Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd

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Title: Death Comes to London
Author: Catherine Lloyd
First Published: November 2014
Published By: Kensington
Format Read: Trade Paperback
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction
Read: Feb. 17 2015
Rating: 4/5

I received a copy of Death Comes to London from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is the second in the Kurland St Mary mystery series by Catherine Lloyd. However unlike in the first installment, we join the main characters in London, not Kurland St Mary. Main character Lucy Harrington leaves her hometown after helping to run the household of an injured war hero named Major Kurland. The young woman accompanies her sister Anna to town to partake in the social season, in hopes of finding husbands. Not long after her departure, Major Kurland learns that he is to receive a baronetcy from the prince regent, so he too makes his way to London. While there a dowager countess (the grandmother of the Major’s friend Broughton) un-expectantly drops dead at a social ball. It is determined that she had been poisoned and Kurland and Lucy take on the task of uncovering the mystery.

The first page of this book includes some quotes of praise, the first book in the series has received. It was here that I realized that Death Comes to London is set in the regency period. To be honest this is not my favourite era to read about. I have yet to enjoy a book set in this time period. Next I read quotes that compared the characters to Jane Austen’s Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice, a novel I found insufferable. So needless to say I was quite sceptical going into this story. However I am thankful to have been sent it to, so I was determined to read it. I was also concerned that I wouldn’t understand parts because I have not read the first book. 

Much to my surprise I quite enjoyed Death Comes to London! Aside from the fact that I’m not particular on this time period, it didn’t feel as stuffy as I had thought it would. Thankfully there was more to this story than just the proper societal etiquette of the ton. The mystery “who-done-it” storyline kept me interested throughout, even after I had figured it out for myself. Lucy came across as quite meddlesome, which was slightly annoying at times. However this is how the character is supposed to be portrayed. I enjoyed reading more from Major Kurland’s perspective than Lucy’s. Although there were parts that referred to the mystery in the first novel, I would say that Death Comes to London could be a stand-alone. 

I hope to purchase a copy of the first book in the series Death Comes to the Village soon as I’m interested in learning more of the back story readers caught of glimpse of in this second installment. A third book titled: Death Comes to Kurland Hall is due out later this year.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with a historical setting.