The Strangers Collection

By: Mary Kingswood

Narrated by: Joanna Stephens

Length: 38 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Books 1-3 of the Strangers series, a collection of traditional Regency romances, drawing room rather than bedroom.

In book 1, a widow moves into the long disused Dower House and makes a horrible discovery in the wine cellar.

Thirty-year-old widow Louisa Middlehope is determined to escape from her late husband’s family and live life for herself for the first time. The tiny village of Great Maeswood offers her the peace and quiet her heart craves.

Laurence Gage is still mourning his beloved wife, while raising his two children, and at forty, declining gently into a rather dull middle age. Until, that is, the intriguing Mrs Middlehope arrives in the village and upends his placid life. But what exactly is she looking for? Friendship, marriage—or something else entirely?

In book 2, an estranged brother is forced to return to his home and face up to his past.

Malcolm Gage walked out of his brother’s life 16 years ago when they both wanted to marry the same woman. But now an unusual condition in a will pushes him back into the family fold. If he can meet its terms, he will inherit a fortune and will never be poor again. The only catch — he has to stay under his brother’s roof for three months.

But there’s an unexpected benefit to his return to Great Maeswood, in the delightful shape of Marie Fournier, a French lady’s maid. As he gets to know her better, however, he begins to wonder if she’s all she seems to be…

In book 3, a new physician arrives in the village, but is he all he seems?

Susannah Winslade is twenty-six, and drifting into perpetual spinsterhood. She doesn’t mind. Once upon a time, she met the perfect man and until someone like him comes into her life again, she’s happy at home, with her wildflower painting for solace.

Samuel Broughton has come to Great Maeswood to make a new start as a country physician. Finally he’s reached a safe harbour where he can look about him for a wife. But there’s something very strange going on at his surgery, and then, just when his hopes of a family of his own might be fulfilled, the unthinkable happens. Is there no escaping the past?

Books 1-3 of the 6 book Strangers series. Each book is a complete story with a happy ever after ending, but listen to them all to find out all the secrets of Great Maeswood village!

©2021 Mary Kingswood (P)2023 Mary Kingswood

The Strangers Collection

Ms. Kingswood writes clean interesting regency stories similar to Georgette Heyer. Her characters are fun or have problems that need to be addressed. The narrator is excellent.

Favorite regency author since Heyer

I am going to seek out more from Mary Kingswood. I have been looking for more novels with the intelligence, historical facility, charm and light touch of Georgette Heyer for years, and I was delighted to stumble across this unreviewed collection.

The characters are each drawn with care and energy, creating a whole village of lively and distinct personalities. Each novel builds on the cast and plot of the last, reminiscent of a British period miniseries. Each has its own sweet, plausible and engaging romance, while a colorful band of investigators adds a lively series of mysteries to the plot. The result is well paced and holds together remarkably well.

I am grateful for historically reasonable and compelling conversations and descriptions , with hardly any jarring notes.

The narrator is excellent as well, easily handling the wide range of men and women. My one regret is that she did not review her previous work in each novel; no characters’ voices remain consistent across the collection, and some play major roles in all three. It is not a serious obstacle to enjoyment however.

Overall, a delightful surprise!

*Spoiler alert* Progressively strange villain and/or mystery

Book 1. Unfaithful deceased wife with bad (fake) family. Book 2. Father trying to force daughter into marriage to bad guy because he was caught in homosexual acts. Book 3. Incest between father and deceased wife