February 12, 2024
An unmarried young sleuth gets embroiled in a murder investigation in this fluffy historical from January (The Lady Detective). In 1894, plucky Albertine Honeycomb arrives in London with her best friend, Joan, in tow, fleeing their provincial hometown and sparing Albertine from an arranged marriage to a loutish widower with 15 children. In London, the pair opens a detective agency catering to upper-class society women; to better fit in with their chosen clientele, Albertine rebrands herself as the Countess Von Dagga, with Joan playing the part of her maid. After their first two clients put up a fight when they’re asked for payment, Albertine decides she and Joan need a man to front their enterprise, and places an ad in the newspaper. Into their office strides Spencer Sweetman, the recently titled Duke of Erleigh—who also happens to be a Scotland Yard agent tasked with investigating the murder of a lord at the center of Albertine and Joan’s first case. The emphasis here is squarely on the blossoming romance between Spencer and Albertine, with few clues to follow as the murder investigation unfolds. Though the love story is sweet and breezy, as a mystery this falls short.
August 1, 2024
Detective Albertine Honeycombe has no need for a husband. Indeed, having styled herself as Countess Von Dagga, she already has a husband, albeit a fake one. All this was required so that Albertine could avoid an unwanted marriage and begin her elite private-investigation enterprise. But when Albertine discovers that many bankers and businesses are hesitant to work with a woman investigator, especially one lacking identification, she decides that she needs a man to be the face, and sometimes muscle, of her firm. When Spencer, the Duke of Erleigh, applies for (and lands) the job, he gets more than he bargained for. After one of Albertine's investigative subjects turns up dead, Spencer questions just what the countess is capable of. January (The Lady Detective) presents a playful Victorian mystery narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden, with the quintessential airy, aristocratic voice, and by Dennis Kleinman, in a deep, rich, and altogether ducal timbre. They're perfectly suited to this period piece, a fun, fast-paced listen. VERDICT Will appeal to listeners seeking a cozy historical mystery about a lock-picking lady and her eclectic crew. Recommended for fans of Mary Winters, Kate Saunders, and Dianne Freeman.--Lauren Hackert
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