A reputation dies

A historical murder mystery set in the Regency period, specifically after the Cochrane affair.

In the course of a ton party, a society wasp is murdered after making pointed remarks about someone named Thompson. Bow Street soon realises that one of the guests must be responsible; one suspect is an old friend of Justin Rutherford who undertakes to clear him.

A very enjoyable murder mystery in the vein of Annabel Laine. The society background is well handled and I confess the eventual murderer was not the person I thought it was.

Recommended.

1816 London. At an evening soiree, society gossip, Marmaduke Yarnton, is found dead in the gentlemen's cloakroom. On becoming the prime suspect due to his reaction to some gossip, Lord Velmond asks his friend, ex-Captain, Justin Rutherford to help. Justin teams up with his old Sergeant, Bow Street Runner Joseph Watts, and reluctantly with his neice Anthea.
An enjoyable and charming clean cosy mystery, well-written with its few twists, and a likeable main character.
Thankfully, for me, no romance involved. I look forward to the next in the series.
A NetGalley Book

Charming Regency whodunit!

I've read quite a few of Chetwynd Ley's works in the past, so when the chance came to revisit her writings, I took it and wasn't disappointed.
A spiteful ton member, Mr Marmaduke Yarnton , of the mellifluous voice (I love that!), who holds his place with gossip, innuendo and malicious hints, has, it seems has finally gone too far. He is found strangled at the fashionable Lady Windlesham's soirée. Admittedly, the Lady wanted her event to be of note, but not quite in this tenor.
The thing is just before he is found dead, the newlywed Lord Velmond had taken exception to some of Yarnton's baiting and threatened him. Ergo, Velmond is suspect no. 1.
A chance meeting with his friend Justin Rutherford has Velmond show more requesting his assistance to help clear his name.
The Honorable Justin is rather an interesting character. I do like his humor and his self deprecating manner. He's just so very British. As his godmother, Lady Quainton describes him, he's a scholar who "every now and then feels an urge to take himself out of his books and plunge into some adventure or other ... he acted as an intelligence officer for Wellington during the Peninsular campaign ... [and seems to suffer] from a consuming curiosity which now and then breaks out in unexpected directions."
Justin undertakes to see what he can discover for Velmond, helped of by the irrepressible niece Anthea, his godmother Lady Quainton, and as it turns out his contacts with the Bow Street Runners.
What Justin uncovers is so much more than expected, and that ripple keeps enlarging.
First published in 1984, this ebook edition brings a well loved author's works back into the spotlight. I quite enjoyed Richard Ley's Afterward where he talks about his "mum" the writer (1913-2004).
A rather elegant and clean period mystery with two delightful leading characters. There's currently no romance that I could detect but who knows what the future holds?

A Sapere Books ARC via NetGalley show less