Delightful story about an Oxford don who didn’t want to be a viscount and the thief Ape, who saved him from himself. When Piers reluctantly takes up the mantle of Viscount he’s a surprise for his family. They are more than astonished by him, the person they had vastly underestimated.
Lively story that had me smiling along as the situation developedebook library regency-mysteries ...more6 s carolintallahassee 217 37

The best book that I have read this year. I read blurbs all of the time that say "Georgette Heyer", and I read them and find out they are nothing it, well, this one is, it is incredible, I love it. Ape is a street urchin, unwashed, and uneducated, stealing for "Lord" in order to stay alive in the worst part of London. I almost stopped reading this story, I don't depressing stories or people who give up, I am sorry, but I can't identify with them, and that is exactly what Lord Petteril was about to do, he was about to end it all when Ape shows up, dirty, and his hands full of whatever had been in the safe, staring at Lord Petteril as he is about to nose dive off of his balcony, Ape, the street urchin, living hand to mouth, the one without security of any kind, yet fights for life everyday, shows empathy to this wealthy Viscount, and they become friends, Lord Petteril rejoins the land of the living and is he a changed man! He transitions from an academic to being the Viscount, a position that he never wanted, now must live up to. This is a good mystery, a thoroughly entertaining story, and I cannot wait until the next adventure in this series! I highly recommend it. This is an Arc, and the opinions are as usual, my own. Thank you #MaryLancaster #BookSirens
carolintallahassee4 s Janet4,395 48

In the spring of 1812, Piers Withan is dragged from his beloved Oxford to be the new Viscount Petteril. Burdened by responsibilities he doesn’t want and the remnants of a family who don’t want him, he is saved from an irredeemable mistake by Ape, the small thief burgling his house. When the family heirloom known as the Petteril Necklace is found to be missing, Piers seeks out his burglar to get it back. However, their search leads them to Piers’s own family, which one of them is the thief?
The start of a new series & another very well written engrossing read. I loved Piers who had hidden depths & often surprised me. He’s unassuming until he's not, he's hesitant at times until he’s not & he’s certainly not the walk over his family thinks he is. I also loved Ape, the urchin who actually looked forward to a bath! A captivating read, which I read in a sitting & I look forward to mor in the series
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
2 s Cheryl2,112 21

This was a very good start to a new series. Piers Witham has inherited the unwanted title of Viscount Petteril. Very few of his relatives wanted him to have the title. He seems unassuming but he is very intelligent and has hidden depths to his character. Piers comes into contact with a small person called Ape, who he takes under his wing. Ape is very street wise, through necessity. There is a missing heirloom to find and a thief to uncover. I enjoyed the way that Piers dealt with his family. There is a mystery surrounding Ape’s background, which I assume will unfold in future books. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.2 s Pam27

I've read many Victorian mystery series, and this was the first from Mary Lancaster. I loved it! While it was short, it was intriguing, and highly entertaining. I love the interaction between Piers and Ape, and, in fact, all his family members. Our hero finds allies in the most unusual of places and circumstances. I can't wait for the next adventure in the series, Petteril's Corpse.1 Marilyn 299 6

This is the first book in a new series by this author. I found it a very entertaining read.
Piers Petteril, a new viscount is at odds with his new lot in life. He finds Ape, a child thief in his home who saves Pier's life. He finds that the Petteril ruby necklace is missing and everyone in the family is a suspect. He hires Ape to help with the horses and to help with the investigation. Ape has a secret and so do the others in the family.
There are a few twists and turns in this interesting, entertaining mystery.
I highly recommend reading the book.1 Barbara17.9k 8

The first book in the Lord Petteril Mysteries series, a very good start to this series. Piers Withan and the young thief Ape who helped him, will work together to find the missing Petteril Necklace. A well written mystery story that held my interest as they search for it. I will read the next book. I received a ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.1 Peggy1,724 10

Piers Witham was happy as an Oxford don. He did not care to be the Viscount Petteril, but here he is. His family isn’t happy about it either. Piers, contrary to his family’s opinion is very intelligent, confident and clever. The young thief he catches in the house on his first night in residence is streetwise and clever as well. Piers rescues Ape from his life of crime, brings him home, and gives him a job. A family heirloom is missing. Piers and Ape with some help from old friends search for the necklace and the person who stole it, which looks a member of the family. Which one? This is a wonderful start to what promises to be an interesting and entertaining series. The plot is well-written and engaging. There is danger, drama, secrets, and surprises. The mystery of the true thief teases until the end. Ape’s secret is more obvious, and delightful. Piers handles his new title, his family, and the mystery of the theft with aplomb. I look forward to more adventures in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
read-2023 Margaret Watkins3,075 69

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the first in a new series, and found myself intrigued from the opening lines of the first chapter. The interaction between the main characters is wonderful and I found myself rooting for both of them as they started out on a journey to investigate a missing heirloom and to also establish new beginnings for both of them. The awkward Viscount Petreril never wanted to inherit his uncle's title, especially as he had so many enemies within his own family. He loved his work at Oxford and was happy in that world, and finding an impoverished estate brought more difficulties into his life than he could have anticipated. The rapscallion Ape brings a new dimension to his dark world and together they make a perfect pair to solve the problems Piers is facing. The novel is well-written and intriguing, with a number of surprises along the way. Although it can be read as a standalone, the way is opened to a new chapter in the lives of the unly pair. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review. 3 s PR337 5

Very well written but full of details from other stories/books..famous characters and their characte

