Death, Diamonds, and Deception (A Gilded Age Mystery)
Death, Diamonds, and Deception is the fifth installment of the Gilded Age Mystery series. It is a wonderful combination of historical fiction and cozy mystery. It is 1885, and New York heiress Prudence MacKenzie and former Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter are on the case once again as they hunt for rare stolen diamonds. These diamonds may have once been destined for a necklace designed for Marie Antionette.
Prudence is a reluctant part of the upper class in a society dripping with gold, jewels, and privilege. It is a time when marriage, and the right marriage, is expected of young women of her station. Prudence, however, continues to conduct investigations and tries to avoid attempts by her formidable aunt, the Lady Rotherton, to set her up in an advantageous match. At the same time, she is struggling with feelings of love that may threaten her independence. In their search for the diamonds, Prudence and Geoffrey immerse themselves in the decadent world of the elite, and it is so well described that the reader feels as if they have entered this society as well.
The characters are well written, especially Lady Rotherton, an American who married into an English title, whose dynamic and forceful personality grabs the reader’s attention. The mystery is well developed, and the author continually keeps the reader guessing as to the identity of the villain or villains. Interesting anecdotes from history abound, and the reader will learn a lot about 1880s New York and about the customs and practices of the elite and their household staff. Recommended if you like mysteries, the history of the Gilded Age in New York, or historical novels with a touch of romance.
