The Perfect Daughter (Commissario Brunetti Novels) [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Gillian Linscott (Author), Lin Sagovsky (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002 | Series: Commissario Brunetti Novels

At nineteen, Verona North was talented and attractive. But only a few months after leaving home to study art in London, she is found hanging in the family boathouse in Devon - apparently a suicide. It seems the perfect daughter had plunged rapidly into left-wing politics, drugs and depravity. Her father Ben has no doubt who's to blame - his cousin the suffragette, Nell Bray. Nell is sure she's not responsible, and yet...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this ninth, engaging Nell Bray mystery (after 1999's Absent Friends), set in England on the eve of WWI, suffragettes clash with police, prison inmates are hunger-striking and immigrants from various suspect countries endure harassment, while a community of aesthetes and artists tries to remain above it all. Amidst the political chaos, feminist crusader and freelance gumshoe Nell finds the body of her cousin, Verona North, hanging in the family boathouse. While Nell feels no remorse at her self-absorbed young cousin's demise, the swiftly delivered verdict of suicide smells fishy to her. Nell's ensuing investigation entangles her with opium eaters, socialists and socialites; the closer she gets to penetrating the heart of Verona's mystery, the more bewildering her chase becomes. Was her young cousin really the pure and troubled young woman of her parents' memories? Or was she involved in some dangerous business that ended in her elimination by dark forces unknown? Linscott effortlessly creates the atmosphere of prewar Britain, with its combination of excitement and innocence that, like Verona's, is just about to be cut short forever. Her characters are vivid and appealing, especially Nell herself, whose wry tone keeps her first-person narration from becoming self-righteous. This is an intelligent and exciting story, by an author with both a deft touch and a mischievous voice. (Apr. 16)and the Herodotus Award from the Historical Mystery Appreciation Society for the Best International Historical Mystery of 1999.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Early 20th-century feminism is the backdrop for this latest installment in a well-regarded series. Nell Bray is an ardent suffragette who finds herself solving murder mysteries. It's the summer of 1914 (Sarajevo has not yet happened), and Nell's distant cousin Verona North is 19, lovely and intelligent, a perfect daughter. Just a few months after she comes to London to study art, Verona is found hanging in the family boathouse a suicide. Her father put the blame on Nell, saying her bad influence led Verona to embrace left-wing politics and drugs. Nell thinks differently and sets out to prove that someone killed her cousin. With the help of her barrister Bill Musgrave, she investigates Verona's recent activities and finds that this daughter wasn't quite what her parents thought. It is easy to listen to narrator Lin Sagovsky's reading: her diction is clear, and the pacing is just right. A good choice for public library collections. Nann Blaine Hilyard, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: BBC Audiobooks; Unabridged edition (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754007413
• ISBN-13: 978-0754007418
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,310,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an exciting and enjoyable read, March 22, 2001

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Perfect Daughter: A Nell Bray Mystery #9 (Hardcover)

I'm an unabashed feminist, and the Nell Bray mystery series is definitely one of my favourites. Gillian Linscott is absolutely brilliant at mixing politics, a socio-historical commentary of early 20th century England, with a mystery plot. And this latest Nell Bray mystery, "The Perfect Daughter" does not disappoint at all.

It's the summer of 1914, and Nell Bray is, as usual, busy fighting for the vote, when she receives news that her niece, Verona North, is missing. Verona, according to her parents, is perfect: young, attractive and intelligent, and dutiful. So that it came as quite a surprise to her parents when Verona decided that she'd like to go to London and enrol at an art school. Fortunately for the Norths, Nell lives in London, and although Verona's father, Benjamin, does not approve of Nell and her suffragette cause, Alexandra (Verona's mother) asks Nell to keep and eye on Verona. Nell is of course a little irritated -- she has enough to do without having to look out for her 'perfect' niece. But then six months later, Verona seems to have vanished. And when Nell goes down to Devon to discuss Verona's disappearance with Alexandra, she stumbles onto Verona hanging in the family boathouse, an apparent suicide. But that is not all: the autopsy finds Verona doped up with opium and two months pregnant.

While Nell feels a little guilty for not keeping a more vigilant eye on Verona, she also instinctively finds it hard to believe that Verona did take her own life. Sensing that the solution to all her questions lies in London, Nell sets off to question Verona's friends and acquaintances. Suddenly Nell finds herself being not only watched by Scotland Yard because of her suffragette activities, but by another more shadowy and sinister organisation. What exactly was Verona doing in London? Did she commit suicide or was her murder covered up by some very powerful people? Nell Bray is determined to discover all and bring Verona's killers to justice.

This is a really great series that gives you an idea of what the suffragettes went through in order to obtain the vote for women; and Gillian Linscott also does a deft job of painting the political and social changes that were coming to the fore in early 20th century England. And as for her unique creation, Nell Bray, well she might not be to everyone's taste -- she is intelligent, feels she's always in the right, and sees no neccessity to cater to the male ego. But she is also passionate in her beliefs, and a loyal friend. And this makes her, strong beliefs and all, a very likeable character. This novel is well written and tautly paced, and with well developed characters. "The Dutiful Daughter" is an exciting and enjoyable read, and will definitely provide you with a couple of hours of delight.