Fire When Ready (WWII Manor House Mystery Series)

Rating:
Summary: A fun to read amateur sleuth historical mystery
Review: During World War II in England, the villagers have seen too much change in too short a time to want any further disruptions in their way of life. Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton of the Manor House subtly soothes ruffled feathers of the locals, tired by food rationing, the invasion of the Americans quartered in British homes, and the curfews. Even Elizabeth the great cannot get the residents to accept the new munitions factory run by Douglas McNally.

At the opening ceremony, Elizabeth has the honor of cutting the ribbon, but is taken aback when Douglas informs her that he is receiving death threats in the mail. Shortly thereafter, a fire breaks out at the factory killing Douglas and a charwoman. Following a rather quick inquiry, the fire marshal declares an accident occurred, but Elizabeth wonders in light of the letters whether murder happened. She learns that the victims were locked inside an office unable to get out. Totally connived that murder took place, Elizabeth intends to prove that and uncover the identity of the culprit.

FIRE WHEN READY is a fun to read amateur sleuth historical mystery that pays attention to period detail so that the readers can taste the real frustrations, fears, sacrifices, and hardships of villagers in England during the Great War. The heroine is a plucky strong willed character who watches over her villagers like a mother hen; thus investigating arson and murder in Elizabeth's mind is part of protecting her "children". Kate Kingsbury treats her readers with a charming tale that will send her satisfied audience seeking previous novels in this fine series.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Good Historical Mystery
Review: In this mystery, set in the small town of Sitting Marsh in England during World War II, residents are not happy when a munitions factory is built near the town. So unhappy, in fact, that Douglas McNally, manager of the plant, shows Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton some threatening letters he has received. When McNally and a cleaning woman are found dead after a fire at the factory, the Fire Marshall rules the fire an accident, which satisfies the police, but Elizabeth isn't convinced, especially when she hears the victims bodies were found inside a locked office. She decides to investigate the deaths herself, but unless she's careful, things might get too hot for her!

This is another delightful cozy mystery in Kate Kingsbury's Manor House series. The mystery itself is slight, there aren't that many suspects and it's pretty obvious who the murderer is. But I read the mysteries more for the characters and what is going on in their lives. Elizabeth is a good strong heroine, although a little too full of her "position" in the village at times. Fans of the series will be glad to hear that Earl is back, but you'll have to read the book to find out how and why! Violet and Martin, are a bit of a cliché as the faithful household retainers, but Kingsbury writes them in such a way that you care for them and actually hold your breath when Martin walks down the stairs, hoping he'll make it. And Martin is involved in some of the most humorous moments in the book, making a reader wonder if he is as dotty as he sometimes seems to be. Housemaids Sadie and Polly show what life was like for young girls in war torn England.

This is a good book for fans of cozy, humorous mysteries.