Enter Pale Death

(Paperback)

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Description

One morning before dawn at her regal country estate, Lady Lavinia Truelove is crushed to death by a horse. Classified as death by misadventure', this appears a gruesome accident, but Scotland Yard Detective Joe Sandilands suspects foul play. His suspicions are aggravated by his personal grievances toward Sir James Truelove, Lady Lavinia's widower and the influential academic patron of Dorcas Joliffe, whom Joe one day hopes to marry. As Joe's investigation yields surprising secrets about one of England's most powerful families, he discovers secrets about Dorcas.'

Reviews

Praise for Enter Pale Death

December 2014 Indie Next List

"Colorful and richly historical."
The Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Cleverly delivers a witty, atmospheric and well-conceived slice of British crime . . . marvelous descriptions of country lore and an evocative Suffolk countryside setting provide a taste of all things British and may send curious readers scurrying to the library to learn more about the ancient traditions in this most ancient of lands."
BookPage

"Excellent . . . genuinely baffling . . . more than a few surprises."
Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review

"While there is an intriguing mystery at the heart of Enter Pale Deathone that is set up within the first few pagesone stays for the social intrigue and the historical setting, which Cleverly has nailed to the last nuance . . . Cleverly moves things along at a leisurely pace, but its all to give readers time to note the surroundings, which, like the mystery upon which the book is built, are first-rate. Even if you dont reflexively reach for historical mysteries, you should give Enter Pale Death a shot."
Bookreporter.com

"An intriguing and entertaining mystery. The period setting . . . brings rural Suffolk alive, describing the villages and people with affection. The central characters are well drawn with complex motives."
Historical Novel Society

"This mystery is full of twists, unexpected plot turns, conflicts involving clashes of family, loyalty, class, love, and money, all in a very well-drawn picture of country life circa 1930. This book is a nice visit to an era gone by, with a wonderful puzzle to entertain the reader while visiting."
Reviewing the Evidence

"Some of the best of English folklore and tradition is threaded through this lively mystery, with even an appearance of the powerful and dangerous Green Man of old. Satisfying sorting of a pleasantly complex plot and a set of side characters that come with layers of their own make this one of Cleverly's best. Highly recommended."
Kingdom Books

The tales of pre-World War II Scotland Yard's Joe Sandilands are becoming addictive. Intrigue, political manipulations, the ever-present undercurrent of class differences, and the rising spectre of Nazism run throughout the series.
Becky Milner, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA

"An expertly crafted locked-room mystery. Sandilands many fans, and readers who love Downton Abbey, Rennie Airth, and Charles Todd, will revel in this elegant, intricately woven mystery set in the early twentieth century."
Booklist

Praise for Barbara Cleverly

Despite her mastery at vivid scene-setting, Cleverly never loses sight of the historical puzzle that is central to her story. Simply put, its a stunner.
The New York Times Book Review

Fans of P.D. James, take note: Heres a worthy colleague.
The Seattle Times

Stylish and intricate . . . Cleverly has perfect pitch for period and place, whether her hero is unearthing evil in India, England or France.
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Cleverly is a terrific writer . . . Fans know that she supplies the glamour as well as the grime, and shes one of the most adept puzzle-plot-makers now working. The clues are all there. But you wont guess who it is until she gives you the final word.
The Globe and Mail

The appearance of a Joe Sandilands book is always welcomed by fans of this intelligent and gripping series.
San Jose Mercury

Excellent . . . Golden age fans who appreciate deceptive storytelling enhanced by the kind of in-depth characterization lacking in Agatha Christie will be more than satisfied.
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Author Bio

Barbara Cleverly was born in the north of England and is a graduate of Durham University. A former teacher, she lives in Cambridge. She is the author of twelve books in the Joe Sandilands series, including The Last Kashmiri Rose, Strange Images of Death, The Blood Royal, Not My Blood, A Spider in the Cup, and Diana's Altar.