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Euphemia Martins Mystery #1
A Death in the Family
In 1910 when Euphemia's father expires in his dish of mutton and onions he leaves his family on the verge of destitution. An appeal to her estranged aristocratic grandfather fails and showing the capable and intellectual aspects of her character that her mother so despises, Euphemia assumes a pseudonym and heads off into service. What Euphemia expects to be a grand adventure begins with her discovery of the murdered body of 'Mr Georgie, a less than loved family cousin. Born with an innate sense of justice, and because the police are very suspicious of her recent arrival, Euphemia throws herself into her own investigation, not realising she is delving into the murky family secrets of her employers and putting her own life at risk. Help comes in the guise of the annoying but honest younger son of the house, Bertram, who risks his reputation to work with her, not realising she is the granddaughter of an Earl and far too inquisitive for her own good.
174 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2009
87 people are currently reading
936 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Dunford
50 books47 followersLike most authors I did several jobs before I settled down to writing full time. I've been a journalist, a development officer, and a psychotherapist. I am a novelist, short story writer, mentor, tutor and playwright.
Throughout my life I've been fascinated by people - to the extent I even did a psychology degree before training in psychotherapy. I firmly believe that we all make sense of the whole through narrative- even if it's only the one inside your own head.
My Euphemia Martins Mysteries are inspired by my maternal great grandmother, who left a life of luxury to go into service.
However, everything I do inspires me. The best way of me to make sense of what often seems a very chaotic world is to tell stories. And in those stories I'm always asking questions.
Recently my play Burke has gone into its third production. It tries to make sense of what Burke and Hare, still the UK's most successful (?) serial killers did what they did. How they started.
You'll find traces of questions like this is the Euphemia stories where I often explore why people can and do do unpleasant things.
But - and this is a big but - I also believe that if you want to look at the darker side of human nature you must also pay homage to the lighter side, the truly selfless and generous acts that all humans are capable of doing.
And you need humour. Life can deal all of us harsh knocks and laughter is one of the greatest weapons in our armoury - along with love.
Throughout my life I've been fascinated by people - to the extent I even did a psychology degree before training in psychotherapy. I firmly believe that we all make sense of the whole through narrative- even if it's only the one inside your own head.
My Euphemia Martins Mysteries are inspired by my maternal great grandmother, who left a life of luxury to go into service.
However, everything I do inspires me. The best way of me to make sense of what often seems a very chaotic world is to tell stories. And in those stories I'm always asking questions.
Recently my play Burke has gone into its third production. It tries to make sense of what Burke and Hare, still the UK's most successful (?) serial killers did what they did. How they started.
You'll find traces of questions like this is the Euphemia stories where I often explore why people can and do do unpleasant things.
But - and this is a big but - I also believe that if you want to look at the darker side of human nature you must also pay homage to the lighter side, the truly selfless and generous acts that all humans are capable of doing.
And you need humour. Life can deal all of us harsh knocks and laughter is one of the greatest weapons in our armoury - along with love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 2, 2018
Shades of Downton Abbey. Euphemera's father, the vicar, dies suddenly leaving the family of three with nowhere to turn. Euphemera's grandfather, an earl, disinherited his daughter, Euphemera's mother, for marrying beneath her. So this is how, with no work experience and a need to support her mother and young brother, Euphemera came to take a job as a servant in the wealthy Stapleford family. What a learning experience for a 17 year old naive, but very smart young girl. Right away she literally stumbles across a body in the library, and it gets worse for her from there on. Toward the end, she is almost arrested for the murder, but circumstances cannot keep someone like Euphemera down. Book 1 ends well for her. Now on to Book 2 and the adventures of the Vicar's daughter swimming with the sharks.
April 10, 2015
This is a classic country house murder mystery set in 1909. Stepping up into the position of a much younger Miss Marple is Euphemia Martin, daughter of a vicar, granddaughter of an earl, but unfortunately reduced to finding a position as a maid when her father thoughtlessly expires in a dish of mutton and onions. It's all good, clean, traditional fun, with a knavish villain, a handsome potential love interest, and a sterling cast of red herrings. The mechanics of the plot just about hold together and the period detail is generally convincing, but it is the character of Euphemia and the gentle humour of the writing that elevates this book above the average Agatha Christie wannabe. I read it over an Easter weekend and enjoyed every minute.
February 6, 2017
There were enough typos to be distracting (corpse of trees, anyone?) and confusion about the head of the family's title (a baronet does not have barony, nor is he called Lord). But the structure was solid, the mystery was interesting, and Euphemia was different from your average protaganist. I'd try another one from this series.
