Bellfield Hall: Or, the Observations of Miss Dido Kent

November 30, 2009
Dean's promising debut, the first in a new historical series, introduces Dido Kent, a single lady of a certain age who's not too old to regret she “gave up the business of falling in love some years ago.” In September 1805, Dido journeys to Bellfield Hall, the country seat of the Montague family, at the request of her niece, Catherine, who's upset that her fiancé, Richard Montague, has suddenly broken their engagement and taken flight. Soon after arriving at Bellfield Hall, Dido learns of an even more distressing event—the discovery of the body of an unknown young woman in the shrubbery. In the Miss Marple tradition, Dido observes the residents of Bellfield Hall closely, questions the servants, and interviews local shopkeepers. Excerpts from letters the likable Dido writes to her sister further illuminate her sleuthing methods. Several red herrings keep the reader and Dido guessing. Regency fans will look forward to the next installment.

Starred review from January 15, 2010
Spinster aunt Miss Dido Kent is summoned to Bellfield Hall, the Montague country estate, by her niece Catherine, who wants her to discover why Richard Montague, her fianc, ran off after declaring he was a ruined man. Before Dido can solve this puzzle, an unknown woman is found murdered in the Hall's shrubbery, and Richard's strange departure makes him a prime suspect. Can Dido discover the truth hidden behind a wealth of secrets, or will this house party have a decidedly unhappy ending? VERDICT Dido is confined by Regency society's limited boundaries of acceptable behavior for an unmarried gentlewoman, but her warm, confiding nature and sharp intellect make her a nearly perfect sleuth for her time. The smartly turned ending and the growing attachment between Dido and Mr. William Lomax will have readers anxiously awaiting the second book in this promising new series. Set in the same time period as "Pride and Prejudice", this story and its quiet observations on human nature will appeal to Jane Austen fans. [Minotaur First Edition selection; library marketing.]Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
Who better than a discerning maiden aunt to comfort a lovelorn niece and solve a vexing mystery? No sooner has Miss Dido Kent arrived at the Montague family estate of Bellfield Hall in 1805at the behest of her beloved niece, Catherine, whose fianc', Richard Montague, has just departed under mysterious circumstancesthan a woman is found shot in the shrubbery. Meanwhile, Lady Montagues two nieces are being wooed by gentlemen whose motives turn out to be less than sterling, a situation about which Miss Kent also offers advice. Her primary quest, however, remains investigating the murder and young Montagues leave-taking, and determining whether the two events are connected, which leads her to uncover long-buried family secrets. Deans prose captures the spirit of nineteenth-century England, and in Dido Kent, whose keen powers of observation are matched by her sharp deductive reasoning, she has created an exemplary investigator. Published in England in 2008 as A Moment of Silence, this is the first in a series and a sure bet for fans of historical mysteries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)