Hasty Death: An Edwardian Murder Mystery (Edwardian Murder Mysteries Book 2)

Witty, well-written, and delightfully fun. Well-developed characters moving the story along at a rapid pace. The author manages to accomplish a lot in just a few words.

I am a huge fan of the author's two other mystery series, that of Agatha Raisin and that of Hamish Macbeth, which she writes under the name M.C. Beaton. I am also now enjoying this Edwardian mystery series. These are a farcical and madcap in tone, with a touch of romance, almost as if one were watching a screwball comedy. Light hearted and silly, they are easy, quick, fun reads.The books involve Lady Rose Summer, the independent thinking daughter of an Earl, who refuses to follow the social mores of her time and get married. In fact, she wishes to actually experience the travails of working and living on her own. So, her long suffering parents seek the assistance of well-born Captain Harry Cathcart, who has recently opened up shop as a private investigator, to the derision of those of his class.Since Captain Harry knows Lady Rose well enough to know she will ultimately do what she wants, he counsels the parents to let her and her companion, Daisy, work together in a bank as typists and live in a women's hostel. Unbeknownst to Lady Rose, the bank belongs to a friend of the Captain and the work they will be doing will be nothing more than jobs specially created for Lady Rose and Daisy, as the Earl will be reimbursing the bank for their salaries. It doesn't take long for Lady Rose to discover what Daisy has long known for a fact, that life as a working woman just isn't all that much fun in Edwardian England.When one of her acquaintances, man about town Freddy Pomfret, is murdered, it provides the perfect excuse for Lady Rose and Daisy to leave their "jobs" and seek to discovery the truth about what on earth happened to poor old Freddy. She joins forces with Captain Harry and seeks to unravel the layers of lies and deception that surrounds his murder, as Freddy had been up to no good prior to his death. As always, there is someone who is unhappy with Lady Rose's sleuthing and wishes to put an end to it, permanently.Meanwhile, Lady Rose's parents are still trying to get her married to just about any eligible well-born, wealthy bachelor they can find, who will take their high spirited daughter off their hands. When Lady Rose proves to be once again recalcitrant, her parents are poised to send her off to India, where perhaps they may be able to find her a suitable husband. Captain Harry, however, comes to the rescue and steps up to home plate, persuading her parents to allow him to become engaged to Lady Rose. They are reluctant, as Captain Harry actually works for a living, which classifies him as being in trade, despite his being of good family and a man of means. Still, the thought of having their daughter off their hands is a big inducement, and since Lady Rose is agreeable to the match, they consent.As with the other books in the series, the mystery is not what keeps one reading the book, as the plotting is a bit loose and a little far-fetched. What keeps one reading are the farcical elements of the book, which are amusing. The characters are likable, and the interaction of the main characters with each other is the glue that binds the book together. This series is a good addition to the cozy mystery genre, and I look forward to reading the next one.

rose gets saved at the last minute a lot. of course, she does solve a lot of mysteries herself. indicative of the times that the truth rarely comes out since it would negatively impact her. meh.

The book gives insight to that period in history. The mystery is well down. Lady Rose continually puts herself in bad situations and that ruins the book for me. The kindle price for these books is also too high.

I recommend this series for lovers of cozy yet intelligent mysteries set in circa pre-WW1. The “upstairs/downstairs” era is thoughtfully and clearly drawn with attention to the details of that time and how women with any intelligence struggled to cope in the restrictive environment in which they were sometimes forced to live. Humor mixed with murder is always fun. At least to me. This series fits the bill. Happy reading.

Third in the series, it continues the story of a headstrong titled young woman and her efforts to find freedom in a rigid societal structure. It's entertaining and an interesting read. Edwardian society was slowly giving way to modern advances in the early 1900s. It's a little lightweight but it's easy to identify with the heroine.

This was a pleasant read. Only concern is if she is going to do another story in which the hero and heroine though obviously suited don’t finally get hitched.

This series is a very light version of the lovely books she writes as M.C. Beaton, which I adore. Perhaps these books were actually written early in her writing career? I did enjoy reading them but they are more of a teen series than adult. I will be donating them to my high school library and I am sure the teens will enjoy them.

This is the second in a series of murder mysteries set in Britain in the first decade of the 20th century featuring Captain Harry Cathcart and Lady Rose Summer.To date there are four books in the series, which areSnobbery with ViolenceHasty DeathSick of ShadowsOur Lady of PainThe author writes romantic fiction, mostly humorous regency romances plus one or two set in the Edwardian period, under the name Marion Chesney, and mystery/detective stories such as the Agatha Raisin and Hamish MacBeth series under the name M.C. Beaton.This Edwardian series is a something of a cross-over between the two - part romance and part murder mystery - and the books often have both names on the cover (usually something like "M.C. Beaton writing as Marion Chesney".)In this second book, Lady Rose Summer gets so fed up with being an ornament to society that she wants to get a job. Captain Cathcart very discreetly arranges for Rose and her maid, Daisy, to work as typists at a bank under false names. While they are working there, Rose discovers by chance that a young gentleman who has just been murdered, Freddy Pomfret, had banked three very large sums of money from other aristocrats.Had Freddy been blackmailing them, and is that why he was murdered? So Lady Rose goes the police and offers to help find the murderer.However, her parents have other plans to deal with their wayward daughter - which unbeknown to them are a threat to her life ...Tha main characters in the series are:Captain Harry Cathcart, younger son of a Baron, has left the army after being injured in the Boer war. At the start of the first book he carried out a service for Lady Rose's father, the Earl of Hadfield, for which he gained a reputation as a fixer to the aristocracy, and by the time of this book he has formally gone into business as the Edwardian equivalent of a Private Investigator. Some members of "Society" look down on him as being "in trade" because he is earning a living, but as he is often very useful to them most aristocrats tend to overlook this.Lady Rose Summer is the only surviving child of the Earl and Countess of Hadfield. She is slightly notorious as having briefly been involved with suffragettes, but after each successive scandal dies away she is usually sought after again as a wealthy heiress. Chafes at the fact that society will not allow her to perform a useful role, and constantly looking for something more challenging to do - from working as a typist for a bank to helping the police solve murders.Beckett - Harry's valet: in love with DaisyDaisy - Lady Rose's maid. A former chorus girl, but when Captain Cathcart recruited her to play the role of a maid with a contagious disease as one of the escapades in the first book, Lady Rose took Daisy on to do the job of her maid for real. In love with Beckett.Detective Superintendent Kerridge - a senior policeman of humble origins and carefully supressed radical views, reinforced by the fact that whenever he has to interview an aristocrat they always threaten to report him to the Prime Minister. Plays Inspector Slack to Lady Rose's Miss Marple.Despite that comparison, this is not in the same league as Agatha Christie as a detective story, and neither is it in the same league as Jane Austen as a romance. However, it is an amusing and entertaining light read.

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I have now read all four books in the Edwardian Murder Mystery series. This series were written some time ago & like all of M C Beaton’s books they are easy reading probably what would be called holiday reading or a good travelling companion. If you liked the books written by Georgette Heyer these should appeal even though Georgette Heyer’s books were set in the Regency period & these are set in the Edwardian period.

The mystery in this is fine, but the characterisation of Mrs Jerry Trumpington is awful. This book gives the impression that the author really hates fat people.

I really enjoy all of MC Beaton's books. Having gone through all the Hamish Macbeth (on Audible as well!) and Agatha Raisin I decided to start on her Regency and Edwardian novels. Yes, there are quite a few typos but nothing to detract from the storyline. I like a bit of escapism and these books fit the bill.