What do you think?
Rate this book
Ursula Grandison #1
Deadly Inheritance
American Ursula Grandison accompanies Belle Seldon to visit her sister, Helen, Countess of Mountstanton, commissioned by their father, multi-millionaire Chauncey Seldon, to discover what is wrong with Helen's marriage and what has happened to her dowry. At decaying stately Mountstanton House, Ursula finds the Earl is a cold fish, the Dowager Countess of Mounstanton the mother-in-law from hell, and Helen has not forgiven her for stealing her great love. Ursula discovers the drowned body of Polly, the nursemaid, thought to have deserted the household. Neither the Earl's brother, Colonel Charles Stanhope, nor Ursula believes Polly's death was an accident. Investigating against the Earl's wishes, they uncover a tangle of deception reaching into the past that threatens the reputation of the house of Mountstanton. After another death, Ursula fights to reveal the truth, to save Belle from dreadful scandal, and to fulfil Mr Seldon's commission, with a final shocking denouement.
413 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Janet Laurence
57 books16 followersJanet Laurence also writes cookery books and one of her creations in the detective genre is Darina Lisle, a cook and caterer.
She has written 10 novels featuring Darina Lisle between 1989 and 2001. The first was 'A Deepe Coffyn (1989) and the last to date was 'The Mermaid's Feast (2001).
She is also the creator of the Canaletto series of mysteries, set in 18th century London. There are three in the series, which began with 'Canaletto and the Case of Westminster Bridge' (1997).
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
She has written 10 novels featuring Darina Lisle between 1989 and 2001. The first was 'A Deepe Coffyn (1989) and the last to date was 'The Mermaid's Feast (2001).
She is also the creator of the Canaletto series of mysteries, set in 18th century London. There are three in the series, which began with 'Canaletto and the Case of Westminster Bridge' (1997).
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
![Profile Image for [ J o ].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1673171874i%2F4639825._UY200_CR4%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 8, 2015
Something was not quite right, perhaps the writing, perhaps the characters, perhaps the setting. It did not draw me in, neither did I care to listen to any more stereotypes laced within obvious elegant Edwardian England from an American POV.
March 21, 2023
I think I need to take a break from historical fiction for a while, because if I read another story where coffee proliferates in the UK before the 1950s I'm going to scream!
Aside from the coffee problem, there was a strange preoccupation with what everyone was wearing in every scene. I honestly didn't care whether the heroine was sporting poplin, gabardine or linen, or how she'd done her hair that day, nor did I care about the rest of the cast in that regard.
In terms of the actual story, there were just too many subplots going on. Most of them fizzled out in an unsatisfactory conclusion rather than there being a coming together of everything in a satisfying grand finale, in fact there were a few subplots that I had to go back and check had even been wrapped up.
Aside from the coffee problem, there was a strange preoccupation with what everyone was wearing in every scene. I honestly didn't care whether the heroine was sporting poplin, gabardine or linen, or how she'd done her hair that day, nor did I care about the rest of the cast in that regard.
In terms of the actual story, there were just too many subplots going on. Most of them fizzled out in an unsatisfactory conclusion rather than there being a coming together of everything in a satisfying grand finale, in fact there were a few subplots that I had to go back and check had even been wrapped up.
May 22, 2025
The first book in the Ursula Grandison series. Ursula has accompanied Belle Seddon to England for a season. They’re staying with Belle’s sister - Helen & her husband. Ursula & Helen were once good friends. A few days after their arrival Ursula discovers a body in the water - it’s the body of Polly, a nurse maid to Helen’s son Harry, who “left”, without any reason. Ursula is not sure Polly had an accident, and, along with a mission Belle’s Father has given her, she looks to find the truth about the death.
May 26, 2014
Firstly , I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway, my first win and I was excited to receive the book. it arrived very quickly and in absolutely excellent condition. the actual hard copy of the book is beautifully presented and very good quality so much respect needs to go the the publishers for this.
Onto the review then - The setting for the novel is early Edwardian England in a fairly dilapidated but grand stately home. The main narrator for the book is an American companion to a young girl who has come over for the season to visit her sister who has married into the aristocratic family at Mountstanton. Very soon a body is found and so begins the 'murder mystery'. The book rattles along at a very well set pace and the characters become more defined and explained as the story goes along with new facts and information being given at very well set intervals. The writing is well thought out and does not dwell on unnecessary or boring descriptions of events but gives just enough to keep your interest and enthusiasm peaked. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the end and I for one didn't 'guess' correctly so was intrigued right up to the last page. The writing style was easy to get into the flow of and very enjoyable. Overall a thoroughly entertaining read which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys both a good mystery and an historical setting. Will definitely be picking up the next one in the series.
Onto the review then - The setting for the novel is early Edwardian England in a fairly dilapidated but grand stately home. The main narrator for the book is an American companion to a young girl who has come over for the season to visit her sister who has married into the aristocratic family at Mountstanton. Very soon a body is found and so begins the 'murder mystery'. The book rattles along at a very well set pace and the characters become more defined and explained as the story goes along with new facts and information being given at very well set intervals. The writing is well thought out and does not dwell on unnecessary or boring descriptions of events but gives just enough to keep your interest and enthusiasm peaked. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the end and I for one didn't 'guess' correctly so was intrigued right up to the last page. The writing style was easy to get into the flow of and very enjoyable. Overall a thoroughly entertaining read which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys both a good mystery and an historical setting. Will definitely be picking up the next one in the series.
August 8, 2012
I wanted a well written page turner after a run of largely thought provoking but chewy books. Thats exactly what I got. A historical mystery sent in Edwardian England with a well thought out and engaging heroine, some believeable writing and a nice twist. I suspect this is going to be the first of a series. I'll also look out for more by this author who, despite the fact that she has been chair of the crime writers association and a visiting writer at various places, I had never come across previously.
August 18, 2012
Ursula Grandison is an American sent over to England to chaperone a young American heiress. As such she's an outsider looking in at late Victorian society.
There are murders, and when it's just the case of a servant nobody much seems to care apart from Ursula and one other. But, as they do, the murders proliferate. The plot managed to keep me fooled for most of the book, and there is a really unexpected twist at the end. Highly recommended.
There are murders, and when it's just the case of a servant nobody much seems to care apart from Ursula and one other. But, as they do, the murders proliferate. The plot managed to keep me fooled for most of the book, and there is a really unexpected twist at the end. Highly recommended.
June 16, 2014
With all the modern day crime novels flooding the shelves it's easy to forget the wonderful 'ever so correct' turn of the last century investigations but Janet Laurence brings them back with a vengence. I thought I was reading a straight forward who done it in the style of Agatha Christy but it turned out there was so much more and this book truly gripped me.
My copy was free via Goodreads giveaways.
My copy was free via Goodreads giveaways.
June 25, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I don't usually read historical fiction but I won this via a Goodreads giveaway and found it thoroughly entertaining. The author manages to draw you into the story with ease. I found the characters very believable and could easily picture scenes, what the characters were wearing etc. A great book highly recommended.
August 10, 2012
I enjoyed this very much and look forward to more in the series.
January 14, 2014
I loved this. A great story with a believable heroine and a sufficiently twisty plot. Janet Laurence can write!!
July 30, 2014
Ursula Grandison is an intelligent 20 something American in 1903 England. She helps solve the cases set on an old English estate and in the end, finds out more about herself.
November 2, 2015
A very intriguing mystery full of twists.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews