books

Fantasy Mystery Romance Comics Non-Fiction

Duplicate Death

Duplicate Death (1951) Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hemingway #3) Mrs Lilias Haddington is a domineering woman who is trying to find the “best” marriage for her daughter, which is why she’s managed to work her way into society–even though no one is quite sure how she managed it. (T)he social smile which had become so mechanical […]

Envious Casca

Envious Casca (1941) Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hemingway #2) Joseph Herriard has decided to force Christmas upon his brother, their family, and acquaintances. Nathaniel, regarding him with a contemptuous eye, said that a real English Christmas meant, in his experience, a series of quarrels between inimical persons bound to one another only by the accident of […]

No Wind of Blame

No Wind of Blame (1939) Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hemingway #1) She was a large woman, who had enjoyed, in youth, the advantages of golden hair and a pink-and-white complexion. Time had committed some ravages with both these adjuncts, but a lavish use of peroxide and the productions of a famous beauty specialist really worked wonders. […]

The Unfinished Clue

The Unfinished Clue (1934) Georgette Heyer Set in England in 1934 They disliked one another with equal cordiality. The General said that Dinah was an impudent hussy. Whereas Dinah drove him to the verge of an apoplexy by remarking with an air of naive wonder: ‘What odd expressions people of your generation do use! I […]

Why Shoot a Butler?

Why Shoot a Butler? (1933) Georgette Heyer Set in England in 1933 Mr Amberley left the breakfast table in the middle of Sir Humphrey’s dissertation on hooliganism in These Modern Times. One of the young constables had retired to the ditch. The other stood his ground, but he did not look very happy. The sergeant […]

Footsteps in the Dark

Footsteps in the Dark (1932) Georgette Heyer ‘No, don’t tell me I can go without you, Charles. I may be a bad wife, and wake you up to look in the wardrobe in the small hours, but I am not such a bad wife that I’d go away and leave you with a ghost and […]

A Blunt Instrument

A Blunt Instrument (1938) Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hannasyde #4) Set in London in 1938 A stern glance was directed towards him. ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain,’ said Glass deeply. This admonishment was more comprehensible to Simmons, who was a member of the same sect as PC Glass, […]

They Found Him Dead

They Found Him Dead (1937) Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hannasyde #3) Set in England in 1937 Clement, who was a partner in the firm of Kane and Mansell, was a man of considerable substance and, since he was heir to his uncle’s private possessions, a man of large expectations also. Miss Allison supposed that Rosemary must […]

Behold, Here’s Poison

Behold, Here’s Poison (1936) Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hannasyde #1) Set in England in 1936 Stella, unable to feel that Gregory Matthews’s nature when a little boy could compensate her aunt for all the subsequent years of strife, was impatient of this facile grief. ‘I shall never forgive her, never! I have been ordering meals for […]

Death in the Stocks

Death in the Stocks (1935) Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hannasyde #1) Set in London in 1935 ‘Know how the body was sitting when you found it?’ ‘Yes, sir.’ ‘All right. Put it back as near as you can. Ready with that flashlight, Thompson?’ Constable Dickenson did not care much for the task allotted him, but he […]

The Unknown Ajax

The Unknown Ajax (1959) Georgette Heyer Set in England in 1817 Lord Darracott’s eldest son has died, and now he (and the family) must accept the Major Hugo Darracott, son of Lord Darracott’s next oldest son, who none of met because Hugo’s father was in disgrace. I collect that the weaver’s son is the offspring […]

The Toll-Gate

The Toll-Gate (1954) Georgette Heyer Set in England in 1817. Captain John Staple is bit bored, back from the war, and his mother and sister are pushing him to get married and settle down. (E)veryone seemed to feel that it was time John settled down to a life of civilian respectability. He felt it himself, […]

Friday’s Child

Friday’s Child (1944) Georgette Heyer Lord Sherington needs to get married to take control over his inheritance–especially since he suspects one of his uncles of not acting in his best interests. Sherry, however, is turned down by The Incomparable, Isabelle. ‘But my dear girl – ! No, really, now, Bella! Most devoted slave! Word of […]

The Reluctant Widow

The Reluctant Widow (1946) Georgette Heyer Set in England in 1813. Elinor Rochdale fell upon hard times when her father fell into ruin and shot himself, and has been a governess in recent years. She has come to take a new position as a governess, but ends up in the wrong carriage, where it is […]

These Old Shades

These Old Shades (1926) Georgette Heyer Set in England and France in the mid 1750s. The Duke of Avon has well-earned his nickname of Satanas. ‘And you came to Paris with a fortune.’ ‘Quite a considerable one. I bought this house.’ ‘Yes. I wonder how you reconcile it with your soul?’ ‘I haven’t one, Hugh. […]