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Frances Doughty #7
A True and Faithful Brother
London 1882: When a wealthy philanthropist disappears from a locked and guarded room, Frances Doughty is reluctantly drawn into a case that tears the veil of mystery from her own past. Can London's very own Lady Detective solve this sinister new case before a murderer catches up with her and she becomes the next victim?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2017
6 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Linda Stratmann
45 books67 followersLinda Stratmann is a British writer of historical true crime, biography and crime fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 7, 2017
Frances Doughty made a decision not to get involved in any more murder cases. She has more than enough work to keep her going without having her life taken over by investigating a death. But she is tempted when Mr Fiske - a former client - asks her to find out what has happened to a missing philanthropist who vanished from a locked room in full view of other men. The missing man is the father-in-law of the man Frances believes to be her natural father.
Will this case shed some light on her own family background? Should she stay away from it because of this? Frances is soon crossing swords with the unhelpful Inspector Payne and wishes it was her friend, Inspector Sharrock dealing with the case. I enjoyed this well written historical crime novel. As ever it is meticulously researched. I like the various series characters - especially the redoubtable Sarah, her friend and assistant.
This is a low key story - though not without its moments of suspense - and it is all the better for not being sensationalised. It shows how difficult life could be for women trying to make a living in the 1880s but it also shows how intelligent women could make their way in the world.
Will this case shed some light on her own family background? Should she stay away from it because of this? Frances is soon crossing swords with the unhelpful Inspector Payne and wishes it was her friend, Inspector Sharrock dealing with the case. I enjoyed this well written historical crime novel. As ever it is meticulously researched. I like the various series characters - especially the redoubtable Sarah, her friend and assistant.
This is a low key story - though not without its moments of suspense - and it is all the better for not being sensationalised. It shows how difficult life could be for women trying to make a living in the 1880s but it also shows how intelligent women could make their way in the world.
August 21, 2017
Phew! No cliffhanger at the end! Frances comes nominally out of retirement to help trace a missing lodge member for an old client, her interest piqued by the missing man being the father-in-law of her natural father. It's all very safe and innocent until a body is found. Inspector Payne, unhappy in love and consequently down on females in general, has two opportunities to arrest Frances for murder.
While she experiences joy at finally meeting her parents, it is mitigated by the need for secrecy. Under the terms of the marriage contract written by the evil lawyer Marsden (Marston? You know, the one who hates her. He wanted the heiress for himself), Frances's father has to be well-behaved financially and legally as well as being faithful to the headstrong heiress who wanted him for a husband. He was not at that time free to marry Frances's mother. Oh, the complications!
Spoilers down below ...
The opening of the book is a teaser that I'm afraid did not quite take me in. No one, even in a cape and Venetian mask, is going to be able to rescue Frances from a hanging. And I've read too many stories about lodge rituals. The end of the previous book mentions the connection with masonic lodges and I had just minutes before finished that. What men didn't get up to, eh? Silly arses. I'd like to think that women are not that childish, but my recollection of sorority hazing tells me otherwise.
While she experiences joy at finally meeting her parents, it is mitigated by the need for secrecy. Under the terms of the marriage contract written by the evil lawyer Marsden (Marston? You know, the one who hates her. He wanted the heiress for himself), Frances's father has to be well-behaved financially and legally as well as being faithful to the headstrong heiress who wanted him for a husband. He was not at that time free to marry Frances's mother. Oh, the complications!
Spoilers down below ...
The opening of the book is a teaser that I'm afraid did not quite take me in. No one, even in a cape and Venetian mask, is going to be able to rescue Frances from a hanging. And I've read too many stories about lodge rituals. The end of the previous book mentions the connection with masonic lodges and I had just minutes before finished that. What men didn't get up to, eh? Silly arses. I'd like to think that women are not that childish, but my recollection of sorority hazing tells me otherwise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2021
After the events of the previous book that were enough to depress most people and bring them to a stand still, and for awhile Frances was in the same spot, but for her innate curiosity and sense of justice... and because her natural father was accused of murder, she had come full circle... and was compelled by her need for answers as well as her duty to her client/s, the Freemasons of Literati Lodge. For quite awhile she was even jailed for being a prime suspect of a sleazy hotel's receptionist's murder. This book has clarified Frances' longtime misgivings about Vernon Salter, her natural father... and re~united her at last with her true family. A satisfying read. Frances was even inducted to a very exclusive and secret club that rarely allow women into their bastion of masculine fraternity.
March 13, 2017
A nice addition to the series. This series feels mature now, and it gave it an opportunity to expand on some of the long developing plot points, namely the matter of Frances's family. The mystery was a locked-room mystery which bore no relation to the synopsis I read online beforehand, but no matter. There was no outrageous plot twist as in An Appetite For Murder, but a few tense moments which kept it pacey. Great stuff.
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Linda, who on earth is W. Grove?! We need to know. My money is on Payne, because I literally can't think of another possibility from the series. If it's a combined effort by Chas and Barstie I will burn your books, Linda. Seriously.
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Linda, who on earth is W. Grove?! We need to know. My money is on Payne, because I literally can't think of another possibility from the series. If it's a combined effort by Chas and Barstie I will burn your books, Linda. Seriously.
June 25, 2018
An interesting book, particularly with the information on the Masonic Lodges.
March 3, 2017
Frances Doughty returns in her usual fine style.
One of the things I have really appreciated about these novels is that the questions surrounding Frances's mother were an interesting sub plot, but one that did not overwhelm the main. In this book, that sub plot takes centre stage-- though other ongoing plots are remembered. Old favourites return, including that Master of the Poetic Arts, Augustus Mellifloe, and Sarah's courtship with Professor Pounder takes a significant step forward.
While some old plots are resolved, other questions remain (including the identity of W. Grove), and while I am sure this will not be the last Frances Doughty book, it does make a good pause point.
One of the things I have really appreciated about these novels is that the questions surrounding Frances's mother were an interesting sub plot, but one that did not overwhelm the main. In this book, that sub plot takes centre stage-- though other ongoing plots are remembered. Old favourites return, including that Master of the Poetic Arts, Augustus Mellifloe, and Sarah's courtship with Professor Pounder takes a significant step forward.
While some old plots are resolved, other questions remain (including the identity of W. Grove), and while I am sure this will not be the last Frances Doughty book, it does make a good pause point.
April 19, 2017
As a follower of Frances Doughty’s adventures I was looking forward to reading this latest in the series. The story opens with a chilling prologue which compelled me to find out how Frances got herself into that situation, but I found the prose was heavy in that Frances' interviews with witnesses were drawn out lengthy question and answer sessions, and so frequent, I wanted her to get on with it. Or maybe I was simply impatient to find out who killed Mr Dobree and if her father was involved.
Frances’ personal life is more interesting in that she discovered long buried family secrets about her parents, though her her character is difficult to fathom. However, I acknowledge she is a single Victorian woman trying to prove herself in a misogynistic world and has, by necessity, created an aura of reserve around herself in order to function.
The male characters are dismissive of her talents, critical and overbearing, which is was to be expected in 1882. They give her little credit for her intellect, and Inspector Payne especially should have known Frances better than most, but he swept all his knowledge of her character away and arrested her on the flimsiest of evidence, showing he had no aptitude for his job at all.
I love Ratty and Tom, whose ingenuous methods and charming cheek give Frances access to information otherwise closed to her. There is also the silent but determined Sarah, whose gentle courtship with Professor Pounder progresses slowly.
The characters from previous books also make appearances, like Augustus Mellifloe, aka Mr Miggs, who writes atrocious poetry but suffers the delusion he is a literary giant. Frances’ own preoccupation with the mysterious author Mr Grove continues, and when her blushes at the thought of him occupy her, she takes to swinging clubs to banish him from her mind.
Ms Stratmann is an accomplished author, and her knowledge of Victorian London is extensive. However I found the plot overly complicated with a large supporting cast that had so many twists and turns, only for the conclusion to be an anti-climax. However I did appreciate the final scene where the prologue is explained in a clever twist.
Frances’ personal life is more interesting in that she discovered long buried family secrets about her parents, though her her character is difficult to fathom. However, I acknowledge she is a single Victorian woman trying to prove herself in a misogynistic world and has, by necessity, created an aura of reserve around herself in order to function.
The male characters are dismissive of her talents, critical and overbearing, which is was to be expected in 1882. They give her little credit for her intellect, and Inspector Payne especially should have known Frances better than most, but he swept all his knowledge of her character away and arrested her on the flimsiest of evidence, showing he had no aptitude for his job at all.
I love Ratty and Tom, whose ingenuous methods and charming cheek give Frances access to information otherwise closed to her. There is also the silent but determined Sarah, whose gentle courtship with Professor Pounder progresses slowly.
The characters from previous books also make appearances, like Augustus Mellifloe, aka Mr Miggs, who writes atrocious poetry but suffers the delusion he is a literary giant. Frances’ own preoccupation with the mysterious author Mr Grove continues, and when her blushes at the thought of him occupy her, she takes to swinging clubs to banish him from her mind.
Ms Stratmann is an accomplished author, and her knowledge of Victorian London is extensive. However I found the plot overly complicated with a large supporting cast that had so many twists and turns, only for the conclusion to be an anti-climax. However I did appreciate the final scene where the prologue is explained in a clever twist.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews