A Sham Marriage and Murder in a Locked Room - an Editorial Review of "A Murder of Convenience"

Book Blurb:

Ellen Cuthbert’s husband, Randolph, is now the Earl of Keswick’s heir. Their marriage is a sham, and Randolph’s mistress, Lydia, is present at the house party. When she is found murdered in a locked room, all the evidence seems to point to Ellen. And how could the murderer have escaped the locked room except by witchcraft?

Sir Hugh accompanies his cousin, a magistrate, to the scene of the murder. They investigate, appalled to find their childhood friend Ellen appears to be the chief suspect. Hugh’s lack of prospects years ago prevented their marriage. Now if he cannot find the real murderer, there may be only one final service he can perform for Ellen to spare her a slow death at the end of the hangman’s rope.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/I5VY73

Author Bio:

Kathleen Buckley has loved writing ever since she learned to read. After a career which included light bookkeeping, working as a paralegal, and a stint as a security officer, she began to write as a second career, rather than as a hobby. Her first historical romance was penned (well, word processed) after re-reading Georgette Heyer’s Georgian/Regency romances and realizing that Ms. Heyer would never be able to write another, having died some forty years earlier. She is now the author of eight Georgian romances: An Unsuitable Duchess, Most Secret, Captain Easterday's Bargain, A Masked Earl, A Duke's Daughter, Portia and the Merchant of London, A Westminster Wedding, and A Peculiar Enchantment. While a ninth is in production she is writing the tenth.

Warning: no bodices are ripped in her romances, which might be described as "powder & patch & peril" rather than Jane Austen drawing room. They contain no explicit sex, but do contain the occasional den of vice and mild bad language, as the situations in which her characters find themselves sometimes call for an oath a little stronger than "Zounds!"

Captain Easterday's Bargain was an Oklahoma Romance Writers of America IDA 2019 finalist, Historical Fiction category.

Most Secret was an Oklahoma Romance Writers of America IDA 2018 finalist, Historical Fiction category, and a 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist, Romance category.

Editorial Review:

Early September, 1740, Cuthbert Hall, Cumberland

“You look a veritable dowdy, Ellen,” Randolph Cuthbert said, not for the first time since escorting her from her home in Durham to his uncle’s estate in Cumberland. “I would think at least you could be ready on time to spare me embarrassment.” He had come to her chamber to take her down to supper.

Set in the early Georgian era, Kathleen Buckley's captivating historical mystery A Murder of Convenience skillfully combines a traditional whodunit with a subtle love undertone.

The book's opening paragraph immediately creates an engrossing atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. Buckley's ability to immediately grab the reader's attention is commendable. The first several chapters introduce a vast ensemble, which may initially seem overwhelming, but the clear language and superb character distinctions quickly clear up any confusion. As the story progresses, the reader quickly becomes engrossed in it.

A Murder of Convenience immerses the reader in a realm of mystery and suspicion from the first page. At best, Ellen Cuthbert's fictitious union with Randolph, the Earl of Keswick's heir, is unstable. However, Ellen becomes the main suspect after Randolph's mistress Lydia is discovered dead in a locked room. Whispers of witchcraft give the case a sinister undertone, and the mystery grows as all the evidence seems to lead to her.

Ellen was not immune from the instinct to huddle like sheep or cattle in the face of a storm. They left Hodge to eat his breakfast, the attraction of food being stronger at the moment than his desire to be with his fellow kind. Perhaps he did not feel threatened. For that matter, why did she and the others? Someone was dead, but although it might be cause for pity and sorrow, it could have little to do with them.

Hodge did not fail to pass on his tidbit of gossip to those who had broken their fast in their chambers and wandered into the parlor. This ended any discussion of today’s possible amusements. A subdued gathering settled to read, do needlework, or talk quietly while waiting to learn more. The butler’s warning to the servants must mean there was some odd or scandalous 8 A Murder of Convenience circumstance about the death. If the earl had hoped to keep the matter private, he would be disappointed.

