A grand mystery with a paranormal undercurrent and glamorous overtones.
Three months ago, 18 year old Lenora was just another orphan who had endured a decade of mistreatment at St. Mary’s Orphanage for Girls. Now she is married to the magnanimous Duke Blackmoore and is living life as a distinguished duchess in the gorgeous Scottish Highlands. But how does a simple girl go from surviving in an orphanage to living the good life in a beautiful castle? Lenora can communicate with the dead, and that skill is just what Duke Blackmoore needs. His late wife took her life some three years ago with no warning or explanation. Only Lenora, “with her peculiar view of the world,” can put Robert’s mind at ease.
Death of a Duchess is the first in Nellie Steele’s new Duchess of Blackmoore Mysteries series. The lovable cliché of a poor girl elevated to high society overnight is told with style and charm. But Lenora is no helpless orphan. She is poised and gracious, like she was meant to attend grand parties and entertain important visitors. As for suspense and plot, the mystery proves to be a little creepy, but wildly entertaining. Steele uses a delicate hand as the narrator breaks the fourth wall, addressing the reader directly, just enough to feel like you’re in on a secret shared only between you and Lenora. If you enjoy a grand mystery with a paranormal undercurrent and glamorous overtones, Death of a Duchess is a fast moving story you’re sure to devour in one sitting!
