Product Description

Lord Charles Sheridan has launched an investigation into a jockey's recent (and mysterious) death-while his wife, Kate, puzzles over the long-ago theft of an actress's jewels. But soon the Sheridans can't help wondering if the two strange events are, somehow, connected.

"A neatly plotted tale of mayhem among the racing set. (Publishers Weekly)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #180612 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780425183847
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
In his seventh late-Victorian mystery, Paige (the pseudonymous writing team of William and Susan Wittig Albert) makes his hardcover debut with a neatly plotted tale of mayhem among the racing set. It's time for the Derby at Epsom Downs, and Lord Charles Sheridan and his American-born wife, Kate, are on hand because Lord Charles has been asked to photograph the finish of the race for the Jockey Club with his new automatic camera. Disaster strikes when a jockey is killed on the racecourse, and race officials suspect his horse may have been doped. Though the practice of doping horses is not illegal, officials are nevertheless worried about the death's effects on betting and the presence of an American gambling ring with expertise in doping. While Charles is occupied with these matters and, subsequently, the murder of a bookie, Alfred "Badger" Day, Kate is visiting with the glamorous Lillie Langtry, doing research for a new book and puzzling over the theft of the notorious actress's jewels. Can the theft of the Langtry gems somehow be connected to Day's murder? Kate and Charles delve into the mysteries and, as usual, find the answer in another clever, richly detailed whodunit. Readers who like their historical mysteries on the lighter side will find much to enjoy here. Agent, Deborah Schneider.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
When a drugged horse causes a fatal accident at the Epsom Downs race track in 1899, Jockey Club members hire Lord Charles Sheridan (Death at Devil's Bridge) to investigate. Leery of publicity, they figure that his social status will provide easy access to horse owners. Wife Lady Kate, meanwhile, sleuths in a different direction after overhearing a conversation that implicates actress Lillie Langtry in the alleged murder of her husband. Even-tempered prose, period conversation, historical characters, dialect, and culture make this a solid addition to the series. Devotees of Anne Perry and other Victorian mysteries will enjoy. (Paige also writes as Susan Wittig Albert and Bill Albert.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Robin Paige is the pseudonym of husband-and-wife team Susan Wittig Albert and Bill Albert. Susan Wittig Albert is the author of the China Bayles mysteries Thyme of Death, Witch's Bane, Hangman's Root, Rosemary Remembered, Rueful Death, Love Lies Bleeding, Chile Death, Lavender Lies, and Mistletoe Man.

Bill Albert is the coauthor, with his wife, of more than sixty novels for young adults. Death at Epsom Downs is the seventh novel in the Victorian series they write together.

Customer Reviews

History with mystery and a smile
This is the latest in a wonderful series, a series featuring two fine leading fictional characters (now married) and some very interesting non-fictional characters. In this one The Jersey Lily herself is joined by figures of the late nineteenth century British and American horseracing world, including an appearance (as in other books) of her paramour, the Prince of Wales. The problems are serious; murder is involved, yet a deft, light touch and very appealing characters make this book, and others of the series, terrific reading.

A great Victorian mysyery
In 1899, Lord Charles Sheridan, Baron of Somersworth, and his wife Lady Kathryn attend Derby Day at Epsom Downs. Charles, a photography buff, plans to shoot the hoses as they cross the finish line. However, tragedy strikes during the race when one of the thoroughbreds Gladiator goes berserk killing his jockey and another horse.

The highly respected racing horse owner and fan, the Prince of Wales, believes someone drugged Gladiator. He asks Charles to investigate. While Charles is sleuthing, Kate visits Lillie Langtrey in an attempt to interview the famous actress for a magazine article that Kate wants to write under a pseudonym. Kate learns that Lillie owes a fortune to a bookie, who happens to have been shot at the same time he was supposed to meet the renowned performer. Charles sees the link between his inquiries and the bookie shooting. He files his report, but no one knows whether the guilty party will be punished or even if the doping will stop.

DEATH AT EPSOM DOWNS is as much a social commentary of a time in which the excesses of the aristocracy was slowly ending (but still prevailing) in England as it is a mystery. The cleverly arranged mystery absorbs the audience, but takes a back seat to the human drama at the tail end of the nineteenth century. Robin Paige provides a page-turning novel that will entice historical fiction buffs and Victorian mystery readers to seek her previous works in a strong series.

Harriet Klausner

Not Really Bad, Not Really Good
I started reading this book one evening before bed and had not gone more than two chapters when I found myself noticing that I had a couple of places on the wall I needed to touch up with paint. A couple of chapters later I found myself wondering if I needed to clean my gutters out.

Since neither paint nor gutters appear prominently in this book, the only conclusion I could draw was-- I was bored. I ended up finishing the book when stopped by a train and it was the only book I had in the car.

Here's the good: It's not badly written at all. One of the authors writes the China Bayliss mysteries which I have read and enjoyed, so the writing is smooth and professional.

The information on horse doping was new to me and appeared well researched.

Here's the bad: I felt as though the characters lacked depth. Charles (I think he started the series as Sir Charles but I must have missed something after that) is egalitarian (doesn't want to use his title), supportive of his wife having a career as a writer, and interested in science. The reader would not guess that he had ever held any other views or struggled to arrive at the views. The just appear full blown. Kate, his American wife, supports women's sufferage, writes succesful novels and has set up a school to teach women agriculture. She also never seems to question her ideas or wonder if what she is doing is best for the objects of her charity.

They have one friend who supports Cecil Rhodes' policy in Africa, but I'm sure he will see the error of his ways. All of the other members of the nobility and gentility are potrayed as corrupt and venal. This is just too easy for the modern reader. It affirms the current beliefs in these areas and never asks us to examine whether or not the beliefs of that era had any value.

Also there are numerous errors in the titles used in the story. Lord Charles (and Lady Charles for his wife) are honorific titles for the younger sons of Dukes and Marquesses and their wives. Charles's proper title would have been Lord Somerset and Kate would be Lady Somerset. It's stated he doesn't want to use the title (prefers Sheridan) but it still wouldn't be proper to address him as "Lord Charles Sheridan." If he properly renounced the title he would be simply Mr. Charles Sheridan.

I guess it might be possible to just say it's meant to be light entertainment and shrug off any criticism that way, but it has to have some quality that engages the interest of the reader before it can entertain.