Deering, Julianna. Rules of Murder. Bloomington, MN: Bethany House. 2013.

SUMMARY:
Madeline Parker has come from America to visit her uncle at his home in Britain. Upon reaching her uncle’s home, she is swept into family and societal mystery. In the course of one dinner party, several family secrets are revealed and lives are changed forever as murder strikes in an unexpected manner. In order to solve the ensuing mystery, the American Madeline Parker must work with the intriguing British Drew Farthering to uncover the truth.

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
The author successfully accomplishes no easy feat – writing a novel that is convincingly British. The novel carefully remains within the set context and location by exceptional use of word choice. Furthermore, the genre remains consistent until the last page by creating a mystery that turns back the clock to the early 1900s. The British 1900s unfold for the reader through descriptions of landscape, clothing, popular culture and societal norms. It becomes easy to picture a 1932 Rolls Royce, an elegant dinner party and a weekly radio program. Albeit slow to unfold, the mystery sets a rigorous pace that will not fail to delight.

MY RATING:
4 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of Rules of Murder from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review*