What do You think about The Winter Garden Mystery (2001)?
The Winter Garden Mystery is not as good as the first installment, Death at Wentwater Court, but it's not so much criticism as it is praise for how good the first book was. All the same it is still a very enjoyable read and reminded me why I have such a fondness for the classic English country house mysteries. The standout aspect is definitely Carola Dunn's incredible talent of making the reader feel like they're in the 1920s with deft and subtle touches; everything from the language and manners to passing references to food and fashion just oozes historical detail. Once again, Daisy is invited (albeit reluctantly this time by the hostess, Lady Valeria) to a classic manor house to do research for her article in the Town and Country magazine. The cast is varied and interesting, growing increasingly colourful as one moves towards the second half of the novel. Perhaps that is the main point where it compares negatively to Death at Wentwater Court; the first developed the whole cast of characters far more quickly and with more depth. Here, it took awhile for me to feel like I "knew" the residents of Occles Hall. The sole exception is Lady Valeria, whose forceful personality made its mark almost instantly on both the reader and Daisy. Matters moved along much more swiftly once we are better acqainted with Sebastian, Ben and Bobbie.We're familiar with the main characters by now, and meeting them again is almost like meeting old friends. I love Alec Fletcher, Daisy's romantic interest, and I almost cheered when Daisy finally called him in to investigate. The progress in his relationship with Daisy is fairly evident from their quick and easy banter, compared to the reservation with which they spoke to one another in the first book. It is perhaps unfortunate that we don't get to see all these developments, though; at the beginning of The Winter Garden Mystery, Alec is already familiar enough with Daisy to see her off at the train station and buy her a box of chocolates. He later comments that he had met with her several times in between the events of Wentwater Court and the current book, and I couldn't help but keep wishing that we had been privy to those meetings. A small quibble. I also have a particular fondness for Phillip Petrie, Daisy's loyal childhood friend who isn't the brightest crayon in the box but makes up for it with his good-natured personality.The mystery is simpler than that of Death at Wentwater Court, which was more tightly plotted and focused on the tension and hidden malice between members of one household. Here, it comes down to a simple murder in a secluded village, in the style of a Miss Marple mystery. The real draw lies in watching Alec and Daisy interrogate people and slowly gather the clues.All in all, a very charming classic English cozy! Needless to say, I can't wait to move onto the third book, Requiem for a Mezzo, and see how things develop between Daisy and Alec.
—Hannah
This review pertains to the audio version of The Winter Garden Mystery. I bought the book not knowing it was the 2nd of the series so I put off listening to it until after I listen to the 1st (Death at Wentwater Court). Had I bought that book before this one, the Winter Garden Mystery would not have been in my library. So I admit I started this book with low expectations. Now for my thoughts on The Winter Garden Mystery. The non-recurring characters were not (for the most part) very well developed. The characters were mostly one dimensional with 2 of the characters almost making to two dimensional status. Almost. We didn’t get to know the murder victim at all because she was killed before the story started. We also knew very little about the murderer and the accused murder. I find it hard to care about characters I don’t know. We are given some backstory but not enough to get me interested in them. The plot was simplistic. Despite an attempt by the author to explain why several people could have killed Grace Moss, there were really only 2 options one of whom was not very believable as a murderer. The author attempted to explain why several people could be suspects. The explanations were not convincing. Even the character giving the explanations admitted that. The slang of the period was overused. It seemed like almost everything was spiffing old bean. Even riding in the dickey which, although uncomfortable, seemed to have occurred (or was at least thought about) with some regularity. So boring, underdeveloped characters tried to solve a nonmystery while driving to and fro with no petrol station in sight with someone sitting in the dickey of the car as they overused 1920’s slang. Definitely not the series for me.
—Brenda
BOTTOM LINE: #2 Daisy Dalrymple, journalist, February, 1923, rural England; historical, cosy police procedural/amateur sleuth. Another magazine story to write, another dead body to trip over, another lovely visit with Daisy as she wends her way through the aristocratic houses of between-the-wars England. Beautifully done in the best old-fashioned style otherwise, with a good deal of wit and wits about it. Smart and perceptive Daisy gets mixed up in the murderous relationship of a pregnant housemaid and a gorgeous elder son, while further developing her own relationship with DI Fletcher of Scotland Yard, not at all an ordinary policeman. Absolutely jam-packed with cliches that somehow don’t feel silly and plot devices that rattle their bones and sing old songs, and it’s all great fun. Smoothly constructed, well-twisted plot, very good setting in the classic Village Cosy manner, and superb characterizations. One important plot element felt far too modern for the period, but that’s very unusual for Dunn, and is the only real quibble I had with this entertaining novel. (view spoiler)[The treatment of the homosexual relationship thread was far too sweetly done, although I loved reading it, it felt wrong for the period. Alec and/or Daisy ought to have had stronger misgivings, a few more reservations, a bit more to “get over” at first. Their calm and immediate acceptance seemed far too modern. A little more apprehension on Daisy’s part, at least a little embarrassment, shock, or mild disgust on Alec’s, would have been far truer to the time IMO, and yet keep them “in character”. I wonder if the use of Sebastian as a name for one of the gay couple was deliberate, a reminder of Waugh? Probably, another nicely sly touch. (hide spoiler)]
—Abbey
