"fine historical mystery"

It's not easy putting on a fancy wedding in England during World War II but many of the villagers contributed their rationing coupons so Priscilla Pierce and Captain Willy Carbunkle have the wedding of their dreams. Many of the attendees, including Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton noticed a stranger at the wedding who wasn't invited by the bride or the groom. After the newlyweds leave for their honeymoon in Scotland, the guests discover the stranger in the basement, a cake knife in his chest.

It turns out the victim is Brian Sutcliffe who came to be with his girlfriend Tess Winterhalter, one of the bridesmaids. Several guests saw them argue; when the constable confronts her, she explains he was cheating on her. Her father admits that he was furious with the fortune hunter and Tess' mother is glad he can't hurt her daughter anymore. All of the Winterhalters come under suspicion but Lady Elizabeth intends to undertake her own investigation since she is almost positive they are innocent.

The latest Manor House cozy is a fine historical mystery with the lady of the manor talking to the guests who were at the wedding in the hopes figuring out who the real killer is. What make this series so special are the effects of WWII on a small suburban village. Kate Kingsbury is a talented writer who provides a compelling mystery that relies on brainpower, not blood and gore to find the solution to the who-done-it.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 8, 2006

Summary

Sitting Marsh, a World War II town threatened by invasion, is overdue for a celebration. But when a stranger appears at a wedding—and is stabbed—sleuth Lady Elizabeth is on the case, and there's no shortage of suspects.