I have been absolutely loving this mystery series by Sheri Cobb South. Book one is called ‘In Milady’s Chamber’ and book two ‘Dead Bore’, but there is also a prequel called ‘The Pickpocket’s Apprentice’. I found that while each of Sheri’s books can easily be read as stand-alones, reading them in order and especially reading the prequel provide an even richer background for John Pickett. The books are all consistently great with intriguing mysteries and engaging characters, and just a bit of romance. An excellent blend and written exactly how a historical mystery should be written with the emphasis being on the mystery.
Sheri has done an incredible job with the historical aspect of the story. Her research must have been meticulously done. Being a massive Georgette Heyer (the Queen of historical fiction) fan, it is exciting to me to find another author who has taken the time and care to provide an excellent period piece.
The characters in Family Plot are well developed and very relatable. John Pickett is an unusual detective. He’s neither highly educated nor remarkably talented, and comes from a poor background. Irregardless of his birth, John is a true gentleman. He has integrity and treats everyone with respect and curtesy. As a detective, John is painstakingly careful and never rushes into judgment. He does his job well, as he is methodical and openminded. He is an extremely likeable character. Lady Julia Fieldhurst is as well. The best description I can think of for Julia is classy and practical with a dose of spunk. While I love the two main characters, the other characters are pretty terrific as well. I got a huge kick out of Lord Fieldhurst’s three boys, Harold, Robert and Edward (Ned). I hope that Sheri brings them into more books in the future. As always the magistrate, Patrick Calquhoun, is fantastic. His care and concern for John is very touching. I also loved how Patrick became more Scotch the longer they stayed in Scotland:) I love his scenes, he is always so amusing.
The storyline for Family Plot was exciting, captivating and sometimes very funny. Lady Julia had been banished to Scotland ‘for her sins’ by her deceased husband’s family. However, during her exile she was to have company in the form of her brother-in-law’s three illegitimate sons, banishment and babysitting combined in one trip. Once underway, the exiles decided to make their own arrangements, choosing both a different destination and surname. At their journey’s end, they stumbled upon the mysterious return of a local girl and the resulting family chaos. Bow Street was summoned and Lady Julia had some explaining to do. Julia and John, with some help from the kids, had another mystery to solve. Along the way, the reader gets all the clues to solve the mystery beside our sleuths. The denouement was very satisfying and rather funny, with Patrick having the last word, ‘I warned you to be circumspect in your dealings there…’ LOL!
Favourite quotes:
‘Arise slugabed and greet the dawn.’
‘A title, as you must know, covers a multitude of sins.’ ‘How very fortunate for him, for he has certainly committed a multitude of them.’
‘To where might they banish me for this new infraction, the Black Hole of Calcutta.’
‘You knew I wasn’t a gentleman when you married me.’ ‘Very true, in fact it was a large part of your charm.’
‘With nary so much as a blush between them – scarcely a blush anyway.’
‘Surely a beautiful lady decking herself out in silks and satin is a case of gilding the lily.’
‘You were hardly alone in your indiscretion, I was an active participant and must be equally culpable.’
‘It was the high point of my existence.’
‘Needs must when the devil drives.’
‘Those with the most talk generally have the least action.’
Fun Fact: There was a real Patrick Calquhoun who was appointed the Magistrate of the Bow Street Runners in 1785. He began the Thames River Police Force (eventually called the Marine Police Force) and created the first preventative police force. Calquhoun’s methods, as written in his book ‘The Commerce and Policing of the River Thames’, were the building blocks for the Peelers/Bobbies, the police force under the direction of Sir Robert Peel operating out of Scotland Yard (Metropolitan Police Act 1829).
Narration: Joel Froomkin is a fabulous narrator. His range of character voices and accents is quite extraordinary. His formal tone for the narration really sets the mood for the Georgian era. As well as the men, Joel did an amazing job voicing the young boys and the women. I can’t figure out how he did Lady Fieldhurst, she sounds just like an upper class woman. Joel has been added to my list of favourites narrators.
For those who like to know… there is no profanity, no sex and the violence is very mild. An excellent clean read.
I received Family Plot: Another John Pickett Mystery free in exchange for an unbiased review.