Murder at Morrington Hall

This was a smashing good debut novel for Clara McKenna. My absolute favorite genre is Historical Mystery – but that has to have a romance in it as well, and this book definitely meets those needs. The writing is excellent and the mystery was well done with twists, turns, and red-herrings.

I enjoyed meeting both Stella Kendrick and Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst. Both were very relatable characters for that time, both were likable, and I think we saw both begin growing into themselves. My favorite was Stella because she had the shock of her life thrown at her all at once – and in front of a bunch of strangers – not to mention having the devil himself for a father – and she handled in all with great aplomb. Lyndy caused me show more consternation at times because he seemed to take on some of the same disapproving attitudes as the rest of the family and friends. I mean, HE was the one in need – his family was the one in need – Stella wasn’t really getting anything out of the bargain. However, he did mostly appreciate Stella’s being different and became quite supportive of her.

Bright, fun-loving, free-spirited, open, honest, and beautiful, Stella was delighted when her father told her he was taking her with him on a visit to England to attend the wedding of an acquaintance’s son. Her father is cold, aggressive, abusive, and never does anything without it having some benefit to him – but – she can’t find any of that in this wonderful opportunity. He has even insisted on bringing her very own horse along for her to ride while they are there. As the premier horse breeder in the United States, he is also bringing along a couple of thoroughbreds to give to the groom as wedding presents.

Lyndy has known about and reluctantly agreed to, wedding the American for many weeks. It isn’t the marriage he would have chosen, but he’ll do it to save his family and estate. He’s not sure what to expect, but he’s not exactly enthusiastic about it. His mother, on the other hand, is totally set against the alliance – while his father is the one who set the wheels in motion.

Stella certainly doesn’t make a good impression on the up-tight, strait-laced, unsmiling, disapproving English family who seems to be determined to belittle her. Then, she discovers the REAL reason she’s there and flatly refuses. Not that her father gives her any choice.

A comment here about the parents – I disliked all of them, but I almost found myself disliking Lyndy’s parents more than Stella’s father. Yes, her father was rude, crude, and abusive, but at least he didn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t. What he said, he said out loud and plainly spoken. Lyndy’s parents and friends (even sometimes Lyndy) put up a false front, belittling in snide little comments. So, I disliked them – especially his mother – almost as much as I disliked Stella’s father.

On the day Stella arrived at Morrington Hall, and discovered that she was to be the bride, she also discovered a dead body. The body belonged to the Vicar who was there to perform her wedding ceremony. Who would murder a man of God? There are no clues – even the murder weapon is missing. Then, a few days later, a prized champion racehorse is stolen. Are the two events related? Next, one of the wedding guests is attacked. Again? Do we have three unrelated crimes? Oh! My! The investigation is on and Stella and Lyndy have to join forces to help solve it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope you will as well. I loved seeing Lyndy and Stella comes to realize that they have a lot in common and come to appreciate their differences and see them as strengths rather than weaknesses. I can’t wait to see how Lyndy and Stella come to deal with his family and the rest of the aristocracy in England. Also hopefully, Stella’s father will head back to America and we won’t have to deal with him anymore. show less

Stella Kendrick has traveled to England with her father delivering some of the thoroughbred horses he raises to Lord Atherly and his son Viscount Lyndhurst. She doesn't know that he is also giving her away as an American bride to Viscount Lyndhurst.

Lord Lyndhurst - Lyndy - is reconciled to the marriage since he has long wished to reinvigorate his grandfather's racing stable and one of the new horses is a prize-winning stud. If he has to marry to get the horses, he's okay with that.

Stella isn't.

Stella is used to her brutal and boorish father but this is going too far. Now, she is totally out of her depth trying to navigate the waters of the British aristocracy and no one is eager to help her stay afloat. She is receiving constant snide show more comments both from her future mother-in-law and the houseguests who are there for the wedding.

When the vicar who is supposed to conduct the ceremony is found murdered in the library, Stella and Lyndy find themselves investigating the crime and getting to know and appreciate each other. Then the stud is stolen and her father and Lyndy's father look ready to cancel the wedding unless Stella and Lyndy can uncover the murderer and recover the horse.

