Review

Major Robert Kurland is back in the village of Kurland St. Mary, recuperating from his service in Waterloo and injuries he sustained there. Major Kurland witnesses a strange event from his bedroom window that he can't put out of his mind. At the request of her father, Lucy Harrington who has known the Major since she was a child, becomes a companion to Kurland. She helps him pass the time during his recuperation by talking to him and reading him books. Kurland takes Lucy into his confidence about what he witnesses. Now instead of ready books, the two have other things to discuss when they are together since two have formed an unlikely team investigating a possible murder.

Death Comes to the Village has all the elements of a cozy mystery, as well as a historical novel, with a touch of romance. The two main characters, Major Robert Kurland and Lucy Harrington work together to solve a mystery in a "Rear Window" type plot in which the injured war veteran Kurland thinks he has witnessed something suspicious outside his window and the rector's daughter Lucy asks questions on his behalf to get to the bottom of the mystery.

I like historical mysteries and if the story is good, I don't mind the slower pace. However, while this book sometimes moves at a relaxing, leisurely speed, there are times it slows to a snail's pace and becomes boring. It takes quite a while for the story to get going both in terms of plot and connecting to some of the characters. Although Robert is a likeable character from the beginning, it takes longer to warm to Lucy. Lucy has a far from perfect life, with a difficult father who is quick to shirk his duties, and doesn't have the freedom to live the life she wants due to the times. However, it becomes fairly tedious reading about her disappointments and her negativity, however understandable it may be. At the beginning of the book, Lucy is a reluctant companion to Robert, but by the time she begins to change her mind, my attention had wondered. Although the mystery itself has an interesting ending, the main characters' personal lives are left too open-ended for my taste and I didn't feel satisfied with the book’s conclusion.

The book is well-written and well-researched and I liked the Regency setting. Robert is an interesting character with a unique background. Unfortunately, the pace of the book and the lack of warmth of the female protagonist detracted from what could have been the start of a great new series. Readers who enjoy the historical mysteries by Charles Todd may find this book to their liking.