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Mitford Murders #1
The Mitford Murders
It's 1919, and Louisa Cannon dreams of escaping her life of poverty in London, and most of all her oppressive and dangerous uncle.
Louisa's salvation is a position within the Mitford household at Asthall Manor, in the Oxfordshire countryside. There she will become nursery maid, chaperone and confidante to the Mitford sisters, especially sixteen-year-old Nancy - an acerbic, bright young woman in love with stories.
But then a nurse - Florence Nightingale Shore, goddaughter of her famous namesake - is killed on a train in broad daylight, and Louisa and Nancy find themselves entangled in the crimes of a murderer who will do anything to hide their secret . . .
Louisa's salvation is a position within the Mitford household at Asthall Manor, in the Oxfordshire countryside. There she will become nursery maid, chaperone and confidante to the Mitford sisters, especially sixteen-year-old Nancy - an acerbic, bright young woman in love with stories.
But then a nurse - Florence Nightingale Shore, goddaughter of her famous namesake - is killed on a train in broad daylight, and Louisa and Nancy find themselves entangled in the crimes of a murderer who will do anything to hide their secret . . .
421 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,636 reviews
September 16, 2017
EXCERPT: 'As she moved along, stately but sure, like the Lusitania departing from Liverpool, she thought she recognized a figure out of the corner of her eye. It gave Florence a start. Did he know she would be at Victoria? The man was slight, angular and frayed at the edges - a wooden life raft to her ocean liner. His back was half turned away and his hat was pulled down low so that she couldn't be sure if he had seen her. Florence picked up the pace, her heart quickening. She spotted her Porter up ahead, waiting patiently by her bags, and she calmed herself. She had only to get on the train; in less than twenty minutes she'd be on her way. ....It was not long before the guard blew his final whistle. The train moved off, slowly at first, then gathered momentum steadily until, by the time it reached the first tunnel, it was rolling down the line at full speed. That was the last time anyone saw Florence Nightingale Shore alive. ..'
THE BLURB: It's 1919, and Louisa Cannon dreams of escaping her life of poverty in London, and most of all her oppressive and dangerous uncle.
Louisa's salvation is a position within the Mitford household at Asthall Manor, in the Oxfordshire countryside. There she will become nurserymaid, chaperone and confidante to the Mitford sisters, especially sixteen-year-old Nancy - an acerbic, bright young woman in love with stories.
But then a nurse - Florence Nightingale Shore, goddaughter of her famous namesake - is killed on a train in broad daylight, and Louisa and Nancy find themselves entangled in the crimes of a murderer who will do anything to hide their secret . . . '
MY VIEWS: I didn't realize, when I began The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes, that it is based on a real murder. It was not until I reached the end of the book and read the author's historical note, that I discovered Florence Nightingale Shore actually existed, that she was god-daughter of the famous woman herself, and that she was indeed attacked on the Brighton line Monday 12 January, 1920 and died a few days later of her injuries. Nobody was ever found guilty of her murder.
The Mitford Murders is a captivating blend of fact and fiction. Newspaper reports of the interviews conducted with the witnesses at the Inquest have been used to recreate the events. People, including Florence's friend Mabel, the Mitford family and their servants, also have their roots in reality, although some things have been changed for the benefit of the novel.
Fellowes has captured the atmosphere of the early 1920s splendidly. The war is over, but nothing has quite returned to normal. There is a shortage of men; many physically and psychologically wounded soldiers have returned home to nothing, wondering what it was all for. Life is nothing like we know it. The British class system is still very evident. Poverty is a way of life for the lower classes where survival is all, violence and intimidation a way of life . But then again, perhaps nothing has really changed after all, only fashion and technology.
The Mitford Murders is a captivating read. Fellowes, perhaps best known for her Downtown Abbey books, is very good at what she does. This is, apparently, the first book of a new series,one I am looking forward to reading.
Thank you to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page for an explanation of my ratings. This review and others can also be viewed at sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
THE BLURB: It's 1919, and Louisa Cannon dreams of escaping her life of poverty in London, and most of all her oppressive and dangerous uncle.
Louisa's salvation is a position within the Mitford household at Asthall Manor, in the Oxfordshire countryside. There she will become nurserymaid, chaperone and confidante to the Mitford sisters, especially sixteen-year-old Nancy - an acerbic, bright young woman in love with stories.
But then a nurse - Florence Nightingale Shore, goddaughter of her famous namesake - is killed on a train in broad daylight, and Louisa and Nancy find themselves entangled in the crimes of a murderer who will do anything to hide their secret . . . '
MY VIEWS: I didn't realize, when I began The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes, that it is based on a real murder. It was not until I reached the end of the book and read the author's historical note, that I discovered Florence Nightingale Shore actually existed, that she was god-daughter of the famous woman herself, and that she was indeed attacked on the Brighton line Monday 12 January, 1920 and died a few days later of her injuries. Nobody was ever found guilty of her murder.
The Mitford Murders is a captivating blend of fact and fiction. Newspaper reports of the interviews conducted with the witnesses at the Inquest have been used to recreate the events. People, including Florence's friend Mabel, the Mitford family and their servants, also have their roots in reality, although some things have been changed for the benefit of the novel.
Fellowes has captured the atmosphere of the early 1920s splendidly. The war is over, but nothing has quite returned to normal. There is a shortage of men; many physically and psychologically wounded soldiers have returned home to nothing, wondering what it was all for. Life is nothing like we know it. The British class system is still very evident. Poverty is a way of life for the lower classes where survival is all, violence and intimidation a way of life . But then again, perhaps nothing has really changed after all, only fashion and technology.
The Mitford Murders is a captivating read. Fellowes, perhaps best known for her Downtown Abbey books, is very good at what she does. This is, apparently, the first book of a new series,one I am looking forward to reading.
Thank you to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page for an explanation of my ratings. This review and others can also be viewed at sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
May 14, 2023
como é bom ser viciada em tomar conhecimento a respeito de histórias bizarras que aconteceram há ANOS e nunca falaram o suficiente sobre a existência delas até uma pessoa simplesmente decidir jogar o fundamento da fofoca num livro. gratidão apenas.
(agora vou pra umas semanas de obsessão COMPLETA com o caso que inspirou esse livro super bem escrito e gostosin demais de ler! tchau, seguimores)
(agora vou pra umas semanas de obsessão COMPLETA com o caso que inspirou esse livro super bem escrito e gostosin demais de ler! tchau, seguimores)
April 1, 2021
This is the first book in a fiction series, with some facts thrown in, about the infamous Mitford sisters. In The Mitford Murders all of the girls are under sixteen, with the oldest, Nancy, playing a main role in investigating a murder.
For me this turned out to be just an okay read. It was nicely written, the story was fine, but somehow the characters never seemed to jump off the pages and grab my attention. The content was also stretched over far too many pages and I occasionally resorted to the dreaded skimming! This is always an indication to me that I am finding a book ordinary.
Based on its description this book should have been a perfect fit for me but somehow it missed the mark.
For me this turned out to be just an okay read. It was nicely written, the story was fine, but somehow the characters never seemed to jump off the pages and grab my attention. The content was also stretched over far too many pages and I occasionally resorted to the dreaded skimming! This is always an indication to me that I am finding a book ordinary.
Based on its description this book should have been a perfect fit for me but somehow it missed the mark.
November 17, 2017
I am a great lover of Golden Age mysteries, but often feel that modern novels which attempt to recreate that period feel, sometimes suffer from an attempt to make them modern and appeal to modern readers. In some ways, this novel is a good example of a mystery, set in the period 1919 – 1921, yet which is aimed at a modern audience and attempts to make the crime more realistic; yet, in doing so, loses some of the charm of those books.
Louisa Cannon lives with her washerwoman mother, and her unscrupulous, vicious uncle, Stephen, in London. We first meet her on Christmas Eve, 1919, when she runs into an old friend, who is chaperoning Nancy Mitford. Jennie suggests that the Mitford’s need help in the nursery and offers to put in a good word for Louisa, which leads to her escaping her unhappy life and finding a job with the Mitford family.
On her way to her interview, Louisa meets Guy Sullivan, a member of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Police and becomes embroiled in his attempt to solve the murder of Florence Shore. Florence Shore was murdered on a train, on her way to visit a friend, Rosa Peal, who lives above a teashop. By coincidence, Rosa is the twin sister of the Mitford’s beloved Nanny, meaning that Louisa has a link to the crime, as well as romantic feelings for Guy.
