Murder in the Pleasure Gardens by Rosemary Stevens

From the Publisher

The debonair Beau Brummell dresses up this Agatha Award-winning series.

The stylish sleuth is determined to prove the innocence of a military officer who Society has deemed a murderer.

Publishers Weekly

Agatha Award winner Stevens's latest recounting of Beau Brummell's sleuthing activities (after 2002's The Bloodied Cravat) bears signs of being executed in haste, and executed in haste is just what the Beau's friend, Lieutenant Nevill, will be if the Regency's "Arbiter of Fashion" doesn't find the real killer of Thomas Jacombe, "trusted friend of Earl Spencer and a long-time official in the Home Office." At Watier's Club one evening, Nevill accuses Jacombe of cheating at cards, and Brummell agrees to serve as second for the duel the two men agree to. But the night before the duel, Jacombe's body tumbles over the Grand Cascade at Vauxhall, ruining the Prince of Wales's gala. Spotted with a gun in his hand, Nevill is promptly arrested. Brummell, however, knows that Nevill's accusation of false play was well founded. In his search for other suspects, Brummell discovers that the seemingly upright Jacombe had wronged many people besides the young lieutenant, of whom the Beau is very fond. Exactly why he's fond of Nevill is hard to judge, because only the Beau, as narrator, has any character at all. Poorly drawn secondary characters, a contrived plot and an unlikely denouement-it's hard to imagine the murderer caring enough about anything to do Jacombe in-mar this effort. A wonderful description of the Grand Cascade at Vauxhall serves to remind readers that Stevens, the author of several Regencies (Crime of Manners, etc.), is capable of better. (May 6) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

The renowned Regency dandy has opened his own gentlemen's club, but scandal threatens its reputation when a young lieutenant accuses a government official of cheating. The two plan a duel, but someone kills the official that night. Beau intervenes to save the lieutenant. Pleasant entertainment for a rainy day. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

The fourth puzzle for real-life dandy Beau Brummel--clever, compassionate friend to the Prince of Wales in Regency England (The Bloodied Cravat, 2002, etc.)--begins in Watier’s, the London gambling club he owns. When young Lieutenant Nevill lost a fortune at play, the generous Brummel forgave the debt. Now Nevill’s in even hotter water. In response to his accusation that respected Home Office official Theobald Jacombe has cheated at cards, Jacombe has challenged him to a duel. The evening before the event is to take place, an unknown party makes it unnecessary by shooting Jacombe to death at Vauxhall Gardens, an entertainment complex, and Nevill is arrested for the killing. Beau, convinced of his innocence, works to uncover Jacombe’s deeply hidden unsavory past and its connection to Molly, Nevill’s beloved. While she’s waiting for Nevill to carry her off, Molly lives and works at Haven of Hope, a women’s shelter run by Beau’s close friend Lydia Lavender, whose policeman father is in charge of the case. Before it’s all over, Nevill’s nasty grandfather will become a second murder victim and Beau will draw a confession from a surprising killer. Relaxed storytelling replete with clever plotting, vivid character portraits, and period detail.

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents