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Of Manners and Murder
Of Manners and Murder
Anastasia Hastings | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dear Miss Hermione, Can You Solve My Murder?
Violet Manville is shocked when her aunt tells her she writes the popular Miss Hermione advice column and then tells Violet that she is in charge of the column while she goes off to the continent. Among the first letters Violet receives is one from a young woman who thinks someone is trying to kill her. When Violet goes to try to help, she interrupts the woman’s funeral. Can Violet figure out what is happening?

I thought the first in this new series, set in Victoria England, sounded like fun. I am glad I picked it up because I was right. The characters are good, although Violet’s half-sister can be a bit shallow. I suspect that is on purpose, however. We do get a few scenes from her point of view, but the switch is always obvious. The plot is lots of fun and plenty to keep us engaged. I did feel Violet made a leap at the end, but the solution was logical. If you are looking for a fun premise for a new series, this is one to check out. I look forward to seeing where it goes from here.
  
    Firefax

    Firefax

    A.M. Vergara

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    "I would advise you, young man, to take care around anyone with the surname Firefax. I know not if...

The third and final entry in AJ MacKenzie's 'The Hundred Years War' series which, truth to be told, did not turn out at all as I expected.

By which I mean I was expecting something Cornwell-like; an action-adventure set during the period of The Hundred Years War between France and England over the throne of France.

What I got instead was a (I felt) slow-burner of a mystery over three novels, with the war really only providing the backdrop as the herald Simon Merrivale investigates a shadowy conspiracy amongst the nobles of both sides

The fault in expectation, of course, was wholly mine.

This follows on from the largely-Scotland set A Clash of Lions, itself following on from A Flight of Arrows, with Merrivale now back in France as the English besiege the key city of Calais. I have to say, I did find parts of this novel to drag on a bit: for me, it never really gripped me as much as parts of the previous entry did. One of those novels (and series) that I'm happy enough to have read, but not to the point where I would - yet - search out more by the author.