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Daisy Dalrymple #8
Rattle His Bones
In the summer of 1923, the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple makes what should an uneventful research trip to the Museum of Natural History with her nephew Derek and her soon-to-be step-daughter Belinda in tow. But as she interviews the various curators for her article on the museums of London, she soon discovers that the Museum of Natural History is a hothouse of professional rivalry and jealousy, particularly between Dr. Smith Woodward, the Keeper of Geology - responsible for the fossil collection, and Dr. Pettigrew, the Keeper of Minerology - responsible for the Museum's fabulous gem collection. On a later trip, as closing time nears, Daisy hears two voices followed by a tremendous crash and rushes into the next hall to discover Dr. Pettigrew dead - murdered amidst a pile of dinosaur bones.
Daisy's fiance, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, is assigned to investigate and together they must unravel a most baffling case of missing gems, dispossessed European royalty, professional rivalry and murder most foul.
Daisy's fiance, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, is assigned to investigate and together they must unravel a most baffling case of missing gems, dispossessed European royalty, professional rivalry and murder most foul.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
83 people are currently reading
747 people want to read
About the author
Carola Dunn
105books870followersCarola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she arrived a month ago.
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. ()
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. ()
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
July 9, 2024
I am usually a Daisy Dalrymple fan but this tale, despite its great setting in the Natural History Museum, did absolutely nothing for me.
A jewel theft, a murder and a disparate group of characters there certainly were but as for a coherent story line, I couldn't just grasp it. It rambled, it wandered and I found myself constantly referring to the sketch map of the Museum as relief from a sometimes turgid storyline.
I will not give up on Daisy, for she does have her charms, and it is always fun to see her involved in a murder even though boyfriend, later husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher tries desperately to keep her away from any such action. He usually fails as in this case but even Daisy could not tempt me to finish this volume, which I dismissed about two-thirds of the way through.
Terribly sorry Daisy but I hope for better things next time.
A jewel theft, a murder and a disparate group of characters there certainly were but as for a coherent story line, I couldn't just grasp it. It rambled, it wandered and I found myself constantly referring to the sketch map of the Museum as relief from a sometimes turgid storyline.
I will not give up on Daisy, for she does have her charms, and it is always fun to see her involved in a murder even though boyfriend, later husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher tries desperately to keep her away from any such action. He usually fails as in this case but even Daisy could not tempt me to finish this volume, which I dismissed about two-thirds of the way through.
Terribly sorry Daisy but I hope for better things next time.
April 13, 2018
Daisy, for the eighth time, "trips over a body" - this time at the Natural Museum. This is a fun cozy mystery series, although I would like a storyline which doesn't involve her accidentally coming across a dead body/murder ;)
The books don't really need to be read in order, but the characters do develop over the books.
The books don't really need to be read in order, but the characters do develop over the books.
February 21, 2016
The year is 1923. The Honourable Daisy Dalrymple is writing an article about the Natural History Museum in London for an American magazine. While doing the research for it, a curator is murdered and a jewelry theft is discovered.
Carola Dunn had the foresight of publishing an elementary floor plan of the Natural History Museum for the readers of this book. But I'm afraid it did nothing for me! I am an excellent map reader, I did visit said museum in 1982 BUT I still felt completely lost in all the doors, stairs, galleries, hallways, crooks and crannies. This book did not work for me at all. Too much running around in the museum and too many people involved. Too many museum guards mentioned, too many museum workers and too many suspects. I usually love these books, read them in order and find them difficult to put down. But I fell asleep in the middle of this one! It gets boring when you feel lost. Like Detective Fletcher says to his Sergeant Tring when he feels lost: "I want to go over the ground in the museum more thoroughly...Study the scenes of the crimes, how to get here from there, what can be seen from where. The plans are useful but I need to take another look." But as a reader, I can not do that can I? If he can not see sense from the plans, how can I?
