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A Place of Confinement

A Dido Kent Mystery by Anna Dean

A Place of Confinement by Anna Dean

Review: In the Spring of 1807, Miss Dido Kent, a 30-ish spinster, is living with her impoverished brother and sister-in-law, deftly refusing all their attempts to marry her off to a wealthy suitor. Frustrated, they decide that a trip with their wealthy aunt by marriage Selina Manners, a cantankerous hypochondriac, is what is needed for Dido. If she keeps Aunt Manners happy, maybe she'll be more generous to them in her will. At least that is the plan … in A Place of Confinement, the fourth mystery in this series by Anna Dean.

Dido travels with Aunt Manners to Charcombe Manor, her childhood home. There are already several guests in attendance, though one of them, 19-year-old heiress Letitia Verney, has vanished. She and local resident Tom Lomax were walking together one evening, he sees her to the door of the manor, she enters and hasn't been seen since. What is so surprising is that no one in the manor saw her come through the door. They have concluded that Tom is lying and has abducted her. Separately, there is another mystery present: lights flicker in a wing of the manor accompanied by eerie sounds. And then a man, last seen arguing with Tom Lomax, is murdered on the grounds. These enigmas set Dido's inquisitive mind to wondering what might be going on at this strange place.

A Place of Confinement is a delightful historical mystery. The characters and places are realistically drawn and appropriate for the time frame of the story. There is a hint of romance for Miss Dido Kent; Tom Lomax's father William comes to his aid when he's accused of kidnapping and murder, and Dido has a soft spot for William. But her attention must first be to finding the real culprit, and she agrees with William that Tom could not have committed these crimes in this remarkably entertaining story.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of A Place of Confinement.

Acknowledgment: Minotaur Books provided of A Place of Confinement for this review.

Review Copyright © 2013 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

Selected reviews of other mysteries by this author …

Mystery Book Review: Bellfield Hall by Anna DeanBellfield Hall
Minotaur Books (Hardcover), February 2010
ISBN-13: 9780312562946; ISBN-10: 0312562942

Location(s) referenced in A Place of Confinement: England

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A Place of Confinement by Anna Dean

A Place of Confinement by A Dido Kent Mystery

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-1-250-02967-6
Publication Date:
List Price: $25.99

Buy the Book (purchase options)

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Page Author: Lance Wright
Site Publisher: Mysterious Reviews

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