Death Comes to the Village

Death Comes to the Village may not be quite as delightfully diverting as Georgette Heyer's Regency Romances, but the dialog (particularly that between Major Robert Kurland and Miss Lucy Harrington) definitely had me amused.

Major Robert Kurland had both legs broken when his horse fell on him at the Battle of Waterloo. He's still not walking, but at least he's no longer raving with fever. Aside from his doctor, Foley the butler, and Bookman (Robert's batman in the army and now his valet), Robert gets to see Lucy, the eldest daughter of the local rector. They've known each other since childhood and Lucy nursed him during the worst of his illness, so she hardly acts like a shrinking violet around the crabby invalid.

Robert thought he saw show more something strange one night. He can't get around to investigate, so he wants Lucy to look around for him. The case becomes personal for that practical and intelligent young woman when she learns that one of the rectory maids has vanished -- taking all her possessions, but not the wages owed her.

Did Mary Smith run off with her young man? Did she move to London? Did something more sinister happen to her?

We readers are introduced to several inhabitants of Kurland St. Mary. I found the glimpses of village life and personalities as interesting as the case itself.

If Robert's problem is being a bedridden man of action, Lucy's problem is her selfish widowed father and their insolent cook who is probably his mistress. Her father isn't at all worried that his older daughter has spent the years since her mother's death caring for her father and siblings instead of getting a husband and life of her own. He expects her to go on caring for his household. If she were to marry his underpaid curate (who does almost all of the rector's work), so much the better -- then his life could go on just as it is now. Gah!

Thanks to Lucy's badgering, Robert is taking an interest in his life and surroundings again. I loved the way the major dealt with his penny-pinching land agent!

On the other hand, Lucy is investigating a little too well. How infuriating that the injuries she suffers from an attack are being treated as a mere accident!

My one regret about Death Comes to the Village is that it is the first book. I loved reading it so much that I would have checked out the entire series, if one had been available. As it is, book two isn't due out for another two months.

If you enjoy Heyer and mysteries set during Regency England, I heartily recommend this novel. show less

A very engaging cosy mystery. The characters are well-characterised and the mystery is full of interesting twists and turns in a small country village. I admired the author's ability to create the admirable Lucy, a strong-minded young woman for whom I felt great sympathy, although some would (and did) call her "A Managing Female" (you can just hear a *sniff*). The male protagonist, Major Kurland is the sort of curmudgeonly gentleman who respects an unconventional woman and treats Lucy to his scathing opinions when he is cross from coping with a battlefield injury.

The main attraction in this series will be these two characters, constantly playing off each other's foibles yet enjoying the sleuthing and challenges in solving the mysteries. show more I'm looking forward to devouring this series and following the fates of several supporting actors. show less

Death Comes to the Village
4 Stars

Confined to bed while recovering from injuries sustained at the Battle of Waterloo, Major Robert Kurkland awakens one night and observes something strange from his window. When a young girl vanishes from the village, Kurkland enlists the aid of the rector’s daughter, Lucy Harrington, who is eager for the diversion from the routine of her daily life. However, as Lucy investigates and gets closer to the truth, a dangerous killer is waiting to strike again…

Lloyd’s characterization is excellent and she successfully captures the social and personal nuances of the time. Nevertheless, the mystery is far too obvious.

Lucy is a very sympathetic heroine and there are moments when once cannot help but wish she show more were a more modern woman so that she could give her selfish and condescending father what for!

Robert is also very appealing. He is the epitome of a physically active and mentally adroit man who is struggling to cope with the weakness and vulnerability stemming from his injuries.

The case calls to mind one of my all time favorite movies Rear Window with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly as Robert and Lucy work together to unmask a killer. While the romance is definitely a slow burn, Robert and Lucy’s interactions are very entertaining and it is fun watching them struggle against their mutual attraction.

All in all, a lovely beginning to the series and I’ve already finished book #2. show less

A fast, entertaining read I picked up and finished in one day.

A wounded soldier and a rector's daughter discover strange goings-on in the sleepy village of Kurland S. Mary in Regency England.

The author has a degree in history so I'm taking on faith that this is a historically accurate cozy mystery tale. Either way I found it to be well-written with both likeable and detestable characters. I'm pretty sure I liked all the characters I was meant to like; Lucy, the MC, and her sister Anna are modelled after Lizzie and Jane in Pride & Prejudice and I suppose arguments could be made for Major Robert Kurland favouring Darcy.

The setting was sketchy; I didn't get a clear sense of the village at all, although the rectory and Kurland Manor are show more both well described.

The plot was good; very good. I know many readers feel like a murder mystery should have a dead body appear almost immediately. If you're the type who is looking for the body to drop, this book isn't for you; you're going to be waiting a long time for a corpse to appear. Instead, this is a very well crafted mystery focussed on the disappearance of two young girls and a rash of thefts taking place in the "big" houses of the village. The author takes you where she wants you to go, then slowly starts introducing the clues that make it clear things aren't as obvious as they seem. I picked up on part of the mystery early, but the bulk of it I didn't get until Ms. Lloyed wanted me to.

Two things about this book stood out for me, neither of which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book (much). The first thing is niggling, really rather trivial: the opening two sentences of the book should be reversed. The second, and I'm certain this is historically accurate, is the author doesn't sugar-coat the complete disregard men have for women in this time; how women are truly nothing more than chattel. It was a rather infuriating theme throughout the story.

I'm under the impression that this is the first in a new series. If so, I'll gladly read the second; I'd like to see more of Lucy and Robert and I'd like to see more of what the author is capable of in terms of plotting. show less

Major Robert Kurland has returned to the quiet vistas of his village home to recuperate from the horrors of Waterloo. However injured his body may be, his mind is as active as ever. Too active, perhaps. When he glimpses a shadowy figure from his bedroom window struggling with a heavy load, the tranquil facade of the village begins to loom sinister...Unable to forget the incident, Robert confides in his childhood friend, Miss Lucy Harrington. As the dutiful daughter of the widowed rector, following up on the major's suspicions offers a welcome diversion - but soon presents real danger. Someone is intent on stopping their investigation. And in a place where no one locks their doors, a series of thefts and the disappearance of two young show more serving girls demands explanation...As Robert grapples with his difficult recovery, he and Lucy try to unearth the dark truth lurking within the village shadows, and stop a killer waiting to strike again... show less

An enjoyable start to an interesting period and series. Lucy and the Major are credible sleuths that are united by their interest in locating the missing maids and resolving; who is the village pilferer? Lots of domestic issues to overcome as they seek the answers.

Lucy Harrington, the rector's daughter, helps nurse Major Robert Kurland after his return from a battle in which he sustained a mobility-impairing injury. One night he suffered a fall. He noticed some irregular movement in the area, and one of the rector's servants disappears that same evening. Another girl from the village went missing the same evening and both are presumed to be in London seeking other positions. Future circumstances cause Lucy to question this presumption. A series of thefts indicate someone with access to households is involved. Major Kurland's servants insist he is taking too much laudanum. Other things are going on at home with Lucy. She's been rearing her siblings and managing the household since her mother's show more death. Her brothers will soon be heading to the military and university, and she desires to finally have a season in London. Although her father would never fund this, a friend will. Major Kurland is visited by his aunt and fiancee. Far too much is going on in this novel for it to work well. The mystery of the young girl's disappearance and the mystery surrounding the thefts are both rather obvious. Few people would question the outcome. While I like the characters of Lucy and Major Kurland, the weak writing does not make me in a hurry to get to the next installment. show less