A Rather Dastardly Death

The second Mr. Quayle mystery finds him investigating after a notorious socialite is found murdered. I really enjoyed this! It gave me Agatha Christie vibes in the best way. I’m definitely going to go back and read the first one, and I can’t wait for more!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for a review copy of A Rather Dastardly Death, the second novel to feature Mr Quayle, secretary to Lord Unsworth, set in 1926.

Lord Unsworth and his family are holidaying on the French Riviera as a respite from the scandal surrounding them in England. Some respite. His niece, Fanny, is involved with artists and communists, his nephew, Arthur, has cultivated some insalubrious contacts at the gaming tables and his old flame, Lady Rosaline Barrett De Marchi, has managed to get herself murdered. Once again it’s Mr Quayle to the rescue.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Rather Dastardly Death, which has a fiendish plot and, contrary to the title, more than one death. With the period setting it has the feel of Golden Age fiction, but it also has the style with a some complicated murders, some eye opening side crimes, a well concealed perpetrator and a motive hardly hinted at before the denouement. Where it differs is the multiple points of view, and while I’m not always a fan of this approach, it works extremely well here, giving the reader a wider perspective on events and more than one take on events.

The plot is absorbing with all sorts of red herrings and potential suspects. Personally I was unable to guess at any of it, so the solution was a welcome surprise after hours of puzzlement. I was impressed by the author’s deft touch in both his plotting and writing and his knowing tone, not that it’s condescending, more in the sense that we’re all in on the absurdity. I couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the plot and Mr Quayle, both are opaque until it’s time to let loose a little.

Mr Quayle, no first name provided, is a bit of an enigma. He is obviously smart, thinks laterally and is dedicated to protecting the Unsworth family for reasons only hinted at. Otherwise everything about him is murky, including his likes and dislikes. This again is in tune with the Golden Age ethos, where it’s all about the investigation rather than the investigator. I keep waiting for some bombshell about him to drop and so far it hasn’t.

A Rather Dastardly Death is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Another interesting well written mystery with lots of twists and turns and red herrings leading you down the wrong path so you really struggle to guess who has done it which is quite unusual for me as I usually spot the culprit. Recommended for those who love historical mysteries. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an early copy of this book thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. I previously thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series as well as the prequel. I found this book equally enjoyable. I wish I had seen that there was a Dramatis Personae at the end of the book, because it would have been very helpful to have at the beginning of the book to keep track of the many characters. I also think I would have liked to have more of a recap of the previous book to refresh my memory. I'm guessing the author wanted the book to be able to be read out of sequence, but I like to be able to see how continuing characters evolve by reading the books in order.
Once again, the author has created a very clever mystery with an interesting cast of characters. I liked the change in locale to the Riviera and found it very atmospheric. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next installment.

French Riviera Beckons..
The second in the Mr Quayle mystery series, following on from ‘A Most Efficient Murder’, and the French Riviera beckons - surely a perfect spot for escaping a tad of scandal? What could possibly go wrong? Another murder for one - as a former paramour of the usually unsociable and bookish Lord Unsworth is found dead and the holiday jaunt is marred by murder. Enter the enigmatic Mr Quayle - but can he save the day again? Another hugely enjoyable and entertaining mystery in traditional vein. Effectively portrayed in Golden Age style and set 1926, the reader is presented with an array of well drawn suspects and even more motives, as red herrings abound. As an aficionado of the Golden Age of Crime, this did not disappoint and this reader was once again amply rewarded in droves.

This is the second book in this murder mystery series and I was here for all the drama. I loved it. I thought that this was better than the first!
I just reviewed A Rather Dastardly Death by Anthony Slayton. #ARatherDastardlyDeath #NetGalley
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Anthony Slayton knows how to write a mystery that is so reminiscent of the Golden Age. In his author's note, he even references some of the Golden Age stories as influences. I enjoyed the first book featuring Mr. Quayle, and I was not disappointed by this second in the series. In "A Rather Dastardly Death," Quayle is in the French Riviera with his employer Lord Unsworth and family. While there, Lord Unsworth reconnects with his old flame, a scandalous former actress and patron of the arts. But Lady Rosaline Barrett De Marchi falls victim to murder and there are myriad suspects. There also is a ancillary plot involving an art thief mastermind. Quayle is his unassuming but brilliant self and we meet Monsieur Tallier of the Surete, who is on the track of the art thief. There are plenty of red herrings and a reveal that is classic Golden Age. I keep wanting more information about Mr. Quayle (no first name is given) but he remains enigmatic. I am looking forward to the third book. This is a series best read in order.

Book two of the Mr Quayle Mystery series picks up where the first left off with the Unsworth family recovering from the devastation of murder…and unwittingly landing themselves in the middle of another murder mystery! The location …the gorgeous and interesting French Riveria. Multi-faceted characters with a multitude of motives abound!

It is a scintillating read, from start to finish, with wonderfully plausible and entertaining red herrings and a logical conclusion! Cosy historical Brit murder mystery at its best! It left me eager for the next! The dry humour is a particular delight! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The second in the Mr Quayle series. The Unsworth family have headed to France in the attempt to avoid getting mixed up in any more murders - some hope! My Quayle, in his job as Lord Unsworth's private secretary, seems like a sort of reluctant Jeeves, trying to solve yet another murder and keep scandal away from the family despite their propensity to attract it. Thanks to Netgalley.

I want to read more books in this series as I thoroughly enjoyed this one. An entertaining and compelling historical mystery, well plotted and solid.
It kept me hooked and guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Exceptional Read!

Despite being the second book in the series (not counting the prequel) this is the first I am reading author Anthony Slayton’s work and I find it to be exceptional! Slayton starts off incorporating some of the action into the prologue which most readers tend to skip. As a reading purist I like to read from cover to cover including the acknowledgements and I’m glad I did! Straight off there is the murder of Lord Clearance Weatherford which harkens back to the Golden Age of mysteries in its style, and is so well written that it whets my appetite for the story. Unfortunately, the Dramatis Personae, which is basically the cast of characters is in the back of the book. So, had I not read the contents I would have overlooked this extra and it proved to be essential in keeping the characters straight. Given this, I would advise anyone reading the book, and you should definitely read this book, to start with the Dramatis Personae and Prologue followed by the story. This will amply prepare you for the writing style of Slayton which is far more character heavy than I am used to but now appreciate. That is to say, most authors use characters almost as though they are a prop and reveal those facts about them that serve the story. But, Slayton provides fully detailed characters with colorful histories and personalities that complicate the suspect pool in a good way. This makes the plot twists all the more delicious because you really don’t see them coming until they’re upon you. Another facet of Slayton’s writing is his use of Monsieur Tallier of the French Constabulatory as an unofficial partner to Mr. Quayle, Secretary to Lord Unsworth. Unlike law enforcement relationships I have come across in other historical mysteries, Tallier and Quayle are more like frenemies who respect one another. Tallier uses Quayle to further his investigation—watching like a cat watches a mouse—waiting for the cheese to be revealed. Most mysteries I’ve encountered either use the law enforcement officer as a friend or someone who views the amateur sleuth as an impediment. The two gentlemen were so ideally matched and integral to the plot that I became fully invested in both characters as crime fighters. But, it is Mr. Quayle I found myself personally rooting for because he seems like a good chap albeit heavily flawed—but oh so interesting as a result. My thanks to #AnthonySlayton and #NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mr. Quayle and the Unsworth family are in the French Riviera for several months, trying to escape and ride out the scandal attached to them from the prior novel. Unfortunately, murder finds them again! This time, Lord Unsworth's old flame, Lady Rosaline, is killed. There are many suspects and red herrings and even other victims until the ultimate resolution. This is a really enjoyable murder mystery set in the Golden Age and which really fees like it could have been written in that era. I look forward to reading more in this series!