The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden, written by Kate Saunders turned out to be a delightful novel. this is the first book I have read from this series, though it is the third in the group.
Laetitia Rodd is a lady of distinction, who seems may have fallen on hard times after the death of her husband, who was a clergyman. She is now a private detective and lives with her landlady, Mrs. Bentley. She is a woman of a certain age, though that is never made clear, and she is a woman of discretion.
This time around she gets involved in helping to absolve a woman, Sarah Transome, of murder at the behest of her neighbor, Ben Tully. Mrs Rodd gets involved and the case gets complicated with many different characters being suspected. There seem to be a plethora of guilty characters, but then there are also going to be more victims. Using her ladylike discretion, she assists the police inspector of Scotland Yard, Mr. Blackbeard with his inquiries and brings the culprit to justice.
The interesting topics covered in this storyline are surprising for the time period. This is a quick read and fast moving plot with colorful actors. This plot takes us to the streets of London in the mid nineteenth century. Theatre was becoming gentrified. This story describes Georgian tradition where the audience participated with boos and hisses. Then there is also a description of a new type of acting beginning, the Shakespearian theatre. This is a time in history when thespians were yet to be recognized as respected members of society.
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