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A Gilded Drowning Pool
As a girl in the West, Valentine Mackle dodged quicksand along the rivers of the mining camps, but as Mrs. Roderick W. DeVere of New York’s Fifth Avenue, Val is sucked into Society’s own quicksand in spring, 1899, when a weekend at a country estate in the Hudson Valley turns deadly. Val’s “soul sister” drowns on family property, and the host’s best “practical jokes” double as death traps.
A Gilded Drowning Pool snarls Val and husband Roddy in a bogus adult health camp, a brothel, a town-and-country pocked with probable killers—and an ambitious police chief convinced that Val and Roddy DeVere played a part in the death that is ruled a homicide
A Gilded Drowning Pool snarls Val and husband Roddy in a bogus adult health camp, a brothel, a town-and-country pocked with probable killers—and an ambitious police chief convinced that Val and Roddy DeVere played a part in the death that is ruled a homicide
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2023
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Cecelia Tichi
33 books79 followersA fresh start for every new book, and author Tichi's zest for America's Gilded Age and its boldface names draws this seasoned writer to a crime fiction series while uncorking the country's cocktail cultures on the printed (and ebook) page. Tichi digs deep into the Vanderbilt University research library to mine the late 1800-1900s history and customs of Society's "Four Hundred," its drinks, and the ways high-stakes crimes in its midst make for a gripping "Gilded" mystery series that rings true to the tumultuous era. The decades of America's industrial titans and "Queens" of Society have loomed large in Tichi's books for several years, and the titles track her recent projects:
• Civic Passions: Seven Who Launched Progressive America (and What They Teach Us)
• Jack London: A Writer's Fight for a Better America
• What Would Mrs. Astor Do? A Complete Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age
• Gilded Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Golden Age
• Jazz Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Roaring Twenties.
• A Gilded Death (crime fiction)
• Murder, Murder, Murder in Gilded Central Park (crime fiction)
• A Fatal Gilded High Note (crime fiction)
Cecelia is at work on a fourth in the series, “A Gilded Free Fall.” She enjoys membership and posting in Facebook’s The Gilded Age Society. You can read more about Cecelia by visiting her Wikipedia page at: https://bit.ly/Tichiwiki or her website: https://cecebooks.com.
• Civic Passions: Seven Who Launched Progressive America (and What They Teach Us)
• Jack London: A Writer's Fight for a Better America
• What Would Mrs. Astor Do? A Complete Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age
• Gilded Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Golden Age
• Jazz Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Roaring Twenties.
• A Gilded Death (crime fiction)
• Murder, Murder, Murder in Gilded Central Park (crime fiction)
• A Fatal Gilded High Note (crime fiction)
Cecelia is at work on a fourth in the series, “A Gilded Free Fall.” She enjoys membership and posting in Facebook’s The Gilded Age Society. You can read more about Cecelia by visiting her Wikipedia page at: https://bit.ly/Tichiwiki or her website: https://cecebooks.com.
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June 10, 2023
A Gilded Drowning Pool by Cecelia Tichi was a book to transport one back to the Gilded Age, one of my favorite eras complete with streets aglow with gaslights, horse-drawn carriages and hansom cabs. And Cecelia Tichi is a native of Pittsburgh, the steel city of the Gilded Age, and she knows how to take one back as she is an historian. This book features New Yorkers Roderick Windham DeVere and Valentine Louise Mackle DeVere. But Valentine is the daughter of one of the early silver miners in the state of Colorado, and that has given Val a very unique sense of independence, as in riding her favorite horse, Comet with a red sash on its tail because of kicking. But Val is side-saddle as she rides her horse through Central Park. It is 1899, and as the DeVere's go to Kiddwood's estate, connected to the DeVere's property, and currently without access to water. And there is a woman's body that is found on the property. The mystery of this young woman's death is at the heart of this novel. Val, feeling some kind of affinity towards this woman, begins to investigate what happened to this young girl. And that is the thrust of the book, as we are part of Roddy and Val's search to find the truth of what happened. But I would be remiss if I did not tell you that in addition to a wonderful historical fiction tale in the Gilded Age, Roddy concocts wonderful cocktails throughout this page-turning book as the Temperance movement is looming large in New York. But now I am going to chill out and sip a cocktail that sounded luscious, the Ampersand Cocktail.
My thanks to Deborah Giustini, author Cecelia Tichi, and Booksirens for a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Cheers!
My thanks to Deborah Giustini, author Cecelia Tichi, and Booksirens for a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Cheers!
May 3, 2023
Disclaimer: I received this book from a publisher, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I have always been a fan of historical fiction and mysteries, so this book immediately got me interested. While set in a different time and different place than books I usually read, the book itself reminds me a lot of The Murdoch Mysteries (but with a woman lead instead of a man).
Providing a heading with the date and location reminded me of other novels such as Frankenstein or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The author is a historian, so I imagine this influenced her choices in her writing. Like Where the Crawdads Sing, though, I would have liked the dates to continue throughout as it makes more sense for me as I read.
The book itself was set in 1899. So, a year before the turn of the 19th century to the 20th century. I am not deeply familiar with the time period in America, but the author seems incredibly knowledgeable about it. At times I had to look up information, but that was not a failing of the book, because a reader could read it without having any idea of what is mentioned. Instead I was driven by my own curiosity to look things up. Another thing that is worth mentioning is the main character. I like that the main character, "Val," is a daughter of an Irish immigrant. My great-great-grandparents were immigrants from Ireland. So, that was a happy moment for me as a reader, because interestingly I have not read many books from the perspective of a character like that. The character herself is intelligent and is married. She and her husband work on the cases together. But she also works independently, and is shown to be strong on her own. She reminded me of detectives I had liked in the past, as she solved the case in a sophisticated way. She reminded me a bit of Enola Holmes, but a grown up version of her.
However, from the title of the series, it seems like both of Roddy and Val are main characters. I found Val to be more of a main character than Roddy. It could be because the whole story is told from her perspective, but she gets the most attention and detective work in this book. That might not be the case for the other books in the series, but in this one Val seemed like a more prominent main character.
While the writing style is plain-- it does not sound like it comes from the time period-- it works for that story, since other stories have been written in a similar fashion. The opening paragraph was strong and set up tension with horse imagery, "[a] horse that kicks can kill anyone near its hind legs. A stable hand, a groom, a coachman, or a care-less owner will risk their lives if struck by the animal’s lightning-fast speed and power" (Tichi 1). I've been thinking a lot about opening sentences as a writer myself, and this one works because it sets up what is going to happen, not with a person-- but with a horse. The build up for the detectives going to solve the mystery was well done, for the characters received a message through telegram to show that they were going to go where the body was found. I preferred that to them stumbling over the body (in this case), because it seemed like a call to adventure, a call to the crime scene that is-- since Val had not been wanting to leave where they were currently staying.
When the Hudson River Valley was mentioned by the characters, my mind instantly connected that to Sleepy Hollow. But the characters don't end up going there. In one of the chapters, when they came to the Hudson River Valley, reminded me strongly of Irving's writing. When they got onto a boat, for example:"Dark wisps from every smokestack signaled on-time departures when every giant sidewheel would churn the waters named for the Dutch explorer who sailed here nearly two centuries ago" (Tichi 33). This reminded me a little of Irving..."In the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern shore of the Hudson, at that broad expansion of the river denominated by the ancient Dutch navigators the Tappan Zee, and where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of St. Nicholas when they crossed, there lies a small market town or rural port, which by some is called Greensburgh[...]" (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, P.1). Despite the differences in what they're describing, I wonder if the author had researched anything about Irving when writing this, for there are references to what the Dutch did in the Hudson throughout. And also, supernatural elements are not the main theme of Tichi's book (there isn't a headless horseman running around for example), but there is a character named Cassie who sees auras and has visions. She is important to the ongoing mystery and seems to know information that was not ever given to her.
The plot had many suspenseful elements: the idea of people wandering about on the property, the mysterious drowning, and who caused it. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat because of the way the author built up the tension-- in some cases, the fear turned out to be nothing, but it worked to set the scene for the suspense of the mystery. I won't be revealing who or what the killer was, but the author builds up the mystery well, laying clues throughout, making the reader want to solve the case along with the detective. It makes you wonder if those who you trust are trustworthy, or those who seem as if they could do the murder, don't.
The clues were revealed steadily and mostly conveyed through dialogue instead of through research. The book relied upon social interworking between characters for the mystery to work: they heard about the murder through social connections, and got information through that, which added to the lively feeling. However, despite the feeling that the place was alive, the side characters were rather flat and not memorable. Some mysteries want the suspects or people the detectives talk to be memorable; others don't. This book went for the latter. So, I found myself more interested in the relationship between the detectives than I was in the suspects at times.
I normally find books that are so dialogue heavy difficult to follow, but this one was easy for me. I could keep up with the pacing because Val always brought up the questions over and over again, about who was the killer, why would they do this, so I could be up to speed and not fall behind.
When the killer was revealed at the end, I was surprised. But I didn't feel like the author pulled something out of thin air. Instead, it came naturally. There was a red herring that I truly believed for a moment, the certainty of it from the character's perspective was what made me believe it.
The ending hinted at a sequel. Since this is a part of a larger series (being the fifth book), there had to be room for the series to continue. But as a mystery, it resolved the plot well, and I am happy to have read it.
This is a small note, but there were cocktail recipes, which reminded me of my reading groups at The Rosenbach where often the host posts recipes for alcoholic beverages relating the book. So if you're someone who makes cocktails and enjoys trying them, the book lays a short recipe in some chapters how to do so. I have not tried them, so I can't state how they taste or whether they are good. But there is a sort of audience interaction one can do between the characters and the reader, by trying what they make.
Overall, this was a fun and gripping (but not too intense) detective read. So if you're interested in adult cozy historical mysteries with a female lead, you will enjoy this.
Overall Rating:
Descriptions: ⭐⭐⭐ (my own personal taste, but common for the crime genre to have simple descriptions).
Dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (not much to say about it, other than it moved the story forward).
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐ (the characters weren't as memorable as I thought they would be. But
it's more plot driven than character driven )
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(overall a gripping mystery that made me want to keep reading).
I have always been a fan of historical fiction and mysteries, so this book immediately got me interested. While set in a different time and different place than books I usually read, the book itself reminds me a lot of The Murdoch Mysteries (but with a woman lead instead of a man).
Providing a heading with the date and location reminded me of other novels such as Frankenstein or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The author is a historian, so I imagine this influenced her choices in her writing. Like Where the Crawdads Sing, though, I would have liked the dates to continue throughout as it makes more sense for me as I read.
The book itself was set in 1899. So, a year before the turn of the 19th century to the 20th century. I am not deeply familiar with the time period in America, but the author seems incredibly knowledgeable about it. At times I had to look up information, but that was not a failing of the book, because a reader could read it without having any idea of what is mentioned. Instead I was driven by my own curiosity to look things up. Another thing that is worth mentioning is the main character. I like that the main character, "Val," is a daughter of an Irish immigrant. My great-great-grandparents were immigrants from Ireland. So, that was a happy moment for me as a reader, because interestingly I have not read many books from the perspective of a character like that. The character herself is intelligent and is married. She and her husband work on the cases together. But she also works independently, and is shown to be strong on her own. She reminded me of detectives I had liked in the past, as she solved the case in a sophisticated way. She reminded me a bit of Enola Holmes, but a grown up version of her.
However, from the title of the series, it seems like both of Roddy and Val are main characters. I found Val to be more of a main character than Roddy. It could be because the whole story is told from her perspective, but she gets the most attention and detective work in this book. That might not be the case for the other books in the series, but in this one Val seemed like a more prominent main character.
While the writing style is plain-- it does not sound like it comes from the time period-- it works for that story, since other stories have been written in a similar fashion. The opening paragraph was strong and set up tension with horse imagery, "[a] horse that kicks can kill anyone near its hind legs. A stable hand, a groom, a coachman, or a care-less owner will risk their lives if struck by the animal’s lightning-fast speed and power" (Tichi 1). I've been thinking a lot about opening sentences as a writer myself, and this one works because it sets up what is going to happen, not with a person-- but with a horse. The build up for the detectives going to solve the mystery was well done, for the characters received a message through telegram to show that they were going to go where the body was found. I preferred that to them stumbling over the body (in this case), because it seemed like a call to adventure, a call to the crime scene that is-- since Val had not been wanting to leave where they were currently staying.
