Review by Booklist Review
Philomena (""Phil"") Amesbury, Dowager Countess of Dunbridge, is living in 1907 New York City at the Plaza Hotel, courtesy of an unknown benefactor in return for her investigative services her only contact a man she calls Mr. X. Phil is called upon by Gwen Pratt when Perry Fauks, the heir to Fauks Copper, Coal and Steel, is found dead, stuffed in the laundry chute after her daughter's debut party at their home. Encouraged by Mr. X and assisted by her butler and her resourceful lady's maid, Phil investigates, to the annoyance of Detective Sergeant John Atkins, even though his superiors tie his hands to avoid upsetting the Pratts and their guests. At a house party on Long Island where Phil is a guest, Phil connects the clues to unmask a killer. A richly described historical setting provides the backdrop for the tale, in which Phil a young widow who is a smart, egalitarian woman of the world, welcome at the homes of the elite uses her social advantages to good advantage. Phil is reminiscent of Anne Perry's Charlotte Pitt and L.A. Chandlar's Lane Sanders.--Sue O'Brien Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
The second "Lady Dunbridge" mystery (following Ask Me No Questions) is a witty, entertaining romp through elite society in early 20th-century New York. Philomena Amesbury reflects on her fortunate new life as a happily widowed aristocrat enjoying her freedom and luxurious lifestyle at the Plaza Hotel, courtesy of a shadowy agency requiring her crime-solving skills. The mysterious Mr. X tells Phil to expect a visitor, and Luther Pratt duly arrives in need of her services, as he fears social and financial scandal ensuing from the suspicious death of Perry Fauks, heir to an industrial empire, at his daughter's debut. Phil gathers her team: Lily, her enigmatic lock-picking maid, and Preswick, her proper English butler with a penchant for detective novels. Meanwhile, Phil, her cohorts, and handsome Det. Sergeant Atkins collaborate to solve multiple crimes and avert the collapse of a fragile financial market. VERDICT Wonderful period detail and clever humor combine with the delicious romantic tension between Phil and both Mr. X and Atkins to create a tasty recipe for fun reading. Historical mystery buffs and fans of amateur sleuths will eagerly await the next Lady Dunbridge adventure. [See Prepub Alert, 4/22/19.]--Barbara Clark-Greene, Westerly, RI
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An aristocratic detective takes on murder and more.Philomena Amesbury, Dowager Countess of Dunbridge, escaped a dull life of mourning her unloved husband by moving from England to New York City in 1907. Her Plaza Hotel abode is paid for by an unknown organization that wants to call on the detective skills she developed while rescuing an old friend from a charge of murder (Ask Me No Questions, 2018). She lives quietly along with Preswick, her faithful butler, and Lily, her multilingual, knife-wielding maid, until a note from Mr. X, as she calls her mysterious benefactor, alerts her to a visit from Mr. Luther Pratt, a wealthy man whose wife, Gwen, she'd seen at a ball at their house the night before. Now, in the wake of a fatal mishap, Gwen, knowing Phil's reputation, has sent her husband to ask for help in averting a scandal. The dead manPerry Fauks, scion of a wealthy industrial family and suitor for the hand of Agnes Prattwas stabbed and pushed down a laundry chute. Even worse than the possible scandal is the likelihood that Fauks' death will roil the financial waters of the already troubled stock market and banking industry. Phil promises to help Gwen, who's smart, tough, and frail from asthma, but insists on calling the only honest police officer she knows. Even though she was a thorn in the side of DS John Atkins in her first case, he respects her skills and her ability to travel in circles closed to him despite his genteel appearance and manners. Phil and her team uncover plenty of motives for murder, from bad business deals to bad behavior with women. Was it business or pleasure that killed Fauks?A complex mystery featuring an unconventional sleuth working in an era of unfettered greed. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
