Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark

This was one of the most delightful mysteries I have come across in a long time. I am hooked! Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark is the first in the Lady Anne Addison Mysteries series, which makes me very happy because that means I have more of these wonderful Georgian historicals to look forward to. Author Victoria Hamilton skillfully blends all the best elements of romance and suspense, and the addition of werewolf sightings is icing on the cake. The setting in Yorkshire felt chilling and dangerous – as did the Marquess of Darkefell when Lady Anne Addison first met him.

Lady Anne goes to Yorkshire at the request of her friend Lydia, the sister of Anne’s deceased fiancé. Lydia says werewolves are about. Anne doesn’t believe for a show more minute there are werewolves, but when she discovers a dead body upon her arrival she determines to do all she can to discover what is wrong and to fix it. This is not at all the way ladies of her time and station are supposed to behave. But as Lord Darkefell soon learns – to his alternating delight and dismay – Anne is not a typical lady and won’t be stopped. She is stubborn, willful, and often reckless. She is also intelligent and curious, fearless and loyal, and very alluring to the Marquess. Up to now Anne has considered her fiancé’s death an unhappy blessing and is quite willing to remain a spinster. She has more freedom than a married woman would have and because of her father’s position is wealthy in her own right and well educated. Why would she want to give that all up? But Darkefell has a hold on her that she can’t deny.

It was so much fun to watch the back and forth between Anne and Darkefell. Each is infuriated by the other but also unable to fight the pull between them. I have a feeling (and fervent hope) that Lady Anne and Lord Darkefell will end up together but her narrow escape from marriage to Lydia’s brother has made her very cautious; she will not go quietly, nor would he want her to be a different woman even if he is loath to admit it. The supporting cast of characters is rich and full, well-developed with intriguing backstories that made me want to know them better. Some you will love, like Mary and Osei Boatin, some not so much, but they will all draw you in. And the Yorkshire countryside is so well described you feel you are there.

I was lucky enough to listen to an audiobook version of Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark. Between author Victoria Hamilton’s superb plot and narrator Danielle Cohen’s superb narration, I often extended my daily walks because I couldn’t bear to stop listening. Fun fact: it took me a while to realize that Victoria Hamilton and Donna Lea Simpson are the same author. No wonder I love all her/their works. Just means more for my TBR. I received my copy of Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark from the author but was not required nor expected to provide a review. All opinions are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am thrilled that there are more adventures with Lady Anne and Lord Darkefell waiting for me. show less

Werewolves in the Yorkshire countryside!

Lady Anne Addison's arrival in Yorkshire is surrounded by mishap. The picture of her arrival at the public coaching stop is both daunting and amusing. It does serve to show the mettle of this determined Georgian miss.
Anne has flown to the defense of her friend Lydia after a letter that summons Anne post haste to her marital abode, Darkefell Castle.
Anne's arrival problems compound when she is forced to continue to the Castle on foot. She hears a wolf like howl swell out over the forest, some rustling amongst the trees and undergrowth, and then she trips over a body. Enough to send me scurrying home! Not however Anne. Her arrival at the castle has elements of humor, farce and terror, covered as she show more is in mud and blood!
This is an intelligent young woman who will follow clues and use logic to find the truth of the matter, even as the body count continues to pile up. Anne joins forces with the disturbing Marquess of Darkefell, an enigmatic figure, whom Anne finds herself strongly attracted to. However, Anne's independence is of prime concern to her. No attraction to be acknowledged here! As the mystery unfolds Anne must guard against her feelings for Anthony Darkefell. (An interesting discussion on women and their choices, their finances and their independence after marriage surrounds Anne's misgivings.)
An anomaly therefore! The fearless Anne never falters in her pursuit of the truth but it seems is fearful to pursue the truth where love might be concerned.
Beneath the tale flows an older story that is part of Darkefell and his secretary, Mr. Osei Boatin's past. This is impinging on the present with overtones that might seep into the future. Osei was a slave rescued from a ship by Darkfell and his twin brother. The owner of that ship is a neighbor. There are plots within plots and the source of the threats to Darkefell are varied.
A throughly enjoyable read!
This tale was originally published by Donna Lea Simpson. It has been updated and republished under Simpson's pseudonym, Victoria Hamilton.

