(Goodreads Synopsis)
In this seventh book of the series, Clive and Henrietta return to England to find Castle Linley in financial ruin. When Clive’s cousin, Wallace, invites an estate agent in to assess the home’s value, the agent is later found poisoned, throwing all of the Castle’s guests into suspicion. Clive and Henrietta are soon drawn into an investigation, which is slowed by an incompetent local inspector and several unexplained phenomena—the cause of which many, especially the frail Lady Linley, believe to be the workings of the ghost of a hanged maid.
Meanwhile, Gunther and Elsie have begun life on a farm in Omaha. Circumstances are difficult, but they are content—until Oldrich Exely appears, proposing an option Elsie finds difficult to ignore. Melody Merriweather, still masquerading as a nun to aid Elsie’s escape, likewise finds it difficult to ignore a letter with tragic news from home, while Julia, on the other hand, receives a very different sort of letter from Glenn Forbes.
Back in England, Clive is called away to London on suspicious business, leaving Henrietta to carry on with the investigation alone. When she is mysteriously locked in the study one night, however, things take on a more deadly, supernatural feel, leaving her to fear that Lady Linley’s “ghost” might just be real after all…
This is the final instalment in the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series. I understand the series was meant to go on for longer when the author decided to wrap it up early and I think this accounts for my main issues with this story. It’s a bit disconnected: the main plot is continuously interrupted by other three subplots and everything wraps up a little too neatly for me.
But I see why it was necessary. Important events were happening in those other subplots that also needed wrapping up, and the author had to make do with the space she had. Also, she wanted to end those subplots in a positive way.
It made for a lot of bad things turning out surprisingly well very quickly and a lot of happy endings clustered together. But as I said, I see why this needed to be.
Characters are always Michelle Cox’s strong suit. I especially loved the dialogue; they sound so natural and real, which also filters into the everyday life situation, which also feels very real and believable.
The historical setting is spot-on, both in terms of time and space. 1930s England feels a lot different to 1930s Utha.
The mystery is fun, and I was very intrigued (Hey, after all, it’s me!) by the story of the ghost. I really, really enjoy the episode where the ghost has a central part – though I’m not totally sure how I should take it.
I’m not totally convinced with the Porot-like ending, but it was, after all, a nice way to conclude the series.
It was very enjoyable, like the entire series. Give it a go!
“A Haunt and Linely” by Michelle Cox – The seventh and final instalment in the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series is a gripping 1920s #HistoricalMystery Share on X
The other books in the series
The Thursday Quotables was originally a weekly post created by Lisa Wolf for her book blog **Bookshelf Fantasy** . It isn’t a weekly post anymore, not even for Lisa, but just like her, I still love to share my favourite reads on Thursdays and I still use the original template which included an excerpt.
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