Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Sophia Rose Reviews - Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer

It's that time again for Sophia Rose to take over the blog reviewing a thriller by prolific author Georgette Heyer originally released in 1953, Detection Unlimited.
Enjoy



Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer
#4 Inspector Hemingway
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
Published:  10.1.10
Pages:  385
ASIN: B003YFJ4TG
Rating: 4
Format: ebook
Source:  Library Loan
ADD TO: GOODREADS
GoodReads Blurb:
Slumped on a seat under an oak tree is old Sampson Warrenby, with a bullet through his brain. He is discovered by his niece Mavis, who is just one of ten people in the village in the running for chief suspect, having cause to dislike Warrenby intensely. Only Chief Inspector Hemingway can uncover which of the ten has turned hatred into murder.

An upstart solicitor is killed and everyone -- who at one time or another wanted him out of the way -- feels panic stricken.

Sophia Rose's Review



One of my goals this year was to check out more books from the library so Detection Unlimited was my first library read of the year.  I'm making my way slowly along through all the old Georgette Heyer detective stories that are told in the tone and style of the Golden Age of British Detective stories.

A victim that not a soul liked, a village full of quirky suspects, and a chief inspector with a delicious sense of humor while he dug out all the secrets, sifted through the facts and clues, and eventually arrived at the truth.

Like the old-style detective stories, this one introduces the characters while building to the moment of the body's discovery.  It paces out steadily and gently as villages and police go about their business dropping red herrings and sometimes clues they didn't know they possessed.  I enjoyed trying to work out the solution, but I really didn't catch on until pretty late right along with Hemingway.

Hemingway has been a fixture for several cases and he cracks me up with his banter with his dour-faced assistant.  He's intuitive, but works by letting people be themselves.  So much can be learned from gossip and easy conversation, but there is a sharp mind behind his smiling demeanor.

I love the post-WWII world described and the simple story style mixed with a deceptively complex mystery plot.  For those who are fans of the older murder mysteries this one is a must.

Author’s Bio:
Georgette Heyer was a prolific historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth.

In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer, and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.

Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a bestselling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Stella Martin.

Her Regencies were inspired by Jane Austen, but unlike Austen, who wrote about and for the times in which she lived, Heyer was forced to include copious information about the period so that her readers would understand the setting. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.

Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
Website:  http://www.georget



Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
Sophia’s Social Media Links:

14 comments:

  1. Great review Sophia, sounds so interesting!

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    1. Thank you! I'm having a good time getting caught up on her old books.

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  2. I've read Heyer's books, but never paid attention to her background. How cool is it that she wrote successful novels without any appearances. Love getting background trivia on authors, and a great review! Hugs...RO

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    1. I read her biography and found her a very interesting lady. She was extremely private and loved to bury herself in her research. I'm with you about enjoying author bios. :)

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  3. Aye, old school Heyer, I have read..3 I think by her :)

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    1. Hey, you're just getting started then. LOL. She's written scads and it could take a lifetime to read them all. ;)

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  4. This sounds so interesting and you have me curious now with the mystery part of it. Great review Sophia!

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    1. It's a little like Agatha Christie if you like those, Jenea. :)

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  5. Sophia thanks so much for taking the blog hostage today and bringing us another fantastic review. I think it great that you're tackling Georgette's novels. I must say I haven't read her but I think based on your review I would very much like her. I like the era and the style of some of the peers of this literary phenomenon that has mostly gone forgotten. Thanks!

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    1. I feel like I'm getting back to the classics or reading a BBC mystery drama. It's great.

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  6. I've never read her but this sounds like it would be a good story.

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  7. That does sound fun, Sophia. Every time you post hers I go yes I need to read them! I have a few on the kindle now. :) Hope you enjoy your library finds this year!

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    1. Glad to give you a push toward her books. LOL I have so many on my list like that. Yes, my goal is at least one a month. I need to support my local library more.

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