‘A Lethal Spectre’ by Donna Fletcher Crow

Published by Verity Press,
7 April 2018. 
ISBN: 9781987656138 (PB)

This fascinating story is set in Victorian Britain at the time of the Indian Mutiny in 1857.  The contrasting pictures of life in the Upper class in London attending the Season with the growing horrors of the Mutiny’s effects on the British women and children in India is very cleverly delivered.

The characters of Lady Antonia Danvers in London and her friend Emilia Landry in India are shown as the experiences of the two are unfolded.

The mysteries here relate to the experiences of the young ladies being received into society, negotiating the difficulties that Victorian Society inflicted on them.  The murder of an Indian complicates events.  

Donna Fletcher Crow shows mastery of the intricacies of High Society in the London of 1857.  She gives some lovely details to build up this picture.  The time lag of information about the Mutiny’s effects reaching Europe is beautifully illustrated for our world of instantaneous news.

The mystery around two deaths is eventually solved in a rousing climax.  Meanwhile the Indian Mutiny has taken its course.

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Reviewer: Jennifer S. Palmer

Donna Fletcher Crow has three mystery series current including this historical series. 

Donna Fletcher Crow is a former English teacher and a Life Member of the Jane Austin Society of America. She is the author of 50 books, mostly novels dealing with British history.  The award-winning Glastonbury, A Novel of the Holy Grail, an Arthurian grail search epic covering 15 centuries of English history, is her best-known work.  She is also the author of The Monastery Murders: A Very Private Grave, A Darkly Hidden Truth and An Unholy Communion as well as the Lord Danvers series of Victorian true-crime novels and the literary suspense series The Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries. Donna and her husband live in Boise, Idaho.  They have 4 adult children and 12 grandchildren. She is an enthusiastic gardener.

To read more about all of Donna’s books and see pictures from her garden and research trips go to: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/

You can follow her on Facebook at: http://ning.it/OHi0MY

Jennifer Palmer Throughout my reading life crime fiction has been a constant interest; I really enjoyed my 15 years as an expatriate in the Far East, the Netherlands & the USA but occasionally the solace of closing my door to the outside world and sitting reading was highly therapeutic. I now lecture to adults on historical topics including Famous Historical Mysteries.