A Beyond the Page Publications ARC via NetGalley show less

I loved Anne. She's smart and no-nonsense, certainly not the hare-brained heroine often found in Gothic novels, though she does share their unquenchable curiosity. I loved her blunt interrogations, her sympathy for others, and her willingness to hold her own against the over-bearing marquess. In many ways she reminded me of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody, though Anne is certainly quite different (not quite as eccentric), the two share a deep-seated determination and a quick intelligence. Anne is a wonderful character made unique in that she remains ever-conscious of her place in society and the demands it makes of her. If she was sometimes exasperatingly single-minded, it was nonetheless endearing both to the marquess and the show more reader.

The Marquess of Darkefell is an excellent Gothic hero - dark and mysterious, keeping secrets from the heroine and surrounded by a sense danger (but not in a way that has you screaming at the heroine to Run Away, you ninny!). He's at times brash without realizing it (the speech in the church really is a hoot), and he loves to spar verbally with Anne.

I just love the tone, it's very witty. The romantic scenes in particular left me with a smile on my face. That added to the deliciously creepy Gothic atmosphere and the mystery surrounding the werewolf made this a successful blend of genres and an excellent read.

More at my blog.

FTC Disclosure: I received a free review copy from the publisher. show less

Synopsis: A fascinating and exasperating young lady…

The Marquess of Darkefell has enough to worry about with a bloodthirsty wild beast rampaging the countryside and sinister family secrets to protect. Then Lady Anne Addison arrives, with unquenchable curiosity and intelligence that drive him to distraction…

An infuriatingly unyielding man…

Lady Anne finds the marquess darkly handsome, seductive, and forceful, with a ruthless magnetism that challenges and stimulates her. But he seems determined to keep secrets that may threaten both herself and her helpless friend…

Thrown together in a time of crisis, with a murderer on the loose, the marquess picks an absolutely dreadful moment and the worst possible way to declare his show more intentions…

(from Amazon)

"Lady Anne" was my introduction to Donna Lea Simpson and I was not disappointed. I admit that I was attracted to the book initially due to the cover, which has just enough historical mood, darkness and a bare man's chest to spur my desire. Reading the plot sealed the deal for me.

How to describe "Lady Anne"? It's gothic, in the same vein as Daphne DuMaurier and Victoria Holt. It's historical in the same vein as Philippa Gregory. It's a romance for the thinking and discriminating reader. It has a taste of the paranormal that reminds me a bit of Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey". And it has a neat little mystery to wrap up into a pleasing literary gift.

One of the things I loved best about this book was the central character of Lady Anne Addison. She is certainly no frail flower of the time (England of 1786), fainting and keeping to women's interests (sewing or having children). She is more like a man of that time period - - curious, inquisitive, willful, bold and determined to remain unmarried.

I also felt a connection with the character of Boatin, Darkefell's secretary and his story of how he came to England from Africa. Here was a man who was well-read, if not superiorly educated, who was fiercely loyal to his employer, while still recognizing his faults, and who treated Anne as both a lady and as an equal. In fact, I felt somewhat more of a connection with Boatin than I did with Darkefell - - although Darkefell is quite reminiscent of Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, with his perceived arrogance and hidden sensitive nature.

Another wonderful thing about this book are the luscious details of the 18th century - - the attire, the headwear, the castles and estates - - which will cause readers of historical fiction to devour this tale. Boatin's tale, as mentioned above, is an accurate recounting of true events, giving even more depth to Ms. Simpson's story and characters.

The only downside to this book, in my own opinion, is the somewhat unresolved ending . . . which makes perfect sense if you realize "Lady Anne" is the first of a new three-part series. The ending leaves this reader, at least, wanting more and anxious to see where Lady Anne's travels take her next and what part the mysterious and moody Darkefell will play in her life in the future.

I recommend "Lady Anne" without reservation, if you're a fan of gothic, historical, paranormal romance.

http://psychoticstate.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-of-lady-anne-and-howl-in-dark-... show less

Lady Anne Addison travels to Yorkshire to help her friend Lydia who has written a very distressing letter. But on her way to the castle in the dark, Lady Anne hears a howl and a scream, and while rushing over to offer her assistance, she stumbles over something. What is it? A dead body of course!

This was a fun cozy mystery, with Lady Anne battling possible werewolves, murderers, and traipsing around the countryside, all the while keeping her corsets and many layered skirts in order. And did I mention that there is a handsome, dark-eyed, moody Lord Darkfell? This was a little predictable and definitely on the light side, but entertaining and fun.

I had a really nice time with this audiobook. I have listened to this narrator before and enjoyed her work so I thought I would give this series a try. I thought that this was really good. I found that once I got started with this audiobook, I eagerly listened to it for hours at a time. I am glad that I took a chance with this one.

Lady Anne goes to visit a friend who is troubled. When she arrives in town, she is shocked when nobody is around to meet her and she is forced to walk from town to the estate. Her walk turns out to be a lot more exciting than she had hoped for when she hears what sounds like a wolf and trips over a dead body. When she finally makes it to her friend's home, she is met with not so welcoming ensemble.

I was show more captivated by this mystery. I was very curious about what had happened to the poor maid that Anne stumbled over on the way to the estate. It turns out there have been several women who have died recently and I was just as puzzled as Anne was as to what was going on. The possible werewolf was another interesting element that had me guessing. I thought that Anne turned out to be a very good sleuth and it was fun watching her piece everything together.

I liked the characters in this story. Anne was smart and rather bold. After her fiance's death years ago, she has decided not to wed and she has become a fiercely independent woman. Darkefell seemed to be her perfect match. He was used to being in charge but eventually decides to work with Anne to get to the bottom of the murders. I really liked Anne and Darkefell together and thought that they had fantastic chemistry.

Danielle Cohen did a fantastic job with the narration. I felt like she really was able to bring this story to life. There was a nice sized cast of characters in this story and I thought that she did a really good job with all of them. I really liked her accent and thought that it added to the charm of the story. She read the story at a very nice pace. She was able to add a lot of excitement to the story. I feel like I enjoyed the book a bit more due to her narration.

I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very well done story filled with great characters and a mystery that kept me guessing. I can't wait to get started on the second book in this delightful series!

I received a review copy of this audiobook from the narrator. show less

When Lady Anne Addison’s friend Lydia writes her, desperately seeking help with a seemingly supernatural phenomenon and with matters of the heart, Anne sets off at once. When she arrives in Yorkshire, no one is there to meet her and she must make her own way to the manor after the postman acts like he is terrified by her presence. On the way to Darkefell Castle, she is nearly witness to a horrible crime and the mystery complicates before her very eyes. Determined to find out the truth, she only has one man in her way, the Marquess of Darkefell, maddening, secretive, and infuriating but somehow so very attractive.

I expected a romance out of this book, but what I got was a romantic mystery! I didn’t mind. I loved that Lady Anne was show more such a curious, intelligent woman. She’s determined to get to the bottom of things and even though mysteries proliferate around her and everyone wants to keep their mouth shut, she just does not give up. I even liked the Marquess of Darkefell, although to be honest I will probably love any character who knows that Edward of Woodstock was probably never called the Black Prince in his lifetime. In all honesty, though, I liked that he wasn’t nearly so “bad” as he was made out to be by the other characters. I found him quite endearing after we learned what he did and definitely did not do.

As for the plot, I definitely felt it came together towards the end. I figured out who had probably caused the murders and I was pleased when I was correct at least in part; some bits are left unexplained, which is okay since I discovered that this is the first of a series. I certainly never expected the resolution to the werewolf side story. I also found the parts about slavery infuriating, and more so when their truth was confirmed in the author’s note. Such barbarity makes me uncomfortable and I still can’t believe that humans could treat each other so abominably. Certainly made a wonderfully complex character in Osei though and I hope we see more of him.

Overall, I’m looking forward to more from Lady Anne and the Marquess of Darkefell and glad to hear that the next book will be published later this year!

http://chikune.com/blog/?p=660 show less