British mystery writer Benedict Brown is taking the Lord Edginton series (some 15 books in all) in a new, and rebranded, direction. Murder in an Italian Castle is the first in the Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad series.
A new direction (outside of England), yes, But the same familiar characters are there, the same tongue-in-cheek humor, and the same detailed use of a real building as the setting. In this case, it’s an Italian castle in Italy.
It’s 1929. Lord Edgington, retired head of Scotland Yard, has finally made good on his promise to take grandson Christopher Prentiss, now approaching 21, on a grand tour of the continent. The first stop will be the castle of an old acquaintance of the Lord’s, an earl known for his manipulation of people, sometimes cruel antics, and a deep thirst for making sure justice triumphed. As they arrive, they witness the fall of the earl from a tower, a fall that looks more like a push. Christopher rushes to the tower base and hears the footsteps of someone running. But no one can be found.
With almost all the suspects having solid alibis, and the lack of cooperation by the local police, it seems the investigation has hit a dead end. And then there’s a second death.
Benedict Brown
Brown includes all the characteristic features of a Lord Edgington mystery – deep research into the setting, an often comical repartee between Edgington and his grandson, a seemingly unsolvable puzzle, and even a dash of romance for Christopher – a young woman he saw on the boat to Calais shows up in Florence, reading a novel by Christopher’s favorite author – Charles Dickens. And just as the reader expects a romance to blossom, the young woman departs, with Christopher neglecting to have asked her name. Given that there’s more international mysteries to come, it’s likely we’ll run across her again.
In addition to the Lord Edgington stories, Brown has written eight Izzy Palmer mystery novels three novellas, and five Marius Quin mysteries. A native of south London, he lives with his family in Spain. The Lord Edgington mysteries are likely aimed at both the general reader as well as the young adult audience. And they’re well-researched stories, full of information about the mid-to-late 1920s.
Murder in an Italian Castle is a fun, fast-paced read. And like Christopher Prentiss himself, we’re glad Lord Edgington, his grandson, and the servants who accompany them have finally made it to the continent.
Related:
Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown.
A Body at a Boarding School by Benedict Brown.
The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown.
Death on a Summer’s Day by Benedict Brown.
The Tangled Treasure Trail by Benedict Brown.
The Curious Case of the Templeton-Swifts by Benedict Brown.
The Crimes of Clearwell Castle by Benedict Brown.
The Snows of Weston Moor by Benedict Brown.
What the Vicar Saw by Benedict Brown.
Blood on the Banisters by Benedict Brown.
A Killer in the Wings by Benedict Brown.
The Christmas Bell Mystery by Benedict Brown.
A Novel Way to Kill by Benedict Brown.
The Puzzle at Parham Hall by Benedict Brown.
Death at Silent Pool by Benedict Brown.
Some Monday Readings
George Cruikshank’s London Summer – Spitalfields Life.
Where should the Elgin Marbles be displayed? – Mario Trabucco della Torretta at The Critic Magazine.
When the Rules No Longer Apply – Joel Miller at Miller’s Book Review.
The Ten Warning Signs: A huge change is coming – Ted Gioia at The Honet Broker.
Why woke failed – Michael Shermer at Persuasion.
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