Carola Dunn had the foresight of publishing an elementary floor plan of the Natural History Museum for the readers of this book. But I'm afraid it did nothing for me! I am an excellent map reader, I did visit said museum in 1982 BUT I still felt completely lost in all the doors, stairs, galleries, hallways, crooks and crannies. This book did not work for me at all. Too much running around in the museum and too many people involved. Too many museum guards mentioned, too many museum workers and too many suspects. I usually love these books, read them in order and find them difficult to put down. But I fell asleep in the middle of this one! It gets boring when you feel lost. Like Detective Fletcher says to his Sergeant Tring when he feels lost: "I want to go over the ground in the museum more thoroughly...Study the scenes of the crimes, how to get here from there, what can be seen from where. The plans are useful but I need to take another look." But as a reader, I can not do that can I? If he can not see sense from the plans, how can I?
April 24, 2019
Set in the natural history museum in London, Daisy stumbles into both thievery & murder. As usual, she helps the investigation much to Alec's chagrin. Scotland Yard won't assign anyone else except Alec to the case since his fiancee is involved.
The usual characters are all present plus some interesting academics & a Grand Duke in exile. It makes for a lot of fun, especially some of the descriptions of pursuits through the twisty museum. I could see them as fodder for a 3 Stooges or Laurel & Hardy movie.
Well narrated & a lot of fun, as usual. The series is best read in order, if you can. If not, the books stand well enough alone.
The usual characters are all present plus some interesting academics & a Grand Duke in exile. It makes for a lot of fun, especially some of the descriptions of pursuits through the twisty museum. I could see them as fodder for a 3 Stooges or Laurel & Hardy movie.
Well narrated & a lot of fun, as usual. The series is best read in order, if you can. If not, the books stand well enough alone.
April 2, 2022
Ein gemütlicher und entspannter Krimi, das Setting im Naturkundemuseum mit all den Fossilien war sehr nett. Daisy und Alec sind ein tolles Paar, auch die anderen Nebenfiguren sind mir sehr ans Herz gewachsen. Der Kriminalfall ist wie immer geruhsam, aber gerade diese unaufgeregte Art macht die Serie so liebenswert.
October 23, 2017
England 1923: Ihre Arbeit als Journalistin führt die junge Daisy Dalrymple diesmal ins Britische Naturkundemuseum. Sie recherchiert hier für einen neuen Artikel und interviewt verschiedene Museumsmitarbeiter. Schnell wird deutlich, dass die Kuratoren der einzelnen Abteilungen ihre Zwistigkeiten miteinander haben. Doch dann wird ein Museumsmitarbeiter tödlich verletzt � es sieht nach Mord aus. War es einer der Kollegen oder doch ein Außenstehender? Alec Fletcher von Scotland Yard nimmt die Ermittlungen auf, und Daisy � seine Verlobte � steckt natürlich wieder mitten drin.
Mein Leseeindruck:
Auch dieser Teil der Reihe rund um Miss Daisy hat mich wieder sehr begeistern können. Ich mag die ruhige Art, die ganz besondere Atmosphäre dieses Romans.
Die Spannung ist von Anfang an da, auch wenn es nicht die Art von Spannung ist wie man sie sonst aus Kriminalromanen kennt. Hier geht alles etwas gemächlicher zu, trotzdem ist es nicht weniger fesselnd.
Den Schreibstil von Carola Dunn empfinde ich als sehr angenehm. Die Autorin schafft es einfach, diese ganz besondere Atmosphäre gut zu transportieren.
Ich habe mich beim Lesen trotz der spannenden Geschichte sehr gut erholen können. Es ist ein richtiges Wohlfühlbuch � lesen, abschalten, entspannen und den Alltag vergessen. Sehr empfehlenswert!
Mein Leseeindruck:
Auch dieser Teil der Reihe rund um Miss Daisy hat mich wieder sehr begeistern können. Ich mag die ruhige Art, die ganz besondere Atmosphäre dieses Romans.
Die Spannung ist von Anfang an da, auch wenn es nicht die Art von Spannung ist wie man sie sonst aus Kriminalromanen kennt. Hier geht alles etwas gemächlicher zu, trotzdem ist es nicht weniger fesselnd.
Den Schreibstil von Carola Dunn empfinde ich als sehr angenehm. Die Autorin schafft es einfach, diese ganz besondere Atmosphäre gut zu transportieren.