I liked the time period - 1905 - and the descriptions of the New Forest. The characters were interesting too. Stella is smart and competent even if she's not familiar with the ways of aristocratic life. Lyndy took a little longer to grow on me. He's loyal to his friends, maybe too loyal, and he is determined to make improvements to his family's financial situation. He does come to appreciate Stella's strengths.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this story and be looking forward to more Stella and Lyndy adventures. show less

Murder At Morrington Hall is the first book in the A Stella And Lyndy Mystery series.

The Earl of Atherly bank account is in a severe problem due to financing his birding expeditions and to help his finances, he has been in touch with Elijah Kendrick, a millionaire horse breeder from Kentucky. It’s 1905 and arranged marriages among the elite is still practiced and he has arranged a marriage between his son, Viscount Lyndhurst(Lyndy) and Kendrick’s daughter Stella. Kendrick has also agreed to give the Earl three valuable racehorses. One of the horses is the sire to the favored horse at the upcoming Epsom Downs race and if it should win, the Earl’s money problems will be solved. Lyndy is handsome enough, but Stella is upset that this show more arrangement has been made without her consent and is ready to back out. Later, the body of Reverend Bullmore, the vicar that is to perform the marriage is found dead in the library. It is soon learned that the victim had a large sum of money on his person, which is now gone. Even though neither is looking forward to marriage, they do agree to search out the killer of the Reverend Bullmore.

This new series has the potential to become a very interesting series. This book is well-written and plotted. The characters are well developed and quite interesting. I found the two families and their interactions with each other particularly interesting. Lady Atherly is a bit of snob and tends to look down on the “hayseeds” from the states and Stella finds them standoffish and overbearing.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see if there is a chance that Stella and Lyndy will be able to set aside their difference and find romance. Also looking forward to what new adventures they will find. show less

Synopsis: In this historical mystery Stella is brought to Morrington hall under false pretenses. She quickly realizes that a marriage has been arranged for her against her will. When the vicar who was supposed to perform the ceremony ends up dead, Stella and her intended must solve the murder.

My rating: 3/5

I generally enjoy historical mysteries and so was excited to pick this up especially since one of my favorite authors, Victoria Thompson, had written a blurb for it.

My favorite part of this book was the characters. I really enjoyed Stella and found her to be interesting.

This book didn't seem to know whether it was a romance or a mystery. It had tropes of both but didn't necessarily do either as well as it might have if it had focused show more on one or the other.

The romance took over the story. I do enjoy historical romances as well but I wasn't prepared for this book to be one when I picked it up. If you don't enjoy romances this isn't a book for you.

I didn't necessarily feel like adequate clues were given for me to solve the mystery and at the big reveal I felt pretty disappointed. I read lots of mysteries and usually have a good guess who the killer is and, if I don't I usually can appreciate who it was based on the clues. In this case I just didn't feel like they mystery got enough attention.

I do plan to continue reading the series with the hope that future books focus more on the mystery and less on the romance. show less

Impoverished British aristocrats looking for a rich wife for their son arrange a marriage with a wealthy, obnoxious Kentucky business man and horse breeder for his daughter. Problem, Stella accompanies him to England believing they are vacationing and going to Epsom Downs.

The day they arrive and Stella realizes she’s being sold like a racing horse to bring an aristocratic title to the family, the vicar waiting to meet them is murdered. She and Lord Lynhurst love horses and slowly start to get to know and like one another as they investigate who murdered the vicar.

May 1905 and Stella Kendrick, heiress, has arrived with her father from Kentucky at Morrington Hall. There to attend a wedding which unknown to her she is to be the bride. The groom being the penniless Edwin Searlwyn, Viscount Lynhurst, known as Lyndy.
But that same day the vicar is killed in the library at the Hall.
There didn't seem to be much of a mystery or much to investigate. I didn't really care much for the characters and the style of writing seemed at times somewhat strange with the usage of Daddy, Papa, etc when the story was not from someone's point of view. Overall it was enjoyable enough.
A NetGalley Book

Wasted potential. Premise interesting, room for character growth but it’s all spoiled by dreadful writing and a lack of the most basic editing.