Death Comes to Kurland Hall

Happy Square Dance Day!  Square dancing was brought to America from our Irish, English, and Scottish ancestors.  In the United States we added the caller to help the dancers stay in step. Square dancing is a great form of exercise.  So grab your partner and dosey do.

Death Comes to Kurland Hall by Catherine Lloyd is the third book in Kurland St. Mary Mystery series.  The story takes place in Kurland St. Mary, England in 1817.  Sophia Giffin and her fiancé, Andrew Stanford are getting married.  Miss Lucy Harrington is going to stand up with Sophia (her best friend) and Major Sir Robert Kurland is going to stand up for Andrew.  It will be a little awkward since Lucy just turned down the Major’s proposal (she does not believe he really meant it and that he was pressured into it).  The wedding party and the guests adjourn to Robert’s estate for the reception.  After the newly married couple depart, Lucy finds Mrs. Maria Chingford dead at the bottom of the back stairs.  Mrs. Chingford had been after Lucy’s father (the local rector) and their engagement was announced at the reception. 

Robert and Lucy set out to find the culprit.  There are plenty of suspects as Mrs. Chingford made enemies wherever she went (even her daughters did not like her).  Then one of the suspects ends up dead.  Robert and Lucy will have to work quickly to find the killer before there are more victims.   With Robert and Lucy working together, they might be able to work out their differences for a happy future. 

While Death Comes to Kurland Hall is the third book in the series, it can be read alone.  I think, though, it would be beneficial to read the other two books (there are references to things that took place in the previous two novels).  I am going to go back and read the first two books.  I enjoyed the characters (most of them) and the beautiful setting of Kurland St. Mary.  The mystery, though, was not complicated and easy to figure out (though the author does try to mislead the reader).  The author, though, did provide good clues that helps the reader figure out the killer (in case you did not solve it early in the book).  The author’s style of writing is engaging making for an easy to read book.  I give Death Comes to Kurland Hall 4 out of 5 stars.  It is nice to take a break from novels set in the current time period to read an historical cozy mystery.  There is, of course, some romance in the book.  Robert and Lucy have chemistry. Robert and Lucy have to decide if they want a future together (there is also some misunderstandings thanks to a lack of communication).  I look forward to reading more books by Catherine Lloyd.

The first two books in the Kurland St. Mary Mystery series are Death Comes to the Village (available on Kindle Unlimited) and Death Comes to London.  I received a complimentary copy of Death Comes to Kurland Hall by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading The Seafront Tearoom by Vanessa Greene. What about you?  I am always looking for new books to read.  I am off to run a couple of errands.  Have a nice, relaxing Sunday.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader