Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
Avon (2004), Mass Market Paperback, 325 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML: In a remote English manor house, modern admirers of the much-maligned King Richard III -- one of Shakespeare's most extraordinary villains -- are gathered for a grand weekend of dress-up and make-believe murder. But the fun ends when the masquerade turns more sinister ... and deadly. Jacqueline Kirby, an American librarian on hand for the festivities, suddenly finds herself in the center of strange, dark doings .. and racing to untangle a murderous puzzle before history repeats itself in exceptionally macabre ways..
User reviews
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
While visiting England, American Jacqueline Kirby is invited by would-be suitor, Thomas, to a country weekend gathering of the Richard III society of which he is a member. The guests will take on the roles of various historical people from Richard III's era, and will wear period costumes for the
After meeting her fellow guests, Jacqueline remarks to Thomas that "It's an English house party, darling, straight out of all those British detective stories I revel in." The book does, indeed, seem to be a parody of the genre. It would be a perfect read for those times you want something light, were it not for having to keep track of the historical counterparts to the modern characters. A chart would have come in handy. Readers would enjoy the book more with some prior awareness of the Richard III controversy -- was he a villain or a saint? Be sure to read Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time before you read this one.
Show More
weekend events. The highlight of the weekend will be the revelation of a recently discovered document purportedly proving Richard's innocence of the murders of his nephews, the princes in the Tower of London. When the guests begin to suffer accidents illustrative of the fates of their historical counterparts, the atmosphere becomes tense. Who among them is behind the attacks, and are the attacks building up to something more sinister?After meeting her fellow guests, Jacqueline remarks to Thomas that "It's an English house party, darling, straight out of all those British detective stories I revel in." The book does, indeed, seem to be a parody of the genre. It would be a perfect read for those times you want something light, were it not for having to keep track of the historical counterparts to the modern characters. A chart would have come in handy. Readers would enjoy the book more with some prior awareness of the Richard III controversy -- was he a villain or a saint? Be sure to read Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time before you read this one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Not bad, not wonderful. Excellent characterization - though her rundown of the traditional characters in an English Country House mystery is a bit of a lampshade. I'd read it before - I remembered there was something fishy about the guy and remembered what when his name was mentioned, but I'd
Show More
forgotten the actual solution - both who and why. It was annoying when she got coy near the end - 'Oh, I can't tell you - what if I'm wrong?' Piffle. But that aside, nicely done. Thoroughly twisted motivation, and very clever misdirection in multiple directions. Not a favorite, but not bad, and I'll likely read it again. It's a little odd, since my knowledge of the question is basically having read The Daughter of Time - interesting hearing another take that doesn't lean on either More or Tey (while acknowledging both). Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I find this book tremendous fun for several reasons. First, it features Peters' detective Jacqueline Kirby--She of the Purse. While she's perhaps not as brilliant a creation as her Amelia Peabody, I'm very fond of this not so mild-mannered librarian amateur detective.
But then this book also caters
The book also pokes gentle fun at the mystery genre in general. As Jacqueline notes enthusiastically, it's all set at an "English house party...straight out of all those British detective stories" she revels in, and there are allusions to Ellery Queen and Agatha Christie within as well and lots of delightfully quirky characters--in medieval costume and roles no less with medieval banquets. So, even if I don't think this quite matches Joesphine Tey's The Daughter of Time or Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody The Crocodile on the Sandbank I'm awfully fond of this one nevertheless.
But then this book also caters
Show More
to my interest in things Richard III, sending up "Ricardians" (defenders of the maligned king) with gentle affection. In that regard you can rather see this as a homage and sequel to Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, also a contemporary mystery dealing with the two Princes in the Tower allegedly murdered by Richard the III of England. I'd read that book first, since I think it would be less fun afterward (since it deals with many of the same points) while this Peters' novel is all the more fun if you get the allusions.The book also pokes gentle fun at the mystery genre in general. As Jacqueline notes enthusiastically, it's all set at an "English house party...straight out of all those British detective stories" she revels in, and there are allusions to Ellery Queen and Agatha Christie within as well and lots of delightfully quirky characters--in medieval costume and roles no less with medieval banquets. So, even if I don't think this quite matches Joesphine Tey's The Daughter of Time or Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody The Crocodile on the Sandbank I'm awfully fond of this one nevertheless.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Linkmeister
The English country house murder mystery with a Richard III twist. The potential victims are all members of a society dedicated to clearing Richard of the murders of the Princes in the Tower. If you liked Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time you'll like this one.
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Ms. Kirby gets more and more interesting! There's a fair amount of historical interest in King Richard III - but not being a history buff I'm not sure how much is real or not. Nevertheless, it gave the novel interest and made the mystery suitably complex. Fun read.
LibraryThing member dragonasbreath
an amusing delving into the history of Richard III, with some thought provoking commentary
LibraryThing member GMac
I love Elizabeth Peters but I couldn't even finish this one. By the end, I didn't even care who or if anyone was murdered.
