[NOVEL] A Scandalous Deception by Lynn Messina

As much as Beatrice Hyde-Clare relished the challenge of figuring out who murdered a fellow guest during a house party in the Lake District, she certainly does not consider herself an amateur investigator.

So when a London dandy falls dead at her feet in the entryway of a London Daily Gazette, she feels no compulsion to investigate. It was a newspaper office, after all, and reporters are already on the case as are the authorities. She has her own problems to deal with anyway—such as extricating herself from a seemingly harmless little fib that has somehow grown into a ridiculously large fiction.

Truly, she has no interest at all.

Except the dagger that killed the poor earl seemed disconcertingly familiar… And so Bea is off to the British Museum because she cannot rest until she confirms her suspicion, while trying to allay her family’s concerns and comprehend the Duke of Kesgrave’s compulsion.

For the handsome lord has no reason to waste his time solving a mystery alongside a shy spinster. And yet he turns up everywhere she goes.

Beatrice Hyde-Clare. Book 2

I was fascinated by the first book, this is why I decided to proceed reading the second one.

As in the previous book the novel has two disticnt lines, one is the investigation and the other is the relationship.

And the relationship is developing quite steadily.

The thing is author does not apply the modern way of writing when in 1st person POV books we have to feel everything the person feels. Author of this book only explores a narration, which does describe Bea's feelings in far greater details, but it's not as overbearing. The feelings that Kesgrave might feel are quite a secret that is delivered in details. Only later during a more honest conversation Duke admits that he is not sure himself why he follows through the investigation and the reason is not only that her dismissal of him he finds intriguing and he wants to tweak her ego in return.

Not in anguish but Bea does go through several phases incomprehension of his actions and her own response to them. You really need to read the book to get the entire picture. But in general terms they are indeed of different status. When the previous case was over it was shaded with the appeal of future acquaintance, but Bea is too self-conscious of herself to believe in the possibility. So when they meet again she even creates some ridiculous sounding motives for him appearing in her life that have nothing to do with him just wanting to be in her company. Like they meet at the museum (spoilers) the scene and the reasoning he gave for appearing there I liked a lot, it was simple. Consequently at one of the balls she was talking to a man who was part of the Lake District gathering and she could not comprehend why Kesgrave appeared so stormy. Although to the reader it appeared obvious that Kesgrave might have saw her with another man laughing, which is far from her usual conduct and felt jealous, a feeling he might be oblivious to at this point in time.

But his attention and his actions showed Bea that her theories are nothing more but a ridiculous pile of assumptions, while the man in question might have wanted to be in her presence. But in dismay she realizes her feelings and the mournful prospects that things will not go anywhere from there. As if they won't develop romantically, because she is so below him.

As for investigation, it was quite interesting. Unlike other mystery novels here Bea's motivation is connected to er feeling so outside of her previous boxed up self. She is not some genius investigator, but she has a quick mind.

But again I won't spoil anything because it's a mystery after all and I'm not mad at it. I can understand that it may also sound convenient how they investigate it, but from another point - why not? why things in such a cozy mystery should be complicated.

Another interesting development is her relationship with her family, although one might find it ridiculous, but it also showed how self-conscious and afraid of any mistakes Bea was when growing up, which ended up making her duller than a second coat of paint. Now after she showed herself she became aware that she can make mistakes without grievous consequences of being sent away and no, for her cousins she became more interesting which allowed her to have a connection.

What can I say, in conclusion, the story is only 262 pages long, but it is concise and on point. It does not use embellishments or complicates things, but also stays interesting. It does not burden you to feel every micro-emotion of the characters, instead you are free to interpret their behavior yourself. Unless they openly admit to something. It's light, it's fast-paced, the dynamic is great and the chemistry is great too. It's really a fitting read when you seek something of a similar sort to just have a good time.

RATE: 4,75/5.