Move over, Inspector! Lady Poppy Proudfoot is here to solve her very first case.
Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot travels to the Highlands for a midsummer party, the last thing she and her fellow guests expect is for a body to wash up beside the loch.
Despite protests that it could have been an accident, Poppy is convinced it’s murder and decides to dust off her law degree and hunt for clues. But when the police arrive, the grumpy Inspector MacKenzie dismisses her evidence, insisting a crime scene is no place for a Lady. The nerve!
With the help of her trusted Labrador, Major, Poppy begins to unpick the case. But she soon has two mysteries to solve, as her host Lady Constance Balfour claims a diamond and emerald bracelet has been stolen. Could the two cases be linked? Was it Freddy the footman, a favourite of her ladyship? Or American actress Miss Cornett, with a keen eye for jewels? Or with such a dazzling guestlist, was someone from the local village tempted into the grounds by the party?
When a woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Poppy is attacked, she realizes that someone wants her off the case. Someone connected to Balfour House is a murderer and a thief, but who? And can Poppy solve the mystery before she, too, washes up beside the loch?
A warm, unputdownable page-turning historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.
Lydia Travers is a new to me author and I was delighted to start this brand new series.
Set in 1920's Scotland, it follows lady Poppy Proudfoot and her dog Major as they find themselves embroiled in investigating events involving murder and missing jewellery.
Poppy is a young wealthy widow and excited to begin a new path in life. She is particularly interested in sleuthing and is inspired by the work of fellow female investigators.
A country house party is a classic setting for a cozy mystery and the Highlands hold a charming appeal and picturesque backdrop.
The story has an intriguing plot as it involves more than one murder and a secondary mystery of missing jewellery. The local inspector, grumpy but good looking, is initially dismissive of her attempts to steer the investigation but as time goes by he begins to tolerate and reluctantly take heed of her ideas.
I loved Poppy's role in finding out what happened to the missing jewellery. It showed her skills in interviewing people and following a lead with tenacity even if it did put her in danger. She also solved it without the help of a man.
Regarding the murder, there were plenty of red herrings and suspects with interesting backstories to weave through and again Poppy was always a step or two ahead of the inspector. I liked how their relationship slowly developed from aloof disinterest to light flirting by the end of the book and I'm looking forward to see their friendship grow as the series progresses.
There was quite a lot of drama at the end when all the pieces pulled together revealing the murderer providing an exciting and satisfying conclusion to Poppy's first case.
I found the story extremely easy to get caught up in with the excellently performed narration. There was a nice soft, barely there Scottish lilt to the narrator's voice which added to the charm and general feel of the story.
Death at the Highland Loch will be released in audio on the 19th of May
No comments:
Post a Comment