Sword and Song

Musician-sleuth Charles Patterson is called to a suspected murder late one night - and is horrified to find he is acquainted with the victim, a young street-girl. But Patterson is already booked for a fashionable house party outside of town and where Patterson goes, trouble is never far behind. A chance meeting with an American at the house party raises new questions about the murder - then he is attacked twice for no apparent reason. Furthermore, his personal life, involving Esther Jerdoun, the wealthy woman he loves against all of society's conventions, is becoming more and more complicated. ""Southey impeccably evokes the period, and the latest twist in Charles's unlikely romance will leave readers eager for the next installment.""-Publishers Weekly ""A riveting tale of intrigue set in eighteenth century England, and a very highly recommended read.""-The Midwest Book Review ""The novel offers an agreeable mixture of historical drama and old-fashioned mystery. Southey creates a feeling of time and place that is vivid and realistic.""-David Pitt,Booklist ""The author does a good job in making the book accessible to readers unfamiliar with the eighteenth century.""--I Love a Mystery.

The murder of an 18-year-old prostitute by a shadowy patron who has asked her to safeguard a mysterious book kick-starts Southey's lively fourth 18th-century mystery featuring Newcastle-upon-Tyne musician Charles Patterson (after 2009's Secret Lament). Soon after beginning to investigate, Charles, who has a knack for unraveling crimes, is off to work at a country house party, where he's surprised to find the rightful heir to the now missing book among the guests. Others in residence include an affable but deceptive host, a snobbish hostess, and Esther Jerdoun, the wealthy older woman Charles can neither afford to marry nor bear to be without. Violent attacks, a second death, and sundry encounters with spirits ensue. While the book's minor paranormal element feels jarring at times, Southey impeccably evokes the period, and the latest twist in Charles's unlikely romance will leave readers eager for the next installment. (Nov.) (c)
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Eighteenth-century British musician and amateur sleuth Charles Patterson is shocked to discover that a young woman of his acquaintance has been murdered. Charles would like to find out who’s responsible for her death, but he has an unbreakable commitment that takes him away from the scene of the crime. Yet no matter where he goes, crime seems to follow, and, quite unexpectedly, Charles meets an American visitor who might be connected with the girl’s untimely demise. The question is, can Charles weather attacks upon his person long enough to expose a killer? Like earlier installments in this series, the novel offers an agreeable mixture of historical drama and old-fashioned mystery. Southey creates a feeling of time and place that is vivid and realistic without being overwhelmingly detailed. She draws us into the story’s setting but doesn’t hit us over the head with it. A fine period mystery. --David Pitt