Publication Date: January 6, 2015 | Minotaur Books | Formats: eBook, Hardcover
Genre: Historical Mystery
Lady Montfort has been planning her annual summer costume ball for months, and with scrupulous care. Pulling together the food, flowers and a thousand other details for one of the most significant social occasions of the year is her happily accepted responsibility. But when her husband’s degenerate nephew is found murdered, it’s more than the ball that is ruined. In fact, Lady Montfort fears that the official police enquiry, driven by petty snobbery and class prejudice, is pointing towards her son as a potential suspect.
Taking matters into her own hands, the rather over-imaginative countess enlists the help of her pragmatic housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, to investigate the case, track down the women that vanished the night of the murder, and clear her son’s name. As the two women search for a runaway housemaid and a headstrong young woman, they unearth the hidden lives of Lady Montfort’s close friends, servants and family and discover the identity of a murderer hiding in plain sight.
In this enchanting debut sure to appeal to fans of Downton Abbey, Tessa Arlen draws readers into a world exclusively enjoyed by the rich, privileged classes and suffered by the men and women who serve them. Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman is an elegant mystery filled with intriguing characters and fascinating descriptions of Edwardian life—a superb treat for those who love British novels.
A Party for Winston, the second book in the series to be released in January 2016.
Praise for Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman
“Tessa Arlen has a worthy debut with Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman. With a deliciously gruesome murder and an unlikely pair of sleuths, this is a treat for fans of Downton Abbey who will want to devour it with a nice steaming pot of Earl Grey.” —New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn“In her debut novel, Tessa Arlen weaves an evocative tale of the passions, loyalties and ambitions that divide and unite two classes, upstairs and downstairs, in a stately home. She instantly transports the reader to Edwardian England.”—Christine Trent, author of Stolen Remains
“A dash of noblesse oblige sparkles between the upstairs/downstairs world of Lady Montfort and her housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, as they work together to unmask the identity of a killer at large on the Montfort’s country estate. As sharp as a Nancy Mitford novel, Tessa Arlen’s sophisticated Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman deserves its place among the Great and the Good of classic mystery.”—Lyndsy Spence, founder of The Mitford Society and author of The Mitford Girls’ Guide to Life.
“Thoroughly enchanting. Arlen’s debut will appeal to fans of Downton Abbey, with its vivid descriptions, firm grip on the intricacies of the time period, and skilled portrayal of the often complicated relationship between upstairs and downstairs.” —Anna Lee Huber, author of the Lady Darby mystery series
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About the Author
TESSA ARLEN, the daughter of a British diplomat, had lived in or visited her parents in Singapore, Cairo, Berlin, the Persian Gulf, Beijing, Delhi and Warsaw by the time she was sixteen. She came to the U.S. in 1980 and worked as an H.R. recruiter for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games, where she interviewed her future husband for a job. DEATH OF A DISHONORABLE GENTLEMAN is Tessa’s first novel. She lives in Bainbridge Island, Washington.For more information please visit Tessa Arlen's website. Read Tessa Arlen's blog at Redoubtable Edwardians. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
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Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, January 5Review at Reading the Past
Review at Back Porchervations
Review & Giveaway at Mina's Bookshelf
Tuesday, January 6
Review & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Spotlight & Giveaway at The Maiden's Court
Wednesday, January 7
Review & Giveaway at To Read, Or Not to Read
Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book
Friday, January 9
Review at Mel's Shelves
Guest Post on The Writing Desk
Review at Back Porchervations
Saturday, January 10
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Sunday, January 11
Review at Buried Under Books
Monday, January 12
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Tuesday, January 13
Review at Girl Lost in a Book
Interview at Back Porchervations
Spotlight & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Wednesday, January 14
Review & Giveaway at The Book Binder's Daughter
Thursday, January 15
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Friday, January 16
Spotlight at Just One More Chapter
Monday, January 19
Review at Beth's Book Book
Tuesday, January 20
Review at The Lit Bitch
Spotlight & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, January 21
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Thursday, January 22
Review at Musings of a Bookish Kitty
Monday, January 26
Review at A Literary Vacation
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Tuesday, January 27
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Wednesday, January 28
Review at A Book Geek
Thursday, January 29
Spotlight at What Is That Book About
Friday, January 30
Review at The Maiden's Court
Saturday, January 31
Review & Giveaway at The Calico Critic
Monday, February 2
Review at Book Nerd
Tuesday, February 3
Spotlight at I Heart Reading
Thursday, February 5
Review at Layered Pages
Friday, February 6
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection
Giveaway
To enter to win a copy of Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman please leave a comment below with your email address.Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on January 25th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Looks great, thank you for the chance to win it :)
ReplyDeletejslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
I have added this book on my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway. raquel36m(at)gmail(dot)com
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ReplyDeletecillianagatha(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a great mystery, and the - complicated relationship between upstairs and downstairs
ReplyDeletedkstevensneAToutlookDOtCoM
This sounds like fun! I've been reading more historical mysteries lately and would love to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway. s.asher135(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love a good Upstairs/Downstairs mystery. Didn't know about this one. Thanks for the intro and the giveaway opportunity.
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Love the flavor of these types of mysteries, thanks. nanze55(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThe cover draws me in, plus I've been reading intriguing reviews of this novel. Sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletelcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
I love historical mysteries and Downton Abbey. I must put this on my TBR list!
ReplyDeletelag110 at mchsi dot con
I keep seeing this book all over the place! I really want to read it! I am intrigued by the comparisons to Downton Abbey!
ReplyDeleteabookishaffair(at)gmail(dot)com
This book looks like one I would enjoy. I love historical mysteries. Thank you for the chance to win. griperang at embarqmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really fun story, I think we'd both get a kick out of it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
ReplyDeleteI love historical fiction and the Downton Abbey time period is one of my favorites. I can't wait to read this.
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ReplyDeletemittens0831 at aol dot com
It sounds like a fasinating mystery, with interesting characters. I would love to read it. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
would love to read this book!!
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cyn209 at juno dot com
Historical Mystery is a new genre for me and I would love to give it a try.
ReplyDeletetmrtini at gmail dot com
I enjoy and appreciate books that treat the societal restrictions and cultural rules as they existed at the time of the books setting. Putting modern situations and behaviors in a period piece is a disservice to the reader. The characters succeeding in spite of those restrictions is more realistic and rewarding. Thanks for the review and bringing this book to our attention.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great! Thanks for offering a chance to win a copy. smzates at mail dot com
ReplyDeleteI was first attracted to this book by the beautiful cover when you posted it here way back. Plus, it's a historical mystery, so I can't resist! I love Downton Abbey too, but I wonder if the comparison is straining the matter a bit (I'm suspicious), Thanks for the chance to win. Cheers, Kara S
ReplyDeleteCrossing my fingers and toes. This sounds like a great read with tea and cookies!
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