I keep coming back to this series again and again for the superlative writing, the story arc, the setting, the smart (and zany) characters, and just the palpable friendship between the main characters. There's a lot of humor here as well as a lot of love.
The regulars make their appearances and help to solve the (multiple) murder(s). As such, sometimes it feels like a cast of thousands, and without prior familiarity with the series, I would imagine it would be quite a lot to keep track of. The author is also adept at weaving together multiple disparate plot threads which seem absolutely uncoordinated and unconnected and it's only in hindsight that the reader sees how skillfully they're intertwined.
There is, as always, a generous portion of slightly ridiculous humor. This time, Melrose (the former Lord Ardry) has rented a completely fabricated nephew cousin something twice removed. His Aunt (by marriage) Agatha who has her avaricious eyes firmly fixed on Ardry End (the ancestral home) is emphatically not pleased by the aspect of a newfound heir for the Earldom and wealth. Add horse racing, lots of murder, genteel tea and whisky, and stir gently.
The language is clean, the writing is masterful, the plot is involved and intricate and requires some concentration to keep straight. It probably doesn't work very well as a standalone; but for fans of the series, it's like a warm hug from a good friend.
Five stars. This was one of the better entries in the series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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