Fans of old-fashioned mysteries, or stories that remind you of Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen, may appreciate this fifth book in the Kurland St. Mary Mystery series. .Death Comes to the School by Catherine Lloyd is a quiet story involving class differences and role differences for boys and girls.
Three years after the events of Death Comes to the Fair, Major Sir Robert Kurland and Lucy Harrington are married, but their marriage has some problems. While he is patient and understanding, Lucy suffers from poor health and anger after a series of miscarriages. However, Lucy is interested in the state of the school she and Robert established for the local children in their small village of Kurland St. Mary. When she hears that some of the children have not been treated well by the teacher, she confronts her. But, someone else is unhappy with Miss Broomfield. It’s not a pretty sight when Robert visits the school to talk to her, only to have an upset student report she found the teacher murdered.
There are so many reasons to suspect the teacher of stirring up trouble in the village. Lucy, along with some of the other women, have received venomous notes. Some of the parents have not been happy with Miss Broomfield’s treatment of their children. And, when Lucy finds valuable jewels hidden in the teacher’s rooms, she suspects theft. While Lucy asks questions of the women in the community, Major Sir Robert takes his role as local magistrate seriously, questioning local residents. It’s unfortunate that it takes a murder investigation to bring Lucy and Robert back together.
Lloyd’s portrayal of the characters in Death Comes to the School is excellent. Kurland’s servants, as well as the villagers, are well-drawn and not forgotten in this Regency mystery. In fact, in many cases, they come across so much better than the higher class characters. The mystery is intriguing. However, the relationship between Lucy and Robert will bring readers back to the series, even more than the mystery itself. It’s a solid, well-written portrayal in a quiet mystery.
Catherine Lloyd’s website is www.catherine-lloyd.com
Death Comes to the School by Catherine Lloyd. Kensington Books. 2017. ISBN 9781496702081 (hardcover), 288p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I received the book to review for a journal.
