Georgette Heyer was a very popular author of Regency romances. She wrote The Grand Sophy among others. These stories have long been read by Austen fans and others. What readers may not know, however, is that Heyer also wrote a series of mysteries. This title is one of the books that has been reissued in more recent years.

This is a country house mystery, although said house is rather rundown. It is visited by a trio of siblings who discover a body. Who is the killer and how will the case be solved?

This is a very traditional mystery with a bit of a supernatural touch. Modern readers sometimes criticize Heyer’s mysteries for being long and a bit slow. Not everyone will feel that way however and many may enjoy the leisurely pace and the knowledge of a long (over 400 pages) read ahead. I am glad to have revisited Ms. Heyer in this story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I was not notified I had been given access to this book and just found out it has been archived already :( I loved this author's books and was looking forward to reading it. Ah well...

Entertaining, but way overlong, classic English country house mystery
It takes a very long time to get to the murder and the culprit is fairly obvious
The whole thing is kind of affected and it may or may not be to your taste

This book was archived before I had a chance to download it. Since I did not get a chance to read it, I will be unable to write a complete review for it.
I can put in an updated review if I get my hands on another copy some other way.

I love Georgette Heyer’s regency romances and was excited to try her cozy mystery books. The book follows our main protagonists who have recently moved i to their new home in the country inherited from a relative and they realise that the house is haunted. The story follows our protagonists as they try to solve the mystery of exactly who is haunting their new home.
It is a light cosy mystery to be enjoyed during the fall season with a hot cup of cocoa. It’s pretty short and certain passages does create some scary moments but overall it’s very predictable. If you want something light to read as a filler then I would recommend this.

First sentence: "And I suppose this is the approach-course," said Charles Malcolm. "Full of natural hazards." His wife, Celia, replied with dignity: "That is the tennis-court.' Charles made a derisive noise. "All it needs," she said, eyeing him, "is a little leveling." "All it needs," said Charles rudely, "is a hay-cutter and a steam-roller. And this is the place you wouldn't sell!"

Premise/plot: Is the house haunted or not--that is the question driving Georgette Heyer's Footsteps in the Dark. Local legend has it that the place is haunted by THE MONK. But is it? Or is there a human element to the mischievous happenings?

This mystery stars four main characters. Charles and Celia Malcolm are the married couple. Celia has a brother, Peter, and a sister, Margaret Fortescue. (There's also an aunt.) They work together to try to solve the mystery. Secret passages, tunnels, doors. Weird/spooky howls. And always, always mysterious footsteps in the dark. The men definitely think there's someone in the community with ulterior motives--someone who wants them to sell the property. But who?

My thoughts: Footsteps in the Dark is not Georgette Heyer's finest mystery novel. It's a bit scattered. It can be hilarious--in a dry, witty way--at times. But for the most part, it isn't quite a page-turner. At least not until the very, very end. The last third of the novel ZOOMS. I ultimately found it worth it--but for those with little patience, I'd recommend her other mystery novels.

A slightly different offering from Heyer and equally good to the rest of her books. The characters are not always likeable and their are some social attitudes I wasn't fond of, but it was written at a different time, I suppose. Worth reading for people who already like Heyer and want something a little different.

Footsteps in the Dark is a British golden age murder mystery by Georgette Heyer. Originally released in 1932, this edition came out 1st Jan 2019, is 432 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats (other editions are available in most formats).

This is the first of the author's thrillers. She was apparently displeased with the result, but I disagree. This one in particular is a sort of Scooby Doo / Nancy Drew / Agatha Christie mashup. The dialogue is sparkling and (mostly) witty. The characters are varied and well written. The humor is dry. The denouement is foreshadowed but well within the 'rules'.

I adore golden age interwar mysteries. The whole 'creepy country house' vibe is wonderful and this one doesn't disappoint.

Enjoyable read and I was sorry to see this one end. I was happy to see that Sourcebooks was reformatting and re-releasing them to a new reading public.

Four stars.

This is my second read of Georgette Heyer, and I absolutely loved it! The writing was humorous and filled with historical detail. The mystery itself was well-done and compelling. I recommend this for those who loved classic mysteries with a good who done it.

Priest holes, mysterious ghosts, secret passages and skeletons figure prominently in Footsteps in the Dark.

Siblings Peter, Celia and Margaret inherit the Priory, a large ancient country estate, from their Uncle. They, along with Celia’s husband Charles, decide to move in.

Footsteps in the Dark was originally published in 1932. It was the first thriller by an author who was most famous for her historical romances. I think that was my issue with the book. It was a fun read. However, it seemed as if the author was trying to use every overused thriller cliché. The local police are incompetent bumblers. The recently inherited country estate is haunted. Some of the “surprises” during the conclusion were obvious from almost the beginning of the book.

