Bedford Square

8/10
A slow burn mystery that starts with a murder but mostly involves a rash of odd blackmails.

The plot in this was familiar as Rex Stout proposed it in a Nero Wolfe book. That, plus the several references to the need to sit down so As not to force a character to crane their neck makes me think the author is a Stout fan. There were a couple of things that made it a less enjoyable read. The repetitive nature of the plot was one. The fact that each person promises to tell no one and then tells everyone,while realistic, was annoying. It also seemed amazing that the detective would have fallen for the “I knew that because so and so, who must be the guilty part” told me.” Line.

Thomas Pitt is called out at the crack of dawn to Colonel Ballantine's home because a dead body has been found on his front steps. The story evolves into a blackmail of a circle of friends from a gentlemen's club. It's all very Victorian. I particularly like Tillman's growing affection for Gracie, the Pitt's housekeeper.

Reasonably good historical mystery, very familiar, I've definitely read something in this series before. I shall track it down.

I have read others in this series. I was disappointed that story seemed to include relatively little cooperation between Thomas and Charlotte. The story itself was OK but not especially compelling. Interesting but didn't seem quite up to level of others in this series.

I liked it but felt it dragged. it did keep me guessing as to who did it pretty much until the end I had my suspicions focus on one of the characters about 3/4 f the way through but can't say I was certain until about the last 10 pages.

The dragging portions for was what I thought was over done descriptions of everything from the ladies dresses to the decors of the homes, perhaps the intent of the author was to satisfy a readership of more women then men and some women would enjoy the detailed description where this guy could care less, though I do admit I had to finally Google 'muslin' just to satisfy my own curosity of just what a muslin was.

Overall I did enjoy the "Bedford Squares" mystery plot

English mystery in the classic style. Read this in 2014 and forgot to rate it. Re-readable (did) and well-narrated (did it too 😊). Recommended.