When the Hudson River Valley was mentioned by the characters, my mind instantly connected that to Sleepy Hollow. But the characters don't end up going there. In one of the chapters, when they came to the Hudson River Valley, reminded me strongly of Irving's writing. When they got onto a boat, for example:"Dark wisps from every smokestack signaled on-time departures when every giant sidewheel would churn the waters named for the Dutch explorer who sailed here nearly two centuries ago" (Tichi 33). This reminded me a little of Irving..."In the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern shore of the Hudson, at that broad expansion of the river denominated by the ancient Dutch navigators the Tappan Zee, and where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of St. Nicholas when they crossed, there lies a small market town or rural port, which by some is called Greensburgh[...]" (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, P.1). Despite the differences in what they're describing, I wonder if the author had researched anything about Irving when writing this, for there are references to what the Dutch did in the Hudson throughout. And also, supernatural elements are not the main theme of Tichi's book (there isn't a headless horseman running around for example), but there is a character named Cassie who sees auras and has visions. She is important to the ongoing mystery and seems to know information that was not ever given to her.
The plot had many suspenseful elements: the idea of people wandering about on the property, the mysterious drowning, and who caused it. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat because of the way the author built up the tension-- in some cases, the fear turned out to be nothing, but it worked to set the scene for the suspense of the mystery. I won't be revealing who or what the killer was, but the author builds up the mystery well, laying clues throughout, making the reader want to solve the case along with the detective. It makes you wonder if those who you trust are trustworthy, or those who seem as if they could do the murder, don't.
The clues were revealed steadily and mostly conveyed through dialogue instead of through research. The book relied upon social interworking between characters for the mystery to work: they heard about the murder through social connections, and got information through that, which added to the lively feeling. However, despite the feeling that the place was alive, the side characters were rather flat and not memorable. Some mysteries want the suspects or people the detectives talk to be memorable; others don't. This book went for the latter. So, I found myself more interested in the relationship between the detectives than I was in the suspects at times.
I normally find books that are so dialogue heavy difficult to follow, but this one was easy for me. I could keep up with the pacing because Val always brought up the questions over and over again, about who was the killer, why would they do this, so I could be up to speed and not fall behind.
When the killer was revealed at the end, I was surprised. But I didn't feel like the author pulled something out of thin air. Instead, it came naturally. There was a red herring that I truly believed for a moment, the certainty of it from the character's perspective was what made me believe it.
The ending hinted at a sequel. Since this is a part of a larger series (being the fifth book), there had to be room for the series to continue. But as a mystery, it resolved the plot well, and I am happy to have read it.
This is a small note, but there were cocktail recipes, which reminded me of my reading groups at The Rosenbach where often the host posts recipes for alcoholic beverages relating the book. So if you're someone who makes cocktails and enjoys trying them, the book lays a short recipe in some chapters how to do so. I have not tried them, so I can't state how they taste or whether they are good. But there is a sort of audience interaction one can do between the characters and the reader, by trying what they make.
Overall, this was a fun and gripping (but not too intense) detective read. So if you're interested in adult cozy historical mysteries with a female lead, you will enjoy this.
Overall Rating:
Descriptions: ⭐⭐⭐ (my own personal taste, but common for the crime genre to have simple descriptions).
Dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (not much to say about it, other than it moved the story forward).
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐ (the characters weren't as memorable as I thought they would be. But
it's more plot driven than character driven )
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(overall a gripping mystery that made me want to keep reading).
April 8, 2023
This is the 5th book in the Roddy and Val DeVere Gilded Age series. Like the others, this novel can be read as a stand alone. Ms. Tichi gives enough background in each book to allow the reader to adequately understand the relationships of the primary characters, Val and Roddy, and their friends and associates. However, if you want to get the most out of the series, start with the first book. You won’t be disappointed.
I enjoy books set in the Gilded Age, and Ms. Tichi has done her research on the customs, dress, and architecture of the era. You will be easily transported to NYC (where the DeVeres live in luxury) or anywhere else they happen to be for their adventures. In The Gilded Drowning Pool, in June 1899 the DeVeres are invited to stay for a while at the Hudson Valley country estate called Kiddwood belonging to the family of an old childhood friend of Roddy’s, Clarence Kidd. While there, the DeVeres find themselves embroiled in trying to solve a murder that occurred on land adjacent to Kiddwood, land which happens to be owned by Roddy’s parents who plan to build their own country estate using Val’s money she inherited from her father’s silver mining operations out West. There are also vagabonds, a “house of ill repute,” an ambitious assistant police chief, a suspicious produce delivery man, and other members of the “upper crust” coming and going at Kiddwood. I’ll say no more about the plot – but it is a good one that will keep you guessing as to who “done what” to whom.
As you will learn when you read the book, Val was reared by her father out West after her mother died, and Val grew up with the Western spirit of independence. When she married Roddy, a lawyer and member of NYC society, she saved his family’s fortunes but still has clashes with his parents since he married “below his station.” I know it’s fiction, but it still irks me that Roddy’s parents reluctantly accept her as a person and daughter-in-law but are freely spending her money on things like land for a country estate. Husband Roddy also occasionally is disturbed by his wife’s independent spirit, but it seems he is slowly beginning to accept her for who she is. Val tries her best to fit in with the upper crust, and in the last book, I think she tried too hard and lost much of what drew me to her and this series in the first couple of books. Thankfully Val reclaims much of her independent spirit in this book – perhaps being out in the country and away from the pressures of the city helps her in that regard. Whatever the reason, I liked seeing more of the “old Val” since I love strong female characters in any medium.
A Gilded Drowning Pool is an easy read. The characters’ dialogue and behavior are authentic to the time period and their places in society, whether the upper crust or the servants or the poor. Ms. Tichi has a way of giving the reader rich detail without slowing down the pace of the story (if you’ve read any of George R.R. Martin’s works, you know what I mean). She manages good character development, even for those characters who are minor to the story. A bonus is several cocktail recipes in each book! Roddy is not only a lawyer but an expert at creating cocktails. He consults with several establishments to help them create new and finesse old drinks. He also defends them in court from the Temperance Movement. While not essential to the story in any of the 5 books, it’s a little bonus for those of us who enjoy the occasional cocktail as we read. Relax with your own favorite cocktail and enjoy The Gilded Drowning Pool!
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book for free through Booksirens, and I leave this review freely and with pleasure.
I enjoy books set in the Gilded Age, and Ms. Tichi has done her research on the customs, dress, and architecture of the era. You will be easily transported to NYC (where the DeVeres live in luxury) or anywhere else they happen to be for their adventures. In The Gilded Drowning Pool, in June 1899 the DeVeres are invited to stay for a while at the Hudson Valley country estate called Kiddwood belonging to the family of an old childhood friend of Roddy’s, Clarence Kidd. While there, the DeVeres find themselves embroiled in trying to solve a murder that occurred on land adjacent to Kiddwood, land which happens to be owned by Roddy’s parents who plan to build their own country estate using Val’s money she inherited from her father’s silver mining operations out West. There are also vagabonds, a “house of ill repute,” an ambitious assistant police chief, a suspicious produce delivery man, and other members of the “upper crust” coming and going at Kiddwood. I’ll say no more about the plot – but it is a good one that will keep you guessing as to who “done what” to whom.
As you will learn when you read the book, Val was reared by her father out West after her mother died, and Val grew up with the Western spirit of independence. When she married Roddy, a lawyer and member of NYC society, she saved his family’s fortunes but still has clashes with his parents since he married “below his station.” I know it’s fiction, but it still irks me that Roddy’s parents reluctantly accept her as a person and daughter-in-law but are freely spending her money on things like land for a country estate. Husband Roddy also occasionally is disturbed by his wife’s independent spirit, but it seems he is slowly beginning to accept her for who she is. Val tries her best to fit in with the upper crust, and in the last book, I think she tried too hard and lost much of what drew me to her and this series in the first couple of books. Thankfully Val reclaims much of her independent spirit in this book – perhaps being out in the country and away from the pressures of the city helps her in that regard. Whatever the reason, I liked seeing more of the “old Val” since I love strong female characters in any medium.
A Gilded Drowning Pool is an easy read. The characters’ dialogue and behavior are authentic to the time period and their places in society, whether the upper crust or the servants or the poor. Ms. Tichi has a way of giving the reader rich detail without slowing down the pace of the story (if you’ve read any of George R.R. Martin’s works, you know what I mean). She manages good character development, even for those characters who are minor to the story. A bonus is several cocktail recipes in each book! Roddy is not only a lawyer but an expert at creating cocktails. He consults with several establishments to help them create new and finesse old drinks. He also defends them in court from the Temperance Movement. While not essential to the story in any of the 5 books, it’s a little bonus for those of us who enjoy the occasional cocktail as we read. Relax with your own favorite cocktail and enjoy The Gilded Drowning Pool!
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book for free through Booksirens, and I leave this review freely and with pleasure.
April 8, 2023
This was an interesting addition to the Val and Roddy Gilded Age mysteries, but I have to admit I was so put off by the Kidd family that I found it a bit hard to enjoy. Alf and Sadie were both overbearing bullies and treated their houseguests more like chess pawns than friends. If weeks at a “between-seasons” country houseparty like this was an upper class obligation, I’d be glad not to be rich! The best part of this series is always the love and partnership of this young husband and wife from very different backgrounds. They each bring their own strengths and skills to solving each murder, and their marriage comes out all the stronger for it. I was relieved when (literally) the smoke cleared and this tangled double murder was solved. But I have a suspicion it won���t be the last mystery for the DeVeres! I received a complimentary copy of the book from Book Sirens, and was not required to post a review.
April 4, 2023
A very intricate look into the attitudes and misdeeds of some of the very wealthy at the turn of the twentieth century in New York. Some are simply misguided and thoughtless, but others are cruel and heartless toward nearly everyone. Val, Roddy, and his parents do try to do their best but sometimes they do place their trust in the wrong people. Roddy has a true passion to be and exceptional mixologist, and this helps him to balance his efforts as a lawyer. Val was not raised in this rarified atmosphere, but was mostly raised by her father as he worked and prospered in the mines in Colorado. The murder mystery requires an extensive amount of investigation, but I am most impressed with the real history imparted within the story (history geek here). Loved it as a history with fiction as well as a cozy mystery!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Independent Book Publishers Association
I requested and received a free e-book copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Independent Book Publishers Association
April 17, 2023
The Roddy and Val DeVere Gilded Age Series by Cecilia Tichi is one of my very favorite historical cozy mystery series and Book 5, "The Gilded Drowning Pool" was as good if not better than the previous 4. I've come to know Roddy and Val, the New York high society couple who seem to always find themselves knee deep in murder. The two together have become quite the investigating couple. Being members of high society themselves, they're often allowed in places and conversations that no police investigator could ever go.
Here they decide to spend a weekend with Roddy's childhood friend's family in the country. The property right next door belongs to the DeVere's so when Roddy finds out water is scarce and not flowing properly from the DeVere's property to their neighbors, Roddy vows to fix the problem. However, what Roddy and Val find out about the lack of water, is nothing either of them expected. There's a health and wellness camp whose somehow legally rented a spot on the DeVere's property for the summer. Roddy being an attorney knows there's nothing he can do to void the contract but that's secondary now to the fact that a woman, rumored to be a masseuse at the camp is found murdered!
These books have all been filled with interesting historical detail, fun and exciting mysteries and the humor that goes with a rich, high society couple living in the lap of luxury while trying to solve crimes, they aren't your typical 19th century couple. Their investigating often takes them to locations one would never expect to see people of their status in the late 1800's at. I love the humor that goes with all these stories. Val is no pushover and since it's her inheritance from her father who owned a successful silver mine out West, she's something else. Her and Roddy together often make me laugh out loud. They're stuffy without being offensive and this along with their dog Velvet, the temperamental Frenchie is so entertaining. A great mystery, amazing characters and a time period at the end of the 19th century all come together to make this series a must read! Happy Reading!
Here they decide to spend a weekend with Roddy's childhood friend's family in the country. The property right next door belongs to the DeVere's so when Roddy finds out water is scarce and not flowing properly from the DeVere's property to their neighbors, Roddy vows to fix the problem. However, what Roddy and Val find out about the lack of water, is nothing either of them expected. There's a health and wellness camp whose somehow legally rented a spot on the DeVere's property for the summer. Roddy being an attorney knows there's nothing he can do to void the contract but that's secondary now to the fact that a woman, rumored to be a masseuse at the camp is found murdered!
