Where She Solves Several Mysteries

The Secret of the Lost Pearls by Darcie Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the sixth book in the series, and it's another winner. 4 stars.

(4.5 if I were allowed.)

Like all the series, we have an excellent protagonist, an engrossing mystery, some intrigue, some romance, some excellent sleuthing, and a satisfying conclusion. The author may (or may not--I'm no expert) take some liberties with the Regency setting, but it seems to me that she's done a good job.

Rosalind Thorne is surviving as a useful woman, moving from drawing room to drawing room helping other women with tricky domestic details, earning her living without seeming to be earning a living, which was key. She threads the needle (the author does, in her writing, and so does her protagonist within the story) by being active in solving the mystery without being too active, too much like a modern heroine. She is, in fact, a lot like a modern heroine, though she fits in fine with this setting by making sure she appears proper. She sneaks around, but apologizes for being caught in the wrong place; she passes tasks off to others who can move around more freely; she uses contacts via correspondence to track down details. It all works to make her a detective without her looking like one.

My quibble with the novel is the rather unnecessary complexity, especially at the end. It's such a tangle with so many young women the same age and so many uncles and cousins who've gotten involved that it takes a lot of concentration to sort them out. Murder mystery, jewel theft, art scam, revenge, hidden families--it's a lot. She makes it work, but it was a little extra.

Still--great series. Lots of fun. Love the main characters. Recommended, along with the whole series.

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