Rating: Very Good
Source: Publisher
Description: Lady Montfort and her pragmatic housekeeper Mrs. Jackson investigate a murder of a WWI officer with amnesia in the 20th-century English countryside.
Building on the success of her last three mysteries in the same series, Tessa Arlen returns us to the same universe in Death of an Unsung Hero with more secrets, intrigue, and charming descriptions of the English countryside.
In 1916, the world is at war and the energetic Lady Montfort has persuaded her husband to offer the dower house to the War Office as an auxiliary hospital for officers recovering from shell-shock with their redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Jackson contributing to the war effort as the hospital’s quartermaster.
Despite the hospital’s success, the farming community of Haversham, led by the Monfort’s neighbor Sir Winchell Meacham, does not approve of a country-house hospital for men they consider to be cowards. When Sir Evelyn Bray, one of the patients, is found lying face down in the garden with his head bashed in, both Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson have every reason to fear that the War Office will close their hospital. Once again the two women unite their diverse talents to discover who would have reason to murder a war hero suffering from amnesia.
Genre: Mystery - Historical
Why I Picked This Book: I've been wanting to read this series since the first book and I've been on a huge historical mystery kick lately.
My Impression: I do love a historical mystery and this series has landed in my To Read list. I loved the mix of upstairs and down, the strong and intelligent main characters, and the at times heartbreaking World War 1element.
Mrs. Jackson and Lady Montfort May just be one of my favorite investing teams. While they’re both intelligent and observant their perspectives and knowledge is very different so they are really able to work together. As well their friendship and respect for each other feels incredibly genuine.
The mystery was very entertaining though it did have touches of tragedy as I spent more time around the officers that inhabit the hospital. There were a number of very clever clues and red herrings. This one kept me guessing but even better made me feel emotionally involved.
While this is the 4th book in the series I really had no trouble jumping in even from the beginning. This was really a delightful read and has me looking forward to reading more from the series.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I’m looking forward to reading more of the series.
Would I Recommend this Book? Definitely! If you enjoy historical mysteries or historical fiction you’ll enjoy this book.
I got to see this author a couple of years ago at the mystery conference I attended in Phoenix. She was very interesting. I meant to start the series, but my word, there are a lot of series. Glad this one worked well for you and I think I'd like this book very much.
ReplyDeleteThis series sounds good; added it.
ReplyDeleteI definitely would like this, it looks/sounds terrific!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, now this is the kind of mystery I'd read for sure - that upstairs downstairs makes me want to buy in. Going to add it to the wish list.
ReplyDelete