Hasty Death

Wasn't sure what to make of this, less of a mystery and more of a romantic comedy. Very easy read, once I got into it and it was very funny, especially the meeting at the Vegetarian Society. Also love how Lady Rose's parents outsmarted her, when she was trying to outsmart them.

Have already got the next two books in the series and looking forward to reading them.

Read 30.10.2023

Summer in Peril
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (October 2008) of the original Minotaur hardcover (June 2004)

I've just about completed my pandemic reading splurge of cozy mysteries by M.C. Beaton, the penname used by Marion Chesney (1936-2019) for her popular Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. Chesney first became a writer with various historical romances from 1977 onwards, before branching out into the crime genre with her first Hamish Macbeth in 1985 and first Agatha Raisin in 1992. Romances are not my genre, but Chesney's mini-series of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries sounded like a possible crossover between her historical fiction and her cozy mysteries.

Hasty Death continues with the story of Lady Rose Summer show more and Captain Harry Cathcart. I'm actually finding the social commentary aspect of these Edwardian era mysteries to be the more interesting element. The side plot here of Rose Summer being locked up by her parents as a hysteric in the women's asylum of an unscrupulous 'doctor' was much more dramatic and suspenseful than the supposed main mystery plot. The earlier subplot of Rose Summer and her companion Daisy Levine attempting to make a living as typists and living in a working women's hostel was also another insight into the working conditions of that era. In the end, Cathcart comes up with a temporary solution to prevent Summer's parents from shipping her off to India, the apparent destination of those debutantes who failed at their season's coming out events.

The narration by veteran Davina Porter (approx. 230 book narrations to her credit) was excellent throughout. Porter is especially good with her range of voices that is able to effectively mimic male as well as female tones.

All of the Edwardian Murder Mysteries series are available free to Audible Plus members. show less

Captain Harry Cathcart, the impoverished younger son of a baron, has become known as "The Fixer", a private detective with the knack of quietly "fixing" things for the upper class.

Much to the dismay & chagrin of her parents; Lady Rose has just rejected another marriage proposal, this time from a man 30 years her senior, and has taken it into her head that she wants to become an independent working woman. Her parents agree to purchase Rose a typewriter and she & Daisy learn to type and take dictation. With the help of Harry, they secure a job typing ledgers in a bank.

When Freddy Pomfret is murdered in his flat after a weekend-long house party for singles; where the season's female "failures" (including lady Rose) are set up to find a show more husband. Rose snoops into his bank account and finds 3 £10,000 deposits from 3 different sources, thus convincing her that Freddy was blackmailing people.

When Lady Rose returns home after her dismal work experience & demands that her maid Daisy become her paid "companion"; her parents (at the suggestion of her mother's jealous maid) send her away to an asylum for "difficult" women; it is Harry & Daisy who find a way to break Rose out, rescue the drugged & starved inmates, arrest the staff and close the asylum down.

After Rose's rescue and subsequent shaming of her parents; Rose & Daisy are invited for a weekend at Lord & Lady Glensheil's along with the murder suspects... yet another murder occurs. Harry enlists the help of his aide Beckett, Lady Rose, and her companion Daisy to find out what exactly Freddy had on each of his victims. When Lady Rose discovers letter & photos of the blackmail victims in a cigar box of Freddy's each is confronted in turn, leaving Rose once again in peril.

Again, I like the characters, I liked the story... it was a light, fun & compelling read; which I read between 2:00 & 4:11 am this morning! show less

Silly, spoiled Victorian deb wants to be a sufferagette and attempts to support herself with getting a secretarial job at a bank. Of course, she brings her maid along as her best friend and soon discovers that's not the life for her. She then attempts to outwit Captain Harry in solving the murder of a wealthy society friend. Harry is a bossy stuffed shirt and she's an immature young lady and they never say what they mean to each other.

Chesney/Beaton doesn't disappoint. You have your "oh she's supposedly so well educated but portrays herself as a half-wit" heroine who comes from exceedingly good stock; the mysterious and fallen main male lead who "oh really publicly hates the heroine but secretly loves her" and yes, it's all very predicable and cliche-y.

There is no stretch in the research or imagination here, and if I had not been well attuned to Ms. Chesney/Beaton's writing style from before, I would probably like the book even less but you know, at the end of the day, it's a frippery of a read that while it may not have educated me, it did keep me entertained.

The above was written about Snobbery With Violence and much could be said for book two in the series. Rose show more is still flighty as ever, Daisy is one step ahead of everyone else, and poor Captain Harry is just reviled that he could be in love with Lady Rose Summer.

I immediately started book 3 after finishing this one and what I can say about the series at this point is they make great books to use for research on Edwardian themes since Beaton was kind enough to reference many period items and sayings. But other than as reference points, the books are incredibly dull. show less

Rose is back with grand ideas for becoming a working girl. She and her lady's companion "get work" as typists and Rose discovers that life as a working girl isn't exactly what she thought it would be. She quickly finds herself teamed up with Harry again and they both try to discover the latest murderer in their social circles. Along the way there Rose has a close encounter with an insane asylum and finds herself considering marriage just to get her parents off her back.

Quick and lively read with some interesting characters.