"Once upon a time, Lady Adelaide Mary Merrill, daughter of the Marquess of Broughton, was married to Major Rupert Charles Cressleigh Compton, hero of the Somme. It was not a happy union..."
A delightful English cozy series begins in August 1924. Lady Adelaide Compton has recently (and satisfactorily) interred her husband, Major Rupert Charles Cressleigh Compton, hero of the Somme, in the family vault in the village churchyard.
Rupert died by smashing his Hispano-Suiza on a Cotswold country road while carrying a French mademoiselle in the passenger seat. With the house now Addie's, needed improvements in hand, and a weekend house party underway, how inconvenient of Rupert to turn up! Not in the flesh, but in - actually, as a - spirit. Rupert has to perform a few good deeds before becoming welcomed to heaven - or, more likely, thinks Addie, to hell.
Before Addie can convince herself she's not completely lost her mind, a murder disrupts her careful seating arrangement. Which of her twelve house guests is a killer? Her mother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Broughton? Her sister Cecilia, the born-again vegetarian? Her childhood friend and potential lover, Lord Lucas Waring? Rupert has a solid alibi as a ghost and an urge to detect.
Enter Inspector Devenand Hunter from the Yard, an Anglo-Indian who is not going to let some barmy society beauty, witnessed talking to herself, derail his investigation. Something very peculiar is afoot at Compton Court and he's going to get to the bottom of it - or go as mad as its mistress trying.
I have recently read two books which were quite heavy going so decided to treat myself to a little light reading entertainment. The stylish cover of this book suggested just that and it was such a good choice as it was exactly what I needed. It was fun, humorous and has a cozy, non-graphic murder mystery to boot.
I am delighted that this is going to be the first in a series. As far as I am aware, the second book has not yet been published but I am certainly looking forward to when it is. If you are looking for a nice cosy read in the run up to the festivities, then this book will be perfect for you. It would also make a great gift to slip under the tree for any reader who enjoys some fun mixed in with their murder mysteries. If this sounds like an oxymoron, trust me, it works in the very capable hands of Maggie Robinson.
Both Addie and Dev were very likable characters and the attraction between them was delightful to read. However, the conversations between Addie and the ghostly Rupert, bordered on comic genius.
I have looked through Ms. Robinson's back list and she seems to primarily be a writer of historical romances and the covers suggest some eroticism. They are not really my cup of tea and Nobody's Sweetheart Now appears to be a departure from her usual genre. In my opinion that was a good move and I look forward to reading more in this series.
ISBN: 978 1464210723
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Maggie Robinson is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances and her latest venture, the Lady Adelaide Mysteries. Her books have been translated into nine languages.
She also wrote two erotic historical romances as Margaret Rowe.
