The village of Kurland St. Mary looks forward to a wedding
in 1817. Major Sir Robert Kurland is marrying Miss Lucy
Harrington shortly, but for now folks can revel in the fair
held on the village green. Even the staff at Kurland Hall
have been given leave to visit. DEATH COMES TO THE FAIR
seems a sinister title for a day's rural merrymaking. But
we see that competition among local vegetable growers is
serious, and Robert, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars,
somehow deepens the rivalries with his judging.
Ezekiel Thurrock is the church verger - but he is
shockingly discovered dead in the church tower. Old
grievances have been aired lately and Robert, the local
magistrate, has to wonder if the prizegiving brought
something more sinister to the surface. I definitely
enjoyed the social conscience displayed by Robert who wants
to work to support the returning soldiers and injured. He
is considering entering politics so his marriage will be an
asset, though the elaborate preparations for marrying an
earl's relative make him want to elope to Gretna Green.
Still recovering from war wounds, Robert needs to use a
stick or drive a light carriage.
I also enjoyed the sideways look at the status of women at
this period. Lucy, the rector's daughter, wants to start an
estate school, but as the future lady of the manor is
unlikely to be allowed to teach. Her role as politician's
wife might include being a hostess and helping her husband
write speeches. She has to go around with a maid, while the
two herb-wife sisters in the village are aware that living
without a man makes them far too independent for some. All
this is just ongoing background to the investigation of the
untimely death of the verger.
History and family spites make up a lot of the involved
story, with our characters at this period not having the
benefit of modern forensic science. Lovers of historical
mysteries and indeed historical romance will find
themselves equally well served by DEATH COMES TO THE FAIR
which is fourth in Catherine Lloyd's 'Kurland St. Mary
Mystery' series. I enjoyed the read and there is always
something to learn from a well-drawn period tale. Such as
the tasty local tipples of spiced mulled cider and plum
wine, just right for a chilly autumn day.
It’s harvest time in the village of Kurland St. Mary as
Lucy and Robert prepare to take their vows—but a murderer
has taken an unseasonable vow of vengeance . . .
As Miss Lucy Harrington, daughter of the village rector, and
Major Sir Robert Kurland plan their nuptials, the major is
beginning to wonder if he’ll ever hear wedding bells. He’s
seen complex military campaigns that involved less strategy,
and he’s finding Lucy’s meddling family maddening.
When the body of Ezekiel Thurrock, the church verger, is
discovered crushed by a stone gargoyle that has fallen from
the bell tower, the tragic death strikes a somber note and
the wedding is delayed. But the evidence suggests this was
no accident, and Lucy wonders if bad blood at the village
fair had anything to do with the man’s mysterious demise,
since there was much bitterness over Ezekiel’s prizewinning
vegetables.
As Lucy and Robert uncover long-standing village feuds, the
town’s dark secrets begin to take their toll and the couple
soon finds they too are in grave danger . . .
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