I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
It has been a long wait since book 1 in the The Scott-de-Quincy Mysteries, Lady Helena Investigates by Jane Steen. In that book, readers are introduced to the heroine, Lady Helena, a young widow with a complicated, sprawling family. She believes her husband died in an accident, but it isn’t that clear-cut. An attractive, kind physician, Fortier, helps her to solve the mystery. In the process, she uncovers things about her family that she would have preferred not to know and a romance begins to bud.
In book 2, Lady Odelia’s Secret, it is now one year later, and Lady Helena is about to emerge from deep mourning. She has not seen Fortier in all that time. (He had to return to France to deal with some complicated, confidential family matters of his own.) She has spent the time quietly in the country home she inherited from her husband, adjusting to life as a wealthy widow. And then she is visited by her older sister Odelia.
Odelia is an artist and a free spirit. Helena has always adored and admired her, but never really known her. There is an eleven- or twelve-year age difference and Odelia spends nearly all her time in London at the family’s town home. (Their father was an earl. Their brother, Michael, prefers to live in the country with his wife and family, so the London home has pretty much been turned over to Odelia.) Odelia runs a rather lax household. She keeps her distance from her family for reasons that are about to become all too clear to Helena.
Odelia runs in bohemian artistic circles in London. She has an idea for a project for Helena, a chance to become a patron of the arts by commissioning a large work from one of the greatest painters of the day, Sir Geraint (a courtesy title.) A charismatic man of undeniable talent, he has an idea for a major piece that would fit perfectly in Helena’s home, improving her rather rundown drawing room. Intrigued by the idea and impressed with the man’s work, Helena decides to pursue the commission. Traveling to London with Odelia, Helena meets Geraint’s wife and adult children. Against her inclination, she becomes privy to their family woes, personal and financial. And she becomes embroiled in the scandal her sister has taken pains to conceal.
In London, Helena also finds Fortier once more. He has newly returned from France to care for his father, who is slowly dying of cancer. The attraction and admiration between the two grows even stronger. However, the time is still not right to pursue anything more than friendship. Fortier still has secrets of his own that he is only slowly revealing. The two are perfectly matched, both understanding the pressure of familial loyalty.
That theme of loyalty runs strong through both books. The books are mysteries. Crimes need to be solved. But the murder mystery unfolds slowly and is secondary to the true conflicts in Helena’s life. She was the baby of her large family and was always kept in the dark. She’s not a child any longer. She has a keen intelligence and a remarkable gift of compassion. It seems her family will have to come to rely more and more upon her as their secrets slowly come out.
This book is wonderful. The author confidently immerses the reader in the setting. She doesn’t rush the story, but lets it unfold. The characters are not all likeable. In fact, this reader became exasperated with some of them. And that made Helena shine all the more. She empathizes even when she does not approve.
I think this book could stand alone. It’s been long enough since I read book 1 that the details are murky and weren’t needed to understand this story. However, I think to fully appreciate the family dynamics and to watch Helena’s personal growth, starting with book 1 is the best way to go.
And I will impatiently await book three.
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