The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer

978-0099493730

Really very good book. A nice little murder, Pot loads of likely suspects. Very likeable hero and heroine with a pleasant romance thrown in.

Plot: Unpleasant mans fortunately early demise
Whimsical heroine all dewy eyes
Multiple suspects – motives no surprise
Pleasantly astute detective eventually sees through lies

Characters: Hero, Heroine, irascible victim – i do find it satisfying when nasty people are bumped off, multiple secondaries of varying degrees of annoya-bility (it’s a word now)

What to love: The set up is good. The murderer reasonably unexpected and the structure excellent.

What to loathe: Sometimes you don’t know whether to care more about the romance or the murder. On my dumber days ( of which there are many) I get a little bit frazzled by a split focus in a story. I think it is more a me thing than a story thing

Buy, Borrow or Bin: Buy – Really very good – and worth reading again even when you know who has done it.

If this book was a drink it would be: . A glass of iced milk. I love iced milk and often crave it so this is a good thing.

Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer

ISBN: 978-0755108855

This was surprisingly fab. I am a dedicated reader of Heyers Regency Romances (who isn’t? – my hubby like Infamous Army and I love him the more for it!!! ) . Due to Regency love I put off reading her thrilers until reaching this advanced age – what a mistake to make!! This book is a mildly demented mix of Agatha Christie and Jane Austen – brilliant stuff…

Plot: Dope: There is a neat drugs sub plot
Rope: Well wire actually – the instrument of death
Hope: Wronged woman – righted

Characters: Brilliant Detective. Fab heroes and Heroines and wonderfully souless side characters who you are always hoping will be gruesomely bumped off.

What to love: Really rather lovely characters. Humourously drawn – by turns gentle and quite wicked. Heyers gift for the cruel caricature is used to its upmost.

What to loathe: Hideously casual homophobia – fairly typical off the time but quite jarring to read. Sort of jolts you out of the book and sympathy with the characters.

Buy, Borrow or Bin: Buy – Really very good – and worth reading again even when you know who has done it.

If this book was a drink it would be: Home made spicy hot chocolate – mostly lovely but sometimes you end up drinking the nasty dregs and it can spoil your love for the whole.

On the Georgette Heyer Site