These books have all been filled with interesting historical detail, fun and exciting mysteries and the humor that goes with a rich, high society couple living in the lap of luxury while trying to solve crimes, they aren't your typical 19th century couple. Their investigating often takes them to locations one would never expect to see people of their status in the late 1800's at. I love the humor that goes with all these stories. Val is no pushover and since it's her inheritance from her father who owned a successful silver mine out West, she's something else. Her and Roddy together often make me laugh out loud. They're stuffy without being offensive and this along with their dog Velvet, the temperamental Frenchie is so entertaining. A great mystery, amazing characters and a time period at the end of the 19th century all come together to make this series a must read! Happy Reading!
April 18, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up
Ah, Val and Roddy are at it again! The intrepid sleuths are back in A Gilded Drowning Pool, the 5th entry in Cecilia Tichi’s Gilded Age cozy mystery series, this time with some darker undertones.
The protagonists, wealthy young married couple Valentine and Roddy DeVere, of NYC in 1899, are tasked with sorting out water issues involving Roddy’s father’s land in the Hudson River Valley. While enduring an obligatory social weekend at the neighbor’s estate, they find themselves reluctantly embroiled in solving a murder mystery, exposing a quasi-health spa “camp” and tiptoeing through a minefield of small town denizens who disdain the wealthy “vacationers”.
I very much enjoyed the setting, a verdant area north of New York City. Ms. Tichi’s research is extensive and paints a rich picture of the area, manners and mores of the upper class as they “relax” between social seasons in their country mansions. The characters are broadly drawn, from the snobbish wealthy set to the Health to Wealth campers to the underhanded property manager and the grumpy local police chief.
The historical detail is fascinating, and with each of these novels, I became happily immersed in the timeframe and locale!
While each novel in the series can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading them in order to fully enjoy the development of Val and Roddy’s lovely relationship!
I look forward eagerly to the next installment in this delightful series!!
Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Ah, Val and Roddy are at it again! The intrepid sleuths are back in A Gilded Drowning Pool, the 5th entry in Cecilia Tichi’s Gilded Age cozy mystery series, this time with some darker undertones.
The protagonists, wealthy young married couple Valentine and Roddy DeVere, of NYC in 1899, are tasked with sorting out water issues involving Roddy’s father’s land in the Hudson River Valley. While enduring an obligatory social weekend at the neighbor’s estate, they find themselves reluctantly embroiled in solving a murder mystery, exposing a quasi-health spa “camp” and tiptoeing through a minefield of small town denizens who disdain the wealthy “vacationers”.
I very much enjoyed the setting, a verdant area north of New York City. Ms. Tichi’s research is extensive and paints a rich picture of the area, manners and mores of the upper class as they “relax” between social seasons in their country mansions. The characters are broadly drawn, from the snobbish wealthy set to the Health to Wealth campers to the underhanded property manager and the grumpy local police chief.
The historical detail is fascinating, and with each of these novels, I became happily immersed in the timeframe and locale!
While each novel in the series can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading them in order to fully enjoy the development of Val and Roddy’s lovely relationship!
I look forward eagerly to the next installment in this delightful series!!
Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
April 27, 2023
This fifth instalment of the “Gilded Age” series which can be read as a standalone novel, continues the adventures of Roderick DeVere, the mixologist lawyer and his dauntless wife Valentine as they investigate a problem with the water supply on a tract of land “owned” by Roddy’s parents. A visit to the neighbouring country house (one Roddy visited growing up) ensues and it soon becomes clear that more is afoot, including murder. We gain insight into what life was like in the “between season” when country house parties were de riguer for those of the upper set. There are unlikeable hosts, eclectic guests, a strange “Wellness” camp not far away and even a house of ill repute. Is the trouble all down to lowlife vagabonds or is there a culprit closer to home? Roddy and Val must seek answers while trying to fit in with their hosts expectations, Roddy to display his skill at cocktail hour and Valentine to play the demure wife. Luckily her less conventional upbringing lends her a keen mind and feisty personality which are more than a match for any foe.
As always, the historical detail is fascinating and the included cocktail recipes add a little extra zing. I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As always, the historical detail is fascinating and the included cocktail recipes add a little extra zing. I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 8, 2023
Val and Roddy Devere are back! This time it's the spring of 1899 and the Devere’s have been invited to Roddy’s family friend’s ( the Kidd’s) estate in Hudson Valley for the season. Roddy insists on going if only to solve a problem with the water flow at Kiddwood that could have to do with a tract on his father’s neighboring property. But before they can even leave a telegram arrives informing them there has been a dead body found on his father’s grounds.
With a vast array of characters that you find in the country house setting is a nice change from the city variety. As the story unfolds they discover a sketchy health camp and a brothel with a deep dark secret. The historical aspect of the health camp interested me as well as the information on the beginnings of Kellogg’s cereal.
This was a wonderful plot with puzzling clues and suspects that really made me think. The overall theme of old friends that feel like family was very true to life. As always Roddy has some new drink recipes that hit the spot. This is a wonderful book club read with lots to discuss including the social classes presented so beautifully in this one.
This is the 5th installment of the Val and Roddy “Gilded” series and I can't wait to see what trouble Val and Roddy get themselves into next!
With a vast array of characters that you find in the country house setting is a nice change from the city variety. As the story unfolds they discover a sketchy health camp and a brothel with a deep dark secret. The historical aspect of the health camp interested me as well as the information on the beginnings of Kellogg’s cereal.
This was a wonderful plot with puzzling clues and suspects that really made me think. The overall theme of old friends that feel like family was very true to life. As always Roddy has some new drink recipes that hit the spot. This is a wonderful book club read with lots to discuss including the social classes presented so beautifully in this one.
This is the 5th installment of the Val and Roddy “Gilded” series and I can't wait to see what trouble Val and Roddy get themselves into next!
April 30, 2023
I adore Valerie Mackle DeVere. She is a an excellent character, so complex and yet easy to relate to. She’s of another era, but very likeable and well written. Val and Roddy’s combined sleuthing is always intelligent, smart and suspensful.
This time they visit at a grand home, Kiddswood, in ”the in between season”, a place her husband Roddy visited in younger years.