Ich habe mich beim Lesen trotz der spannenden Geschichte sehr gut erholen können. Es ist ein richtiges Wohlfühlbuch � lesen, abschalten, entspannen und den Alltag vergessen. Sehr empfehlenswert!
May 31, 2019
I had a hard time getting into this one as I think it is the only one so far in the series that starts with an entire chapter from a mystery character’s POV. That sort of threw me � getting the full information about the/a crime right up front and then moving back to Daisy’s perspective and eventually getting the required dead person for her to stumble upon. Still love these characters and there lots of enjoyable moments here. I found the development of the various suspects particularly well written � loved the unfolding information about their families, home lives and professional relationships at the museum. But overall, I never quite recovered from the somewhat jarring start and there were times it felt like Dunn was struggling a little to tie up all the various plot threads.
December 27, 2017
I love Daisy and Alec and their chemistry. I like their entourage of friends, workers and family. But I did NOT like the other people in this book (from the museum) and I did NOT like the mystery. I was confused about who was who and found I didn’t care much either. The museum setting was rather boring and the motive wasn’t good. I will continue with the series for now, but I was definitely not impressed with this one.
November 30, 2023
This was my favorite Daisy Dalrymple mystery so far! I love the opening chapter where a character is executing a jewel theft from London's Natural History museum. It got me engaged into the mystery and the setting immediately. I loved the Natural History museum setting all through the story and the curators of the museum who are the chief suspects. Their relationships were complex and fraught and the personalities of the different curators were so fun to learn about. I thought Daisy and Alec worked well together in this one, and I adore Daisy's relationship with Tom Tring! He's such a great character. The resolution was dramatic and fun at the same time. Oh, and I love that we're getting more of Belinda. She's so sweet!
July 14, 2012
Eighth in the Daisy Dalrymple series about a young aristocrat who writes for a living and has a bad habit of stumbling into murder mysteries. In this one Daisy is researching an article at the Natural History Museum when one of the curators is murdered. The reader knows from the start of the novel that someone has managed to switch the Museum's collection of gemstones for high quality paste replicas, but this theft is still unnoticed at the time of the murder. Are the two connected, and how long will it take the characters to discover that there is not one crime, but two, to be investigated? [return][return]This is an entertaining 1920s cozy with a gallery of flawed but likeable characters, and a nice study of academic in-fighting and neuroses. And while the murder victim is clearly marked from the beginning as giving a great many people reason to dislike him, Dunn doesn't make the mistake of making him a cardboard target for the killer. Daisy can see only too well why he ends up dead in a pile of dinosaur bones, but she's also seen another side to him, and wants his killer caught.[return][return]As with previous books in the series which I've read, this has a murder mystery intertwined with the ongoing story of Daisy's relationship with Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher. The book can stand alone, but I'm finding it very enjoyable to watch the progress of the long term story arc from book to book.
August 12, 2023
Not my favourite in the Dalrymple series, it has to be said.
Putting the mystery aside for one second, Dunn's tendency to the expository in trying to justify Daisy's insertion into cases is weak writing. If I have to hear any more what-ma-like explanantions for why every suspect feels the need to dish their biggest secrets and emotional depths to Daisy after one meeting...
My biggest issue with this book was the structure though. It felt like a lot went into establishing the dynamics and setup at the museum and the investigation was skimmed over by comparison. Between Alex's exasperation at Daisy's involvement (this is becoming a laboured strand too) and Daisy's supposition and lightbulb-moment dream, the reveals behind the gem theft and the murder seemed to come about very abruptly without giving the mystery time to breathe.
Despite this, of course I'll be listening to the next in series. They do have their charm and who am I to argue with a free listen on Audible?
Putting the mystery aside for one second, Dunn's tendency to the expository in trying to justify Daisy's insertion into cases is weak writing. If I have to hear any more what-ma-like explanantions for why every suspect feels the need to dish their biggest secrets and emotional depths to Daisy after one meeting...
My biggest issue with this book was the structure though. It felt like a lot went into establishing the dynamics and setup at the museum and the investigation was skimmed over by comparison. Between Alex's exasperation at Daisy's involvement (this is becoming a laboured strand too) and Daisy's supposition and lightbulb-moment dream, the reveals behind the gem theft and the murder seemed to come about very abruptly without giving the mystery time to breathe.
Despite this, of course I'll be listening to the next in series. They do have their charm and who am I to argue with a free listen on Audible?
September 28, 2020
2 stars
This one was very whatever to me. The cast of characters was made up almost entirely of middle aged white men obsessed with science and I did not care. Daisy plays less of a role in the investigation. She does at least solve it herself but her haplessness is truly annoying. Alec was at least a bit less of an ass. Hopefully the series is improving in that regard. Still, I was very bored. Usually I predict the killer in this series but I didn’t even care about this book enough to start guessing. I’m relieved to get on to the next book in the series.
This one was very whatever to me. The cast of characters was made up almost entirely of middle aged white men obsessed with science and I did not care. Daisy plays less of a role in the investigation. She does at least solve it herself but her haplessness is truly annoying. Alec was at least a bit less of an ass. Hopefully the series is improving in that regard. Still, I was very bored. Usually I predict the killer in this series but I didn’t even care about this book enough to start guessing. I’m relieved to get on to the next book in the series.
April 28, 2015
Once again Daisy is working on a magazine article when she runs smack into murder. This one was a little different in that it started in the anonymous villain's point of view, but having a pretty good idea who dunnit didn't spoil the story at all. Best part? Looks like Daisy and Alec are finally going to tie the knot. His superior thinks that once he's married to her he can keep her from meddling in his cases. Fat chance!
November 9, 2020
2.5 stars because the book put me to sleep. I’m surprised I finished it. Great reader though.
September 9, 2021
Ich kann gar nicht genau sagen, warum, aber dieses Buch hat mir bisher vielleicht am wenigsten gefallen aus der Reihe . Ich glaube, das Setting im Naturkundemuseum und die Dinosaurier waren einfach nicht meins - wenn Du zu Hause einen dinosaurierverrückten 5jährigen hast, ist das vielleicht genau dein Buch! Oder es lag daran, dass ich jetzt so viele Bände der Reihe hintereinander gelesen habe - ich glaube, ich brauche erstmal eine kleine Pause von Daiy...
March 2, 2022
I thought this was one of the best books in this series so far. Daisy takes a very active role and it didn't follow the usual "bad guy confesses outright" pattern these books usually take. There was also a fun action sequence.
The new narrator of the audiobook wasn't a good fit for the series, I think. The singsongy voice didn't fit the story or Daisy, and the accents were rough, especially the Duke.
The new narrator of the audiobook wasn't a good fit for the series, I think. The singsongy voice didn't fit the story or Daisy, and the accents were rough, especially the Duke.
July 18, 2018
Jewels stolen. Murder! Fractured - literally - dinosaurs. And an off-the-scene chase that sounds like a classic Keystone Kops sequence.
It's a little annoying that I'm not being able to check out the Daisy Dalrymple books in internal-sequence, so I'm jumping around in the stories. This is my first time reading this particular book, which occurs right before Alec and Daisy get married.
Pleasant, slow moving.
It's a little annoying that I'm not being able to check out the Daisy Dalrymple books in internal-sequence, so I'm jumping around in the stories. This is my first time reading this particular book, which occurs right before Alec and Daisy get married.
Pleasant, slow moving.
April 3, 2021
A nice, light whodunit for an afternoon read. A natural history museum, a young impecunious grand duke, lots of old bones, a murder, a horde of suspects, and theft of valuable gems. And Daisy and DCI Alec are engaged. Good sleuthing!
Lucy Rayner did a fine job as narrator with all the perkiness of Daisy herself!
Lucy Rayner did a fine job as narrator with all the perkiness of Daisy herself!
December 10, 2020
This is one of the first books set in London rather than in the country. Daisy visits Natural History Museum a number of times to do research for articles. I actually liked that Daisy had more a challenge in selling her articles and so had to make repeated trips to conduct interviews. Which, of course, gave her more info and insight into the various characters. There were a few parts that were a little slow, but the pace quickly picked up. I'm looking forward to the next book!