June 20, 2018
Der Anfang war noch recht vielversprechend, aber mit dem Beginn der Ermittlungen und Befragungen wurden die Personen in Verhalten und Sprache so modern, unauthentisch und unhistorisch, dass ich mich frage, warum die Autorin die Geschichte ins Jahr 1909 verlegt, wenn alles, aber auch wirklich alles nicht passt. Der Kriminalfall ging da ziemlich unter und am Ende war ich mir nicht mal sicher, ob ich es richtig verstanden habe. Das Buch lässt mich etwas unzufrieden zurück.
March 6, 2013
This is a fun read about a maid, Euphemia Martin, who turns into a sleuth when faced with the discovery of a dead body in the home of family for whom she works. I recommend this to anyone who loves reading mystery on the light side.
September 21, 2020
Wonderful
March 11, 2020
An entertaining read.
Caroline Dunford is a new author to me, and I was very impressed with this, her first in a series of murder mysteries.
Set in the early 20th century England. Euphemia's father dies suddenly, and she decides to go into service to help support her mother and brother.
On her first day at Stapleford Hall, she comes across a body.
An entertaining, and at times, an amusing read; I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
Caroline Dunford is a new author to me, and I was very impressed with this, her first in a series of murder mysteries.
Set in the early 20th century England. Euphemia's father dies suddenly, and she decides to go into service to help support her mother and brother.
On her first day at Stapleford Hall, she comes across a body.
An entertaining, and at times, an amusing read; I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
October 30, 2020
I've been catching up on my TBR pile and am only now getting round to reading and reviewing many I have had on my kindle for ages. I thoroughly enjoyed this story because it was funny, unexpected and so very entertaining. All the 'above and below stairs,' insights and just how women were not the mistresses of their own destiny back when. Of course, if there is a murder or two in a story I am there. I really had fun reading this - although the subject matter is no joke. I shall - as soon as I am able - read the other books in this series. A lovely light read with lots of body.
January 13, 2022
I finally read the first book in the Euphemia Martins series, and although some of the characters and events had already been discussed in the later books, I loved this one. Having read the first book in the series about Hope, Euphemia's daughter, the similarity between mother and daughter in their approach and personality is very strong, which I liked.
This is a great introduction to the characters, ( Merry remains one of my favourites), and the plot is stronger than the plots in the later books too. Interestingly, the editing is also better in this book.
Five stars!
This is a great introduction to the characters, ( Merry remains one of my favourites), and the plot is stronger than the plots in the later books too. Interestingly, the editing is also better in this book.
Five stars!
June 20, 2021
A good detective story and original. I gave it a three because it is a bit light for my personal preferences when thinking about my favourite detective stories. But that doesn't say anything about the story, which was well written, good Tory and characters.
September 21, 2020
Wonderful
March 7, 2024
A light fun read for fans of historical mysteries on the Cozy side. I will probably continue the series
October 21, 2015
I started this book almost at random as I wanted something new to read and couldn't make up my mind which to choose. I was hooked in the first few pages. It is 1909 and Euphemia Martins adopts a pseudonym and goes to work as a maid at Stapleford. She has decides that this is the only way out of her family's financial difficulties when her clergyman father dies leaving them almost penniless.
Unfortunately almost as soon as she arrives, dripping wet after travelling across country in an open cart she stumbles on a body. Mrs Wilson the housekeeper is a martinet who doesn't even allow her to change into dry clothes before starting work and Euphemia starts to wonder whether she has chosen the right career for herself.
This is an entertaining story brought to life by Euphemia herself with her amusing descriptions of the people she meets and the circumstances in which she finds herself. No one in the household quite believes that she is who she says she is but most at least seem prepared to give her a trial as a maid.
This is an interesting start to the series of mysteries with a feisty heroine who tries not to let things get her down. I have already started reading the second book in the series.
Unfortunately almost as soon as she arrives, dripping wet after travelling across country in an open cart she stumbles on a body. Mrs Wilson the housekeeper is a martinet who doesn't even allow her to change into dry clothes before starting work and Euphemia starts to wonder whether she has chosen the right career for herself.
This is an entertaining story brought to life by Euphemia herself with her amusing descriptions of the people she meets and the circumstances in which she finds herself. No one in the household quite believes that she is who she says she is but most at least seem prepared to give her a trial as a maid.
