On a Desert Shore by S.K.Rizzolo #OnaDesertShoreBlogTour #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery @hfvbt

On a Desert Shore: A Regency Mystery by S.K. Rizzolo

Publication Date: March 1, 2016
Poisoned Pen Press
Hardcover, Paperback, eBook; 270 Pages

Series: Book #4 of the John Chase/Penelope Wolfe Regency Mystery Series
Genre: Regency Mystery

Protecting an heiress should be an easy job for Bow Street Runner John Chase. But the heiress—daughter of rich London merchant Hugo Garrod and a slave-housekeeper on his Jamaican property—is no conventional society miss. Educated to take a place among Regency England’s upper crust and marry well, she has failed at London’s social scene and lives isolated among the Garrod family in Clapham. And someone is playing her malicious tricks, some of which recall her island heritage of Obeah.

John Chase needs to determine whether Marina is indeed a victim—or is herself a delusional and malicious trickster. If the trickster is real, is it her rejected suitor and cousin Ned Honeycutt? His demure sister? Their devoted aunt who acts as the Garrod housekeeper? A clergyman friend? Everyone around Hugo Garrod has a stake in how he disposes of his immense wealth.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Penelope Wolfe, an abandoned wife, flouts convention by earning her living with her pen. She’s in love with barrister Edward Buckler and hesitant to further scandalize society by breaking any more rules. Hugo Garrod invites her to join his household and put her pen to work. Her assignment takes her into an exotic world where menace lurks at every turn of the garden path and the façade of propriety masks danger.

To solve the case, Chase must grasp the enigma of Marina, an expert in self-concealment, who challenges his assumptions and confronts him with difficult truths. And, with the aid of Penelope and Edward Buckler, reveal a clever killer.

On a Desert Shore stretches from the brutal colony of Jamaica to the prosperity and apparent peace of suburban London. Here a father’s ambition to transplant a child of mixed blood and create an English dynasty will lead to terrible deeds.

Praise

“Fans of traditional whodunits with a closed circle of suspects will enjoy Rizzolo’s fourth historical featuring savvy Bow Street Runner John Chase.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“This fourth outing for Chase (Die I Will Not, 2014, etc.) blends thwarted love, class and racial issues, partly convincing historical details, and solid sleuthing.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Bow Street runner John Chase is hired to protect a young heiress from Jamaica, and Mrs. Penelope Wolfe is engaged to live in the woman’s household as an added layer of protection. Together, they must work to uncover a ruthless and diabolical killer. An engrossing fourth historical adventure (after Die I Will Not).” – Library Journal

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About the Author

S.K. Rizzolo earned an MA in literature before becoming a high school English teacher and writer. Her Regency mystery series features a trio of crime-solving friends: a Bow Street Runner, an unconventional lady, and a melancholic barrister. On a Desert Shore is the fourth title in the series following The Rose in the Wheel, Blood for Blood, and Die I Will Not. Rizzolo lives in Los Angeles.

For more information visit S.K. Rizzolo’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Google+, and Goodreads.

My Thoughts 

On a Desert Shore by S.K.Rizzolo reminded me of a Georgette Heyer novel. Suspense, family secrets, and murder. Fourth in the John Chase/Penelope Wolfe Regency Mystery Series which has John and Penelope together again. John is hired by Hugo Garrod to find out who is tormenting his mixed blood Jamaican-born daughter Marina. Penelope goes to stay in the household as added security.

Not long after, poison is added to the sugar used for tea. Someone put poison in the expensive sugar that was kept in a teapoy. (An aside, did you know that granulated sugar was not a thing back in Regency times? I also learned a new word, teapoy, a small three-legged table or stand, especially one that holds a tea caddy). The key to this teapoy has gone missing which made it easy to poison the sugar by someone in the household.

Tea is served, anyone who used the sugar became extremely ill including Hugo Garrod. He eventually dies and now the race is on to find the killer. John and Penelope believe that it is someone in the household and Hugo's family believes it is the illegitimate daughter Marina. 

Strange occurrences continue, all leading towards Marina's guilt. John must figure out who among the many suspects, would benefit mostly from Mr.Garrod's demise. Underlying issues include slavery, prejudice and its impact on people of mixed color from another country such as Jamaica. Fortunately, in this time, there were  some laws to protect those of mixed color.

I enjoy these types of mysteries, always a good story to them. Unfortunately, I have not read the first three in the series so some of the back stories of John and Penelope were not known to me. The reference to John's son Jonathan had me stumped also. None of this detracted from me enjoying the book, though. If you love a Regency type historical mystery, then give this series a try!

I received a copy of this book for review and my honest opinion.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, March 8
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!

Thursday, March 10
Spotlight & Giveaway at Susan Heim on Writing

Friday, March 11
Review at Back Porchervations

Monday, March 14
Review at Luxury Reading

Monday, March 21
Spotlight & Giveaway at Just One More Chapter

Tuesday, March 22
Interview at Author’s Dianne Ascroft’s Blog

Wednesday, March 23
Review at Buried Under Books

Thursday, March 24
Review at First Impressions Reviews

Monday, March 28
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews

Thursday, March 31
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past