Customer Reviews

Lethal Legend: A Diana Spaulding Mystery (Diana Spaulding Mystery series)

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Kathy Lynn Emerson has authored thirty-five books and numerous short stories. Her Diana Spaulding series, of which LETHAL LEGEND is the final installment, is in good company with her Face Down mysteries; romance novels; non-fiction; and young adult literature. She has also published a "how to" book entitled HOW TO WRITE KILLER HISTORICAL MYSTERIES: THE ART AND ADVENTURE OF SLEUTHING THROUGH THE PAST. She also writes under the name of Kaitlyn Dunnett. Ms. Emerson lives in Maine with her husband and three cats.

Set in 1888, the Diana Spaulding mysteries appeal on many levels, including as historical mysteries and the era of "yellow journalism," which also featured writing by William Randolph Hurst. Diana Spaulding is a reporter set to marry Dr. Ben Northcote, when his childhood buddy, Graham Somener, summons him to Somoner's island to look after a case of poison that affected four men. Diana's curiosity and a little nudge from a mysterious private eye compel her to follow her fiance to Somener's island, where a murder takes place before Diana's eyes. The wealthy Somener is set to marry an archaeologist, who could or might not be a con woman. A visit to an eminent scholar sets Diana and Ben's suspicions on fire:

"'I may be wrong,' Winthrop said, 'but I believe that's the young woman who caused such a ruckus at the Peabody Museum a few years back. I never met her myself. I was working in Nova Scotia at the time. But the name...yes, I am quite certain it was Dunbar.'

'What did she do?'

'Attempted to gain admission as a private student. Kicked up a fuss when the graduate school rejected her. Well, what do you expect? No woman has the educational background to qualify.'

'She claims to have been a student at Harvard.'"

Emerson is a knowledgeable and experienced writer, which gives LETHAL LEGEND authenticity. Emerson also writes with a romantic and prim style, which translates well to a Nineteenth Century novel. Emerson has the ability to put herself into the past, which also draws the reader into this entertaining character driven whodunit. Excellent!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer