Monday With Kaye: “A Woman of Consequence” by Anna Dean (Reviewed by Kaye George)

Kaye is back today with a look at A Woman Of Consequence by Anna Dean. Third in the series following Bellfield Hall: Or, The Observations Of Miss Dido Kent (2010) and A Gentleman of Fortune: Or, The Suspicions of Miss Dido Kent (2011). Without further delay on to the review…..

“A Woman of Consequence” by Anna Dean

This is the third in Dean’s Dido Kent engaging historical series set in England. Miss Kent, an unmarried woman of a certain age, referred to as a spinster in her time, is writing to her sister, Eliza, as the book opens. She’s trying to give Eliza an account of Penelope Lambe’s accident, but her sister-in-law, pointedly and repeatedly reminds her that she is dependent on her brother’s hospitality—a cold garret room—and there is mending to do. Margaret, the sister-in-law, continues to interrupt the letter writing throughout the story, but Dido manages to clearly relate her feelings to her sister—and to us.

In between, we witness the strange goings on at Madderstone Abbey, the ghost of the Grey Nun, mysterious lights in the ruins, and the annoying Crockford sisters Lucy and Harriet, who are visiting the Harman-Footes of Madderstone, along with their good friend Penelope. Penelope hasn’t yet recovered from her fall at the ruins when a skeleton is found in a recently drained pool. Dido engages to find out who the skeleton is and how she died, not believing the conclusions of the local experts.

A trip to Bath and the attentions of the handsome Mr. Lomax, endeavor to keep Dido from her enquiries. She is also thwarted by Captain Laurence, a man she considers coarse and “altogether more masculine” than a man should be.

The historical aspect is just right. For me, the language was authentic to the period, but not stilted and difficult to read, as can happen in historicals that strive for accuracy. I hope for many more Dido Kent investigations.

Reviewed by Kaye George, author of Choke for Suspense Magazine