Barbara Metzger turns a really bizarre plot into pure bliss. Maylene Treadwell's mother is, um, well a seance mystic. Since her husband died without a penny, Lady Tremont has been keeping poverty away by leading seances in her drawing-room in the evenings. Participants are ushered to the 'donating urn' near the door, for "the Fund for Physical Research." Actually, mother and daughter have an impressive cadre of maids, shop owners, and general snoops who help the ladies with their seances and searches.

Mother and daughter are barely staying part of Polite Society. One day, the Earl of Hyatt and the Duke of Mondale come to one of the seances -- looking for the Duke's daughter (who happened to be almost betrothed to the Earl). Belinda has disappeared and the London police cannot find her. The Earl of Hyatt is sure this is all a sham and voices his disdain. And the fun begins. This is a short, merry romp through the snobby ton vs. the women-who-always-seem-to-find-the-lost. Maylene and her mother have a wonderful time outsmarting the earl.

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The budding relationship between a clever almost-spinster and a high born gentleman about to marry for the sake of his family line isn't a new plot premise but the story itself is marvelous (Marylene's mother holds seances for "donations" to their society for somesuch twaddle). The dialogue here, very funny and witty, raises this Regency novel above many of its peers. The author has clearly done her research - she knows an astounding number of period catchphrases and sprinkles them like gems throughout the story. I really enjoyed their banter, this one is definitely worth a read.

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