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Lady Rample #1
Lady Rample Steps Out
When Lady Rample steps out, murder steps in.
Lady Rample finds herself at odds after the death of her husband until her best friend drags her to a hot new jazz club in the heart of London. As if being wooed by two handsome men isn’t enough, Lady R finds herself embroiled in the murder of one of the club’s owners.
Bored with her aristocratic life and irked that the police have arrested the wrong suspect, Lady R decides to turn lady detective. With her eccentric Aunt Butty in tow, Lady R scours London for clues. If she’s lucky she’ll find the killer before the killer finds her.
From the author of the Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries comes the first book in the Lady Rample Mysteries set in jazz-era London.
Lady Rample finds herself at odds after the death of her husband until her best friend drags her to a hot new jazz club in the heart of London. As if being wooed by two handsome men isn’t enough, Lady R finds herself embroiled in the murder of one of the club’s owners.
Bored with her aristocratic life and irked that the police have arrested the wrong suspect, Lady R decides to turn lady detective. With her eccentric Aunt Butty in tow, Lady R scours London for clues. If she’s lucky she’ll find the killer before the killer finds her.
From the author of the Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries comes the first book in the Lady Rample Mysteries set in jazz-era London.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2017
1236 people are currently reading
1082 people want to read
About the author
Shéa MacLeod
129 books443 followersShéa MacLeod has dreamed of writing novels since before she could hold a crayon. She totally blames her mother.
Her favorite poem as a child was ‘Jabberwocky’, and Her favorite authors were Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe. Which probably explains a lot.
After a six year sojourn in London, England, a dearth of good donuts has driven her back to her hometown. She now resides in the leafy green hills outside Portland, Oregon where she indulges in her fondness for strong coffee, Ancient Aliens reruns, lemon curd, and dragons.
Because everything's better with dragons.
Shéa is the author of the SUNWALKER SAGA (a fast paced urban fantasy series with a kick-ass heroine published by Montlake) and DRAGON WARS (a post-apocalyptic series with dragons)as well as the Cupcake Goddess novelettes.
Her favorite poem as a child was ‘Jabberwocky’, and Her favorite authors were Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe. Which probably explains a lot.
After a six year sojourn in London, England, a dearth of good donuts has driven her back to her hometown. She now resides in the leafy green hills outside Portland, Oregon where she indulges in her fondness for strong coffee, Ancient Aliens reruns, lemon curd, and dragons.
Because everything's better with dragons.
Shéa is the author of the SUNWALKER SAGA (a fast paced urban fantasy series with a kick-ass heroine published by Montlake) and DRAGON WARS (a post-apocalyptic series with dragons)as well as the Cupcake Goddess novelettes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
July 3, 2019
“My name is Ophelia, Lady Rample. If you ask anyone in the room, they will tell you I drink too much, drive too fast, and have a tendency to be seen in the company of unsuitable men. If I were a lesser woman, I’d be ostracized from polite society. Not that it would be any loss, frankly. Polite society is ridiculously dull. However, seeing as how I am—as the Americans so cheerfully refer to it—loaded, I am forgiven a great multitude of sins and deemed an “original.” Or sometimes the less kind term of “eccentric.”
I almost enjoyed this book. It was, as others have said, a good cozy romp around 1930s jazz era London. The problem I had was with the ‘Americanisms’ and the odd language. For example “what a tosser” wouldn’t have been used in England until the 1970s. It startles the reader out of the story.
All in all though it was a fun, lighthearted book but I’m not sure if I will seek out book 2.
I almost enjoyed this book. It was, as others have said, a good cozy romp around 1930s jazz era London. The problem I had was with the ‘Americanisms’ and the odd language. For example “what a tosser” wouldn’t have been used in England until the 1970s. It startles the reader out of the story.
All in all though it was a fun, lighthearted book but I’m not sure if I will seek out book 2.
April 5, 2019
Sloppy writing
Whenever US authors try to write UK crime stories, they inevitably get the language wrong and/or the niceties of class relationships. This author gets both wrong - the language is so evidently American rather than English, and is certainly not 1930s aristocratic speech. The author also needs a good copy editor: on page 30 we have her drinking "an entire pot of Assam tea", while on page 32 she is "staring longingly at the nearly full pot"; then, on page 67, at "Quarter past one or so", she hears what she thinks is a shot, but by page 72 - "remember I thought I heard a shot at one", and later she is said to have heard the shot at 20 past one. I shan't be looking for any more by this author.
Whenever US authors try to write UK crime stories, they inevitably get the language wrong and/or the niceties of class relationships. This author gets both wrong - the language is so evidently American rather than English, and is certainly not 1930s aristocratic speech. The author also needs a good copy editor: on page 30 we have her drinking "an entire pot of Assam tea", while on page 32 she is "staring longingly at the nearly full pot"; then, on page 67, at "Quarter past one or so", she hears what she thinks is a shot, but by page 72 - "remember I thought I heard a shot at one", and later she is said to have heard the shot at 20 past one. I shan't be looking for any more by this author.
April 1, 2019
Fun book. The author has a gift for creating interesting, readable characters. But the book needed heavy editing. The beginning started well, but the pacing in the middle derailed, a minor character randomly changed names in the final scene, and a major plot point (the time at which our Lady detective heard a gunshot) changed halfway through the book, which was massively confusing. I might possibly give book 2 a go, only because I liked Lady Rample and would like to get to know her better, but only if I can borrow a copy for free.
May 6, 2019
This was a total mess and the majority of reviews for it seem fake. There is a misspelled word on page 1 and the plotting is abysmal. The character makes a point, for no reason, of asking the time (quarter past one) then hears a shot five minutes later. Several pages later has her having heard the shot at one even though the victim's watch "mysteriously" reads 1:20. What?!? The character's actions are entirely too modern for the time period making the entire thing unbelievable. I quit after 40% having read for less than an hour. Complete waste of time.
March 28, 2019
I kept seeing suggestions for this long running series from several different things I read and enjoyed so gave it a try. I don't get it. I found this to be poorly written and poorly plotted. Things would be said on one page and then 'introduced' chapters later. Mystery was okay but the previous issues really ruined the enjoyment.
May 10, 2025
E-book freebie at the time of download. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
Ophelia, Lady Rampole, is eager to escape the bores of Society now she's out of mourning for her husband. She escapes with her best friend, Chaz Raynott, to a jazz club owned by another woman! Ophelia is intrigued by the African-American jazz band, especially the piano player. When she hears a pop, like a gunshot, assures her it's probably just champagne. Then someone starts screaming and Ophelia's wartime nurse training has her jumping into action. Ophelia arrives in the club owner's office and discovers the club co-owner dead, only a short time after someone ran him over with the car. Noticing some unusual details about the crime scene and eager to give her witness statement to the detective, Ophelia realizes she's found herself in the pages of one of her favorite novels. When the detective in charge dismisses her mere female brain, Ophelia is determined to make him see reason as she solves the crime for him.
The plot wasn't too bad. There were enough suspects to keep guessing but a lot of confusion about the timing of the murder, who was where when and even some confusion about motives. The clues did seem to point to one character but I didn't want it to be them. I liked that character! I think the author tried too hard to make the characters modern. The 1930s was vastly different from our own time even though time were changing. There are also modernisms and Americanisms used in Ophelia's speech.
Ophelia, Lady Rample, is a 30-something widow of a wealthy titled gentleman who left her his enormous fortune. She grew up in a tiny village in the Cotwolds, her father a narrow-minded country vicar. When she was 16, her Aunt Butty came to "rescue" her and brought her to London. Aunt Butty even orchestrated Ophelia's marriage to Lord Rample. Ophelia didn't mind so much. Her husband was kind and they were pleasant roommates while it lasted. Now she drinks too much, drives too fast and is often seen in the company of unsuitable men and simply doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She has a lot of pent up passion. Her elderly aunt's sex life is hotter than hers! Aunt Butty is quite the character. She'd be at home in the 1960s- three decades later. Apparently in her youth she was part of a Bohemian crowd. Aunt Butty may be modern and Bohemian but it doesn't stop her from trying to matchmake. She has her sights set on Lord Varantfor Ophelia's husband #2. Ophelia would feel stifled in a conventional marriage. Eventually she'd have to play lady of the manor and that's not her. She's a little old to be so freewheeling though. She drinks copious amounts of alcohol, goes to underground jazz clubs, lusts after an attractive African-American piano player AND the lord her aunt wants her to marry. I find it hard to believe she could be clever enough to solve a murder when she was so drunk.
Ophelia's best friend Chaz is apparently a gay man. He lives by don't ask, don't tell yet everyone who knows him knows who he is. He's nice enough and squires around Ophelia so people don't ask too many questions. Yet he's hiding a dark past. Ophelia feels responsible but in a wartime situation, at that time, she was desperate to save a life. He introduces Ophelia to Helena Fairfax who co-owns a jazz nightclub. She's a strong, intelligent woman who owns a business in her own name. Ophelia is intrigued and so am I! I like her but she has a hard time because her husband Leo spends money like water and has a drug problem. He's always coming around causing trouble. Helena's business partner, Alfred Musgrave is a seedy guy but he knows business. He's tough and is demanding to audit the books. He seems to think Helena is hiding something but I would be certain it would be the other way around. When someone tries to run him over with a car, I'm sure there's a strong motive. Then he ends up shot to death, probably through a pillow, and the crime scene manufactured to cover up the time of death. How odd. What's going on?
A "reedy" little man was listening in when Alfred demanded an audit. The reedy man seemed nervous and frightened. I would place him at the top of my suspect list! Who is he and how is he involved? Did he try to stop the audit? He knew when/where it was to take place and was the only person besides Helena and Alfred (and Ophelia) who could have known that.
The jazz band comes from America and they bring their own set of drama with them. The lead singer, Coco Starr, has laryngitis and in her place, a younger woman, Josette, takes the lead on stage and in the bed of her man. Uh-oh! They all seem nice, except for Coco, who is jealous of other women. Josette is young and deep in personal debt to . She has to repay him in sexual favors for her career. How much can a woman put up with? Essentially, she's a concubine and the entire band is treated like slaves. Hale Davis is a sexy piano player. Ophelia is attracted to him and feels a strong desire to be in his arms and have his fingers play her body. He can't take his eyes off her either but is he genuine or just humoring the rich patron? He's mysterious, sexy and forbidden and Ophelia knows if she takes the plunge, she'll be ostracized by her peers. She doesn't really care for her own sale but doesn't want to jeopardize Hale's career.
Detective North is rather single-minded. He can't see past the end of his nose and certainly doesn't need help from mere females! He's clearly not a great detective. He takes things at face value and doesn't investigate thoroughly. However, when a suspect confesses, he is astute enough to know that person is lying. Lord Varant is nice enough to help Ophelia when she wants him to help her get through to the detective with her evidence. He's somewhat progressive but Ophelia is cautious. I would worry too. He's a Lord so I expect him to be rather conventional, especially if he's married.
I liked this story OK but I don't think I want to read more about these characters.
Ophelia, Lady Rampole, is eager to escape the bores of Society now she's out of mourning for her husband. She escapes with her best friend, Chaz Raynott, to a jazz club owned by another woman! Ophelia is intrigued by the African-American jazz band, especially the piano player. When she hears a pop, like a gunshot, assures her it's probably just champagne. Then someone starts screaming and Ophelia's wartime nurse training has her jumping into action. Ophelia arrives in the club owner's office and discovers the club co-owner dead, only a short time after someone ran him over with the car. Noticing some unusual details about the crime scene and eager to give her witness statement to the detective, Ophelia realizes she's found herself in the pages of one of her favorite novels. When the detective in charge dismisses her mere female brain, Ophelia is determined to make him see reason as she solves the crime for him.
The plot wasn't too bad. There were enough suspects to keep guessing but a lot of confusion about the timing of the murder, who was where when and even some confusion about motives. The clues did seem to point to one character but I didn't want it to be them. I liked that character! I think the author tried too hard to make the characters modern. The 1930s was vastly different from our own time even though time were changing. There are also modernisms and Americanisms used in Ophelia's speech.
