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Edwardian Murder Mysteries #3
Sick of Shadows
Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart have an engagement of convenience to keep her from India and failed debutantes. She befriends newly arrived Miss Dolly Tremaine, stabbed to death and floating in a boat on the Serpentine River, and barely survives an attempt on her own life. Harry is summoned and the duo uncover deceptions, secrets, and the killer.
215 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2005
95 people are currently reading
1067 people want to read
About the author
Marion Chesney
145 books740 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
February 1, 2011
There is one thing that annoyed me about this book - the engagement ring. In the book prior to this one called "Hasty Death" when Captain Cathcart asked for Rose’s hand in marriage this paragraph is in the book:
"Harry stood up and fished in his pocket and drew out a little box. He opened it to reveal a sapphire and diamond ring.
‘Oh how beautiful’ said Rose, as he slid it on her finger."
In this book, "Sick of Shadows":
"She looked down at the small engagement ring on her finger. She had bought it herself out of her pin money, Harry having seemingly forgotten that he was supposed to supply one."
GAAAAHHHHH. How annoying.
"Harry stood up and fished in his pocket and drew out a little box. He opened it to reveal a sapphire and diamond ring.
‘Oh how beautiful’ said Rose, as he slid it on her finger."
In this book, "Sick of Shadows":
"She looked down at the small engagement ring on her finger. She had bought it herself out of her pin money, Harry having seemingly forgotten that he was supposed to supply one."
GAAAAHHHHH. How annoying.
August 6, 2016
I’m not sure what there’s even left to say about these books. The first two just about cover it: characters who we’re told are intelligent behaving like idiots, coincidences, despicable families who are at this point losing all vestiges of sympatheticness because they’re just that callous…
It’s still kind of fun, in that really light way, but I wouldn’t have bought it or the last book on the strength of the first two; I only read them because I owned them. I really didn’t enjoy the Agatha Raisin books, and while it turns out Snobbery with Violence was a bit more fun than those for me, I think it was more by contrast and good timing.
And yes, you’re probably going to see pretty much this review again when I get round to reviewing Our Lady of Pain.
Originally posted here.
It’s still kind of fun, in that really light way, but I wouldn’t have bought it or the last book on the strength of the first two; I only read them because I owned them. I really didn’t enjoy the Agatha Raisin books, and while it turns out Snobbery with Violence was a bit more fun than those for me, I think it was more by contrast and good timing.
And yes, you’re probably going to see pretty much this review again when I get round to reviewing Our Lady of Pain.
Originally posted here.
April 4, 2021
These two crazy kids! Solving the murders, getting on each other's nerves . . . when will they kiss?! I like the realism of Rose talking about being a suffragette or opening a charity, and then finding out it's not as easy or as glamorous as she thought. But she does stick with it, so good for her! I really like the addition of Miss Friendly the seamstress, that was super cute!
I feel bad that poor Dolly got murdered so quick and then nearly forgotten. Poor Dolly!
I feel bad that poor Dolly got murdered so quick and then nearly forgotten. Poor Dolly!
August 15, 2014
This was a strange, bland, shallow book that somehow combined a surprisingly high body count with the faint feeling of being educational.
January 12, 2021
I had a hard time getting into the plot of the whole thing, and it seemed light in the "mystery" department. Couldn't relate well to characters. Listened to the audio version - although the narrator was quite animated in delivery, it was almost a bit over the top (I kept picturing being scolded by a negative old crotchety woman who had a chip on her shoulder.) I don't know... not my cup of tea, but perhaps I'll try another in the series.
December 7, 2012
It never ceases to amaze me how I can love one series from a writer but not connect with other books that are written by the same person. For instance, Marion Chesney is also MC Beaton. I love the Agatha Raisin books, but there is something about the Edwardian Mystery series that does not work for me.
Maybe it is something as simple as the fact that I do not like Lady Rose Summers. In the first book, Snobbery with Violence, there was a spark there that I liked, but as the series continued on, I lost interest in this woman and her silly goings on. Rose is still playing her games with Captain Harry Cathcart and the two have entered into an engagement of convenience. Meaning that she has told her parents that they are engaged only so they will not send her off to India.
Being a failed debutant due to her intellect and unconventional ideas, Rose has to figure out this marriage thing – something that will give her a home of her own, but at the same time, not force her to be tied down with a husband and children. There is something about Captain Harry Cathcart, who has been around since book one, but since her family does not want their only child marrying a man in trade, other pickings are slim for Lady Rose.
Rose is helping the beautiful Dolly Tremain in her very first debutant season. These are very treacherous waters for a young woman and when Rose sees Dolly about to make a horrible mistake she rushes to her aid only to discover that someone had murdered her and her body has been laid out to look like the Lady of Shallot.
Soon Lady Rose’s life too is in danger and with the help of Harry and a small group of friends, the duo ferrets out the goings on of the rich and famous and those that will do anything they can to be a part of that world.
I have tried my best with this series, but just do not think that I can force myself to read the final book. I wish Captain Cathcart and Lady Rose Summer my best, but they will have to get along without me.
Maybe it is something as simple as the fact that I do not like Lady Rose Summers. In the first book, Snobbery with Violence, there was a spark there that I liked, but as the series continued on, I lost interest in this woman and her silly goings on. Rose is still playing her games with Captain Harry Cathcart and the two have entered into an engagement of convenience. Meaning that she has told her parents that they are engaged only so they will not send her off to India.
Being a failed debutant due to her intellect and unconventional ideas, Rose has to figure out this marriage thing – something that will give her a home of her own, but at the same time, not force her to be tied down with a husband and children. There is something about Captain Harry Cathcart, who has been around since book one, but since her family does not want their only child marrying a man in trade, other pickings are slim for Lady Rose.
Rose is helping the beautiful Dolly Tremain in her very first debutant season. These are very treacherous waters for a young woman and when Rose sees Dolly about to make a horrible mistake she rushes to her aid only to discover that someone had murdered her and her body has been laid out to look like the Lady of Shallot.
Soon Lady Rose’s life too is in danger and with the help of Harry and a small group of friends, the duo ferrets out the goings on of the rich and famous and those that will do anything they can to be a part of that world.
I have tried my best with this series, but just do not think that I can force myself to read the final book. I wish Captain Cathcart and Lady Rose Summer my best, but they will have to get along without me.
September 3, 2008
A breathtakingly stupid novel. I actively disliked the hero and heroine.
April 8, 2015
There's no nice way to say this.
I really disliked this book.
The writing was just terrible. Maybe it was too simple for me, but there was was absolutely no detail. The conversation was stiff and I found it hard to believe. Even for an Edwardian era novel, the conversation was dry. People were killed off and parties were attended all in one paragraph. I felt no sympathy for any of the characters.
Beautiful young woman just being introduced into society found bleeding in a boat? Meh.
Two men are killed in a car crash? Wait, where are we again?
Rose and Daisy are kidnapped? I really want this book to be over.
Maybe the writing style just wasn't suitable for me. I found this book boring to be frank, AND IT IS A MURDER MYSTERY.
I often see people calling characters one dimensional in reviews, and I always dismiss them as pretentious. In this case, I have never seen so many characters underdeveloped. The relationships were confusing, dialogue was dull. Rose was annoying, Daisy spoke in an unappealing manner and never had anything interesting to say other than speak about her love, Becket.
The whole "romance" between Rose and Harry was unbearable. Here is a brief summary:
Rose: Hey, I only like Harry 'cuz I don't want to go to India!
Harry: Out of the goodness of my heart, I stay with Rose.
Rose: This engagement is in name only! (insert paragraph about her feelings for him)
Harry: She is as cold as ice (insert paragraph about how he finds her aggravating but alluring)
Rose: I want to help solve a murder!
Harry: Rose, you will embarrass me *insert sexist comment here*
Rose: *angry because Harry doesn't show up at a social function* (x12)
Rose: Breaks off engagement
Harry and Rose: Dang it, we actually like each other!
Rose: Friends again?
Repeat 2 times to get the general plot of the story.
Also, as much as I love interesting historical facts, I was confused to know why I was reading quotes about George Pullman and his funeral arrangements while in the middle of a scene where the main character is travelling. This random factoid was interesting, but what the heck was it doing in the middle of the scene? I got a "hey look I did my research I'll prove it look" vibe.
Grammatical inconsistencies were annoying. A character is referred to as "Mrs. Losse"in one chapter and "Mrs. Josse" in the next. There was also a comment about "his pore sister". Is the misspelled name just there to prove that Harry didn't know that girl? Is "pore" some phrase I haven't heard of? Either way, it was distracting.
I try really hard not to bash writers as I know how much work goes in to writing a novel, and I respect anyone who has a love for it, but man, I really didn't like this book.
I really disliked this book.
The writing was just terrible. Maybe it was too simple for me, but there was was absolutely no detail. The conversation was stiff and I found it hard to believe. Even for an Edwardian era novel, the conversation was dry. People were killed off and parties were attended all in one paragraph. I felt no sympathy for any of the characters.
Beautiful young woman just being introduced into society found bleeding in a boat? Meh.
Two men are killed in a car crash? Wait, where are we again?
Rose and Daisy are kidnapped? I really want this book to be over.
Maybe the writing style just wasn't suitable for me. I found this book boring to be frank, AND IT IS A MURDER MYSTERY.
I often see people calling characters one dimensional in reviews, and I always dismiss them as pretentious. In this case, I have never seen so many characters underdeveloped. The relationships were confusing, dialogue was dull. Rose was annoying, Daisy spoke in an unappealing manner and never had anything interesting to say other than speak about her love, Becket.
The whole "romance" between Rose and Harry was unbearable. Here is a brief summary:
Rose: Hey, I only like Harry 'cuz I don't want to go to India!
Harry: Out of the goodness of my heart, I stay with Rose.
Rose: This engagement is in name only! (insert paragraph about her feelings for him)
Harry: She is as cold as ice (insert paragraph about how he finds her aggravating but alluring)
Rose: I want to help solve a murder!
Harry: Rose, you will embarrass me *insert sexist comment here*
Rose: *angry because Harry doesn't show up at a social function* (x12)
Rose: Breaks off engagement
Harry and Rose: Dang it, we actually like each other!
Rose: Friends again?
Repeat 2 times to get the general plot of the story.
Also, as much as I love interesting historical facts, I was confused to know why I was reading quotes about George Pullman and his funeral arrangements while in the middle of a scene where the main character is travelling. This random factoid was interesting, but what the heck was it doing in the middle of the scene? I got a "hey look I did my research I'll prove it look" vibe.
Grammatical inconsistencies were annoying. A character is referred to as "Mrs. Losse"in one chapter and "Mrs. Josse" in the next. There was also a comment about "his pore sister". Is the misspelled name just there to prove that Harry didn't know that girl? Is "pore" some phrase I haven't heard of? Either way, it was distracting.
I try really hard not to bash writers as I know how much work goes in to writing a novel, and I respect anyone who has a love for it, but man, I really didn't like this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2014
Lady Rose Summer is engaged to Captain Harry Cathcart, or so she tells her parents and society. It's only a ruse to keep the Hadshires from sending Rose to India. Society is beginning to gossip because Harry spends most of his time working. Rose is humiliated and considers a marriage of convenience to Sir Peter Percey, her frequent escort. She is bored with her life and longs to help someone. She befriends Dolly Tremaine, a country rector's daughter who is new in town. Poor Dolly is having a difficult season: she's beautiful but not bright and doesn't know how to go on in society, then she ends up dead, floating in a boat like the Lady of Shalott. Rose is the one to find the body and instantly becomes a media darling and also the target of a crazed assassin. Harry will do anything to keep Rose safe but Rose chafes at the restrictions he places on her movements. She's determined to solve the mystery on her own.
This story is better than the last but not as good as the first. I guessed who murdered Dolly right away. I was pretty close to being right but second guessed myself as the plot moved on. I didn't like how the author stepped out of the story to explain historical background information. I also didn't like the relationship between Rose and Harry. There were too many stupid misunderstandings. There are some modern Americanisms that creep in - can we get a "What is a weekend?"
I liked Rose a bit better in this story. We get inside her head a bit more. She can still be a you know what at times, but she's getting better. Harry is still brooding but we get a bit more of his motivation. I like knowing characters' feelings. The character I liked best was Aisla. She provides the comic relief. I like her better than Rose because she's smart and capable. The villains are bumbling fools.
I look forward to the next book in the series.
Graphic/Objectionable Content :
violence (more graphic than the previous two books)
homosexuality
This story is better than the last but not as good as the first. I guessed who murdered Dolly right away. I was pretty close to being right but second guessed myself as the plot moved on. I didn't like how the author stepped out of the story to explain historical background information. I also didn't like the relationship between Rose and Harry. There were too many stupid misunderstandings. There are some modern Americanisms that creep in - can we get a "What is a weekend?"
I liked Rose a bit better in this story. We get inside her head a bit more. She can still be a you know what at times, but she's getting better. Harry is still brooding but we get a bit more of his motivation. I like knowing characters' feelings. The character I liked best was Aisla. She provides the comic relief. I like her better than Rose because she's smart and capable. The villains are bumbling fools.
I look forward to the next book in the series.
Graphic/Objectionable Content :
violence (more graphic than the previous two books)
homosexuality
April 9, 2013
I picked up this book not realizing it was by the same author as the Hamish Macbeth series. After reading several of those it is evident the reader is going to be constantly jerked around with the love interest angle. Basta!
At first this seemed like a decent frothy bit of fun. The period details are charming. It is an extraordinarily fast read. The plot churns right along with the stock characters doing their bits. It's just that there just isn't anything at all there. Secondary characters are killed off willy-nilly. The main characters are unbelievably juvenile.
Too da loo Lady Rose Summer. I'd prefer Miss Marple or Poirot or the series by Victoria Thompson. This seems like the kind of thing one could write in one's sleep.
At first this seemed like a decent frothy bit of fun. The period details are charming. It is an extraordinarily fast read. The plot churns right along with the stock characters doing their bits. It's just that there just isn't anything at all there. Secondary characters are killed off willy-nilly. The main characters are unbelievably juvenile.
Too da loo Lady Rose Summer. I'd prefer Miss Marple or Poirot or the series by Victoria Thompson. This seems like the kind of thing one could write in one's sleep.
June 4, 2021
Davina Porter narrates the book and is the main reason I have listened to the series. It is a lot of the same plot repeated with a weak mystery. The engagement is on and off and on and off ect.
July 28, 2009
I had a lot of fun reading this third entry in Marion Chesney's Edwardian Mystery series. Like in the previous books the mystery is actually only part of the charm as the story also deals with the relationship between the main characters - Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart - whose misunderstandings and continuous banter always brings a smile to my face, the situation of women, the contrast between the living conditions of the upper and lower orders as with several other aspects of the Edwardian society.
Although this is a mystery I think the main thing here is Rose and Harry's relationship and how Rose is growing from a naive young lady to someone with more substance. Rose and Harry planned a fake engagement to prevent her from being shipped to India by her parents. However Harry is very involved in his detective work and more often than not can't escort Rose to the social functions her family is invited to. This leads to much gossip and to Rose and her parent’s distress.
Regarding the mystery in this story Rose befriends a young woman who is found murdered a few days later. Rose is the one who discovers the body and soon after there's an attempt on her life as the killer(s) seems to believe she knows more than she actually does. Her family decides she must go away to a secret location in the country with only her companion and Inspector Kerridge suggests they go to a family he knows where Rose starts by being a bit of a spoiled brat but ends up doing some growing up.
The best part of the story for me is the relationship between the characters and Chesney funny humor. Especially Rose and Harry's on-again, off again engagement and their many misunderstandings but also their dealings with Daisy and Beckett and everyone else around them. Rose is bored an unhappy without Harry in attendance but he doesn't seem to understand that all would be solved by giving her more of his attention (which deep down he would really like to). While I much enjoyed their banter and misconceptions about each other I hope Chesney doesn't keep them like this in future books, they make up in the end so hopefully they'll stay that way in the next book.
This is a light and fun series that gives you an insight on the Edwardian period and while being labeled as cosy mysteries there's no doubt that the characters and their involvement with each other takes center stage and the mystery is kept as a secondary thing. I can't wait to get to the next one!
Grade: 4/5
Although this is a mystery I think the main thing here is Rose and Harry's relationship and how Rose is growing from a naive young lady to someone with more substance. Rose and Harry planned a fake engagement to prevent her from being shipped to India by her parents. However Harry is very involved in his detective work and more often than not can't escort Rose to the social functions her family is invited to. This leads to much gossip and to Rose and her parent’s distress.
Regarding the mystery in this story Rose befriends a young woman who is found murdered a few days later. Rose is the one who discovers the body and soon after there's an attempt on her life as the killer(s) seems to believe she knows more than she actually does. Her family decides she must go away to a secret location in the country with only her companion and Inspector Kerridge suggests they go to a family he knows where Rose starts by being a bit of a spoiled brat but ends up doing some growing up.
The best part of the story for me is the relationship between the characters and Chesney funny humor. Especially Rose and Harry's on-again, off again engagement and their many misunderstandings but also their dealings with Daisy and Beckett and everyone else around them. Rose is bored an unhappy without Harry in attendance but he doesn't seem to understand that all would be solved by giving her more of his attention (which deep down he would really like to). While I much enjoyed their banter and misconceptions about each other I hope Chesney doesn't keep them like this in future books, they make up in the end so hopefully they'll stay that way in the next book.
This is a light and fun series that gives you an insight on the Edwardian period and while being labeled as cosy mysteries there's no doubt that the characters and their involvement with each other takes center stage and the mystery is kept as a secondary thing. I can't wait to get to the next one!
Grade: 4/5
August 10, 2023
Cozy mystery set in Edwardian England. Lady Rose is her parents biggest disappointment. Her independent, suffragette attitude has them thinking it’s time to ship her off to India to find a husband among the military men there But Rose outwits them all with an engagement of convenience to a gentleman who has set up his own detective agency and is as unconventional as Rose. Together they work to solve a murder with the assistance of a few interesting characters added to the mix.
October 22, 2024
2.5⭐️
Nie była to najlepsza książka jaką czytałam. Wszystko działo się ekspresowo, dialogi były nudne i mało wnoszące. Czytałam do końca by przekonać się kto faktycznie był mordercą. Jeśli ktoś lubi małowymagającą lekturę lub chce przeczytać jakąś niezbyt skomplikowaną sprawę kryminalną z dość nudnym romansem to jest to odpowiednia pozycja.
Nie była to najlepsza książka jaką czytałam. Wszystko działo się ekspresowo, dialogi były nudne i mało wnoszące. Czytałam do końca by przekonać się kto faktycznie był mordercą. Jeśli ktoś lubi małowymagającą lekturę lub chce przeczytać jakąś niezbyt skomplikowaną sprawę kryminalną z dość nudnym romansem to jest to odpowiednia pozycja.
Read
October 12, 2023I was to preoccupied by to many things to really enjoy my reading. It would not have been fare to rate this book.
November 18, 2021
Into the Shadows
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (August 2008) of the original Minotaur hardcover (April 2005)
Sick of Shadows continues with the story of Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart in the 3rd of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries. I'm finding that the mystery elements are mostly secondary to these plots and are more like MacGuffins. The main story arc is the 'will they or won't they' indirect courtship of the 2 principles, with their companions Daisy and Beckett already planning themselves to tie the knot and hoping to push Rose and Harry in the same direction. It is fairly light and the background setting of the Edwardian era with occasional social commentary is well done.
I've completed my pandemic reading splurge of cozy mysteries by M.C. Beaton, the penname used by Marion Chesney (1936-2019) for her popular Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. Chesney first became a writer with various historical romances from 1977 onwards, before branching out into the crime genre with her first Hamish Macbeth in 1985 and first Agatha Raisin in 1992. Romances are not my genre, but Chesney's mini-series of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries sounded like enough of a crossover between her historical fiction and her cozy mysteries to follow up on.
The narration by veteran Davina Porter (approx. 230 book narrations to her credit) was excellent throughout. Porter is especially good with her range of voices that is able to effectively mimic male as well as female tones.
All of the Edwardian Murder Mysteries series are available free to Audible Plus members.
Trivia and Link
The somewhat similarly titled I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (2011) is the 4th book in Alan Bradley's popular Flavia de Luce series.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (August 2008) of the original Minotaur hardcover (April 2005)
'I am half sick of shadows,' said
The Lady of Shalott
- excerpt from the poem The Lady of Shalott by Alfred Lord Tennyson, used as the epigram for Chapter 1 of Sick of Shadows
Sick of Shadows continues with the story of Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart in the 3rd of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries. I'm finding that the mystery elements are mostly secondary to these plots and are more like MacGuffins. The main story arc is the 'will they or won't they' indirect courtship of the 2 principles, with their companions Daisy and Beckett already planning themselves to tie the knot and hoping to push Rose and Harry in the same direction. It is fairly light and the background setting of the Edwardian era with occasional social commentary is well done.
I've completed my pandemic reading splurge of cozy mysteries by M.C. Beaton, the penname used by Marion Chesney (1936-2019) for her popular Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. Chesney first became a writer with various historical romances from 1977 onwards, before branching out into the crime genre with her first Hamish Macbeth in 1985 and first Agatha Raisin in 1992. Romances are not my genre, but Chesney's mini-series of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries sounded like enough of a crossover between her historical fiction and her cozy mysteries to follow up on.
The narration by veteran Davina Porter (approx. 230 book narrations to her credit) was excellent throughout. Porter is especially good with her range of voices that is able to effectively mimic male as well as female tones.
All of the Edwardian Murder Mysteries series are available free to Audible Plus members.
Trivia and Link
The somewhat similarly titled I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (2011) is the 4th book in Alan Bradley's popular Flavia de Luce series.
January 30, 2022
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Raison et Châtiments ?
"Même si ce n'est pas ma série préférée de M.C. Beaton, je n'allais tout de même pas la laisser de côté plus longtemps ! Le tome 4 ne devrait d'ailleurs pas tarder non plus à rejoindre ma PAL."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Lady Rose se prend d'affection pour une jeune première esseulée, à l'air triste, mais alors qu'elle essaie de lui venir en aide, elle la retrouve assassinée. Pire, le meurtrier pense qu'elle sait quelque chose et va essayer de s'en prendre à elle. Heureusement, le Capitaine Cathcart veille..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Ce n'est vraiment pas pour le côté policier qu'il faut lire ces romans, franchement, à certains moments, on se demande même s'ils enquêtent vraiment, tous autant qu'ils sont ! En revanche, j'ai adoré l'ambiance, le changement de décor, toutes les scènes à la campagne. C'était rafraîchissant et montre un côté de Rose beaucoup moins agaçant. Pour le reste, si vous avez aimé les deux premiers, vous devriez tout autant aimé celui-ci, on y retrouve toujours les mêmes ressorts, avec les mêmes avantages et certainement un petit peu les mêmes inconvénients aussi."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"Même si je me suis régalée, je ne peux pas dire que je regrette qu'il n'y ait que quatre tomes. D'abord, parce que je préfère les autres séries de l'auteur, comme je l'ai déjà dit et donc, à choisir, j'aime autant qu'elle leur ait consacré son temps mais aussi parce que les atermoiements de Rose et du Capitaine - je l'aime, non je le déteste, non je l'aime - m'auraient vite fatiguée !"
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Même si ce n'est pas ma série préférée de M.C. Beaton, je n'allais tout de même pas la laisser de côté plus longtemps ! Le tome 4 ne devrait d'ailleurs pas tarder non plus à rejoindre ma PAL."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Lady Rose se prend d'affection pour une jeune première esseulée, à l'air triste, mais alors qu'elle essaie de lui venir en aide, elle la retrouve assassinée. Pire, le meurtrier pense qu'elle sait quelque chose et va essayer de s'en prendre à elle. Heureusement, le Capitaine Cathcart veille..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Ce n'est vraiment pas pour le côté policier qu'il faut lire ces romans, franchement, à certains moments, on se demande même s'ils enquêtent vraiment, tous autant qu'ils sont ! En revanche, j'ai adoré l'ambiance, le changement de décor, toutes les scènes à la campagne. C'était rafraîchissant et montre un côté de Rose beaucoup moins agaçant. Pour le reste, si vous avez aimé les deux premiers, vous devriez tout autant aimé celui-ci, on y retrouve toujours les mêmes ressorts, avec les mêmes avantages et certainement un petit peu les mêmes inconvénients aussi."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"Même si je me suis régalée, je ne peux pas dire que je regrette qu'il n'y ait que quatre tomes. D'abord, parce que je préfère les autres séries de l'auteur, comme je l'ai déjà dit et donc, à choisir, j'aime autant qu'elle leur ait consacré son temps mais aussi parce que les atermoiements de Rose et du Capitaine - je l'aime, non je le déteste, non je l'aime - m'auraient vite fatiguée !"
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June 7, 2022
Après l'annonce inespérée des fiançailles, celles-ci tournent finalement en eau de boudin !
Lady Rose fulmine contre les absences répétées de son prétendant et suggère de répondre plus favorablement aux sollicitations d'autres courtisans. Un meurtre vient cependant détourner son attention. La jeune lady est alors contrainte de s'isoler à la campagne pour échapper au scandale.
J'en suis donc là dans cette lecture : la partie concernant l'enquête et l'action est très prenante. Le ton est vif et piquant. C'est 100% distrayant. Par contre, la personnalité de l'héroïne est désolante. La demoiselle a accepté des fiançailles de convenance pour échapper à la pression sociale. Lady Rose rêve d'indépendance à une époque où les héritières doivent se ranger. Si son caractère effronté avait un soupçon de charme au début de la série, il s'avère de plus en plus exaspérant. Car Rose n'est qu'une demoiselle capricieuse et butée. Quid de sa relation avec Harry ? Une succession de malentendus et de jugements hâtifs. C'est lassant.
En bref : j'aime le peps de l'intrigue et l'ambiance générale. Mais je suis saoulée des gamineries de l'héroïne.
Lady Rose fulmine contre les absences répétées de son prétendant et suggère de répondre plus favorablement aux sollicitations d'autres courtisans. Un meurtre vient cependant détourner son attention. La jeune lady est alors contrainte de s'isoler à la campagne pour échapper au scandale.
J'en suis donc là dans cette lecture : la partie concernant l'enquête et l'action est très prenante. Le ton est vif et piquant. C'est 100% distrayant. Par contre, la personnalité de l'héroïne est désolante. La demoiselle a accepté des fiançailles de convenance pour échapper à la pression sociale. Lady Rose rêve d'indépendance à une époque où les héritières doivent se ranger. Si son caractère effronté avait un soupçon de charme au début de la série, il s'avère de plus en plus exaspérant. Car Rose n'est qu'une demoiselle capricieuse et butée. Quid de sa relation avec Harry ? Une succession de malentendus et de jugements hâtifs. C'est lassant.
En bref : j'aime le peps de l'intrigue et l'ambiance générale. Mais je suis saoulée des gamineries de l'héroïne.
August 22, 2017
Enjoyable story, but the character development is ponderously slow. If anything, it seems like the characters are forever fighting and becoming friends again, which is amusing for the first couple books, but begins to wear by the third. Lady Rose seems never to learn from her repeated and varying stupid mistakes, which again, was amusing at first, but begins to wear thin when repeated so frequently. I begin to wonder if the author is just too lazy to think up new problems for her characters to solve. I want the next book to have new character development! Maybe a different formula for the murder mystery too...
July 24, 2020
Was MC Beaton LGBTQIA or just a really good ally? Because even when our mains are at their most annoying I cant help but stan how far they go out of their way to ensure their gay friends and acquaintances don't get arrested for being gay. And then there is how all the shitty people being shitty to the gays get punished. And, and, the gays get a happily ever after! It makes me happy.
October 3, 2016
Entertaining with a burgeoning romantic avenue between the main characters. It did get a wee bit eye-rolly once in a while though and I thought it was going to actually go somewhere - but, alas - no, it did not. So perhaps in the last one, it will come to fruition.
June 5, 2017
Delightful mystery series, although this one was sillier than the others. A nice, quick Edwardian mystery between longer books.
July 3, 2022
3.5⭐️
Encore une fois l’audio était top et je l’ai dévoré en moins de 24h, c’est parfait à lire sur un week-end ! Sans prise de tête, avec une plume convenable et très chill !
L’intrigue était plutôt pas mal, si celle du tome 2 m’avait fait mourir de rire tellement c’était acadabrantesque, celle ci m’a plus intriguée même si les suspects nous viennent facilement en tête et que tout se règle avec une aisance déroutante. Les personnages se sortent souvent de situations complexes par des moyens invraisemblables mais c’est un cosy mystery quoi ! On passe un bon moment de lecture.
Cette fois-ci le caractère de Rose a commencé à m’exaspérer. La lady qui rêve d’indépendance en se plaignant de son statut de jeune femme à marier est en fait capricieuse et tête de mule ! Sa relation avec Harry, qui se base sur des fiançailles de connivence, est remplie de malentendus et d’actes manqués. Merci de communiquer ! Ça saoule un peu à la longue, avec eux c’est un pas en avant trois pas en arrière. On a envie de les prendre par la tête pour réduire leur ego gros comme pas possible.
C’était tout de même une bonne lecture qui passe le temps et qui m’a accompagné l’après midi au soleil dans mon jardin.
Encore une fois l’audio était top et je l’ai dévoré en moins de 24h, c’est parfait à lire sur un week-end ! Sans prise de tête, avec une plume convenable et très chill !
L’intrigue était plutôt pas mal, si celle du tome 2 m’avait fait mourir de rire tellement c’était acadabrantesque, celle ci m’a plus intriguée même si les suspects nous viennent facilement en tête et que tout se règle avec une aisance déroutante. Les personnages se sortent souvent de situations complexes par des moyens invraisemblables mais c’est un cosy mystery quoi ! On passe un bon moment de lecture.
Cette fois-ci le caractère de Rose a commencé à m’exaspérer. La lady qui rêve d’indépendance en se plaignant de son statut de jeune femme à marier est en fait capricieuse et tête de mule ! Sa relation avec Harry, qui se base sur des fiançailles de connivence, est remplie de malentendus et d’actes manqués. Merci de communiquer ! Ça saoule un peu à la longue, avec eux c’est un pas en avant trois pas en arrière. On a envie de les prendre par la tête pour réduire leur ego gros comme pas possible.
C’était tout de même une bonne lecture qui passe le temps et qui m’a accompagné l’après midi au soleil dans mon jardin.
July 8, 2024
3.5 stars
I spent more time with the physical book than the audiobook, but I must mention that Davina Porter's narration is wonderful!
The on again / off again engagement is getting a tad tiresome, and the scene with Berrow and Banks and the car was utterly ridiculous. It was filler. Granted it set up the resolution that those two wouldn't cause further trouble, but it was more elaborate than it needed to be.
Also, I cannot believe that a writer of M.C. Beaton's level did not keep good notes for her series. In Hasty Death, Captain Cathcart proposed to Rose with a ring!, yet in this installment, Rose laments that she purchased her small engagement ring with her own money.
Overall, this is a fun, light read.
I spent more time with the physical book than the audiobook, but I must mention that Davina Porter's narration is wonderful!
The on again / off again engagement is getting a tad tiresome, and the scene with Berrow and Banks and the car was utterly ridiculous. It was filler. Granted it set up the resolution that those two wouldn't cause further trouble, but it was more elaborate than it needed to be.
Also, I cannot believe that a writer of M.C. Beaton's level did not keep good notes for her series. In Hasty Death, Captain Cathcart proposed to Rose with a ring!, yet in this installment, Rose laments that she purchased her small engagement ring with her own money.
Overall, this is a fun, light read.
June 24, 2022
Rose and Harry, engaged in name only, compete to solve crimes, with Daisy and Becket serving as the Fred and Ethel to their Lucy and Desi. Repeated romantic misunderstandings, foot-stamping rebellion on Rose's part (against her parents' rules, Harry's rules, and Edwardian England's rules for young ladies of quality) serve as fodder for another mystery in this short series.
Marion Gibbons/Marion Chesney/M.C. Beaton is unapologetically blunt, concluding plotlines with one-sentence afterthoughts, setting up romantic opportunities and knocking them down with the subtlety of a bowling ball, and making me laugh with every book.
No one else could get away with this kind of terrible writing, but I love every word. I'm sad that she's no longer with us.
Marion Gibbons/Marion Chesney/M.C. Beaton is unapologetically blunt, concluding plotlines with one-sentence afterthoughts, setting up romantic opportunities and knocking them down with the subtlety of a bowling ball, and making me laugh with every book.
No one else could get away with this kind of terrible writing, but I love every word. I'm sad that she's no longer with us.
December 3, 2024
I listened to this one and really enjoyed it.
Lady Rose and Captain Cathcart are still no closer to marrying and they seem to misunderstand each other and instead of just saying what is on their minds, they dance around.
Lady Rose was the real detective in this one and I really enjoyed the way she figured things out.
I am a fan of this series and can't wait to see what happens in the last one.
I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars.
Lady Rose and Captain Cathcart are still no closer to marrying and they seem to misunderstand each other and instead of just saying what is on their minds, they dance around.
Lady Rose was the real detective in this one and I really enjoyed the way she figured things out.
I am a fan of this series and can't wait to see what happens in the last one.
I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars.
October 29, 2021
Main character Rose is a bit irritating but I do want to read the next one
November 6, 2011
Actual rating: 3.75 stars.
I've decided for this short series of books to review them as a whole. I read them one after the other in about a 24 hour time period, so they all sort of seem like one really long book to me, and I am not at all sure that I could review them separately.
My plan is to copy and past the review to each of the four books, so I will post most all of the review under a spoiler cut, because I am sure that I will mention things that would be considered spoilerish.
My overall rating for the series is 3.75 stars...ok, actually it was 3.63, but I rounded it up.
The books are all light, breezy, and very quick reads--all of them clocking in at just under 225 pages.
I enjoyed the books as a whole, the characters (while sometimes extremely frustrating to me) were engaging, the writing style was pleasing, and while the books were mostly lighthearted and amusing, there were a few tense moments as well. The mysteries were pretty easy to figure out, and therefore didn't require much thought...which is something that I sometimes look for in a book.
I've decided for this short series of books to review them as a whole. I read them one after the other in about a 24 hour time period, so they all sort of seem like one really long book to me, and I am not at all sure that I could review them separately.
My plan is to copy and past the review to each of the four books, so I will post most all of the review under a spoiler cut, because I am sure that I will mention things that would be considered spoilerish.
My overall rating for the series is 3.75 stars...ok, actually it was 3.63, but I rounded it up.
The books are all light, breezy, and very quick reads--all of them clocking in at just under 225 pages.
I enjoyed the books as a whole, the characters (while sometimes extremely frustrating to me) were engaging, the writing style was pleasing, and while the books were mostly lighthearted and amusing, there were a few tense moments as well. The mysteries were pretty easy to figure out, and therefore didn't require much thought...which is something that I sometimes look for in a book.
June 18, 2016
All four skinny books in this series add up to only one decent mystery/romance.
Others have already given multiple synopses and reviews, so I shall use my space to nit pick.
Page 68 Kerridge finds a photo in the dead man's wallet and asks the police photographer to copy it. It occurred to me that with all the detecting that Harry is doing, there is no mention of him owning a camera. The Brownie Box Camera was introduced in 1900 and cost about a $1.00. Even the Brownie 2 that came out in 1901 was only $2.00 (about £0.50 at the time). So a camera was not out of Harry's price range and it certainly would have been useful in his work.
Page 71 we have an exploding puddle of petrol. Technically, a puddle of petrol won't explode by dropping a match in it; it's the fumes in the air above the puddle of petrol that catches on fire. Of course, if you're the one who set it off, it probably makes no difference -- you're still toast.
In Hasty Death (Edwardian Murder Mysteries, #2) on page 216 Rose receives an engagement ring from Harry. In this book, which is Edwardian Murder Mysteries, #3, on page 90 Rose receives another diamond engagement ring from Harry. So what happened to the first ring? Did she hock it or what?
Others have already given multiple synopses and reviews, so I shall use my space to nit pick.
Page 68 Kerridge finds a photo in the dead man's wallet and asks the police photographer to copy it. It occurred to me that with all the detecting that Harry is doing, there is no mention of him owning a camera. The Brownie Box Camera was introduced in 1900 and cost about a $1.00. Even the Brownie 2 that came out in 1901 was only $2.00 (about £0.50 at the time). So a camera was not out of Harry's price range and it certainly would have been useful in his work.
Page 71 we have an exploding puddle of petrol. Technically, a puddle of petrol won't explode by dropping a match in it; it's the fumes in the air above the puddle of petrol that catches on fire. Of course, if you're the one who set it off, it probably makes no difference -- you're still toast.
In Hasty Death (Edwardian Murder Mysteries, #2) on page 216 Rose receives an engagement ring from Harry. In this book, which is Edwardian Murder Mysteries, #3, on page 90 Rose receives another diamond engagement ring from Harry. So what happened to the first ring? Did she hock it or what?
April 29, 2018
Third in the Edwardian Murder Mysteries series.
More of the same, but not in a bad way.
Harry and Rose still can't figure out how to tell each other of their feeeeelingsss.
These are more like "romance novels with a thin veneer of mystery" than mystery novels with a dash of romance, but M.C. Beaton/Marion Chesney does such a good job of characterizing that it's easy to be involved and invested in Harry and Rose's relationship (as well as Daisy and Beckett's). I also enjoyed hearing how Rose and Harry are finally coming to the realisation that they are extremely privileged, and that they have started to try to make a difference in the lives of those who have less.
I am excited to listen to the final book - can Harry and Rose resolve their miscommunication and FINALLY get married? (I mean, obviously, but I still want to hear how it all plays out.)
Another shout-out to the divine Ms. Davina Porter, who not only has a different voice for each character, but also effectively and believably uses different acccents (when needed). Harry's new secretary is Scottish, so we hear Ms. Porter using a Scottish brogue; whenever Ireland is mentioned (briefly, several times towards the end of the story), it's said with an Irish accent. She is simply amazing as a narrator.
More of the same, but not in a bad way.
Harry and Rose still can't figure out how to tell each other of their feeeeelingsss.
These are more like "romance novels with a thin veneer of mystery" than mystery novels with a dash of romance, but M.C. Beaton/Marion Chesney does such a good job of characterizing that it's easy to be involved and invested in Harry and Rose's relationship (as well as Daisy and Beckett's). I also enjoyed hearing how Rose and Harry are finally coming to the realisation that they are extremely privileged, and that they have started to try to make a difference in the lives of those who have less.
I am excited to listen to the final book - can Harry and Rose resolve their miscommunication and FINALLY get married? (I mean, obviously, but I still want to hear how it all plays out.)
Another shout-out to the divine Ms. Davina Porter, who not only has a different voice for each character, but also effectively and believably uses different acccents (when needed). Harry's new secretary is Scottish, so we hear Ms. Porter using a Scottish brogue; whenever Ireland is mentioned (briefly, several times towards the end of the story), it's said with an Irish accent. She is simply amazing as a narrator.
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