Aloha to Catherine Lloyd and DEATH COMES TO LONDON - Book Review

DEATH COMES TO LONDON is coming from Kensington on November 25, 2014:

A season in London promises a welcome change of pace for two friends from the village of Kurland St. Mary until murder makes a debut. With the reluctant blessings of their father, the rector of Kurland St. Mary, Lucy Harrington and her sister Anna leave home for a social season in London. At the same time, Lucy's special friend Major Robert Kurland is summoned to the city to accept a baronetcy for his wartime heroism.

Amidst the dizzying whirl of balls and formal dinners, the focus shifts from mixing and matchmaking to murder when the dowager Countess of Broughton, the mother of an old army friend of Robert, drops dead. When it's revealed she's been poisoned, Robert's former betrothed, Miss Chingford, is accused, and she in turn points a finger at Anna. To protect her sister, Lucy enlists Robert's aid in drawing out the true culprit.

But with suspects ranging from resentful rivals and embittered family members to the toast of the ton, it will take all their sleuthing skills to unmask the poisoner before more trouble is stirred up.

Boats on the Thames, 1850
Public Domain (link)

If you're curious, London's an amazing place. - David Bailey

Lucy Harrington, the reliable daughter of the village rector, accompanies her beautiful (and younger) sister to London for the season.   Although Lucy enjoys tending to her father's flock, she is eager to find a husband and set up her own household.   Lucy thinks she is leaving behind her special friend (and sleuthing partner) Major Robert Kurland.  Yet fate takes him to London at the same time to appear before the Prince Regent. Their paths cross among the ton ... and they find themselves knee deep in a murder mystery.  

Lloyd returns readers to the enchanting world of Regency England with two characters who continue to grow in their friendship and their attraction to the other.   Lloyd captures the pageantry of the ton while delivering witty dialogue and a hint of "penny dreadfuls".    Lloyd subtly addresses Lucy's apprehension to accept the limited opportunities for women in Regency England.  Likewise, she continues to reveal Robert's hidden wounds from his military service.  DEATH COMES TO LONDON is the perfect escape for fans of cozy mysteries and historical romances.

DEATH COMES TO LONDON is Book 2 in the Kurland St. Mary Mysteries series.  It can be read as a stand alone story.   However, readers will appreciate how Lucy and Robert became friends in Book 1, DEATH COMES TO THE VILLAGE.

I received an ARC from Kensington for an honest review.  

The New Ballroom at Buckingham Palace 

Louis Haghe (1856)

Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a print copy of DEATH COMES TO LONDON.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about what sandwich would you eat during afternoon tea at the Countess' house - cucumber, watercress, egg salad, or chicken curry?   

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 22, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out my review of DEATH COMES TO THE VILLAGE at this link.

Learn more about Catherine and her books at catherine-lloyd.com.