Ophelia, Lady Rample, is a 30-something widow of a wealthy titled gentleman who left her his enormous fortune. She grew up in a tiny village in the Cotwolds, her father a narrow-minded country vicar. When she was 16, her Aunt Butty came to "rescue" her and brought her to London. Aunt Butty even orchestrated Ophelia's marriage to Lord Rample. Ophelia didn't mind so much. Her husband was kind and they were pleasant roommates while it lasted. Now she drinks too much, drives too fast and is often seen in the company of unsuitable men and simply doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She has a lot of pent up passion. Her elderly aunt's sex life is hotter than hers! Aunt Butty is quite the character. She'd be at home in the 1960s- three decades later. Apparently in her youth she was part of a Bohemian crowd. Aunt Butty may be modern and Bohemian but it doesn't stop her from trying to matchmake. She has her sights set on Lord Varantfor Ophelia's husband #2. Ophelia would feel stifled in a conventional marriage. Eventually she'd have to play lady of the manor and that's not her. She's a little old to be so freewheeling though. She drinks copious amounts of alcohol, goes to underground jazz clubs, lusts after an attractive African-American piano player AND the lord her aunt wants her to marry. I find it hard to believe she could be clever enough to solve a murder when she was so drunk.
Ophelia's best friend Chaz is apparently a gay man. He lives by don't ask, don't tell yet everyone who knows him knows who he is. He's nice enough and squires around Ophelia so people don't ask too many questions. Yet he's hiding a dark past. Ophelia feels responsible but in a wartime situation, at that time, she was desperate to save a life. He introduces Ophelia to Helena Fairfax who co-owns a jazz nightclub. She's a strong, intelligent woman who owns a business in her own name. Ophelia is intrigued and so am I! I like her but she has a hard time because her husband Leo spends money like water and has a drug problem. He's always coming around causing trouble. Helena's business partner, Alfred Musgrave is a seedy guy but he knows business. He's tough and is demanding to audit the books. He seems to think Helena is hiding something but I would be certain it would be the other way around. When someone tries to run him over with a car, I'm sure there's a strong motive. Then he ends up shot to death, probably through a pillow, and the crime scene manufactured to cover up the time of death. How odd. What's going on?
A "reedy" little man was listening in when Alfred demanded an audit. The reedy man seemed nervous and frightened. I would place him at the top of my suspect list! Who is he and how is he involved? Did he try to stop the audit? He knew when/where it was to take place and was the only person besides Helena and Alfred (and Ophelia) who could have known that.
The jazz band comes from America and they bring their own set of drama with them. The lead singer, Coco Starr, has laryngitis and in her place, a younger woman, Josette, takes the lead on stage and in the bed of her man. Uh-oh! They all seem nice, except for Coco, who is jealous of other women. Josette is young and deep in personal debt to . She has to repay him in sexual favors for her career. How much can a woman put up with? Essentially, she's a concubine and the entire band is treated like slaves. Hale Davis is a sexy piano player. Ophelia is attracted to him and feels a strong desire to be in his arms and have his fingers play her body. He can't take his eyes off her either but is he genuine or just humoring the rich patron? He's mysterious, sexy and forbidden and Ophelia knows if she takes the plunge, she'll be ostracized by her peers. She doesn't really care for her own sale but doesn't want to jeopardize Hale's career.
Detective North is rather single-minded. He can't see past the end of his nose and certainly doesn't need help from mere females! He's clearly not a great detective. He takes things at face value and doesn't investigate thoroughly. However, when a suspect confesses, he is astute enough to know that person is lying. Lord Varant is nice enough to help Ophelia when she wants him to help her get through to the detective with her evidence. He's somewhat progressive but Ophelia is cautious. I would worry too. He's a Lord so I expect him to be rather conventional, especially if he's married.
I liked this story OK but I don't think I want to read more about these characters.
September 24, 2018
Fun stuff
I admit I'm pretty much picturing phryne fisher instead of a more voluptuous lady detective but she's still fun despite my shortcomings in imagination. Aunt Butty is a good giggle too.
I admit I'm pretty much picturing phryne fisher instead of a more voluptuous lady detective but she's still fun despite my shortcomings in imagination. Aunt Butty is a good giggle too.
April 23, 2024
I had multiple issues with this historically inaccurate book.
1) Lady Rample IS a titled and wealthy lady due to having married a man with a title.
In the 1920s, the titled people simply did NOT have relations where other people could see them
when the would-be couple is bi-racial. Widowed or not.
Regardless of status, she would have been ostracized.
2) The author did no research at all for this story.
The Morris Minor is a British economy family car that made its debut at the Earls Court Motor
Show, London, on 20 September 1948.
This is same car that gave chase to Lady Rample and her Aunt while leaving the hospital.
Remember, this story is set in the early 1920's. Therefore, this car made its appearance
approximately 25 years before it debuted.
3) The author published this as a "Cozy". While technically, nothing happened more than a kiss. ' The amount of pure lust in the story was inappropriate for the story.
It's marketed as a 'Cozy", not a romance!
While this was a decent story, I will not be continuing this series.
1) Lady Rample IS a titled and wealthy lady due to having married a man with a title.
In the 1920s, the titled people simply did NOT have relations where other people could see them
when the would-be couple is bi-racial. Widowed or not.
Regardless of status, she would have been ostracized.
2) The author did no research at all for this story.
The Morris Minor is a British economy family car that made its debut at the Earls Court Motor
Show, London, on 20 September 1948.
This is same car that gave chase to Lady Rample and her Aunt while leaving the hospital.
Remember, this story is set in the early 1920's. Therefore, this car made its appearance
approximately 25 years before it debuted.
3) The author published this as a "Cozy". While technically, nothing happened more than a kiss. ' The amount of pure lust in the story was inappropriate for the story.
It's marketed as a 'Cozy", not a romance!
While this was a decent story, I will not be continuing this series.
March 22, 2022
Ophelia Rample is bored with aristocracy and looking for new and novel things to do. In the process a mystery needs solving. This is a well-written book that takes place in 1930's London. They mystery is pretty good too. But, I didn't like the Lady Rample character at all. In my opinion she is privileged, arrogant and selfish. I couldn't care about her. So while the book itself is good, I can't like the main character.
April 7, 2019
I absolutely love the characters in this book, and the plot is pretty good, but I won’t be continuing with the series as there are too many inconsistencies - plot, character names, and using the wrong word (eg “an imminently suitable match”, instead of eminently). Just jerks you right out of the story.
August 26, 2025
DNF'd at 60%
I was enjoying this book, there were problems with it but considering it was free I was willing to overlook it because the book is a good time. Until
I was enjoying this book, there were problems with it but considering it was free I was willing to overlook it because the book is a good time. Until
April 19, 2019
Truely adored this in the 30s London jazz era mystery
April 3, 2019
Modern Take on Classic Brit Mysteries
As a fan of the novels from the Golden Age of British Mysteries, I am always on the lookout for new authors, both lesser known authors of the time and modern authors of the classic genre. Shea Macleod is of the latter ilk. The Lady Rample series is a giddy romp, British-ish but with a built-in key to American readers, with many of the tried and true ingredients expected: Lady Rample, a personable, intensely curious, and filthy rich, lay detective; Inspector North, the real detective, who wants nothing to do with amateur "lady" busy-body snoops; Chaz, the urbane, sexually safe, gay gal pal; Varant, the sexy, titled possible future match for Lady Rample, and my favorite, Aunt Butty, the formerly bohemian, slightly ridiculous but ever lovable foil and protector of our fair heroine.
I found Ophelia Rample and Aunt Butty reminiscent of Phrynne Fisher and Aunt Prudence of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Ophelia has Phrynne's mature, super stylish, ballsy cleverness while Butty is Prudence - funny, absurd, unfailingly supportive of her niece. When these two get together, get ready to laugh out loud. In this book, the high-speed car chase in Chapter 15 with Ophelia and Butty trying to lose a murderous tail is slapstick at its best!
If you are a stickler for flawless plotting and numerous red herrings, this may not be the series for you. But if, like me, you enjoy a jaunty romp through 1930s cozies, give this series a try.
As a fan of the novels from the Golden Age of British Mysteries, I am always on the lookout for new authors, both lesser known authors of the time and modern authors of the classic genre. Shea Macleod is of the latter ilk. The Lady Rample series is a giddy romp, British-ish but with a built-in key to American readers, with many of the tried and true ingredients expected: Lady Rample, a personable, intensely curious, and filthy rich, lay detective; Inspector North, the real detective, who wants nothing to do with amateur "lady" busy-body snoops; Chaz, the urbane, sexually safe, gay gal pal; Varant, the sexy, titled possible future match for Lady Rample, and my favorite, Aunt Butty, the formerly bohemian, slightly ridiculous but ever lovable foil and protector of our fair heroine.
I found Ophelia Rample and Aunt Butty reminiscent of Phrynne Fisher and Aunt Prudence of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Ophelia has Phrynne's mature, super stylish, ballsy cleverness while Butty is Prudence - funny, absurd, unfailingly supportive of her niece. When these two get together, get ready to laugh out loud. In this book, the high-speed car chase in Chapter 15 with Ophelia and Butty trying to lose a murderous tail is slapstick at its best!
If you are a stickler for flawless plotting and numerous red herrings, this may not be the series for you. But if, like me, you enjoy a jaunty romp through 1930s cozies, give this series a try.
July 5, 2020
Couldn’t finish it. It was confusing, even for a murder mystery.
I was disappointed with the pacing. It took a very long time for anything to happen, and it seemed like the author could not remember the timeline of the crime or events, either. There are going to be different stories and timelines as the story progresses but the main character seemed to struggle with remembering when she heard the gunshot (you said it was on the hour one page, two pages later after having it confirmed it was on the hour you say it was at least twenty minutes after) or whether the musicians arrived before or after the singer. I think the only constant was where the two suspects at the beginning (or rather nearly middle of the book since it took so long to get to the damn murder) were when the gunshot was fired, and the fact that the main character was a very horny alcoholic.
Don’t tell my Goodreads 2020 reading challenge, but I only got halfway through the book before I had to call it quits. Maybe I should have read further and things would have fallen into place or the author would have realized they needed to make note of the timeline they were presenting, but I just couldn’t.
I was disappointed with the pacing. It took a very long time for anything to happen, and it seemed like the author could not remember the timeline of the crime or events, either. There are going to be different stories and timelines as the story progresses but the main character seemed to struggle with remembering when she heard the gunshot (you said it was on the hour one page, two pages later after having it confirmed it was on the hour you say it was at least twenty minutes after) or whether the musicians arrived before or after the singer. I think the only constant was where the two suspects at the beginning (or rather nearly middle of the book since it took so long to get to the damn murder) were when the gunshot was fired, and the fact that the main character was a very horny alcoholic.
Don’t tell my Goodreads 2020 reading challenge, but I only got halfway through the book before I had to call it quits. Maybe I should have read further and things would have fallen into place or the author would have realized they needed to make note of the timeline they were presenting, but I just couldn’t.
April 22, 2019
Language, my dear
First off, delightful whodunit fluff. Absolutely worth a cosy afternoon, a pot of Darjeeling, (with a little extra) and perhaps a Victoria cake, or two. Ah, but the tea goes cold and the cakes go stale. The difficulty with period pieces is to get the language right. That detail makes the whole thing believable. And it is extra difficult mixing 20s-30s "posh" with "jazz". One wrong idiom and it's the feather on the floor. Perhaps a bit more time spent reading Dame Agatha, and PG Wodehouse, and everything's tickety-boo!
First off, delightful whodunit fluff. Absolutely worth a cosy afternoon, a pot of Darjeeling, (with a little extra) and perhaps a Victoria cake, or two. Ah, but the tea goes cold and the cakes go stale. The difficulty with period pieces is to get the language right. That detail makes the whole thing believable. And it is extra difficult mixing 20s-30s "posh" with "jazz". One wrong idiom and it's the feather on the floor. Perhaps a bit more time spent reading Dame Agatha, and PG Wodehouse, and everything's tickety-boo!
May 30, 2020
So Disappointed
There were many positive reviews of this book which is one of the reasons I bought it. However, after being about 20% into the book no mystery and no real plot that I could see. Lady Rample is a boring, flighty, woman who does not seem to have any real point in life except to go out and drink too much every night. This one will have to go into the unfinished group which is where I file books that are too boring to finish!
There were many positive reviews of this book which is one of the reasons I bought it. However, after being about 20% into the book no mystery and no real plot that I could see. Lady Rample is a boring, flighty, woman who does not seem to have any real point in life except to go out and drink too much every night. This one will have to go into the unfinished group which is where I file books that are too boring to finish!
August 20, 2019
I love historical mysteries, esp with strong women characters. This book, while in some ways well written, depends or borrows too much from other novels and sets up the rich woman who defies the rules, and can because of her wealth and a quirky friend who get involved in murder investigations. It is too formula and not enough original for me. I honestly didn't finish it.
September 4, 2019
At first sight this should be a book that I would really like, Lady Rample is a rich, still young widow who has an independent streak. Unfortunately all she really seems interested in is drinking and ogling handsome men. She did improve, but there was nothing to make her standout from the numerous other similar sleuths.
As for the plot this was a bit of a cliché and not particularly interesting.
As for the plot this was a bit of a cliché and not particularly interesting.
April 5, 2019
This book was an amusing read. There were a few too many English phrases repeated too often (old bean) and a few too many American slips and modern perspective (a car going 120 mph, no worries) to truly feel like 1933 London. The characters are fun so I may try the next book.
April 23, 2019
British high (low) society at it's best (or worse). A little alcohol with or without tea, fashion details, and when the story if half over - finally the murder. False clues, cheating spouses, and foreign musicians add to the story. A lot of descriptions, little action.
June 3, 2022
I only managed to read halfway through and simply couldn't get into this story. It didn't have a natural flow, to me the time period felt like it was being forced. 2 stars instead of 1 because it had potential, the period was just too distracting.
September 21, 2022
A lightweight murder story in the genre of T.E Kinsey's Lady Hardcastle books, I.e., set in England in the early 1930s. Sadly the story suffered problems with spelling, syntax, and punctuation. If you want something light and amusing this might fill the bill.
July 23, 2025
It feels to me as if the author smashed too much together in this, tried to do and be too much.
From Drugs to Racism (and she isn't even touching on it, it is more a fetishisation of black men "underlying", if I a white asexual woman with not that deep of an insight in this topic gets the Icky-Feeling then it might not be that subtle, ok? And the black man character is not that deep either, so really just eye-candy and for the slight steamy kiss session and the constant "his black fingers against my pearly white skin" thing) and introducing the four to five characters that might stick through us the whole series. It was too much for the Introduction Book.
The way the murder is done and how Lady Rample finds out is difficult to go along with too. There are things She knows suddenly without the reader knowing it as well, just so there is this "Oh, she is a genius" Moment like in the Agatha Christie books, but with the POV being Lady Rample's that does not make sense why we wouldn't know it at the same time as her. Adding to it that the start is incredibly slow and the end rushed.
The timeline is a bit of a mess, honestly.
Some informations are introduced twice or even four times, that makes it exhausting to read. How often she stresses that Chaz has that past of Opium and how Lady Rample is a Vicar's Daugther and a war nurse feels rough and as if the scenes were written apart and then glued together without checking if there was overlap in informations.
There is also this point that I still am not sure how Lady Rample's past looks like timewise. How was she a nurse in the war and got married to the Lord? And the rules of society would actually make her a lot more of an outsider of the High-Society than she is portrayed as. And nothing in her character gives even a slight hint that she is the daughter of Vicar, only that she mentions it every now and then.
I also have no idea why she wants to be a detective. Only in the middle of the book we are told that she likes Agatha Christie a lot and reads it (i had to look up if Agatha Christie had already published in that time, and yes she did) but not what her motivation is to be a detective other than her curiostiy and being bored in her life, trying to find something new.
I am personally not a fan of the "Oh, two men are hot for me, what ever shall i do...." trope, especially when it is dragged to the point it is here.
There are also spelling errros, but i read over those easily.
What annoyed me more was the constant slang use. Every page has at least one phrase and it made it so so annoying. Because the Upper Crust would make a point to not do this or not that often?
In short: I got through it but it was rough. It is trying "too hard" to be a gripping Murder Mystery while also introducing us slowly but immediately to everyone and everything, managing to do neither because of that.
I still don't know the characters. Lady Rample is a confusing mix made out of too many tropes, Chaz is so focused on being the charming gay man (Which nothing is shown, only told) that had a drug-problem that there is nothing else he is, Aunt Butty is still a character I don't know what to do with, Inspector North is so little introduced that he is not really a person and he is not showing how competent he allegedly is.
The best character is the side-character of Varant because we practically know nothing of him either, but his character at least stays the same and isn't mashed and stitched out of two tropes.
From Drugs to Racism (and she isn't even touching on it, it is more a fetishisation of black men "underlying", if I a white asexual woman with not that deep of an insight in this topic gets the Icky-Feeling then it might not be that subtle, ok? And the black man character is not that deep either, so really just eye-candy and for the slight steamy kiss session and the constant "his black fingers against my pearly white skin" thing) and introducing the four to five characters that might stick through us the whole series. It was too much for the Introduction Book.
The way the murder is done and how Lady Rample finds out is difficult to go along with too. There are things She knows suddenly without the reader knowing it as well, just so there is this "Oh, she is a genius" Moment like in the Agatha Christie books, but with the POV being Lady Rample's that does not make sense why we wouldn't know it at the same time as her. Adding to it that the start is incredibly slow and the end rushed.
The timeline is a bit of a mess, honestly.
