[NOVEL] A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina

Nothing ruins a lovely house party like bloody murder.

At the decrepit old age of six-and-twenty, Miss Beatrice Hyde-Clare has virtually no hope of landing a husband. An orphan living off her relatives' charity, her job is to sit with her needlework and to keep her thoughts to herself.

When Bea receives an invitation to an elegant country party, she intends to do just that. Not even the presence of the aggravatingly handsome Duke of Kesgrave could lead this young lady to scandal. True, she might wish to pour her bowl of turtle soup on his aristocratic head - however, she would never actually do it. But a lady can fantasize.

But, when she stumbles upon the dead body of another houseguest, all Bea's good intentions fly out the well-appointed window. Although the magistrate declares it a suicide, she knows better.

Time for some very unladylike behavior.

Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery. Book 1

This was surprisingly entertaining. The dynamics between Bea and Kesgrave are enjoyable and the banter is there (Hell, I think I don't even know his name, because no one would use it obviously). They have a thorny start, because she is prejudiced towards him and she is unhinged, the way she fantasizes hurling things at him, it's the first scene. Because she finds him a pedant who likes to provide a lot of info etc. As we later find out she misinterprets his intentions and changes her mind about it after they work on this murder mystery together.

Beatrice is shy in the eyes of others, but she is much more interesting in her own head and actually this incident let her to reveal her true colors. I would argue if she was truly shy or she was made shy by her relations. Beatrice is an orphaned girl, living with her uncle (her father's brother) and aunt and their two children who are younger by few years. But her aunt is the one who makes the situation as it is. She has a gazillion rules to follow that would dull anyone into oblivion, thus Bea is the epitome of those teachings outside, constantly preaches about their standing in society, especially how they of the lower station could not impose on those who are higher. E.g. she was appaled when Bea asked Kesgrave a question in the presence of others and her aunt would make any excuse and put all the blame on the head of her niece to get out of predicament. She also would often use such language that would is quite belittling towards her niece and you would think - isn't it bad? And I'll tell you, I practically hate that aunt. Partially (not included or openly said in the text) I believe it's because FMC's an orphaned girl, so she is stricter with Beatrice than her own children, because her own standing in their family is the lowest. At other times her aunt does come to the "rescue" although those moments seem rare and you might think - isn't it good? Though confusing but makes you think neutral about this aunt. Most confusing character of all.

But I digress. Beatrice is now unmarried and unpopular, already 26 yo spinster, others made her think she is not pretty (though I have no idea we don't get such a detailed description I think, she is an unreliable narrator, because those idea were intilled within her since young age by her aunt) and she is in this place just to be a pendant to her relations, a very sensible and dull girl.

But then a murder happens. And you'll think she is the last person who will be involved, but not to mention she found the body, but she found Kesgrave who found the body first.

Maybe because she is so lively and interesting on the inside and maybe she is innately in search of some unimaginable thrill she does not falter. I'm kidding, she has quite an imagination and she conjured so many plots when she saw the duke, very melodramatic.

But you know what surprised me the most? It's the first FMC who was actually analytical about everything she saw. Even if her wild fantasy made her create additional plots, but we can't deny the fact that she makes some thoughtful remarks. E.g. seeing the poor Mr Otley on the ground she noticed several things, like direction of the wound, the perpetrator's clothes should be soiled.

Although it is normal to notice those things, but my point is, I've read several "mysteries" that have a female protagonist, I admit not all of them do the investigative work, but it's the first time someone was so detailed and analytical. I know one thing, when I was reading the previous book, Raven & Wren Book 2, there was a mrder in bedchamber, but I was thinking to myself - won't there be noise? why no one heard anything? And by the end I got my answer and this detail is brought up, but no one mentioned it among the characters from the beginning and they paid it no attention and they should be investigators.

So this dull girl actually goes to rooms of people in search of proof, proceeds to reach the truth among the guests. And has late night meetings with the Duke to discuss the progress.

You can feel that their relationship takes quite a place among other things and it is that something that slowly changes her, because slowly she feels the camaraderie she never felt before and not to mention he is a duke. And when things are done and over she might return to her previous life but she for sure will never be the same. And refuses to succumb to it.

You can see Kesgrave will be our MMC, dashing tall and handsome with blonde hair and blue eyes, hard not to notice their chemistry sizzling. And she reached the stage of liking him, not yet romantically in all specter of emotions, but from the first impression to this, it was a great progress. I would call it in several stages: I want to hurl food at him he is so insufferable; he irritates me; he is not so bad as I thought; this guy is handsome why I never noticed.

In no way shape or form I say it's the perfect mystery, but I think it was entetaining and good, with enough dynamic. The most unhinged is how everyone else acted in this scenario, because I can imagine people talking like that in their time actually. But I also consider it a bit of a satire or irony. E.g. when the above-mentioned aunt came to tell the news she almost phrased it as if it's bad manners to die in such a hospitable house. The entire company danced around this topic and trying to use the most correct and appropriate language. Sounded a bit unhinged.

Another biggest irony throughout the book is the theme of one's standing in society, because they had a duke among them and he has the highest status, others would make it feel like his words are the rule because he is a duke. Even Bea's aunt felt like she is servile towards the duke when talking, just because he is a duke. They were ready to believe his word no matter what.

What I catch from book 2 is that it will have something to do with the lie she conjured in this book. She created it only to make an analogy, because at that point she suspected Miss Otley had an intimate relationship with her father's associate who was below her station. Thus she created this elaborate lie how she loved a man also out of reach, but they were not fated to be together and they were separated. But she did not consider one fact - that her secret after that won't be her secret anymore. Everyone at that party found out about it so the lie grew out of proportions.

PS: This series has 13 books.. so far. Oh boy.

PPS: I am happy that it delivered, because I really was entertained by the beginning, but was kinda scared it will fall flat later on. I enjoyed it.

RATE: 4,75/5.