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A review by book_concierge
Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Goose by Stephanie Laurens
3.0
Digital audiobook performed by Helen Lloyd.
Set in 1810 England, just on the cusp of the Regency period, this delightful Christmas mystery focuses on the recently widowed Lady Therese Osbaldestone, her three young grandchildren, a flock of missing geese, a “spinster” forgoing her own happiness to look after her younger brother, and a wounded war veteran.
Lady Osbaldestone is a marvelous character; bright, opinionated, kind, inquisitive (some might say nosy), and confident in her right – nay, duty – to oversee everyone’s business. As she enlists the help of the children in finding clues as to the whereabouts of the missing geese, she stumbles upon two people in desperate need of matchmaking. Lord Christian Longfellow is living the life of a recluse, certain that his scars make him a pariah to his neighbors. But it is the wounds to his psyche that affect him far more than those to his visage. Meanwhile Miss Eugenia Fitzgibbon has her hands full trying to manage the estate of her younger brother, who would rather party with his equally immature and irresponsible friends than attend to business. Of course, Lady O will begin with a plea to Eugenia’s organization skills and need to be helpful; poor Lord Longfellow hasn’t yet decorated his home for Christmas, and Miss Eugenia is JUST the person to fix that!
This is a delight on so many levels, from the marvelous characters to the charming scenes of Regency village holiday life – ice skating parties, a live nativity pageant, holly and mistletoe, and, of course, the geese!
Helen Lloyd perfectly performed the audio version. She gives us a Lady Osbaldestone who is every bit the dowager and up to whatever task may come her way. She’s equally deft at giving voice to the very young grandchildren, Lord Longfellow and a host of villagers. A splendid narration.
Set in 1810 England, just on the cusp of the Regency period, this delightful Christmas mystery focuses on the recently widowed Lady Therese Osbaldestone, her three young grandchildren, a flock of missing geese, a “spinster” forgoing her own happiness to look after her younger brother, and a wounded war veteran.
Lady Osbaldestone is a marvelous character; bright, opinionated, kind, inquisitive (some might say nosy), and confident in her right – nay, duty – to oversee everyone’s business. As she enlists the help of the children in finding clues as to the whereabouts of the missing geese, she stumbles upon two people in desperate need of matchmaking. Lord Christian Longfellow is living the life of a recluse, certain that his scars make him a pariah to his neighbors. But it is the wounds to his psyche that affect him far more than those to his visage. Meanwhile Miss Eugenia Fitzgibbon has her hands full trying to manage the estate of her younger brother, who would rather party with his equally immature and irresponsible friends than attend to business. Of course, Lady O will begin with a plea to Eugenia’s organization skills and need to be helpful; poor Lord Longfellow hasn’t yet decorated his home for Christmas, and Miss Eugenia is JUST the person to fix that!
This is a delight on so many levels, from the marvelous characters to the charming scenes of Regency village holiday life – ice skating parties, a live nativity pageant, holly and mistletoe, and, of course, the geese!
Helen Lloyd perfectly performed the audio version. She gives us a Lady Osbaldestone who is every bit the dowager and up to whatever task may come her way. She’s equally deft at giving voice to the very young grandchildren, Lord Longfellow and a host of villagers. A splendid narration.