The Murder at Mandeville Hall: 7 (Casebook of Barnaby Adair)

#1 NYT-bestselling author Stephanie Laurens brings you a tale of unexpected romance that blossoms against the backdrop of dastardly murder.On discovering the lifeless body of an innocent ingénue a peer attending a country house party joins forces with the lady-amazon sent to fetch the victim safely home in a race to expose the murderer before Stokes assisted by Barnaby and Penelope is forced to allow the guests murderer included to decamp.Well-born rakehell and head of an ancient family Alaric Lord Carradale has finally acknowledged reality and is preparing to find a bride. But loyalty to his childhood friend Percy Mandeville necessitates attending Percys annual house party held at neighboring Mandeville Hall. Yet despite deploying his legendary languid charm by the second evening of the week-long event Alaric is bored and restless.Escaping from the soirée and the Hall Alaric decides that as soon as hes free hell hie to London and find the mild-mannered biddable lady he believes will ensure a peaceful life. But the following morning on walking through the Mandeville Hall shrubbery on his way to join the other guests he comes upon the corpse of a young lady-guest.Constance Whittaker accepts that no gentleman will ever offer for her--shes too old too tall too buxom too headstrong...too much in myriad ways. Now acting as her grandfathers agent she arrives at Mandeville Hall to extricate her young cousin Glynis who unwisely accepted an invitation to the reputedly licentious house party.But Glynis cannot be found.A search is instituted. Venturing into the shrubbery Constance discovers an outrageously handsome aristocrat crouched beside Glyniss lifeless form. Unsurprisingly Constance leaps to the obvious conclusion.Luckily once the gentleman explains that hed only just arrived commonsense reasserts itself. More as matters unfold and she and Carradale have to battle to get Glyniss death properly investigated Constance discovers Alaric to be a worthy ally.Yet even after Inspector Stokes of Scotland Yard arrives and takes charge of the case along with his consultants the Honorable Barnaby Adair and his wife Penelope the murderers identity remains shrouded in mystery and learning why Glynis was killed--all in the few days before the house partys guests will insist on leaving--tests the resolve of all concerned. Flung into each others company fiercely independent though Constance is unsusceptible though Alaric is neither can deny the connection that grows between them.Then Constance vanishes.Can Alaric unearth the one fact that will point to the murderer before the villain rips from the world the lady Alaric now craves for his own?A historical novel of 75000 words interweaving romance mystery and murder.Praise for the works of Stephanie LaurensStephanie Laurens heroines are marvelous tributes to Georgette Heyer: feisty and strong. Cathy KellyStephanie Laurens never fails to entertain and charm her readers with vibrant plots snappy dialogue and unforgettable characters. Historical Romance ReviewsStephanie Laurens plays into readers fantasies like a master and claims their hearts time and again. Romantic Times Magazine