The Painted Lady (Christopher Redmayne Mystery) (Christopher Redmayne Mystery 6) [Hardcover]

Edward Marston (Author)

Book Description

Series: Christopher Redmayne Mystery 6 | Publication Date: February 1, 2007

Araminta Jewell is one of the beauties of her day; a witty, resourceful, dazzling young lady who manages to resist all the blandishments that come her way. Even her marriage to the staid and ugly Sir Martin Culthorpe has not tamed the rakes of London; for them she has assumed almost iconic status. So much so, that the first man belonging to the Society for the Capture of Araminta s Maidenhood who beds her stands to win a sizeable prize from the club s contributions.

It is during her first sitting for a portrait painted by the fashionable French artist Jean-Paul Villemot that the architect Christopher Redmayne meets the lovely Lady Culthorpe, although he ahs heard much about her through his brother Henry, one of her most ardent pursuers.

Before the portrait can be finished and revealed, however, Sir Martin is murdered. Joining forces with Henry and his friend constable John Bale, Christopher is soon inundated with suspects. Was Sir Martin killed for his shady business dealings or for the exquisite prize of his wife?

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Consummate story-telling, a love of period and astute characterisation and plotting are the hallmarks of all his books... The past is brought to life with brilliant colours, combined with a perfect whodunit. Who needs more?' --Guardian

About the Author

EDWARD MARSTON was born and brought up in South Wales. A full-time writer for over thirty years, he has worked in radio, film, television and the theatre. Prolific and highly successful, he is equally at home writing children s books or literary criticism, plays or biographies and the settings for his crime novels range from the world of professional golf to the compilation of the Domesday Survey. He is also a former Chairman of the Crime Writers Association.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Allison & Busby; 1ST edition (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749081627
• ISBN-13: 978-0749081621
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,906,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Marsten does it again, February 18, 2009

By 

Matthew Jackson (Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Painted Lady (Christopher Redmayne) (Paperback)

A murder mystery set in restored London after the London Fire, about 1670 called the Parliament House by Edward Marston. This was a quick reead (my favorite) with little bits of historical information spattered here and there, without forcing the history down your throat, and thus admirably able to draw you into the story of Christopher and Susan, how their courting will be effected by the attempt on her father's life and Christopher's brother and his life of hedonistic stupidity.

I love historic London, and if I am ever lucky enough to go there, I am sure I will fall in love with the place and have a hard time pulling myself away from it's amazing twisting and turning streets. So this was an easy place for me to fall into and really dig into the story. Now, I am a sucker for a love story, and this story had one in addition to the murder and the attempt on Susan's father. The story moved along at a good pace, had a good number of twists and turns, all the villains got their due coming, and in the end Christopher was able to secure a relationship with the one woman for him. So all in all, a decent book, perhaps not the best I have ever read, and nothing life changing here, but still a worthwhile and enduring story. I definitely recommend this book to lovers of a good historical mystery.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A portrait of murder, August 31, 2007

By 

Beverley Strong (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Painted Lady (Christopher Redmayne Mystery) (Christopher Redmayne Mystery 6) (Hardcover)

In 17th century London, a group of rakes and ne'er do wells decide to pursue Araminta Jewell, a young, aristocratic beauty, to see which of them could capture her virginity. Their initial plan was thwarted by the marriage of Araminta to an older man, but this pathetic bunch of villians still want to worm their way into her bed and place bets on who would be the winner. When the husband is murdered in his own garden, this fact doesn't deter them and they plan to descend on her at the funeral, en masse, declaring their undying love and devotion. Brilliant young architect Christopher Redmayne, whose brother Henry is one of the reprobates bent on having their way with Araminta, investigates the death of Araminta's husband with the aid of his friend, Constable Jonathon Bale. These two characters have apparently appeared in other mystery books by Edward Marston and are well known amateur sleuths.
It's a mercifully short book.