A suspicious death, stolen gems and an unclaimed reward: who will be the victor in a deadly game of cat and mouse?London October 1886: Trapped in a troubled marriage, Lucy Lawrence is ripe for an adventure. But when she meets the enigmatic Phineas Stone, over the body of her husband in the mortuary, her world begins to fall apart.When her late husband’s secrets spill from the grave, and her life … her late husband’s secrets spill from the grave, and her life is threatened by the leader of London’s most notorious gang, Lucy must find the strength to rise to the challenge. But who can she trust and how is she to stay out of the murderous clutches of London’s most dangerous criminal?
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This novel definitely kept me reading from page one straight to the last word! Lucy Lawrence has no idea that her husband is getting into all sorts of trouble. She knows that their marriage isn’t exactly going well–but figures she will just have to get used to it.
When a policeman shows up at her door and tells her her husband is dead–run over in the streets in a freak accident and she has to go and make sure it is him–As if that isn’t bad enough some man is there as well–an insurance inspector–things really go from bad to worse!
A man comes to her door and insists that Lucy give him what her husband had? She has no idea–enter the insurance inspector again. Things keep getting worse and worse until Lucy decides to figure out what everyone is looking for and solve this mystery once and for all!!
But–who can she trust?
Lucy Lawrence, widowed, is left in shock and dismay at the sudden death of her rather flaky husband, Charlie. She has a family, who disowned her when she married him, but what a family!
You cannot help but empathise with Lucy as she is determined to solve the riddle of her late husband’s behaviour and its consequences. The author leads us very well through a smartly paced plot full of bad hats and sinister cads, weak and amoral family members and villainous women of steel clothed in soft reproach. And then there is the enigmatic Phineas Stone and his henchman, George. Lucy has her loyal, clever and competent henchwoman, Mary the maid, and a good thing, too!
Lucy sometimes makes a terrible judgement here and there and is often headstrong, if not downright pig-headed, but she is intrepid in her determination and her struggle to keep herself from drowning financially. Moreover, she cares.
The writing is good and clear and you are never lost; you are drawn into Lucy’s world and despite her daft moments, you are rooting for her to succeed. If you enjoy a well-written Victorian semi-cozy mystery, this is perfect for you.
Loved it!
I absolutely loved this book! The language is beautiful and true to the era – to the best of my knowledge – which also happens to be my favourite historical setting. I loved the characters, particularly Phineas Stone. The plot is full of intrigue and twists and turns and even has the beginnings of a wonderful romance. I have terrible follow-through with series, but I hope I remember to read the next book!
I really enjoyed this book! Set in Victorian England, this mystery finds widow Lucy Lawrence determined to help solve her late husband’s murder. The blooming relationship between Lucy and insurance investigator Phineas Stone adds an additional layer to the story, and I can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses. I’m looking forward to Lucy’s next adventure!
This is a great start to a historical mystery series. I am a sucker for historical mysteries, especially when there is an element of romance. What I liked about this one is the realistic main character, Lucy, who is appropriate to her time. She isn’t all of a sudden a fantastic sleuth; she’s hesitant and makes mistakes. The slow-to-develop chemistry between her and Mr. Stone is also promising–leaves room to grow in future novels! Looking forward to the next book.
This is a most enjoyable historical mystery, set in Victorian London and Yorkshire during the 1880s.
Lucy Lawrence is an engaging and likeable character, at times impulsive and quick to speak her mind, but always a woman of honesty and integrity. As the story plays out, she faces some interesting and mysterious opponents and endures more than one reversal of fortune, leaving her questioning who can or cannot be trusted. This gives the reader a strong sense of empathy and loyalty that connects them to Lucy and heightens their interest in her fate.
The story is well-constructed and very well-written. The twists and turns in the story keep the reader — and Lucy — guessing right up to the last page.