The Bloody Tower (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, No. 16) [Paperback]

Carola Dunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009

In early 1925, the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher, recent mother of twins, resumes her journalistic career by agreeing to write a piece about the Tower of London - the Bloody Tower - for an American magazine. Invited to observe the centuries old ritual Ceremony of the Keys, she's spending the night (her first time away from her babies) since the complex is locked and guarded, and the high walls are surrounded by a disused moat. Having been given a tour of the Crown Jewels, interviewed and observed the Yeoman Warders, and met the Ravenmaster, Daisy has more than enough material for her article and decides to leave as early as possible the next morning to return to her family. But when walking down the stairs, she almost trips over the dead body of one of the Yeoman Warders. That there's something seriously amiss cannot be denied, due to the pike sticking out of his back. With her husband, Scotland Yard DCI Alec Fletcher assigned to resolve the case, Daisy once again finds herself in the middle of a case of murder most foul.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Dunn's cunning 16th Daisy Dalrymple mystery (after 2007's Gunpowder Plot), the charming Daisy stumbles over the corpse of the Chief Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London. Daisy and her husband, Scotland Yard's DCI Alec Fletcher, team up to unmask the killer. Daisy does all the really clever sleuthing, but she kindly allows her hubby to think he's putting things together himself. Things get tricky when one of the chief suspects, who may also be a blackmailer, disappears. And then there's the curious matter of the manner of death: the autopsy concludes that the Yeoman Warder died of a broken neck, so why was there also a partizan, or Yeoman Warder's halberd, sticking out of his back? Appropriate historical detail and witty dialogue are the finishing touches on this engaging 1920s period piece. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

It is 1925, and Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher is ready to resume her career in journalism after giving birth to twins. An article about the Tower of London for an American magazine will allow her to work while remaining close to home and children. She does, however, need to spend one night in the Tower to observe the Ceremony of the Keys. Having toured the edifice, seen the Crown Jewels, and interviewed the Yeoman Warders (do not call them Beefeaters!) and the Ravenmaster, Daisy thinks that the assignment should be simple. An eerie night in the thick fog keeps her from seeing much of the ceremony, and she decides to leave early the next morning, but she trips over the body of one of the Warders and finds herself once again working with her husband, DCI Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, to solve the case. The odd folk who live in the tower and the tyrannical nanny who feels that parents have no place in the nursery add color to this historical cozy. Daisy's fans will be happy to have her back at work. Bibel, Barbara --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; Reprint edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758229216
• ISBN-13: 978-0758229212
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carola Dunn is the author of the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries. Born and raised in England, the author now lives in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good - but not as good as usual, September 9, 2007

By 

Laura Gifford "llhope" (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bloody Tower (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, No. 16) (Hardcover)

My usual rating for a Daisy Dalrymple mystery is a full five stars. I gave this one four not because this was not a bad book, but it lacked the usual fun romp feel of most of the other books. So - Daisy fans enjoy your fist introduction to Daisy, new mom, but first timers - try Murder on the Flying Scotsman first.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another enjoyable installment, September 13, 2007

By 

Coppertop (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bloody Tower (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, No. 16) (Hardcover)

This is another installment in Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series. As usual, we are treated to a new location in Britian and new murder to be investigated by Daisy's husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard. Daisy has been very pregnant in the last book and now she has twins. The twins play a very minor role, though. This is Daisy's first assignment since the birth and take her to the Tower of London. She discovered a murder one morning - a case of mistaken identity it turns out. Daisy isn't quite as involved as normal, as she isn't living at the Tower, but she still provides a lot of fodder for Alec to work with. This is another exciting and interesting mystery - Daisy and Alec never fail to amuse me!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a very enjoyable and absorbing read, October 16, 2007

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bloody Tower (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, No. 16) (Hardcover)

There seems to be a sudden proliferation of mystery novels set in Post WWI England -- it almost seems as if it is the "in" thing to do right now. And while some of the more recent offerings have proved to be rather well written pieces, I have to admit that for me, my favourtie has to be Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series.

In this latest installment, "The Bloody Tower," Daisy has been asked by her American editor to write a series of articles on the Tower of England. Having just recently given birth to twins, this assignment fits in nicely with Daisy's plans to remain close to home while working. Another bonus is the realisation that a friend of her mother-in-laws, the eccentric Mrs. Tebbit and her daughter Myrtle, are currently living with the Resident Governor, Major General Carradine and his two daughters. Now, if only her luck would hold, she won't find herself embroiled in yet a murder investigation! Unfortunately for Daisy, her luck doesn't hold: invited to spend the night at the Resident Governor's so that she can observe the Ceremony of the Keys, Daisy almost trips over the body of Chief Yeoman Warder Crabtree as she leaves the Tower the following morning. That Crabtree has been murdered is evident; but who would want to murder the nice, harmless Mr. Crabtree? In spite of her good intentions, Daisy soon finds herself giving her husband, Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, some unsolicited assistance on the case once again...

"The Bloody Tower" was a quick and easy read from the very first page. This was due entirely to the author's energetic and effervescent prose style, and the fact that she managed to maintain and light touch in spite of the dark overtones the storyline sometimes decreed. I particularly enjoyed all the colourful and atmospheric descriptions of the Tower of London shrouded in fog. It was only two paragraphs long, but it set the tone and was completely memorable. I also enjoyed the all the wonderful red herring suspects that the author had thoughtfully provided for me as well as interesting plot twists. Best of all though, was observing how Daisy and Alec interacted with each other, assisting and respecting each other's strengths, and so working together to catch another killer. All in all a very enjoyable and absorbing read.