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Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library #9
Pride and Publishing
When bestselling Regency novelist Camilla Courtenay comes to Castleton Manor to judge the final round of a writing contest, Faith Newberry looks forward to meeting one of her favorite authors and to dancing at the grand Regency ball scheduled for the evening the winner is announced. But in the days leading up to the ball, a number of suspicious incidents make her wonder if someone is trying to put a permanent end to Camilla's career. When every contestant is a suspect, can Faith figure out what's really going on before tragedy strikes?
191 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
DeAnna Julie Dodson
50 books91 followersDeAnna Julie Dodson has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with four spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her first books, In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered, are a trilogy of medieval romances and have just been redesigned and freshly edited for Kindle. She is also the author of the contemporary mystery, Letters in the Attic, and has recently signed on to write another Annie's Attic Mystery: The Key in the Attic, due out in 2012. Her newest books, yet to be released, are A Dinner of Herbs, a Civil War drama, and a 1930s English mystery, Rules of Murder. Civil as an Orange, her current work in progress, is the sequel to Rules of Murder. You can find out more about DeAnna and her books, including sample chapters, at her website: http://www.deannajuliedodson.com/
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 22, 2022
This is a cozy mystery, and this is the 9th book in the Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library series. I really enjoyed this book, and that makes me so happy because the last couple books in this series before this book I did not love them. I loved Faith and Watson characters. This book was well-written and it was fun to read. I also enjoyed the mystery parts in this book and the writing parts of this book. I am happy we are back in the library for this book.
June 3, 2019
There are at least 16 books in this series, and they're by various authors. The main characters are Faith Newberry, the librarian at Castleton Manor, an upscale literary retreat, which hosts literary events, and her tuxedo cat, Watson. The settings are luxurious and impressive. Each book focuses on a different event--usually about an author or a writing contest (as this book is); and the backgrounds of the authors and their times, along with loads of quotes, are fun. I enjoy that a lot--also Watson's points of view as he explores interesting scents and clues and helps Faith, sometimes saving her life. 'Course sometimes he leads her into danger. Faith's friends and co-workers are well-defined. I like them too. But the research and all those quotes and literary tidbits are one of the things I enjoy the most. (Sometimes Faith seems a little slow.)
Pride and Publishing's focus is on Regency romance--earlier authors, including Georgette Heyer (a favorite of mine), and that time period--and the talented and mysterious contestants. Faith helps the visiting authors with their research into the details of that time, and--with Watson's help--solves the crimes in each book. Watson is usually on the cover of each one--in the appropriate setting.
Pride and Publishing's focus is on Regency romance--earlier authors, including Georgette Heyer (a favorite of mine), and that time period--and the talented and mysterious contestants. Faith helps the visiting authors with their research into the details of that time, and--with Watson's help--solves the crimes in each book. Watson is usually on the cover of each one--in the appropriate setting.
November 10, 2018
I'm really enjoying this series!
June 22, 2022
Book #6 of my #30BookSummer Challenge! One of the better written books in this series. Always fun to venture back into Castleton for a light mystery read.
June 20, 2020
Camilla Courtenay is a Regency romance writer. She is holding the final round of a contest to find the next Regency romance writer at the Castleton Manor. During the week, however, accidents seem to happen that makes one wonder...is someone out to hurt or kill Camilla?
Join Faith, her mischief-making, clue-finding kitty Watson, and the members of the Candle House Book Club as they find clues, discuss possibilities, and solve the case.
These just keep getting better and better. I absolutely adore these and will be sad when they are eventually done. Such a cute and fun cozy mystery series.
Join Faith, her mischief-making, clue-finding kitty Watson, and the members of the Candle House Book Club as they find clues, discuss possibilities, and solve the case.
These just keep getting better and better. I absolutely adore these and will be sad when they are eventually done. Such a cute and fun cozy mystery series.
May 11, 2022
I am still enjoying this series with the librarian of Castleton Manor. This was somewhere between 3 and 4-stars for me, enjoyable, but I think some others in the series were better. (A 5-star book for me is one I'd reread and those are rare.)
This time the genre was Regency romances, but I didn't think this mystery did as well as some of the others in being written in the style of the genre mentioned. For the others, that was part of the fun for me.
This time, the clothes were elaborately described, and the men even had delicate manners, but there wasn't much of the intricate conversation and dry humor of the Regency period - or at least of the mentioned Jane Austen works. For me, it's the conversations of those books that make them.
Also, the romances in this book didn't seem to be as deep as in Austen's writings, either, probably because it was missing the depth of conversation.
I knew whodunit, even though I didn't know the clue that Faith had withheld from us until after the confession.
Faith gave a better description of an introvert in this book than is in most. Most people confuse it with shyness, but it may not have anything to do with social awkwardness at all, but rather from where people gather their energy.
"... I'm about 100% introverted. I need alone time to recharge, and the only thing Mother wants to do is chatter."
"I can understand that. My roommate in college was an introvert. She was smart and friendly and really funny when she was with only two or three other people, but she always said being around a lot of people for too long wore her out. And small talk was absolutely exhausting for her."
- - -
"Branton had forgiven Venetia unreservedly, but did that every really happen outside the pages of a novel?"
Yes, actually. I think of Jesus, on the cross, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And some - not nearly enough - of His followers do forgive well. It reminds me of "Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive." - C. S. Lewis
Of course, forgiveness is a different concept than trust or accountability.
This time the genre was Regency romances, but I didn't think this mystery did as well as some of the others in being written in the style of the genre mentioned. For the others, that was part of the fun for me.
This time, the clothes were elaborately described, and the men even had delicate manners, but there wasn't much of the intricate conversation and dry humor of the Regency period - or at least of the mentioned Jane Austen works. For me, it's the conversations of those books that make them.
Also, the romances in this book didn't seem to be as deep as in Austen's writings, either, probably because it was missing the depth of conversation.
I knew whodunit, even though I didn't know the clue that Faith had withheld from us until after the confession.
Faith gave a better description of an introvert in this book than is in most. Most people confuse it with shyness, but it may not have anything to do with social awkwardness at all, but rather from where people gather their energy.
"... I'm about 100% introverted. I need alone time to recharge, and the only thing Mother wants to do is chatter."
"I can understand that. My roommate in college was an introvert. She was smart and friendly and really funny when she was with only two or three other people, but she always said being around a lot of people for too long wore her out. And small talk was absolutely exhausting for her."
- - -
"Branton had forgiven Venetia unreservedly, but did that every really happen outside the pages of a novel?"
Yes, actually. I think of Jesus, on the cross, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And some - not nearly enough - of His followers do forgive well. It reminds me of "Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive." - C. S. Lewis
Of course, forgiveness is a different concept than trust or accountability.
September 5, 2022
A friend (CC) gifted me the first 10 books in this series. I believe there are additional ones that come after those 10. This is book #9 so that means I'm probably almost done with the ones she sent me.
I have found these pleasantly diverting for times when I'm nervous (such as waiting at a doctor's office).
I love the cute cover illustrations which always picture Watson with some clue from the book. Sometimes I almost feel like it's "Where's Watson" because sometimes he is a bit hidden (not in this cover illustration though.)
This book is kind of a combination of Writing Contest and Regency Romance theme.
Publisher Northanger has sponsored a writing contest to find a new Regency Romance author with the prize being a 3 book contract. Their premier Regency Romance author Camilla Courtenay is one of the judges. Northanger has arranged for the three finalists along with Camilla, her assistant, her daughter, her publisher, and her publisher's assistant to stay at Castleton Manor.
I think most writers dream of being awarded a contract by a traditional publisher--and think they'll have it made once they do. (Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.) I know that was the hope of many people in the writing group I attended years ago. These days, I think publishers are more likely to drop authors (or not renew their contracts) if books don't sell as well as they estimated they would.
I've also heard the "any publicity is good publicity" party line in the past (but not necessarily related to authors).
I suspected someone else (not the person who eventually confessed). I'm not always good at figuring out whodunit, so your experience may vary--my friend who gave me these did guess the culprit.
I have found these pleasantly diverting for times when I'm nervous (such as waiting at a doctor's office).
I love the cute cover illustrations which always picture Watson with some clue from the book. Sometimes I almost feel like it's "Where's Watson" because sometimes he is a bit hidden (not in this cover illustration though.)
This book is kind of a combination of Writing Contest and Regency Romance theme.
Publisher Northanger has sponsored a writing contest to find a new Regency Romance author with the prize being a 3 book contract. Their premier Regency Romance author Camilla Courtenay is one of the judges. Northanger has arranged for the three finalists along with Camilla, her assistant, her daughter, her publisher, and her publisher's assistant to stay at Castleton Manor.
I think most writers dream of being awarded a contract by a traditional publisher--and think they'll have it made once they do. (Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.) I know that was the hope of many people in the writing group I attended years ago. These days, I think publishers are more likely to drop authors (or not renew their contracts) if books don't sell as well as they estimated they would.
I've also heard the "any publicity is good publicity" party line in the past (but not necessarily related to authors).
I suspected someone else (not the person who eventually confessed). I'm not always good at figuring out whodunit, so your experience may vary--my friend who gave me these did guess the culprit.
July 30, 2022
hmm...3 stars I guess?
This wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I bought this, along with several others in the series, a while back at a thrift store because of the Jane Austen reference, and based on the cover, I thought it would be a kids' mystery. It actually turned out to be a clean murder mystery, in the middle of a series that (I assume) utilizes many bookish references and a detective cat named Watson. In spite of this, I don't feel that it's really aimed toward children, but it was not inappropriate, outside of the obvious murder and some hints at romance.
I read this book as part of my library's Adult Summer Reading program. For 2022, there is not a specific theme for books, but rather a BINGO card to complete to enter for prizes. This novel fulfills the retelling of a classic box.
This book was not as much of a retelling as I was expecting, but it had many references to Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and Sherlock Holmes.
This wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I bought this, along with several others in the series, a while back at a thrift store because of the Jane Austen reference, and based on the cover, I thought it would be a kids' mystery. It actually turned out to be a clean murder mystery, in the middle of a series that (I assume) utilizes many bookish references and a detective cat named Watson. In spite of this, I don't feel that it's really aimed toward children, but it was not inappropriate, outside of the obvious murder and some hints at romance.
I read this book as part of my library's Adult Summer Reading program. For 2022, there is not a specific theme for books, but rather a BINGO card to complete to enter for prizes. This novel fulfills the retelling of a classic box.
This book was not as much of a retelling as I was expecting, but it had many references to Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and Sherlock Holmes.
July 17, 2021
Oh what fun to visit Faith and Watson at the Castleton Manor again. I love how the manor hosts events for all kinds of genres so each book manages to focus on a different one. This one was about regency (one of my favorites) authors and there were lots of suspects within. I was guessing almost until the end. These stories are my 'comfy shoe' books. I read them when I want a quick, light read. The characters have become my friends, particularly Faith and Watson.
October 13, 2022
This was better than the last two in the series in my opinion. I'm glad I decided to continue on with it. Is it great literature, no, but it is a fun little mystery with familiar characters. Very much a comfort read and I'll probably continue to listen to the books in the series. Faith and Wolff continue to do the flirtatious dance. Wonder how many books it will take before they actually start some sort of real romance. All of them? Another couple? Guess I'll see.
May 5, 2019
The annoying cat Watson is back and points to vital evidence in a murder at the manor during a Regency writing contest. I figured out the murderer in this 9th volume of the Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library series. I enjoy the setting for this cozy mystery series, especially the beautiful library, and I'm intrigued by the unusual plot devices, but I really dislike Watson!
May 14, 2023
An interesting story about a contest between three authors. The prize, A three book publishing contract with a international firm. The cat, Watson, helps in finding who was doing things that hurt one of the judges of the contest. A very surprising ending.
February 14, 2018
I like the parts where the cat is narrating what it sees and does.
February 12, 2020
Love these Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library series. I have loved every book, I could not put this one down either. Great story. First time reading DeAnna Julie Dodson.
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February 1, 2022great book
January 30, 2024
Cute, clean, cozy - a fun read!
February 24, 2025
A perfect blend of mystery of a Look in the Wrong Direction and Regency romance themes. Did not actually expect it to end the way it did--well done!
August 11, 2024
Good mystery. An ending I couldn't have predicted. Watson saw all of it and didn't say anything! I guess the cat had his tongue!
January 7, 2021
I love this cozy mystery series and book #9 Pride and Publishing is an awesome addition! Faith Newberry is Castleton Manor’s librarian. Wolfe Jaxon and his family are the owners. A publishing house is having a contest to award a book contract to the winner. There are three finalists who are vying for the contract and famous author Camilla Courtenay who will be involved with choosing the winner. They all have secrets which unfold as the story progresses. A few accidents happen and Camilla is injured, luckily not seriously, but Faith and her book club friends are suspicious. This is one of the most enjoyable cozy series I have read. I can’t wait for the next book! I had the audiobook and it is well done and very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews