3.5 stars

A Promise Given
A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel #3
Michelle Cox
She Writes Press, April 2018
ISBN 978-1-63152-373-1
Trade Paperback

From the publisher—

Anxious to be married, Henrietta and Clive push forward with their wedding plans despite their family differences, made worse now by Oldrich Exley’s attempts to control the Von Harmons. When the long-awaited wedding day arrives, there is more unfolding than just Clive and Henrietta’s vows of love. Stanley and Elsie’s relationship is sorely tested by the presence of the dashing Lieutenant Harrison Barnes-Smith and by Henrietta’s friend Rose―a situation that grows increasingly dark and confused as time goes on.

As Clive and Henrietta begin their honeymoon at Castle Linley, the Howards’ ancestral estate in England, they encounter a whole new host of characters, including the eccentric Lord and Lady Linley and Clive’s mysterious cousin, Wallace. When a man is murdered in the village on the night of a house party at the Castle, Wallace comes under suspicion―and Clive and Henrietta are reluctantly drawn into the case, despite Clive’s anxiety at involving his new bride and Henrietta’s distracting news from home.

Delicately attempting to work together for the first time, Clive and Henrietta set out to prove Wallace’s innocence, uncovering as they do so some rather shocking truths that will shake the Linley name and estate forever.

Following their Chicago wedding, Henrietta Von Harmon and Clive Howard leave tumultuous family issues behind, heading for a honeymoon in England at the ancestral Howard estate, Castle Linley, but their romantic interlude is affected by current events. It’s 1935 and the lingering effects of World War I can be seen and felt along with financial troubles stemming from the Great Depression but it’s a murder in the nearby village that shocks everyone.

Detective Chief Inspector John Hartle quickly suspects Wallace Howard, Clive’s cousin. Formerly a police detective, Clive is drawn in by his fondness for Wallace to investigate with Henrietta’s help; meanwhile, she’s trying to accustom herself to the trappings of British society and then receives unwelcome and distracting news from home regarding her family. The two are very surprised when they discover why Wallace has been so secretive but this knowledge may not lead to Wallace’s being cleared.

To me, this installment focused too much on the romance elements and even provided more, er, details than I cared to know while the mystery kind of took a back seat. Still, the setting is delightful, the nods of appreciation to Pride and Prejudice are fun and I particularly enjoyed seeing the beginnings of a brand new private investigation agency.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, July 2019.

A Promise Given by Michelle Cox
The inspector Howard series is delightful. The characters this author has created are multi-dimensional and endearing. By volume three, I feel like they have become old friends who have dropped by for a visit. The scenery in the setting in this book are exceptional! This series is just getting better and better! I highly recommend it as a five-star read.

I didn’t read the first novel in the series (A Girl Like You), but I read the second (A Ring of Truth), and I have to say that I don’t find this third installment as strong as the second. The first part of the story is totally devoted to Henrietta and Clive’s wedding and there is little else going on (but it may b my less then romancy hear speaking!), while the second part is so full of events that it’s almost crammed. But if taken on the whole, the story is an eventful one. There is a lot of character development, the overarching plot of the series is clearly moving in a dramatic way and the novel ends on a stack cliffhanger.

I liked the depiction of 1930s England, where Clive and Henrietta travel for their honeymoon. The social and historical environment of this part is very reminiscent of Downton Abby, but is also very vividly depicted. The difference between the British social environment and the American environment (though it’s the countryside in England and a big city in America) come to the fore and I think this enriches the diversity of the story. I found particularly interesting that the European historical events filtered in in the English section of the novel. I don’t remember the same thing happening in the American part of the story so far.

Overall, it’s a positive experience. Next novel in the series must be a blast.

Although I found the beginning of the book a bit slow as it led up to Henrietta and Clive's wedding, once they married and headed off to England to spend part of their honeymoon at Castle Linley, Clive Howards’ ancestral estate, the story did pick up for me. There, readers are introduced to Clive's aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Linley and cousin, Wallace. When a murder takes place in the village on the night of a party at the castle, Wallace becomes a prime suspect which leads to Henrietta and Clive working together to clear his name. There is a surprising revelation about Wallace towards the end of the book that may or may not indeed clear his name. Also, Henrietta's sister Elsie is featured even more in this book and she herself is struggling with her relationship with Stan and a possible new love interest in Lieutenant Harrison Barnes-Smith. My heart did ache for Elsie and the position she was put into. So now I am very curious where the next book will lead us to and am hoping it won't take too long to find out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book.

