I found this book to somewhat slapstick, though I couldn't determine if that was intentional or not. It was amusing in spots, as the characters' mannerisms, although a bit cliched, did elicit plenty of chuckles from me. However, I couldn't escape the feeling that the book reads more like a screenplay for a movie that would be a cross between the Downton Abbey tv show and the board game Clue. If that was the intent of the author, then it's brilliant, but probably only so long as the movie was actually made.