September 3, 2020
This was a lovely mystery with lots of nice twists and no really obvious suspects. Daisy is working hard, Tring has a bigger role and we also get to know Alec's family a little better.
November 13, 2022
I enjoyed this more than Styx and Stones, with its glimpse into the museums of the early 20th Century.
August 18, 2021
Overall I have enjoyed this series - it works in the genre. This installment, however, bordered on painful. Dunn’s representation of the language structure of the “grand Duke� who is apparently a German speaker wrestling with the English language borders on ridiculous and demeaning- and does not even come close to approximating the structure of either language. I understand that we can’t anticipate “rocket science� in the genre. But should we not forbear when it comes to represent the foreign “other?�
It’s enough to make your way - eyes rolling - through the misogyny of Daisy love interest who regularly calls her “stupid� and “idiot� and the like. what is the function of that decision? What is gained with it? Disappointing and way way off the mark.
It’s enough to make your way - eyes rolling - through the misogyny of Daisy love interest who regularly calls her “stupid� and “idiot� and the like. what is the function of that decision? What is gained with it? Disappointing and way way off the mark.
August 22, 2022
Once again, I am sad that a promising set up fell flat.
This has got all sorts of interesting ideas in it! A clever jewel robbery! A great setting! Lots of potential for interesting characters and motives. I was hopeful that this would be interesting.
And I just did not care. I couldn't keep the suspects straight, I found everyone unpleasant, and there is a tendency for the same information to be repeated over and over and over and over again until one is ready to scream.
Add in a weird foreign prince who must speak in a cartoonishly bad accent (phonetically spelled the whole time! Argh!), and, well, the verdict is that this book is not a success.
This has got all sorts of interesting ideas in it! A clever jewel robbery! A great setting! Lots of potential for interesting characters and motives. I was hopeful that this would be interesting.
And I just did not care. I couldn't keep the suspects straight, I found everyone unpleasant, and there is a tendency for the same information to be repeated over and over and over and over again until one is ready to scream.
Add in a weird foreign prince who must speak in a cartoonishly bad accent (phonetically spelled the whole time! Argh!), and, well, the verdict is that this book is not a success.
December 27, 2013
Daisy Dalrymple has eschewed the languorous life she was born to in favor of journalism. While writing an article on the Natural History Museum she witnesses a murder, embroiling her in yet another police investigation. As ever, her fiance, the Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher, does much of the leg work while Daisy delicately extracts information from everyone around her. Together, they manage to uncover the murderer. The mystery is not the exciting, to be honest, but I love the slice of life into post-WWI Britain, with all its class tensions, pea-soup fog, and strangely named foods.
March 3, 2019
Daisy Dalrymple is doing a magazine story on London's Natural History Museum. Her bemused fiance, Scotland Yard chief inspector Alec Fletcher, is not surprised when a crime wave hits. First a body is discovered--by Daisy, naturally--and then she's present when a long-planned jewelry heist is revealed. Alec is gradually closing in on the culprit when Daisy puts a few pieces of information together with her usual elan and also discovers the criminal.
June 1, 2015
A good entry in the series. One of the few which kept me guessing up until near the end about which suspect was the actual culprit. Also, very realistic when Daisy got hit on the head near the end. Being involved in so many criminal investigations, she's bound to get bumped up along the way at times. And, finally, the wedding seems to be in the offing. Spiffing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2012
A great mystery with a jewel heist added to the mix. I found some of the suspects hard to keep track of (there are more than a few) but overall a very easy reading book. I love reading about Daisy and Alec, and I have to say this is probably one of my favourites in the series.
May 10, 2017
This one was unimpressive in its handling of red herrings.
January 13, 2024
I've seen the "Daisy Dalrymple" books around, but this is the only one I've actually read; being eighth in the series, perhaps it is not a very fair introduction to the regular characters, whom everyone is assumed to know by this point, but I got the general gist.
