Spring 1763. Career diplomat Alec Halsey returns to London to the shocking news his estranged brother, the Earl of Delvin, has not only killed his friend in a duel but is engaged to the woman Alec hoped to marry. The dead man’s mother wants Alec to investigate, so he reluctantly attends a weekend house party celebrating the engagement. Houseguests get more than they bargained for when a lady’s … maid is murdered, the bride-to-be is attacked, and a guest is shot dead. Uncovering a connection between these sinister acts and his brother’s duel, Alec confronts a cruel twist of fate and why his brother will go to any lengths to ruin him in Polite Society.
The Alec Halsey mysteries explore the darker side of Lucinda Brant’s deliciously romantic 18th century world. Along with her trademark wit and high drama there are deeper subplots and even quirkier characters that will have you shuddering and laughing in equal measure!
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Ok story. Hard to follow with many characters, most of whom go by different names.
Involves both mystery and romance but is rather graphic in spots. Although the books ends with a promise of happiness (need to see what book 2 brings), the characters lives are rather tragic.
How did they solve a murder before forensic science was invented? It would require a confession if there was no eyewitness. This drives a lot of the action. I liked the central character a lot and the question as to whether he had a chance for happiness. This kept me interested and is why I can recommend the book.
This historic novel of manners explores the damaging effect of a restrictive society on women, and the “lower” classes, in the Georgian era. But the history is wrapped in a compelling love story. A good read.
Brant’s writing skills, knowledge of the 18th century, and the combination mystery/romance may have me changing my mind about this genre. I’ve always eschewed them, assuming the genre to be mediocre at best, lacking in well developed plots, and having an over abundance of steamy bedroom scenes that leave little to the imagination.
Her characters are well developed, and her women, for the most part, headstrong and independent. When Selina pours hot candle wax over Delvin’s uhm…aroused state, even I cringed a bit before laughing and thinking that would have to be darn uncomfortable with those tight fitting breeches.
A quick read, but more importantly, a good read.
This book packs everything: crime, mystery, romance. Not just a cookie cutter formula. Keep writing, Lucinda!
Enjoyed reading this and will read more books by this author.
One can’t go wrong with a Captain Lacey mystery. It is not just the protagonist, Captain Gabriel Lacey, who is interesting and multi-dimensional. The secondary characters from Lacey’s aristocratic wife to the outspoken firebrand of an uncle, all are unique and complex.
In this outing, Lacey must delve through layers of secrets held over the ages, and what he discovers isn’t pretty. It is a fine new addition to the Lacey series.
I eagerly await my next read by this author.
This could be subtitled “Aristocrats Behaving Badly.” I picked this up for holiday reading because it looked appropriately light, and then was surprised that it was pretty good. In fact, I’ll probably look for more in the series. The events in this first book take place over a lengthy weekend of celebrating an engagement at a country estate, and as the title suggests, the party is marred by murders as well as other negative encounters. The protagonist is supposedly the younger brother of the dastardly prospective groom, but he learns many things about his brother and his birthright.
Have read two in series and plan to read more
An amazing book and series by Lucinda Brant. Her characters are so well drawn that you will fall in love with them. The story is complex and thrilling, wonderfully researched and satisfying. I love this series, it is a must read and will make you a Lucinda Brant fan for life
Everything about this book was amazing! Characters, mystery, romance, historical details, interesting relationships . . . and the icing on the cake, the phenomenal audiobook narration. Jumping right into book two!
I loved reading this series and cannot wait for the next book
Gah, what is there to like about this storyline?
There is the evil brother who refers to Alec as “Second” – as in birth order. We’ll be wondering about that, and parentage, and the second pages of letters with the resultant cliffhanger because we’re allowed, of course, to read the first page only.
Plenty of dead bodies: from a duel, head trauma, gunshot (two separate victims) and the demise of one of the villains in the end.
Hush money. Blackmail. Homosexuality. Cuckoldry. Scapegoats. Sexual acts all over the place, sometimes with servants, and sometimes with more than two participants. This in the days before performance enhancing drugs or blogs.
As a woman I hated that innocent, vapid Emily was subjected to examination to determine her hymen was intact after rape interrupted. However, no one, not even one of the female characters were likeable. Too many stupid victims.
Oh, and the apprentice apothecary, now valet – who’s your daddy?
This was a good book and a look at the world from the eyes of others. I have mostly Irish, English and Scandalvan in my blood but on ancestry I keep finding African in my cousins. Not many but it is there.
I got lost with the characters.
There was no rhyme or reason to who was who. First they were referred to by the title and then they were called by their first name. I was half-way through the book when I realized this and I quit reading at that point.
It was excellent and I will definitely follow this series.
good read