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Rating: 
Summary: Imitations of Immorality
Review: From nut cakes and brown ale to high tea and cyanide poisoning, this one's a winner. Imitations of Immorality, by Carol Z. Howell contains all my dearest joys for what constitutes a good mystery novel: tension, fast pacing, wonderful characters, delightful setting, intelligent, very intelligent language, and a plot that has enough twists and turns to satisfy even my lust for surprise. Set in a New York brownstone at the turn of the last century, the 1990's that is, its central character is Alfred Jones, snobby British butler to the three elerly and eccentric Smythe-Whittingtons. No one knows how to be a snob better than those who serve the wealthy, and Alfred, whose past in the old country might not bear close scrutiny, has the language and style down to a T. What's more, he believes in it. When, much to his dismay, the nephew of his employers is poisoned by a cup of tea Alfred has just served him, it will take all of Alfred's skills as a well-bred snoop, to keep both himself and his three charges out of the soup. Secrets abound from ancient love affairs to missing millions. And nobody is what they first appear. I particularly liked Ms. Howell's language and her characters. She has created in Alfred Jones, a narrator who manages to be both unreliable and wonderfully perceptive. And very, very funny. I look forward to hearing from him and his friends again.
Rating:
Summary: Imitations of Immorality
Review: From nut cakes and brown ale to high tea and cyanide poisoning, this one's a winner. Imitations of Immorality, by Carol Z. Howell contains all my dearest joys for what constitutes a good mystery novel: tension, fast pacing, wonderful characters, delightful setting, intelligent, very intelligent language, and a plot that has enough twists and turns to satisfy even my lust for surprise. Set in a New York brownstone at the turn of the last century, the 1990's that is, its central character is Alfred Jones, snobby British butler to the three elerly and eccentric Smythe-Whittingtons. No one knows how to be a snob better than those who serve the wealthy, and Alfred, whose past in the old country might not bear close scrutiny, has the language and style down to a T. What's more, he believes in it. When, much to his dismay, the nephew of his employers is poisoned by a cup of tea Alfred has just served him, it will take all of Alfred's skills as a well-bred snoop, to keep both himself and his three charges out of the soup. Secrets abound from ancient love affairs to missing millions. And nobody is what they first appear. I particularly liked Ms. Howell's language and her characters. She has created in Alfred Jones, a narrator who manages to be both unreliable and wonderfully perceptive. And very, very funny. I look forward to hearing from him and his friends again.
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