False advertising

This is not really a mystery and Lady Helena doesn’t do much “investigating.” Its disappointing as a romance as there is very little interaction between the couple. It is something of a “coming into her own” story as told in a series of loosely related incidents that are sometimes interesting on their own merit and as summed up in the last speeches. It is way too long and didn’t keep me interested. I kept waiting for everything to come together into a solid story but it didn’t happen. The narration was OK but a little forced. Seemed to take forever for the book to end.

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21 people found this helpful

Well written, and interesting.

This is no cookie cutter "widow delving into the suspicious death of her beloved husband." It's a story of dementia slowing taking away your mother her history, and of stories never told. Of dealing with a large family, in such times. I feel I really got to know the Scott-DeQuincys' . I can't wait for the next installment.

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10 people found this helpful

spoiler alert!

Not a true mystery as a problem isn't known until it's confessed. Not a romance novel, no "thriller" aspect
It's a different sort of story. A good read, even if it's lacking in luster.

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10 people found this helpful

Not a mystery!

I didn't even finish. I kept waiting for Lady Helena to investigate but that never happened. This was a lot of narration about the family members, descriptions of her mother's dementia, the landscape, etc, all strung together with no purpose. Lady Helena has an obnoxious bossy younger brother that she doesn't stand up to, along with other family members who are always complaining about money and asking her for financial help which she gives. I found it all very annoying. The "mystery' was resolved in Chapter 25 (out of 34h) by a death bed confession (not investigation), and when nothing else happened in the next couple chapters I gave up and returned the book. There are other much better British mysteries of the same time period with much stronger and more interesting women characters.

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5 people found this helpful

NOT A MYSTERY I TELL YOU, NOT A MYSTERY AT ALL!!!

After listening to this"MYSTERY NOVEL" IN ITS ENTIRETY, I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!
after the main mystery being solved with three hours left in the book I knew that I had chosen it this really should be more of a book under the genre Romance! I do not want to give anything away just take my word for it I have over 400 books from audible 95% of the Mysteries!!!!!

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2 people found this helpful

Great Escape

This was a charming story with not too much drama which I do appreciate right now. I like to escape into a novel with my head phones on while I am cleaning or when I need a rest. I didn't start out thinking that this book would have a lot of substance but it grew on me as the story became more complex. I gave it a five because it took me peacefully away from worries about family and friends who are alone in this solitary time. So I am grateful to the author for that and I really do hope we will see more of Lady Helena as she grows into her real self.

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1 person found this helpful

Interesting first book in this series

Good story, sympathetic heroine, excellent narration. I’m looking forward to the next book in order to follow the life and investigations of Lady Helena and her family members.
Thanks Jane Steen and Elizabeth Klett.

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1 person found this helpful

Tedious from beginning to end!

Don’t bother - it’s not worth your time or money - this was an insipid ‘story’, seemingly designed to bore the pants off its listeners.

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Excellent Narrator

The narrator of this book is really good. Great at doing different voices and excellent at voice inflection. Too bad the book is boring.

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Loved!

This series got me through my second round of COVID. I’m so hooked. I generally won’t turn away a historical mystery and rarely write reviews. But this series has been so captivating. I love the nicknames within the family, the adventures and intrigue. I always love a strong female sleuth but this book does a great job of acknowledging the difficulties in class differences a woman faces when trying to be independent. I love how the narrator portrays the oldest brother. I love the complexities revealed in the romantic relationships. So many unpredictable twists and turns. Please continue this series!

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