Daisy is a Liberated Woman who has shaken the aristocratic dust of her ancestors off her feet and insisted on living in a tiny flat with a fellow career-oriented female friend, and is engaged to be married to a policeman she met during one of her previous cases, although it is a second time at love for both of them (cue Great War backstory). And both his mother and hers disapprove of this mixing between the classes from opposite viewpoints... although by this point in the series any family opposition is pretty much token. The book also spends an inordinate amount of time explaining how improbable it is that Daisy would get accidentally mixed up in so many of murder cases and trying to justify her involvement in the investigation, which seemed like a misstep on the part of the author - it's generally better to let sleeping plot holes lie!
On flipping open the book to a random page (my usual method for judging its quality) I was unfavourably impressed by Daisy's 'flapper' pose and attempts at period dialogue, being pretty familiar myself with the genuine article in books and magazines of this era - but when I turned back to the beginning the author managed to win me over completely within a matter of a few paragraphs by starting the book off from a totally different viewpoint, that of the (male, educated, tense) culprit planning and executing his crime, which is genuinely tense and gripping, not least because the author takes advantage of the spur-of-the-moment narration to keep us largely in the dark as to what, exactly, he is attempting to do. Concealing information from the reader is always a tricky game, but in this context, where the narrator has no reason to sit back and start info-dumping about the plan he is in the middle of carrying out, it works very well... and, for whatever reason, when I reached the part of the book written from Daisy's viewpoint this time, it didn't strike me as so annoying any more. Possibly because I was now highly invested in the outcome of the theft!
Being familiar with the Natural History Museum, I was able to envision it vividly as Daisy makes her explorations, and that setting was probably a big part of the charm of the book... although I know a lot more about dinosaurs than the protagonist and was a bit frustrated by her professions of cluelessness. I only spotted one definite historical blooper, in a very minor peripheral piece of scene-setting that I just happen to know something about: whatever it was that Daisy saw hauling 'a train of barges' down the Thames in the 1920s, it wasn't a narrowboat, because they don't have enough engine power (especially on dangerous - for them - tidal waters) to handle more than their own single unpowered butty. I'm guessing that the author was making the common confusion/conflation between 'barge' and 'narrowboat', which would have been period-accurate enough, but unwittingly applying this in reverse...
With hindsight the culprit's 'voice' at the beginning of the book does fit the revealed criminal at the end of the book better than any of the other characters, and I probably ought to have been able to guess the solution on that alone, but I don't normally even try to deduce the ending of detective stories, and didn't make any attempt to do so here. There were too many characters floating around (I'm pretty sure new ones, e.g. the various curatorial assistants, were still turning up at least halfway through the plot) and too many tangential things going on - only Carola Dunn is no Dorothy L. Sayers in that respect. I can't see myself wanting to reread this one for the background scene-setting!
I enjoyed this well enough as a quick read, which is what I picked it as, but it doesn't inspire me with any immediate intention to launch further into Daisy Dalrymple. And looking at the other ŷ reviews I rather get the impression that the elements I enjoyed about this one are somewhat atypical in terms of the series :(
Daisy is a Liberated Woman who has shaken the aristocratic dust of her ancestors off her feet and insisted on living in a tiny flat with a fellow career-oriented female friend, and is engaged to be married to a policeman she met during one of her previous cases, although it is a second time at love for both of them (cue Great War backstory). And both his mother and hers disapprove of this mixing between the classes from opposite viewpoints... although by this point in the series any family opposition is pretty much token. The book also spends an inordinate amount of time explaining how improbable it is that Daisy would get accidentally mixed up in so many of murder cases and trying to justify her involvement in the investigation, which seemed like a misstep on the part of the author - it's generally better to let sleeping plot holes lie!
On flipping open the book to a random page (my usual method for judging its quality) I was unfavourably impressed by Daisy's 'flapper' pose and attempts at period dialogue, being pretty familiar myself with the genuine article in books and magazines of this era - but when I turned back to the beginning the author managed to win me over completely within a matter of a few paragraphs by starting the book off from a totally different viewpoint, that of the (male, educated, tense) culprit planning and executing his crime, which is genuinely tense and gripping, not least because the author takes advantage of the spur-of-the-moment narration to keep us largely in the dark as to what, exactly, he is attempting to do. Concealing information from the reader is always a tricky game, but in this context, where the narrator has no reason to sit back and start info-dumping about the plan he is in the middle of carrying out, it works very well... and, for whatever reason, when I reached the part of the book written from Daisy's viewpoint this time, it didn't strike me as so annoying any more. Possibly because I was now highly invested in the outcome of the theft!
