Janice Law (1) (1941–)

In this sixth book in the Francis Bacon mystery series, Francis joins his cousin Poppy in the countryside, a setting Francis seriously dislikes because he prefers the nightclubs and back alleys of Soho. Poppy has committed the kind of faux pas that ruins the reputation of young debutantes – she says she’s in love with Freddie Bosworth, who is an accused blackmailer with a fondness for Mussolini and a cad.

Luckily, Poppy comes to her senses and rids herself of Freddie. When Poppy and Francis take a walk in the estate’s gardens, they find Freddie dead. Unfortunately, Poppy has said she could just kill Freddie, and so become the prime suspect in his murder.

This is a fast-paced book. This book is, while a part of the series, can be read as a stand alone. This book has it all – political intrigue, suspense, and mystery plus humor.… (mais)

I’m not a big reader of mysteries and I’ve literally never read a tale of espionage. Well, that’s if you don’t count Janice Law’s charming (and oh so very British) Francis Bacon mysteries. Previously, I read the first of this particular “trilogy,” Nights in Berlin and loved the wicked and witty protagonist (who is based on the well-known 20th Century Irish painter). Somehow I missed Afternoons in Paris but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the charming final installment, Mornings in London.

Like Berlin, this takes place in Europe between the wars and focuses on the British fascination with Il Duce (Benito Mussolini) and the rise of Italian fascism. I’ll admit to almost complete ignorance of the finer points of modern European history so a lot of this was lost on me. (Mosely? Wasn’t he the under butler on Downtown Abbey?) But that didn’t take away my enjoyment of the mystery itself or Law’s incredible characters. I was particularly fond of Bacon’s spirited cousin Poppy (do I smell a spin-off in the works?) and his thoroughly capable Nan, eager to take on the bad guys and always up to the task. She calls to mind Mrs. Hudson in the BBC Sherlock series, a feisty older woman whose nurturing nature hides the steely cunning beneath the surface. There’s also a reappearance of Bacon’s foppish wheeler-dealer of an uncle who works for the British government and so, naturally, cannot be completely trusted.

In many ways, this is a classic “cozy” style whodunit with a body turning up at a country estate during a weekend gathering of the British upper crust. What makes it unique is the element of espionage and the rather mordant LGBT protagonist at the center of it all. This is a brisk, fun read. It has mystery, suspense, humor and political intrigue. Perfect with a warm cup of tea on a chilly winter’s evening. I'll surely be seeking out Law's other work in future.… (mais)