Review: Murder at Keyhaven Castle

Murder at Keyhaven Castle by Clara McKenna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Stella and Lyndy mystery series, although it was way to read as a standalone novel.

Stella Kendrick is a modern (for 1905) American young woman, only child of ambitious billionaire Elijah Kendrick who has arranged for Stella to marry the impoverished Lord Lyndhurst. After the events of the two previous books I understand that Stella has actually fallen in love with Lyndy, although she still resents her father for forcing her to marry a complete stranger.

As the wedding day approaches family and friends descend upon Morrington Hall in the New Forest, including Stella's aunts, her father's business rival/friend Theo Swanson, his wife and their daughter Penny. Unexpectedly, Elijah's ne'er do well brother Jed and his two children have also arrived, uninvited, to join the party.

As the Hendricks go to the Southampton docks to collect the Swensons they witness a terrible accident, a runaway cart and horses run over and kill a young man. However, it appears that the young man has a connection to Morrington Hall. Then a murder far closer to home throws everything into turmoil, but with everyone a suspect can Stella and Lyndy uncover the murderer and finally get married?

I have to admit I struggled with the start of this book. The appearance of an American cowboy in Southampton docks and the rather offensive way Lyndy's friends spoke were a little off putting. However, I wasn't going to throw in the towel at only 7% so, after a bit of a delay, I started again.

This was a cracking romp, lots of suspects in a fairly isolated country house. Scandals, cheats, blackmail, secret correspondents, and horse race fixing all swirled into a fun mix. I guessed the murderer's identity quite early on, I specifically noted it at 55% through the book although I had thought so for some time, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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