Being familiar with the Natural History Museum, I was able to envision it vividly as Daisy makes her explorations, and that setting was probably a big part of the charm of the book... although I know a lot more about dinosaurs than the protagonist and was a bit frustrated by her professions of cluelessness. I only spotted one definite historical blooper, in a very minor peripheral piece of scene-setting that I just happen to know something about: whatever it was that Daisy saw hauling 'a train of barges' down the Thames in the 1920s, it wasn't a narrowboat, because they don't have enough engine power (especially on dangerous - for them - tidal waters) to handle more than their own single unpowered butty. I'm guessing that the author was making the common confusion/conflation between 'barge' and 'narrowboat', which would have been period-accurate enough, but unwittingly applying this in reverse...
With hindsight the culprit's 'voice' at the beginning of the book does fit the revealed criminal at the end of the book better than any of the other characters, and I probably ought to have been able to guess the solution on that alone, but I don't normally even try to deduce the ending of detective stories, and didn't make any attempt to do so here. There were too many characters floating around (I'm pretty sure new ones, e.g. the various curatorial assistants, were still turning up at least halfway through the plot) and too many tangential things going on - only Carola Dunn is no Dorothy L. Sayers in that respect. I can't see myself wanting to reread this one for the background scene-setting!
I enjoyed this well enough as a quick read, which is what I picked it as, but it doesn't inspire me with any immediate intention to launch further into Daisy Dalrymple. And looking at the other ŷ reviews I rather get the impression that the elements I enjoyed about this one are somewhat atypical in terms of the series :(
April 14, 2019
The book begins with a jewel theft & the movements of the thief through the museum: although a floor-plan of the museum was provided, I was still confused as I had to go back and forth between the floor-plan & the movements of the thief to figure out, what was going on.
While writing a travel article on the highlights of the British Museum of Natural History for an American Magazine, Daisy meets many an odd character. The most interesting is the Count of a now gone country, who would like the Ruby that was gifted to Queen Victoria and is now on display in the museum returned to his family.
On Daisy's second visit to the museum, she is in one of the dinosaur halls along with a group of young children & their grandmother when in the hall next a particularly odious geologist is murdered.
When Detective Sergeant Tom Tring interviews those who were in the museum at the time, he discovers that few if any of the dead man's co-workers are saddened by his demise...
On a subsequent visit, when Daisy is reviewing the Mineral & Gem displays, the Count notices that the Ruby on display is no longer the genuine stone, but an excellent glass copy. The scientist taking Daisy on the tour comes to the same conclusion and she begins to see a possible connection between the missing ruby & the murder of the Geologist who was responsible for the Gem & Mineral exhibit.
As I stated, the trying ti use the floor-plan throughout the story was confusing for me...
While writing a travel article on the highlights of the British Museum of Natural History for an American Magazine, Daisy meets many an odd character. The most interesting is the Count of a now gone country, who would like the Ruby that was gifted to Queen Victoria and is now on display in the museum returned to his family.
On Daisy's second visit to the museum, she is in one of the dinosaur halls along with a group of young children & their grandmother when in the hall next a particularly odious geologist is murdered.
When Detective Sergeant Tom Tring interviews those who were in the museum at the time, he discovers that few if any of the dead man's co-workers are saddened by his demise...
On a subsequent visit, when Daisy is reviewing the Mineral & Gem displays, the Count notices that the Ruby on display is no longer the genuine stone, but an excellent glass copy. The scientist taking Daisy on the tour comes to the same conclusion and she begins to see a possible connection between the missing ruby & the murder of the Geologist who was responsible for the Gem & Mineral exhibit.
As I stated, the trying ti use the floor-plan throughout the story was confusing for me...
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