Lots of surprises for eager readers.
The charm of moving into a well-cared for Scottish castle a year ago has not yet lost its sheen for Lady Cate Kensie. Embracing all things Dunhaven Castle, Cate continues to throw herself into the work of uncovering all the secrets the ancient estate holds. With a history that stretches back several generations and a reputation for being haunted or worse, Dunhaven has its share of dark mysteries to be unraveled. As Cate explores her home, she eventually discovers a sealed lab that yields plenty of interesting scraps of information to decipher, including an intriguing set of journals from a distant relative. All the beloved characters from earlier books in the series, including fussy Mrs. Fraser and loyal estate manager Jack, return to support Cate as she juggles ongoing research, an elaborate party in her honor, a couple of curious pups, and persistent nightmares. An enigmatic new villain increases the stakes and poses a dangerous threat as the story unfolds. Add in the disturbing detail that her heirloom time-traveling timepiece has developed an irregularity, and you have the building blocks for a sticky quandary in a stately castle.
Uncluttered and straightforward, the only frilly aspect about Danger at Dunhaven Castle is the color of fabrics planned for Cate’s anniversary party! Early tension comes primarily from anxious nightmares, but these frenzied night terrors soon morph into legitimate daytime horrors, although nothing too gory or terrifying. As the encrypted journals are painstakingly deciphered, more puzzles are uncovered, leaving lots of surprises for eager readers. There’s not too much of a culture or language shock as Cate and Jack travel hundreds of years in the past, making for a story that will appeal to a broad cross section of mystery readers. If you enjoy cozy mysteries a la Nancy Atherton, or are looking for a fun cast of characters solving age-old puzzles in a pastoral setting, you’ll fall in love with Riley, Bailey and Cate in Danger at Dunhaven Castle.
