Deadly Engagement

A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Mystery Book 1)

By: Lucinda Brant

Narrated by: Alex Wyndham

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

It's 1763. Career diplomat Alec Halsey returns to London and the shocking news his estranged elder brother, the Earl of Delvin, has not only killed his friend in a duel but become engaged to the woman he had hoped to marry.

When Alec reluctantly attends a weekend house party to celebrate his brother's engagement, he gets more than he bargained for when a lady's maid is murdered, the bride-to-be is attacked, and a guest is shot dead. Alec uncovers a connection between these sinister acts and his brother's duel. He must also confront a cruel twist of fate that explains why his brother loathes him and will go to any lengths to discredit him in Polite Society.

©2011 Lucinda Brant (P)2014 Lucinda Brant

Fantastic narration brought life to story

What a great listen! Historical fiction, mystery, suspense, action, romance....it had it all. With fantastic narration to really give the book life.

Great narration

I rated this a "3" only because of the narrator. He was fabulous. But the story itself was awkward to me. I had a hard time keeping track of the characters. I'm not sure if authors take audio listeners into account when they name their characters. Charlotte, Cindy, Serena all start with the same sound and that contributed to the confusion.

This book didn't grab me but I finished it. I have already downloaded the next one so I will listen to it hoping it's more interesting.

Excellent!

I really enjoyed listening to this story. Alex Wyndham is a fantastic narrator. He really made all of the characters come alive.

Brilliant

Loved the audible book as much as reading the book.
Alex Wyndham was a really great story teller and he had me from the first word to the last

Great Georgian Mystery

Loved the narrator and enjoy the main character Lord Alec Halsey figuring out who murdered the Vicar. I cannot wait for the next installment. The romance is also interesting and cannot wait to see if they get together.

Review by Rakes & Rascals, Booktalk with Eileen

Any additional comments?

Carol: Deadly Engagement was a real departure for me because it is essentially a historical mystery with romantic elements rather than a historical romance. Having read/listened to several books in Lucinda Brant’s Roxton series, which I absolutely loved, it didn’t take much for my friends to persuade me that I should read this series. What were your initial thoughts, Eileen?

Eileen: Initially? I, once again, marveled at the suave, polished and refine voice Alex Wyndham uses to narrate. The use of his voice in its various nuances clues the listener into the internal conflicts of each of the characters. He propels the mysterious and suspenseful storyline forward with such vigor, a listener cannot stop listening.

Alec has quite a mix of emotions rolling inside himself. He thinks he loves Emily. He thinks he’s gotten over Selina. He thinks he can handle the duplicity of his elder brother, Edward. He thinks he can unravel who killed his friend Jack, for he is sure he was set up. He is confused, mystified and ultimately scared to death! I totally get into a mystery, Carol. It must come from all the Nancy Drew books I read as a young girl!

Carol: I totally agree with you about Alex Wyndham’s brilliant narration. I felt as if I was listening to a radio play performed by several actors instead of just one person and he gives each character a distinctive and easily identifiable voice. He seems to live and breathe every character and perfectly captures the personalities of each one. Listening to his superb performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Alec is a wonderful hero – handsome, intelligent and honourable. He had an unconventional upbringing with his rabble-rousing Uncle Plantagenet and, therefore has a very different outlook on life to his peers. What I really like about him is that he is his own man. He likes his life as it is and has no desire to be the Earl of Delvin. Whatever he achieves it is on his own merit.

I enjoyed the romantic elements simmering in the background and poor Alec certainly goes through the emotional wringer. I was happy to see him rekindling his feelings for Selina but was somewhat disappointed that matters between them remained unresolved. I’m hopeful of a happy ending later in the series.

Eileen: I’ve got to say it, pure and simple. I so disliked Edward Delvin. He is quite the devil, although dressed in proper attire as Earl. The man is extremely astute—additionally, he’s a conniving creep! Talk about a man who will do anything to gain more prestige and status. Ugh! I particularly didn’t like his little trick of using people against each other and going out of his way to take as much happiness from Alec as possible. He plays Lady Charlotte, getting her to do part of his dirty work. Frankly, her idea of appearing so terribly proper is offensive. Carol, do I make myself clear??!!

I’ve got to know what you think of Simon Tremarton and Lady Gervais. What about Plantagenet Halsey? This man was a balm to my nerves! He supported women and truth.

