"A fun romantic amateur sleuth tale"

In 1816 Justin St. James, better known as the "Devil Earl" by the ton, meets American Meg Stanton-Lynch at a wedding when she is the only person who does not cut him. Justin was exiled years ago when everyone including his uncle and cousin assumed he murdered his cousin's fiancée Ophelia who made a play for him. Justin made a fortune overseas and through a quirk of fortune inherited the earldom.

Justin plans to find out who really killed Ophelia. He knows fourteen people were in the house when she died with three not having valid alibis. Harder on Justin than the way the Ton assumes he is guilty is raising his sister Emily who is angry with him for deserting her once before like her family did in death. Meg helps the two find a path together even as she wants to join them as part of their family as she loves Justin and Emily, but she knows he needs to prove he is not the killer

A NECESSARY BRIDE is a fun romantic amateur sleuth tale that is at its strongest when Justin and at times Meg investigate the homicide. When the plot veers into Emily's woes, the tale shows deep teen angst, but detours from the prime theme of did he or did he not. Still readers will enjoy Debra Mullins Regency as the delightful lead couple investigates murder among the Ton.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 4, 2003