Enter Sir Hugh, who investigates the crime alongside his cousin, a magistrate. The story is given emotional weight by Hugh's previous romantic relationship with Ellen, which heightens the urgency of his search for the truth. As secrets are revealed, the tension increases gradually, and the mystery's satisfying and rational conclusion is reached. Buckley skillfully creates enough deception and alternate motivation to keep the suspense going until the very end, even if some experienced mystery readers might figure out who did it.

The novel's crisp style and excellent editing make it easy to read. The numerous characters and their intricate relationships are easy to follow because to the well-formatted text, and there aren’t any typos or grammatical errors to pull you out of the story. We are kept fully engaged in the 18th-century setting without being distracted by unduly complicated language or historical exposition because of Buckley's simple, captivating writing style and painstaking attention to historical detail.

Ellen is a strong, clever, and well-drawn heroine who finds herself in a predicament where she must rely on her own fortitude and the support of others who think she is innocent. As the investigator and her past romantic partner, Sir Hugh is equally captivating. He is a compelling and likable character because of his sense of justice and his unresolved affections for Ellen. As his investigative companion, the magistrate gives the detective work an additional degree of realism.

The victim and the suspects, among other supporting characters, are sufficiently nuanced to make their intentions and deeds seem plausible. Even small characters have a significant impact on the plot, and their interactions enrich the main plot without being superfluous.

Throughout the book, Buckley does a fantastic job of keeping things consistent. The plot, character motivations, and relationships all flow together perfectly. There are no obvious contradictions that break our immersion in the story, and the investigation's evolution makes sense. A gradual buildup to the climax is ensured by the strategic placement of each hint and reveal.

The novel's well-written conclusion neatly wraps up loose ends while maintaining emotional resonance. The retribution meted out feels deserved rather than forced, and the real murderer's identity is revealed in a gratifying way. The romance subplot is handled delicately, giving the characters more nuance without taking away from the main mystery. For readers who are interested in Sir Hugh and Ellen's voyage, the conclusion leaves open the possibility of more stories involving them in the future.

Eilidh found she could bear the presence of others for only so long before she wanted to scream. Except Hugh. She would not mind his company. Joan Hodge’s attempt to forget the reason they were still at Cuthbert Hall, Dorothy Wilmot’s anxious eyes as she watched Georgina Hodge fluttering from man to man exercising her innocent coquetry, Cornelius’s attempt to pretend he did not notice or care about Georgina’s behavior, all were hard to bear. Her husband’s worried gaze whenever he was in her own presence and the solicitude in his voice chafed her. As she could not air her thoughts at the top of her lungs, she had taken to wandering Cuthbert Hall. Had anyone asked, she would have claimed to be admiring its architecture, or searching for her fan which she had set down and forgotten. She walked in the gardens when no one else was likely to be there or admired the view of the Eden Valley from the Long Gallery. Occasionally she encountered one of the others also seeking solitude. The worst was the afternoon Cuthbert found her in the Great Hall where she had gone to sketch.

Although locked-room mysteries are common in the genre, A Murder of Convenience has a unique flavor thanks to Buckley's historical setting and inclusion of the social principles of the time. This story differs from typical detective fiction due to its realistic investigative style, well-researched historical background, and subtly romantic elements. The plot feels new and unique because of the whispered charges of witchcraft, which adds another level of suspense.

Buckley's language is tasteful but approachable, finding the ideal harmony between readability and historical realism. She stays away from over-explanation, letting the action and conversation flow naturally. Moments of stress and reflection work well together, and the rhythm is well-controlled.

Characters' personal stakes add emotional depth to the well-structured tale arc, which adheres to the traditional mystery formula. There is pleasing progression of the suspect interrogations, the eventual resolution, and the slow disclosure of clues that keeps you hanging on to the very last page.

Buckley has written a book that is both thought-provoking and enjoyable, which makes A Murder of Convenience unique among historical mysteries.

5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence

Award:

---

To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission