Berried Alive

Rating:
Summary: LEFT WITH A MANOR HOUSE CLIFF HANGER
Review: The Manor House series, known for its old-fashioned appeal, offers readers a mixture of village charm, lively characters, and imaginative mysteries. It's a winning mix for Kingsbury.

In _Berried Alive_, Lady Elizabeth Compton wants to see the American Major more. Polly wants to see the Three Musketeers and the Manor House ghosts less. Sadie wants others to see Winnie Churchill, like she did. And Violet wants Martin to "just see."

Major Earl and Lady Compton eventually do spend more time together, but mostly due to the deaths of four American servicemen. Everyone at Sitting Marsh can feel the animosity building between the Brit and US soldiers. The Americans are based at Sitting Marsh for England's protection, but some resent their occupation. Tense moments, pranks, and fights are expected, but not four murders in a row. Lady E., feeling responsible for the actions of Sitting Marsh, investigates the deaths and comes up with the possible conclusions.

The folks at Sitting Marsh and the Manor are feeling love struck, spooked, some what muddled, and definitely temperamental. Only Lady E., with the comfort and guidance of the Major, can keep them on track. But for how long? Lady E. maybe responsible and generous, but she also has feelings. And right now her emotions are quietly wrapped up in one man, who gives her some startling news once the mystery is solved.

_Berried Alive_ is mystery number six. Clues are scattered throughout; the twists are as curvy as Sitting Marsh's dirt roads, and the surprise conclusion is well hidden. When all is said and done, series readers will be left with a Manor House cliff hanger.... Don't miss it!

Rating:
Summary: More drama/soap opera than mystery
Review: Which is not necessarily a bad thing. I enjoy this series but more for the descriptions of WWII British life than for the mysteries which are usually quite cookie-cutter and simple to figure out.
In this entry, Elizabeth is helping Major Earl Monroe with the mystery of four redheaded soldiers who have been poisoned. There are a few suspects from which to choose, making it fun to guess which is the guilty party.
More interesting, Elizabeth and Earl come closer to admitting their feelings for one another. Polly is still trying to get back into the good graces of soldier Sam, to whom she lied about her age.
The book ends with two cliffhangers, causing me to look forward to the next book in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful mystery
Review: World War II is causing hardship for those left behind especially in the small village of Sitting Marsh where women and men unable too serve have to keep their spirits up as they try to do the work of the men now at the front. Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton of Manor House tries to set a good example helping when she is needed. The offices of the United States Army Air Force are billeted in her home so they can be near the base, but that doesn't sit too well with the villagers.

Even though the Americans are fighting for their country, the people of Sitting Marsh resent their brashness, their flirting with the local women, and the quality of goods they have on the base while the villagers must make do with rationing. Four red haired men on the base have died after eating at the local pub and the authorities believe they were poisoned. Lady Elizabeth finds this intolerable and decides to do her best to flush out the perpetrator.

Kate Kingsbury's manor house mysteries are charming and whimsical historical tales that give the reader an understanding of the hardships and the sorrows of village life during World War II. The heroine is a strong-minded woman who leads by example with action and kindness especially to those less fortunate than herself. The secondary cast is a delightful bunch of eccentrics, who add humor when the plot turns too maudlin.

Harriet Klausner