|
|
|
|
|
Once they reach a certain age, women are expected to quietly settle into their old age with a blanket, a book, and a cat or two. But in the Victorian-era mystery Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason, a widowed empty-nester decides to use her free time to track down a killer.
The story finds Lady Irene Darling leaving the peace and quiet of her country house and returning to the hustle and bustle of London after promising to help her friend’s daughter, Priscilla Bedwith, find a proper husband. At the ripe old age of 50, the eccentric and often intimidating Lady Darling has plenty of time on her hands—especially now that she’s found suitable spouses for all four of her children. So when she attends a dinner party with Miss Bedwith and the host ends up murdered, she takes it upon herself to find the killer.
As she dives into her investigation, Lady Darling uses her title, her influence, and her ability to transform from a strong, independent older woman to a flighty old lady as needed to get the kind of information that even Scotland Yard can’t seem to uncover.
Lady Darling is an absolutely delightful character. In her day, once a woman turned 50, she was considered old and dull and irrelevant. But that description certainly doesn’t apply to the sharp-witted and irreverent Lady Darling, who figures that being a wealthy woman of a certain age means that she doesn’t really need to play by the rules anymore. If she curses or drinks whiskey or decides to solve a murder, no one can say anything about it. So she does just that, breaking a whole bunch of the rules of polite society along the way.
The story, meanwhile, takes readers all through London—from the glamorous balls to the back alleys to the opera house—as Lady Darling hunts for information and meets characters from all parts of London society. The mystery is an intriguing one—though, admittedly, all of the pieces seem to be somewhat thrown-together in the end. But the lovable main character alone makes it worth the read.
If you’re eagerly awaiting the return of Bridgerton and you’re searching for another cheeky Victorian woman to keep you entertained while you wait, Lady Darling will definitely fit the bill. She’s the kind of character who makes a novel undeniably entertaining—and will keep readers coming back for any more adventures to come.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
|
|
|
|