Carol: We both agree about Edward Delvin. I thoroughly detested that self-serving man. I hated how he called Alec “second” in that sneering way and how he manipulated the scene in Selina’s bedroom knowing just what Alec would believe (I loved Selina’s method of revenge!). Oh yes, Lady Charlotte. A real viper with an acid tongue!

I think Alec’s friend Sir Cosmo described Simon Tremarton perfectly – an opportunistic weasel and the polite word for the voluptuous Lady Gervais is promiscuous. What about that scene where Lady Gervais and her husband argue and then have anger-fueled sex?

Eileen: Nodding with complete agreement.

Carol: I love Plantagenet Halsey…such an outrageous character who is not afraid to voice exactly what he thinks. He obviously cares very much for his nephew and do I detect a potential romance between the old curmudgeon and The Duchess of Romney St. Neots?

Eileen Yes, Plantagenet had simply a hard outer surface, but sweet and sincere to his core. I’m eager to see if The Duchess will find the honey within the lemon!

There were lots of characters in this story. Usually, I have difficulty keeping them apart, but the author did a fabulous job giving them each their own distinctive personality. In doing so, it also gives more depth to the mystery. More characters, more possibilities of who is culpable.

Was there any one point you told yourself, you had figured out what was going on? On my part, I kept hitting surprise after surprise in the many twists this story takes. Just when I think I have a pulse on the mystery another layer of intrigue is exposed.

Carol: I agree, despite there being a large number of characters, they were all so well-drawn, each with distinctive traits. They all added depth to the story and, as you say, provided a wide choice of potential suspects. I thought the mystery was so well-plotted and the twists and turns certainly kept me guessing as to the identity of the culprit and the motive. I also like how Ms Brant explored the darker side of Georgian society within the context of the story.

Eileen: I enjoyed the part of Tam, the young self-appointed valet to Alec. For a young man, he has seen much cruelty of the world, yet has a compassion to help the weak. He experiences the wickedness of those who connive and realizes noblemen who do wrong, very often go unpunished.

Sir Cosmo, a very good friend of Alec, is a very earnest and sincere young man. A most likeable character. He’s speaks what we are all think. I love when he speaks of the physique of a male. “Who wouldn’t prefer a stallion to an ass!”,

Carol: I thought Tam was an interesting character with his apothecary skills. He’s honest and it infuriated me to see him suspected of a murder he didn’t commit simply because of who he is. Unfortunately, that’s how most of society treated their servants. So I enjoyed the scene where the reform-minded Plantagenet Halsey lambastes Lord Gervais who objects to seeing Tam drinking coffee in the same room. When we discover the identity of Tam’s father, it was quite a shock.

I very much liked the rather corpulent Sir Cosmo. As you say, he is a man who speaks plainly and provides some delightful humour with the things he says. At the same time, he is a good and decent man and a true friend to Alec even when it means telling Alec some hard truths where Selina is concerned.

Eileen: So all in all, we both agree. This story was superb. I’m ready to listen to book 2 of the series. I can’t possibly leave the threads hanging nor leave what Ms. Brant has in store for the characters. She really knows how to gather her listeners and engage them.

Great performance, so so story.

The narrator for this story was excellent and it was basically his performance that kept me hanging around. He narrated the antagonist so well that I HATED that character so much I literally had a feeling of revulsion whenever that character "spoke."
The story was ok, nothing stupendous. I just couldn't get the buy in for these characters or the story. I do not plan on continuing the series.

Something to get your teeth into!

Would you consider the audio edition of Deadly Engagement to be better than the print version?

Oh yes! - Alex Wyndham shall forever be my Alec Halsey.

What did you like best about this story?

The story was complex, and not just a generic plot to provide a ride for some historical romance. It was interesting, and dare I say ground breaking - discussing the topics of the day. I was enthralled and since I haven't been able to buy book two yet turned around and started it again from the beginning...

Which character – as performed by Alex Wyndham – was your favorite?

Alec Halsey...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, very much so. Actually had to drive around the block a few times when I got home at night from work because I couldn't leave it in mid scene!

Any additional comments?

Love love love this author, and this narrator - a delicious match made in audible heaven!

Love Alec the hero

This met all my expectations the narrator was wonderful. Don't usually go for suspense but Lucinda can really pull u in

great story and characters, amazing narration!

a fun historical romance mystery light on passion but packed with colorful characters played amazingly!