Dollycas's Thoughts
I escaped back in time with this wonderful debut. Newport in 1895, in all its glory, until a young maid is found dead on the cliffs.
Deanna Randolph and her maid, Elspeth, make a dynamic duo both in life and as sleuths. Deanna's mother has warned her not to get too friendly with the help, but Deanna has ignored that piece of advice. They are friends and they both would do anything for the other. While the plans for Deanna and Joe Ballard to marry have fallen apart and she doesn't want him around she knows he is not a killer.
The author brings the time period of the Gilded Age alive. The "cottages", the cliffs, the clothes, the parties and daily life are described in colorful detail. Her words painted so fantastic images.
I enjoyed the character development as Deanna became more and more independent as the story moved along. Then again, her mother was out of town with her ailing sister so things may change when she returns. I loved learning about Joe's work and his ideas. Through Elspeth we come to understand life from a servants point of view. The Manchesters were interesting characters as well.
The story is well written and you know the author really researched the material to make it as accurate as possible. She gave me plenty of suspects and several red herrings to track as I followed the clues right along with Deanna and Elspeth.
Shelley Freydont has shown she can write a superb mystery set in present time in her Celebration Bay Mysteries, and now she has shown she can do historical mysteries too. The next book in this series, A Golden Cage, comes out June 7. I recommend that if you haven't read this one yet, grab it so you are all ready for the next installment.
I escaped back in time with this wonderful debut. Newport in 1895, in all its glory, until a young maid is found dead on the cliffs.
Deanna Randolph and her maid, Elspeth, make a dynamic duo both in life and as sleuths. Deanna's mother has warned her not to get too friendly with the help, but Deanna has ignored that piece of advice. They are friends and they both would do anything for the other. While the plans for Deanna and Joe Ballard to marry have fallen apart and she doesn't want him around she knows he is not a killer.
The author brings the time period of the Gilded Age alive. The "cottages", the cliffs, the clothes, the parties and daily life are described in colorful detail. Her words painted so fantastic images.
I enjoyed the character development as Deanna became more and more independent as the story moved along. Then again, her mother was out of town with her ailing sister so things may change when she returns. I loved learning about Joe's work and his ideas. Through Elspeth we come to understand life from a servants point of view. The Manchesters were interesting characters as well.
The story is well written and you know the author really researched the material to make it as accurate as possible. She gave me plenty of suspects and several red herrings to track as I followed the clues right along with Deanna and Elspeth.
Shelley Freydont has shown she can write a superb mystery set in present time in her Celebration Bay Mysteries, and now she has shown she can do historical mysteries too. The next book in this series, A Golden Cage, comes out June 7. I recommend that if you haven't read this one yet, grab it so you are all ready for the next installment.
