2 Jan 1923 p 10. Honorable Daisy Dalrymple 25 p 10 "sparkle in her blue eyes" p 177 prefers to work for prestigious Town and Country magazine after her father dies. "A sad loss to the House of Lords. That wretched influenza decimated our ranks" p 23. Her aristocratic position allows her to be assertive, write about exclusive estates. For photos, she bows to an imaginary Mr Carswell "down with the flu" p 23. Her mother will never forgive cousin Edgar for inheriting Fairacres. Lady Marjorie Beddowe 21 "fashionably boyish figure was emphasized by a tailored cherry red sportscoat and matching skirt .. white woolen cap concealed bobbed hair set in Marcel waves .. Cupid's bow lipstick matched her coat, her eyebrows were plucked and darkened, and her eyelashes were heavily blacked .. the quintessial flapper" p 16. Yet she foregoes makeup in police interview. Marjorie pushes "patent adoration .. proprietoral grip" p 17 on Lord Stephen Astwick 40ish "black hair pomaded back" p 17. He forced Christmas invite from her "elegantly languid" p 50 posed "sulky" p 30 lazy brother Wilfrid."Let's agree to disagree" p 207. [From a movie too?] Phillip Petrie "only two years older" p 161"sweet old fathead .. amiable gentleman" p 177 keeps proposing to Daisy, but was more of a friend to her beloved soldier brother Gervaise "died in Flanders" p 23, dismissive of her fiancé "conchie .. Michael" p 207 Communist pacifist medical volunteer, also lost in The Great War WW1. His sister "shy, llittle" p 46 Fenella is engaged to James, heir to Lord Henry Wentwater 50ish. With "greying hair and moustache .. [Henry is] most attractive despite his age and the rather Victorian formality of his manners" p 22 [my italics]. Son Geoffrey, youngest yet "large, muscular" p 30 "taller and broader" p 50 is silent "solid, unambiguous" p 42 yet passionate for Arabella. Her "tall, slender figure is more rounded than was strictly fashionable .. pale face.. delicate features" p 25 stunning new stepmother "no more than a year or two older than James" p 25. Keen Daisy reads "desperate unhappiness" p 25. Henry's sister Lady Josephine "stout, good-natured" p 25 is "loquacious as she was sociable, a noted hostess and a noted gossip" p 24.Stephen "cold grey eyes" p 17 is the villain, finagling invite over winter holidays, forcing attentions on Arabella. The family is too large, and too kind, to be under suspicion of his murder. The autopsy determines Stephen drowned the night before. His body floats in a hole in the ice broken under a "an elaborate stonework bridge over an ornamental lake" p 15 . He wears skates, but where are his boots?Alec Fletcher, discreet Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector, is already nearby for a series of jewel robberies. He agrees when Daisy holds a magnifier to her photos. Ice edges were clearly hacked by an axe, not broken. Stephen's "ferret-face .. weasel" "vallychauffeur Payne" p 126 [valet] slopped mud on the license plate of a Mercedes model like belongs to his boss.Alec continues to use Daisy for shorthand, her version, recording witness interviews. Even after Sgt Tring relieves her with "catlike tread", upset women ask for Daisy to be present. Daisy deduces Detective Constable Piper with "heavy tread of policeman on the beat .. only recently joined the plainclothes branch" p 113. (view spoiler)[Stephen wanted to blackmail Arabella for living unmarried with an artist "husband" in Italy. Turns out Henry already knew. I don't see that as good excuse for Henry's overly polite delicacy, not asking Stephen to leave. After forcing unwanted attentions, Stephen surprised Annabel naked in her bath and started to rape her. Geoff heard Arabella scream, pushed Stephen away. While Geoff comforted Arabella in her room, Stephen had hit his head, bent over the bathtub, and drowned. To avoid scandal the pair framed a skating accident. Daisy rushes Geoff on a ship for Australia, never to see his beloved Arabella again. Alec could stop him but doesn't. Stephen's chauffeur Payne was caught with stolen jewels. He turned on his employer, confessed. Alec gets praise for solving thefts. Fenella breaks engagement. (hide spoiler)]
A very enjoyable first installment in the Daisy Dalrymple series, one that would definitely please fans of historical mysteries. This, I think, is one of those series that are far better read in order. I had actually picked up Dead in the Water (Book 6) by mistake a long time ago and remember not liking it half as much as I liked this one. In hindsight, I realize it's because the latter books jump straight into the mystery without much backstory, and you barely know either Daisy or Alec (as most of the introduction to their characters is in this book). Knowing and liking Daisy is key to enjoying the series.Death at Wentwater Court is well-written and has historical details scattered throughout, giving readers the sense that they're watching events unfolding in 1920s England. The setting and language is beautifully, intricately woven into the story - it's probably one of the aspects I enjoyed most. Daisy's journalist career brings her to Wentwater Court, the focus of her magazine article, and finds the dead body of their unwanted guest, Lord Stephen, shortly after her arrival. This sets up the subsequent murder investigation, which Daisy takes an active part in. The murder mystery is reasonably interesting, but much like traditional mysteries in the style of Agatha Christie, it's the characters and their complicated relationships with each other that spices up the plot.Daisy is quite a likeable protagonist; she's sensible, compassionate and quite intelligent, despite not having much common sense in relation to legal/criminal matters. She also has a natural ability to put others at ease, which makes her a perfect amateur detective; suspects naturally approach her to tell them their life stories! She has a budding friendship and potential romance with Chief Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher, who is sent to deal with the case "discretely." Their relationship promises to be very interesting, because Alec is a commoner while Daisy is the daughter of a peer. The rest of the characters are sufficient as a supporting cast - none of them are as vivid as Daisy and Alec, but enough to either evoke our sympathies or dislike. Daisy also has a second suitor in Phillip, who happens to be her childhood friend. He's adorable and not the brightest crayon in the box, and I hope he appears in later books.My only complaint is that the resolution to the murder case is a bit too neat; it's almost tied in a bow and served on a silver platter. I love happy solutions for all parties as much as the next person, but it seems a bit strained here. That said, it's still a satisfactory conclusion, and the friendship between Daisy and Alec shows a lot of promise.Fans of Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series in particular should like this series; both have similar historical settings (1920s and 1930s England) as well as main characters. In fact, if Georgie was born a little earlier, I could easily imagine her and Daisy becoming friends. All in all a very good read, and I'll definitely be looking for the second book.
What do You think about Death At Wentwater Court (2006)?
This was my first book by Carola Dunn, and I was entertained by it. This book reminded me of the current "Royal" series by Rhys Bowen. I enjoyed the character of Daisy Dalrymple, as well as that of Detective Alec Fletcher. I like historical mysteries, so am glad to have found this entertaining series.Daisy Dalrymple, daughter of a viscount, has elected to work in the early 1920's rather than be dependant upon family members. She heads to Wentwater Court to write a magazine article, but shortly after her arrival, a guest of the household is found dead. The death appears to be accidental, but after Daisy photographs the scene, she notices some inconsistencies in the evidence. After bringing this to the attention of the detective called to work the case, he includes Daisy in the confidential aspects of his investigation. Daisy quickly becomes fond of several of the household members, so she hopes that further investigation will reveal the murderer to be one of those who is not so easily likeable. As the investigation concludes, Daisy begins to wish that she would not have ever noticed the evidence of murder. This book was very quick and easy to read. It kept me interested, although my enjoyment was based more on the characters than the plot. I thought that the plot fell rather flat at the end, but I enjoyed the characters enough that I will continue reading the series.
—Christa
Delightful. This is the first I've read in this series and I gave it five stars not because it's great literature (it's not, particularly) but because it's such a nicely executed example of the type. Daisy Dalrymple is a young woman of the aristocratic class in 1920's Britain, who is forced through circumstances to chose between living with her whiney and dependent mother, living as a dependent of her brother and his wife, or making a living. Daisy chooses to try her hand at free lance journalism, landing an assignment to profile the country homes of her friends and their families. Of course, on her first assignment, a murder occurs. Complete with a stern but handsome and intelligent police inspector, a foppish former beau of Daisy's, and lots of period details, this was amusing and well-constructed. Too many "cosy" mysteries get caught up in describing atmospheric details and fail to deliver a satisfying mystery. Dunn does not. The story kept me engaged and guessing.
—Andrea
This lighthearted Downton Abbey era 1920’s mystery totally charmed me. Daisy Dalrymple comes from a titled family, but after her brother was killed in the Great War and her father died in the flu epidemic their estate passed to a distant relative (shades of Jane Austen!) leaving the remaining female family members somewhat impoverished. Daisy is quite cheerful about working for a living though, and being a society girl doors open for her, so she’s off to Wentwater Court to to write a story for Town & Country magazine. Then nasty Lord Stephen Astwick dies in what looks like an early morning ice skating accident bringing police on the scene. Naturally Daisy is ready to help officials and the family in any way she can, placing her in the heart of the investigation. The handsome detective in charge isn’t, of course, in her class, but Daisy is an open minded young woman so who knows what may develop in the course of this series? This is the first of so far 21 books and another is coming out in June 2015 so I envision many happy hours of reading.
—Jaylia3
