Davenport House is the first book in a family saga following the wealthy Davenports and their servants in 1915 America.Mary Davenport is a 22-year-old idealist who worries that the world in the Progressive Era is leaving her behind. She lives isolated in the Pennsylvania countryside with her affluent and secretive family. When her father dies suddenly, Mary becomes pained with grief and … and increasingly suspicious of those around her.
A humble servant girl has the chance of a lifetime to become a lady’s companion. Costly dresses, exquisite rooms, and fine dinners are pleasant distractions from what is really happening in the house.
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Our heroine was a bit thick headed, and everyone was so secretive that it took an extra 50 pages to pull the truth out of their mouth…if anyone knew how to speak up, it would have been a shorter book…But, I did get the 2nd installment in hopes the author has improved.
I was not sure that I would like this book because I do not usually read this type of book—but I am glad that I did.
Interesting story line—–characters that I liked and did not like.
interesting twists.
Easy read with out a hole bunch of boring stuf.
The twists and turns in the lives of the characters makes this series a very fascinating read.
I really enjoyed reading this book. There is murder, mayhem and romance with a cozy mystery combined. It’s a book that can be read by late elementary school students to adults of all ages without worry of language or vivid language of some romance novels.
historical and easy to follow
Liked this book and will read next in series.
I read all the books in this series. Although I sometimes wanted to strangle one of the characters and thought some plot twists were over the top, I couldn’t stop reading. Do yourself a favor; find a comfortable chair, turn off the TV and phone, and send the rest of the family away for the weekend.
Read all 7 books and enjoyed all of them.
This is a light, easy to digest, mostly entertaining read.
Perfect for a lazy afternoon curled up on a couch with your favourite beverage.
The story loses it’s way and it’s pace after the half way point, but picks up toward the end to provide a satisfying ending.
Mostly a mystery, with a whiff of romance. This is primarily a story about a naive young woman who has to learn to assert herself in a suddenly threatening world.
If 3.5 stars was a category – I would have given it that. I’ve rounded up to four, because I was surprised by how amusing I found the first half of the story to be.
Recommended for unabashed fans of light, sincere fiction.
Great read. I couldn’t stop reading. I’m finishing book 5 of this series. Can’t wait to read 6. Some books you can guess what is coming. Not with this series.
I really enjoy historical fiction especially from 1800’s Britain. Really loved the characters. Great twist at the end. Wonderful read.
I loved his book so much I had to get the next one. This is something I don’t often do but this story goes through generations
Great plot but the writer missed an opportunity to use all the wonderful flowery language of the Victorian era. The spoken words were very simplistic.
Set in a time when women really held no place in society other daughter, wife and mother it is one of some intrigue that is unpredictable but sad to see how families can scheme and had no regard of one another.
Interesting storyline and characters
Didn’t like it. Characters seemed too flat.
The characters are realistic enough, with plausible decisions, and it was easy reading. Not intellectual, just page turner.
It was just ok.
A powerful American murder mystery