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Loading... Bellfield Hall: Or, The Observations of Miss Dido Kent (Dido Kent… (edition 2010)by Anna Dean
Work InformationA Moment of Silence by Anna Dean
   Unmarried women (47) No current Talk conversations about this book.  the_lirazel | Apr 6, 2020 |  When her niece Catherine's betrothal hits a strange snag, Dido Kent finds herself among a house party full of secrets. Where has Catherine's fiancé gone? What can explain the curious behavior of certain other members of the party? And who shot the unidentified woman who was found dead in the shrubbery? There's a lot to like about this historical mystery. The writing is good, with plenty of clues and hints (I figured out at least some of the plot twists a little ahead of our protagonist) and red herrings. And, unlike some historical mysteries I've read recently, Dido reads as an authentic Georgian spinster, not a modern woman inserted into an historical setting. There's one sub-plot where every modern reader knows exactly what's going on, but Dido has no clue -- and yet, she still manages to deal with the situation effectively. Like I said, good writing. I did find Dido a little bit cold and calculating, but that's true of many fictitious detectives. Sherlock Holmes, for instance, is not exactly cuddly. So, if you enjoy historical mysteries, I'd recommend this one. I'll probably continue with the series sooner or later. (  ) foggidawn | Aug 2, 2018 | A truly excellent novel which we cannot rate too highly. An entertaining mix of a smidgen of a Georgette Heyer Regency Romance cum complex Georgette Heyer murder mystery BUT with the strong addition of Jane Austen barbed wit and sensibilities. Having read all four I am sure they are destined to become classics. (  ) dieseltaylor | May 4, 2018 | This is a charming mystery. I want to read the next one asap. ( ) aplaine | Mar 26, 2016 | Enjoyable heroine caught within the bounds of her society and class, quietly observing, finally solving a mystery. ( ) quiBee | Jan 21, 2016 |
Attention Janeites and fans of cozy mysteries: This is going to be good. In 1805, Miss Dido Kent is summoned to Bellfield Hall to comfort her niece Catherine, whose fiancé has mysteriously disappeared from his own engagement party. Shortly after his disappearance, the body of a young woman is found on the grounds. Coincidence? Catherine is certain her clever aunt can reunite her with her beloved, but as Dido observes his family and their guests and uncovers gossip in the nearby village, she’s increasingly convinced that a reunion is not for the best. As Dido comes closer to the truth, her own safety may be in danger as well. Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean is rich in period detail, transporting the reader to a different time where a visit to a draper’s shop or a walk down the portrait gallery in a manor house reveals many secrets. The relations between the different social classes are complex and through Dido’s discerning eye we travel upstairs and downstairs, inside the house and out in the village, making the necessary connections to solve the mystery. Belongs to SeriesDido Kent (1)
Visiting Bellfield Hall to comfort her niece, who has been seemingly abandoned by her wealthy fiancé, Miss Dido Kent investigates the possibly related death of a young woman, a situation that is complicated by surprising secrets. No library descriptions found. |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.92 — Literature English {except North American} English fiction Modern Period 2000-LC ClassificationRatingAverage: (3.71)
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4
Meh. The mystery was suitably interesting and Dean has a nice command of Regency language. But I felt at a remove from the characters and as though I was being told, not shown. I didn't really disappear into the story at any point, nor did I think about the book when I wasn't reading it. I love the idea of a Regency spinster solving mysteries by being nice to servants and paying attention to what's going on around her, but the execution was lacking. (