Death Comes to Lynchester Close

Lord Francis Powerscourt #14

by David Dickinson

Lord Francis Powerscourt is visited at home in London by the Bishop of Lynchester who wants his advice about the suspect for the death of an aged parishioner. Powerscourt advises that discretion rather than accusation is the best way forward, but this is just the start of his association with the diocese of Lynchester.

The death of the parishioner has left available a property in the cathedral close which traditionally the church rents out to a suitable tenant. Four worthy candidates are nominated . . . and then one of them, the retail king of the south of England, is found dead in the house, poisoned by strychnine. So once again Powerscourt is summoned by the bishop as this time there is no doubt of foul play.

But there are many suspects from which to choose - there are the other candidates who want to live in that very desirable property . . . or could it be more complex than that? Very soon Powerscourt uncovers a trail of greed, deception and death which goes straight to the heart of the cathedral itself.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery

384 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2016

About the author

David Dickinson was born in Dublin. With an honours degree in Classics from Cambridge, David Dickinson joined the BBC, where he became editor of Newsnight and Panorama, as well as series editor for Monarchy, a three-part programme on the British royal family.

Reviews

[Shauna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I absolutely hated the style of writing in this book. Instead of putting, 'he said' or , 'said Lord Powerscourt', the author has the speaking characters address each other by name after every single sentence. Not only is it intensely irritating, it is not representative of natural conversation. It jars. I wasn't that enamoured of the plot either so will avoid reading more by this writer.

[Michael Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m about to shout. It’s an alert for a spoiler not of my making but—would you believe it?—of the publisher’s, and my aim is to prevent you from seeing it. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T LOOK AT THE BACK COVER! Don’t even be tempted. There’s a really catchy hookline there (which I’m sure somebody is exceedingly proud of) that renders the first three-quarters of this investigation (and therefore the book) a tad redundant. Once I’d read it I couldn’t unread it, so with increasing impatience I spent an age ploughing through what would have otherwise proved an intriguing enough plot, waiting for the various investigators to twig what I’d already been told was going on. Way to kill off a reader’s interest! Why Little, Brown allowed this to happen is anyone’s guess.
So, hopefully if you take my advice, what do you get? A cozy mystery set in the imaginary English city of Lynchester a couple of years before the First World War. The presiding detective, who is summoned down from London, is Lord Francis Powerscourt, a peer of the realm. He has a wife, Lady Lucy, and a friend, Johnny Fitzgerald, to assist him—in addition to the fawning local police in the shape of Inspector Vaughn. Lord Francis and his crew don’t get much of a look in when it comes to descriptions. Though it’s the first book I’ve come across in this series I believe it’s actually the fourteenth, so perhaps we’re meant to know what they’re like by now. By contrast, all the other characters are succinctly and sometimes humorously drawn, each one distinctive and fairly rounded. I could imagine meeting them in the real world.
The writing style is unique. There’s hardly any scene-setting, and transitions between scenes can be as abrupt as a single sentence. It reminded me of the stage directions in a play. The bulk of the narrative is delivered as a series of two-person conversations, some of them lengthy, with very few of the component speeches receiving any attribution (such as “Powerscourt said” or “replied the Dean”). Yet I was seldom at a loss to know who was speaking and, once I got used to it, I found the style refreshingly different from the other cozies I’d recently been reading. There’s a wealth of history here too, but I suspect you’d need to know what you’re looking for in order to recognize it. It’s incorporated so well that it’s practically hidden.

[Meredith · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, read. To page 110. Totally bored. The writing is terrible. You can't tell any of the characters apart because they all sound exactly the same. Even the characters can't tell each other apart and have to overuse each other's names. :) This is the 'dialogue' that had me finally stop the pain:

"Thank you very much for that, Johnny."
"I think he probably did the right thing, having a go at that umpire Francis....."
"I have no idea.....Johnny......."
one comment from each where they don't have to use the other person's name, then
"It all sounds very improbable Francis. What would you like me to do?"
"Well Johnny, that depends--"
"You'e going to send me off somewhere, Francis. I can tell...."
"It's all in a good cause, Johnny. I know you're the best man for the job"
"Where are you sending me this time?"
"I'd like you to go to Oxford, Johnny....."
And it continues!!! AGH!!!

[Gen Keywood · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first, and will be my last, David Dickinson. I have never given up on a book yet but this came close. I diligently read the first 200 pages, then began jumping paragraphs and finally pages in my desire to finish. (368 pages in total). Too much conversation and inclusion of names, people just don't speak like that. Too many boring and obvious red herrings, and way too many descriptions of mens' suits, shirts and ties and the way they wear their hair.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is well-written and easy-to-read, and I have read all of them so far.

However, I felt the plot of this one was rather too thin for the length of the novel (375 pages). There were too many side-tracks which were not all that diverting, and the probable solution should have been more evident to Lord Francis and Inspector Vaughan at an earlier stage.There was not a lot of interesting historical background or a great feeling of life in the Cathedral Close.

Somewhat disappointing.

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable series, although I found this book a little more pedestrian than some of the others. The characters weren't perhaps as defined as they might have been. But an entertaining historical mystery all the same, that kept my attention and was fascinating with the historical element.

[Cindie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one seemed less active and more puzzling. It did make me want to keep reading. But also wanted me to shout at Lord Powerscourt, follow the money. I guess it was just too murky for him to follow. This one does not make him as intelligent as the last one. Is he getting old?

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story started with what seemed like an ordinary getting a new roomie sort of situation and then people are murdered. Can't say who or it will be a spoiler. But the Bishop appears on our good Lord's doorstep. Well written and had a twist which was not expected!

[ShanDizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and labyrinthine mystery with a fiendishly wicked murderer

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 good mystery

[Sara Aye Moung · Rating 3 out of 5]

More 3.5 than 3. I enjoyed this. Good and interesting plot.

[Cathy Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious. Tedious writing. No humour. And a somewhat improbable plot that could have been a good story in better hands

[Laura]

Not for me.

[Annie Weatherly-Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure what to make of this fine fella to start with but enjoyed it very much. Sometimes a bit slow and then at the end it raced along at quite a pace. Delightful read with lovely characters, good plot with lots of twists and turns. Just as I like it. Don't read back cover of book as it gives most of the story away. Idiotic publisher!!! I never usually read the description as I get fed up being given a précis of a 1/3 book!!! I wish publishers would learn this!!! Worth a read I think. He's good is Mr Dickinson. For those who can't take gore and blood & guts thrillers, then this is for you. It still has murders but not detailed out as some authors think we need.

[Damien G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good escapist read. I have a soft spot for the series,and like the characters. In this book the mystery is about murders in a cathedral city. At first there is no link to all three murders but Lord Powerscourt with the help of his wife Johnny Fitzgerald and a local inspector slowly find who committed the murders.The novel is excellent at depicting the political intrigue in a Anglican cathedral.
Dickinson knows his social history,and the series has reached 1913.We the readers know that WW1 is on the horizon.