This is an interesting start to the series of mysteries with a feisty heroine who tries not to let things get her down. I have already started reading the second book in the series.
June 29, 2020
"In December 1909 the Very Rev Joshia Martins expires in a dish of mutton and onions leaving his family on the brink of destitution. Abandoned by her noble grandfather, Joshia's daughter, the eighteen year old Euphemia, takes it on herself to provide for her mother and little brother by entering service. She's young, fit, intelligent, a little naive and assumes the life of a maid won't be too demanding. However, on her first day at the unhappy home of Lord Stapleford she discovers a murdered body.
"Euphemia's innate sense of justice has her prying where no servant should look and uncovering some of the darker social, political and business secrets of Stapleford family. She is propositioned, locked in cupboards, made to chop mountains of onions, her reputation shredded, accused of murder and frequently put in fear for her life. All Euphemia has to defend herself is her quick wits, sense of humour and the ultimate weapon of all virtuous young women, her scream."
~~back cover
This had all the ingredients for a wonderful country house mystery. Instead, the plot seemed disjointed, the characters unfathomable, and Euphemia a bit unbalanced.
"Euphemia's innate sense of justice has her prying where no servant should look and uncovering some of the darker social, political and business secrets of Stapleford family. She is propositioned, locked in cupboards, made to chop mountains of onions, her reputation shredded, accused of murder and frequently put in fear for her life. All Euphemia has to defend herself is her quick wits, sense of humour and the ultimate weapon of all virtuous young women, her scream."
~~back cover
This had all the ingredients for a wonderful country house mystery. Instead, the plot seemed disjointed, the characters unfathomable, and Euphemia a bit unbalanced.
December 30, 2019
Light and enjoyable. I would definitely consider reading more in the series. A young woman in difficult financial straits after the death of her father hires herself out as a maid to a wealthy family and finds a body upon her arrival, after which she joins with one of the sons of the house in solving the mystery. An unusual situation (the usual go-to for impoverished vicars' daughters was governessing) but the author informs us in an afterword that a similar situation - sans murder, I would assume - happened in her own family.
For a future (or revised) edition, however, it does appear that this book was spellchecked but not proofread (carefully, at least) by a human being - and this type of thing does affect my opinion. While I saw no actual misspelled words, I did see "corpses" used instead of "copses" (groups of trees), "properties" for "proprieties," and "style" for "[turn]stile."
For a future (or revised) edition, however, it does appear that this book was spellchecked but not proofread (carefully, at least) by a human being - and this type of thing does affect my opinion. While I saw no actual misspelled words, I did see "corpses" used instead of "copses" (groups of trees), "properties" for "proprieties," and "style" for "[turn]stile."
June 4, 2021
Although this was easy to read and whiled away an hour or two at bedtime, I did not greatly enjoy it.
Despite a few historical references to Suffragettes, the Boer Wars, the Arms Race, and impending war in Europe, the story did not particularly evoke England in 1910. The setting in a country house should have added attraction, but the behaviour and interactions of the characters- family, staff, and police, verged on the highly improbable.
The writing style is simplistic and at times odd. The plotting was minimal and insufficient clues laid to make it possible to work out the solution.
I may try another to see if the plots improved as the series progressed.
Thank you to Secret Readers for the free copy.
Despite a few historical references to Suffragettes, the Boer Wars, the Arms Race, and impending war in Europe, the story did not particularly evoke England in 1910. The setting in a country house should have added attraction, but the behaviour and interactions of the characters- family, staff, and police, verged on the highly improbable.
The writing style is simplistic and at times odd. The plotting was minimal and insufficient clues laid to make it possible to work out the solution.
I may try another to see if the plots improved as the series progressed.
Thank you to Secret Readers for the free copy.
June 4, 2021
I read this on Secret Readers and I had hoped for a cozy mystery set in the early 1900s. Which is kind of what it was.
The characters show promise and this is clearly a setup for the ongoing series, so you get a feel for them as they start their journey together. The problem for me was that I didn't really feel like I knew enough about the characters and I didn't really get a feel for their personalities as they jumped about a bit.
It was difficult to try and piece together any clues as you weren't given them until almost the point at which the truth is revealed.
I may read more in the series as if the characters are developed more it could be a fun series, but this first one lacked the charm I find so endearing in most cozy reads.
The characters show promise and this is clearly a setup for the ongoing series, so you get a feel for them as they start their journey together. The problem for me was that I didn't really feel like I knew enough about the characters and I didn't really get a feel for their personalities as they jumped about a bit.
It was difficult to try and piece together any clues as you weren't given them until almost the point at which the truth is revealed.
I may read more in the series as if the characters are developed more it could be a fun series, but this first one lacked the charm I find so endearing in most cozy reads.
November 29, 2018
Thoroughly whimsical adventure for young Euphemia, forced into service by unfortunate circumstances, only to find her circumstances becoming more unfortunate when she, quite literally, stumbles upon a dead body. I'm not usually one for the "cosy" mysteries, as I've found some to be quite bland, but the tongue-in-cheek nature of the gutsy, clever protagonist carried me along merrily. Not a hefty tome but it passed a pleasant couple of hours.
June 5, 2021
This is in need of editing/proof reading and maybe to be checked for historical accuracy. But otherwise it is an enjoyable, full of potential little series. There's a lot of wittiness and playfulness in the dialogues, the murder/investigation was good enough and Euphemia was entirely to my liking: a woman who knows her mind, full of fire and wittiness. I would read another book in this series if in need of a fun and light read.
*Book from the publisher with many thanks.
*Book from the publisher with many thanks.
June 2, 2024
I decided on a very, very kind three-star rating. It's a light and fast read, but the mystery is a bit eh, too light. I did enjoy the infused humor and wit, hence the third star. I'll read A Death in the Highlands to find out if it is a series for me.
February 24, 2017
Bad plot
Well the writing is not terrible, but the plot line is ludicrous. Nothing logical, leaping to all sorts of conclusions that are not warranted, and so many holes in the manuscript you could use it for a sieve. Also I think it is fairly historically inaccurate as to what life was like below and above the stairs in 1909 England.
Well the writing is not terrible, but the plot line is ludicrous. Nothing logical, leaping to all sorts of conclusions that are not warranted, and so many holes in the manuscript you could use it for a sieve. Also I think it is fairly historically inaccurate as to what life was like below and above the stairs in 1909 England.
January 4, 2019
A great read
A great storyline with believable characters. I just couldn't put this book down once I got into it... and I got into it very early. I will definitely be reading the next exploits of Euphemia Martins, if only to find out Bertram's reaction when (or if) he finds out Effie's real identity.
A great storyline with believable characters. I just couldn't put this book down once I got into it... and I got into it very early. I will definitely be reading the next exploits of Euphemia Martins, if only to find out Bertram's reaction when (or if) he finds out Effie's real identity.
January 29, 2017
Light fun read. Euphemia is delightful and funny. The mystery wasn't too intriguing, but the characters were described so vividly that I felt immersed in their world. I am looking forward to reading more of Euphemia's adventures in between the more intense psychological mysteries I usually read.
April 8, 2018
Really enjoyed this story about Euphemia Martin, starting out in her working life by being a maid. Drawn into two murders, the ups and downs of the life of a maid that does not fit..Really enjoyable will be reading more of this series.
April 13, 2018
An enjoyable cosy crime read - Im not sure Eupehemia would have actually gotten away with all her actions at the time but it was still a fascinating read and i'll defintiely be reading more of the series
April 30, 2018
Entertaining from the start and very enjoyable thriller, set well in its 1910 period. I’m glad, however, that it didn’t do as it threatened and set off into Suffragette land – that’s been a bit overdone recently. A very good read.
October 15, 2018
Free download from Amazon. Promises to be witty and it was at first, but quickly went downhill from Chapter 3. Also, the plot wasn't great. I'm not sure how the girl figured out who murdered whom, based on such flimsy evidence, but she did because she's the protagonist.
October 29, 2018
Euphemia Martins is feisty, funny and completely adorable.The writing reminded me of M C Beaton and that is no bad thing. It is a gentle detective story by modern standards but it tackles some dark subjects. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more.
March 29, 2020
Brilliant
This was a briillant story ,I really likes the main characters, they were really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.
This was a briillant story ,I really likes the main characters, they were really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.
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October 5, 2021Imagine that a stereotypical murder happens in a English Victorian manor filled with "types" and a heroine written by a 21st century author. They felt 2 dimensional to me.
I was convinced that a certain twist would happen...but there weren't any twists to speak of.
Relatively clean and lighthearted. I could see myself potentially reading another on a cold winter night while wrapped up in blankets. I did find the lack of justice particularly annoying.
I was convinced that a certain twist would happen...but there weren't any twists to speak of.
Relatively clean and lighthearted. I could see myself potentially reading another on a cold winter night while wrapped up in blankets. I did find the lack of justice particularly annoying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews