Death at Wentwater Court (Daisy Dalrymple, #1)

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Death at Wentwater Court (Daisy Dalrymple #1)

3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 · rating details · 1,663 ratings · 176 reviews

It's the early 1920s in England - the country is still recovering from the Great War and undergoing rapid social changes that many are not quite ready to accept. During this heady and tumultuous time, the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple, the daughter of a Viscount, makes a decision shocking to her class: rather than be supported by her relations, she will earn her own living as...more

Paperback, 252 pages

Published September 1st 2006 by Kensington (first published 1994)

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Apr 08, 2012 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Death at Wentwater Court
~Robinson
(16)
Death @ Wentwater court =Life for a lovely new series, January 24, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Death at Wentwater Court (Paperback)
This is the author's first in the Daisy Dalrymple series and my 2nd in this series. My heartfelt gratitude to the author, Carola Dunn, for taking on the task of writing the series. It is proving to be a delightfully uplifting change in the usual mystery series' on the market now. The painstaking cr...more
Death at Wentwater Court
~Robinson
(16)
Death @ Wentwater court =Life for a lovely new series, January 24, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Death at Wentwater Court (Paperback)
This is the author's first in the Daisy Dalrymple series and my 2nd in this series. My heartfelt gratitude to the author, Carola Dunn, for taking on the task of writing the series. It is proving to be a delightfully uplifting change in the usual mystery series' on the market now. The painstaking craft of detailing the British style, language and wardrobe of the 1920's is elaborately brought to the forefront in each page. The series is a commitment in itself by the author and respect for the reader is apparent.

Daisy Dalrymple is an independent woman in the 1920's in Great Britain with no apologies given for her decision to be so. Her self proclaimed independence shines forth in her detective skills throughout this story as does her organizationsl skills with peers and her work as a journalist for the Town & Country magazine.
Daisy has experienced a good deal of grief due to the loss of her brother, fiance and father. These experiences, although a heavy loss, does not deter Daisy from getting on with her life and new discoveries that go with it. She then sets out for Wentwater Court to interview and photograph the estate and it's prestigious family for an article in the magazine.
She is introduced to Lord Wentwater and his lovely(much younger) wife Anabel. Anabel and Daisy soon establish a friendship of which Anabel, Lady Wentwater, is in dire need of. Conflicts arise as Lord Stephen Astwick confronts Lady Wentwater in a very crude and public way although completely uninvited and unwarranted. He soon becomes the black sheep of the characters involved. His demise is not in anyway, shape or form mourned by the family and guests at Wentwater court.
Daisy developes a relationship with Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, C.I.D. of Scotland Yard. Their relationship begins with the investigation into the murder of Lord Stephen Astwick but does not end there.
The final few chapters involves an interesting twist to the solving of this murder as it also brings Daisy and the "Chief" in to a greater involvement regarding their future.
I truly like Daisy Dalrymple and look forward to the next in this series. I would highly recommend this book in the Daisy Dalrymple series to any cozy readers looking for a shining example of British life during the 1920's era.
Ellen
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Aug 08, 2010 Hattie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Y

Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

Death At Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

For a long time I have wanted to start the Carola Dunn series. Finally, I have finished the first book in the series, "Death At Wentwater Court." The first book is very good. I have already put the second book of the series on hold at the library.

My one misgiving was that at the beginning there were so many characters being thrown at me. I worried whether it would be necessary to write the characters names down on pape...more Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

Death At Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

For a long time I have wanted to start the Carola Dunn series. Finally, I have finished the first book in the series, "Death At Wentwater Court." The first book is very good. I have already put the second book of the series on hold at the library.

My one misgiving was that at the beginning there were so many characters being thrown at me. I worried whether it would be necessary to write the characters names down on paper with their relationship to Lord Wentwater and Annabel, his wife. Fortunately, it wasn't long before I knew who was whom walking in and around Wentwater Court.

All I had to do was stay close to the main character, Daisy Dalrymple. Daisy Dalrymple has chosen to be a reporter. At this time she is writing the History of different English estates. Wentwater Court being one of these beautiful mansions. Daisy is also doing the photography for the article since no photographer is available to go along with her to Wentwater Court.

From the very beginning I liked Daisy Dalrymple. The name alone made me want to like this woman with spiffy clothes. It's not long before she is totally involved in a murder which happens at Wentwater Court. She is smart, observant, compassionate and curious. I loved how most of the suspects asked for Daisy to come in and at least be a support while they were questioned. Daisy also finds an attractive man in the crowd.

Anyway, troubles begin at Wentwater Court during the 1920's. Boy, does Carola Dunn know how to make a setting real. I felt as though I had time walked back to the twenties: There is Mussolini in Italy, the Foxtrot and the Tango are becoming the old dances while the Camel-walk, the Chicago and the Toboggan are the new dances. Carola Dunn mentions people listening to the wireless and the gramaphone. Oh, I mustn't forget the language of the twenties is just too cute. All of the characters, the murder, the burglary of diamonds and emeralds at another estate make this novel "topping." Love the 1920's language. (less)

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Oct 25, 2009 Gail rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Gail by: darkmoonwitch@earthlink.net

Shelves: mysteries

This series takes place between the wars in England. WWI has hit England hard, both in the hearts of the people and on the class system. Daisy Dalyrmple is the daughter of a peer and as an Honorable, she was brought up in the midst of the upper class. Having lost her brother, fiance, and father in the war, she is now determined to make her way as a writer-reporter and photographer. Her title and upbringing gives her entre into many social circles.

Her magazine sends her to the home of the Earl of...more

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Mar 03, 2009 Christa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

This was my first book by Carola Dunn, and I was entertained by it. This book reminded me of the current "Royal" series by Rhys Bowen. I enjoyed the character of Daisy Dalrymple, as well as that of Detective Alec Fletcher. I like historical mysteries, so am glad to have found this entertaining series.

Daisy Dalrymple, daughter of a viscount, has elected to work in the early 1920's rather than be dependant upon family members. She heads to Wentwater Court to write a magazine article, but shortly a...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Olga Godim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries

Reading this book was pure, unmitigated pleasure. Although it is the first novel of the series, it’s not the first Daisy Dalrymple mystery I’ve read. I have already read several others in no particular order and I have to admit: I enjoyed them all. I love the lead characters, I love the setting – England in the 1920s – and I absolutely adore Carola Dunn’s easy and expressive writing style. Especially her sweet British vocabulary, which makes the experience of reading her novels so delightful.
In...more Reading this book was pure, unmitigated pleasure. Although it is the first novel of the series, it’s not the first Daisy Dalrymple mystery I’ve read. I have already read several others in no particular order and I have to admit: I enjoyed them all. I love the lead characters, I love the setting – England in the 1920s – and I absolutely adore Carola Dunn’s easy and expressive writing style. Especially her sweet British vocabulary, which makes the experience of reading her novels so delightful.
In almost every novel of the series, I discovered at least one word I didn’t know, a British slang or an oldie, which sent me to a dictionary. In this particular novel, I found two such little pearls: tippet and tommyrot. I’ll definitely use tommyrot somewhere in my own writing; the word sounds and feels funny.
This novel is a fair representative of one of my favorite genres: a cozy English mystery. The writer does a good job of introducing the protagonists of the series: the budding journalist Daisy Dalrymple and the Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard Alec Fletcher. At the outset, Daisy arrives at a country estate of an earl to write an article about his beautiful centuries-old mansion. The lives of the inhabitants of the mansion might look untroubled on the surface, but the currents of tension run underneath their illusionary complacency.
A couple days later, one of the guests at the mansion gets murdered. Reluctantly, the earl calls the police to investigate, and Alec Fletcher arrives on the scene. Together, Alec and Daisy find the murderer, and the beginning of their tentative romance made me feel happy for them both. Although she is an Honorable, a daughter of a peer, and he is a middle-class copper, the social chasm between them doesn’t seem as deep as it would’ve been before the WWI. The author’s depiction of the years between the wars, the years of profound change in England, might not be very deep, but it is lighthearted, tasteful, and true.
Dunn pays much more attention to details and the psychology of the murder than to physical action, so the plot moves slowly, but every minute counts. We also get to meet a score of wacky secondary characters (some reviewers say too many too soon), and each of them adds flavor to the story and complications to the investigation. As in every enclosed mystery, the number of suspects is limited, the motivations tangled, and the timeline deceiving. And although I could guess the identity of the murderer a bit before Daisy and Alec, it didn’t detract from the attraction of the story.
My favorite quote: “The Hampshire countryside surrounding the station was hidden by a blanket of snow, sparkling in the sun. Frost glittered on skeletal trees and hedges. The only signs of life were the train, now gathering speed, the uniformed man carrying her stuff across the line behind it, and a crow huddled on the station picket fence.” Simple and elegant.
Definitely recommended.
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Mar 13, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having skipped around in the series, I thought I'd better start from the beginning - and I am glad I did! This is a charming and clever series; I've described it as "Lord Peter, but with Lady Mary detecting, and somewhat lighter." In this book, Daisy Dalrymple, journalist and aspiring novelist, has a commission to write about and photograph Wentwater court. It's a very cold winter and, when she arrives, she sees a party skating on the ornamental pond. Just a couple of days later, one of that par...more

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Jun 21, 2010 Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010_challenge_1st_in_series, 2010_challenge_thriller_and_suspens, 2010_challenge_typically_british, mystery, golden_age_detection

Daisy Dalrymple, despite being an "honourable" has decided to ditch the title and make a name for herself as a writer (and photographer, cause she really needs the money). She's on her way to Wentwater Court, where her title did happen to wrangle her an invite, to feature the house for Town and Country. On a crisp January day she arrives to see Lord James Beddowe, the Earl of Wentwater's eldest son ice skating with his sister Majorie, his fiance Fenella and Fenella's brother Phillip. Poor Philli...more Daisy Dalrymple, despite being an "honourable" has decided to ditch the title and make a name for herself as a writer (and photographer, cause she really needs the money). She's on her way to Wentwater Court, where her title did happen to wrangle her an invite, to feature the house for Town and Country. On a crisp January day she arrives to see Lord James Beddowe, the Earl of Wentwater's eldest son ice skating with his sister Majorie, his fiance Fenella and Fenella's brother Phillip. Poor Phillip, still perpetually in love with Daisy. Once Daisy arrives in the house she is introduced to an even greater assortment of characters. There's the Earl himself, his gorgeous but extremely young new bride, Annabel, and his other children, the gambling Wilfred and the sporty Geoffry. Not to mention his sister and her husband, Lady Josephone and Sir Hugh. But the odd one out is really Lord Stephen Astwick, who is neither a relative or apparently a friend of anyone there. In fact he seems to be a bit predatory towards Annabel, which is not going down well with the others. After a tour and some ancestral gossip from Lady Josephine, the family convene for a family portrait then dinner. It is a rather awkward and dour affair and eventually, after a rubber or two, they all troop off to bed, Lord Stephen proudly proclaiming that he will be up at dawn to ice skate as part of his exercise regime. But come morning, when the others go to skate, it's Lord Stephen's body that is discovered half submerged in the icy lake. Daisy, head firmly planted on shoulders, decides she should take pictures of the accident scene, for the police, should they need them. After many protests as to whether the police should be called or not, a detective Alec Fletcher arrives direct from the jewel heist he is investigating at nearby Flatford. It transpires that Daisy was very forward thinking in taking those pictures, because they show not a man who accidentally fell through the ice, but a man who fell through a whole that had been cropped in the ice with an axe. Daisy then helps the dishy Alec get to the bottom of who killed Lord Stephen, when apparently everyone had a motive! Annabel was being blackmailed, Wilfred owed him money, Majorie was jealous of his attentions to Annabel, and the Earl watched it all.

In the classic style of Agatha Christie we have a country house murder where everyone's a suspect and one of them has to be the murderer. Set at a languid pace, once you get a hold of the unwieldy number of characters and their basic relationship to each other and the victim the story really gripes you. At times I think even the author realizes her unwieldy cast, due to the repetition of their motives and where they were when the crime happened. Set between the wars we have a heroine who lost her love on the front lines, a trope used in many of these types of story, look at Maisie Dobbs. We also have the dashing detective who, for some reason, trusts and is drawn to the heroine and views her as a confidant and confederate. Besides this love interest the story moves apace with enough red herrings and new evidence to keep you guessing. But it's the ending that takes the cake. I did not see it coming, and not that it's shocking, but the way it is handled and what happens to the guilty party I think are what make this book stand out from the pack and made it a truly memorable read for me. Even if I have now developed a bizarre desire to speak only in colloquialisms from the 20s and 30s I heartily recommend it. So, read this jolly good book if you're a fan of English cozies because you shan't be disappointed. It's a spiffing good time. Toodle Pip!
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May 25, 2011 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cozy-mystery, historical-mystery

A very enjoyable first installment in the Daisy Dalrymple series, one that would definitely please fans of historical mysteries. This, I think, is one of those series that are far better read in order. I had actually picked up Dead in the Water (Book 6) by mistake a long time ago and remember not liking it half as much as I liked this one. In hindsight, I realize it's because the latter books jump straight into the mystery without much backstory, and you barely know either Daisy or Alec (as most...more A very enjoyable first installment in the Daisy Dalrymple series, one that would definitely please fans of historical mysteries. This, I think, is one of those series that are far better read in order. I had actually picked up Dead in the Water (Book 6) by mistake a long time ago and remember not liking it half as much as I liked this one. In hindsight, I realize it's because the latter books jump straight into the mystery without much backstory, and you barely know either Daisy or Alec (as most of the introduction to their characters is in this book). Knowing and liking Daisy is key to enjoying the series.

Death at Wentwater Court is well-written and has historical details scattered throughout, giving readers the sense that they're watching events unfolding in 1920s England. The setting and language is beautifully, intricately woven into the story - it's probably one of the aspects I enjoyed most. Daisy's journalist career brings her to Wentwater Court, the focus of her magazine article, and finds the dead body of their unwanted guest, Lord Stephen, shortly after her arrival. This sets up the subsequent murder investigation, which Daisy takes an active part in. The murder mystery is reasonably interesting, but much like traditional mysteries in the style of Agatha Christie, it's the characters and their complicated relationships with each other that spices up the plot.

Daisy is quite a likeable protagonist; she's sensible, compassionate and quite intelligent, despite not having much common sense in relation to legal/criminal matters. She also has a natural ability to put others at ease, which makes her a perfect amateur detective; suspects naturally approach her to tell them their life stories! She has a budding friendship and potential romance with Chief Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher, who is sent to deal with the case "discretely." Their relationship promises to be very interesting, because Alec is a commoner while Daisy is the daughter of a peer. The rest of the characters are sufficient as a supporting cast - none of them are as vivid as Daisy and Alec, but enough to either evoke our sympathies or dislike. Daisy also has a second suitor in Phillip, who happens to be her childhood friend. He's adorable and not the brightest crayon in the box, and I hope he appears in later books.

My only complaint is that the resolution to the murder case is a bit too neat; it's almost tied in a bow and served on a silver platter. I love happy solutions for all parties as much as the next person, but it seems a bit strained here. That said, it's still a satisfactory conclusion, and the friendship between Daisy and Alec shows a lot of promise.

Fans of Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series in particular should like this series; both have similar historical settings (1920s and 1930s England) as well as main characters. In fact, if Georgie was born a little earlier, I could easily imagine her and Daisy becoming friends. All in all a very good read, and I'll definitely be looking for the second book.(less)

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Jan 13, 2012 Esme rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Januar 1923: Honourable Daisy Dalrymple darf ihren ersten Artikel für das Town and Country Magazine über Wentwater Court und seine Bewohner schreiben. Die ländliche Idylle währt nicht lange, ein Gast des Hauses, Stephen Astwick, wird in einem Loch im Eis des Sees ertrunken aufgefunden.

Die Golden Twenties sind auch das Golden Age des Kriminalromans und ganz in diesem Stile verhält sich dieses Buch: die Upper Class, ein überschaubarer Kreis von Verdächtigen, Befragungen der Zeugen und ein ausführl...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Nathania Ma rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: okay-but-won-t-read-again, soon-forget-after-reading, the-ending-sux, mystery-so-mediocre

The story actually deserves a higher rating but the conclusion is one I cannot morally accept and took at least one star away from me, if not more. Warning: Spoilers ahead. My major problem with this book is the way Daisy let the manslaughter got off and masked the whole death as an accident. The killer defended another woman against rape, an honorable cause and if they did nothing stupid further, he probably would have got off with manslaughter anyway or even something lighter. However, fleeing...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Christine rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of British colloquial fiction

I have to be honest. I was not impressed. I listened to this book on audio (read by Bernadette Dunne) but by the end of disc 1 there was still no murder. I felt that I never really felt a sense of the main character, Daisy Dalrymple.

