The Peculiar Case of Lord Finsbury's Diamonds (Casebook of Barnaby Adair 2)

Delightful!There are a couple things to know going into reading this book, especially if you're a big fan of Stephanie Laurens like I am.1. It's a novella, rather than a full-length book - but the length was perfect.2. There's almost no Cynster involvement - indeed, other than Lucifer getting a mention as a possible resource, they don't appear at all.3. This might be the best spin-off of the Cynster series Laurens has produced thus far... depending on what you like (I was a big fan of about half the Bastion club books)Barnaby was always one of my favorites, and I loved Penelope too, but I wasn't sure how well Ms. Laurens would do without the mystery focusing on the two main characters... she solved that in part because there were two other characters who helped Stokes and Adair solve the case! And, of course, they had a romance going on =) This is a clean regency book, there's none of the sumptuous love scenes that Ms. Laurens so often thrills us with, because the focus is more on the murder and the theft of the Finsbury's diamonds and the confusing mystery of what happened and whodunnit!The mystery is well handled, constantly kept me guessing, and had more than enough twists to satisfy me even when I thought I'd figured everything out! And, even though Penelope and Griselda are both pregnant and unable to be fully immersed in the mystery, both of them manage to provide some key observations that send their husbands in the right direction (although I'm sure they'd have gotten there one their own eventually, just not as quickly). In between the mystery we get tidbits of the romance, but even the romance was focused on solving the mystery =)Overall, I thought it was a great mystery romance novella, extremely entertaining as well as involving, and that you should def pick it up for the introductory price (if you don't get her newsletter, it's only going to be $3.99 for a short time before the price goes up)! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Casebooks of Barnaby Adair!

THE PECULIAR CASE OF LORD FINSBURY'S DIAMONDS is a novella in the Casebook of Barnaby Adair series. It follows Barnaby Adair and his wife Penelope in their investigations in 1830s England. Barnaby works with Inspector Stokes from Scotland Yard. In the preceding novel WHERE THE HEART LEADS, Barnaby and Stokes both find the loves of their lives. Here, both men have very pregnant wives and a murder to investigate. The mystery regarding who killed a house guest and the secrets of the other house guests is interesting but not as good as the mystery in the original novel. For me, what I am really rating this novella on is the relationship between the main characters and one of the sweetest scenes ever when Penelope gives birth.I think this book is for fans of the Barnaby series who want more time with their favorite characters.I'd rate this book a 3.5.

I for one am very delighted that SL has gone in a different direction with this romantic mystery series. It makes a refreshing change. Barnaby ( The Peer) & Stokes (The Inspector) are wonderful in the way they work together to solve mysteries as well as their wives, Penelope & Griselda. There is both the male & female thought process on working out the clues and totally enjoyable. I have to say I had a hard time with Penelope in the first of the series, Where the Heart Leads, because she is very dominant and considered herself smarter than everyone else but she mellowed in this story. The new romance has to do with Gwen Finsbury & Frederick Culver who are a major part of the house party where the murder takes place. They do help in solving the case and find their own love. I won't go into any more detail because everyone likes to try and figure things out themselves along with the main players. I do have to point out that there was no actual sex which is out of the norm for this author and I didn't miss it at all since I was involved in the mystery and could care less. I'm looking forward to more of these Barnaby Adair mysteries!

Barnaby Adair is a younger son of an aristocratic family. He is a remarkable character who can operate in two worlds without disrupting either one. Adair is an aristocrat with keen intelligence and a creative and agile mind, and he embodies honor and integrity. His resourcefulness and perceptive eye enables him to combine forces with the London police to facilitate their investigations and solve crimes that cross the social divide between the aristocracy and the lower classes of society. Aristocrats often resist involvement with the police and close ranks to protect their own. Barnaby deftly creates a bridge between divergent worlds that helps the London police to bring the criminals to justice without creating a scandal that would send shock waves through the highest levels of social, governmental and economic power. The book is engaging, skillfully crafted and a very satisfying read.

This is a mystery about murder and stolen diamonds and why it was done.I have enjoyed Stephanie Laurens books. And this is well written just as a reader would expect from her.But, I was not too far into the book before I had figured out some of the answers to the questions. That is the only complaint I can make.Barnaby and Penelope Adair, of the nobility, have found an interesting pastime in helping the police solve crimes. Right now Penelope is very pregnant, so her involvement is from a distance. Inspector Stokes and his pregnant wife Griselda are not only good friends of the Adairs, but also share the fun of solving the problems created by crimes. The men are a good team of detectives and the wives make them even better.There is a young couple in love, an English Lord who is keeping secrets, and a dead man who was definitely not who he seemed. But, who was he?This is a fun quick read with characters who are engaging and entertaining. For the romance reader who like a little mystery thrown in, this will be exactly what you enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book it kept me transfixed well into the night, always moving, no slow bits, loved it.

Have many books from this author. Great reading

Vermutlich muss man bei diesem Kurz-Krimi Verschiedenes berücksichtigen. Es ist kein eigentlicher Krimi in Buchlänge; die Print-Ausgabe hätte in etwa 150 Seiten. Und die Autorin sagt, diese Geschichte spiele eigentlich zwischen zwei Fällen aus dem "Casebook of Barnaby Adair". Außerdem in der präviktorianischen Zeit... als es noch Kutschen, Gaslaternen und Abende am Kamin gab.Es ist schon ein eigenartiges Büchlein gewesen...! Man kann es sicher auf eine gewisse Art genießen, dafür muss man aber sehr langmütig sein. Die Handlung ist schon fast klischeehaft englisch: ein mysteriöser Fremder, der auf dem Grundstück eines Lords erschlagen aufgefunden wird, diverse Liebeswirren, und eine berühmte Halskette, die mal hier, mal dort aufzutauchen scheint...Die Handlung besteht fast ausschließlich aus dem Sammeln von Indizien, und von Verhören, die Barnaby Adair, der Berater, und Inspektor Stokes auf dem Landsitz von Lord Finsbury führen. Sehr geruhsam, gemächlich. Dennoch mit gutem Blick für die damaligen Verhältnisse.Was das Rätsel um die Halskette angeht - jeder halbwegs begabte Krimi-Leser wird es, wie ich, im ersten Drittel des Buches erraten haben. Der Rest des Falles wird relativ unerwartet gelöst - das Mordmotiv, das der Leser die ganze Zeit suggeriert bekommt, war es am Ende natürlich nicht...! Ich weise da nur ganz dezent auf ein Chanson von Reinhard Mey hin...Gut gefallen hat mir die Rolle der Frauen in diesem Buch. Denn die beiden Gattinnen von Stokes und Adair sind - indirekt - an der Lösung beteiligt. Sie kombinieren, lassen sich berichten - und geben so manchen entscheidenden Denkanstoß. Auch die Tochter des Lords ist erfreulich unabhängig und gewitzt.Gleichzeitig liegt hier aber auch ein Kritikpunkt. Die Damen Stokes und Adair sind beide hochschwanger, und diese Schilderungen entbehren nicht einer gewissen unfreiwilligen Komik, da sie doch allzu klischeehaft sind. Und auch die Kuss-Szenen der Tochter des Lords mit Mr. Culver... auweia, das war doch sehr schwülstig! Und als Barnaby Adair schließlich Vater wird, da hat die Autorin in emotionaler Sicht wirklich ein wenig dick aufgetragen, finde ich. Das nimmt heute doch kein Leser mehr ernst! Nun ja. Vielleicht war das damals so.Ich weiß nicht so recht, wem ich dieses Büchlein empfehlen soll. Kennen "muss" man es sicherlich nicht. Es sei denn, man hat Lust auf einen geruhsamen Ausflug ins präviktorianische England.

Like the continuation of the central characters of this series

Easy read.