Customer Reviews

Berried Alive: A Manor House Mystery

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

World War II is causing hardship for those left behind especially in the small village of Sitting Marsh where women and men unable too serve have to keep their spirits up as they try to do the work of the men now at the front. Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton of Manor House tries to set a good example helping when she is needed. The offices of the United States Army Air Force are billeted in her home so they can be near the base, but that doesn?t sit too well with the villagers.

Even though the Americans are fighting for their country, the people of Sitting Marsh resent their brashness, their flirting with the local women, and the quality of goods they have on the base while the villagers must make do with rationing. Four red haired men on the base have died after eating at the local pub and the authorities believe they were poisoned. Lady Elizabeth finds this intolerable and decides to do her best to flush out the perpetrator.

Kate Kingsbury?s manor house mysteries are charming and whimsical historical tales that give the reader an understanding of the hardships and the sorrows of village life during World War II. The heroine is a strong-minded woman who leads by example with action and kindness especially to those less fortunate than herself. The secondary cast is a delightful bunch of eccentrics, who add humor when the plot turns too maudlin.

Harriet Klausner

Which is not necessarily a bad thing. I enjoy this series but more for the descriptions of WWII British life than for the mysteries which are usually quite cookie-cutter and simple to figure out.
In this entry, Elizabeth is helping Major Earl Monroe with the mystery of four redheaded soldiers who have been poisoned. There are a few suspects from which to choose, making it fun to guess which is the guilty party.
More interesting, Elizabeth and Earl come closer to admitting their feelings for one another. Polly is still trying to get back into the good graces of soldier Sam, to whom she lied about her age.
The book ends with two cliffhangers, causing me to look forward to the next book in the series.

This series as well as her Pennyfoot Hotel series is (and I hate this word) awesome. I have never read a complete series before I found the two of these, now I have read both...you will not be disappointed. It (they) may take place in Edwardian and war time England, but the characters are so 'today'. And, get this. I sent an e-mail to Mrs. Kingsbury, which she actually answered. One of her secrets to success is a much younger husband! She is just a delightful person. She writes good, clean, interesting mysteries. Plus, a bonus: she is also writing under another name...but this time romances!

The Manor House series, known for its old-fashioned appeal, offers readers a mixture of village charm, lively characters, and imaginative mysteries. It?s a winning mix for Kingsbury.

In _Berried Alive_, Lady Elizabeth Compton wants to see the American Major more. Polly wants to see the Three Musketeers and the Manor House ghosts less. Sadie wants others to see Winnie Churchill, like she did. And Violet wants Martin to ?just see.?

Major Earl and Lady Compton eventually do spend more time together, but mostly due to the deaths of four American servicemen. Everyone at Sitting Marsh can feel the animosity building between the Brit and US soldiers. The Americans are based at Sitting Marsh for England?s protection, but some resent their occupation. Tense moments, pranks, and fights are expected, but not four murders in a row. Lady E., feeling responsible for the actions of Sitting Marsh, investigates the deaths and comes up with the possible conclusions.

The folks at Sitting Marsh and the Manor are feeling love struck, spooked, some what muddled, and definitely temperamental. Only Lady E., with the comfort and guidance of the Major, can keep them on track. But for how long? Lady E. maybe responsible and generous, but she also has feelings. And right now her emotions are quietly wrapped up in one man, who gives her some startling news once the mystery is solved.

_Berried Alive_ is mystery number six. Clues are scattered throughout; the twists are as curvy as Sitting Marsh?s dirt roads, and the surprise conclusion is well hidden. When all is said and done, series readers will be left with a Manor House cliff hanger?. Don?t miss it!

I have read all the other books in this series and enjoyed them. This I didn't think was quite up to par.

Maybe it's because she is coming to the end of this series?

I will be sorry to see these end as I have generally liked these books.

I love the Manor House series, I actually have the last two that I haven't read yet, so I will have something delightful to look forward to. I do this with the Daisy Dalyrimple, post WWI series as well.

This is set during WWII in a village in England, where all must cope with boisterous Yanks, food rationing and the inevitable murderer in their midst. Lady Elizabeth and Major Monroe's attraction for one another is understated. The villagers, especially the tyrannical Rita Crumm and her womens group are always amusing. I will truly miss this series when the last two books are released.

As others have said, I really like this series more for the depiction of life in a British village during WWII than for the mysteries themselves. There are some very good continuing characters: young girls, bumbling village constables, the American soldiers - plus a right old rip-roaring boo-hiss village harridan whom I love to hate!

And of course there are Lady Elizabeth, her faithful household retainers, and the handsome US officer in whose presence Lady E practically gives off sparks, heh, heh...

I guessed the solution to the murder pretty early on but still enjoyed the book because I wanted to know what happened to the characters.

This is a light mystery in the "cozy" tradition set in the quiet village of Sitting Marsh. Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton feels it her duty to solve the mystery of the recurrent deaths of American airmen who have been billeted in her manor. Complicating her efforts is village resentment of the Yanks, whose success with local girls is evident, as well as the myriad problems suffered by homefront areas such as Sitting Marsh during the war. Referred to in the story is food rationing, the "Housewives League" whose purpose was create comfort items for Britain's soldiers abroad, and the mobilization of women who were needed to assume positions in factories, farms, and other employments formally held by the men. Even Elizabeth's unsolicited role as the region's "lady" is new, a title she recently inherited after the untimely death of her parents in a bombing raid. As lady she must avoid becoming the center of gossip - a difficult task given her growing feelings toward Earl Monroe, a handsome but unfortunately already married American Major.

This is Kingsbury's sixth and most recent book in her series. Historical background or reference bibliography not included.