The reason for their visit is a problem with water shortage at Kiddwood because of a problem on deVere’s neighbouring land. When a body is found on the deVere’s land Roddy and Val needs to investigate.
They discover the issue with the water, but there are a lot more going on and Val and Roddy have to use all their ingenuity to unravel all mysterious threads they encounter. A delightful read!
I love this series, it’s so full of information about a forgotten era and I learn a lot. Yet it’s never on the nose, it all flows through the story with excellent ease. And all the characters are well written, most of them are exposed as more complex personalities the more they appear in the story.
I really recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This time they visit at a grand home, Kiddswood, in ”the in between season”, a place her husband Roddy visited in younger years.
The reason for their visit is a problem with water shortage at Kiddwood because of a problem on deVere’s neighbouring land. When a body is found on the deVere’s land Roddy and Val needs to investigate.
They discover the issue with the water, but there are a lot more going on and Val and Roddy have to use all their ingenuity to unravel all mysterious threads they encounter. A delightful read!
I love this series, it’s so full of information about a forgotten era and I learn a lot. Yet it’s never on the nose, it all flows through the story with excellent ease. And all the characters are well written, most of them are exposed as more complex personalities the more they appear in the story.
I really recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 3, 2023
Book Sirens eARC. Valentine and Roderick DeVere visit a friend's country house in upstate New York during the "between" social season. Another purpose of the visit is to check out a water flow issue at Roddy's parents' neighboring property which is causing tension between the friends. Their visit is disrupted when a young woman from a nearby health camp is found in a field ,the victim of a murderous drowning. Val and Roddy come under suspicion from the local authorities and must clear their name. Historian turned author Tichi has a real flair for enriching her narrative with authentic details of culture, costume and trends of the time period without detracting from the storyline. Val and Roddy are well developed likeable characters. Roddy's interest in the new fad of alcoholic "cocktails" in the early evening is humorous and he includes his new recipes. Overall an entertaining series and each entry can be read as a standaline.
May 9, 2023
This follows on from the brilliant first 4 books.
The era is so well depicted that I am transported to the world of the New York elite in 1899.
The mystery moves from a country house party to a bogus health camp to a brothel and many other places including a mine.
Val the rich wife from the gold mines of the west and her New York husband have to resolve the mystery of a dead girl as it has links to her husband Roddy's family.
I love the cocktail part of the tale as Roddy concocts interesting drinks - yet you sense that prohibition is becoming a stronger movement in those days.
A brilliant mystery depicting the era extremely well.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The era is so well depicted that I am transported to the world of the New York elite in 1899.
The mystery moves from a country house party to a bogus health camp to a brothel and many other places including a mine.
Val the rich wife from the gold mines of the west and her New York husband have to resolve the mystery of a dead girl as it has links to her husband Roddy's family.
I love the cocktail part of the tale as Roddy concocts interesting drinks - yet you sense that prohibition is becoming a stronger movement in those days.
A brilliant mystery depicting the era extremely well.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 10, 2023
A Gilded Drowning Pool is Book 5 in The Roddy and Val DeVere Gilded Age Series by Cecelia Tichi. I really enjoy this series. Roddy and Val are great characters. I like that although Roddy is the upper class lawyer, but it is Val that brought the money to the marriage. In this book Roddy and Val are at Hudson Valley and everything is wonderful, except there seems to be a big problem with the water and people are turning up dead. This married couple is smart and they make a great team. This cozy mystery series is should be on everyone's reading list. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
May 27, 2023
Roddy and Val go to the Kiddwood estate to solve a water shortage on the grounds of his parents' next-door neighbor. They end up in a mystery involving murder, greed and a disreputable property manager. I enjoyed the plot of multiple issues happening at the same time. The characters were believable and well described. This murder mystery will stand alone but the last sentence does refer the reader to the next situation happening in just a couple of weeks. The twisting and turning was intense with some things added for the series as opposed to this particular instance which added to confuse the reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
April 10, 2023
I've quite enjoyed the previous Roddy and Val cozy mysteries I've read. This latest installment was a bit of a disappointment to me, unfortunately. I still enjoyed learning more about the Gilded Age and the cocktails that were popular then, but the mystery itself felt a little scattered to me and I kind of lost interest part way through. Additionally, the communication between Roddy and Val felt particularly stilted in this story. Overall, I'd rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
I received an e-ARC from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an e-ARC from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 16, 2023
This book is the second in the series that I have read and enjoyed. I love the historical setting of the Gilded age, and Val is great. I like that the book is easy to read as a stand alone. I like the books and the couple in them, so that I will want to read the other books as well just because I know I will enjoy them. I like that we can feel the sadness that Val has for the victims, instead of just solving a case.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 6, 2023
It took me a few chapters to really get into the book, but I enjoyed it overall. The plot got a little slow in a few places and some of the interactions between characters seem odd or forced. The Kidd family is completely awful. The idea of spending weeks at someone’s country estate enduring forced activities is not at all appealing and I liked that Val was vocal about not wanting to go. I love stories set in the Gilded Age and reading about the different relationship dynamics of the time.
May 7, 2023
Full of delightful goodness.
This book was a very well written historical mystery and I enjoyed it a great deal. The characters had a realistic feel to them so it was easy to become invested into their story. This author does not disappoint each book I have read by her has been an excellent piece of work. Looking for some suspense than this is the book to get. I highly recommend it. I did receive a free copy of this book from BookSiren and voluntarily chose to review it.
This book was a very well written historical mystery and I enjoyed it a great deal. The characters had a realistic feel to them so it was easy to become invested into their story. This author does not disappoint each book I have read by her has been an excellent piece of work. Looking for some suspense than this is the book to get. I highly recommend it. I did receive a free copy of this book from BookSiren and voluntarily chose to review it.
May 9, 2023
I love reading stories about the Gilded Age, and this mystery was interesting along with taking you back in time. Valentine and her husband Roddy are sent by his parents to check out a problem on land they own in the Hudson Valley. An interesting mystery and set of characters. If you like clean stories and traveling back in time, you will enjoy this book. I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 10, 2023
I simply can't get enough of this series. I love the time period and the characters are well developed and the storyline is superb. I tell everyone that this is a smart cozy series, there's no added fluff to these books. I can't wait until the next book is released. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 8, 2023
I loved this one! I loved the way it was written, the setting and the characters. MY only remark would be the air quotes at the beginning were too much but it in no way detracts from the story. I read this over a weekend, and I would not hesitate to read more of Cecilia Tichi books.
May 19, 2023
I received a ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
An amazing easy read!
Well written!
Great, smart characters!
So enjoyable!
An amazing easy read!
Well written!
Great, smart characters!
So enjoyable!
April 5, 2023
It’s June 1899, and Roderick and Valentine DeVere have been invited to Kiddwood, the country home of family friends Sadie and Alf Kidd. Roddy had grown up with the Kidd’s son Clarence, although they drifted apart as adults, and he has fond memories of the place. His own parents own the neighboring tract of land and for many years, water from that land had been used at Kiddwood, but suddenly the water seems to have dried up and part of the reason for the invitation to the DeVeres was so that they could investigate on behalf of Roddy’s parents. But what they discover on the DeVere’s land only begins with guile and proceeds quickly to murder…. This is the fifth book in the Gilded series by Cecelia Tichi, herself a historian of the period, a fact that I appreciate because I know the historical details will be accurate in her books. I love Roddy and Val, the former a New York City blueblood and the latter the daughter of an Irish immigrant who made a fortune in the Nevada silver mines; she is unconventional and spirited, while he is a steadying influence with a good sense of humor and a knack with newfangled cocktails. A small irritant with this entry into the series is that both characters mention several times that if she had been born on a day other than February 14, Val would have been named Fiona (the name of a murder victim); this is seen as giving Val a reason to identify with the girl, but it really need to have been mentioned only once or twice, not half a dozen times. But that’s a mere editing quibble; the story itself, and its characters, are as realistic and charming (or not, as the case may be) as ever and it’s a joy to read another book in this fascinating series; recommended! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 16, 2023
The Review
This was an engaging and thrilling mystery read. The author found the perfect balance to showcase both the suspense surrounding the murder mystery aspect of the narrative and the attention to detail involved in the historical period that the setting takes place in. The pacing here is great, giving readers enough detail to really feel transported to this era while also allowing for the action and thriller genre aspects of the story to hit the reader fast.
To me, the author’s work really shined brightly in both the character development and the rich detail in the historical nature of the narrative. The way the author was able to capture the language, the mindset, and the intricate details associated with the gilded age, even the fashion and era-accurate cocktails, really brought the historical time period to life and helped elevate the narrative. Yet the interesting part came in the contrast between both Roddy and Val, as she brings the strong, independent nature that we love to see in a great protagonist while also going up against her husband’s narrow-minded family and the difficulty of getting her husband to see and appreciate her for who she is, something that happens gradually throughout the narrative.
The Verdict
Memorable, thrilling, and entertaining, author Cecilia Tichi’s “A Gilded Drowning Pool” is a must-read historical fiction meets mystery thriller novel and a great addition to this growing historical fiction series. The twists and turns in the narrative, the rich detail of the era, and the captivating relationships explored in the narrative will keep fans of this series enthralled and newcomers eager for more of the author’s work.
This was an engaging and thrilling mystery read. The author found the perfect balance to showcase both the suspense surrounding the murder mystery aspect of the narrative and the attention to detail involved in the historical period that the setting takes place in. The pacing here is great, giving readers enough detail to really feel transported to this era while also allowing for the action and thriller genre aspects of the story to hit the reader fast.
To me, the author’s work really shined brightly in both the character development and the rich detail in the historical nature of the narrative. The way the author was able to capture the language, the mindset, and the intricate details associated with the gilded age, even the fashion and era-accurate cocktails, really brought the historical time period to life and helped elevate the narrative. Yet the interesting part came in the contrast between both Roddy and Val, as she brings the strong, independent nature that we love to see in a great protagonist while also going up against her husband’s narrow-minded family and the difficulty of getting her husband to see and appreciate her for who she is, something that happens gradually throughout the narrative.
The Verdict
Memorable, thrilling, and entertaining, author Cecilia Tichi’s “A Gilded Drowning Pool” is a must-read historical fiction meets mystery thriller novel and a great addition to this growing historical fiction series. The twists and turns in the narrative, the rich detail of the era, and the captivating relationships explored in the narrative will keep fans of this series enthralled and newcomers eager for more of the author’s work.
May 17, 2023
Another in the series about Roddy and Val DeVere set at the end of the 19th Century. It seems that then the really rich lived a different life from the rest of the population. I suppose that is always the case, but it is particularly obvious in the "Gilded Age" of this period.
Fortunately both Roddy and Val are grounded and sympathetic individuals. Val, in particular, probably because of her background in the Colorado mines where her father was eventually successful in silver mining. This gives them a unique perspective in seeing behind the obvious when it comes to solving mysteries. In this book they are again away from their normal home in New York City. Instead they are guests with the Kidds at their place in the Hudson Valley.
It happens that the Kidds home is adjacent to a tract of land owned by Roddy's parent. And water has almost ceased flowing down from the DeVere land to the Kidd land. This leads to many complications, as does the finding of a body of a young woman, that nobody seems to know. It is investigating this that gives Val and Roddy a chance to use their talents.
Cecelia Tichi is an academic, and among other interests, has published a number of books on the social history of the US. It seems that it is from this standpoint that she is able to introduce us so easily into the world of the ultra-rich in the Gilded Age. I do love books that tell me interesting points about times or places that are unfamiliar to me. And if this knowledge is slipped in naturally as part of the story it is even better. This series never fails me.
I received an ARC of this book for free and this is my voluntary review.
Fortunately both Roddy and Val are grounded and sympathetic individuals. Val, in particular, probably because of her background in the Colorado mines where her father was eventually successful in silver mining. This gives them a unique perspective in seeing behind the obvious when it comes to solving mysteries. In this book they are again away from their normal home in New York City. Instead they are guests with the Kidds at their place in the Hudson Valley.
It happens that the Kidds home is adjacent to a tract of land owned by Roddy's parent. And water has almost ceased flowing down from the DeVere land to the Kidd land. This leads to many complications, as does the finding of a body of a young woman, that nobody seems to know. It is investigating this that gives Val and Roddy a chance to use their talents.
