Review
"If you missed the first novel in this series, get it right away. Snobbery with Violence introduced the Edwardian heroine Lady Rose Summer. Her second appearance is, if anything, even wittier and more amusing than the debut."--The Globe and Mail on Hasty Death
"Once again Chesney has concocted an amusing brew of mystery and romance that will keep her fans turning the pages."--Publishers Weekly on Hasty Death
"If you are a fan of well written traditional mysteries, Lord Peter and Albert Campion, you might want to try this series."--Reviewing the Evidence on Hasty Death
"Light, amusing, easy to read and thoroughly delightful."--Tampa Tribune on Snobbery with Violence
"Old hand Chesney (the School for Manners series and, as M. C. Beaton, the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mysteries) maintains her charm and sassiness while indicting evergreen pomposity and class-status stupidity."--Kirkus on Snobbery with Violence
"Combines history, romance, and intrigue resulting in a delightful romantic mystery."--Midwest Book Review on Snobbery with Violence


Book Description
Captain Harry Cathcart and Lady Rose Summer have entered into an engagement of convenience-convenient for Rose, who wants to avoid being sent to India with all the other failed debutantes. Despite her considerable good looks, Rose's sharp intellect and radical ideas have served to repel her would be suitors. Rose's parents, unaware of the deception, are hardly thrilled that their only child is marrying a man in trade, but Harry comes from a good family, and at the very least, they hope he will keep their troublesome daughter out of mischief.

Unfortunately, even a pretend engagement cannot save Rose from trouble. Bored with endless parties, teas, and balls, she befriends Dolly Tremaine, a beautiful young girl newly arrived from the country and overwhelmed by the demands of the Season. Rose is delighted to have a protégée but their friendship is cut tragically short when Dolly is found floating in a river. Harry is summoned immediately to help solve the mystery of Dolly's death, and to keep Rose from being the murderer's next victim.


About the Author
Marion Chesney, the widely acclaimed author of historical romances, also writes the popular Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mystery series under the name M. C. Beaton. Born in Scotland, she currently divides her time between the English Cotswolds and Paris.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Captain Harry Cathcart and Lady Rose Summer have entered into an engagement of convenience - convenient for Rose, who wants to avoid being sent to India with all the other failed debutantes. Despite her considerable good looks, Rose's sharp intellect and radical ideas have served to repel her would-be suitors. Rose's parents, unaware of the deception, are hardly thrilled that their only child is marrying a man in trade, but Harry comes from a good family, and at the very least, they hope he will keep their troublesome daughter out of mischief." Unfortunately, even a pretend engagement cannot save Rose from trouble. Bored with endless parties, teas, and balls, she befriends Dolly Tremaine, a beautiful young girl newly arrived from the country and overwhelmed by the demands of the Season. Rose is delighted to have a protegee, but their friendship is cut tragically short when Dolly is found floating in a river. Harry is summoned immediately to help solve the mystery of Dolly's death, and to keep Rose from becoming the murderer's next victim.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

To the utter dismay of her wealthy, aristocratic parents, Lady Rose Summer insists on stretching the mold. Spuriously presenting herself as the fiancee of Capt. Harry Cathcart (Snobbery with Violence) in order to keep from being sent to India, Rose endures endless parties and dinners, while Harry, busy with his protective and investigative services, appears to neglect her. He quickly comes to her aid, however, when she discovers the body of a fresh arrival on the social scene-the beautiful daughter of a clergyman-and begins sleuthing. A tidy and well-executed mystery/historical with strong overtones of romance: light entertainment for all collections. Chesney, who also writes the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series under the name M.C. Beaton, lives in England and in Paris. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews