In this historical mystery from the national bestselling author of A Brush with Shadows, Lady Kiera Darby and Sebastian Gage get tangled in a dangerous web of religious and political intrigue. July 1831. In the midst of their idyllic honeymoon in England’s Lake District, Kiera and Gage’s seclusion is soon interrupted by a missive from her new father-in-law. A deadly incident involving a distant … deadly incident involving a distant relative of the Duke of Wellington has taken place at an abbey south of Dublin, Ireland, and he insists that Kiera and Gage look into the matter.
Intent on discovering what kind of monster could murder a woman of the cloth, the couple travel to Rathfarnham Abbey school. Soon a second nun is slain in broad daylight near a classroom full of young girls. With the sinful killer growing bolder, the mother superior would like to send the students home, but the growing civil unrest in Ireland would make the journey treacherous.
Before long, Kiera starts to suspect that some of the girls may be hiding a sinister secret. With the killer poised to strike yet again, Kiera and Gage must make haste and unmask the fiend, before their matrimonial bliss comes to an untimely end…
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I’m a huge fan of this series. The relationship between Kiera and Gage, husband and wife investigators, grows deeper and warmer in each book. And the book’s setting of a Catholic nunnery in Ireland was intriguing. The author seems to enjoy using a rogue, whom she makes us like more each time we meet him, in each story. This time it’s Marsdale. She develops Lady Gage’s maid, Bree, and Gage’s manservant, Anderley more in this book, too, so that all of the characters come to life with richer histories and undertones. The mystery itself felt a little shakier than usual, but the author pulled it all together in the end, even though she made a few of the girls at the convent look more suspicious than needed, and she threw in a few surprises at the very end. I highly recommend this series.
Love this whole series! Currently reading book 9. I have a few on audiobooks and the reader is fantastic!
Reviewed: Sept. 28, 2016
This is book #5 in the Lady Darby Mystery series that takes Lady Darby and her husband, Sebastian Gage, away from their honeymoon in the Lake District across the Irish Sea to Ireland to investigate a murder at an abbey south of Dublin at the request of her father-in-law, Lord Gage. No details are given into the death of a young postulant and both go in blind. The difficulties within Ireland between Protestants and Catholics make getting information that much harder and no one trusts them. The suspense, tension and history within this story was compelling, fascinating and riveting.
The atmosphere portrayed throughout added further layers to the story…”I wrapped my shawl tighter around me against the chill of a stray breeze trailing its fingers along my neck, fighting back my dark thoughts, and retraced my steps to the point where I had seen the path branch, this time turning toward the south. The light was dim beneath the trees in this part of the woods. The leaves rustled overhead in the growing force of the wind. Bree had been right this morning. A rainstorm was coming…”
Lady Darby, who prefers to be called Mrs. Gage, is still fighting her own personal demons and insecurities. As hard as she tries to push them aside while working through this investigation, they still find a way to creep to the forefront of her conscience. Her conversation with the mother superior gave her great insight into how to truly view herself and the work she does. Seeing her struggles and growth gives further depth and dimension to her character.
Ms. Huber’s ability to weave a mystery around significant events of history is beautifully done and held me in thrall.
I love all of the Lady Darby mysteries. They are a wonderful read!
As usual, a very complicated mystery is thrust upon Kiera and Gage. Mid-honeymoon, they are sent to Ireland to unravel the murder of a nun. Great characterizations, unusual circumstances and the complex Irish Catholic/Protestant history round out another completely enjoyable contribution to this series.
Lady Darby and Sebastian Gage are enjoying their honeymoon in the Lakes District. A message from Lord Gage concerning the murder of a nun interrupts their peace. They set off for Rathfarnham Abbey school and soon after they arrive, a second nun is killed. Are the murders connected to the civil unrest or is the answer more personal to the victims?
It was lovely to see Kiera and Sebastian at ease together at the beginning of the story. They are reluctant to leave when Lord Gage’s note arrives, but they know they might be the only chance of finding the truth. I especially liked how their relationship is still growing. Marriage did not automatically cause trust between them, they still have to find a routine for their investigations.
The mystery was all right. It had twists and turns. It was a little frustrating that while Kiera and Sebastian followed the clues; the mystery was solved with sudden revelations to the story. Still, it was well written and the details of the time were fascinating.
Fans of the series wil definitely enjoy this one.
I really enjoyed this book as it delved into some new territory for Keira and Gage. Newlywed, they are called to solve a mystery at an Abbey in Dublin. I enjoyed Keira as a newlywed and trying to find her new place in her new life. In the midst of solving another mystery, she is wrestling with some deep identity questions and finds peace in her choices. Another great continuation in this fantastic series.
I enjoyed this book as it was set in 19th Century Ireland and included interesting historical info along with an original and interesting plot. The newly-wed heroine and her husband were an engaging detective pair. I look forward to reading more of their adventures!
This is not my favorite in the series, but is still a very enjoyable book. Kiera and Gage have been called away from their honeymoon to respond to a summons for an investigtion in Ireland by Gage’s father. Brought to an abby among all the contention between the Catholics and Protestants, they are asked to investigate the murder of a nun in training just outside the abby walls.
I think the reason why I don’t enjoy this book as much as the others is that Kiera and Gage seem to be less of a team in this investigation and more of just two people who happen to be investigating the same crime. Most of this is due to the fact that they are investigating in an abby, and as such Gage is not able to traverse freely among the nuns and students. Much of the book was spent with them going their seperate ways to do individual research into the matter and then coming together again to essentially share notes. And considering that this was the first book in which they are now married, I expected them to be an even stronger team. There is quite a bit of tension, however, in regards to Gage’s desire to protect Kiera and her worrying over the practicality of her continuing on investigating alongside Gage now that she’s married and may one day be a mother. Further this investigation seemed quite slow in comparison to those that before and then came together all at once quite quickly.
So although this is not my favorite, it is still a phenomenal series and I would recommend any of these books to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
Découvrir la série des aventures de Lady Darcy a été une excellente surprise. Beaucoup de romans “historiques” ressemblent à un assemblage de fiches documentaires ou tentent de manière maladroite d’actualiser leur contexte en projetant sur leurs personnages une “vision du monde” anachronique. Ce n’est pas le cas avec Madame Huber, qui restitue de manière crédible les mécanismes complexes d’une société aristocratique datée avec ses rites, ses préjugés et ses impasses. L’héroïne de la série est un personnage meurtri particulièrement attachant. L’intelligence de l’auteur est de lui prêter des émotions, des passions et des révoltes parlantes pour le lecteur contemporain : la passion pour l’art, l’aspiration à la liberté de choix, à une légitime reconnaissance du talent et des aptitudes féminines par-delà les murs du gynécée. Mais sans jamais forcer le trait pour en faire une suffragette avant la lettre: Lady Darcy est une artiste et une femme constamment mortifiée par une société façonnée par les hommes, mais elle ne se pose pas en féministe, parfaitement consciente des limitations de son monde.
Le coup de génie littéraire de la série est sans doute cette “lettre écarlate” attachée au personnage: le mariage monstrueux de Lady Darcy ne peut que lui valoir notre sympathie tout en soulignant sa singularité unique et dérangeante. Mais surtout elle s’offre comme l’amorce idéale au développement d’intrigues où l’héroïne s’impose contre toute attente sur la scène du crime grâce à des compétences contestées, qui plus est acquises à son corps défendant.
Les aventures de Lady Darby continuent en Irlande. Le roman est extraordinairement bien documenté et on remercie Madame Huber de l’intelligence avec laquelle elle sait combler son lecteur d’informations passionnantes. L’intrigue est d’une complexité extrême et le déroulement progressif de l’écheveau est fascinant. Wellington ! Des espions ! Un enfant illégitime ! On en a la tête qui tourne… Passionnant !
The story line was dragged out
Love the idea of a Lady detective and how she must deal with the strictures of the times. Want to read the rest.
ALL BOOKS (6) IN THIS SERIES ARE GREAT READS. ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE.
Enjoyed the mystery and the history.
An enjoyable historical mystery with insight into the Irish Tithe Wars. Looking forward to the next installment.
Own this book have not read it yet
More of a romance than a mystery. Light reading.
Good historic mystery, very well researched. It was very entertaining, well written and interesting.
I very much enjoy historical fiction. Particularly with strong femal characters. I was glad the romance didn’t overwhelm the mystery.
Great read