Customer Reviews

Hollow Crown (Lord Edward Corinth & Verity Brown Murder Mysteries)

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In 1936, Hitler is marching the Germans toward war, Franco is beating back the Republicans in Spain, and the English upper class is trying to hold onto a terrible secret--the new King, Edward, has fallen in love with a divorced woman, Wallis Simpson and is talking about marrying her. Lord Edward Corinth is called in to help with a vital task. The King's former mistress has stolen letters the King wrote to Wallis--letters that go beyond matters of the heart to discuss his sympathies toward the Nazi cause. If they fall into the wrong hands, not only the King, but the entire English monarchy may fall.

Edward agrees to help, but before he can persuade his friend to return the letters, she is killed and the letters vanish. Edward is the leadins suspect. Together with his friend, communist and newspaper reporter Verity Browne, Edward tries to get to the bottom of the mystery. But, can he trust even his friend Verity or will she, when she learns the truth, tell the Communist Party the truth about the letters and lead to the very overthrow that Edward has tried to prevent?

Author David Roberts writes convincingly about the fascinating period between the first and second world wars. The depression has radicalized all of Europe and both fascists and communists march and clash in the streets. With its message of power and elitism, fascism is popular with the upper class, even the King. Verity's struggles with her loyalties to country and party ring true. Edward is charmingly elite, yet cannot avoid the attraction toward the energetic Verity.

HOLLOW CROWN combines a critical period of history with convincing and detailed characters and a solid mystery to deliver a satisfying and compelling read.

This is the third book in the Lord Edward Corinth and Verity Browne murder mystery series; all ten are set in England in the 1930s. The narrative is mostly told from Edward's view point, but his fellow sleuth Verity is an intelligent, adventuresome woman whose insights and boldness often solve the case.

Verity is a card-carrying member of the Communist Party who writes for the Daily Worker and the New Gazette, a more middle of the road paper. In Hollow Crown she has just returned from Spain after the fall of Toledo. After having witnessed horrific acts of savagery on both sides, she has begun to question her idealism even while recognizing the threat of Fascism to all of Europe. In London, she reconnects with Lord Edward to help him recover the king's letters to his secret mistress, Mrs. Simpson, which were stolen by one of Edward's friends. She also begins to write a book about what is happening in Spain.

As a female war correspondent, Verity is faced with the jealousy and resentment of her male colleagues. She has freely taken lovers, like other women in the story in spite of societal disapproval of their "loose living." New female freedoms, however, create tensions between the lord, Edward, and the communist, Verity, adding spice to their growing attachment to each other.

This series beautifully documents Britain's social and political unrest as it lurches toward World War II. There is the admiration of some, including the king, of the "new Germany" and Hitler. Some have even joined Sir Oswald Mosley and his band of thugs. Verity represents other views. She is involved in political protest at home, including the Cable Street riots and Jarrow March, protesting the poverty and unemployment of the North. The desolate life of the British colonials in Africa also is described.

Enjoyed this immensely. The characters are well developed and each book has you waiting for the next installment. The period is detailed and like "Poirot" you feel as if you're there. Well developed plot and for a mystery afficionado, twists that make the ending worth the read.