Sophia Rose is here sharing the next novel in the Useful Woman Mystery series. Come check out her thoughts on The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne by Darcie Wilde and see why she enjoys these Regency era mysteries.
by Darcie Wilde
Series: A Useful Woman Mystery #9
Genres: Historical Mystery
Source: Won
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
Brimming with intrigue, the latest novel in this charming Jane Austen-inspired mystery series finds resourceful Rosalind Thorne—a discreet sleuth for Regency London’s ladies of ton—facing her most perilous, and awkward, predicament yet…
Rosalind is newly, happily engaged to ex-Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, but lunching with the new fiancée of her old love is still discomfiting. Yet, Clara Kinsdale needs her help, and Rosalind is not one to turn away a lady in distress. It seems Clara's father, Sir Anthony Kinsdale, has fallen for beautiful widow Mrs. Sylvia Lynn—who may be a fortune hunter, or worse . . .
Sir Anthony is a profligate baronet, who has pinned his financial hopes on two Clara's marriage, and his horse winning the upcoming sweepstakes at Lansdown, on which he has wagered heavily. Clara is afraid that her father is being fleeced by the charming—and cunning—Mrs. Lynn and wants Rosalind to expose her.
But Clara does not realize that her sisters, Elizabeth and Cynthia, are harboring their own secrets and Elizabeth especially will do whatever she must to obstruct plans to separate their father from Mrs. Lynn.
Rosalind and Adam travel to Bath to meet the family. But their gathering is interrupted by Admiral Walsingham, who is leasing Kinsdale House. Despite his dire finances, Sir Anthony is evicting the admiral—though his reasons appear laughable. Not laughable is that Sir Anthony is found dead soon after their argument, having apparently tumbled from his bedroom window while intoxicated.
It would be easy to assume the tragedy was an accident, except Admiral Walsingham is found dead at nearly the same time. Secrets, schemes, fraud and forbidden love all drag Rosalind and Adam into a web of high-stakes gambling, murder—and extreme danger. But can they unravel it before they become the next victims. . .
Sophia Rose’s Review
A useful woman and her detecting partners is needed to save an impoverished, vain baronet from the charms of a grasping woman and a darker hidden plot. Darcie Wilde’s Useful Woman series meshes a well-drawn Regency backdrop with a cunning plot and a brilliant leading lady who can help a debutante launch successfully into society or delve into a mystery track down a killer before her tea gets cold.
Beginning with the Rosalind Thorne mysteries and now under the new series title A Useful Woman mysteries, The Abduction of Rosaline Thorne is the ninth entry to the series.
Rosalind has finally come into her own. After years of struggle to gain back what her profligate father lost her in reputation and income, she has forced a courageous new path that no gently-born woman let alone a working girl could hope to succeed in. Rosalind made herself indispensable to society ladies without losing her level of class and in the doing, discovered over her first dead body that she has a knack for solving murders, too. Building a solid, loyal band of friends about her including another daring choice, her working class love interest, former Bow Street Runner, private detective Adam Harkness, Rosalind is settled into her new life and looking forward to her wedding with Adam.
Into her parlor steps former love interest, Devon Winterborne, the Duke of Casselmaine and his fiancée, Miss Clara Kinsdale. Clara’s father, Sir Anthony, has ruined the family wealth, their long-time horsebreeding and horse racing stables, and is now taken up with a mysterious widow, Mrs. Lynn, who has him hosting high stakes gambling parties and engendering speculation if she is a gold-digger or something more. Clara wants Rosalind to find a way to get rid of the woman. Rosalind puts her subordinates and friends onto getting the background and tracking an interesting side trail whiles she and Adam return with Clara and Devon to Bath to encounter Mrs. Lynn and delve into the mystery. But, a death followed by a murder raises the ante on the game right when Rosalind and Adam think they have things figured out. The case gets more twisty and fraught with further danger that might cancel their wedding plans for good.
I enjoyed being back in the late Regency period with Rosalind, Adam, and her other colorful friends in The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne. It was even more special since this book gives more than a wink and a nod to Jane Austen’s Persuasion also partially set in Bath and focused on the family of an impoverished baronet and his daughters. Added to the Austen-flavoring, there was an interest in Bath society, Regency era horse breeding, racing, and time period con-artistry. I was curious about not just the main plot mystery, but several smaller ones involving several characters. The development of Rosalind and Devon’s relationship passed her refusal to their second chance at marriage and seeing them both having moved on and happy with others was handled without melodrama which I appreciated since the mystery and the primary suspects were entertaining enough.
The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne drew me in from the get-go and kept me turning pages until the end. Pretty sure I read it in three sittings and finished it late into the night when the exciting end had me refusing to close it until I knew how it all ended. Historical Mystery fans really must delve into this series.
About Darcie Wilde
Darcie Wilde is a pseudonym for Sarah Zettel, author of mysteries, science fiction, romance and Young Adult fiction, including the New York Times Notable Book Fool’s War. She also writes under the names C. L. Anderson and Marissa Day.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