Some informations are introduced twice or even four times, that makes it exhausting to read. How often she stresses that Chaz has that past of Opium and how Lady Rample is a Vicar's Daugther and a war nurse feels rough and as if the scenes were written apart and then glued together without checking if there was overlap in informations.
There is also this point that I still am not sure how Lady Rample's past looks like timewise. How was she a nurse in the war and got married to the Lord? And the rules of society would actually make her a lot more of an outsider of the High-Society than she is portrayed as. And nothing in her character gives even a slight hint that she is the daughter of Vicar, only that she mentions it every now and then.
I also have no idea why she wants to be a detective. Only in the middle of the book we are told that she likes Agatha Christie a lot and reads it (i had to look up if Agatha Christie had already published in that time, and yes she did) but not what her motivation is to be a detective other than her curiostiy and being bored in her life, trying to find something new.
I am personally not a fan of the "Oh, two men are hot for me, what ever shall i do...." trope, especially when it is dragged to the point it is here.
There are also spelling errros, but i read over those easily.
What annoyed me more was the constant slang use. Every page has at least one phrase and it made it so so annoying. Because the Upper Crust would make a point to not do this or not that often?
In short: I got through it but it was rough. It is trying "too hard" to be a gripping Murder Mystery while also introducing us slowly but immediately to everyone and everything, managing to do neither because of that.
I still don't know the characters. Lady Rample is a confusing mix made out of too many tropes, Chaz is so focused on being the charming gay man (Which nothing is shown, only told) that had a drug-problem that there is nothing else he is, Aunt Butty is still a character I don't know what to do with, Inspector North is so little introduced that he is not really a person and he is not showing how competent he allegedly is.
The best character is the side-character of Varant because we practically know nothing of him either, but his character at least stays the same and isn't mashed and stitched out of two tropes.
November 5, 2023
За всички почитатели на несравнимата мис Франи Фишър, която покосява австралийските дебри със своята хладнокръвна красота и хитра самоувереност, че няма как да ѝ се случи нещо кой знае колко лошо, запознайте се с нейната духовна сестра – великолепната Офелия, лейди Рампъл. Тя е очарователна вдовица без никакви тежки черни тайни. Приятелите ѝ са уникални образи, весели издънки на британското общество между войните, които знаят как да пият и да се забавляват до зори. Но истинското призвание на чаровната ни лейди е да разкрива престъпления, докато самите престъпници се опитват всячески да вкарат неактуално сочните ѝ форми твърде рано в дупка два метра под земята. Спокойно, няма как да успеят.
Това са весели, ексцентрични, хедонистични и бляскави истории за престъпления, фатални жени с богати рокли и тъмни високи мъже в безупречни костюми, които не се свенят да се ликвидират един друг с обезпокояващо висока скорост и умения. Лейди Рампъл просто иска да си пие поредния сложен високо алкохолен коктейл, докато слуша как американското ѝ гадже – виртуозен джаз пианист, завихря парти в стил Вавилон из най-модерното, екстра тайно и декадентско местенце в добрата стара Британия. Но много по-често ѝ се налага да тича с набрани на кръста пайетени поли след поредния лошко, или по-скоро пред него, да разиграва Бързи и яростни – Мафия едишън с лъскави тежкарски автомобили без предпазни колани и спирачки, или в най-невинния случай да пребърква джобовете на най-известния криминален бос, докато се опитва да го играе съблазнителка. Въобще не може да се каже, че ѝ е скучно,нали.
Историите за лейди Рампъл са кратки, стегнати, изпълнени с хумор и свеж дух, които и най-тежките престъпления не могат да сломят. Абсолютно книжно забавление, вървящо както с чаша кафе или чай, така и с коктейл и огромна чиния сладкиши, защото за лейди Рампъл забранени плодове няма – тя просто си ги омита внимателно от табличката с тортите, и ги прекарва с чаша Висока топка или Старомоден за отскок. Усещенето на великите 30-те години, когато всички искат да забравят първата война, и въобще не усещат настъпването на втората, е време на непрестанно парти, в което всяка секунда се живее на макс, и нищо не е твърде много, твърде бързо или твърде силно. Парти криминалета, пръскащи чар и усмивки на килограм – абсолютно съкровище.
Това са весели, ексцентрични, хедонистични и бляскави истории за престъпления, фатални жени с богати рокли и тъмни високи мъже в безупречни костюми, които не се свенят да се ликвидират един друг с обезпокояващо висока скорост и умения. Лейди Рампъл просто иска да си пие поредния сложен високо алкохолен коктейл, докато слуша как американското ѝ гадже – виртуозен джаз пианист, завихря парти в стил Вавилон из най-модерното, екстра тайно и декадентско местенце в добрата стара Британия. Но много по-често ѝ се налага да тича с набрани на кръста пайетени поли след поредния лошко, или по-скоро пред него, да разиграва Бързи и яростни – Мафия едишън с лъскави тежкарски автомобили без предпазни колани и спирачки, или в най-невинния случай да пребърква джобовете на най-известния криминален бос, докато се опитва да го играе съблазнителка. Въобще не може да се каже, че ѝ е скучно,нали.
Историите за лейди Рампъл са кратки, стегнати, изпълнени с хумор и свеж дух, които и най-тежките престъпления не могат да сломят. Абсолютно книжно забавление, вървящо както с чаша кафе или чай, така и с коктейл и огромна чиния сладкиши, защото за лейди Рампъл забранени плодове няма – тя просто си ги омита внимателно от табличката с тортите, и ги прекарва с чаша Висока топка или Старомоден за отскок. Усещенето на великите 30-те години, когато всички искат да забравят първата война, и въобще не усещат настъпването на втората, е време на непрестанно парти, в което всяка секунда се живее на макс, и нищо не е твърде много, твърде бързо или твърде силно. Парти криминалета, пръскащи чар и усмивки на килограм – абсолютно съкровище.
May 20, 2024
Ophelia, Lady Rample, is just out of the obligatory year of mourning for her husband, and looking to find something more in her life than the boring social scene of the rich widow. While her marriage was one of fondness, it wasn’t one of great love. On the other hand, she has been left stinking rich, and she knows it.
When her good friend introduces her to an exciting jazz club, and a very exciting black American musician, life becomes far more interesting. Particularly after one of the club owners is murdered, and Ophelia knows the police are after the wrong suspect, but won’t listen to her.
This is a fun romp with a nice feel for the 1930s period, which is that bit less strait-laced than the 20s. The mystery keeps rolling along nicely as Ophelia and her eccentric Aunt Butty navigate their way through clues while dealing with the rampant misogyny and prejudices of the era. There are several secondary characters who add nicely to the ambience, and descriptions evoke the surroundings and events clearly.
I was rather bemused by some the names: ‘Rample’, ‘Butty’, and ‘Varant’ are not names I’ve ever come across in society circles and I didn’t understand why more usual names weren’t used. There were also a few anachronisms that bounced me out of the story, such as the use of a duvet. In the 1930s? I think not! There were some American phrases and terms that didn’t fit the UK setting, but I was able to dismiss those with a briefly raised eyebrow.
My biggest challenge was getting into the start of the book, where Lady R spends lots of time telling us all about her history and her incredible wealth – a real info dump of a first chapter. I was tempted not to continue, but I’m glad I did, as I still enjoyed the book. Ophelia is a vibrant character, well suited to the settings and events that surround her. The mystery played out just fine, and I have now read the second book as well.
When her good friend introduces her to an exciting jazz club, and a very exciting black American musician, life becomes far more interesting. Particularly after one of the club owners is murdered, and Ophelia knows the police are after the wrong suspect, but won’t listen to her.
This is a fun romp with a nice feel for the 1930s period, which is that bit less strait-laced than the 20s. The mystery keeps rolling along nicely as Ophelia and her eccentric Aunt Butty navigate their way through clues while dealing with the rampant misogyny and prejudices of the era. There are several secondary characters who add nicely to the ambience, and descriptions evoke the surroundings and events clearly.
I was rather bemused by some the names: ‘Rample’, ‘Butty’, and ‘Varant’ are not names I’ve ever come across in society circles and I didn’t understand why more usual names weren’t used. There were also a few anachronisms that bounced me out of the story, such as the use of a duvet. In the 1930s? I think not! There were some American phrases and terms that didn’t fit the UK setting, but I was able to dismiss those with a briefly raised eyebrow.
My biggest challenge was getting into the start of the book, where Lady R spends lots of time telling us all about her history and her incredible wealth – a real info dump of a first chapter. I was tempted not to continue, but I’m glad I did, as I still enjoyed the book. Ophelia is a vibrant character, well suited to the settings and events that surround her. The mystery played out just fine, and I have now read the second book as well.
April 6, 2020
REALLY A 3.5 READ FOR ME
There were many things I liked about this book.
Ophelia is a very young widow. Her late husband was much older and very, very wealthy. She was raised a vicar’s daughter but at the age of 16,her aunt rescued her, brought her to London and acted as matchmaker.
Ophelia is not exactly my favorite heroine. She seems to focus on her possible future love life more than anything else.
I enjoy romance stories, but this was supposed to be a mystery.
Ophelia and a good friend go to a late night jazz club. While there, she sees an attractive musician. The reader learns a great deal about what she likes about the looks of the man. That was an ongoing theme of the story.
There are wonderful descriptions of the era. The atmosphere is from a time when class was paramount, not everyone was an equal and the upper class ruled the world with unlimited power.
The mystery is a well written story. There are red herrings, many suspects and an interesting solution. I enjoyed the puzzle.
I liked Ms MacLeod’s writing. She developed interesting characters. I am not sure whether I liked all of them.
This is the first of a series and I believe there are many possibilities for well written stories in the future.
There were many things I liked about this book.
Ophelia is a very young widow. Her late husband was much older and very, very wealthy. She was raised a vicar’s daughter but at the age of 16,her aunt rescued her, brought her to London and acted as matchmaker.
Ophelia is not exactly my favorite heroine. She seems to focus on her possible future love life more than anything else.
I enjoy romance stories, but this was supposed to be a mystery.
Ophelia and a good friend go to a late night jazz club. While there, she sees an attractive musician. The reader learns a great deal about what she likes about the looks of the man. That was an ongoing theme of the story.
There are wonderful descriptions of the era. The atmosphere is from a time when class was paramount, not everyone was an equal and the upper class ruled the world with unlimited power.
The mystery is a well written story. There are red herrings, many suspects and an interesting solution. I enjoyed the puzzle.
I liked Ms MacLeod’s writing. She developed interesting characters. I am not sure whether I liked all of them.
This is the first of a series and I believe there are many possibilities for well written stories in the future.
May 8, 2020
1920s London, jazz club, flappers, cocktails and murder.
It’s just coming up on a year since the death of her husband. The mourning period is over and now what should she do with herself? Though Lady Rample is missing her husband, she still needs to get out and live life!
Her best friend, Chaz, takes her to the hot new jazz club in London to put some pep in her life. Along with the pep she finds herself in the midst of the murder of one of the co-owners. This is much more interesting than attending the parties of the aristocratic set and listening to their boring stories. When she feels the police have arrested the wrong suspect, she decides to do her own sleuthing to catch the real murder. Not an easy feat when the lead detective doesn’t think women can be as successful as a man at investigating.
When her eccentric Aunt Butty joins in, the two ladies find themselves in some very unsavoury places looking for clues.
Lady Rample may be titled and more well-to-do than some of her contemporaries, but she isn’t your typical aristocrat. She is one of the independent, stron and determined ladies of the day.
This is a fun first book of a series. Action, humour, and an assortment of characters give a lot to the story. It will be interesting to read more!
It’s just coming up on a year since the death of her husband. The mourning period is over and now what should she do with herself? Though Lady Rample is missing her husband, she still needs to get out and live life!
Her best friend, Chaz, takes her to the hot new jazz club in London to put some pep in her life. Along with the pep she finds herself in the midst of the murder of one of the co-owners. This is much more interesting than attending the parties of the aristocratic set and listening to their boring stories. When she feels the police have arrested the wrong suspect, she decides to do her own sleuthing to catch the real murder. Not an easy feat when the lead detective doesn’t think women can be as successful as a man at investigating.
When her eccentric Aunt Butty joins in, the two ladies find themselves in some very unsavoury places looking for clues.
Lady Rample may be titled and more well-to-do than some of her contemporaries, but she isn’t your typical aristocrat. She is one of the independent, stron and determined ladies of the day.
This is a fun first book of a series. Action, humour, and an assortment of characters give a lot to the story. It will be interesting to read more!
March 17, 2022
This started off with so much promise.
A Smart Intelligent female in the 1930's who was being thrust back into society again after the year of mourning for her dead (elderly) husband, who obviously had died. Ophelia and Felix were never in love, but more like room mates.
But in the first 10 chapters, the attitudes of 1930s upper class society began to annoy me. Now I dont belong to the upper crust. And I dont think I want to belong. The drugs, the parties, the driving the cars around any time or place. They are just so rude.
In 1932 there was a world wide depression happening, but I counted only 1 reference to any kind of recession at all. The upper class have no clue about the rest of the world and they clearly don't care either.
I also disliked the boorish way the Detective Inspector North behaved. He was the typical MCP. Like most males of that era, he thinks women are interfering busybodies. He continued to be horrible to Ophelia even after being forced to work with Ophelia after she had to get the Police Commissioner involved.
Sure Ophelia solved the murder and pinpointed who the real murderer was, but it was the elitist attiudes that put me off this book - and series. I dont think i will be reading any more if these attitudes continue.
A Smart Intelligent female in the 1930's who was being thrust back into society again after the year of mourning for her dead (elderly) husband, who obviously had died. Ophelia and Felix were never in love, but more like room mates.
But in the first 10 chapters, the attitudes of 1930s upper class society began to annoy me. Now I dont belong to the upper crust. And I dont think I want to belong. The drugs, the parties, the driving the cars around any time or place. They are just so rude.
In 1932 there was a world wide depression happening, but I counted only 1 reference to any kind of recession at all. The upper class have no clue about the rest of the world and they clearly don't care either.
I also disliked the boorish way the Detective Inspector North behaved. He was the typical MCP. Like most males of that era, he thinks women are interfering busybodies. He continued to be horrible to Ophelia even after being forced to work with Ophelia after she had to get the Police Commissioner involved.
Sure Ophelia solved the murder and pinpointed who the real murderer was, but it was the elitist attiudes that put me off this book - and series. I dont think i will be reading any more if these attitudes continue.
February 12, 2020
#1 in the jazz-era London Lady Ophelia Rample mystery series. She is coming out of the year mourning period for her husband's death. She is the 35 year old daughter of a vicar and now a titled and extremely wealthy widow who flaunts the normal conventions of social class and is bored with her aristocratic life. Irreverent, out spoken and drinks a lot. Her 20 yer older Aunt Butty is equally so and close companion.
Lady R finds herself embroiled in the murder of one of London's new very "in" jazz club the club’s owners. Irked that the police have arrested the wrong suspect, with her eccentric Aunt Butty in tow, she turns lady detective.
The mystery is good, but Lady R gets a bit tedious at times. She is the narrator, so makes frequent comments regarding her somewhat distain for aristocratic mores of the class she now belongs to because of her marriage and great wealth so disregards mentally as she somewhat conforms. She is a steady drinker, highballs and frequently unhappy about the too spicy ginger ale, not exactly drunk, but enjoys the "buzz." She is attractive, likes men, has strong suiters, but unsure she wants to marry again, but undisposed to having a fling.
Lady R finds herself embroiled in the murder of one of London's new very "in" jazz club the club’s owners. Irked that the police have arrested the wrong suspect, with her eccentric Aunt Butty in tow, she turns lady detective.
The mystery is good, but Lady R gets a bit tedious at times. She is the narrator, so makes frequent comments regarding her somewhat distain for aristocratic mores of the class she now belongs to because of her marriage and great wealth so disregards mentally as she somewhat conforms. She is a steady drinker, highballs and frequently unhappy about the too spicy ginger ale, not exactly drunk, but enjoys the "buzz." She is attractive, likes men, has strong suiters, but unsure she wants to marry again, but undisposed to having a fling.
March 12, 2021
3.5 stars
Brief review: I did like they mystery once it got to that point, but initially it was hard to get into. I didn’t care for Ophelia. I just couldn’t connect with her. I appreciated her sassy and her unconventional attitude of a woman in the 1930’s. She was little much for me with her drinking as well as some of things she said. I get she wanted to be her own woman’s and fight society’s rules, but just something about her rubbed me the wrong way. I get this was historical, which was what I was looking for, but the language was a little much and felt very gangster like. It just felt like it was forced at times and not fitting of character even though it did fit the time period. It just really took me out of the story every time they used that slang. But the mystery was really good. It kept me on my toes and felt like a suspenseful who done it. It definitely had that Agatha Christie vibe, which I really enjoyed. I liked how the mystery was laid out, how the clues were presented, then the final showdown at the end. The mystery was just what I was looking for even if the characters were not.
Brief review: I did like they mystery once it got to that point, but initially it was hard to get into. I didn’t care for Ophelia. I just couldn’t connect with her. I appreciated her sassy and her unconventional attitude of a woman in the 1930’s. She was little much for me with her drinking as well as some of things she said. I get she wanted to be her own woman’s and fight society’s rules, but just something about her rubbed me the wrong way. I get this was historical, which was what I was looking for, but the language was a little much and felt very gangster like. It just felt like it was forced at times and not fitting of character even though it did fit the time period. It just really took me out of the story every time they used that slang. But the mystery was really good. It kept me on my toes and felt like a suspenseful who done it. It definitely had that Agatha Christie vibe, which I really enjoyed. I liked how the mystery was laid out, how the clues were presented, then the final showdown at the end. The mystery was just what I was looking for even if the characters were not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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