Published: May 2, 2017
ISBN: 978-0425282380
Genre: Historical Mystery
Format: Print
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address: Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com
FOUR HEARTS
Living between two worlds—one the privileged aristocracy and the
other those having to work for their money, Rosalind Thorne has carved a unique
place for herself. Using her knowledge
of one of those worlds along with her own innate intelligence, she has
positioned herself to help women with their particularly discrete problems. When
her friend, Alice, brings a friend in need to her Rosalind is hard pressed to
turn her away. It seems Alice’s friend, Mrs. Margaretta Seymore, has found
herself in the unpleasant position of being accused, by her husband no less, of
carrying a bastard child. The purported father is none other than famous actor,
Fletcher Cavendish. In response to Rosalind’s agreement to assist Margaretta as
best she can Fletcher sends her tickets to a performance and invites she and
Alice to dine with him after.
When Rosalind and Alice arrive at the theatre they are met, in a
manner of speaking, by two men in Rosalind’s orbit – Devon, her childhood love
and the current Duke of Castlemain and Bow Street Runner, Adam Harkness. While
Devon steps into the light, Adam retreats into the shadows—two sides of
Rosalind’s coin. While Rosalind and
Alice dine with Fletcher several things happen, in a way, disturbing. The next morning Rosalind learns Fletcher has
been murdered. In short order the police determine Mrs. Seymore’s husband is
the killer and proceed in all haste to trial. But Rosalind and Adam are not at
all sure they have the right man. Working within their own spheres, as together
as possible, they race the clock to find the real killer.
Darcie Wilde starts Rosalind Thorne’s latest story, A PURELY
PRIVATE MATTER, in a fairly innocuous manner—she is tasked with retrieving a piece
of jewellery. For the reader who enjoys a straight forward read, a mystery to
be solved, Wilde delivers. For the reader who enjoys multiple layers to a story
as well as the intricacies of a character that bring them to live, she delivers
in an even more engrossing manner. As I
said in the beginning, Rosalind lives in two worlds, one foot in each. There
are aspects of both, as seen through her relationships with Devon and Adam.
Devon the boy of her youth, now a man—but given his place in society, can he
truly support Rosalind’s desire—need in some instances—to help women with their
discrete problems? Adam, on the other
hand would gladly work hand in hand with her, yet he will not cross the class
lines to put him there. Even their coloring adds to the layers of their
differences and roles—Adam, fair haired yet, as a Bow Street Runner, takes to the
shadows. Devon, dark haired, gray-eyed,
walks boldly in the light. And Rosalind,
in the middle. The reader does not need to take in these nuances to enjoy the
story.
Wilde creates wonderful characters with multiple layers and
dimensions. Even the character who appears for one small scene is written a
fully as those that appear throughout.
The mystery in this one is multifaceted as well—it is not a
quick read and not just because of the length (which is just right). No, it is
because of the twists and turns the story takes with plenty of hints as to the killer’s
identity sprinkled throughout.
While I am not a fan of love triangles in mysteries – if I want to
read a romance I’ll pick one up – the triangle between Rosalind, Adam and Devon
is rare in that it goes to the characters’ development and adds to how the
mystery is solved. Rosalind could not have the layers to her personality she
does if it were not for how these two men approach her and their own lives.
You do not have to have read the first book in this series, A
USEFUL WOMAN, because Wilde gives her readers just enough backstory to read A
PURELY PRIVATE MATTER as a standalone. If you have not, you are missing out on
a good read.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement of
this book.
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