"Arlen recreates a richly detailed pre-WWI England. . . . Lovers of traditional English country house mysteries will enjoy this story very much." -
Publishers Weekly
The elegant Lady Montfort and her redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Jackson's services are called upon after a cook is framed and dismissed for poisoning a guest of the Hyde Rose Society. Promising to help her regain her job and her dignity, the pair trek out to the countryside to investigate a murder of concealed passions and secret desires. There, they are to discover a villain of audacious cunning among a group of mild-mannered, amateur rose-breeders. While they investigate, the rumor mill fills with talk about a conflict over in Prussia where someone quite important was shot. There is talk of war and they must race the clock to solve the mystery as the idyllic English summer days count down to the start of WWI.
Brimming with intrigue, Tessa Arlen's latest does not disappoint.
"Arlen's delightful mix of upstairs and downstairs conveys the complexities of a hidebound class system on the verge of change. . . . The narrative is helped along by a slew of red herrings, a fast-moving plot, and fine descriptive passages." -
Historical Novel Society
"An engaging series." -
Seattle Times
"Another intriguing mystery to be solved by the Countess of Montfort and her housekeeper Edith Jackson, a reluctant Watson to Lady Clementine's enthusiastic Sherlock." -Margaret Maron, award-winning author of the Deborah Knott series
"A pitch perfect classic whodunit. . . . It's a delight to be in the company of two such captivating sleuths." -Frances Brody, author of the Kate Shackleton mysteries
