BEHOLD, A MYSTERY!

The author's newest Regency mystery (Royal Revels, etc.) finds Jessica Greenwood, 26, in an emotional upheaval. After her mother's death ten years ago, she was given a home with great-aunt Hettie Farr, wealthy mistress of Downsview, in Sussex—ministering to her needs, growing fond of the kindly woman beneath the testy exterior. An annual highlight of Jessica's drab life is the New Year's visit of Hettie's four bachelor nephews—Otto and Horatio Farr; Felix and Gregory Chapman—all possible suitors. This reunion starts well- -Felix reveling in the critical praise of his new translation of Plutarch; playboy Gregory wheedling the promise of 500 pounds from Hettie; Horatio worrying about the crumbling roof of his own manor house; handsome Otto promising a carriage ride next day. But it all falls apart in the morning when Hettie is found in her bed, dead of poison, and her companion, Mrs. Manners, is a second murder victim soon after. Hettie's will leaves all to Jessica, provided she marries one of the nephews within a year. Now Jessica's efforts are bent on finding the murderer before she becomes a third victim. This entails a great deal of dull talk, much ado about locks, windows, and a host of other trivia—all sans input from any law authority. The unsurprising killer is eventually caught red-handed, allowing Jessica to walk into the sunset with the man of her choice. Clumsily plotted, unconvincingly motivated, but a not-too- silly heroine and nicely done period ambiance make this one harmlessly readable.