Death of a Dishonorable Gentlemen

Death of a Dishonorable Gentlemen by Tessa Arlen Summary:  Lady Montfort has been planning her annual summer costume ball for months with scrupulous care. Pulling together the food, flowers and a thousand other details for one of the most significant social occasions of the year is her happily accepted responsibility. But when her husband's degenerate nephew is found murdered, it's more than the ball that is ruined. In fact, Lady Montfort fears that the official police enquiry, driven by petty snobbery and class prejudice, is pointing towards her son as a potential suspect. Taking matters into her own hands, the rather over-imaginative countess enlists the help of her pragmatic housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, to investigate the case, track down the women that vanished the night of the murder, and clear her son's name. As the two women search for a runaway housemaid and a headstrong young woman, they unearth the hidden lives of Lady Montfort's close friends, servants and family and discover the identity of a murderer hiding in plain sight. In this enchanting debut sure to appeal to fans of Downton Abbey, Tessa Arlen draws readers into a world exclusively enjoyed by the rich, privileged classes and suffered by the men and women who serve them. Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman is an elegant mystery filled with intriguing characters and fascinating descriptions of Edwardian life--a superb treat for those who love British novels. Angie's Comments: I have to agree with the summary – Downton Abbey fans who like mysteries should check this book out! It was interesting to view the situation from both the countess’s view and the housekeeper’s view. The mystery is intriguing and illustrates the relations between the upper class and their servants that existed in Edwardian times. The mystery serves to show that life in England is changing for everyone. The writing flowed very nicely. I only intended to read some of the book, but ended finishing it in one day. Recommended for readers of historical English mysteries.    Request this item