Cecelia Tichi is an academic, and among other interests, has published a number of books on the social history of the US. It seems that it is from this standpoint that she is able to introduce us so easily into the world of the ultra-rich in the Gilded Age. I do love books that tell me interesting points about times or places that are unfamiliar to me. And if this knowledge is slipped in naturally as part of the story it is even better. This series never fails me.
I received an ARC of this book for free and this is my voluntary review.
May 9, 2023
A Gilded Drowning Pool by Cecelia Tichi is the fifth in the splendid Roddy and Val DeVere Gilded Age series.
Roddy and Val are married and high society with just a sliver of stuffiness to enable them to inveigle and ingratiate while conducting murder investigations. But beneath the social veneer they are quite humble. Roddy's experience as a lawyer and mixologist complements Val's clever astuteness. Their darling dog Velvet appears, too.
In 1899 NYC, their expertise is needed when layers of mystery appear like swirling mist. Not only is an unexpected commune of sorts discovered on Roddy's family property but there a major water issue which drips with questions. However, murder is what shakes area residents to the core. Twists and turns, quirky characters, atmosphere and marital banter add further interest. Though at times the novel is predictable, the ending is gratifying, well set up for Book 6. Hopefully!
Tichi skillfully writes suspense and tension into her words and describes historical details with such acuity and knowledge it's as though she was there at the time. I love the glimpses into daily life through food, vernacular, fashion, social mores and classes. Though cozy, this book (and series) is much more than fluff. It took me on an immersive escape into another world. The power of words always astounds me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review gladly and voluntarily.
Roddy and Val are married and high society with just a sliver of stuffiness to enable them to inveigle and ingratiate while conducting murder investigations. But beneath the social veneer they are quite humble. Roddy's experience as a lawyer and mixologist complements Val's clever astuteness. Their darling dog Velvet appears, too.
In 1899 NYC, their expertise is needed when layers of mystery appear like swirling mist. Not only is an unexpected commune of sorts discovered on Roddy's family property but there a major water issue which drips with questions. However, murder is what shakes area residents to the core. Twists and turns, quirky characters, atmosphere and marital banter add further interest. Though at times the novel is predictable, the ending is gratifying, well set up for Book 6. Hopefully!
Tichi skillfully writes suspense and tension into her words and describes historical details with such acuity and knowledge it's as though she was there at the time. I love the glimpses into daily life through food, vernacular, fashion, social mores and classes. Though cozy, this book (and series) is much more than fluff. It took me on an immersive escape into another world. The power of words always astounds me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review gladly and voluntarily.
April 9, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is not the first book in this series I have reviewed but I found the earlier ones more memorable than this one. Roddy and Valentine are now familiar characters and in this book they visit a town norht of Manhattan to an estate next door to property the DeVere's own.
There are two murders and after Roddy and Valentine figure out the murderer, they get entrapped by the murderer in a burning house.
The murderer is the only one who dies and it is left as to whether he died in the fire or was killed.
The subsidiary characters are mostly weird and not fully developed. This goes particularly for the son of the host who Roddy had played with as a youngster. He has unexplained absences, plays with a cigar lighter that he is designing, and lies to his parents but none of that is explained to any extent in the book.
I look forward to the next in the series.
This is not the first book in this series I have reviewed but I found the earlier ones more memorable than this one. Roddy and Valentine are now familiar characters and in this book they visit a town norht of Manhattan to an estate next door to property the DeVere's own.
There are two murders and after Roddy and Valentine figure out the murderer, they get entrapped by the murderer in a burning house.
The murderer is the only one who dies and it is left as to whether he died in the fire or was killed.
The subsidiary characters are mostly weird and not fully developed. This goes particularly for the son of the host who Roddy had played with as a youngster. He has unexplained absences, plays with a cigar lighter that he is designing, and lies to his parents but none of that is explained to any extent in the book.
I look forward to the next in the series.
April 26, 2023
Book 5 of the series didn't disappoint. The character development of Roddy and Val gets better with each book and there is continued hope that Val will continue to grow stronger against the awful treatment experienced by women at the turn of the century. My hope is that one of these days she will indeed have a cocktail with other women in a women's only club! This one definitely rates a solid 5 stars!
The story line kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The mystery of the body on the DeVere family country property started it off and the intrigue kept things going until the end with a variety of twists and turns. If you like historical fiction and mystery this series is a must. With each new chapter the characters , their friends , their canine companion Velvet and the fascinating cocktails keep you engaged.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story line kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The mystery of the body on the DeVere family country property started it off and the intrigue kept things going until the end with a variety of twists and turns. If you like historical fiction and mystery this series is a must. With each new chapter the characters , their friends , their canine companion Velvet and the fascinating cocktails keep you engaged.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 9, 2023
I was quite excited when I received the opportunity to read and review this book. I love these Gilded Age stories! Not to mention, the surroundings, the descriptions, the characters, all richly detailed and fleshed out. I very much enjoy when a book can take me on a time travel in my mind, and these books do just that.
This mystery was really well done. I wasn't aware of who the perpetrator was until just before it was revealed. There were a great deal of red herrings and mysteries within mysteries. This, in my opinion, is so much of what makes an author very plain or very good, when they can make you ask questions after you've read the story, and really leave you with something to ponder.
I highly suggest reading this book. It's really that good.
I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving my review voluntarily.
This mystery was really well done. I wasn't aware of who the perpetrator was until just before it was revealed. There were a great deal of red herrings and mysteries within mysteries. This, in my opinion, is so much of what makes an author very plain or very good, when they can make you ask questions after you've read the story, and really leave you with something to ponder.
I highly suggest reading this book. It's really that good.
I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving my review voluntarily.
March 31, 2025
While I liked the novel, Valentine's character appeared to have changed substantially. She "wails" and cries a lot and seems unlike her usual take-charge personality. Roddy seems more of a mama's boy as well in this rendition in this series. Lots of eccentric characters and murderous ones as well with lots of plot twists and turns to follow so that, for me, the ultimate conclusion was somewhat unsatisfying. All the bad guys are not punished, at least as they should have been, and we never quite find out who did what with only suppositions given. Hate to give away more as it would give away plot points, but some loose ends at the conclusion of the story. Although I received an ARC for free, I am leaving this review of my honest opinions voluntarily.
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