I stopped at the end of disc 1 and returned it to the library for two reasons: first, I like my murders to happen relatively quickly in a mystery. This one had a very slow pace that wore on me. Second, I the dialog is very "period." For some, this may be one of the...more

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Sep 05, 2010 T.L. Cooper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Carola Dunn starts the Daisy Dalrymple series with Death at Wentwater Court. Dunn drops the reader into the Hampshire countryside in the early 1920s. The reader is transported to the cold, snowy English countryside. Daisy Dalrymple is a likeable character both for her strength and her spirit. Her intelligence and insight also draws the reader to her side in most situations. When her plans to write an article for a magazine are interrupted by the suspicious death of a fellow houseguest, Daisy is...more

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Aug 05, 2009 Elizabeth K. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-new-reads

I haven't read this series before, written now, but in the style of British mysteries in the 1920s. I was hoping I would love it ... it turns out I think it's a little too obvious that it's of its time (the time of now) but it was still moderately enjoyable. As one might expect, a murder happens at an English country house and a plucky young woman helps the handsome inspector from Scotland Yard solve the crime. In a weird way, I suspect that if you like 1920s mysteries enough to seek out a facsi...more

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Nov 30, 2009 Wealhtheow rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of 1920s murder mysteries, Cold Comfort Farm

Shelves: historical

As sweet and comfortably domestic as a murder mystery can be. When the Honorable Daisy Dalyrmple visits a school chum's ancestral home to write a magazine article, she does not expect to find a roiling mess of emotions and secrets. The earl's new wife is young, beautiful, and clearly caught up in something with the underhanded Lord Stephen. And when Lord Stephen is found dead, everyone is a suspect.

Daisy and her new friend, Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, try to sort out the tangled loyalties and...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Emma rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-books

I found this book in a charity shop and was firstly drawn to the cover illustration as it was quite quirky and retro. Also when I saw that it was about the 1920's I thought it had to be worth a read. It was a light hearted read despite it being a murder mystery. The language was fun and in keeping with the time period I thought. I thought the ending was a bit rushed and unbelievable though as was the policeman's attitude towards Daisy BUT it was still a good read. I'd never heard of the author b...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Marella rated it 3 of 5 stars

A pretty standard cosy English murder mystery at a country estate taking place in the Roaring 20s. DAWC introduces the young, gently-bred Daisy Dalrymple.

Although the writing was solid, the plot well-mapped, and the characters distinct, the combination didn't quite grab me. A good mystery is impossible to put down and will be gotten through in as few sittings as possible. DAWC, on the other hand, well, I started several other books in between starting and finishing it. Almost chucked it right af...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Nikki rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-century, read-in-2012, british, mystery

This was so much fun to read. It's set in the 1920s and full of (undoubtedly over-the-top) 20s slang and a 'jolly ho' kind of talking. The characters are very engaging, I found myself wondering who'd committed the murder by going over all their personalities and motives etc, which I don't often do when reading crime novels for some reason. What did disappoint me was the way in which the murderer was revealed, I can imagine you'd miss it if you weren't careful. Quite anticlimactic. I'm also not t...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Lisa C rated it 3 of 5 stars

Fans of Downton Abbey looking for another way to immerse themselves in the Edwardian era will be a little disappointed by the lack of historical detail in this work. Although the stunning estate with strong-minded post-war females is in place, these details serve only as a light dressing to the storyline and aren't well explored. As a light mystery, however, it's reasonably engaging. Then convention used to place the female protagonist in the action is cute at first, but becomes tiresome and dif...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Gerry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nineteen-twenties country house mysteries are excellent, especially when Daisy Dalrymple is the heroine.

Here we are celebrating at Wentwater Court with snow and ice on the ground when one of the revellers is found drowned in the pond, ice cracked all around.

Is it an accident or did someone do away with Stephen Astwick? All the guests are, not surprisingly, suspected of knowing more than they care to admit but it takes Daisy, along with Alec Fletcher from Scotland Yard, fortunately on a nearby ca...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Christine Sharbrough rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Readers who like amateur sleuths, lyrical writing, slow pacing.

Shelves: cozy-mystery-series

Set in the UK in the 1920s, this lyrical mystery takes a very slow pace and extensive character portraits before anyone ever is murdered. The language takes a bit of getting used to - lots of "spiffing!" and "good show old sock!" type phrasing that makes it a bit difficult to get through at first. This is especially true for the audiobook (on which this review is based).

On the whole, the story picks up the pace in Chapter 4 right through to the end.

Recommended for readers interested in the 1920...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Clare rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, historical, charity-shop-finds

A charity shop find, my local oxfam had a whole batch of Daisy books with their brightly coloured spines shining out of the crime section. Obviously I couldn't leave them there!

Death at Wentwater Court is a real Sunday afternoon book. Perfect for kicking back in the garden and relaxing, easy to follow but not horribly predicatable (it is a mystery book after all).

It is light and a bit silly, but the characters are fun and you can't help but be charmed by Daisy and her dashing hero Chief Inspec...more

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Apr 12, 2010 Jan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a classic British cozy. Daisy is a "modern" woman trying to make it on her own in 1920's England. Since she is part of the British peerage, she snags a job for a magazine to write articles on the great estates of England. Her first assignment is at Wentwater Court, a grand old Tudor estate. No sooner than she arrives, one of the guests in the home falls through the ice and drowns, or did he???[return][return]This is the first of the series. I enjoy Daisy and her interactions with others....more

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May 14, 2012 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

The first in a mystery series written by an Englishwoman now living in Eugene, OR. I had high hopes, and it was an entertaining enough mystery (and I did not quite guess the murderer - exactly). Yet it felt almost as if she were trying too hard with all the roaring-20's Englishy quips and goofy language. If I hadn't known the author was English, I would have thought she was an American trying too hard to sound British. Still, the heroine was likeable enough that I'm willing to give the second in...more

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May 10, 2012 Julianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is #1 of the "Daisy Dalrymple" series set in England in the lovely country estates inhabited by the aristrocracy. It's 1923 and WWI has taken its toll on the country's available young men. Daisy's heart was broken when her own young love was killed in the war. Now she is getting on with her life.

She goes to Wentwater Court to take photos and write a magazine article about this lovely old home. But arriving as a guest, she finds relationships there are complicated and very strained. Then one...more

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Sep 30, 2009 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

This was a guilty pleasure! Very quick audiobook, and totally enthralling. Reminiscient of the movie Clue, where all members of the party are equally likely to be guilty, and you discover the truth at the end. The plot did disappoint a little at the end - almost a rush to the finish, and Daisy disappointed me a little there, too. It's also not brilliant writing, but the characters are great and entertaining. But, that said, I was totally engaged in the book the whole time and intend to get the o...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Cook Memorial Public Library rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I like Daisy Dalrymple! This book gave a great feel for the times (1920s England) as well as the upper class lifestyle. I was a little disappointed in Chief Inspector Fletcher, I thought he was a little too quick to skirt the law, but of course he was definitely affected by Daisy. I'm looking forward to a developing relationship between him and Daisy. What fun.

--Recommended by Sonia

Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/...

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Mar 09, 2012 Annie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, englisch, 2012

This was my first book by Carola Dunn. I have to admit, that I had some trouble getting into the story. Maybe it was her writing style. Maybe it was the rather excessive use of slang. I don't know but the first 30 pages or wo have been a bit difficult for me. Plus to many characters at a time for my taste. I'm not good with names in books and so it's always a bit difficult for me when the author introduces around 10 characters within a few pages. I had some trouble keeping them apart and remeber...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having previously read one of the later books in this series I was keen to read the first book and see where it all began. This book is a great read and introduction to Daisy Dalrymple. The story is set in 1923 and Daisy has left her privileged upbringing behind her to have an independent life. She lives in a flat with her friend Lucy and has got a job with Town and Country magazine. She travels to Wentwater Court to write a story about the estate as she knows some members of the family. She soo...more

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Dec 30, 2011 Lori McD rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1920s, british-lit, cozy-mystery, detective-pi, easy-read, mystery, 2011_read

Fun book! I think I've found a new set of enjoyable mysteries to read!

