Beatrice Steele hides herself in the family's turret of Marsh House to pine after a man . . . or so she tells her family. Actually, she reads crime cases published in a newspaper, where Inspector Huxley writes about his latest cases. Week after week she writes to Sir Huxley, sharing her opinions and how to solve the cases. One big problem-in her township, Swampshire, England, it is unlady-like to solve murder cases. The Lady's Guide to Swampshire lists all acceptable behaviors for ladies. Solving murders is not one of them.
At an Annual Autumnal Ball presented by the family's neighbors and life-long friends, the Ashbrooks, Beatrice is able to prove her prowess in solving murder when two people die. A mysterious guest also joins her side in solving the case.
I found this novel amusing and entertaining with a fast-paced plot. Austen-like phrasing, themes, and characters are incorporated throughout the story, which make it delightful. I almost was ready to recommend it to teen girls until ---see warning-(these themes/inclusions did not occur until the last third of the novel).
Warning: one character is pregnant out of wedlock, one character is in love with another female, theme of "you be true to you" then everything will be fine, feminist themes
-Borrowed from the library.
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