A Rather Difficult Conundrum

 

A Rather Difficult Conundrum is a fun cozy historical mystery and the second amateur sleuth adventure featuring "Wispy" Fescue and his cohorts, set in the early interwar golden age by Geoffrey Start. Due out 28th July 2024 from The Book Guild, it's 320 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

It's a modern effort, written and published currently, but there's a nice verisimilitude with 1920s classic mysteries and there's more than a soupcon of homage to PG Wodehouse, Marsh, and Allingham contained in it. The main protagonist is a minor noble, one Sir William "Wispy" Fescue who, along with his lady wife and a pair of friends manage to track down stolen prize cattle, works of art, and in the latest adventure, hopefully rescue the daughter of a shipping magnate before she comes a cropper.

The whole is delightfully well written and all the moving parts function precisely as intended. In another nod to Marsh, it happens that head sleuth Wispy's wife is a recognised artist who has already been accepted at the Royal Academy exhibition. (Shades of Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn).

There's a great deal of humour throughout, and much lighthearted banter. The author has a tendency toward internal monologue/commentary on pretty much every page, but the rhythm soon fades more or less into the background.

Four stars. Delightful very light fun.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.