Another entertaining read in this series. This one has a slower-paced feel to it, not as rushed with the movement from one thing to the next and the characters' dialogues as the previous books, although this one does still have those elements, just not as much. I really enjoyed the return of Jim Kane and his younger half-brother Timothy Harte from the 2nd book in this series. I liked that tie-in of those characters and getting to reconnect with them several years later, when young Terrible Timothy is now a lot older and a solicitor, where his fiancee is working in a home where not just one murder takes place but later a second similar murder takes place!

The book starts out with a bit of humor surrounding Jim and Pat and their children and the Nanny, so I enjoyed how the author brought that same scenario back to wrap up the book! As usual, I was kept guessing on who the murderer could be as the clues point to multiple characters for different plausible reasons, though I was actually disappointed in who committed the second murder as it seemed a bit of a forced solution, though I enjoyed the book all the way up until that point.

This book also appears to take place more in the early 1950s, so there is a different feel to this one from the earlier ones in the series that I've read, but it was interesting to read the social beliefs of the time and see the differences in the eras that Ms. Heyer has written about with each book of this series.

Inspector Hannasyde from earlier in the series is absent in this book, with only Hemingway being the main police detective, with a Scottish detective as his assistant, who spouts off Gaelic that Hemingway doesn't understand (reminiscent of how frustrated Hemingway got in an earlier book with the religious zealot policeman who helped him). Apparently, the reader isn't meant to understand the Gaelic references either, as there is rarely any translation provided for the Gaelic words and phrases (and I found it hard to know what the translations were, as a Google search didn't always return with an answer, which I found very weird). Hemingway appears to have been promoted at this point from a Sergeant to an Inspector, so perhaps Hannasyde was also promoted or has retired by this point in the series? (I missed a few books in between the last one I read and this one, so this information may be explained in a previous book.)

Overall, an entertaining English mystery series.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence my review.

Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer is the next re-release of a Heyer historical mystery by Sourcebooks. It follows the fortunes and misfortunes of the Kane family, introduced in They Found Him Dead, as well as the ongoing career of Inspector Hemingway.

It is fourteen years later. Timothy Harte, the too-curious, gore-loving young stepbrother of Jim Kane, the previous protagonist, is now grown up and engaged to be married. But his bride-to-be does not meet with his mother’s approval. Beulah Birtley has a secret past and no family to speak of. She works as a secretary/girl Friday for a social climbing newcomer, Mrs. Haddington. Mrs. Haddington has brought her strikingly beautiful daughter Cynthia to London to catch a wealthy, preferably titled gentleman. She has Timothy in her sights.

Things may have gone smoothly for Timothy and Beulah despite family disapproval and Mrs. Haddington’s scheming if an old friend of Mrs. Haddington’s (and possible new friend of Cynthia’s), Mr. Dan Seaton-Carew, had not been murdered at a duplicate bridge card party thrown by Mrs. Haddington.

The local police are quickly stumped and bring in Chief Inspector Hemingway, who is surprised and delighted to be reunited with Jim Kane and Timothy Harte. He is less delighted to find that Timothy’s fiancee is one of the primary suspects. He has encountered Beulah before, in a professional capacity.

There were numerous people at the party and several had opportunity to murder Seaton-Carew. A few even had motive, as Hemingway discovers. But it’s almost impossible to fit all the clues together. And, just when he thinks they may have it figured out, the person they believe to be the murderer is killed in exactly the same way.

Heyer’s mysteries are entertaining brain teasers, complete with wry humor and sweet romance, but she belonged to a different time. The novel is dated in some of its language and prejudices, so be prepared.

Set in the 1950’s the scene is set at a card party at the house of Mrs Haddington. Mrs Haddington is after her daughter to make a connection to an upper class suitor. The first part of the story takes its time in setting the scene and background of the main characters. When murder is planned with picture wire it’s a case to solve for Inspector Hemingway. The investigation takes us into a bygone time of the middle to upper classes. You will enjoy taking the journey with the Inspector to resolve the case.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The class system in Britain after WWII is strong as it has ever been. It was neither logical nor successful then any more than it is now.

There will be duplicate bridge party and only the very best people will attend. Most of those who are attending are very familiar with one another. After all, they are all from the same group of people who matter.

One of the guests is found murdered, and it turns out he was not one of the very best, but possibly one of the very worst people in London.

Scotland Yard is called in. Because this murder involves the upper classes, Chief Inspector Hemingway is called in to solve the mystery. He and his helpful assistant, Inspector Grant, are some of the highlights of this story.

Although Ms Heyer was not known for her mysteries, it does not mean she was not a terrific mystery writer. She constructed a plot which was intricate and interesting.

The cast of characters includes Tim Harte and his half brother Jim Kane from an earlier work. Tim is in love with, Beulah, a young woman who has a shady past and a surly personality. She had argued with the dead man in front of a witness. She falls into the large group of suspects.

The reader will have no problem following the action, the relationships and all the characters.

There are many suspects. People with viable reasons to have wanted this man dead. As things unfold, we get to know each of them quite well. All of the suspects are fully drawn characters.

We do not necessarily admire any of them. In fact, admiration would be difficult to find.

There are terms which would not be found as acceptable in literature today. But, this was a different time and place. This is a time when prejudice was common.

Ms Heyer was a master at drawing her characters to be interesting. This book is no exception to that rule. Even the characters who were crummy people are entertaining.

If I had any dislikes, it is that it seemed to me it took longer for things to get moving in this story. Once the action begins, things move along at a good pace. The reader is included in facts as they appear, we learn as the police learn. There are several red herrings but they simply add to the story.

All in all, this is a very good mystery from a long ago time.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

As witty and articulate as ever. Easy to become involved in but without too much to tax the emotions.

I didn't enjoy this as much as other Heyer mysteries I've read, but it was still enjoyable. A proper review will follow.

***Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book^^^

Like all cozy mysteries this story is slow with lots of suspects. It is my second book and counting.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.

A good mystery read it starts a little slow but the characters and mystery are interesting and make the book well worth reading

This is my third book by Georgette Heyer. They are always a fun escape into a world of clever characters and fun romance. I figured out the mystery in this one, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the story. It's like a collaboration between Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. Heyer is always a great read. Thanks!

I received a digital copy of this book to review prior to its upcoming release in May of 2019. Duplicate Death is a mystery full of twists and turns. I like the complex relationship between Hemingway and Grant, they seem to be a comical pair. I would possibly read other books featuring this pair. I did find the language difficult to follow at times but throughly enjoyed it just the same.
Mrs. Haddington is a horrible person to work for and her friends do not even seem to like her but everyone who is anyone attends her Bridge Party. Cynthia is her witless daughter that has no concerns for anyone but herself. These characters take MainStage with a large cast of others to make this a nice diversion from average daily life.
Things get moving after the first murder and continue to tangle further with the second murder. The story flowed but left some unanswered questions. This is a story that will continue to entertain readers for many more years.

4 stars

Georgette Heyer is great on descriptions. There's detail on rooms, clothes and people. The mystery is well crafted and I enjoyed the denouement. I actually didn't solve it but was getting there!

It is of its time but I think there are many fans out there who will be pleased to have this on their eReader.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Georgette Heyer, famous for her Regencies, wrote quite a few mysteries that have stood the test of time. The Characters are quite charming-very posh and have hidden secrets. The time-frame warrants both "bounders" and debutantes with hard as nails Mama's not to mention our likeable Kane's who featured in a previous book. What more could you ask of a teaser of a mystery?

Mr. Timothy Kane has taken a decided interest in Miss Beulah Birtley, secretary to Mrs. Haddington. She is dark, and has some sort of mystery as well as a large chip on her shoulder. Mr. Kane's Mama has sent his big Brother down to check everything out- only to wander into a murder. The mystery has a lot of interesting characters...very English and clues are thrown out with increasing regularity as Inspector Hemingway has to dig into each story. His faithful sidekick, Inspector Grant, has an endearing way of sprinkling his sentences with Gaelic.

But will this be the only murder Hemingway has to deal with? I fund this Mystery quite wonderful in its period expressions and details to clothes, drawing-rooms and even a nod to the wild and frivolous lifestyle of the rich. Published in 1951 it has all the background of the 1930's which is when many of the other mysteries were published. If you like this Golden Age Period or Heyer's writing you will certainly want to read this. I gave it five stars.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. I'm so glad to see Georgette Heyer's murder mysteries re-published. I enjoy them now as much as I did when I first discovered them years ago. This book features some of the same protagonists from a first book but is set 13 years later and can be read alone. The story is set in the late 1940s/early 1950s. Beulah Birtley is the secretary/dogsbody to a fairly hideous woman, Lilias Haddington, who enters London society via dubious means and background. Ms. Birtley, through unfortunate circumstances that are explained in the story, is stuck in this job. Mrs. Haddington has a beautiful and shallow daughter, Cynthia, whom she's trying to launch into society. At a dinner and bridge party, an unpleasant 'friend', Dan Seaton-Carew, is murdered in Mrs. Haddington's boudoir and Ms. Birtley is considered a prime suspect. Mr. Timothy Harte, from Ms. Heyer's previous mystery, is her not-publicly-announced fiancee and seeks to help solve the mystery by aiding the Detective Chief Inspector whom he knows. This is a good, solid cosy mystery and I really enjoyed reading it again. Ms. Heyer creates wonderful stories and fully developed characters. The only reason I didn't rate it five stars is that some of the language reflects the attitudes of the times - one of the possible suspects is called a 'pansy' and some disparaging comments are made about his histrionics.

Duplicate Death had a great cast of characters and a good plot. The book was a bit slow in the beginning, as it took 100 pages to get to the murder. But, reading it has made me seek out the first books in the Inspectors Hannasyde & Hemingway series. Love the writing style!

Here's whit and whimsy are always delightful; no less so in her mysteries than in the Regency novels she's more famous for. Fans of Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh will love Heyer's mysteries if they have not yet discovered them.

This was a solid mystery, and I probably liked the actual plot and resolution the best out of the Heyer mysteries I've read. However, there was some pretty heavy casual homophobia that I wasn't here for.

"Duplicate Death" is a mystery set in England and originally published in 1951. It's the seventh book in a series, but it works as a stand-alone. It's a clue-based puzzle mystery. It wasn't too difficult to guess "whodunit" since there weren't many people who had an opportunity. The trouble was uncovering a motive strong enough for murder.

The first murder happened at 23% of the way in. Inspector Hemingway noticed important clues and kept asking good questions until the pieces all fell into place. The characters were interesting and had a sense of humor, so it was a fun read. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.

A lovely book! Its so great to revisit about 15 years and meet old characters! This kept me guessing throughout the book, not just with the murder but who our heroine as such ends up with. Just adore the way Heyer carrys you into the story with ease and excitement! One of our best authors!

Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2019 [©1951]

Whew. I got through the first half of this by holding my nose and choking it down, managing to do this only because I am a big Georgette Heyer fan, wondering “what was she thinking when she wrote this?” I had to stop because I don’t like the writing or care about the characters and I can’t find anything remotely interesting about the story.

This is the third in Heyer’s Inspector Hemmingway Series. Perhaps if I’d read the earlier works, I would be able to summon up enough interest and stamina to finish it; regretfully I simply can’t even force myself to flip to the end to see what happened.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Duplicate Death free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Love this book, especially the picking up from an earlier book, showing what has happened to the characters. The storyline is typical to era and I just love the characters as depicted by Heyer - there is a bit of tongue in check about them compared to todays characters.
The mystery is good, and has a few red herrings through it, and fun to read, especially if you are a fan of the golden age type mysteries.