Murder Has No Class

Bellehaven House Mystery #3

by Rebecca Kent (pseudonym), Kate Kingsbury

A headmistress gets a primer in murder in the third Bellehaven House mystery.

Lord Stalham has claimed innocence in the murder of his father, even after they've hanged him. Now Stalham's ghost is haunting Meredith Llewellyn. The headmistress needs her sleep, so she sets out for the truth-and discovers a high-society scandal.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

228 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 23, 2009

About the author

A pseudonym used by Kate Kingsbury.

Reviews

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too bad this was the last book in the series. Lots of unresolved side plots between the characters.



Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Trine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many loose ends at the end of the book for this final book in the series - hence the two stars.

Otherwise, a thought-provoking and at times very controversial mystery.

On the book's official website the author has posted an update on what happened to the book's characters after the series ended:

http://www.doreenrobertshight.com/id4...

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a used bookstore. I haven't read the first two in the series but hopefully I'll be able to find them because I really enjoyed this one. The characters were well developed and the setting was unique, I had no trouble following the story despite not having the backstory. Unfortunately this is the last book in the series. Too bad!

[Elisha (lishie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this third (& last for now) installment I'm so sad - there are many questions pertaining to the characters I want answered! Hopefully a forth will come!

[Jeanette C. Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this was #3 in a series but was able to enjoy the story without having read the first 2. It's only reading other reviews just now that I learned this is to be the last in the series. Too bad as the characters were well written and I enjoyed the author's style even though there were a few loose threads at the end. Did the author get tired of the characters? Or did something occur off page (in her personal life) to end the series. It might be out there but with some many books on my 'want to read' list I won't be investigating.

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again Head Mistress Meredith Llewellyn sees a ghost wanting resolution. Lord James Stalham was hanged for murdering his father but wants the real killer discovered. Side stories this time deal with a local male darts tournament and the girls at the finishing school and a couple of romantic interests for Meredith. However since this is the last published in the series this will be going nowhere.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this one just kind of tapered off. I was completely disinterested in the Olivia and Grace plotline, and everything just felt kind of jumpy. I’m sad - I really liked the first book.

[Drebbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meredith Llewellyn has her hands full as headmistress of the Bellehaven Finishing School for Young Ladies trying to teach her female students proper manners, as well as making sure her assistant, Roger Platt, keeps his hands off said students. The last thing she needs or wants is a visit from a ghost who wants her to solve a murder, but that is just what happens when the ghost of Lord James Stalham appears to her. Stalham was accused of murdering his father and hanged for the crime but the more his ghost visits Meredith the more she becomes convinced of his innocence. Now, Meredith has even more work on her hands as he tries to not only solve the murder, but deal with a couple of housemaids who are determined to be suffragettes and a school full of girls who don't always behave as they should.

"Murder Has No Class is the third, and unfortunately last, book in Rebecca Kent's (a.k.a. Kate Kingsbury) delightful Bellehaven cozy mystery series. It is a shame really, because I thought this was the strongest book of the series as Kent seemed really comfortable with the characters at this point. As she did in the Pennyfoot Hotel and Manor House mysteries, Kent/Kingsbury populates the book with strong female characters - Meredith, her fellow teachers Felicity and Essie, and housemaids Olivia and Grace (Olivia more than Grace). Because this is the last book in the series Kent able to put in the book a few things about Felicity and Essie that helps explain why they sometimes act the way they do, which helps make them stronger characters. I even found myself accepting a possible Meredith/Stuart Hamilton romance - something I wasn't fond of in the two previous books. Besides the rich character development in the book there is a wonderful sense of humor throughout the book and readers will eagerly look forward to the events at dart tournament. The mystery and paranormal elements are well done and readers will be surprised and somewhat saddened when the killer is revealed.

Murder has no class is the excellently done final book in an all too short, cozy mystery series.

[L.Joy Dunnigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly read

Hands to sore to knit, news to upsetting hour after hour ? Pick up this series and enjoy an evening of fun and silly stories.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this was a decent story. I finally feel like I'm starting to get to know the characters and like them and things are heating up, story-wise. However, I'm very disappointed with how everything came to a close. This appears to be the last book in the series, but it feels unfinished; there are way too many lose ends and it made for a very unsatisfying close.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sorry this sweet, cozy, historical mystery series has finished...just when it was picking up steam! I hate when Berkeley Prime Crime does this three book thing.

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly little book but who wants to read heavy stuff in the summertime? OK for a light summer read.

[Pam Mccurdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would love to see more of this series(I know its the last one). Really enjoyed these mysteries.

[Linda Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing

Enjoyed the whole story Meredith is quite the lady. She sees ghosts solves murders and have two men who like to be her friend

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Andree Sanborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the three in this series, this is a bit better, and the last. All were too repetitive and wordy. This will be my last book of 2016.