Murder In The Pleasure Gardens [Paperback]

Rosemary Stevens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

The debonair Beau Brummell dresses up this Agatha Award-winning series.

The stylish sleuth is determined to prove the innocence of a military officer who Society has deemed a murderer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Agatha Award winner Stevens's latest recounting of Beau Brummell's sleuthing activities (after 2002's The Bloodied Cravat) bears signs of being executed in haste, and executed in haste is just what the Beau's friend, Lieutenant Nevill, will be if the Regency's "Arbiter of Fashion" doesn't find the real killer of Thomas Jacombe, "trusted friend of Earl Spencer and a long-time official in the Home Office." At Watier's Club one evening, Nevill accuses Jacombe of cheating at cards, and Brummell agrees to serve as second for the duel the two men agree to. But the night before the duel, Jacombe's body tumbles over the Grand Cascade at Vauxhall, ruining the Prince of Wales's gala. Spotted with a gun in his hand, Nevill is promptly arrested. Brummell, however, knows that Nevill's accusation of false play was well founded. In his search for other suspects, Brummell discovers that the seemingly upright Jacombe had wronged many people besides the young lieutenant, of whom the Beau is very fond. Exactly why he's fond of Nevill is hard to judge, because only the Beau, as narrator, has any character at all. Poorly drawn secondary characters, a contrived plot and an unlikely denouement-it's hard to imagine the murderer caring enough about anything to do Jacombe in-mar this effort. A wonderful description of the Grand Cascade at Vauxhall serves to remind readers that Stevens, the author of several Regencies (Crime of Manners, etc.), is capable of better.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

A dandy sleuth...Stevens's dashing detective romps through Regency England. (Carole Nelson Douglas)

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425196895
• ISBN-13: 978-0425196892
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,115,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating regency mystery, May 9, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder in the Pleasure Gardens (Beau Brummell Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Most of society in Regency London thinks that Beau Brummell is a glorified dandy who cares for nothing but the cut and style of his clothes. He is a personal friend of the Prince Regent and is invited to all the parties the Ton gives. One day while dining at his club White's, he realizes it doesn't please his palate. He opens his own club Waitiers, which becomes an overnight hit, serving delectable food and allowing the clientele to indulge in gambling.

One night at the club, some men are playing cards when Lieutenant Nevill accuses Mr. Jacombe of cheating. Mr. Jacombe, a man with a high position in the government and known for his kindness and honor, is so angry he challenges the soldier to a duel. Before that can happen, Mr. Jacombe is murdered and witnesses place Lieutenant Nevill at the scene holding a gun. Beau, who knows the lieutenant, doesn't believe he is guilty and goes out of his way to prove it.

The hero of this regency mystery actually existed with his closest friends knowing he was intelligent so it should not surprise history buffs that Beau could have been a brilliant detective. As he examines the victim's life, he learns that the man was not a paragon of virtue but a vile predator who had many people wishing him dead. The who-done-it is fascinating and it is obvious that Rosemary Stevens does her research because MURDER IN THE PLEASURE GARDEN is an accurate vivid depiction of life in Regency England.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-mannered murder, September 22, 2003

By 

A. Christie "bibliofiend508" (Plano, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder in the Pleasure Gardens (Beau Brummell Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Beau Brummell, London's arbiter of fashion and dandy extraordinaire is sick of the food at White's, his usual gentleman's club. He decides to open Watier's with both elegant cuisine and high stakes gambling. Before long trouble erupts when a young officer, Lieutenant Nevill excuses one of London's most upright citizens, Theobald Jacombe, of cheating at cards. Heated words are spoken and a duel is scheduled the following day. Beau, somewhat of a champion of the young officer, agrees to be his second. Before the duel takes place, Jacombe is murdered at Vauxhall's Pleasure Gardens. Nevill is accused of the crime.

Told in the first person voice of Beau Brummell, the author gives you a good sense of time and place. The story told in a sarcastic, witty style, moves along at a nice pace. It never gets boring. Attention is paid to historical detail and many real people, including Beau, make an appearance in the story. Unfortunately a less than satisfying denouement keeps the story from receiving an unqualified recommendation. Nonetheless, it is still a good book for fans of historical mysteries.

5.0 out of 5 stars Murder in the Pleasure Gardens, May 29, 2011

By 

S. Jacobson "Suzie Q" (Roseville, MN, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Murder in the Pleasure Gardens (Beau Brummell Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I absolutely loved every one of the Beau Brummell Mysteries, written by Rosemary Stephens. This, the last of the series of four, was probably the best in my opinion. I am sad there aren't more of these novels to come, but I would recommend reading the four that are out there (and can be purchased through Amazon).