In 1815, inquiry agent, Knighton Gaunt, is asked by Lord Crowley to attend a séance with the express purpose of revealing the spiritualist as a fraud. When the séance ends abruptly, an unseen killer poisons Lord Crowley, leaving Gaunt to investigate not fraud, but murder.
Suspicion turns first to the spiritualist, Miss Prudence Barnard. But as Gaunt digs deeper into the twisted history of the guests at Rosecrest, he discovers a series of deadly secrets. Long-time friends soon turn against one another as the tension mounts, and Gaunt is challenged to separate fact from fiction before another death at Rosecrest.
This whodunit, the first in the Second Sons Inquiry Agency Series, claimed it would keep you guessing until the end. I was not convinced, and believed I could figure it out if I really concentrated -- after all, I love a good mystery. I put all my skills to the test and began reading.
As I read, I'd be sure I had figured out who had done it, but then everything changed, and I was proven wrong. By this time, I was utterly intriged and kept on reading because I just knew I could figure it out. And so it continued, with me certain I knew whodunnit, and then I would be proven wrong.
The people involved in the story were very real to me. The author did a wonderful job fully fleshing them out and making them interesting and unique. The two who were trying to solve the mystery were fascinating and fun. I really got to know them. They fit so well into the regency era. There was a little romance, a little humor and a lot of regency background that was fascinating. I enjoyed that -- it made a great mix.
Finally as I neared the end, I had to confess I didn’t have a clue as to who had done it. Then, when I found out, I realized that I should have known, but Ms. Corwin is good, very good, and the ending was a surprise. It fulfilled its promise to keep me guessing until the very end.
A very satisfying read. I give it 4 flowers.
FTC Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author and Goddess Fish Promotions in exchange for my honest opinion.
Ooh ... I love a whodunnit where I can't figure out who dunnit! And the challenges of writing a mystery in the regency must have been incredible. I'm intrigued...
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