Murder at Mullings

March 17, 2014
This quiet first in a series set in the early decades of the 20th century from British author Cannell (Sea Glass Summer) introduces Florence Norris, who first comes to Mullings, the Stodmarsh family estate, in 1900, at age 14, to work as a kitchen maid. She returns as a widow, after WWI, to work as the housekeeper. The household includes young Ned, whose parents died when he was a baby; Ned’s grandparents; an aunt and uncle with anger issues; and Madge Bradley, a poor relation. A bit of a mystery surrounds the death of the fragile Lady Stodmarsh, but nothing happens until years later when Regina Stapleton, the second Lady Stodmarsh—as nasty as the first one was loving—is stabbed to death. Meanwhile, Florie cuts off a budding romance with pub owner George Bird because she thinks it would be disloyal to the family if she discussed her murder suspicions with him. Alert readers will have a pretty good idea of the killer long before the police appear on the scene.

May 1, 2014

Time moves slowly at Mullings, a slightly stodgy British estate governed by the Stodmarsh family. Head housekeeper Florence Norris loves her life of service, particularly the relationship she's nurtured over the years with grandson Ned. When beloved Lady Stodmarsh dies in her bed, the doctor calls it a natural death. Florence, however, has noticed a couple of odd things about the circumstances (she thinks overdose). Fast-forward to 1932, and Lord Stodmarsh foolishly remarries. The second Lady Stodmarsh rules the roost in a harsher manner--and in time, someone rebels and stabs her to death. The investigation of this murder brings the earlier death of the first Lady Stodmarsh into question. For Florence, initial suspects turn out to be allies, and once all the cards are on the table, motives are painfully obvious. VERDICT Downton Abbey fans will pick up on the tone immediately: imagine the ever-reliable Mrs. Hughes narrating a mystery. Stepping away from her long-running Ellie Haskell series, Cannell has created a fascinating and leisurely paced historical, excelling at period details and class distinctions.

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