DEBUT In 1887 England, 20-year-old Felicity Carrol is more interested in scientific experiments than society balls. Her wealthy, widowed father, Samuel Carrol, wishes her to marry and take her place in society instead of wasting time attending the University of London. He gives her an ultimatum: become engaged in the next three months or be sent to a Swiss finishing school. When one of her university mentors is murdered and an Arthurian artifact is stolen, Felicity decides to investigate, causing even more tension at home. When other murders occur and more artifacts are stolen, she's even more determined to identify the killer despite knowing that Insp. Jackson Davies does not want her interference. Using her forensic knowledge and social connSECTIONs, Felicity goes to great lengths to convince him her theories are valid. Differences in social standing aside, they must work together to bring a killer to justice. VERDICT This new series is off to a good start with a strong, intelligent main character who struggles to overcome the cultural strictures of her time. For fans of cozy Victorian mysteries and admirers of Robin Paige, Elizabeth Peters, and Deanna Raybourn.--Jean King, West Hempstead P.L., NY
Copyright 1 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2018
Felicity Carrol, the bane of her father's existence, scandalizes him still further by investigating a murder.Even though Felicity's wealthy father doesn't love her, he does want her to make a good marriage and present him with some grandchildren. But his daughter, a Victorian bluestocking for whom education is everything, has yet to meet a man she can love. Learning of the death of William Kent, her most admired professor, changes the course of her life. Kent, a relative of Queen Victoria, has been found dead at a King Arthur exhibit at the British Museum. Although his valuable copy of The Legend of King Arthur was stolen, nothing else seems to be missing. At the funeral, Felicity meets Philip Chaucer, an intelligent and charming nobleman interested in King Arthur and perhaps Felicity, too. Traveling to London to learn more, she discovers that the weapon was a crossbow that was returned to its proper spot along with the bolt that killed Kent. Inspector Jackson Griggs Davies, the police officer assigned to the case, is a handsome, clever East Ender who doesn't know what to make of Felicity and is reluctant to entertain her theories about the crime. He's more willing to listen when Richard Banbury, a viscount, is found murdered and a priceless tapestry depicting King Arthur disappears. Felicity's success in identifying the murder weapon earns some grudging respect from Davies, but he continues to ignore her theories even after two more deaths. Going it alone proves dangerous for Felicity, but she's brave, fiercely intelligent, and determined to find the man who killed her friend.Behind the welcome Victorian detail lies a so-so debut mystery. But readers who hunger for more portraits of independent women determined to make their ways in a stultifying society will take the heroine to heart.
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