Damsel in Distress (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, No. 5) [Hardcover]

Carola Dunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1997

When Philip Petrie's fiance+a7e Gloria, the daughter of an American millionaire, is kidnapped, he turns to Daisy Dalrymple to find the kidnappers and rescue his love from their clutches."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In 1923, a rich American and his daughter, Gloria, travel to England looking for investment opportunities. Gloria meets and falls for titled Philip, but kidnappers seize her. Philip then asks friend (and series sleuth) Daisy Dalrymple for assistance. Another charmer.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

It's 1923 in postWW I England, and the Honorable Philip Petrie--aimless, car-loving younger son of an aristocratic family- -meets Gloria Arbuckle, daughter of an American millionaire, in the countryside near Malvern. It's love at first sight, but a second meeting ends with the kidnapping of Gloria, a failed attempt by Philip to rescue her, and a note from the kidnappers to Arbuckle demanding a huge ransom and utter secrecy. Philip enlists the help of the intrepid Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, a childhood friend and neighbor in the woodlands where Gloria and her captors are holed up. Daisy resists the temptation to bring her beloved Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard into the picture. She eventually finds the captors' well-hidden shack but then is captured herself. Her escape, leaving Gloria behind, forces the kidnappers to move their hideaway, and now Fletcher, along with some of Daisy's trusted friends and servants, band together to ensure Gloria's safe return while her father arranges the money pick-up and Fletcher successfully figures out who's behind it all. Pretty much the same Dunn mixture (Requiem for a Mezzo, 1996, etc.)--a combo of P.G. Wodehouse and Boys' Own Adventures, laced with reminders of the all-pervasive class distinctions of the era. A dauntless Daisy, and good-natured fun, if a little fey. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312168063
• ISBN-13: 978-0312168063
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,543,326 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 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A weak link in an otherwise stellar series., March 7, 2002

By 

Sharon Wylie (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Damsel in Distress (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, No. 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

Set in 1923 England, this series follows the adventures of the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, a young woman who has defied convention by choosing to make her own living (as a journalist) rather than let her aristocratic family support her.

When Phillip Petries American fiancé is kidnapped and held for ransom, Phillip turns to his good friend Daisy for help. Daisys penchant for crime-solving insures her willingness to help her old friend, but she finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place when Phillip asks her not to involve the police. Daisys romance with Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, a widower with a young daughter, certainly makes this dictate difficult to follow.

This is the fifth of the series (preceded by Murder on the Flying Scotsman and followed by Dead in the Water), and although the characters and setting remain as charming as ever, there is not much mystery solving to be had. The perpetrator of the kidnapping is obvious very early on, but the plot revolves more around rescuing the fiancé than solving a crime. The story is best described as a caper, with lots of following of suspects, traveling around the countryside, and a climactic shoot-out. Readers who like to decipher clues and try to solve the mystery themselves will be disappointed.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Phil finally finds someone, who disappears...., May 14, 2002

By 

Moe811 (New York USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Damsel in Distress (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, No. 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

Daisy agrees to help introduce Philip Petrie's new love to his family. She is rich and American and he doesn't know how they will react. Daisy decides to kill two birds with one stone and invites Alec Fletcher to meet her mother. The week before the eventful weekend, Gloria is kidnapped. The villians will kill her if her father calls the police, so Petrie asks Daisy to help him find her.

This was an incredibly quick read (under three hours). I just couldn't put it down. It was nice to see all of the usual characters in a different setting. The author lets us get to know them a little better. Lucy is in every book, but very little time is given to her for example. I am looking forward to the next one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice little period lark, March 19, 2009

By 

Sharilyn - See all my reviews

This review is from: Damsel in Distress (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, No. 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

When the daughter of an American millionaire is kidnapped, the girl's suitor appeals to Daisy Dalrymple for help. Determined to solve the case without any assistance from Detective Inspector Fletcher, Daisy drafts her chums into scouring the countryside for the kidnappers' hideout.

I enjoy Carola Dunn's light mysteries sent in 1920s England and this book is definitely one of the best in the series. The story sort of reminds me of Agatha Christies "The Secret Adversary"--more old-fashioned thriller with a touch of romance that a traditional who-dun-it. Daisy comes across as very much a Christie kind of heroine--a pretty plucky young thing with a bit of style and a habit of getting mixed up in murder and mayhem.

The book breezes along at a brisk pace and even though you can spot the villain early on, it doesn't detract in the slightest from the story's overall entertainment value. While Ms. Dunn probably won't win any major awards for her work, this book gets my vote for "Fast and Fun Read of the Week".