A Ring of Truth is the next exciting installment of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series, in which Clive reveals that he is actually the heir of the Howard estate and fortune, Henrietta discovers she may not be who she thought she was-and both must decide if they are really meant for each other.
A Ring of Truth
By michellecox
I found myself genuinely liking both Henrietta and Inspector Howard. Very good read!
Enjoy all of the books in this series. This one was very entertaining but a little predictable toward the end.
Felt every word! A Must Read!
Enjoyed that era.
First of all, this isn’t your typical mystery, but that doesn’t bother me. It takes place in 1930s Chicago, and it contrasts the life of the very rich and the very poor really well, The story has been compared to Pride and Prejudice because of the class differences. It fits, to a point. The romance between Henrietta and Clive added to the mix since Henrietta doesn’t know how filthy rich Clive is until he pulls up to a mansion to introduce her to his family. The fact that Henrietta’s mother was once part of this glittery society and left it, then ended up living in poverty, added another nice wrinkle to the story. The mystery was solid enough with good clues along the way. I wasn’t as fond of two story twists. I didn’t like it that Clive’s sister is married to a brute, and although I didn’t mind that Henrietta’s brother is gay and sullen, the end of the book really irritated me. It felt like a hook to read the next book, but I didn’t like it. All in all, there’s plenty going on in this novel, and the writing had an old-fashioned feel to it that I enjoyed.
Great combination of Maisie Hobbs-Like character in Chicago during the World’s Fair. Fun to read.
Very well written. I enjoyed the storyline and characters.
Page turner, I couldn’t wait to see what was coming next. Very well written without a lot of unnecessary words to fill in the plot, it was fast paced, entertaining and each character had a purpose.
Page turner
A great combination of a who-done-it and a romance! A page turner that is hard to put down.
I loved the twists and turns in the plot, as well as the historical setting and intrigue! I couldn’t put the book down once Instarted it! Iman eager to read the sequel!
When Henrietta Von Harmon, a poor burlesque dancer from Chicago, helps Inspector Clive Howard solve a case against Nepture, a notorious gang leader, she falls in love with him, not realizing that Clive is very rich and lives on the vast estate of Highbury, complete with servants and tradition. She consents to marrying Inspector Clive Howard, not Clive Howard, the rich heir of the Howard family. When Antonia Howard, Clive’s mother, meets Henrietta, she thinks Henrietta is beneath the Howard family until she learns that Henrietta’s mother, Martha, might be the long lost daughter of their friends, the Exleys. Antonia thinks that she might be able to groom Henrietta, a possible Exley descendant, in the ways of high society after all. She asks Henrietta to come and live at Highbury so she can help prepare for an engagement party and then her marriage to Clive. Henrietta is a quick learner in the ways of high society but really prefers to spend her free time with the servants, people like those she has grown up with. She misses her family, especially her sister Elsie, and worries how her family will survive without the money she was earning as a dancer. Antonia grooms Henrietta for the role of Clive’s wife, buying her expensive, fashionable clothes, having her hair styled, and teaching her high society mannerisms like how to eat and what to say. During one of her lone walking tours of Highbury, Henrietta meets the old, former cook of the Howards, Helen Scfhuyer, and helps Helen look for the ring Helen thinks was stolen from her. Helen shows Henrietta the ring’s box and describes the ring to her. The book’s title, “A Ring of Truth”, could be derived from the search for Helen’s ring or from Henrietta’s finding out the truth about who Clive Howard really is and who her mother Martha, a seemingly bitter, cold woman, really was before she became a Von Harmon. Readers will become so involved in the story that they will not be able to put it down until all the questions that keep being presented are finally answered. I even think this wonderful book would make a wonderful movie.
Time period, interesting story of class distinction. Happy ending, I think. I’ll have to read the next installment.
I enjoyed this book with interesting characters and a “mystery” to solve. Always a winning combination
I enjoyed it because it gives a look at a period of history I’m not familiar with. Sometimes characters and situations seem exaggerated and unrealistic. It would have been helpful (but not necessary ) to read the first one before this one.
I occasionally like to read these period books to see how people use to live and think. I am always amazed at how much customs have changed. This one in particular showed the difference in classes. One thing that has not changed is our brutal some families can be to other family members, even their children.
Hope they have another one.
Great read, engrossing, wonderful ending
The mystery combined with good characters drew me in and kept me hoping for good things for the families whose lives became intertwined.
A few twists and turns. Easy to read and keep track of characters. Enjoyed it.