The Honorable Daisy Dalrymple is a twenty-something daughter of a viscount, but her father is dead (influenza after WWI) and her brother died serving in the war. Rather than be banished to the dower house, living with her mother and at the good graces of her finicky cousin who inherited the title, Daisy has decided to seek work on her own. She's just gotten a job as a feature writer for Town and Country. Daisy is astute enough...more Fun book! I think I've found a new set of enjoyable mysteries to read!

The Honorable Daisy Dalrymple is a twenty-something daughter of a viscount, but her father is dead (influenza after WWI) and her brother died serving in the war. Rather than be banished to the dower house, living with her mother and at the good graces of her finicky cousin who inherited the title, Daisy has decided to seek work on her own. She's just gotten a job as a feature writer for Town and Country. Daisy is astute enough to use her connections to get her into the most fascinating and least-glimpsed homes of the wealthy. And Daisy invented a photographer (Carstairs), so she can take her own photos and get twice the pay!

In her first adventure, Daisy finds herself at Wentworth Court, home of Lord Wentworth (50s) and his new wife, Annabelle (a couple of years older than Daisy). Daisy is acquainted with Lord Wentworth's sister, Lady Josphine and some of the the Wentworth prodigy. But a stranger is visiting, Lord Stephen - a 40-something man with a wicked gleam in his eye and a distinct preference for the new Lady Annabelle Wentworth. Is Lord Stephen only flirting or is something more going on here? Annabelle seems uncomfortable in his presence, but if they're having an affair, is it only because Lord Stephen is so attentive in front of her new family? And why is Lord Stephen here, anyway?

The next morning, Daisy goes to the pond to skate with James Wentworth and his fiancee, only to discover Lord Stephan face down inside a hole in the ice. Daisy brought her camera and snaps a few pictures, then sends James to the house to summon the police. Since Lord Wentworth has some sort of beef with the local constabulary, Lady Josephine's husband, Hugh, uses his contacts to get a Detective Chief Inspector from Scotland Yard - someone discreet with good judgement. The DCI is nearby because of a recent burglary of a neighboring Lord; most of the jewels of the family and the Lord's guests were stolen the night of the Lord's ball.

Daisy and the DCI are instantly attracted to one another. He's impressed with an "honorable" being so forthright and observant. Daisy doesn't look down on him for being middle-class; in fact, she even sees to it that he gets lunch! For her part, Daisy is intrigued by the good-looking and very capable DCI. She shows him her photos, and he agrees that the marks on the ice look as if made by an axe. This isn't an accidental drowning, unfortunately. Because all his men are currently occupied with the jewel robbery, Daisy agrees to take notes during the first interviews of the occupants of the house. And since people seem to open up to Daisy, many of the family prefers to have Daisy around to support them during their interrogations.

But the mystery continues to deepen as the coroner discovers that Lord Stephen didn't drown in pond water, but rather in bath water with bath salts. And the time of death isn't early morning, but late at night.

Who's behind this murder? And does it have any connection to the jewel thefts?
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Thoroughly enjoyable book! Good mystery! The author didn't cheat us of information; we might not have received it until the DCI or Daisy did, but that didn't stop us from having all the clues before us.

I liked Daisy and DCI Alex. Hoping that their partnership continues in both professional and personal ways!(less)

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Apr 04, 2011 Alexandra MacKenzie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, mystery

In 1923 England, the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, aspiring journalist, goes to Wentwater Court to do a magazine article and runs into murder most foul. Which member of uppercrust society did in blackmailer Stephen Astwick? With the help of Scotland Yard detective Alec Fletcher, young and spirited Daisy determines to find out in this engaging cozy mystery. She may just find the stirrings of romance along the way. First of (a long) series, this is a charming introduction to the characters and the ti...more

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About Carola Dunn

Carola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she a...more

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Books by Carola Dunn

The Winter Garden Mystery (Daisy Dalrymple, #2)

Requiem for a Mezzo (Daisy Dalrymple, #3)

Murder on the Flying Scotsman (Daisy Dalrymple, #4)

Damsel in Distress (Daisy Dalrymple, #5)

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Death at Wentwater Court (Daisy Dalrymple #1)

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