If you liked Agatha and enjoyed Hamish, give this series a try; it's more understated but still a fun read. ( )

Very enjoyable Edwardian set crime novel. If you like Agatha Raisin one of the other series written by this author, you should enjoy this. ( )

An Edwardian Murder Mystery. If you like Jane Austen genre - then you will definitely like this with a Sherlock Holmes twist. ( )

Bit of a Bait and Switch
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (October 2008) of the original Minotaur hardcover (July 2003)

I've just about completed my pandemic reading splurge of cozy mysteries by M.C. Beaton, the penname used by Marion Chesney (1936-2019) for her popular Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. Chesney first became a writer with various historical romances from 1977 onwards, before branching out into the crime genre with her first Hamish Macbeth in 1985 and first Agatha Raisin in 1992. Romances are not my genre, but Chesney's mini-series of 4 Edwardian Murder Mysteries sounded like a possible crossover between her historical fiction and her cozy mysteries.

I call Snobbery with Violence a 'bait-and-switch' as its synopsis leads you to think that it will primarily be a series about impoverished Captain Harry Cathcart, who starts off as an unofficial 'fixer for a fee' for various rich nobles and businessmen and ends up forming a detective agency to perform the same services in an official capacity. The story actually evolves into having Lady Rose Summer as its primary lead and main investigator, with her maid Daisy Levine as confidante. Cathcart still plays a major supporting role throughout.

The series keeps things pretty light in the most part, although there are various underpinnings of the suffragette struggle and women's rights that come through with Rose Summer's independent streak and rebellion against being paraded out for 'the season' by her parents as a marriage prospect.

The narration by veteran Davina Porter (approx. 230 book narrations to her credit) was excellent throughout. Porter is especially good with her range of voices that is able to effectively mimic male as well as female tones.

All of the Edwardian Murder Mysteries series are available free to Audible Plus members. ( )

murders in country house solved by bold debutante and retired army captain