As the suffragette movement sweeps England in 1912, Lady Cecilia Bates wants to march but ends up trailing a killer instead in the latest entry to the Manor Cat Mysteries. Lady Cecilia of Danby Hall feels adrift. She couldn’t be less interested in helping to plan the church’s upcoming bazaar. Instead, what excites her most is the Woman’s Suffrage Union meeting she has just attended. Inspired by … attended.
Inspired by the famous and charismatic leader of the group, Mrs. Amelia Price, Cecilia is eager to join the Union—if she can hide it from her parents, that is. But when Mrs. Price is found dead at the foot of the stairs of her home, her Votes for Women sash torn away, Cecilia knows she must attend to a more urgent matter: finding the killer. With the help of her lady’s maid Jane and intelligent cat Jack, she hopes to play her part in earning women’s equality by stopping the Union’s dangerous foe.
more
Series: Manor Cat Mystery #2
Publication Date: 6/2/20
Number of Pages: 320
This is an excellent addition to the well-written, well-plotted, perfectly-paced Manor Cat Mystery series. We get better acquainted with the main and supporting characters and there are a couple of new characters – with possibilities – added. Still no romance though – and that is something I want in my mysteries. Luckily, there are a couple of possibilities for Cecilia and Jane as well – we’ll just have to try the third book to see what happens there.
It is the fall of 1912 and Lady Cecilia Bates is getting restless. She’s not unhappy, she loves Danby Hall and their little village, she just isn’t sure where her life is going and if she wants it to go in the direction in which her parents expect. She wants to be useful and to accomplish something – especially after she solved the murder that took place at Danby Hall earlier in the year, Lady Takes The Case. So, she is totally open and ripe for the message of suffragette leader, Mrs. Amelia Price, when she comes to Danby for a rally.
Not everybody in Danby is happy to see the suffragettes arrive in their village, and they heap verbal abuse on the ladies – someone even shoving them. That certainly doesn’t daunt the ladies and when Cecilia meets Amelia, she likes her right away. Amelia is a charismatic, energetic lady who holds the crowds spellbound. However, Cecilia senses some undercurrents and tensions within Amelia’s entourage and wonders if all is as happy as they make it appear.
When Cecilia arrives at Primrose Cottage one morning, she finds one of the inhabitants sitting outside crying and the remainder in the house – also in tears. They awoke to find Amelia’s body at the foot of the stairs. How could that have happened? Did she fall? Was she pushed? Accident or murder? Did Amelia tipple a bit too much?
When Inspector Hennesy seems content to leave it as either an accident or the work of a burglar found in the area, Cecilia isn’t content and decides to ask a few questions herself. Along with Annabel, a rich American heiress, and Jane Hughes, Annabel’s lady’s maid, they travel to London to ask questions and then continue investigating back home in Danby. Could it truly be an accident? Cecilia just doesn’t feel that to be the case and there are so many suspects from family to lovers to subordinates in the organization.
Will Cecilia unravel the mystery? You’ll just have to read the book to find an exciting and eventful conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am already looking forward to the next one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was immediately swept into this delightful historical mystery by the fabulous characters, including Jack, the marmalade cat who insists on accompanying Cecilia on her adventures. The characters are three-dimensional, demonstrated by their actions and conversations. The mystery was challenging, and the revealing of whodunit was dramatic. The setting of Edwardian England, in the country village of Danby, is beautifully depicted.
Lady Cecilia and her sometimes-lady’s-maid Jane have become friends, especially since the two had worked together earlier in the year to solve a murder at Danby Hall. While Jane is technically Annabel’s lady’s maid, the American heiress who captured the heart of Cecilia’s brother Patrick, Cecilia enjoys her help when available. Jack’s cat-sonality shines through! He was rescued by Jane on the ship she came from America on, including when the ship was going down, and is Cecilia’s faithful companion.
Suffrage is as huge of an issue in England as it is in the United States, as testified to by those who are excited to see the president of the Women’s Suffrage Union hold a rally in Danby. It is also protested by those who think they are unnatural women, with men waiting outside the Guildhall to cause trouble. Against her mother’s wishes, Cecile attended the first rally accompanied only by her marmalade cat, and was excited to meet Amelia Price, her daughter Anne, and secretary Cora. Even more exciting, she was invited to visit them.
Cecilia and Jane enjoyed visits with the suffragettes, and Jane was able to attend the second rally with Cecilia. The morning after that uneventful rally, Amelia was found dead at the base of the steps from the second floor of the cottage they rented. Cecilia and Jane wanted desperately to find out who killed the charismatic woman and began to ask questions around the village.
Readers, put on your sleuthing caps! There were several possible whodunits, and I did suspect the real one more than once, but nobody felt completely right. A trip to London, asking questions of neighbors while collecting donations for the church fundraiser, and watching people at the memorial service revealed a little more. The real culprit wasn’t completely unexpected, what surprised me was learning who Cecilia suspected. The ending was exciting, with loose ends tied up. I am definitely looking forward to the next one! I highly recommend this to those who love well-written historical cozy mysteries set in the English countryside, with delightful characters, a companion cat, and an unconventional Lady.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, a review was not required.
Lady Cecilia and her maid, Jane are involved in another murder is this, the second book in this delightful mystery series set in 1912 England. Cecilia is bored. She has no desire to live the rest of her life as her mother wishes she would. Her brother may or may not marry an American heiress. She is just what Cecillia’s mother thinks is perfect for a woman of her social standing. As marriage and village events are not her cup of tea, Cecilia is drwn to the leader of a group of suffragettes, Amelia Price. This will banish the boredom. That is until Amelia is found dead at the foot of the stairs in her cottage. The police lean towards an accident but murder is Cecilia’s thinking. With the help of Jane and an assist from the very clever cat, Jack, the investigating begins and the list of suspects is substantial.
I enjoy historical mysteries with strong female characters. The puzzle was very satisfying and I guessed wrong as to the guilty party. I will certainly read the next book in the series.
4.5 stars
LADY RIGHTS A WRONG, the second Manor Cat Mystery by Eliza Casey, is a perfectly paced, well plotted Edwardian mystery full of interesting characters, suspense, and an enjoyable puzzle to solve. The bucolic English village setting is a balm for readers, a welcome escape from everyday life.
Lady Cecelia loves her family, her ancestral home, and village, but she is restless and bored. Her family is focused on making an advantageous marital match for her brother and an American heiress, but Cecelia’s mother still has time to poke at Cecelia about her own future. However, Cecelia is not very happy about her future prospects, married or not. So when Mrs. Amelia Price brings her Woman’s Suffrage Union assembly to town, Cecelia is drawn to the meeting and the idea of women having more freedoms. When Mrs. Price is found dead at the bottom of her cottage’s stairs, Cecelia is not as convinced as everyone else that it was an accident and sets out to unmask a killer.
I really enjoy this series. LADY RIGHTS A WRONG is even better than the delightful first book in the series LADY TAKES THE CASE. Lady Cecelia is bright, intelligent, and curious about the world around her. I think she is a good representation of the young ladies of her ere longing for a bit more out of their lives. Cecelia’s sometimes lady’s maid Jane is appealing and makes a good investigative partner. I would be remiss if I did not make note of darling Jack the cat that plays a big part in solving the mystery. The supporting characters are well drawn and add plenty of variety, and there are lots of viable suspects from which to choose. The mystery is engaging with clues dispersed throughout the story. I did identify the killer rather early, but it was still fun to go along with Cecelia as she put the pieces to the puzzle together.
LADY RIGHTS A WRONG is a wonder historical mystery, and I look forward to many more adventures with Lady Cecelia, Jane, and Jack. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.