Review: Captivating story that should have been amazing
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 3, 2013
In a romance novel with a murder mystery plot at the core, it is often easy to guess the culprit. It isn't true of this book, and the narrative pulls you in from the first page: it's witty, well-paced and would have been perfect if not for the abrupt ending. The final pages after the villain is caught red-handed, turns into a summary, leaving the reader wondering about the fate of secondary characters who'd played key roles in the story.The unlikely romance develops between two people who'd never thought of finding love, especially since their union was concocted behind their backs. Of course there's a twist, the Earl of Blackwell, who'd paid Mr. Fitzhenry's gambling debts to secure a bride for his son - a rumored murderer - thought he'd be getting a diamond of the first water and instead got her cousin, the wallflower. Mr. Fitzhenry is only too happy to substitute his niece for his daughter, after the engagement is announced in the paper, because the cousins are both named Mirabelle Fitzhenry, after their grandfather's favorite spaniel... And there are many more charming details that bring this story to life with three-dimensional characters and a fresh take on pride, greed, and guilt.