Judith Cutler’s second Matthew Rowsley mystery, Legacy of Death, was a little too slow-paced for me. Rowsley and his wife, Harriet, alternate narration in this old-fashioned account of estate life in Victorian England.

Thorncroft Estate in Shropshire, England has suffered in recent years, first from an unscrupulous land agent, and now because Lord Croft suffers from mental illness. The trustees gather to ensure that the long-term needs of the estate are met. One of the trustees, Matthew Rowsley, is now land agent, and his wife, Harriet, is also a trustee. Harriet has been the housekeeper on the estate for years.

The estate is in an uproar even before the “putative” heir arrives from Australia. Men breaking ground for new tenant cottages uncover what could be Roman ruins on the estate, and then, the butler is beaten almost to death. Matthew and Harriet step in to guide the estate, and to investigate.

Is the man who arrives actually the heir? The tenants wonder about their future, as all progress ceases due to the ruins. An old friend of Harriet’s arrives to check out the ruins and guide the excavation. Then, the second butler is attacked when he’s away from the estate. Harriet and Matthew must match wits with an unscrupulous, violent criminal.

Unfortunately, in my viewpoint, there’s way too much attention paid to estate life rather than the mystery. The mystery is overshadowed by the social commentary about education, social conditions and class. Unless you’re interested in the social elements of Victorian England, you might find Legacy of Death a little slow-moving and boring.

Judith Cutler’s website is http://judithcutler.com

Legacy of Death by Judith Cutler. Severn House, 2021. ISBN 9780727889393 (hardcover), 240p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a .PDF to review for a journal.