Sheer
Folly
A
Daisy Dalrymple Mystery
Carola
Dunn
St.
Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-312-38775-X (031238775X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-38775-4 (9780312387754)
Publication Date: September 2009
List Price: $24.99
Synopsis (from
the publisher): In March of 1926, Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher and her
friend and collaborator Lucy (a.k.a. Lady Gerald) head off for several
days at stately home reputed to have the best grotto in the country.
Working on a book of follies (architectural), they plan to research and
photograph it. Leaving her husband and young twins behind, Daisy is
expecting a productive weekend at Appsworth Hall, with the only
potential difficulty being keeping Lucy from offending the current
owner, a manufacturer of plumbing products.
Alas, it’s not to be quite so simple. At the home, they find
themselves faced with a curious assortment of people including the
abominable, tactless Lord Rydal, who is rumored to be having an affair
with one of the guests while at the same time in ardent and artless
pursuit of the hand in marriage of another. When the grotto explodes
with Lord Rydal in it, it’s not a question of who would do
it—as most who’ve met him would be sorely
tempted—but who actually did do it.
Review:
Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher investigates an accident (or is it murder?) in
an architectural folly in Sheer Folly,
the 18th mystery in this series by Carola Dunn.
An eclectic group of men and women have assembled at Appsworth Hall,
the estate of Mr. Brin Pritchard, the wealthy owner of Pritchard
Plumbing Products. Mr. Pritchard has modernized a local cave into a
fantastic grotto, reportedly the most beautiful in all the area. Daisy,
a writer, and her friend, Lucy, a photographer, are working together on
a book of architectural follies and this grotto seems to be an ideal
example. Pritchard invites them to come out for a long weekend to learn
about and photograph it.
Living at the mansion are Winifred Howell, Pritchard's sister-in-law
and acting lady of the house since Pritchard's wife's death, and her
son Owen. The weekend visitors include Charles Armitage, a Professor of
History from Canada who is it researching the estate, Lady Beaufort and
her daughter Lucy, Lady Ottaline and her husband Sir Desmond
Wandersley, a civil servant with the Ministry of Health, and his
private secretary Carlin, and Lord Rydal, better known as "Rhino", a
suitor of Lucy and rumored paramour of another of the ladies in
attendance.
But the weather isn't cooperating, and it isn't the only thing that
ultimately ruins the weekend. Lord Rydal is killed in the grotto when
it blows up, burying him under the rubble. Daisy is eager to get
involved, but the local police want her to stay out. But she's not
married to a Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector for nothing, and
calls him in knowing he will allow her to snoop around and seek clues
to mystery surround Rhino's death.
Sheer
Folly is a delight to read.
The author has a good eye and ear for the ways and manner of the
aristocracy of 1926 England, and incorporates both into the murder
mystery plot. The characters are eccentric without being
clichés and the setting perfect for a manor house mystery
(even if the murder takes place in a cave). Fans of both cozies and
historical mysteries will be taken with the latest entry in this
long-running series.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Sheer Folly and to St. Martin's Minotaur for providing a copy of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Have you read Sheer Folly? How would you rate it?
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The
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Black
Ship
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), September 2008
ISBN-10: 0-312-36307-9 (0312363079)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-36307-9 (9780312363079)
Sheer Folly
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), September 2009
ISBN-10: 0-312-38775-X (031238775X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-38775-4 (9780312387754)
Omnimystery
keywords for Sheer Folly
...
Location(s) referenced: England.
