Death in a Scarlet Gown

Murray of Letho #1

by Lexie Conyngham

1802. An ancient Scottish university is wracked by murder. A vindictive professor, a man seeking ministry, and an uncouth student lie dead. But who wanted to kill them? Charles Murray, a student with enough problems of his own, is drawn into the mystery, where neither tragic accidents nor good friends are what they seem. Death in a Scarlet Gown is first in the Murray of Letho series.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Scotland, Historical, Historical Mystery, 19th Century, Fiction

284 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2011

About the author

Author of five historical crime fiction series: Murray of Letho, Hippolyta Napier, the Journals of Dr Robert Wilson, Inspector Alec Cattanach, and Orkneyinga Murders, Lexie lives in North-East Scotland and after some years of trying the traditional methods (with absolute and complete lack of success) she was persuaded to test her limited technical skills with e-books. When she isn't writing (that would be Sundays) she teaches, knits, gardens, drinks wine or whisky, and sits looking thoughtful while random facts wander around her head.

She can be followed, should such a thing appeal, on Pinterest (https://uk.pinterest.com/lexieconyngham/) or even Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Lexie-Conyng...).

Reviews

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in what I hope will be a long series. The young man Charles Murray has a serious falling out with his father over his future. Young Charles is a natural academic but his father wants him to take his place in society and help with running the family's estates. We meet with characters both pleasant and unpleasant and of course with murder most foul. The writing is superb and there's enough action to keep us on the edge of our seats, both with the progress of investigation of the mysterious deaths and with Murray's fight to stay in St Andrew's to take his MA.

Murray is a really 3 dimensional character, with his own likes, dislikes and prejudices etc. I hope to read much more about him!

[Lexie Conyngham]

Well, I wrote it. A slow start, building up the characters and situation, which some like and some don't! I hope I did justice to St. Andrews in it because I love the place. This was written before Service of the Heir, at the suggestion of an agent who thought a 'George Lucas style prequel' might be fun!

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to go back to book one of the Murray of Letho series, after reading the latest. I really enjoyed it. It isn't quite as polished as the most recent, but was still fantastic. Can't wait to go on and read the second.

[Inishowen Cailín · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was quite slow to start but life in and around St. Andrews and the relationships of people within the university made very interesting reading. The first murder didn't take place until halfway through the book which I thought was a little too far in, but, the writer makes good use of this time to introduce and fully flesh out the characters. We get to know Charles very well and we learn of his difficulties with his father who is threatening to cut off all financial support if he doesn't come back to run the family estate and get married. Charles has no intention of doing either. Not yet anyway.
Charles is very resourceful though and by the end of the book he has secured a way of funding himself until graduation.

I liked that this book was set in Scotland and not the usual ballrooms of regency England. The tone of the writing was serious and literary in style which complemented the academic setting of St. Andrews. I also enjoyed reading some familiar Scottish colloquialisms that we in Donegal, Ireland also have in our dialect.

This is a very cleverly written murder mystery and I was completely clueless as to who the murderer was until the author revealed it in the last few pages. I will definitely be following the rest of the series.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Davek · Rating 5 out of 5]

St Andrews university circa 1800.

Murray of Letho is trying to finish his Batchelors Degree. His father wants him to return home and manage the family estate. His brother wishes to marry one of the professors daughters. One of his friends is desperate to obtain a parish appointment and another group are desperate to liven up the dull social scene with dramatic and ocasionally dangerous pranks. A tragic and untimely death leads to more as the tangled skein of connections unravels. yet who is responsible?

This is a very well written character driven period murder mystery that flows very naturally. The characters are engaging and believeable and the setting exquisitely detailed. Like others who have read this im eagerly awaiting further installments to see what else awaits Murray of Letho.

[Jud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the early 1800’s Death in a Scarlet Gown follows a young Scottish student studying towards his Master of Arts at the University of St Andrews as he struggles against his Father’s wishes that he should come home and also as he tries to figure out who the murderer is.
The first death doesn’t happen until 50% so this is not a book for those who like their fast paced books with bodies dropping at every other page. The first half of the book sets the scene and lets you meet the other characters, giving you plenty of time to see suspicious habits and personalities to keep you guessing later in the story. The book is really well written so I didn’t mind the slower paced first half although being prepared for it would have stopped me wondering if anyone was going to be ‘knocked off’.
Once the first murder had occurred the pace picked up and little insignificant occurrences from earlier in the book give little clues or add suspicion to the remaining characters. It was cleverly written and especially in regards to one character who turns out to not be the person you thought he was.

I really enjoyed this book and have started the second one immediately after finishing.

[Gareth Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author but it will not be my last. A murder mystery set more that two hundred years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in 1802, wandering the streets of St Andrews, meeting the characters populating the ancient university, and sharing their anxieties.
Lexie Conyngham brings her setting to life through witty description and evocative language. Convincing dialogue is leavened with a judicious sprinkling of authentic vocabulary without ever disrupting the flow.
I could taste their food, smell the town, and feel the clothes they wore. This is intelligent writing rooted in a profound knowledge of subject.
The characters develop until you are part of a community, baffled as to where the murders may come from, or by whom they will be committed.
A fresh voice. A skilled narrator. A compassionate writer whose humour signals her humanity. She deserves to be read more widely.

[Titas]

I didn't even know that I own This one just came in mail from UK to India!! Woohoo! :D

Thank you to Ms Lexie Conyngham for the sign and wishes too!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gently paced murder mystery, set in historical Scotland. Conyngham did a fantastic job of creating a piece of historical fiction that was rich in detail and cultural texture. The range of characters is satisfying but not overwhelming. The main character, a wealthy young man hoping to finish up his degree at St. Andrews, becomes entwined in an unexpected murder in the community. The author provides a compelling reason for Murray to do so, and the mystery of the murder itself is satisfyingly contained within the historical and spiritual context of that day. I'm not normally a huge mystery fan, but because of the historical setting and the interesting questions of how our beliefs shape and justify our actions, I found this a very compelling read.

[Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this more than I expected. The clues were easy to follow and yet the conclusion was still a surprise. I'm interested to see how Charles manages in the next book.

[M.H. Thaung]

This was a competently written historical murder mystery. I liked the sizeable cast of suspects, who were all distinctive in terms of their motivations as well as personalities. The descriptions were quite interesting (I know little about the historical period) although I felt sometimes the pace got too bogged down with irrelevant details.

My major beef was with the constant and distracting skipping between different characters' heads, to the extent I couldn't tell whether thoughts and observations belonged to character A, character B, or were the author stepping in to inform the reader directly of something.

Well plotted murder mystery in a rich historical setting.

[Haselrig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.

I was really impressed by this novel. Lexie Conyngham writes with a delightful twinkle in her eye as evidenced by the many wonderfully inventive turns of phrase that are sprinkled throughout the story. The setting is well-realized and the characters are fully-formed and well-anchored in the detailed and realistic world they inhabit.

Our main character is no Holmesian super-sleuth, but instead a student at an ancient university with plenty on his plate already when a murder occurs within the community of St. Andrews. We really get a chance to get to know Charles through the first half of the novel and his motivations for entangling himself in solving the murder is entirely within his character.

I think I would have liked this story almost as much if there were no murders and it had entirely centered around Charles' pursuit of his M.A. with his father and Professor Keith being the antagonists with the Sporting Set being something akin to the frat in Animal House on double secret probation pulling pranks on Keith throughout. I think it says a lot about the quality of the writing and story if it could stand on it's own two feet even if the central plot were removed.

The real star here for me, however, was the research on display in every corner of the story and how it is threaded in so seamlessly throughout. I've read plenty of books where the author feels compelled to drop what they've researched in info-dumps of exposition, and I understand that impulse completely. Conyngham avoided that entirely here as it all fits into the flow and you don't really notice all the work going on just off stage.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or has any interest at all in Georgian Scotland. Here's hoping Charles (and his author, I might add) has a long and colorful career.

