Book Review: Accomplished in Murder

Book: Accomplished in Murder (The Accomplished Mysteries book #1) by Dara England

Rating: 2 stars

Review:

Well, this was okay. It wasn't the most compelling mystery but I did find some part interesting. This was a short and quick read. I thought the writing was good just wish the story was more entertaining.

In Accomplished in Murder, main character Drucilla Winterbourne receives a worrying letter from her recently married friend Celeste who asked her to come for a visit. However, as soon as Drucilla and her aunt arrived at Blackridge House, the creepy home where her friend was living with her husband Lord Absalom and various family members, she finds out that Celeste has died.

After hearing the details of her friend's death from one of the maids the evening of her arrival, she started to doubt Celeste's death was an accident. The next morning on her way to breakfast, Drucilla overhears a conversation between Lord Absalom and his father Lord Litchfield. From the conversation, Drucilla learned the real reason that her friend Celeste had been married to Lord Absalom. Which was rather insulting.

Once she heard that she started to do a little mystery solving. She discovered a few secrets and nearly got herself killed but she finally figured out what happened to her friend.

There were things I liked and disliked about this novella. What I like was Drucilla, I thought she was an interesting character and if this story had been longer it would have been nice to know more about her. However there were a few things that annoyed me about this book, Drucilla didn't really do any investigating. She searched around her friend's room but that's about it. She just happen to luck up and overheared a conversation. The murderer actually confessed that they had murdered her friend all while she was still thinking it was someone else. I found the villain was way too easy to figure out yet the villain's motive didn't make any sense at all.

The ending of this book also irritated me. Even though she knew Lord Absalom had clearly deceived her friend, she still helped him avoid a scandal. Why would she help a guy who had knowingly deceived her friend? Even back during Victorian times I couldn't see anyone doing this.

Drucilla also accepted Lord Litchfield's invitation for a call when he plans to visit London as well as she has plans to go back to visit the family at Blackridge House. Again I don't understand why. Lord Litchfield had ulterior motives for getting his son to marry Celeste. There was nothing honorable or noble about either one of them and if Drucilla's friend meant so much to her, why would she be so nice and helpful to them in the end.

Overall, this was an okay story. I think if the story was longer and more developed it would have been a much better story.