2013 historical mystery; second in Huber's Lady Darby series
(post-Regency amateur detection). On the way to Edinburgh, Lady Darby
stops at the Dalmays', where scandal, madness and murder will all be
unveiled…
It's still that weird and interesting blend of decent research
and unthinking Americanism, but the research is getting better: this
time it's about the treatment of the insane, and indeed how little can
be done about someone running an asylum as he sees fit when the
primary social purpose of the institution is to keep embarrassing
people out of sight.
There isn't a great deal of mystery, mind. There is a most obviuus
suspect and accomplice, and Huber never really makes an effort to
bring anyone else into the frame. Nor is much use made of Lady Darby's
specific talents: she makes a cursory examination of one body, but
otherwise she's restricted to interviews and reasoning. Her courtship
with obvious destined partner Sebastian Gage is very drawn out, for no
obvious reason.
There's still something here that I enjoy in spite of the errors; I
can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it may be the combination
of a less glamorous post-Regency than many people write with Lady
Darby herself not having it easy just because the author's on her
side.
The locations feel credible, and indeed are based on real places:
Dalmeny House and the
(at this time) crumbling Barnbougle
Castle on the coast
of the Firth of Forth.