Description
Melbourne 1925.
Jasper Fitzalan Howard is found stabbed to death in his room at The Hotel Windsor. In a bizarre twist, he is clutching a tarot card, the Ten of Swords, in his right hand. Initially, the police identify him as a wealthy investor and a cousin of the Duke of Norfolk. However, while investigating the murder, Reggie da Costa, The Argus’s celebrated crime reporter, uncovers a web of lies and deception surrounding Howard’s carefully constructed façade. It seems that Howard has engaged in swindling wealthy businessmen whilst blackmailing their wives, giving Reggie a host of suspects for the murder. Enlivened by what he discovers, Reggie embarks on a crusade to rid the city of confidence men and ‘snake oil’ salesmen, while tracking down a killer.
My Thoughts
It’s sometimes difficult to read a story that is part of a series when you haven’t read the earlier entries. Fortunately that is not an issue with this 4th entry in the Reggie da Costa series. The author does a great job of filling in any gaps where there’s reference to the earlier books, which are mostly things related to Reggie and his personal life. The mystery here is completely independent and can be read as a stand-alone.
And what a mystery it is! The plot is clever enough to keep you guessing, and is helped along by very competent writing. I found myself utterly relaxed and enjoying the witty dialog and pace of the story. As an older reader, I found myself frustrated and sympathetic to Reggie’s mother and her relationship with Ruby, Reggie’s love interest, but thoroughly appreciated the outcome of their sparring. Both Ruby and Reggie show remarkable aptitude for reading people and deducting. In the end, the bad guys are caught and the heroes celebrated.
I enjoyed this enough that I will seek out the author’s earlier entries in this series. Recommended!
Publication Date: July 2, 2024
Published By: Level Best Books
Thanks to Book Sirens for the review copy
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