MY TAKE:
I love classic movies, especially the late 30's and 40's era. The silver screen was ripe with wonderful stars and great stories. The bookstores were close behind with who-done-it's by Agatha Christie and other famous mystery novelists. It was a popular genre with a unique feel for that era.
Julianna Deering does a marvelous job of encompassing the feel and tone of that era in a compelling and brain-stumping plot. I love wealthy, young armchair detective Drew Farthering and his friends. They were spot on. I always tend to see what I read played out like a movie on a screen in my mind. There were moments I found myself seeing it played out in black and white rather than Technicolor because a turn of phrase or description would just instantly bring to mind images from the real silver screen. Great fun!
Although it is a novel about a murder and mayhem, the main character is facing a decision about his faith and beliefs. This isn't touched on heavily, but is an underlying motivator to the character. On a side note, there is some alcohol and smoking in the story, what you would expect to see for the era and culture of the time, nothing extravagant, but some would prefer to know that up front. I had to remind myself that at the time, no one considered smoking evil and although alcohol was illegal in the USA, it wasn't in England. Nor was it considered bad to drink in moderation. It was part of the custom and I do realize this was a historical fact. It didn't detract from the story for me and I hope it won't for you either. I loved it and look forward to her next Drew Farthering Mystery.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Downton Abbey Meets Agatha Christie in This Sparkling Mystery
Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.
Soon, financial irregularities at Drew's stepfather's company come to light and it's clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer--and trying harder to impress Madeline--Drew must decide how far to take this game.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Rules of Murder, go HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, 2014).
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