beech is male, his team of investigators is female. Forensic science to solve criminal investigation was also introduced. This is the second book in the Mayfair 100 series. Ms. Britteny did an excellent job of describing the city of Chelsea. She also introduced social norms as mixed marriages baby farming and the beginning of soldiers losing limbs and needing medical attention. and the class system in England..
Chief Inspector Peter Beech returns with his clandestine group of crime investigators – Dr. Caroline Allerdyce, Victoria, Rigsby and Tollman. Because women are not allowed to join Scotland Yard, the team operates out of a Mayfair location. The Mayfair 100 monicker comes from their phone number. Together the team investigates crimes from the very top of the social ladder to the very bottom. The year is 1915 and WWI has seriously upended social mores.
In this, their second case, they are asked to investigate the hanging death of the daughter of a duchess, a woman who knew secrets that many wished would never see the light of day. Did she really commit suicide or did some of that gossip push somebody over the edge to keep it secret? Her family is certain it had to be murder and so the search begins for a killer.
The setting of London of 1915, the well developed characters of Peter Beech and his very talented team of investigators, the impact of WWI on daily life, a satisfying puzzle and a very smooth writing style keep this series in the top ten of my favorite historical mysteries.
A Death In Chelsea is the second book in The Mayfair 100 Mystery series.
Inspector Beech’s secret team is anxiously looking forward to their next assignment and hoping that they will be helping someone from the working class. But that will not will be the case. The Duchess of Penhere has sought out the Chief Superintendent to ask him to investigate the death of her daughter, Lady Adeline Treborne. Adeline had been found hanging from a ceiling in her flat and the Duchess doesn’t feel that it was suicide even though it looks that way.
What with the Duchess and her status, the Chief Superintendent calls on Inspector Beech and his team.
The team, who call themselves The Mayfair 100, the phone number at the house they meet at. The team consists of a doctor, Caroline, a lawyer, Victoria, and two policemen, Arthur and Billy, and the newest member, Mabel, a pharmacist.
Beech meets with his team and once they have their assignments Victoria, Mabel and Sissy, Billy’s aunt, set off for Lady Adeline’s flat to begin their investigation. Victoria. They are quickly able to determine that she didn’t commit suicide. While searching her flat they found her journal and it appears that not only does she write a “gossip” column for a newspaper, but she has also been blackmailing fellow members of society. In the journal, they find a page with initials and what appears to be monetary amounts. Victoria can suggest some possible names of the people who are being blackmailed. But, some pages are missing from the journal and they hope that with what they have, they will be led to the killer. Their searches will take them as high as Parliament.
I really enjoy this series a lot. The stories are well written and plotted. I also liked how the author weaved in new methods of police investigation procedures. Also, the book contains a cast of interesting and enjoyable characters. I particularly enjoyed Aunt Sissy. Sissy was in the first book but has a bigger role in this book. She was instrumental in proving that Lady Adeline wasn’t hanged. I would love to see her added as a member of Beech’s team.
I will be watching for the next book in this wonderful historical series.
3.5/5
The second in the Mayfair 100 mystery series, I would rate this between a so-so and a pick because while I did enjoy it a bit more than its predecessor (I rated that one a 3), it still had some issues.
PROS: Getting to know the characters a little better and an interesting plot;
CONS: The writing was still a little simplistic (as I found in the first one), and the plot, while interesting, was also a bit overly convoluted with LOTS of characters to keep track of.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
A DEATH IN CHELSEA by Lynn Brittney is a historical mystery set in England in 1915 during World War I. It is the second book in the Mayfair 100 Murder Mystery series, but it worked well as a standalone novel for me.
Chief Inspector Peter Beech has a semi-secret team of amateur women detectives and professional policemen that the commissioner of Scotland Yard allowed him to create. For their second case, a duchess’ daughter has been found dead in what appears to be a suicide but her family suspects foul play. This leads the team on an investigation that is unlike most in in early 1900’s.
The characters were compelling, strong, complex and had depth. Their motivations seemed believable and distinct. There were enough internal and external conflicts to keep this reader fully engaged. The plot twists seemed believable, and while many were expected, there were a few surprises. The descriptions gave me a clear sense of time, mood and place without distracting from the story.
This is not a fast-paced novel, but it was relatively steadily paced. It also takes place during the early days of scientific police work and when women are taking on jobs that men had largely held before the war. Additional themes include corruption, murder, drug use, adoption, baby farms, gossip, and views on social order and race. There is one very controversial scene.
Overall, this was a well-written, engrossing, and thought-provoking read. I am looking forward to reading the first book in the series.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Lynn Brittney for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
A Death in Chelsea by Lynn Brittney is the second book in her Mayfair 100 mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I had gotten the first book in the series from my library and was eager to start this one.
Chief Inspector Peter Beech calls in his “secret” team when a daughter of a aristocratic family is found hanging in her flat. Caroline, Mabel, Victoria and PC Billy Rigsby’s Aunt Sissy converge on the flat to determine if it is suicide or murder. Each member of this team is smart, dedicated and determined to find the answers as the case evolves into blackmail and another murder. A clever and quickly paced plot with twists and turns and a nail-biting finale that I can’t put down until the end.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Mirror Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own. I would like to sincerely thank Mirror Books for allowing me to read and review this book.