The Murder at Mandeville Hall: The Casebook of Barnaby Adair: Volume 7

FINAL DECISION: The mystery was good, but the solution was pretty obvious to me from the beginning. In compensation, however, the romance was a nice diversion as the two get to know one another and solve the crime.THE STORY: Alaric, Lord Carradale has been a rake but something has changed recently and he is considering looking for a bride. Unfortunately, the sweet innocent young woman that would be the typical bride is someone who would likely bore Alaric in a week. While attending a house party by his friend and neighbor, Alaric ends up stumbling across one of the young women who is attending the party dead in the bushes. The young woman’s cousin immediately comes across Alaric and it appears that he is the most likely criminal. Constance Whittaker has arrived too late to help her cousin but is determined to find the murderer. Soon Constance and Alaric have teamed up to solve the murder and bring in Barnaby Adair, his wife Penelope and Inspector Stokes of Scotland Yard.OPINION: I enjoyed this book, but the balance of the story wasn’t as good as others in the series. The mystery was intriguing all the way until the reveal. Unfortunately, I had pegged the villain from the start and the exact reason for the crime. It made the resolution of the mystery anticlimactic.While I enjoyed the story between Alaric and Constance, I missed seeing more of Barnaby and Penelope. Because there was no real conflict between Alaric and Constance other than the crime, I liked them as characters, but their relationship wasn’t really something that I had to root for.This was a fine one time read, but I have enjoyed others in the series more.WORTH MENTIONING: The hero here briefly appeared in THE CURIOUS CASE OF LADY LATIMER’S SHOES.CONNECTED BOOKS: THE MURDER AT MANDEVILLE HALL is the seventh book in the Casebook of Barnaby Adair series. The story here is self-contained, but Barnaby Adair and his wife and the Scotland Yard investigator are continuing characters. Here, however, they are not as prominent as the couple and thus this is a good standalone in the series.STAR RATING: I give this book 3.5 stars.

Stephanie Laurens is an author that I watch for. She consistently writes historical romantic adventure and mysteries that will draw a person in and not let them go! The pace in this story is breakneck, as the characters only have a few days to solve this mystery before people start trying to leave. The tone is mysterious and yet hopeful. The storyline is action oriented with a lot of character development. The characters are vibrant and engaging, with only one steamy scene at the very end.If you like your historical romances with a lot of character and an avid mystery to solve, then this is for you. You don't have to read the previous stories in this series to understand the storyline, but you may want to do so. The Cynsters are also involved in the outskirts of many Barnaby Adair stories, so you would probably enjoy those as well. If this is your first Stephanie Laurens book, try it! I can bet that it probably won't be your last!! Enjoy!

A historical murder mystery and lovely romance – what more could I ask for. As always, the writing is well above average, the story is well plotted and excellently delivered. I really enjoyed the romance in this one because the heroine is unusual. She is tall and statuesque and everything the hero thought he didn’t want in a wife. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does – you very rarely learn anybody’s rank or title in this series. I don’t want the title, etc. to be a big deal in the story, but it just helps me put things in perspective if I know.Alaric, Lord Carradale is thirty-seven years old and head of his family. He’s finally come to the determination that it is time for him to wed since his cousin and heir is a complete putz. So, he’s been getting his affairs in order, updating his home, etc. and planning to find himself a peaceful, biddable bride. It is a bit of a hassle to attend his good friend Percy Mandeville’s house party while he’s trying to get everything ready for a bride, but he can’t hurt Percy’s feelings by not attending. He’ll attend the party, but he won’t stay over, he’ll just come and go each day since his estate adjoins Percy’s.The attendees at this house party are different than those Percy usually invites. There are married couples and even a couple of single young ladies there. Alaric wonders at the change but doesn’t think much of it. He meets one of the debutants, Glynis, and she asks him to walk on the terrace with her. She chatters on pleasantly and then they return inside. Alaric soon decides it is time to leave for home.Constance Whittaker has been sent by her family to retrieve her cousin Glynis from the house party. The family doesn’t believe it is a proper environment for Glynis and they want her home. Since Glynis’ mother is ill, Constance was sent in her place. Constance has resigned herself to spinsterhood, she’s too old, to buxom, to straight-forward, etc. for any man to make an offer for her.As Alaric returns to Mandeville Hall the next morning, he discovered the lifeless body of Glynis lying in the hedges. As he is looking at the bruises on her neck, he sees an Amazon coming his way. At first, she accuses him of having murdered her cousin. Once she hears his story and sees his concern, she realizes he isn’t guilty and they decide to work together to find justice for Glynis.The local magistrate is called, against Alaric’s wishes. He knows that with the new rules, Scotland Yard is supposed to be notified. Alaric also knows that Chief Inspector Stokes would be the one sent to investigate and Stokes would involve Barnaby and Penelope Adair. The local magistrate wants to sweep it under the rug until a second murder occurs and Alaric makes it all but impossible for them not to notify Scotland Yard.This begins a lovely romance between Alaric and Constance and a double-murder investigation. Do they have more than one murderer or did the same murderer commit both crimes?I thoroughly enjoyed both the romance and the mystery – although I have to say the murderer was pretty obvious to me from early on. Maybe I’ve read too many mysteries. That didn’t take away from my enjoyment – I just enjoyed reading to discover that my assumption was correct.

Ms. Laurens is a favorite of mine. Whenever I need to escape, it doesn't matter which of her books I read. She has the wonderful knack of letting her characters become friends and family so that their successes and failures ring true to the reader. She develops herself stories completely. As this book is an excellent example of her gifts that she shares with us I really had trouble putting it down. It brings the importance of family support to the front and how important it is to protect those we love. As always, I am sure you will enjoy the energy that comes from these written pages.

Attending an old friend's house party, Alaric Lord Carradale was riding back to re join the party. Cutting the shrubbery, after leaving his horse at the stables encounters the body of a young lady. As he examines the body to check her condition, he is seen by a second lady, who has been sent to escort her cousin home.Returning to the house, Carradale and Miss Whittaker inform Percy Mandeville of their discovery and recommend that the local magistrate be called. After the magistrate tries to blame an unknown vagrant, the couple try to get Scotland Yard in to investigate.When a second lady is found dead in her bed several days later, Scotland Yard Senior Inspector Basil Stokes, two constables together with Barnaby and Penelope Adair arrive to investigate, once the Police Surgeon confirms that there are two murders.With too many suspects and no way to rule anyone out and only a few days before the house party is due to finish, Lord Carradale and Miss Whittaker attempt to help the investigators find out the truth. It's only after Constance Whittaker goes missing that the murderer is revealed, before all ends well.A gripping story which makes you try to work out who is the guilty party, while keeping you in suspense.

Stephanie Laurens gives another brilliant Regency book. Although she does not live in England she is spot on with everything Regency England was. No Fall (Autumn) No Stoops (Porches) No Blocks (Streets) etc. It's Regency England NOT America. All her books are fabulous, gripping & of course sexy. I love how her characters pop up from one book to the next. I feel I know the families so well. Great as usual Stephabie, please do not keep us waiting too long for your next book.

Enjoyed this book as I usually do with all Lauren’s books. I like the mystery idea and was pleased to guess whodunit. Nice to see Stokes and the Adairs from a different perspective. However at only just over 200 pages compared to some other books this really was not very long.

It was an interesting and good read over Christmas. I have read all the remainder from 1-6 the stories hold your interest and keep you guessing who the guilty party is.

I have enjoyed everyone of the Casebook of Barbnaby Adair and this one did not disappoint. On my Kindle took away on Holiday great cannot wait for the next Case