Dollycas's Thoughts
We meet Lady Dunbridge after mourning her husband's death for two years. She and her âmaidâ and butler journey to Manhattan in 1907 where her friend Bev Reynolds will introduce her to all her high society friends. Right after they get off the ship gunshots ring out, she hears Bev scream, and chaos ensues. Getting through the crowd they find Bev's husband dead in the arms of a floradora girl crying that he killed himself. The evidence doesn't support that claim and the police set their sights on Bev as their main suspect. Lady Dunbridge may have just arrived but she knows her friend is not a killer. While making her introduction at all the dinners and balls she vows to keep her eyes and ears open to prove her friend's innocence. Of course, she will do a bit of snooping too.
Ms. Noble has created an impressive amateur sleuth in Lady Dunbridge and teamed her up with excellent assistants in her âmaidâ Lily, and butler Preswick. Lily has many talents and Preswick does all he can to keep the both of them safe. All three are strong characters. The supporting cast includes Bev Reynolds, her staff, her husband's staff, and their friends. They are a very eclectic group. Bev's husband Reggie ran with a horse racing set and he seems to have owed everyone money. Bev friends are the elite set and the spouses of the men her husband seems indebted too. The author has really fleshed out these characters by the end of the story.
Solving the mystery takes us all around New York to the dinners and parties and out to the Reynold's stable at Holly Farm where their horses are kept and trained. There is twist after twist after twist. I had my focus drawn to one character and then away and back again, yet the climax was surprising and exciting.
The author gives us so much detail throughout the whole story that every place came alive in my mind, The same with the people. Her words generated some wonderful imagery. She also kept true to the language of the time which I liked.
This series is off to an excellent start. The author has left doors open for future installments. I am excited to learn more about Lily and Lady Dunbridge and her life as she continues to live in New York.
We meet Lady Dunbridge after mourning her husband's death for two years. She and her âmaidâ and butler journey to Manhattan in 1907 where her friend Bev Reynolds will introduce her to all her high society friends. Right after they get off the ship gunshots ring out, she hears Bev scream, and chaos ensues. Getting through the crowd they find Bev's husband dead in the arms of a floradora girl crying that he killed himself. The evidence doesn't support that claim and the police set their sights on Bev as their main suspect. Lady Dunbridge may have just arrived but she knows her friend is not a killer. While making her introduction at all the dinners and balls she vows to keep her eyes and ears open to prove her friend's innocence. Of course, she will do a bit of snooping too.
Ms. Noble has created an impressive amateur sleuth in Lady Dunbridge and teamed her up with excellent assistants in her âmaidâ Lily, and butler Preswick. Lily has many talents and Preswick does all he can to keep the both of them safe. All three are strong characters. The supporting cast includes Bev Reynolds, her staff, her husband's staff, and their friends. They are a very eclectic group. Bev's husband Reggie ran with a horse racing set and he seems to have owed everyone money. Bev friends are the elite set and the spouses of the men her husband seems indebted too. The author has really fleshed out these characters by the end of the story.
Solving the mystery takes us all around New York to the dinners and parties and out to the Reynold's stable at Holly Farm where their horses are kept and trained. There is twist after twist after twist. I had my focus drawn to one character and then away and back again, yet the climax was surprising and exciting.
The author gives us so much detail throughout the whole story that every place came alive in my mind, The same with the people. Her words generated some wonderful imagery. She also kept true to the language of the time which I liked.
This series is off to an excellent start. The author has left doors open for future installments. I am excited to learn more about Lily and Lady Dunbridge and her life as she continues to live in New York.
Carole J. (PianoLady357) reviewed Ask Me No Questions (Lady Dunbridge, Bk 1) on + 157 more book reviews
Ask Me No Questions is a fascinating mystery of the highest quality, atmospheric and witty, and it was like I was in another world as I poured through its pages. Shelley Noble effortlessly draws readers into the 1907 world of New York City through rich historical detail and vivid descriptions.
Lady Philomena Dunbridge (Phil) is a compelling lead character. She's strong, determined, smart, and sly. Phil likes to flirt, lives life as she pleases, and is not easily intimidated by those in authority. While I wasn't crazy about her in the beginning, she grew on me as I got to know her better, and she is loyal to a fault. I loved seeing our country through her eyes, as she was often amazed at âthose Americans.â
Two strong supporting characters stand out and will be fun to watch in future stories â Lily, Phil's lady's maid, and Preswick, her butler. Lily's background is somewhat mysterious, promising much more to come. I love British fiction, and although this story takes place in America, Phil and her staff are English to the core. It's fun to watch the often frustrating interaction between Phil's staff and that of her friend, Bev.
The murder of Bev's husband, Reggie, is baffling in itself, as it took place in the middle of the day, in a crowded area, and seemingly no witnesses. The ensuing investigation follows the logical step-by-step questioning of suspects in a manner that I enjoyed. The author excels at introducing characters slowly, in a way that it's easy to keep up with them all. The world of horse racing, especially some of the criminal elements associated with it, comes into play. I'm not sure Lady Dunbridge and I would have been friends in real life, but if I were about to be charged with a crime, I'd certainly want her in my corner. There are a lot of twists and turns, and my suspicions could never rest solely on one person.
I hope Ask Me No Questions is the beginning of a long series. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Lady Philomena Dunbridge (Phil) is a compelling lead character. She's strong, determined, smart, and sly. Phil likes to flirt, lives life as she pleases, and is not easily intimidated by those in authority. While I wasn't crazy about her in the beginning, she grew on me as I got to know her better, and she is loyal to a fault. I loved seeing our country through her eyes, as she was often amazed at âthose Americans.â
Two strong supporting characters stand out and will be fun to watch in future stories â Lily, Phil's lady's maid, and Preswick, her butler. Lily's background is somewhat mysterious, promising much more to come. I love British fiction, and although this story takes place in America, Phil and her staff are English to the core. It's fun to watch the often frustrating interaction between Phil's staff and that of her friend, Bev.
The murder of Bev's husband, Reggie, is baffling in itself, as it took place in the middle of the day, in a crowded area, and seemingly no witnesses. The ensuing investigation follows the logical step-by-step questioning of suspects in a manner that I enjoyed. The author excels at introducing characters slowly, in a way that it's easy to keep up with them all. The world of horse racing, especially some of the criminal elements associated with it, comes into play. I'm not sure Lady Dunbridge and I would have been friends in real life, but if I were about to be charged with a crime, I'd certainly want her in my corner. There are a lot of twists and turns, and my suspicions could never rest solely on one person.
I hope Ask Me No Questions is the beginning of a long series. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
