Lady Takes the Case - (Manor Cat Mystery) by Eliza Casey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

England 1912. Danby Hall is the only home Lady Cecilia Bates has ever known. Despite the rigid rules of etiquette and her mother the Countess of Avebury's fervent desire to see her married off, Lady Cecilia can't imagine life anywhere else. But now, with an agricultural depression sweeping the countryside, the Bates family's possession of the hall is suddenly in peril.

A possible solution arrives in the form of the imperious American heiress Annabel Clarke. The Earl and Countess of Avebury are determined that Cecilia's brother, Patrick, will win Annabel's hand in marriage--and her fortune along with it. To help the lackluster Patrick in this pursuit, the Bates and their staff arrange a grand house party upon the heiress's arrival.

When a guest dies after sipping from a glass meant for Annabel, it's clear the Bates have a more poisonous problem on their hands than a lack of chemistry. As the scandal seizes Danby, Cecilia sets out to find the culprit, with help from Annabel's maid, Jane, and Jane's curiously intelligent cat, Jack.

After the poison that someone had stashed away inside the manor is discovered, Cecilia is left with two possibilities: Either a resident of Danby snapped and tried to kill the arrogant heiress, or the threat is coming from one of their guests, who would love to see the Bates family's decline become permanent.

Review Quotes

"Fans of Downton Abbey will be delighted in the setting, the smart and likable aristocratic heroine, her plucky American maid and the stowaway cat."--Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Royal Spyness mysteries and the international bestseller The Tuscan Child

"An absolute delight! I was immediately smitten with Danby Hall and Lady Cecilia and, of course, her investigating sidekick Jack the cat. Eliza Casey has penned a truly clever mystery, rich with engaging characters and robust with historical details. I can't wait for a return visit."--Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of Death in the Stacks

"Downton Abbey's got nothing on stately Danby Hall. When a murder occurs, the suspects are plenty and it's up to Lady Cecilia Bates to solve the crime in this charming romp by Eliza Casey. I'll be counting the days until the next book in the series arrives."--Lorraine Bartlett, New York Times bestselling author of Yule Be Dead

"Eliza Casey has a real flair for creating fascinating characters in an exciting moment in history!"--Tessa Arlen, author of Death of an Unsung Hero

"Downton Abbey fans will look forward to the sequel."--Publishers Weekly

"Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in a promising series debut."--Kirkus Reviews

"The lovingly detailed 1912 English setting frames a satisfying cozy full of plot twists and the developing warm friendship between Cecilia and Jane, intelligent young women, both of whom want more from their sheltered lives. A final twist will leave readers eagerly awaiting a sequel."--Booklist

About the Author