Anyone who reads this book expecting the Mitford sisters to be central to the plot, may be a little disappointed. Louisa is working in the nursery as most of the sisters are very young (while their only brother is at boarding school for most of the time). Despite poor Nanny dealing with the little ones, Louisa seems to get the easy option for much of the time; accompanying the eldest, Nancy, as she throws herself, with abandon, into sleuthing.
I liked the character of Louisa and also of Guy Sullivan. Both are slightly damaged – a little bullied, a little insecure – and they work well together. Of course, this could be the first in a series and so we may have more of the younger Mitford sisters as they grow, which gives the author plenty of scope in future. The character of Louisa’s Uncle Stephen works less well and his intrigues and aggressive nature seem a little out of synch with the feeling of the novel.
Saying that, despite some parts of the story feeling a little over long, the author did get a good sense of the period. The shadow of WWI hangs over the story, and the characters, like a pall. There is a good sense of London after the war, but, for me, the parts that worked best were set within the Mitford household. If there is a sequel to this, I would certainly read it, but it seemed, at times, to be unsure of whether it was a modern crime novel set in the 1920’s or a really authentic attempt to write with the feel of the Golden Age, which did not quite work.
Rated 3.5
Louisa Cannon lives with her washerwoman mother, and her unscrupulous, vicious uncle, Stephen, in London. We first meet her on Christmas Eve, 1919, when she runs into an old friend, who is chaperoning Nancy Mitford. Jennie suggests that the Mitford’s need help in the nursery and offers to put in a good word for Louisa, which leads to her escaping her unhappy life and finding a job with the Mitford family.
On her way to her interview, Louisa meets Guy Sullivan, a member of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Police and becomes embroiled in his attempt to solve the murder of Florence Shore. Florence Shore was murdered on a train, on her way to visit a friend, Rosa Peal, who lives above a teashop. By coincidence, Rosa is the twin sister of the Mitford’s beloved Nanny, meaning that Louisa has a link to the crime, as well as romantic feelings for Guy.
Anyone who reads this book expecting the Mitford sisters to be central to the plot, may be a little disappointed. Louisa is working in the nursery as most of the sisters are very young (while their only brother is at boarding school for most of the time). Despite poor Nanny dealing with the little ones, Louisa seems to get the easy option for much of the time; accompanying the eldest, Nancy, as she throws herself, with abandon, into sleuthing.
I liked the character of Louisa and also of Guy Sullivan. Both are slightly damaged – a little bullied, a little insecure – and they work well together. Of course, this could be the first in a series and so we may have more of the younger Mitford sisters as they grow, which gives the author plenty of scope in future. The character of Louisa’s Uncle Stephen works less well and his intrigues and aggressive nature seem a little out of synch with the feeling of the novel.
Saying that, despite some parts of the story feeling a little over long, the author did get a good sense of the period. The shadow of WWI hangs over the story, and the characters, like a pall. There is a good sense of London after the war, but, for me, the parts that worked best were set within the Mitford household. If there is a sequel to this, I would certainly read it, but it seemed, at times, to be unsure of whether it was a modern crime novel set in the 1920’s or a really authentic attempt to write with the feel of the Golden Age, which did not quite work.
Rated 3.5
March 4, 2024
2.5/5
Idk…. It just.. it didn’t… I guess I felt it all extremely rushed? I wasn’t very intrigued in the story itself because it felt more like a typical historical fiction novel rather than a murder mystery type of thing.
Also I felt it was very long for no reason, so many things could have been avoided or were unnecessary. Not only that but, I didn’t hate the characters but I didn’t love them either, there was just nothing special about them. They were just… there. And I didn’t see or feel the chemistry between the main character and the love interest.
.5 for the weird twist at the end and because I was just a very tiny bit invested at some points… but it all seemed so.. repetitive and yet confusing at the same time? Idk
Idk…. It just.. it didn’t… I guess I felt it all extremely rushed? I wasn’t very intrigued in the story itself because it felt more like a typical historical fiction novel rather than a murder mystery type of thing.
Also I felt it was very long for no reason, so many things could have been avoided or were unnecessary. Not only that but, I didn’t hate the characters but I didn’t love them either, there was just nothing special about them. They were just… there. And I didn’t see or feel the chemistry between the main character and the love interest.
.5 for the weird twist at the end and because I was just a very tiny bit invested at some points… but it all seemed so.. repetitive and yet confusing at the same time? Idk
October 31, 2017
As someone who’s been reading about the Mitford family for years, I just couldn’t resist buying this book. But I wish I had.
Much of the story plays out at the Mitfords’ estate in 1920, when the eldest child, Nancy, is 16 and the youngest, Deborah is born. Our main character, Louisa Cannon, age 18, has fled dire circumstances in London and been taken on as a nursery maid. Nancy latches on to Louisa because she is starved for variety and the companionship of someone close to her own age.
The Nancy of this book is a silly, flighty, selfish girl. Obviously I don’t know what the real Nancy Mitford was like, but I certainly always got the impression from my reading that she was intelligent and had a biting wit. Certainly not the annoyingly vapid character Fellowes paints.
Fellowes names the other members of the family and throws in a handful of descriptions easily gleaned from a little bit of reading. Otherwise they are just paper dolls Fellowes moves around as her story requires. There is certainly no use of the famous Mitford style of speech. The family in this book could be any family well enough off to have a small domestic staff. It’s clear to me that Fellowes chose to call this family the Mitfords purely for marketing purposes. Anyone who knows the Mitford history will find this book unsatisfying at best.
The mystery plot is more of a why- and howdunnit than a whodunnit. Florence Nightingale Shore, a goddaughter of the famous nurse and a WWI nurse herself, has been murdered on a train. The railroad police and Scotland Yard quickly run out of leads and close the investigation. (Shore’s murder happened in real life and was never solved.) But railway policeman Guy Sullivan is determined to find out the truth and perhaps prove himself worthy to become a Scotland Yard detective.
Guy meets Louisa early in the book, as she flees the (quite literal) clutches of her evil uncle and, thanks to the insatiable curiosity of Nancy about the Shore murder, Guy and Louisa work together to find the Shore killer.
The mystery plot is slow to get going and I wouldn’t say it’s particularly inventive. I thought it was easy to figure out where it was going. Fellowes also overuses the tired bit from police procedurals in which interviewees complain about having to answer questions more than once. True to her relationship with Downton Abbey stories, Fellowes depicts cruelty to women, with their being helpless to resist or defend themselves. This is one of the reasons why I got tired of Downton Abbey. However period-accurate it may be, that doesn’t mean it adds to the reading experience if it is dwelled on.
I’d call this barely adequate as a mystery and a thorough disappointment as Mitfordiana. I strongly suspect that the use of the Mitford name is a calculated attempt to capitalize on the appetite for stories featuring the intriguing Mitfords. I think if you’re going to do that, you owe it to readers to do more than a slap a few names and biographical details on characters who don’t otherwise particular resemble the real characters.
Finally, I should note that if you insist on reading this book, whatever you do don’t get the audiobook. The reader is actually very good except when it comes to Nancy, for whom she uses a gratingly childish voice that seems the antithesis of what you would imagine Nancy Mitford was like. And, not surprisingly given the writing, none of the Mitfords use the Mitfordian accent.
Much of the story plays out at the Mitfords’ estate in 1920, when the eldest child, Nancy, is 16 and the youngest, Deborah is born. Our main character, Louisa Cannon, age 18, has fled dire circumstances in London and been taken on as a nursery maid. Nancy latches on to Louisa because she is starved for variety and the companionship of someone close to her own age.
The Nancy of this book is a silly, flighty, selfish girl. Obviously I don’t know what the real Nancy Mitford was like, but I certainly always got the impression from my reading that she was intelligent and had a biting wit. Certainly not the annoyingly vapid character Fellowes paints.
Fellowes names the other members of the family and throws in a handful of descriptions easily gleaned from a little bit of reading. Otherwise they are just paper dolls Fellowes moves around as her story requires. There is certainly no use of the famous Mitford style of speech. The family in this book could be any family well enough off to have a small domestic staff. It’s clear to me that Fellowes chose to call this family the Mitfords purely for marketing purposes. Anyone who knows the Mitford history will find this book unsatisfying at best.
The mystery plot is more of a why- and howdunnit than a whodunnit. Florence Nightingale Shore, a goddaughter of the famous nurse and a WWI nurse herself, has been murdered on a train. The railroad police and Scotland Yard quickly run out of leads and close the investigation. (Shore’s murder happened in real life and was never solved.) But railway policeman Guy Sullivan is determined to find out the truth and perhaps prove himself worthy to become a Scotland Yard detective.
Guy meets Louisa early in the book, as she flees the (quite literal) clutches of her evil uncle and, thanks to the insatiable curiosity of Nancy about the Shore murder, Guy and Louisa work together to find the Shore killer.
The mystery plot is slow to get going and I wouldn’t say it’s particularly inventive. I thought it was easy to figure out where it was going. Fellowes also overuses the tired bit from police procedurals in which interviewees complain about having to answer questions more than once. True to her relationship with Downton Abbey stories, Fellowes depicts cruelty to women, with their being helpless to resist or defend themselves. This is one of the reasons why I got tired of Downton Abbey. However period-accurate it may be, that doesn’t mean it adds to the reading experience if it is dwelled on.
I’d call this barely adequate as a mystery and a thorough disappointment as Mitfordiana. I strongly suspect that the use of the Mitford name is a calculated attempt to capitalize on the appetite for stories featuring the intriguing Mitfords. I think if you’re going to do that, you owe it to readers to do more than a slap a few names and biographical details on characters who don’t otherwise particular resemble the real characters.
Finally, I should note that if you insist on reading this book, whatever you do don’t get the audiobook. The reader is actually very good except when it comes to Nancy, for whom she uses a gratingly childish voice that seems the antithesis of what you would imagine Nancy Mitford was like. And, not surprisingly given the writing, none of the Mitfords use the Mitfordian accent.
March 12, 2018
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3.5 stars
The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes is a historical murder mystery novel that came into my hands through a family member who I often trade books with. I was initially intrigued by the surname of the author of this book, Jessica Fellowes. A quick search of Jessica Fellowes revealed that she is connected to Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame, she is his niece. Further connections to Downton Abbey came to light as I discovered that Jessica Fellowes has also written a handful of books on the popular series. I went into this novel with zest and for the most part, this book delivered. As I read The Mitford Murders some time ago, I am having difficulty recalling the main events and details in the novel which I would normally discuss in a larger format review. I have decided to give an in depth review a miss, but instead I wish to showcase The Mitford Murders to readers who enjoy cosy mysteries or Agatha Christie novels. For me, the enjoyment in this novel came from the fact that it was drawn from real life events and figures. The murder victim in this novel, Florence Nightingale Shore was actually killed on a train in broad daylight. To date, this murder has never been solved. In addition, one of the main characters of the novel Nancy Mitford, is drawn from real life. Nancy and her sisters were celebrated figures in Britain, their scandalous lives and writings attracting much attention. So, overall I liked The Mitford Murders. I am interested to see what Jessica Fellowes comes up with next, as The Mitford Murders is the first book in a continuing series for the author, where she plans to tie in the lives of the other Mitford sisters into more of her mystery novels.
3.5 stars
The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes is a historical murder mystery novel that came into my hands through a family member who I often trade books with. I was initially intrigued by the surname of the author of this book, Jessica Fellowes. A quick search of Jessica Fellowes revealed that she is connected to Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame, she is his niece. Further connections to Downton Abbey came to light as I discovered that Jessica Fellowes has also written a handful of books on the popular series. I went into this novel with zest and for the most part, this book delivered. As I read The Mitford Murders some time ago, I am having difficulty recalling the main events and details in the novel which I would normally discuss in a larger format review. I have decided to give an in depth review a miss, but instead I wish to showcase The Mitford Murders to readers who enjoy cosy mysteries or Agatha Christie novels. For me, the enjoyment in this novel came from the fact that it was drawn from real life events and figures. The murder victim in this novel, Florence Nightingale Shore was actually killed on a train in broad daylight. To date, this murder has never been solved. In addition, one of the main characters of the novel Nancy Mitford, is drawn from real life. Nancy and her sisters were celebrated figures in Britain, their scandalous lives and writings attracting much attention. So, overall I liked The Mitford Murders. I am interested to see what Jessica Fellowes comes up with next, as The Mitford Murders is the first book in a continuing series for the author, where she plans to tie in the lives of the other Mitford sisters into more of her mystery novels.
September 26, 2017
Louisa Cannon lived with her mother, both quietly working for others as a seamstress and washerwoman. Things had been hard since her father died, but it had become much worse when her uncle arrived. Louisa was frightened of him, and her mother was too cowed to speak up. So Louisa kept out of his way while she dreamed of escape. One thing led to another and suddenly Louisa had the opportunity to work in Asthall Manor with the Mitford family – she would be a governess of sorts to the six children of the household, assisting the elderly Nanny Blor.
Florence Nightingale Shore, goddaughter of the great lady, Florence Nightingale had resigned her commission as a nurse at Ypres and was travelling on the train from London when she was murdered. The police could find no evidence but young, aspiring Guy Sullivan of the Brighton and South Coast Railway Police was determined to find the truth. He had also taken a liking to Louisa when he’d assisted her in her travels to Asthall Manor. Meanwhile Louisa and Nancy, eldest daughter of the Mitford children, had their suspicions regarding Florence Shore’s death and decided to search for the killer themselves.
The excitable Nancy had no sense of danger, but Louisa did – and her fear at what could happen had her on edge continually. But Guy had a dogged determination, even without his superior’s approval. What would be the outcome? Would the killer be found without any further bloodshed?
The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes is based on the real-life story of Florence Nightingale Shore and her death in 1920 plus the Mitford family who were also a real family. The story around the events are fictional and the Historical Note at the end of the book is of great interest. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery, which is my first by this author – it actually reminded me a little of Agatha Christie’s work. I certainly didn’t pick the murderer (even though I was sure I had!) Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy to read and review.
Florence Nightingale Shore, goddaughter of the great lady, Florence Nightingale had resigned her commission as a nurse at Ypres and was travelling on the train from London when she was murdered. The police could find no evidence but young, aspiring Guy Sullivan of the Brighton and South Coast Railway Police was determined to find the truth. He had also taken a liking to Louisa when he’d assisted her in her travels to Asthall Manor. Meanwhile Louisa and Nancy, eldest daughter of the Mitford children, had their suspicions regarding Florence Shore’s death and decided to search for the killer themselves.
The excitable Nancy had no sense of danger, but Louisa did – and her fear at what could happen had her on edge continually. But Guy had a dogged determination, even without his superior’s approval. What would be the outcome? Would the killer be found without any further bloodshed?
The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes is based on the real-life story of Florence Nightingale Shore and her death in 1920 plus the Mitford family who were also a real family. The story around the events are fictional and the Historical Note at the end of the book is of great interest. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery, which is my first by this author – it actually reminded me a little of Agatha Christie’s work. I certainly didn’t pick the murderer (even though I was sure I had!) Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy to read and review.
January 17, 2018
Do yourself a favour... and give this overly long, nonsensical insult to the mystery/crime genre a really wide berth. Anyone who can make the famously eccentric Mitford family appear so dull and boring deserves some sort of reverse commendation. And to pin the based-on-real-events-murder on an actual person, whom the author admits was blameless in her epilogue, is sailing close to the winds of defamation and slander. This book was ten kinds of crap. Why in the hell did I persist?
December 27, 2018
Θετικά στοιχεία
- Οι περιγραφές του βιβλίου σε βάζουν στο κλίμα της εποχής μετά τον πόλεμο (1920).
- Οι χαρακτήρες του έργου φαίνονταν φυσικοί για την εποχή.
Αρνητικά στοιχεία
- Το κίνητρο του δολοφόνου δεν μου φάνηκε ισχυρό για τον φόνο (άποψή μου)
- Οι περιγραφές του βιβλίου σε βάζουν στο κλίμα της εποχής μετά τον πόλεμο (1920).
- Οι χαρακτήρες του έργου φαίνονταν φυσικοί για την εποχή.
Αρνητικά στοιχεία
- Το κίνητρο του δολοφόνου δεν μου φάνηκε ισχυρό για τον φόνο (άποψή μου)
February 12, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read by this author; she's built quite a following over her "Downtown Abby" books. I love historical mysteries primarily set in post-war Britain. This book did not disappoint; the way Ms. Fellowes weaved the facts of the case with her own brand of fiction made this a terrific mystery. I must confess, I had no idea this book was based on a true story until I finished the book and read the author’s notes.
Florence Nightingale Shore was a war nurse whose God Mother you guessed it was the famous nurse Florence Nightingale. Ms. Shore was a kindly woman who dedicated her life to helping others, she had decided to retire after the war and enjoy the rest of her life. She was on a train headed to the coast to visit a dear friend of hers when she was murdered. Her murder caused quite a stir, it was shocking that someone could be murdered on a train during the mid-day without any one noticing anything.
