The Curse of the House of Foskett

This is the second in the Gower Street Detective series by M.R. Kasasian.  In this mystery series we follow the life of Sidney Grice, a personal detective and his ward, March Middleton.  It is set in 1882 Victorian England on the streets of London.

In this story March Middleton is recording the case of the Curse of the House of Foskett.  She is also assisting her guardian, Grice in solving the deaths that are occurring through this book.  The case appears on the surface to be a simple fact that the members of the group, the Final Death Society each are dying off in turn.  According to Grice, what would you expect if you have signed up for a group whose purpose is to leave the fortune of all the members to the last person standing after all the others are dead.

But in every mystery things are not always what they seem.    Author, Kasasian, has created a wonderfully colorful character in Grice, a bristly, irritable personal detective who is  investigating the murders.  His style of speech is sharp and witty.  He is nasty and argumentative with everyone, even his ward, who I really think he likes.  This rapier wit is delightful to read and really lends substance to Grice's character.

Grice on the hunt for clues puts the housekeeper in her place, "...'Hold still woman.'  He picked a piece of fluff out of her wig and popped it into an envelope.  'I am most particular about whom I follow, why, when, and where, and I shall not have witnesses dictating the sequence in which I collate evidence.  At best your suggestion is impertinent.  At worst it might be construed as suspicious."

March Middleton who seems to be a young woman in her early twenties is a great match for her guardian.  She is feisty and quick tongued also.  She can match Grice's cutting repartee, comment for comment.  Over dinner they banter back and forth, "He swallowed.  'You know March, your excursion seems to have done you some good.  You have constructed an entire sentence of rational thought.'  'You are the only man I know who can turn a compliment into an insult.'"

The writing style is in this book is quite syncopated, with a quick fascinating style.  Wonderfully engaging and fun to read.  This reader will go back and read book one and look forward to another mystery featuring Sidney Grice and March Middleton.