Murder at Wedgefield Manor (A Jane Wunderly Mystery)
Murder at Wedgefield Manor has an intriguing plot reminiscent of Agatha Christie. In 1926, the cast of characters is gathered in a remote English country manor house owned by the mysterious Lord Hughes. One of his residents has been murdered, and he is the major suspect. Jane, an American widow, and her moody aunt Millie, a former lover of their host, are visitors. His relatives and their friends plus estate employees, including veterans from WWI, are also on site. As an amateur detective, Jane questions if Lord Hughes was actually the intended victim since several of his poor relatives would inherit money from his death. And might she be a potential murder victim herself?
The novel takes off on a flying start with Jane at the controls of a biplane and never slows down. She investigates the murder along with handsome Mr. Redvers, her detecting partner and love interest from the first book, Murder at the Mena House. The lively dialogue flows smoothly among Jane and her suspects, creating a tense drawing-room atmosphere charged with secrets. The story is told by Jane in first-person voice as she explores clues in solving the mystery and reveals why she resists being in love with Redvers.
The unconventional female characters have distinct personalities, such as Lord Hughes’s daughter, who is more interested in being a professional golfer than in marriage. American readers who have visited the UK will enjoy the contrasts between British and American culture, food, drink, language, and social customs as observed by Jane with a Yankee sense of humor. Like all exciting murder mysteries, the novel has surprise twists as it careens towards a nerve-jangling but satisfying conclusion.
