Series: The Charlotte Richmond Mysteries Book 1
Genre: Historical cosy mystery
Release Date: This edition Feb 2018 First Ed:2008
Publisher: Williams & Whiting Publishing
Outwardly a grieving young Victorian widow, Charlotte Richmond is concealing some scandalous secrets when
she arrives at Finchbourne Manor to start a new life with her husband's family. The wealthy Richmonds must
never discover that her husband's recent death in the Indian Mutiny came as a great relief. Nor must they hear
about the rumors circulating in the army regarding his scandalous behavior. His death has also been the subject
of speculation and Charlotte must take care not to spill any secrets. Above all she must make certain that
nobody in her new life hears of her own adventurous upbringing in Australia. When the past catches up with
Charlotte, she begins to fear for her own life.
she arrives at Finchbourne Manor to start a new life with her husband's family. The wealthy Richmonds must
never discover that her husband's recent death in the Indian Mutiny came as a great relief. Nor must they hear
about the rumors circulating in the army regarding his scandalous behavior. His death has also been the subject
of speculation and Charlotte must take care not to spill any secrets. Above all she must make certain that
nobody in her new life hears of her own adventurous upbringing in Australia. When the past catches up with
Charlotte, she begins to fear for her own life.
Extract: MURDER MOST WELCOME
LATE SPRING 1858 - in the South of England
Chapter 1
As she laid out the body, Charlotte Richmond made two surprising discoveries.
The first of these led her to suspect that the man on the bed had been murdered. By whom, she had
not the slightest notion. To whom she was profoundly grateful.
not the slightest notion. To whom she was profoundly grateful.
The second discovery confirmed what she had known all along, that the deceased - late and far from
lamented - had not possessed the habits of a gentleman.
lamented - had not possessed the habits of a gentleman.
As this was the second time in less than a year that he had apparently been murdered Charlotte felt
she might be forgiven for not falling into a paroxysm of grief; indeed, strong hysterics might, she
considered, be a more appropriate reaction.
she might be forgiven for not falling into a paroxysm of grief; indeed, strong hysterics might, she
considered, be a more appropriate reaction.
Hysterics not being in her nature she merely veiled his face decently with a linen cloth and
wondered what to do with the object she had so surprisingly encountered. ‘Well, well,
wondered what to do with the object she had so surprisingly encountered. ‘Well, well,
well,’ she murmured. 'Here you are, dead again, I see. I wonder what is to become of me now?'
A few short weeks previously, Charlotte, who was waiting with some trepidation in the entrance hall at
Finchbourne Manor and trying to overcome her anxiety by observing the
Finchbourne Manor and trying to overcome her anxiety by observing the
ancient, dark oak of the panelling, the extreme chill of the flagstone floor, and the picturesquely leaded
windows that let in so little light, had overheard her mother-in-law express a similar sentiment.
windows that let in so little light, had overheard her mother-in-law express a similar sentiment.
'Oh, that dreadful Mutiny, what will become of that unfortunate child, poor, dear Charlotte?' she had
enquired, allowing an artistic sob to colour her voice.
enquired, allowing an artistic sob to colour her voice.
'Well, Mama,' answered a prosaic female voice. 'I understand that Charlotte is even now on her way
home from India to Finchbourne. If you recollect it was your own suggestion, when we heard of dear
Frampton's sad death, that she should make her home here with us. And after all there is no reason to
believe that Charlotte is a child; remember, dearest Frampton was thirty-seven and his letters made no
mention that his bride was much younger than he was himself.’
home from India to Finchbourne. If you recollect it was your own suggestion, when we heard of dear
Frampton's sad death, that she should make her home here with us. And after all there is no reason to
believe that Charlotte is a child; remember, dearest Frampton was thirty-seven and his letters made no
mention that his bride was much younger than he was himself.’
'Oh do hush, Agnes dear!'
In spite of the nervous tension that had her sitting ramrod straight on an uncomfortable oak settle,
blackened by age, Charlotte listened, with wry amusement, to this conversation. Shifting very slightly
in her seat she felt a twinge of guilt as she recollected how differently Frampton Richmond’s ‘sad’ death
had been viewed by her military acquaintances in India.
blackened by age, Charlotte listened, with wry amusement, to this conversation. Shifting very slightly
in her seat she felt a twinge of guilt as she recollected how differently Frampton Richmond’s ‘sad’ death
had been viewed by her military acquaintances in India.
I must say nothing, she thought, shaking her head. I have seen the damage caused by a stray shell
fired into the midst of the market place, who am I to lob a shell of my own and destroy their illusions
about their lost hero - and for what? Rumour? Speculation?
fired into the midst of the market place, who am I to lob a shell of my own and destroy their illusions
about their lost hero - and for what? Rumour? Speculation?
No, not I, my part is to play the grieving widow and ingratiate myself into their home and into their
affections, to make a settled home for myself at last. Besides, she reminded herself, I dare not raise
any spectres from the past, what if they found out about me?
affections, to make a settled home for myself at last. Besides, she reminded herself, I dare not raise
any spectres from the past, what if they found out about me?
BUY LINK MURDER MOST WELCOME
CHECK OUT THE OTHER 2 BOOKS IN THE SERIES
ABOUT NICOLA SLADE
Nicola Slade has been a Brown Owl, an antiques dealer, and once lived in Cairo for a year.
Her published novels include a romantic comedy, Scuba Dancing, three Victorian
mysteries featuring a young widow, The Charlotte Richmond Mysteries, and three
contemporary mysteries featuring recently-retired headmistress, Harriet Quigley, and
her clergyman cousin, the Reverend Sam Hathaway. The Harriet Quigley Mysteries. Her
eighth novel, a mystery romance, The House at Ladywell, was published in late 2017.
Her published novels include a romantic comedy, Scuba Dancing, three Victorian
mysteries featuring a young widow, The Charlotte Richmond Mysteries, and three
contemporary mysteries featuring recently-retired headmistress, Harriet Quigley, and
her clergyman cousin, the Reverend Sam Hathaway. The Harriet Quigley Mysteries. Her
eighth novel, a mystery romance, The House at Ladywell, was published in late 2017.
Nicola’s family is now grown up and she and her husband live near Winchester.
Twitter: @nicolasladeuk
Website: www.nicolaslade.com
GIVEAWAY
An ecopy of THE HOUSE AT LADYWELL (open internationally)
Why do I like historical fiction because makes me think if only I could see for myself what life was like back whenever.
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