Customer Reviews

The Hanover Square Affair

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would gladly do so. I thoroughly enjoyed my entire time of reading this book. Thankfully I started it when I could devote all my attention to it because that is what I ended up doing. Luckily I didn't have to feel guilty about ignoring those things I really should have been doing.

The historical time frame was superbly rendered. The character descriptions were so real that I feel I came to know the people and like or dislike them just as the author wished me to. The main character, Captain Gabriel Lacy, had just enough angst to make me sympathetic but not so much as to make me tired of hearing about his past. There was some mystery about an occurance in his past which was kept covered just long enough, with little bits and pieces revealed along the way to keep me curious. The conclusion was completely logical and satisfactory.

All in all, to my way of thinking, a superb way to spend my valuable time.

Regency England in 1816 is not the best place for a lame soldier on half pay with no prospects and no hope of finding any. Captain Gabriel Lacey and his commanding officer were asked to leave the army to avoid a court martial and scandal but the animosity between the two men exist to this very day. Still his ex-commander's wife Louisa tries to mend the breach that she was inadvertently responsible for causing.

Lacey rejects her overture but on his way to visit her without her husband there, he runs into a mob intending to assault the home of Josiah Horne. This curious captain goes to visit Josiah who thinks he wants the direction of a powerful man in the underworld. When he returns to the home to get the name, he find the man dead and castrated and a young girl drugged in a hidden compartment in the closet. He learns that another girl was there as well and he intends to find her or die trying.

The protagonist of THE HANOVER SQUARE AFFAIR is one of the most honorable men to grace the pages of a mystery book. He will risk his own life to right a wrong and that is the reason the audience will come to care for him and hope one day in his future he will find happiness. Ashley Gardner's debut novel compares favorably with writers who have made the best seller list.

Harriet Klausner

Ashley Gardner has created an interesting and likable hero in her protagonist Captain Gabriel Lacy. A complex and honorable man with a complicated personal history. I liked his direct and often blunt approach to things. The author reveals her hero to us slowly and at the end of this particular mystery I found myself wanting to know more about Captain Lacy and his personal life.

The mystery was interesting, the period details well done, the characters realistic, the writing very good. I was pleased with this book and I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I'm disappointed that I didn't plan ahead and have the second book in the series in my hand so I could start reading it right away.

This book reminds me of Kate Ross' wonderful Julian Kestrel Mystery series. I would recommend them all if you like historical mysteries

I picked this up on a whim because of its (currently) low price on Kindle, and I'm glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Captain Lacey and some of the other characters in this series. There were a few small editing errors, as seems to be typical of some of the bargain ebooks, but nothing so distracting as to ruin my enjoyment of the story.

The mystery itself is interesting, and I didn't figure it out ahead of time; however, I admit I wasn't trying very hard because I just wanted to enjoy the story. There's also the sort of sub-mystery about the characters themselves: What happened between Lacey and Colonel Brandon? The pacing is great; I always felt like I was on the edge of my seat. And I wanted to know more about the people in the story. Fortunately, the author does a great job of letting us get to know Captain Lacey, Grenville, Marianne and the Brandons.

At the end, I wanted to read more. Luckily, there are several other books in the series, and all are being made available as ebooks. I admit I tore through them over a long weekend and am now impatiently waiting for the next tale.

The Kindle editions of these books, in order, are:
1) The Hanover Square Affair (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries)
2) A Regimental Murder (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries)
3) The Glass House (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries)
4) The Sudbury School Murders (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries)
4.5) The Necklace Affair (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries) (a novella)
5) A Body in Berkeley Square (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries)
6) A Covent Garden Mystery (to be re-released as an ebook in August 2011)
7) A Death in Norfolk (to be released September 2011)

Ashley Gardner has a unique approach to the early nineteenth century British mystery. As a genre, many writers tell the story with the crime and the mystery as the central theme. Characterizations and historical data ensue.

Gardner tells his story with the injured Captain Gabriel Lacey as the central theme using a convoluted crime of kidnapping and child molestation as the conduit. Historically, 1810 London is accurate and informative for the reader wanting to learn more of that period.

Even more unusual is the introduction of the culprit(s) early on and the "dancing" with them done by the story's hero. But true to his purpose, Gardner brings home the finality of choices always done with honor and integrity by Captain Lacey. Not only is he smart and resourceful, he is every inch the honorable soldier of his prior warrior days.

I recommend this book to everyone who loves mystery - outstanding writing and to be entertained for the duration of the book. Always wanting to learn more, this reader did just that by reading this book.

I've read 3 different genres by this author and they have all been worthwhile reads. Jennifer Ashley's (her other pen name) regency mystery proved to be no exception.

As someone who reads a lot of traditional regency romances and is a period film buff, I was interested in this book about an injured Peninsular Captain and the missing person mystery he unwittingly stumbles into upon coming upon a riot on Hanover street.

What I most enjoyed about this story was the interplay between the various classes-the captain himself-a titled son but impoverished, his newfound ally Grenville, titled, wealthy, but bored with society, and the other characters that range from respectable, to working class and even a few underworld types thrown in.

The mystery itself was well done,in fact several crimes must be solved, and are written cleverly enough that you will find yourself unable to discover who the culprit is till the Captain solves the crimes himself.

I really enjoyed the way the story is written that Captain Lacey decides to look into these crimes because it's the right thing to do and not because it was an occupation or debt to a friend.

Captain Lacey is written as a true brooding Regency hero-very forthright but not judgmental to those who must make their money in slightly shady ways (like a friendly young prostitute who supplies him with info). I found that highly credible from a character who'd witnessed the horrors of war. The flashbacks to things Lacey saw in those wars were well written and very evocative.

All in all, a good start to a Historical mystery series and I look forward to reading the next book.

5 stars.

This is a delightful period mystery and loaded with charm. If your looking for a well-conceived little mystery that delivers a lively and amusing tale I highly recommend "The Hanover Square Affair".

Where and when will the next Capt. Lacey installment show up? Ashley Gardiner's series is excellent. Her characters are fully-realized, complex and compelling. The plots are intricate and challenging - I've found myself finishing a chapter before bed, only to lie awake trying to decide how I hope the story will unfold. Bookstores in Washington DC aren't stocking this series -- which is too bad since many of us stumble on new good authors while browsing in the "real" world.

I just finished reading Ashley Gardner's first book in the Regency mystery series and really enjoyed it. It's a quick read, which is just what I needed after finishing the long, complex novel I had read just before!

But Gardner isn't just about escapist reading- she had a good plot, full of twists and turns involving not only the creme de la creme of society, but also those at the very bottom (who rarely turn up in Regency novels). She also gives her protagonist a GREAT mysterious history, hinting at all sorts of things about his past and his personality that, I hope, will come out as the series progresses. In that way, I am sure she has a loyal base of fans who will stay with her, just to learn more about the enigmatic Captain around whom the stories centers. All of his friends (and enemies) are also just as enticing- I'll be sure to pick up the rest of Gardner's books to read, too.

I like to change up my reading with one long book, and then one short book that serves as a refresher or brain candy. In my opinion, Gardner's series will be very much the brain candy sort- fun and easy to read, and perfect to reinvigorate me!

These books do not appear to be available in paper anymore but I would love to thank the person who made them available as ebooks! I have found a wonderful series of murder mysteries set in the regency period. Captain Lacey is a retired soldier with a past and many flaws, but is loyal and honest to a fault. Add in his previous commander's wife and the dandy of the haut ton, along with many other characters, and the search is on for the murderer. The author does a great job keeping the suspense going, and keeps her main character likable, although you want to yell at him a few times to keep his mouth shut and his temper under control.
It is a bargain at 99 cents!!!!!

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