Several other plots were going on throughout the book that kept the storyline from lagging. The Mitford family was introduced into the book when Lady Redesdale employed a young woman, Louisa Cannon to assist the loveable overworked Nanny Blor who needed more help caring for the ever-growing Mitford clan. Louisa was only 19 years old and running from her past and she was relieved to be hired to work for Lord and Lady Redesdale as a nanny. She had no experience and it was a dream come true when Lady Redesdale hired her. It gave Louisa a chance to start a new life for herself but one that she would have to take extra care that her past didn’t follow her to their home. The oldest child of the Mitford’s was the precocious Nancy Mitford who was 16 years old and was more than thrilled to have the young Louisa as a nanny. The two young girls became quite close, Louisa had her hands full trying to reel the headstrong Nancy in from getting them both into some serious trouble.
I liked the characters of this book; they were well developed and believable. David Mitford who inherited the title of Lord Redesdale after his oldest brother died during the war, David Mitford was an officer during the war that claimed his brother’s life.
The mysterious death of Florence Nightingale Shore was a constant during the entirety of this book. It was a major cause of contention and speculation between most of the main characters. I was glad to see that this is the first of a series and the second book is already in the works. I'll be purchasing that one for sure.
Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinion I expressed above regarding this book is my own.
Florence Nightingale Shore was a war nurse whose God Mother you guessed it was the famous nurse Florence Nightingale. Ms. Shore was a kindly woman who dedicated her life to helping others, she had decided to retire after the war and enjoy the rest of her life. She was on a train headed to the coast to visit a dear friend of hers when she was murdered. Her murder caused quite a stir, it was shocking that someone could be murdered on a train during the mid-day without any one noticing anything.
Several other plots were going on throughout the book that kept the storyline from lagging. The Mitford family was introduced into the book when Lady Redesdale employed a young woman, Louisa Cannon to assist the loveable overworked Nanny Blor who needed more help caring for the ever-growing Mitford clan. Louisa was only 19 years old and running from her past and she was relieved to be hired to work for Lord and Lady Redesdale as a nanny. She had no experience and it was a dream come true when Lady Redesdale hired her. It gave Louisa a chance to start a new life for herself but one that she would have to take extra care that her past didn’t follow her to their home. The oldest child of the Mitford’s was the precocious Nancy Mitford who was 16 years old and was more than thrilled to have the young Louisa as a nanny. The two young girls became quite close, Louisa had her hands full trying to reel the headstrong Nancy in from getting them both into some serious trouble.
I liked the characters of this book; they were well developed and believable. David Mitford who inherited the title of Lord Redesdale after his oldest brother died during the war, David Mitford was an officer during the war that claimed his brother’s life.
The mysterious death of Florence Nightingale Shore was a constant during the entirety of this book. It was a major cause of contention and speculation between most of the main characters. I was glad to see that this is the first of a series and the second book is already in the works. I'll be purchasing that one for sure.
Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinion I expressed above regarding this book is my own.
October 13, 2018
Con una trama basada en un crimen real sin resolver en el que la autora involucra a la conocida familia Mitford y en la que da resolución a la ficción creada, resulta una opción más dentro de las de lecturas de entretenimiento.
July 19, 2020
Super enjoyable and entertaining cosy mystery. Love the setting and the time period.
I will mention though, if you're going into this wanting to read about the Mitford sisters, the fact that the characters in here are based on them is completely irrelevant and you're going to be disappointed if that's what you're after. I went in not remembering that they were a real family, so I just went along without that element and that probably made it a lot easier for me to enjoy. If you can look aside from it though, this is a lovely, slightly dark, readable and very British historical mystery.
I will mention though, if you're going into this wanting to read about the Mitford sisters, the fact that the characters in here are based on them is completely irrelevant and you're going to be disappointed if that's what you're after. I went in not remembering that they were a real family, so I just went along without that element and that probably made it a lot easier for me to enjoy. If you can look aside from it though, this is a lovely, slightly dark, readable and very British historical mystery.
December 31, 2017
*cue Cartman voice* Ah’m talkin’ fifth-season Night Court LAME.
This was a dreary effort and I’ll not be delving further into the series. A drippy heroine, a plodding plot, and having Nancy saying ‘Farve’ every five seconds does not conjure up the world of the Mitfords. There’s a plot twist revealed halfway through that you’ll probably see coming and, even if you don’t, will NOT have you clutching your pearls. You’ll also most likely guess the killer. Utter drivel.
This was a dreary effort and I’ll not be delving further into the series. A drippy heroine, a plodding plot, and having Nancy saying ‘Farve’ every five seconds does not conjure up the world of the Mitfords. There’s a plot twist revealed halfway through that you’ll probably see coming and, even if you don’t, will NOT have you clutching your pearls. You’ll also most likely guess the killer. Utter drivel.
June 3, 2020
Three and a half stars.
The story starts with a prologue and the murder in 1920 on a train Florence Nightingale Shore before going back to Christmas Eve 1919. Even though it means leaving her beloved mother, Louisa Cannon desperately wants to leave London and escape from her dangerous uncle who would involve her in all manner of schemes. That Christmas Louisa writes a letter she hopes will change her life for the better. Despite some setbacks she ends up being employed at Asthall Manor as a nursery maid, chaperone and confidante to the Mitford children, especially the eldest sister Nancy. Somehow Louisa and Nancy with their curious natures end up entangled in the murder investigation of Florence Shore. Along the way more than one secret is uncovered and more than one romance blossoms. Or does it?
I quite enjoyed this murder mystery although I was wondering at one stage when a second murder would take place. I liked the main character Louisa and also liked Guy Sullivan of the railway police who aims to try and solve the murder of Florence Shore and hopefully bring himself to the attention of those higher up in the police force. And Louisa and Nancy also end up sifting through clues trying to solve the murder. I liked the fleshing out and back story of characters.
It’s not what I would all a page turner but it moves along at an agreeable pace most of the time. Just sometimes it seemed a little long winded. Towards the end it had me reading faster. A quite enjoyable read that throws up more than one red herring. Interesting enough without being completely gripping. Those who like cosy historical mysteries should enjoy it. I was glad I read it.
The story starts with a prologue and the murder in 1920 on a train Florence Nightingale Shore before going back to Christmas Eve 1919. Even though it means leaving her beloved mother, Louisa Cannon desperately wants to leave London and escape from her dangerous uncle who would involve her in all manner of schemes. That Christmas Louisa writes a letter she hopes will change her life for the better. Despite some setbacks she ends up being employed at Asthall Manor as a nursery maid, chaperone and confidante to the Mitford children, especially the eldest sister Nancy. Somehow Louisa and Nancy with their curious natures end up entangled in the murder investigation of Florence Shore. Along the way more than one secret is uncovered and more than one romance blossoms. Or does it?
I quite enjoyed this murder mystery although I was wondering at one stage when a second murder would take place. I liked the main character Louisa and also liked Guy Sullivan of the railway police who aims to try and solve the murder of Florence Shore and hopefully bring himself to the attention of those higher up in the police force. And Louisa and Nancy also end up sifting through clues trying to solve the murder. I liked the fleshing out and back story of characters.
It’s not what I would all a page turner but it moves along at an agreeable pace most of the time. Just sometimes it seemed a little long winded. Towards the end it had me reading faster. A quite enjoyable read that throws up more than one red herring. Interesting enough without being completely gripping. Those who like cosy historical mysteries should enjoy it. I was glad I read it.
September 30, 2019
A good first story for a new murder mystery series!
The main characters are likeable and it was a pleasant read despite that it had a rather slow beginning to get to the point of the investigation lead by the protagonists!
I really am fond of stories set upon period eras and that added to my giving a high rating!
The main characters are likeable and it was a pleasant read despite that it had a rather slow beginning to get to the point of the investigation lead by the protagonists!
I really am fond of stories set upon period eras and that added to my giving a high rating!
December 6, 2019
A highly entertaining whodunnit and an excellent blend of fact and fiction. The murder of Florence Nightingale Shore in January 1920 was a true crime and the Mitford family are not just famous but infamous! The rest is fiction.
I have already read the second and third books in this series so reading this first book was like reading a prequel. It made no difference to my enjoyment though. In fact, it probably added to it because I knew I was in for a treat and it explained the background to the next in the series. All of the books can stand alone but this is shaping up to be an excellent series.
Easily 5 stars for sheer entertainment. Roll on book number 4!
I have already read the second and third books in this series so reading this first book was like reading a prequel. It made no difference to my enjoyment though. In fact, it probably added to it because I knew I was in for a treat and it explained the background to the next in the series. All of the books can stand alone but this is shaping up to be an excellent series.
Easily 5 stars for sheer entertainment. Roll on book number 4!
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April 26, 2019Ήταν ένα καλό αστυνομικό μυστήριο της "κλασσικής" εποχής του μεσοπολέμου. Το δυνατό του σημείο είναι οι πληροφορίες για την κοινωνία και τη ζωή στην Αγγλία της εποχής. Η προσπάθεια αυτή όμως, σε συνδυασμό με το "χτίσιμο" των χαρακτήρων που θα χρησιμοποιηθούν και σε επόμενα βιβλία, έχει ως αποτέλεσμα σε αρκετά σημεία να εξελίσσεται αργά η υπόθεση χωρίς ουσιαστικό ενδιαφέρον για τον αναγνώστη. Τα πράγματα επιταχύνονται αισθητά στο τέλος και η αποκάλυψη των γεγονότων είναι πολύ ικανοποιητική και είναι κρίμα γιατί προσφερόταν για καλύτερο ρυθμό.
December 30, 2022
Sing it with me, this is raggedy... raggedy... this is raggedy.
I can only be mad at myself though. At some point this year I became OBSESSED with reading this book, I was determined to get to it... I have checked it out from the library on three separate occasions and renewed it more times than I can remember. I really had it in my head that this was going to be a new favorite, and right here in the final hours of 2022 was the time to read it.
Y'all it shoulda stayed at the damn library.
Our main character, Louisa Cannon was so dry. Her love interest/the actual cop in the narrative, Guy Sullivan was equally as under-baked, and most criminally the mystery in the book took TWO WHOLE ASS YEARS to solve... wherein we saw very little of the actual sleuthing, just these two dry ass characters moving around 1920 England. To the point where all the higher ups at Guy's job are talking about how he has no evidence, the case has been closed, and when they solve the case at the end of the book they still have no evidence and the person they're charging with the crime would walk in a heartbeat, ain't nothing satisfying occurred within the pages of this book.
I expected something light and fun, a little tropey, maybe a little dry as I acclimated to the historical nature of the mystery.... but everything in this book was drawn out to the point of robbing any real tension from the narrative. If you do decide to read the book, it is obviously about a murder that is pretty comporable to what you might find if you watch modern procedurals. But the end of the book does deal with a character that is believed to have committed suicide and that is discussed, and a seperate character is believed to have been killed at the direction of one of the other characters.
I can only be mad at myself though. At some point this year I became OBSESSED with reading this book, I was determined to get to it... I have checked it out from the library on three separate occasions and renewed it more times than I can remember. I really had it in my head that this was going to be a new favorite, and right here in the final hours of 2022 was the time to read it.
Y'all it shoulda stayed at the damn library.
Our main character, Louisa Cannon was so dry. Her love interest/the actual cop in the narrative, Guy Sullivan was equally as under-baked, and most criminally the mystery in the book took TWO WHOLE ASS YEARS to solve... wherein we saw very little of the actual sleuthing, just these two dry ass characters moving around 1920 England. To the point where all the higher ups at Guy's job are talking about how he has no evidence, the case has been closed, and when they solve the case at the end of the book they still have no evidence and the person they're charging with the crime would walk in a heartbeat, ain't nothing satisfying occurred within the pages of this book.
I expected something light and fun, a little tropey, maybe a little dry as I acclimated to the historical nature of the mystery.... but everything in this book was drawn out to the point of robbing any real tension from the narrative. If you do decide to read the book, it is obviously about a murder that is pretty comporable to what you might find if you watch modern procedurals. But the end of the book does deal with a character that is believed to have committed suicide and that is discussed, and a seperate character is believed to have been killed at the direction of one of the other characters.
August 6, 2018
The only mystery here is how this could be anywhere near a bestseller list ...
July 22, 2019
"Een echt verhaal waar Dowton Abbey een ontmoeting heeft met Agatha Christie"
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2019...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2019...
January 18, 2022
Novela en la que se mezclan personajes reales y ficticios, y se resuelve el caso real de un crimen cometido en 1920.
Buena ambientación, sobre la que planea la sombra de la WWI, con unos personajes atractivos y un estilo con un aire a lo Agatha Christie.
Entretenida y ligera.
Buena ambientación, sobre la que planea la sombra de la WWI, con unos personajes atractivos y un estilo con un aire a lo Agatha Christie.
Entretenida y ligera.
January 19, 2023
Un buon esordio di questa serie, che mi ha fatto venire voglia di leggere qualcosa di Nancy Mitford...
Forse c'è qualcosa di simile a Un semplice caso di infedeltà di Jacqueline Winspear - ambientato anch'esso subito dopo la Prima Guerra Mondiale - ma la scrittura di Fellowes mi ha convinta di più. E comunque, l'autrice non ha la presunzione di descrivere scene di guerra in modo semplicistico, lascia semplicemente che i personaggi che l'hanno combattuta siano molto, molto discreti, e anzi, sceglie che il suo detective sia un giovane riformato per problemi fisici che vuole farsi valere come detective per dimostrare ai suoi fratelli (quelli che non sono morti in trincea) di non essere un buono a nulla. Purtroppo, sappiamo come gli inglesi trattavano gli uomini che avevano l'età adatta per arruolarsi durante la Grande Guerra e invece restavano in Inghilterra, quindi possiamo solo immaginare come abbiano fatto sentire Guy, che è ancora pieno di sensi di colpa!
Buona la dinamica della soluzione del caso, con l'autrice che spinge a sospettare sempre più di qualcuno su cui si appuntano troppe coincidenze per essere innocente... ma non voglio spoilerare.
In quanto al fatto che questo sia un omicidio realmente avvenuto e irrisolto e che, probabilmente, la soluzione del caso potrebbe essere del tutto diversa dalla realtà... be', mi fa ritenere Fellowes un po' troppo audace e magari iniqua nell'accusare degli innocenti, anche se poi spiega tutto alla fine del libro...
Naturalmente non ho capito niente dei nomi delle ragazze Mitford, anche perché hanno tutte dei soprannomi diversi. Quindi, a parte Nancy, non ricordo come si chiamano le altre, ma immagino che le memorizzerò a mano a mano che proseguirò con la serie.
Comunque si vede che Jessica Fellowes è nipote di Julian ed è molto legata alla serie di Downton Abbey (su cui ha scritto a sua volta dei saggi di approfondimento), perché la ricostruzione storica della vita in una dimora di campagna di un nobile inglese è eccellente.
Forse c'è qualcosa di simile a Un semplice caso di infedeltà di Jacqueline Winspear - ambientato anch'esso subito dopo la Prima Guerra Mondiale - ma la scrittura di Fellowes mi ha convinta di più. E comunque, l'autrice non ha la presunzione di descrivere scene di guerra in modo semplicistico, lascia semplicemente che i personaggi che l'hanno combattuta siano molto, molto discreti, e anzi, sceglie che il suo detective sia un giovane riformato per problemi fisici che vuole farsi valere come detective per dimostrare ai suoi fratelli (quelli che non sono morti in trincea) di non essere un buono a nulla. Purtroppo, sappiamo come gli inglesi trattavano gli uomini che avevano l'età adatta per arruolarsi durante la Grande Guerra e invece restavano in Inghilterra, quindi possiamo solo immaginare come abbiano fatto sentire Guy, che è ancora pieno di sensi di colpa!
Buona la dinamica della soluzione del caso, con l'autrice che spinge a sospettare sempre più di qualcuno su cui si appuntano troppe coincidenze per essere innocente... ma non voglio spoilerare.
In quanto al fatto che questo sia un omicidio realmente avvenuto e irrisolto e che, probabilmente, la soluzione del caso potrebbe essere del tutto diversa dalla realtà... be', mi fa ritenere Fellowes un po' troppo audace e magari iniqua nell'accusare degli innocenti, anche se poi spiega tutto alla fine del libro...
Naturalmente non ho capito niente dei nomi delle ragazze Mitford, anche perché hanno tutte dei soprannomi diversi. Quindi, a parte Nancy, non ricordo come si chiamano le altre, ma immagino che le memorizzerò a mano a mano che proseguirò con la serie.
Comunque si vede che Jessica Fellowes è nipote di Julian ed è molto legata alla serie di Downton Abbey (su cui ha scritto a sua volta dei saggi di approfondimento), perché la ricostruzione storica della vita in una dimora di campagna di un nobile inglese è eccellente.
November 16, 2017
Oh my Lord, this book is BAD! I don’t know if I’m more bothered that the crime element was so weak it would have struggled to make an engaging novella, or that the Mitfords have somehow been reduced to insipid blandness.
Don’t even get me started on the ending - you CANNOT just decide that an actual real person who was never even charged let alone suspected, was guilty of the murder. A real person who was a good friend. Who was involved in running the memorial to Florence Nightingale Shore. That’s just...terribly non-U!
Not saying I won’t read the sequel though - I think I more love-to-hate-it than outright hate it?! Although I will be SHOCKED if the series makes it to the end of the planned 6 volumes (one for each sister). If we get to Debo I will eat my cloche!
Don’t even get me started on the ending - you CANNOT just decide that an actual real person who was never even charged let alone suspected, was guilty of the murder. A real person who was a good friend. Who was involved in running the memorial to Florence Nightingale Shore. That’s just...terribly non-U!
Not saying I won’t read the sequel though - I think I more love-to-hate-it than outright hate it?! Although I will be SHOCKED if the series makes it to the end of the planned 6 volumes (one for each sister). If we get to Debo I will eat my cloche!
September 11, 2018
Me ha gustado muchísimo y he disfrutado leyendo y viendo hacia dónde me encaminaba la escritora. Creo que esa mezcla de narrativa con misterio e investigación funciona muy bien y consigue una novela muy atractiva para diferentes tipos de lectores.
Opinión completa en el blog
Opinión completa en el blog
March 16, 2018
This was largely a book of fiction but based on real events and people after WWI. I liked Louisa and the Nancy Mitford story more than the murder mystery of Nightingale. Good book but I didn’t love like I was hoping. 3.5 stars!
August 18, 2018
not for me - a young woman being violently treated by her drunken uncle is not something I care to proceed with and find the number of positive reviews hard to swallow
May 13, 2022
3 stars
Based on the real murder of nurse Florence Shore on a train in 1922, this historical crime novel had all the ingredients to be a real winner. Unfortunately, it fell far short due to one thing: the plot.
The novel reads like a textbook example of employing ALL of the advice given in "how to write a mystery" handbooks, thus making seem like a wobbly first-timer wrote it.
For example, this advice: "Your character needs to be in constant danger to keep up a sense of tension when the investigation slows. To do this, you can create a lurking villain. Introduce them at the start and make sure to keep them popping up so your readers are on the edge of their seats!"
Voila! Uncle Stephen is born. A drunken user who wants to force our MC Louisa into prostitution to pay off his gambling debts. After she escapes his clutches at the start of the novel, he (or just his shadow) keeps showing up in the most unlikely of places -- creating some ridiculous near-miss scenes, awkward action and deus-ex-machina saves.
In short, everything that has to do with Louisa (an imaginary character) and not real historical personages is highly problematic, including everything from plotting to characterisation to scene design.
The writing, however, is actually pretty good and the mystery is fine...despite the very obvious INSERT TWIST HERE reveals.
All-in-all, if you're looking for an beach read you don't mind abandoning in a hotel, this would be suitable. If you're looking for a good 1920s read + mystery, look elsewhere.
Based on the real murder of nurse Florence Shore on a train in 1922, this historical crime novel had all the ingredients to be a real winner. Unfortunately, it fell far short due to one thing: the plot.
The novel reads like a textbook example of employing ALL of the advice given in "how to write a mystery" handbooks, thus making seem like a wobbly first-timer wrote it.
For example, this advice: "Your character needs to be in constant danger to keep up a sense of tension when the investigation slows. To do this, you can create a lurking villain. Introduce them at the start and make sure to keep them popping up so your readers are on the edge of their seats!"
Voila! Uncle Stephen is born. A drunken user who wants to force our MC Louisa into prostitution to pay off his gambling debts. After she escapes his clutches at the start of the novel, he (or just his shadow) keeps showing up in the most unlikely of places -- creating some ridiculous near-miss scenes, awkward action and deus-ex-machina saves.
In short, everything that has to do with Louisa (an imaginary character) and not real historical personages is highly problematic, including everything from plotting to characterisation to scene design.
The writing, however, is actually pretty good and the mystery is fine...despite the very obvious INSERT TWIST HERE reveals.
All-in-all, if you're looking for an beach read you don't mind abandoning in a hotel, this would be suitable. If you're looking for a good 1920s read + mystery, look elsewhere.
September 7, 2018
Als ich von dem Verlag gefragt wurde, ob ich nicht Interesse hätte, das neue Buch von Jessica Fellowes zu lesen, war ich anfangs etwas skeptisch. Ich muss gestehen, ich war noch nie ein großer Fan von historischen Romanen, tue ich mich – aus irgendeinem Grund – immer schwer damit, in diese Geschichten einzutauchen. Doch die Mischung aus Krimi und Historischer Roman machten mich neugierig. Außerdem hatte ich mir dieses Jahr fest vorgenommen, meinen literarischen Horizont zu erweitern und mich auch mal in unbekannte Gefilde zu begeben und Genres auszuprobieren, die ich bisher immer gemieden hatte. Ich griff also die Gelegenheit beim Schopfe, nahm die angebotene Kooperation des Verlages an und freute mich auf ein mir neues, unbekanntes Abenteuer. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt hatte ich noch keine Ahnung, dass die Mitford Schwestern tatsächlich existierten und auch der Mord an Florence Nightingale Shore nicht vollends der Fantasie der Autorin entsprungen ist, sondern sich dieser tatsächlich im Jahre 1920 zugetragen hatte.
Habt ihr schon mal ein Buch gelesen, das ein solch großes Interesse in euch geweckt hat, dass ihr, nachdem ihr es beendet hattet, stundenlang im Internet verbracht und recherchiert habt? Die Schwestern von Mitford Manor – Unter Verdacht hat genau dieses Bedürfnis in mir ausgelöst. Sogar noch bevor ich das Buch beendet hatte, wollte ich mehr erfahren; wollte mehr wissen über die Familie Mitford, insbesondere über die sechs Töchter. Meine Befürchtungen, eventuell Schwierigkeiten sowohl mit dem Setting, als auch mit dem Schreibstil haben zu können, stellten sich bereits nach den ersten paar Seiten als unnötig heraus. Jessica Fellowes beschreibt alles ganz wunderbar bildhaft und lebendig. Wie ein Film spielen sich die Geschehnisse vor dem geistigen Auge ab und man sieht die schmutzigen und düsteren Gegenden Londons, das prachtvolle Anwesen der Mitfords, sowie die noblen Ferienorte an der Küste und die hübschen, kleinen, gemütlichen Cafés so deutlich vor sich, als wäre man selbst dort. Doch nicht nur die Orte und Geschehnisse beschreibt sie lebendig, auch die Emotionen der Menschen kommen so unglaublich gut rüber, dass es mir teilweise wirklich Gänsehaut verursachte, insbesondere die Gegensätze zwischen arm und reich, den Kriegsheimkehrern und den Daheimgebliebenen macht sie – dank offenbar intensiver Recherchen – in ihrer Geschichte um die Mitford-Schwestern sehr intensiv deutlich.
Und obwohl ich glaubte, den Überblick über all die Figuren zu verlieren, was in einem Buch mit so unglaublich vielen, unterschiedlichen Figuren gar nicht so abwegig ist, stellte sich auch dies schon nach den ersten Kapitel als nicht zutreffend heraus, da aufgrund der detaillierten Beschreibungen und der Abgrenzungen der verschiedenen Handlungsstränge es keineswegs schwierig war, die Figuren auseinanderzuhalten und den Figuren zu folgen, zumal sämtliche von Ihnen ganz wunderbar ausgearbeitet und dargestellt sind, mit ihren Eigenarten und Liebenswürdigkeiten.
Besonders angetan hat es mir hier Louisa, das Kindermädchen, das sich aufgrund ihrer Arbeit auf Mitford Manor ein besseres Leben erhofft. Nancy, die älteste der Mitford Töchter, ist nur zwei Jahre jünger als Louisa und möchte sie daher unbedingt als Freundin und Vertraute, statt als Kindermädchen und das obwohl sie, bis auf ihr Alter, nicht viel gemein haben. Die beiden jungen Frauen könnten unterschiedlicher nicht sein, stammt Nancy aus einer ansehnlichen Familie, die auf so viele Bedienstete zurückgreifen kann, dass man es ihr nicht verübeln würde, würde sie all die Angestellten in ihrem Hause nicht mal beim Namen nennen. Louisa hingegen kommt aus ärmlichen Verhältnissen und teilte sich sogar ein Zimmer mit ihrer Mutter. Als Wäscherin ging sie ihrer Mutter zur Hand und versuchte so zur Finanzierung ihres Lebensunterhalts beizutragen.
„Ein bisschen kam es ihr so vor, als würden sie die Hände nacheinander ausstrecken, ohne sich ganz berühren zu können …“
Während ich Louisa unglaublich lieb gewonnen habe, hatte ich so meine Schwierigkeiten mit Nancy muss ich gestehen. Obwohl sie wohl anscheinend die umgänglichste der Mitford-Schwestern war, kam ich mit ihrem Charakter nur sehr schwer zurecht. Ich empfand sie als aufmüpfig, manchmal sogar als respektlos und frech. Wahrscheinlich ist es auch genau das, was sie auszeichnet, hat sie sich schon immer gruselige Geschichten ausgedacht und zum Spaß jeden in ihrer Umgebung, besonders ihre Geschwister, „auf die Schippe genommen“. Dennoch erschien sie mir für ihr Alter teilweise zu unreif, was mich stellenweise wirklich in den Wahnsinn trieb. Louisas Zweifel, ob sie sich nun tatsächlich auf eine Freundschaft zu ihr einlassen sollte oder nicht, konnte ich daher sehr gut nachempfinden. Auch ich war mir in manchen Situationen einfach unsicher, ob man Nancy vertrauen konnte oder nicht.
Während Nancy also versucht, Louisa zu Dingen zu überreden, die sie ihren Job kosten könnten, und obwohl sie es tunlichst vermeiden möchte, ihre Stellung zu verlieren, lässt sie sich von Nancy doch zu den ein oder anderen Dingen überreden, was ihre Anstellung in Mitford Manor gefährdet.
Und obwohl ich Louisa wirklich gleich von Beginn an in mein Herz geschlossen habe, war sie dennoch nicht mein Liebling der zahlreichen Figuren, die wir in dieser Geschichte begleiten dürfen. Mein Liebling und der wahre Held dieser Geschichte ist in meinen Augen Guy, der Bahnpolizist. Er ist hartnäckig und verfügt über echtes Durchsetzungsvermögen. Er ist hin und wieder etwas schüchtern, zurückhaltend irgendwie und vielleicht auch das ein oder andere Mal etwas ungeschickt, aber dennoch verfügt er über die Kämpfernatur eines Löwen. War er einer der Polizisten, die zum Tatort des schrecklichen Mordes an Florence Nightingale Shore gerufen wurden, wurde er späterhin von dem Fall abgezogen, lässt sich davon aber nicht unterkriegen, noch nicht einmal, als er bewusst die Grenzen überschreitet und das ein oder andere mal sogar gegen die polizeilichen Vorschriften verstößt. Auf eigene Faust ermittelt er weiter. Er hat es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, den Mord an Florence Nightingale Shore aufzuklären, nicht nur, um ihr Gerechtigkeit zuzuführen, sondern auch, weil er davon träumt, dem Geheimdienst beizutreten und durch das Aufklären des Falls eben auf eine solche Stellung hofft, um endlich aus seinem Elternhaus ausziehen und sich eine eigene Wohnung leisten zu können, um letztendlich dann auch eine Frau zu finden.
Der Mordfall der Florence Nightingale Share ist unglaublich komplex und im Laufe der Geschichte werden immer neue Aspekte aufgedeckt. So führt der Fall zum Beispiel zurück bis in den ersten Weltkrieg. Immer wieder tauchen neue Verdächtige auf, Motive und Alibis, in denen man sich als Leser nach einer Weile vollends verliert. Bis zuletzt lag ich mit meinen Vermutungen falsch. Ich war gefesselt von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite, was nicht nur an dem wunderbar lebendigen Schreibstil der Autorin lag, sondern auch an dem überaus spannenden Plot und all den überraschenden Wendungen. Auch das Zusammenspiel der einzelnen Figuren, hat in mir das starke Bedürfnis geweckt, immer weiter zu lesen. Jessica Fellowes hat es mit ihrem Buch geschafft, mich in eine völlig fremde, neue Welt zu entführen, von der ich sehr gerne noch länger ein Teil geblieben wäre, denn obwohl das Buch mit seinen knapp 500 Seiten schon ein recht dicker Wälzer ist, hätte ich noch ewig darin weiter lesen und mich von der Geschichte der Familie Mitford berieseln lassen können.
Ein richtiger Pageturner. Ich konnte es einfach nicht aus den Händen legen.
LOHNT SICH DAS BUCH?
Ein mysteriöser Mord, den es aufzuklären heißt, jede Menge Verwicklungen unter den Figuren, Krieg, Freundschaft und Liebe – dieses Buch hat alles, was ein Buch braucht, um den Leser von Anfang bis Ende zu unterhalten. Eine Familiensaga, die nicht nur brillant, sondern auch spannend und unterhaltsam umgesetzt ist. Schon jetzt freue ich mich auf die Folgebände. Jede der Schwestern wird ihr eigenes Buch bekommen. Und jetzt, nachdem wir wissen, dass ein paar der Schwestern sich tatsächlich zum Faschismus, sprich zu Adolf Hitler, hingezogen fühlten, bin ich noch neugieriger darauf, wie die Autorin dies umsetzen wird. In einem Interview sagte sie bereits, dass sie gerade hiervor sehr viel Respekt hat.
Ich für meinen Teil kann gar nicht genug von den Mitford Geschwistern bekommen und habe mit diesem Genre nun auch ein neues Genre gefunden, in das ich in Zukunft sicherlich noch häufiger abtauchen werde, dank Jessica Fellowes, die es geschafft hat, mich absolut in ihren Bann zu ziehen.
Im Übrigen ist der Mord an Florence Nightingale Shore, wie oben bereits erwähnt, tatsächlich passiert, im Gegensatz zu der Geschichte im Buch wurde er in Wirklichkeit allerdings leider nie aufgeklärt.
Habt ihr schon mal ein Buch gelesen, das ein solch großes Interesse in euch geweckt hat, dass ihr, nachdem ihr es beendet hattet, stundenlang im Internet verbracht und recherchiert habt? Die Schwestern von Mitford Manor – Unter Verdacht hat genau dieses Bedürfnis in mir ausgelöst. Sogar noch bevor ich das Buch beendet hatte, wollte ich mehr erfahren; wollte mehr wissen über die Familie Mitford, insbesondere über die sechs Töchter. Meine Befürchtungen, eventuell Schwierigkeiten sowohl mit dem Setting, als auch mit dem Schreibstil haben zu können, stellten sich bereits nach den ersten paar Seiten als unnötig heraus. Jessica Fellowes beschreibt alles ganz wunderbar bildhaft und lebendig. Wie ein Film spielen sich die Geschehnisse vor dem geistigen Auge ab und man sieht die schmutzigen und düsteren Gegenden Londons, das prachtvolle Anwesen der Mitfords, sowie die noblen Ferienorte an der Küste und die hübschen, kleinen, gemütlichen Cafés so deutlich vor sich, als wäre man selbst dort. Doch nicht nur die Orte und Geschehnisse beschreibt sie lebendig, auch die Emotionen der Menschen kommen so unglaublich gut rüber, dass es mir teilweise wirklich Gänsehaut verursachte, insbesondere die Gegensätze zwischen arm und reich, den Kriegsheimkehrern und den Daheimgebliebenen macht sie – dank offenbar intensiver Recherchen – in ihrer Geschichte um die Mitford-Schwestern sehr intensiv deutlich.
Und obwohl ich glaubte, den Überblick über all die Figuren zu verlieren, was in einem Buch mit so unglaublich vielen, unterschiedlichen Figuren gar nicht so abwegig ist, stellte sich auch dies schon nach den ersten Kapitel als nicht zutreffend heraus, da aufgrund der detaillierten Beschreibungen und der Abgrenzungen der verschiedenen Handlungsstränge es keineswegs schwierig war, die Figuren auseinanderzuhalten und den Figuren zu folgen, zumal sämtliche von Ihnen ganz wunderbar ausgearbeitet und dargestellt sind, mit ihren Eigenarten und Liebenswürdigkeiten.
Besonders angetan hat es mir hier Louisa, das Kindermädchen, das sich aufgrund ihrer Arbeit auf Mitford Manor ein besseres Leben erhofft. Nancy, die älteste der Mitford Töchter, ist nur zwei Jahre jünger als Louisa und möchte sie daher unbedingt als Freundin und Vertraute, statt als Kindermädchen und das obwohl sie, bis auf ihr Alter, nicht viel gemein haben. Die beiden jungen Frauen könnten unterschiedlicher nicht sein, stammt Nancy aus einer ansehnlichen Familie, die auf so viele Bedienstete zurückgreifen kann, dass man es ihr nicht verübeln würde, würde sie all die Angestellten in ihrem Hause nicht mal beim Namen nennen. Louisa hingegen kommt aus ärmlichen Verhältnissen und teilte sich sogar ein Zimmer mit ihrer Mutter. Als Wäscherin ging sie ihrer Mutter zur Hand und versuchte so zur Finanzierung ihres Lebensunterhalts beizutragen.
„Ein bisschen kam es ihr so vor, als würden sie die Hände nacheinander ausstrecken, ohne sich ganz berühren zu können …“
Während ich Louisa unglaublich lieb gewonnen habe, hatte ich so meine Schwierigkeiten mit Nancy muss ich gestehen. Obwohl sie wohl anscheinend die umgänglichste der Mitford-Schwestern war, kam ich mit ihrem Charakter nur sehr schwer zurecht. Ich empfand sie als aufmüpfig, manchmal sogar als respektlos und frech. Wahrscheinlich ist es auch genau das, was sie auszeichnet, hat sie sich schon immer gruselige Geschichten ausgedacht und zum Spaß jeden in ihrer Umgebung, besonders ihre Geschwister, „auf die Schippe genommen“. Dennoch erschien sie mir für ihr Alter teilweise zu unreif, was mich stellenweise wirklich in den Wahnsinn trieb. Louisas Zweifel, ob sie sich nun tatsächlich auf eine Freundschaft zu ihr einlassen sollte oder nicht, konnte ich daher sehr gut nachempfinden. Auch ich war mir in manchen Situationen einfach unsicher, ob man Nancy vertrauen konnte oder nicht.
Während Nancy also versucht, Louisa zu Dingen zu überreden, die sie ihren Job kosten könnten, und obwohl sie es tunlichst vermeiden möchte, ihre Stellung zu verlieren, lässt sie sich von Nancy doch zu den ein oder anderen Dingen überreden, was ihre Anstellung in Mitford Manor gefährdet.
Und obwohl ich Louisa wirklich gleich von Beginn an in mein Herz geschlossen habe, war sie dennoch nicht mein Liebling der zahlreichen Figuren, die wir in dieser Geschichte begleiten dürfen. Mein Liebling und der wahre Held dieser Geschichte ist in meinen Augen Guy, der Bahnpolizist. Er ist hartnäckig und verfügt über echtes Durchsetzungsvermögen. Er ist hin und wieder etwas schüchtern, zurückhaltend irgendwie und vielleicht auch das ein oder andere Mal etwas ungeschickt, aber dennoch verfügt er über die Kämpfernatur eines Löwen. War er einer der Polizisten, die zum Tatort des schrecklichen Mordes an Florence Nightingale Shore gerufen wurden, wurde er späterhin von dem Fall abgezogen, lässt sich davon aber nicht unterkriegen, noch nicht einmal, als er bewusst die Grenzen überschreitet und das ein oder andere mal sogar gegen die polizeilichen Vorschriften verstößt. Auf eigene Faust ermittelt er weiter. Er hat es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, den Mord an Florence Nightingale Shore aufzuklären, nicht nur, um ihr Gerechtigkeit zuzuführen, sondern auch, weil er davon träumt, dem Geheimdienst beizutreten und durch das Aufklären des Falls eben auf eine solche Stellung hofft, um endlich aus seinem Elternhaus ausziehen und sich eine eigene Wohnung leisten zu können, um letztendlich dann auch eine Frau zu finden.
Der Mordfall der Florence Nightingale Share ist unglaublich komplex und im Laufe der Geschichte werden immer neue Aspekte aufgedeckt. So führt der Fall zum Beispiel zurück bis in den ersten Weltkrieg. Immer wieder tauchen neue Verdächtige auf, Motive und Alibis, in denen man sich als Leser nach einer Weile vollends verliert. Bis zuletzt lag ich mit meinen Vermutungen falsch. Ich war gefesselt von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite, was nicht nur an dem wunderbar lebendigen Schreibstil der Autorin lag, sondern auch an dem überaus spannenden Plot und all den überraschenden Wendungen. Auch das Zusammenspiel der einzelnen Figuren, hat in mir das starke Bedürfnis geweckt, immer weiter zu lesen. Jessica Fellowes hat es mit ihrem Buch geschafft, mich in eine völlig fremde, neue Welt zu entführen, von der ich sehr gerne noch länger ein Teil geblieben wäre, denn obwohl das Buch mit seinen knapp 500 Seiten schon ein recht dicker Wälzer ist, hätte ich noch ewig darin weiter lesen und mich von der Geschichte der Familie Mitford berieseln lassen können.
Ein richtiger Pageturner. Ich konnte es einfach nicht aus den Händen legen.
LOHNT SICH DAS BUCH?
Ein mysteriöser Mord, den es aufzuklären heißt, jede Menge Verwicklungen unter den Figuren, Krieg, Freundschaft und Liebe – dieses Buch hat alles, was ein Buch braucht, um den Leser von Anfang bis Ende zu unterhalten. Eine Familiensaga, die nicht nur brillant, sondern auch spannend und unterhaltsam umgesetzt ist. Schon jetzt freue ich mich auf die Folgebände. Jede der Schwestern wird ihr eigenes Buch bekommen. Und jetzt, nachdem wir wissen, dass ein paar der Schwestern sich tatsächlich zum Faschismus, sprich zu Adolf Hitler, hingezogen fühlten, bin ich noch neugieriger darauf, wie die Autorin dies umsetzen wird. In einem Interview sagte sie bereits, dass sie gerade hiervor sehr viel Respekt hat.
Ich für meinen Teil kann gar nicht genug von den Mitford Geschwistern bekommen und habe mit diesem Genre nun auch ein neues Genre gefunden, in das ich in Zukunft sicherlich noch häufiger abtauchen werde, dank Jessica Fellowes, die es geschafft hat, mich absolut in ihren Bann zu ziehen.
Im Übrigen ist der Mord an Florence Nightingale Shore, wie oben bereits erwähnt, tatsächlich passiert, im Gegensatz zu der Geschichte im Buch wurde er in Wirklichkeit allerdings leider nie aufgeklärt.
June 22, 2018
Florence Nightingale Shore, stimatissima infermiera di guerra, viene trovata in fin di vita su un treno per Warrior Square. Morirà poco dopo. Nello stesso giorno Louisa Cannon salta giù dal treno in corsa per sfuggire allo zio, che vorrebbe farla prostituire e conosce Guy Sullivan, giovane agente della Polizia Ferroviaria. Insieme, e con la complicità della giovanissima Nancy Mitford, presso la cui famiglia Louisa andrà a lavorare, indagheranno sul misterioso assassinio di Florence.
Si tratta di un giallo molto leggero, ma non per questo meno avvincente. E' un giallo vecchio stampo, stile Agatha Christie. Anche l'ambientazione è similare, ci troviamo nell'inghilterra dell'immediato dopoguerra. L'ambientazione è molto curata e i personaggi sono molto ben caratterizzati, nessuno escluso, anche quello minori. E' impossibile non affezionarsi a Louisa per la sua sensibilità e, nonostante apparentemente sia fragile, rivela di essere forte e risoluta; a Nancy che conosciamo ragazzina viziata e anche un po' frivola, ma generosa e intraprendente e la ritroviamo alla fine del romanzo giudiziosa e quasi pacata; e a Guy. dolcissimo poliziotto che cerca di dimostrare in tutti i modi il suo reale valore.
Il romanzo si basa sul vero omicidio mai risolto di Florence Nightingale Shore ed è il primo romanzo di una serie di romanzi ambientati in Inghilterra con protagoniste le sorelle Mitford.
Ovviamente non potrò fare a meno di leggerli tutti!
Si tratta di un giallo molto leggero, ma non per questo meno avvincente. E' un giallo vecchio stampo, stile Agatha Christie. Anche l'ambientazione è similare, ci troviamo nell'inghilterra dell'immediato dopoguerra. L'ambientazione è molto curata e i personaggi sono molto ben caratterizzati, nessuno escluso, anche quello minori. E' impossibile non affezionarsi a Louisa per la sua sensibilità e, nonostante apparentemente sia fragile, rivela di essere forte e risoluta; a Nancy che conosciamo ragazzina viziata e anche un po' frivola, ma generosa e intraprendente e la ritroviamo alla fine del romanzo giudiziosa e quasi pacata; e a Guy. dolcissimo poliziotto che cerca di dimostrare in tutti i modi il suo reale valore.
Il romanzo si basa sul vero omicidio mai risolto di Florence Nightingale Shore ed è il primo romanzo di una serie di romanzi ambientati in Inghilterra con protagoniste le sorelle Mitford.
Ovviamente non potrò fare a meno di leggerli tutti!
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