This novel goes straight to the point: on the first page, Ruby, the ridiculous housemaid, panics and already announces that caring relative and famous romantic novel writer Aunt Alicia Dill has been murdered. The niece says that she is exaggerating, but of course, Alicia doesn't come back.

The house is crammed with nephews and nieces eager to celebrate Alicia's 40th birthday. Yvonne, one of the nieces, has already been working and living with Alicia for quite some time as a housekeeper. When Alicia doesn't come back, she and another of the nephews take the decision to call in a private detective, and an ex-soldier who is quite green as a sleuth is sent by the agency. He will live with Yvonne at Alicia's countryside house. Immediately, Rhory and Yvonne fall in love with each other.

Neither of Alicia's relatives seems to be able to support themselves comfortably, and they all wanted to ask her for some money to do different things, as Aunt Alicia was loaded. The last manuscript of Alicia has also gone missing. She had an overly-complicated way of sending her manuscripts out twice a year, but this time her publishing house didn't get it on time.

There is also a vicar suitor who is also blamed, but the one who goes to jail finally is Peter, one of the nephews, a man who tries to keep his spirits up when Rhory promises to help you.

I liked the ending. The worst thing: the ridiculous love-at-first-sight plot and the ridiculous misunderstanding.

Today

Taken from the shelves at Tuesday's meet.

This book can't decide whether to be a romance or a murder mystery and consequently does neither particularly well. The author was fond of florid writing, overblown metaphors and an excessive use of exclamation marks. The book kept me entertained, but probably not in the way the author intended.

On the book buffet.

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Picked at the UnCon and then left on the side - sorry.

Left on the mantlepiece.
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