Minotaur Books
Hardcover & Ebook;
320 Pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Filled with deceptions both real and imagined, Death Sits Down to Dinner is a delightful Edwardian mystery set in London. Lady Montfort is thrilled to receive an invitation to a dinner party hosted by her close friend Hermione Kingsley, the patroness of England’s largest charity. Hermione has pulled together a select gathering to celebrate Winston Churchill’s 39th birthday. Some of the oldest families in the country have gathered to toast the dangerously ambitious and utterly charming First Lord of the Admiralty. But when the dinner ends, one of the gentlemen remains seated at the table, head down among the walnut shells littering the cloth and a knife between his ribs. Summoned from Iyntwood, Mrs. Jackson helps her mistress trace the steps of suspects both upstairs and downstairs as Hermione’s household prepares to host a highly anticipated charity event. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson unravel the web of secrecy surrounding the bright whirlwind of London society, investigating the rich, well-connected and seeming do-gooders in a race against time to stop the murderer from striking again.
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | KOBO
Advance Praise
“Despite Clementine’s luxurious lifestyle, she’s got a head on her shoulders . . .and is as cagey as she is charming. A neatly crafted whodunit dripping with diamonds, titles, and scandal . . .” -Kirkus Reviews“The close, mutually respectful partnership between Clementine and Edith will remind Dorothy Sayers’s fans of the relationship between Lord Peter Wimsey and Bunter, his manservant. Arlen does a good job of depicting a period when class distinctions have become blurred by new money and more-relaxed manners. The plot, which includes a slew of red herrings, builds to a startling denouement.” -Publisher’s Weekly
“VERDICT Real-life Edwardian personalities abound in this period historical, and the upstairs/downstairs focus delivers a clash of temperaments. This title is bound to appeal to fans of historicals set in this period and of such authors as Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver.” -Library Journal
About the Author
TESSA ARLEN, the daughter of a British diplomat, had lived in or visited her parents in Singapore, Cairo, Berlin, the Persian Gulf, Beijing, Delhi and Warsaw by the time she was sixteen. She came to the U.S. in 1980 and worked as an H.R. recruiter for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games, where she interviewed her future husband for a job. DEATH OF A DISHONORABLE GENTLEMAN is Tessa’s first novel. She lives in Bainbridge Island, Washington. For more information please visit Tessa Arlen's website.
Read Tessa Arlen's blog at Redoubtable Edwardians.
You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Subscribe to Tessa Arlen's Newsletter.
My Review
Death Sits Down to Dinner is the second book about amateur sleuths Lady Clementine Montfort and her housekeeper, Mrs.Jackson, the first book is Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman. At a birthday party for Winston Churchill, hosted by Hermione Kingsley who is a patroness of a large charity. A death occurs at this party, a man, Sir Reginald Cholmondeley is the deceased stabbed in the chest. Clementine is the person who is first on the scene of the murder.
Hermione has insisted that no one talk about the murder that happened at her dinner party, this includes all of her staff. Everyone who attended the party is questioned by Detective Inspector Hillary and as time progresses, Clementine is not too happy as to how the investigation is progressing. Hermione is to host a huge event to support England's largest charity but with the illness of her companion Adelaide, Clementine offers the services of her housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson. Kill two birds with one stone if your will, Mrs. Jackson can assist with coordinating the event and snoop around to find out exactly what the staff knows. The two women are insistent on finding out who killed Sir Reginald and why.
This story takes place in 1912, a tenuous time in England with the unrest that is happening not only in England but in the rest of the world. England is preparing for such an event with the development of airplanes. Winston Churchill is sure that there will be a war with Germany, as First Lord of the Admiralty he founded the Royal Navy Air Service to prepare for this event.
This is an Edwardian mystery that reminded me of the show Upstairs, Downstairs, filled with real and imagined characters, upstairs and downstairs at two households. The glitter of high society in England makes this novel a treat to read. I learned one interesting fact, the women who worked in these households were called Mrs. no matter the age or whether they were married or not. The men were called John or William, as these names were easy to remember and acceptable names.
I had not read the first book, Death of an Honorable Gentleman but that in no way confused me as the author made reference on a few occasions of the murder mystery that involved Lady Montfort and Mrs.Jackson. A fast paced story that was very enjoyable to me.
I received a copy of the book for my honest opinion.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, March 28
Review at Laura's Interests
Interview at Books and Benches
Tuesday, March 29
Review at A Book Geek
Interview at Historical Fiction Addicts
Wednesday, March 30
Interview at AustenProse
Thursday, March 31
Review at Buried Under Books
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Friday, April 1
Review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Monday, April 4
Review at Reading the Past
Spotlight at Seize the Words: Books in Review
Tuesday, April 5
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Wednesday, April 6
Review at Luxury Reading
Thursday, April 7
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Friday, April 8
Review at A Holland Reads
Monday, April 11
Review at The Absurd Book Nerd
Tuesday, April 12
Interview at The Absurd Book Nerd
Wednesday, April 13
Review at Room With Books
Thursday, April 14
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Friday, April 15
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Monday, April 18
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog
Tuesday, April 19
Review at CelticLady's Reviews
Wednesday, April 20
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective
Thursday, April 21
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Friday, April 22
Spotlight at Let Them Read Books
Monday, April 25
Review & Giveaway at Brooke Blogs
Tuesday, April 26
Review at Book Nerd
Wednesday, April 27
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Friday, April 29
Review at To Read, Or Not to Read
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