*Special thanks to Lexie for her patience with a first time Givaways winner :)

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder is academic…

Set in early 19th century Scotland, this very well written murder mystery takes place in the university town of St Andrews. The writer gives a convincing picture of how the students and academics lived and thought in post-Enlightenment society and works the beliefs and attitudes of the time skilfully through the story.

Charles Murray of Letho is an attractive hero. Just about to graduate, he is resisting his father’s attempts to get him to come home and concentrate on learning how to run their estate. When murder is committed, Charles isn’t willing to accept that the murderer might not be found and so sets out to investigate. This incurs his father’s wrath and, with his allowance cut off, Charles is thrown back on his own resources to fund his accommodation and continue with his studies.

Overall, I thought this first novel was a very good read. The descriptions of St Andrews and Edinburgh brought the places to life and the characterisation was strong throughout. Conyngham shows the lives of privileged and poor alike and is equally convincing with both. I felt the book lost a bit of momentum in the latter half, when too much time was spent on Charles considering all the various possibilities and motives. But it came together well at the end and overall it achieved a feeling of originality and freshness – not easy in such a crowded field.

There are a further three books to date in the series and in each Conyngham takes a look at a different look at aspects of Scottish society. For me, this one is the weakest in terms of plotting but the setting and historical context make it well worth reading. Although each book can stand alone, Charles’ personality and career progresses in each, so it’s worth reading them in order.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death in a Scarlet Gown is the first book in the Murray of Letho series. It's an historical, crime mystery and I was looking forward to finding out about my literary namesake.
Charles Murray is a student at a Scottish university which is unexpectedly wracked by murder. Not one but three corpses are discovered and Charles gets involved in unravelling the plot.
I'm saying nothing more about the plot knowing how easy it is to give something away and ruin the suspense except that it is unusual and intriguing. This is because of the historical context for the novel. Not only is the novel set in an ancient, traditional, long established university town the action takes place at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
The author creates a beautifully detailed sense of university life in the era. The formalities and rituals; the arcane language; the eccentricities of the professors; and the relations between the townspeople and the university are some of the elements that are explored and described so well. And the author has taken the time to let the picture build up gradually so that when the first murder occurs it comes as a complete shock.
Although Charles Murray is the pivotal character, there is a large supporting cast with whom he interacts as the novel evolves. Charles' brother and father, his professors and student friends are all well-developed along with their daughters, wives and sweethearts.
I enjoyed reading Death in a Scarlet Gown and look forward to reading some more of the Murray of Letho series when time allows.

[Nanisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Murray of Letho series. However, I read it second as I opened the second book first and couldn't put it down. It is a lot darker than the second book, partly due to Murray's difficult relationship with his dictatorial father and uncertainty about his future. The settings of St Andrews and Edinburgh are beautifully portrayed. They really give the reader a sense of what life must have been like at the time with incredibly detailed descriptions. The author definitely knows her subject material very well.

The story is cleverly crafted. Murray is a student at St Andrews University and becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue surrounding the tangled relationships between students, professors and townsfolk. A recommendation or introduction to a rich patron can make or break a student's future so passions run high in attempts to secure a professor's influence. There are a pleasing number of deaths to satisfy the most bloodthirsty reader and no shortage of suspects. As in her other book, she is very good at characterisation and dialogue and has a wonderful way with metaphors and similes.

I'd heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many mysteries (including one of mine) open with a body on the first page (first sentence). But this enjoyable story withholds the murder for almost half the book and sets up the situation, with engaging characters and some entertaining scenes that drew me into the story and held me there. Then WHAM! the bodies start falling, and what at first looked like a hygienic, bloodless cozy turned serious. And decidedly entertaining.

One excellent feature of "Death in a Scarlet Gown" was how Lexie Conyngham gave her detective, an early 19th century Scottish university student, a legitimate reason for assuming the investigation. Other good elements here include the well-sketched settings, accurate historical details (including the forensics of the day), three-dimensional characters, and an elegant but not overblown way with words. The murderer's motive left me a little unsatisfied, but with everything else so finely drawn, I'll definitely be back for more. So keep writing, Ms Conyngham, you have a fan.