Overall, Footsteps in the Dark is more a curiosity than a good thriller. It is only recommended for fans of British Golden Age mysteries who are trying to read everything still in print from that era. All others should steer clear. 2 stars.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The actual mystery isn’t that complex or hard to follow despite the sprinkling of red herrings and possible suspects. Once clues begin to be dropped, I guessed who the major villain was though not what he was actually up to. The location of the country house and its past history are important but it was still fun to watch everyone suss out what was going on and how it was accomplished. The style is a bit slower than modern stories allowing the details to be built up at a leisurely pace. One thing that interested me is how Heyer doesn’t hold onto all the plot cards until the end but reveals some key things all along the way.

I enjoyed the couples – Celia and her unflappable barrister husband as well as her brother and sister Peter and Margaret – who is pluck to the backbone. There’s even a quick romance with a hilariously understated British engagement scene – please, hold the emotion, we’re English. The Bowers – butler and housekeeper who have known the three siblings since the cradle – take no guff from them and keep the gormless constable in line.

It ends up being a bit of a country house, cozy, amateur sleuth, police procedural coated with historical details and complete with a teensy bit of class snobbery expected for the early 1930s. It’s fairly well thought out if a bit convoluted towards the end. Seriously, Margaret’s love interest was hesitant she would marry him because he’s with the CID? Yep he was. So roll down your stockings, kick back with a Bronx cocktail darling, enjoy the witty and charming banter and sink back into days gone by. B

I received this book for free from Netgalley. This did not influence my review.

I’ve read many of Georgette Heyer’s Regency Romances, but aside from Penhallow, I haven’t really delved into her mysteries. Some are being re-released by Sourcebooks and are available on Netgalley, so I decided to give one a try.

Footsteps in the Dark is a gothic tale with a bit of a Scooby-Doo set up. Charles Malcolm, his wife Celia, and her siblings, Peter and Margaret, have moved to a house – a old priory – in the country. The siblings have inherited this quaint and somewhat dilapidated relic from an elderly relative. It needs work, but the siblings have fallen in love with its possibilities.

The family is warm and congenial and it’s pleasant to spend time with them.

They haven’t been in the house long before they hear tales from the neighbors. The house is haunted. A previous renter left in a terrified hurry, but the new owners are more sensible. When they hear footsteps and groaning noises, and see a dark-cowled apparition of a monk, they are convinced that a human is behind it all. Someone is trying to frighten them away. But why?

They meet an odd assortment of neighbors and visitors to the town. There is a retired colonel, an eccentric moth-collector who wanders about the property at will, a local doctor who drinks, a foreign artist/drug addict, a vacuum cleaner salesman, and a rough rather mysterious man whose employment is unclear but who seems to show up in unexpected places. This man, Michael Strange, catches the eye of Margaret, an otherwise sensible young woman who decides to trust him against her better judgment.

The novel starts with the owners’ curiosity, but this builds to unease and outright fright as the mysterious sounds and creepy premonitions multiply. The sense of danger escalates, especially after a murder is committed in the small town. Charles and company are more determined than ever to solve the mystery, even--responsibly – bringing in the police.

The novel is evenly paced. The characters are clever and behave in a rational fashion. The mystery is not wildly original (though it may have been in the 1930s when first published) but it is well-plotted and the loose ends are tied up nicely.

Although the mystery is set in a more recent past than the Regency Romances, it has a sweet, old-fashioned flavor and is recommended for cozy mystery fans.

Three siblings, Mrs Celia Malcolm, Margaret and Peter Fortescue have inherited an old Priory, and unfortunately for them the ghost of The Monk. Strange going ons and noises seem to confirm the haunting. Charles Malcolm and Peter do their best in investigating these happening. But how long will it be before they must call in the police.
Originally written in 1932, I did enjoy this well-written mystery with only a hint of romance (thankfully) with a group of interesting characters.

The Priory may be ramshackle in appearance, but siblings Peter, Margaret and Celia, are totally charmed by their newly-inherited country house. The Priory has been left empty for years, hardly a single person has set foot inside and, down in the village, the locals whisper of a ghostly figure that roams the halls – The Monk.
I simply adore Georgette Heyer’s romances & was intrigued that she’d written some mysteries/crime stories.
This is set in the 1930’s & is so evocative of the era. It is a well written novel, the pace is very good I was grabbed from start to finish. The characters are very well fleshed, my favourite being Charles Celia’s husband he was the epitome of a successful, middle class Englishman. The dialogue is witty & entertaining. There are secrets surrounding The Priory, ghosts, footsteps in the dark, suspicious characters in the area. All of these add to the story, there are red herrings also twists & turns which baffle the amateur sleuths before the case is solved.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer is a thrilling period mystery set in the twenties;

When Margaret with her siblings Celia and Peter inherit an old crumbled house in the countryside from their uncle the last thing on their minds are ghosts. However the whole village confirms they have either seen or heard strange apparitions and sounds. The siblings and the rest of the family decide they don't believe in such things and resolve to stay in the house. There begins an absorbing and chilling game of cat and mouse as they try to find out the truth behind strange noises and skeleton in the wall.

