Barbara Gaskell Denvil

Reign of Mary Tudor, 1557

As requested Charles, Earl of Chilham, watched the beheading of Elle, Countess of Harrington, before taking charge of her daughter Katherine, and takes her to his home.
The next day a body is discovered, a male hanging in the the Earl's stables. Soon Charles is in danger from a conspiracy from an unknown source. Lady Katherine with her new maid investigate.
An enjoyable and well-written historical mystery, with a likeable style of writing and characters.

Typos and inconsistencies mar this sweet historical story.

This book has a mesmerizing split between cosy mystery style writing and a brutal graphic reality of torture. The main characters seem to have wandered into this story from an Agatha Christie story, picking up infatuation and gleeful delight in loved life in transit. The evil characters are a shocking contrast. The writing is good but marred by several typos.

Instead of a police procedural, this is a citizen unprocedural! The two main characters try their hand at solving a murder they unexpectedly stumbled upon. The writing, plot, descriptions and characters are good. Be prepared for some distasteful details. A few scenes hark back to Agatha Christie but If When is definitely original.