Note that this self-published book does contain some formatting and a few grammatical errors.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. It is the first in the Murray of Letho series. A mystery set in St Andrews in Scotland, we are introduced to Charles Murray of Letho, a student more interested in pursuing an education than in preserving his inheritance and following his father's wishes. This is not a fast paced read. The many characters are introduced and each personality studied and detailed. The early 1800's St Andrews life and curriculum is interesting as are the expectations for both men and women of that era. It is not until the reader had sifted through half the book before the first murder occurs.
The method of the deaths are an interesting twist. I loved that I did not guess who the killer was and the unique motives for the crimes. I'm happy I did not set this one aside due to the initial slow read and plan on delving further into this series with this laird turned detective.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just read this over the weekend. An excellent tale of crime and discovery in St Andrews - early nineteenth century.

Lexie Conyngham is such a good observer of human behaviour, and her turn of phrase is brilliant. How's this:

"In a few moments their bunkwife, an angry-looking woman with movements like a coalhewar's pick flicked a cloth onto the table . . . She left them again like a blade withdrawn, and slammed the door."

I loved it!

[P.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this in (almost) record time, because I enjoyed it so much! Not only is it well written, but the way in which it is written is very evocative of the period. The plot is excellent and I was kept guessing right to the end. I found the main character Charles Murray very likeable, and I loved the way he eventually stood up to his father. If anything, I would criticise the ending as being a little abrupt, for which I might deduct a quarter-star.

I recommend this book. If anyone is a little hesitant, I would encourage them to persevere with it if only because it’s a little different from other run-of -the-mill crime novels and quite a refreshing change. Would I read it again? Yes, and I hope to read more from this author.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1802 and St. Andrews University, and the first of the murders occurs. But who from the seemingly long list is the real culprit. Charles Murray, a student, decides if the constable is not going to find the killer then he must while dealing with problems of his own.
I like the characters in this book, the mystery and the writing style. It makes it more interesting for me to read a book set in a place I know so well. Hoping the next in the series is as enjoyable.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure of this book at first as I wondered when the "death" was going to occur. However, I found the first part of the book was setting the scene and introducing the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I didn't guess who did it and motives for many of the characters were discussed before the final reveal. I will definitely read more of this series.

[Mary E SMYTH · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Scot enjoy novels set in familiar places. St Andrews was a perfect background for this period tale. The author created a very atmospheric St. Andrews and believeable conditions of the times, I enjoyed Death in a Scarlet Gown ,although I thought the story dragged a little. A page turner it was not.
However, I am looking forward to the next in series.

[Sarah Shaw]

This book REALLY needed a good editor. I almost gave up on it several times- especially when we hit the 50% mark with nary a murder in sight. The second half redeemed it somewhat. And I must say the ‘who dunnit’ - once it finally WAS done- kept me guessing.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical crime novel set in the university town of St Andrews. Made a change from modern crime.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book partly because I could relate to the places. It was an interesting historical insight to university life in the past. I will read more of her books .

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting mystery, which caught my attention early on and held it until the end. I particularly liked the use of poisons in the book and the descriptions of them.

[Terry Polston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complicated mystery. The era and culture definitely play a key role. Some interesting characters and although the language used was contemporary, there were several Scottish or old world words that helped keep the reader in the past
An young intellectual aristocrat with a father that wants him to be just like himself i.e. takes care of running the estate and socializing with 'right' people and marrying the most monetarily advantageous woman.

[Joanne Tackaberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 3/4 stars.
I had the pleasure of meeting the author when we were in Scotland last year.
A great start to the series as the characters were very well developed. It took awhile for the first murder to take place but I felt it was a good choice to develop the characters instead. I sometimes find character development lacking in some mysteries but not this one.
I look forward to reading g more of the series.

[Anna Faversham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such good writing – in every sense. Set in a revered university in the early nineteenth century, death comes slowly but surely, but whodunnit. Well, we have met some characters who we should examine carefully. And then there’s more to add to the mystery. The writer is inventive, surprising us, keeping us engrossed. Recommended.

[Carolyn Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a long time to get to the crimes but I forgave that because the sense of time and place was strong and this is the first of a series.