LibraryThing member Bjace
It's not The Daughter of Time, but what is. The murders of Richard III mixed up in an English Country house party and with an American heroine. Pleasant read.
LibraryThing member susanamper
Elizabeth Peters brings back librarian Jacqueline Kirby for an English manor mystery in this 1974 novel. Invited to a house party where all the participants are fanatic devotees of Richard III, Jacqueline finds herself in the midst of a bunch of eccentrics. However, someone is playing some nasty
Show More
jokes and everyone is suspect. This is a fun read and full of Richard III trivia. The consensus of the devotees is that Richard did not kill the little princes and that he was not in fact hunch backed and that Thomas More wrote a very suspect biography of the king. Show Less
LibraryThing member tloeffler
Thomas Carter is a member of a group dedicated to Richard III, and he invites Jacqueline Kirby to accompany him on a weekend expedition to a friend's country home for their meeting, which will include the unveiling of a recently found letter that proves Richard innocent of the murders of his
Suddenly, the characters begin getting attacked, one at a time, in the order that they were ostensibly killed by Richard or his minions. Jacqueline takes it upon herself, as the outsider, to track down the culprit before it goes too far.
A good mystery story with a fair dose of history. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Show More
nephews in the Tower. Everyone has a part to play, from Richard himself down to the princes. Suddenly, the characters begin getting attacked, one at a time, in the order that they were ostensibly killed by Richard or his minions. Jacqueline takes it upon herself, as the outsider, to track down the culprit before it goes too far.
A good mystery story with a fair dose of history. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Show Less
LibraryThing member VictoriaJZ
I enjoyed this, my first Elizabeth Peters book. I have read quite a bit about Richard III, having first been enthralled by the mystery Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. I've read quite a number of other books about Richard III [i.e. Penman] and do find the mysteries surrounding his life and death
Show More
fascinating. Even more so these days. I particularly enjoyed this tale because of that background but also because of the characters [Jacqueline Kirby is one I would like to know - and will probably read more of] and the humor at times. Plus, although a lot of things happened, not all that much blood and gore. Fairly satisfying for a short mystery with nods to a host of mystery writers in the meantime. Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
Long before I got involved with Amelia Peabody, I read this for its setting in a take of the Richard III Society --rather a sardonic version, in fact --carefully described as a breakaway group led by a wealthy eccentric who believes he is an illegitimate descendent of Richard III (this being before
Show More
such a claim could be reliably DNA tested) --unlike the real Ricardians, but a little like the SCA, the guests at this event dress up as people from Richard III's time, and then someone starts acting out their supposed deaths --it begins seemingly as a rough joke, but turns deadly. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
Jacqueline Kirby moves closer to the center stage in this book. I like that I was brought up to speed about Richard III and the alternative opinions about what his actions must have been. Perhaps he wasn't the scoundrel that the Tudors (and therefore Shakespeare) made him to be.
There's a nice
While it is nice to read the series in order, this book stands alone should people want to start here. If you like cozy mysteries or are interested in English history, I think you'd like this book.
There's a nice
Show More
mystery within the story, beyond the mystery of who killed the young princes. There were paths I was led down, but the author played fair. All the information to solve the mystery was there. And I loved the oh-so-typical English house party location.While it is nice to read the series in order, this book stands alone should people want to start here. If you like cozy mysteries or are interested in English history, I think you'd like this book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JBD1
Sort of an English country-house mystery, but with the question of Richard III's reputation at the center. Not quite as good as The Daughter of Time, but still an engaging read.
LibraryThing member kmartin802
This was an enjoyable story to listen to. It is Jacqueline Kirby's second adventure. She's a librarian and amateur sleuth. This time she's in England meeting with her old friend Thomas. He invites her to a house party who attendees are all devoted to proving the innocence of King Richard III.
The
Each guest has adopted the role of one of the principals of Richard's cronies. When a series of "accidents" begin to happen that mimic the fates of those cronies, Jacqueline in on hand to determine who the perpetrator is and what his goal is.
Grace Conlin did a fine job with all the voices. I really like her interpretation of Jacqueline.
The
Show More
house party is filled with a variety of interesting characters - the rich eccentric host, the army man, the vicar, the alcoholic author with designs on the host, the poor relation and her two children - one a precocious and distasteful son and the other her attractive daughter, and the daughter's lawyer suitor. Each guest has adopted the role of one of the principals of Richard's cronies. When a series of "accidents" begin to happen that mimic the fates of those cronies, Jacqueline in on hand to determine who the perpetrator is and what his goal is.
Grace Conlin did a fine job with all the voices. I really like her interpretation of Jacqueline.
Show Less
Language
Original publication date
1974
Physical description
325 p.; 6.69 inches
ISBN
0060597194 / 9780060597191
Local notes
Jacqueline Kirby, 2
DDC/MDS
| Fic Mystery PetersEz |