Harrington Manor

I was lucky enough to have received a copy of this exciting mystery on Net Galley in exchange for a review.  I was instantly reminded of the classic mysteries that I loved reading when growing up with all the twists and turns one expects.  Ronald James did a wonderful job of transporting me back to the 1920is, and meeting this complex mix of characters.  I was instantly drawn in and tried to pick up on all the subtle clues the Author sprinkled throughout and just when I thought I knew who did it, I changed my mind again.  Reading way passed my bedtime is nothing new for me, but I really could not put the book down until I knew how it ended.  Two thumbs up from me for sure.

Members of the wealthy Harrington family are dropping like flies. Who's to blame? Harrington Manor is set in Anaheim in the rapidly changing world of 1923. California is still young and full of orange groves as far as the eye can see, Hollywood is just beginning to realize its potential, and the lingering ripples of The Great War are still felt. Who would wish to harm the beloved Harrington family known far and wide as generous benefactors to those less fortunate?

Harrington Manor has a bit of a Downton Abbey feel to it, but set in the glorious sunshine of Southern California. I really enjoyed this book and hope the talented Ronald James has many more in store for us.

I only give 5 stars for those rare books that linger in your mind long after you read them. That being said, I still wish I could give Harrington Manor more than a mere 4 stars because it's much better written than many 4 star rated books you find. A solid 4.5 stars (and who knows...I may come back and change it to 5!).

Harrington Manor by  Ronald James is a mystery novel set in the 1920's.  The time of moving pictures, automobiles, prohibition, and flappers!  Cora and her husband, The Colonel (Peter) have a very nice home, Harrington Manor.  They have acres planted with orange trees that brings them in a good income.  They have four children:  Shep, Reggie, Margot, and Orson.  Shep is the oldest, married to Doreen, and very determined to control everything.  Reggie, unfortunately, is a follower and mimics is older brother, Shep.  Margot is a naïve young girl who is interested in getting married.  Orson is the youngest son, dresses in a very laid back style, but is the most responsible of all the children.  The Harrington's life is good until the murders happen.  Their life is then interrupted with grief, the police investigation, and some amazing revelations.   

I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.  It is a good story that is well-written, but I found it a little long.  The first murder does not even take place until halfway through the book.  There is some good humor in the book provided by a friend of Cora's, Sara, Cora,  and Margot's friend, Emily Bright.  The mystery is very easy to solve.  I knew who would end up dead and by whom very early in the book.  There are, though, some very interesting revelations that happen near the end of the book that I was not expecting.  Overall, Harrington Manor is an enjoyable read.  Happy Reading! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Harrington Manor is one of those sleeper hits. It literally came out of nowhere and claimed my heart.

Set in the 1920s in California, the book depicts a different picture of the roaring 20s. I recently read a Daisy Gumm mystery set around the same time. I reviewed Redesigning Emma, which was based on the east coast. Harrington Manor is a princely estate near Los Angeles spanning thousands of acres. Lush orange groves fill the land which has been developed by Coloner Peter Harrington.

The Harrington household is full with a loving wife and four squabbling children. Well, adults, actually. Shep and Reggie are trying to browbeat their father into selling off all the land so that they can move to the east coast. Shep, the oldest, thinks that the East coast is something romantic and glorious. Orson, the youngest son is almost like a hippie but is the smartest. He takes care of the land and loves working with the crops. Margot, the daughter, is spoiled by everyone.

A minor crisis happens in the small town when the mail is late. The local busybody rushes to the manor so she can get the latest gossip. A dear friend of Mrs. Harrington arrives and everyone congregates round the pool. But the same day finds the colonel dead, possibly murdered.

Detective Sidney Snipes is summoned from the big city and he takes in the scene. No one is above suspicion. The colonel’s will has some surprises, or rather shocks, for the people. Another old mystery comes to light when a neighboring rancher’s body is recovered. Are the two events related?

Harrington Manor is a leisurely mystery. It paints such a charming picture of a fantastic life, you can almost ignore that it is murder mystery. Imagine owning thousands of acres of orange groves, not to mention tons of land in Hollywood? A dream world, surely.

The book is well written, and it has me off to a good start in 2015. Grab a cool iced drink, and head to the dream, albeit realistic world of Harrington Manor.

Toss together the 1920s, flappers, the filthy rich, classic Hollywood cops, the mafia, and as dysfunctional a family as you'll ever meet and you will get Ronald James' Harrington Manor - the fast, fun, and extremely catchy story of the Harrington family and all that being a part of it entails.

Patriarch Peter and matriarch Cora rule as best they can over a brood of two wayward sons, Shep and Reggie, a dutiful daughter, Margot, and an odd son out, Orson. Shep and Reggie want Peter and invest the family money, and there is a lot of it, in the stock market or turn the family estate over them since he had a stroke and they claim he isn't well. Peter refuses, adamantly. Margot mostly drifts around, enjoying the life her birth blessed her with and wishing for more at the same time. Orson's are in line with his father's, even as his behavior befuddles his father.

The Harringtons are supported by an eclectic cast of characters; illegal immigrant chef Elena, stuffy butler Charles, Cora's quirky sidekick Sara, Emily - the girl Reggie loves who loves Orson, and Shep's badgering, hateful wife Doreen. The Harringtons, it must be said, wouldn't be quite so interesting without this group.

Suffice it to say, a lot happens in the course of James' novel. Three murders, an attempted murder, tales of Prohibition and the apathy toward it, family secrets from decades ago, illicit love affairs, and a delightful nosy neighbor who is sadly underutilized in the story.

For so much happening in the story, it seems strange that the thing which is most lacking is conciseness. There are many times when James seemed intent on setting the scene by telling every detail, even the unspoken thoughts of random minor characters, rather than showing the reader what was happening with action. Those periods were lulls in an otherwise fast and fun story that I will read again.

I received a copy of Harrington Manor through NetGalley and Mythic Dragon Publisher in return for an honest and original review.