The Black Cat Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Heathcliff Lennox grew up with Ruth, running around the family estates together. He is somewhat excited to get to go to her wedding but is more intrigued by the death of one of the opera singers who is at the estate to entertain the guests. The man fell through a trap door and acted as a cushion for the woman singing alongside him. 

It seems that Ruth is going to be marrying a wealthy American who seems to be a good ol' Southern boy but the wedding may not happen as the alto's death is not the only one to occur in this book. This is all wrapped in with the mystery of a series of paintings known as the Bloxford beauties and has something to do with the Black Cat which is a bar catering to men who dress and perform as women. Also occurring was Inspector Swift falling in love with one of the bridesmaids.

There was a lot going on in this book and it got a little confusing but it was good enough to continue reading the series.

Three stars

This book came out April 28, 2019

Follows Murder at Melrose Court 

Followed by The Curse of Braeburn Castle

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

Murder at Melrose Court by Karen Baugh Menuhin

I saw the description for this on a sale for Audible and was able to get it for free through Kindle Unlimited. It is set in 1920 so I guess that is the Downton Abbey part of the description and it is a mystery so that crosses off the Agatha Christie. I'm not sure where the Wodehouse comes in except maybe it's a

first person narrator who seems sort of feckless. 

Major Heathcliff Lennox is back from the Great War and is trying to figure out how to keep up with the expenses of a big house. Luckily, he has Christmas with his uncle, Charles, and cousin, Edgar, to look forward to. And some other more distant cousins will be there as well. 

Too bad that, shortly before he is set to leave, a fat man turns up dead on his doorstep. In the man's pocket is the name that Lennox knows, that of a Russian countess. It seems like the man died of a heart attack so Lennox keeps heading to Melrose Court. He is very much startled to find that very countess in residence with her niece. And the countess is now engaged to marry his uncle. but she doesn't seem exactly savory nor very discreet as she decides to wear a necklace that once belonged to Lennox. And then she ends up dead with Lennox being discovered over the body holding the gun. 

This is not the last murder to occur in this book and becomes a close thing for Lennox as it becomes clear someone would like him to take the fall.

This was a nice start to a series with some good world and character building. I wish we had learned more about Lennox as there was more time spent on secondary characters.

Three stars

This book came out December 3, 2018

Followed by The Black Cat Murders

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own