Fin, easy ,fast read...nothing much new here in this tale...Regency??? Period??
He's character comes with a surprise. Will be interesting to see where That goes...
Most of the tale has been told before.perhaps many tomes and maybe with !it's originality and finess . and this was a fun, not taxing, easy, really fast read...
No violence, though adult subject matter
And some inferences of sexual behavior and misusing and damaging behavior towards children and women.
Easy read for adults who. their mysteries?
Simple, direct, Easy to digest and not taxing to read and enjoy.
No history or detail of the time really...no identifying information abouf the time period, alot of "street" jargon of some period a long time ago, many word used to puzzle the reader or enhance the characters' dialogue...
Interesting to see where these go. I believe this is a new series just begun.
Should appeal to.many folks.
Barbara Rogers1,643 185

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Lord Petteril Mysteries
Publication Date: 9/5/23
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 161

This first book in Mary Lancaster’s new historical mystery series is an outstanding addition to the genre. It was so very good that I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down.

The character of Lord Petteril is wonderfully complex, nuanced, and built layer upon intriguing layer. I believe he is one of the most interesting and likable characters I’ve read in a very long time. Ape, the thief, is also an excellent choice as a main supporting character. Ape has survived by his intelligence and wits his entire life in St. Giles. He’s not a thief by choice, he works for the “Lord”, and if he wants to survive, he does as he’s told. When Ape is given the choice to change his life, he jumps at it and never looks back. (Can you picture an urchin who actually wants to take a bath?)

Absolutely nobody wants Oxford don, Piers Withan to be Viscount Petteril: Certainly not his estranged family and certainly not Piers himself. However, the point is moot because there is no choice for any of them. During the months it has taken Piers to wrap up his affairs and assume the title, his family has taken full advantage of draining the coffers of the title as much as they can get away with. Piers has an affliction and his family – even his father – took the opportunity to bully him and ridicule him. They assume that will continue now that he is back. Hmmm, I wonder how that will work out for them.

On his first night in the Petteril townhouse, he encounters a young thief who has just emptied the safe of the few contents in it – and he lets the thief go – and he lets the thief keep the contents. That encounter changes Piers’s life in untold ways. When it turns out that a very valuable family heirloom ruby necklace is missing, Piers is sure the little thief didn’t take it. He’s also equally sure that a family member or a member of the staff did.

His family is expecting the old Piers – the one they could bully and intimidate. What they got was something quite different and it was an absolute delight to watch Piers show those nuanced, stronger, layers to his family as one by one he eliminates them as suspects in the necklace theft but holds them accountable for other pilfering. Then, there is only one suspect left and Piers handles that with dignity and aplomb.

While all of the necklace and family drama is going on, Piers is leaving his darkness behind, dealing with his affliction the best way he can, saving his young cousin from a terrible fate, and doing his best to guide Ape in dealing with his big secret. You’ll quickly come to admire Piers and wish you could meet him in real life. He’d be an extraordinary friend to have.

As you can tell, I loved this book and highly recommend it. The mystery is interesting and there are plenty of red herrings to keep you wondering. Lots of opportunity, lots of motives, so who can it be? You will just have to read this excellent first book in the series to find out.
iblog mystery-historical xx-2023-read6 s Marti231

Great Read!

Wow! Loved the first of a new mystery series by Ms Lancaster. Piers Withan, a former Oxford instructor and now newly minted Lord Petteril, is a complex character dealing with adjusting to a title he never sought, animosity (long standing) from his relatives, and a missing family heirloom ruby necklace. While Piers doesn’t seem to have any friends, he stumbles across a small thief who, while burgling Pier’s house, saves his life and surprisingly becomes Pier’s guardian angel and confidant. While it appears trying to find the ruby necklace and which family member stole it is THE mystery, a second more intriguing one becomes apparent to Piers. His friendship has grown with Ape, the small thief now employed as a stable boy and tiger. Piers realizes that there is more to Ape than meets the eye. And that mystery may take a bit more creative thinking to find the solution. Fanosse23280

This is the first book in a new series by this author. It had a little bit of everything, engaging characters, mystery, hidden personas, a stolen necklace, greedy self-centered relatives, adjusting to a new lifestyle and a few unexpected twists.

Piers is a new Viscount having difficulties adjusting to his new role and troublesome relatives. One night, a thief (Ape) encounters Piers almost falling to his death and saves him. As the story progresses, in actuality they are saving each other.

I read this book quickly and am happy to see the next book will continue this story. There is much more to come between Piers and Ape! The potential glimpses into what is still to come has me anxiously awaiting the next story in this series.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. finished1 Larry2,136 12

I loved this story. It is full of fascinating, colorful characters, a plot that keeps the reader on their toes, and a premise of finding out just where a very expensive necklace has disappeared to. There is a very young thief, several snooty male cousins, a disapproving aunt, a wastrel in disguise, and assorted dangerous men ready to steal the gold from your teeth. The main character is a newly made Viscount who wants no part of his new station but sees no way out and makes the best of the situation. He makes several startling and innovative decisions to help his servants and is slowly becoming the hero of the story, not perfect, just enough. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and I am vastly looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. Space Cowgirl4,009 130

Strange Days Have Found Us
Recency Mystery
A son of a viscount who just wants to Be a teacher and a scholar has The Title thrust upon him with the death of his father and older brother. His family has been taking advantage of his newness.to the role And has been stealing items from the family town house where he has come to live.
He catches a young thief from St Giles in his room one night early on in his residency And decides to Make the thief Into his His servant.
Great story With interesting characters! Some books you just can't put down until it's finished and this is one of them!
This is book 1 in a new series.

I got this e-book from Amazon
Autor del comentario:
=================================