Styx and Stones

I can always rely on Daisy Dalrymple to be the heroine of an enjoyable book. Dunn writes with such panache as if she peeked into her chosen time and place, England in the 1920s, through some magical lens, and then told the story the way it should be told in the 21st century. The blend of cozy historical mystery, modern writer's skills, a charming protagonist, and faint nostalgia for the England long gone makes a very satisfying read.

Daisy Dalrymple, a well-bred, earnest, and deeply inquisitive journalist in the 1930s, has discovered yet another mystery. People in her sister's village have been getting cruel anonymous notes about their secret foibles*. People get increasingly tense, until at last, someone is killed. Daisy and her fiancee Alec, a Scotland Yard Inspector, investigate.

I liked this book a bit better than the last few in the Dalrymple series. All the suspects are interesting, and Dunn is good at creating the cosy yet claustrophobic atmosphere of a small English town. The problem is that these books are too short for much character development or plot. I am tired of mysteries that are solved, not through clues or people skills or anything, but purely show more through the wrong-doer confessing at the most convenient moment. Dissatisfying!



*one of the notes accuses a man of abusing his wife. Horribly enough, it's clear that he really is physically hurting her, but nothing is done about it. It's never mentioned again. More time is spent investigating whether or not a shopkeeper overcharges for cheese (seriously). If Daisy is supposedly such a great people-watcher, why didn't she notice this? And if she's supposedly so very kind, why didn't she intervene? Did this section get edited out, or what? show less

Styx and Stones
2 Stars

Daisy's brother-in-law, Lord John Frobisher, has been receiving nasty poison pen letters and requests Daisy's help in unmasking the writer.

Unfortunately, this series is losing steam.

The portrayal of the small English village filled with dark secrets, and petty squabbles is atmospheric and reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders. Nevertheless, this cannot compensate for the lack of character development and the humdrum mystery.

The identity of the letter writer is easy to figure out primarily due to the prologue, but their motivations does not really make much sense. Why would a man who has lost his faith in God turn on his friends and neighbors with such viciousness?. Moreover, the revelation of the show more killer's identity is very stereotypical and clichéd.

Since the next installment has a new narrator, thankfully as Mia Chiaromonte is simply appalling, I will be giving the series one more try. If it does not improve, it will be quits for me. show less

When Daisy's brother-in-law starts receiving anonymous notes, he asks for her help in finding out who is responsible. Setting off for the country, and taking Belinda Fletcher with her for a holiday, Daisy begins to investigate - but things take a macabre turn when Daisy discovers a body, and when Alec turns up to see what his beloved and his daughter have gone tangled up in, the local police soon tangle him up in helping with their investigation. The family dynamic here are very well written, the undercurrent of humour is whirls and eddies and produced some definite giggles, and the whodunnit is pretty good too. 4.5/5

A pleasant surprise -- set in the 1920s, the story focuses on a single woman, a writer, who stumbles over murders. This time, anonymous letters in a small village are the starting point. I like the way the story draws on particulars from that time period, incorporates the language, and, while humorous, still touches on such serious topics as the effect of WWI on the British population.

Enjoyable Dalrympole mystery. I have been re-reading them in order (although this one is slightly out of order) and it is a different feel, seeing the characters as they grow and change. I didn't remember reading this one before although it is likely that I did. Poison Pen letters seem familiar as the theme but I totally forgot just about every thing else. Poor Alec. He can't even imagine how many bodies Daisy will stumble into in the future books.

At the behest of Daisy's brother-in-law she begins investigating a series of poison pen letters he is receiving. Much to her dismay, Daisy finds that gossip is the main occupation of the local church's Women's Institute and not only is there no small number of suspects, there is also no small number of victims.

Then there's the body of the Vicar's brother (wearing the Vicar's hat) found pinned under the fallen angel statue. The question being who was the intended victim? The Vicar or his brother? And who would want to kill either of them?