Bellefield Hall

1805. An engagement party is taking place for Mr Richard Montague, son of wealthy landowner Sir Edgar Montague, and his fiancee Catherine. During a dance with his beloved, a strange thing happens: a man appears at Richard's shoulder and appears to communicate something to him without saying a word. Instantly breaking off the engagement, he rushes off to speak to his father, never to be seen again. Distraught with worry, Catherine sends for her spinster aunt, Miss Dido Kent, who has a penchant for solving mysteries. Catherine pleads with her to find her fiance and to discover the truth behind his disappearance.

It's going to take a lot of logical thinking to untangle the complex threads of this multi-layered mystery, and Miss Dido Kent is just the woman to do it.

What's a girl to do when her fiance disappears after their engagement party? Send for her favorite aunt. Catherine's aunt has a gift for solving mysteries. Miss Dido Kent has a knack for getting answers, plus she has the ability to get people talking without them noticing what they're saying. The day after her arrival, a body of a young woman is found in the bushes of the estate. Are the two mysteries related?

I was hooked right from the beginning. I thought the way the author wrote the book was genius. It had both third and first person narrators. The first person, Miss Kent relaying information to her sister through letter writing. The setting and the characters only added more to the plot, in my opinion. Miss Kent although nosy was a very likable character; Catherine I found spoiled and whiny, but I cannot blame her for her behavior, it seemed that sort of behavior was needed in that situation. There characters that were truly evil, and others that needed a swift kick in the rear. But together they were very entertaining.

The mystery or should I say mysteries had me guessing at all times. I usually am able to figure it out on my own, but this one I could not. All the twists and turns had me double guessing my choice of culprit. But I still felt that it was unresolved at the ending. I wanted more information. I wanted closure!

I first saw this book posted on Aneca's World. And I cannot thank you enough for sharing it, Ana. It was time well spent. Thanks! You can find Ana's review of the book here.

I also want to mention that this book was originally published in Great Britain as A Moment of Silence through Allison & Busby Limited.

Bellefield Hall by Anna Dean (4/5) Historical Mystery; Published: Minotaur Books (2/2010); New Author; Series: # 1, Miss Dido Kent; Books 2010 (60);