Review – Dressed for Death

From the Back Cover:  A Regency-Era Costume Party Should Have Been an Amusing Diversion, But it Seems Wherever Drew Farthering Goes, Mystery–and Murder–Are on the Guest List

Drew and Madeline Farthering arrive at a Regency-era house party at Winteroak House, excited to be reunited with old friends, including Drew’s former Oxford classmate Talbot Cummins. Tal is there with his fiancée, Alice Henley, and though many present seem worried about the couple, nobody is prepared when Alice dies from an apparent overdose. Tal refuses to believe she’d taken the drugs intentionally, and a dark question arises of whether the death is an accident or murder.

The police have their own information though, and Drew is shocked when they arrest someone he’s trusted and admired since his childhood–someone who’s been smuggling drugs into the country for years. Stunned by what has happened, Tal begs Drew to get to the bottom of everything, but Drew has never felt more unsettled. Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn’t know whom to trust, and he’s not ready for the secrets he’s about to uncover–or the danger he’ll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

I regret to admit that I have no clue of what a Regency-era house party is. I really missed the meaning of this against the end of the year 1932. It is during the party that the lady dies. It looks like a regular death until the investigation begins. Then a suspect a arrested, blame is cast and Drew is asked to investigate and find the real murderer.  This one has it all and then some. Cocaine, drug dealers, treachery, deceit, betrayal and, of course, murder. “Dressed For Death” progresses at a nice, steady pace as Drew sets off to find out who the murderer really is with the help of his friends before the body count rises. Drew is not at his best in this adventure as he simply cannot figure out just what is going on even though he feels called by God to be an investigator. He needs all the support from Madeline that he can get. “Dressed For Death” is a page-turner, action, suspense thriller.  Don’t start this book late at night because it will be very difficult to put it down.  I recommend this book highly and am greatly looking forward to the next book in this excellent series.