Book Review: Murder in Paradise by Alanna Knight

✰✰✰✰✰ Inspector Jeremy Faro is back in his 14th mystery. In this installment we are treated to a trip back in time when Jeremy Faro was still a constable and in hot pursuit of his nemesis Macheath. Chasing Macheath across the English countryside, Faro finds himself in Kent. As fate would have it, he runs into an old school chum, Erland Flett, and is invited to stay at the artist William Morris' Red House.

Suddenly immersed in a Bohemian style community, Faro is distracted from his pursuit by the impending nuptials of his friend to the beautiful and mysterious Lena Hamilton. While Faro recognizes the young lady, Flett has no idea that he is in reality engaged to Scotland's infamous murderess, Madeleine Smith.

When Flett falls ill, Faro is left to wonder if Smith has been up to her old ways. As he tries to ferret out the truth and save his friend, Faro's pursuit of Macheath heats up in this well-crafted whodunit.

The Bottom Line: Author Alanna Knight has masterfully blended the real-life characters of Madeleine Smith and the pre-Raphaelite artists into Inspector Faro's fictional world creating a house party murder theme that is highly entertaining. The twists and turns of this Victorian era mystery will leave you wanting more. Although this is the 14th installment in the Inspector Faro mysteries, it is not necessary to have read the prior books. Very highly recommended for mystery lovers who enjoy historical settings.

Details: Murder in Paradise by Alanna Knight. Paperback published in 2009 by Allison & Busby Ltd. 382 p. ISBN: 978-0-7490-0797-3 Note: I received a complimentary copy from Allison & Busby Ltd. in exchange for a review. This was made possible by the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.