Murder at the Spring Ball (Lord Edgington Investigates, #1) in Reading the Detectives

Feb 25, 2024 Susan in NC rated it it was ok

Shelves: audiobook, detective-grp24

Ok introduction to the series, takes a while to get through introducing all the characters, setting, etc, but does a good job setting the stage for elderly but spry Lord Edgington, formerly Superintendent at Scotland Yard, emerging from his self-imposed seclusion. The book opens at his birthday get-together with his family; he has been in depressed seclusion since his beloved wife died suddenly of a heart attack 10 years previously. He announces he has living still to do, and wants to hold a big ...more

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Apr 04, 2022 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it

Shelves: listened, aud-escape, mystery-historical

Review of the audiobook narrated by George Blagden

I do love a good old English country house mystery, and this historical mystery, set in 1925, was lots of fun. I enjoyed getting to know the family, almost all of whom were suspects, particularly the Marquess of Edgington and his grandson Christopher. I did not figure out whodunnit, which is fine with me; nor did I entirely accept that whodunnit was believable. Still, I enjoyed it and likely will listen to more.

George Blagdon, who I had not encou ...more

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Feb 05, 2022 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, mystery, british-mystery, mcpl-book, early-20th-c, virtual-mount-tbr-2022

Set in England, 1925. After his beloved wife's death, Christopher Prentiss's grandfather and former Scotland Yard detective, Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall, had secluded himself from the world. He saw no one, not even the grandson who spends weekends at his home, and rarely ever left his rooms. At his seventy-fifth birthday celebration, a rare gathering of his entire family--from his dotty sister-in-law, Clementine, to his children, Christopher's mother, Belinda, and Maitland, to his grandchildr Set in England, 1925. After his beloved wife's death, Christopher Prentiss's grandfather and former Scotland Yard detective, Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall, had secluded himself from the world. He saw no one, not even the grandson who spends weekends at his home, and rarely ever left his rooms. At his seventy-fifth birthday celebration, a rare gathering of his entire family--from his dotty sister-in-law, Clementine, to his children, Christopher's mother, Belinda, and Maitland, to his grandchildren and great-niece--he suddenly announces that all that is in the past, Cranley Hall is to be refurbished and made ready for a grand Spring Ball in the style of past events. Even more astounding--he will need an assistant to help him get everything ready and he has chosen, of all people, Christopher.

The Cranley family (and extended relations) aren't the most loving of clans and immediately everyone is suspicious of Edgington's motives. Is he grooming Christopher to be his heir? What has that sneaky little teenager been up to on his weekends at Cranley Hall? Sucking up to old man, apparently. Christopher is just as astounded as the rest. As he tells them, he hasn't spoken one word to his grandfather since the time of his grandmother's death. And even as he begins to help Edgington with his celebration, he's still not clear why his grandfather chose him.

But Christopher proves an able assistant and everything comes together splendidly. The band is up-to-date, the food isn't too bizarre (given the Cranley Hall cook's penchant for strange pairings--like honey & haddock sandwiches), and everyone is having a good time. It's all going well until until Lord Edgington has the cork popped on a fifty year-old bottle of champagne presented to him (and his wife) on his wedding day. The bubbly is poured out for the family and he prepares to offer a toast. One of his greedy children can't wait for the speech, drinks their champagne, and promptly dies of of poison. If Belinda hadn't provided the warning, most--if not all--of the Edgington's family would have followed the same fate. The retired Scotland Yard Superintendent takes his grandson on as assistant detective and the duo set out to find the culprit before the family numbers are drastically reduced.

This was a fun, light historical mystery. Nicely clued in the Golden Age tradition and I enjoyed the duo of grandfather and grandson working together to solve the crime. They have an interesting relationship and, as there are more books in the series, it will be fund to watch it develop. Christopher is a shy, bookish young man who has been bullied at school and derided in the family. It was nice to watch him begin to blossom in his grandfather's company.

The story is told from Christopher's point of view--which is something to keep in mind as you read. He is observant, but doesn't always see things from the proper perspective. He's also prone to jumping to conclusions and several times he comes across a new clue, spins a whole theory, and declares "Case closed!" only to go through the same process when the next clue comes along. But he does get a bit better at interpretation as the case moves along. Overall, a nice debut to what looks like a good series. ★★★ and 1/2. (rounded up)

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks. ...more

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Mar 16, 2024 Susan rated it it was ok

For one of my book groups this year, 'Reading the Detectives,' we decided - as our annual challenge - to choose the first two books in a number of modern mystery series, set in the Golden Age. So far, they have been a mixed bunch, but this one, it has to be said, is pretty poor.

Set in 1925, Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall, is an elderly retired detective, has retired from the world since widowed. However, he suddenly decides that the time is right to throw a Spring Ball. Oddly, he picks his sixte ...more

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Apr 07, 2024 Jill rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: jill-s-tenth-years-challenge

As this was the author's first book, I am inclined to give it some leeway. Maybe this is a weak 3 star. It reads very much like a young adult book, probably as the narrator is a youth. Very much a cozy mystery. At times moves along quite quickly and then stalls for a while, with a lot of self- questioning from the grandson.
It starts with an elderly man, Lord Edgington, celebrating his birthday with his huge family gathered around him. He has retired from the police force, and his wife died of a ...more

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Jun 28, 2021 Pat rated it did not like it

Shelves: abandoned-books

I’ve been on a streak of reading English country house mysteries set in the 1920s. This was unreadable - a little eccentricity is welcome, but this was ridiculously over the top. Stopped after 2 chapters.

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