It is well thought out and written cozy. Smart and witty dialogue add to the charm as well as the period pieces. I thoroughly enjoyed their amateur sleuthing and thinking process and how everyone got together to solve the mystery.
I really reminded me of the classic mystery stories, with not to many possible suspects yet enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing.
A bit of romance only added to the charm of the whole book. I have several of her other mysteries and can't wait to start reading them.

I haven't read a mystery novel by Georgette Heyer, although I have read and loved some of her Regency Romances. The mystery novels, based on this one at least, are quite different, although the writing style, that helps make Heyer's novels so good, of course, remains.
This is a classic country house mystery, with a small cast of possible suspects and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. Compared to modern thriller and mystery novels, the plot of these type of books is quite slow, which might put some people off, but I have to admit that I've long been a fan of this classic who-done-it style.
Overall, I liked the main characters, although they are very much of their time. But what about the mystery itself. For me, a mystery has to 'work' I don't need to have been able to solve it myself, but it has to make sense when all is explained. Fortunately, in this case, everything was tied up neatly and there wasn't a sudden non-sensical conclusion. In actual fact, I'd guessed who was behind it all and what some of the other characters were up to quite a while before it was revealed. I don't think that it was completely obvious either though, which is the other danger with these type of books.
Footsteps in the Dark was a satisfying and enjoyable read. if you don't like the type of gentle mysteries from the golden age of that type of novel then this probably isn't for you. If you are a fan of a classic murder mystery, however, then I'd urge you to give this one a go.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Having heard so much praise for Georgette Heyer's Regency romances, I've been curious to give her writing a try but I found myself lacking in actual enthusiasm to start until I discovered that she had written "modern" mysteries.  Her first such novel, and my first Heyer, Footsteps in the Dark is a stand alone country house mystery originally published in 1932.

Now, granted, I haven't read many country house mysteries, but I found this to be a particularly delightful example.  The 1930's contemporary setting, the cast of characters including three siblings that inherited a former priory reputed to be haunted, and the combination of predictability and surprise were quite on point and had me wishing there was a vintage movie or BBC version to watch after.

I adored this cozy mystery with it's mix of classes, aristocratic siblings, the touch of romance, and the boorish husband.  So the Regencies can wait, and I'll be happily ensconced with feet up, a cup of tea, and a Georgette Heyer mystery as often as possible this winter.

This review refers to a digital galley read through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Georgette Heyer was an author like no other. Her stories have incredible storylines that make each one of her books a classic. Whatever genre she choose for her books, they were great stories with very snappy dialogue. Her books are always clean and without foul language. She was a good enough author that she did not have to depend on that to write a terrific story.

This book has always been one of my favorites of the many books that she wrote. The characters are perfect and the mystery is both suspenseful and intriguing. The setting of the old mansion in England makes a great backdrop to the story. If you like old English mysteries, you’ll love this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I have read this story several times and I still enjoy it each time. Definitely not a modern story but amusing if you like the country house/small village type of story with all the characters this type of book is peppered with. Here two sisters and a brother have been left an old house, The Priory, and they are spending some time there before deciding what to do with it. The news that the house is reputed to be haunted doesn't scare off these plucky characters, at least not until the hauntings begin to take on a very real manifestation. Heyer has given us just about every character type we could want to make this story interesting, even a stranger to the village with the last name of Strange. Surely she must have smiled every time she wrote lines for that character.

Footsteps in the Dark is a breezy light weight mystery that will be perfect for readers who want to take a small time-out from this modern world and step back in time to England between the world wars. This book is being reissued in January 2019, most likely with a new cover. Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eGalley .

Re-released on January 1: Footsteps in the Dark

Re-released on February 1: Death in the Stocks

**** 4 stars: Loved it. For a blast to the past in both writing style and into the mid 1900s, Footsteps in the Dark and Death in the Stocks is perfectly entertaining.

 

Recommended readers:

If you like novels written in a different time
If you enjoy your history and mystery with humor
If you like Georgette Heyer mysteries
Here's my Rankings:

4/5 for characters
4/5 for plot
4/5 overall
REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:
Sourcebooks Landmark is bringing back - with vibrant, updated new cover art - two classic Georgette Heyer mysteries. Heyer wrote 56 books, including romances, mysteries and historical fiction. The two novels we reviewed were part of her early mystery - though she is most known for her Regency Romances.

Footsteps in the Dark is as you'd expect from Heyer - humorous characters trying to unravel a mystery in their deceased uncles abandoned estate. The lackadaisical siblings, Peter, Celia and Margaret, start to dig deeper in to the mystery. 

Death in the Stocks is classic Heyer mystery also - with a well-orchestrated plot and entertaining, humorous characters. When a body of a wealthy businessman is discovered. While the local magistrate investigates, with the help of the family's solicitor and nephew, they are increasingly confused by the odd niece and nephew, who do nothing to prove their innocence. It's quite hilarious how the two young adults act.

For a blast to the past in both writing style and into the mid 1900s, Footsteps in the Dark and Death in the Stocks is perfectly entertaining. I definitely recommend enjoying a Georgette Heyer mystery (or two) as you can fit them in!

Available Oct 2: Murder on Millionaires' Row by Erin Lindsey