Another great addition to a fun and interesting historical mystery series. The characters are well developed and likeable. The plot of the story was interesting and flowed nicely from chapter to chapter. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Henrietta and Clive's wedding finally arrived and they are off on their honeymoon starting in England. There is eventually a murder but not really much of a mystery story, more of a family saga. So a diappointment for me and I still find that I don't like the character of Henrietta.

I'm sorry to say I was disappointed in this book. I LOVED A Ring of Truth. But for those of you who, like me, appreciated the modest characters and their commitment to chastity in the previous book, be prepared. Apparently once they're married, the author has no qualms about giving all the details. I'm more than a little disappointed that the entire first half of the book was focused on the lead-up to the wedding night, and that it was relayed in detail.
I was also sad that the mystery itself was not more of a part of the story. Nothing to do with the mystery even happens until half-way through the book.
I still love Henrietta and Howard's sweet relationship. They defy the standards of the day by being kind and mutually respectful of each other. I get that because of their varied backgrounds and family expectations, defying convention is a struggle for them at times, but I thought in this book they both got very petulant almost to the point of childish in some of their contentions with each other.
Finally, the ending was such a discordant note - it ends with a cliffhanger, but not a suspenseful one, just a depressing one. It makes me think there is serious drama and trouble to come in book 4, but not in a way I'm excited about.
The story had so much potential, and it was still a good story, it just fell flat.

This is an Awesome story, loved that the Author took time for the honeymoon! This was a special intimate time between Clive, and Henrietta , that was definitely needed. Henrietta needed to know Clive loves her so much and, that he was not anything like her father. While on honeymoon, her younger sister is taken in by a handsome face, and he is trouble with a big T! There is also a murder in the English Village! I loved this book!
I highly Recommend! Thanks Netgalley! Enjoy!

The third of a cozy mystery series set in 1930's Chicago. Henrietta and Clive are planning their wedding while Henrietta's family gets into various scrapes. While visiting Cliff's family in England, there is a murder. Henrietta is anxious to help Clive solve the mystery, but will he let her be a real partner now that they are married? I like Henrietta and Clive and want to see how they grow as a couple. I had not read the first two in the series but was able to catch up quickly. I thought that some of the wedding night details weren't necessary for an otherwise safe cozy mystery and the Elsie side story was kind of sad.

A Promise Given
By
Michele Cox



What it's all about...

Although this is actually the third book in this series the author did a superb job of clarifying the relationship between Henrietta and Clive. However I still wished that I had read these books in order...in their proper order. In this book Henrietta and Clive are to be married. Henrietta is not wealthy and privileged but Clive is. Henrietta should have been just as wealthy and as privileged as Clive but she suffers from the bad choices of her mother. In this book her mother is hateful and irritating and her mother’s poor choices have left her bitter, poor and old...resulting in lots of brothers and sisters for Henrietta.

Why I wanted to read it...

The relationship between Henrietta and Clive is romantic and bold and quite sexy. Clive was a police investigator in the first two books. I believe that he and Henrietta became involved through crime solving. That’s the inference I “inferred” from the first two books.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

Henrietta and Clive share a unique bond. She and Clive are at a country estate in England when another crime is committed. Henrietta has much on her mind...her mother and siblings at home and the disturbing things happening on her honeymoon. There are quite a few unsavory characters in this book. Henrietta is always portrayed as a bright intuitive and vigilant young woman. She has great beauty, too, so men seem to always become interested in her. Henrietta’s heart belongs only to Clive. Meanwhile...while she is away...her sister Elsie is having her own man troubles...

Why you should read it, too...

I loved this book but I wish I would have read the other books within this series in order. The author did a masterful job of clarifying characters and events and it really was enough but I really wanted the order of the books to clarify things even more for me. This is a unique series...quite different and very enjoyable.

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.

A Promise Given follows Clive and Henrietta through their impending nuptials and into their honeymoon. The third book in the series, A Promise Given does not require the reader to have read the previous books, giving plenty of background to understand that story line.

A period fiction, this well written book has plenty of angles and interconnected story lines all happening at the same time. Contrasting views of poverty and factory workers to the highest society in the Chicago area as well as abroad will keep all readers interested.

Interspersed in the drama is a healthy dose of sexuality, romance and mystery. Clive and Henrietta learn to depend on each other and come into their own. The story ends with a cliffhanger which will keep the reader interested in the next book.

A Promise Given promises to entertain you!

I am enjoying this series! I have read the other two books in this series and I couldn't wait to read this new book! I liked this book, but I did not feel it was as good as the other two. This one focused more on the romance and marriage of Henrietta and Inspector Howard. There was only a small mystery at the end. I hope this author goes back to more of the mystery storyline in the next story in this series. Good, but not great!