A review by mg_in_md_
Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman by Tessa Arlen

4.0

Nominated for the 2015 Agatha for Best First Novel, the first entry in the Lady Montfort mystery series was a strong one. The series is set in early 1900s England. According to the blurbs on the book jacket, it was billed as being sure to appeal to fans of Downton Abbey. Since I'm pretty sure that I'm one of about three people who have not watched the series (I know, I know...insert surprised gasp of horror here), I wasn't sure whether it would hook me in the same way. Any concerns were quickly allayed by the time I finished the first chapter, however, and I found this an extremely enjoyable mystery. Excellent writing, historical details skillfully woven into the story (I loved the suffragette movement details in particular), and the plot development overall held my attention throughout, and I plan to read the next one in the series based on this fine first entry. While I'm sure that this series will indeed appeal to fans of Downton Abbey, I think this series will appeal even more broadly to any fan of historical fiction and Golden Age-style mysteries.