Death in Kew Gardens

Death in Kew Gardens (2019) Jennifer Ashley (Kat Holloway)

Set in London in 1881

Kat Holloway and the rest of the staff have been working hard, since Lady Cynthia’s aunt keeps refusing to hire a new housekeeper. Unfortunately, the woman she finally hires is a complete nightmare.

When the gentleman next door is murdered, everything is thrown into further chaos, as Kat looks into the murder as a favor to both Lady Cynthia and the staff next door.

There were some things I really liked about this story Such as how Kat’s secrets are coming out, and everyone’s reaction to those secrets.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your daughter?” He sounded hurt.

“Fear, Mr. Davis. Pure and simple.”

Mr. Davis sighed. “Ah well, I know about that.

And I like that Cynthia and her friend Bobby have patched up their issues, and that neither Kat nor the rest of the staff seem to have problems with any of it.

Bobby is uncertain what to do with herself. She can’t literally become a man, and she refuses to remain a woman— that is, marrying and setting up a nursery as her father wants her to. She’s at a bit of a loose end.”

But there are several things I took issue with. First, the horrible housekeeper. She is awful. But it doesn’t make any sense what she’s doing. Mrs. Bywater may be in charge of hiring the staff, but if the horrible housekeeper got Lady Cynthia in enough trouble that she was sent back to her parents, then the Bywaters would also be out of the house. I kept thinking maybe she didn’t know her presence was entirely dependent upon Lady Cynthia remaining in London, but, jeesh.

So it’s another interesting story, but it did have some weaknesses.

Publisher: Berkley
Rating: 7.5/10

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