Review: Think of England

Think of England by K.J. Charles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

** Warning - the book is set in 1904 and there are several racial, religious and sexual slurs used, I took them to be in keeping with the way in which certain people spoke/thought at the time but some might be offended. **

Captain Archie Curtis lost his career, several friends, and some of his fingers when a batch of new rifles his regiment were testing turned out to be seriously flawed. Initially the manufacturer was blamed for cutting corners, but recently he visited Archie's uncle, someone high up in the secret service, ranting about sabotage. Only a few days later his body was fished out of the Thames. Did he take his own life? Or was he murdered to cover up what really happened? Archie's only clue is that the manufacturer's arch rival profited from the incident. Coincidentally, Archie has been invited to spend two weeks at this man's modern country house - an ideal opportunity to snoop around he thinks.

The other guests are a strange mixture, including Daniel da Silva, a poet, foreign, Jewish, and clearly homosexual. Archie is disgusted by da Silva, especially since he slinks around almost silently and seems to pop up just when Archie is trying to do some snooping. When it becomes clear that Daniel is also snooping (for slightly different reasons) they reluctantly agree to join forces. But what they uncover is far bigger, and worse, than either of them ever imagined.

I loved the irony of Archie turning his nose up at Daniel because he was gay, yet thinking having a 'special friend' in the army was okay because that's what you do when you are in an entirely male organisation! Watching Archie realise he was gay was such fun.

Anyway, loved it. I'm a sucker for an early twentieth century country house mystery, throw in a love affair and some chuckles and I'm all in.

View all my reviews