After wealthy, eligible bachelor Edmund Croaksworth drops dead at the Autumnal Ball, Beatrice Steele sees the perfect opportunity to put her detective skills to use before someone else ends up dead.
I didn’t know what to expect when I pulled this book off my shelf, but it turned out to be a pleasant delight. This book is Pride and Prejudice meets the movie Clue, set in a Regency-era country house. The characters are all trapped together under one roof with a murderer, and it’s up to Beatrice, alongside Inspector Drake, to uncover the culprit.
This was my first book of the year, and I feel like I’m starting things off on a good note. I had a lot of fun reading this book. The humor is very tongue-in-cheek and playful, which may not work for everyone, but I found it highly entertaining. The characters are outrageous and flamboyant in the best way, and this is definitely a book that isn’t meant to be taken too seriously.
While the story was fun overall, there were a few things that didn’t quite work. It felt like the book could have used another editorial pass; for example, at one point the characters discover four cigars in a room, only to later discuss there being three. I actually went back to reread the section, thinking I’d missed something, but it turned out to be a small continuity error. Thankfully, these moments didn’t take away too much from the enjoyment.
With multiple suspects, plenty of red herrings, and a lighthearted tone, this story fits nicely into the cozy mystery category. It has the humor and mystery I expect from the genre.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story.
Sounds like a fun book!
It was fun and silly and a great start to the year!
First book of the year ✅
Love seeing this, friend! Happy it was such a great read. 💕
Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.