A place of confinement: the investigations of Miss Dido Kent

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Average Rating
Author
Publisher
A Thomas Dunne Book For Minotaur Books, An imprint of St. Martin's Pub. Group
Publication Date
[2013]
Language
English

Description

The inquisitive Miss Dido Kent returns in A Place of Confinement to elucidate the mysterious disappearance of a young woman in the fourth installment of Anna Dean's charming Regency era series

The dependably sharp Miss Dido Kent is suffering her sister-in-law's attempts to marry her off to the ghastly clergyman Doctor Prowdlee. Dido, however, is determined to refuse him, as well as his abominable side whiskers. As punishment she is sent to accompany her hypochondriac—and quite wealthy—Aunt Manners on a trip to Charcombe Manor. The family hopes that revisiting her childhood home will keep Aunt Manners in good spirits, and Dido in her good graces.

However, upon their arrival it's clear to Dido that there is much more at stake than her aunt's favor. The rich heiress Letitia Verney has disappeared while visiting Charcombe, and Mr. Tom Lomax is suspected of abducting her. Dido is inclined to believe in his innocence, but how is she to explain by what method a young lady could enter through the front door and not appear on the other side? And this isn't the only enigma that the Elizabethan manor holds: there is a deserted wing in which lights mysteriously appear at night, a crying ghost which keeps visitors awake, and memories of old family quarrels.

When the senior Mr. Lomax comes to town to defend his son, the mystery intensifies—and so does Dido's romantic life. With lives and reputations on the line, it's up to Dido to put the pieces together to save the Lomaxes and find the vanished young Miss Verney. In this captivating fourth installment of the Dido Kent series, readers will find more of the rich characters, meticulous historical detail, and masterful suspense they've come to expect from Anna Dean.

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ISBN
9781250029676

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Also in this Series

  • Bellfield Hall (Dido Kent mysteries Volume 1) Cover
  • A gentleman of fortune, or, The suspicions of Miss Dido Kent (Dido Kent mysteries Volume 2) Cover
  • A woman of consequence: the investigations of Miss Dido Kent (Dido Kent mysteries Volume 3) Cover
  • A place of confinement: the investigations of Miss Dido Kent (Dido Kent mysteries Volume 4) Cover

Author Notes

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Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
The Dido Kent and Jane Austen mysteries are set in Regency England and feature bright women with keen observation skills as their sleuths. These leisurely paced mysteries have historical details that set tone; period details; and distinctive characters. -- Merle Jacob
The Dido Kent and Lavinia Lake and Tobias March mysteries are set in Regency England and feature single society women who solve crimes. The engaging characters, quick-witted dialogue, and historical detail give these lightweight mysteries their charm. -- Merle Jacob
These series have the appeal factors strong sense of place and atmospheric, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "social life and customs," and "british history."
These series have the appeal factors strong sense of place and atmospheric, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "social life and customs," and "single women."
These series have the appeal factors strong sense of place and atmospheric, and they have the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "british history" and "murder investigation."
These series have the appeal factors strong sense of place, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class" and "murder investigation."
These series have the appeal factors atmospheric, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "british history," and "murder investigation."
These series have the genres "historical mysteries" and "victorian mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "social life and customs," and "single women."
These series have the theme "locked room novels"; the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "british history," "murder investigation," and "haunted places."

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the theme "starring famous figures"; the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "aunts," and "amateur detectives."
These books have the appeal factors strong sense of place, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "victorian mysteries"; and the subjects "heirs and heiresses," "upper class," and "social life and customs."
These books have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "amateur detectives," and "heirs and heiresses."
These books have the genres "historical mysteries" and "victorian mysteries"; and the subjects "heirs and heiresses," "upper class," and "social life and customs."
These books have the appeal factors strong sense of place and atmospheric, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "amateur detectives," and "murder suspects."
NoveList recommends "Jane Austen mysteries (Stephanie Barron)" for fans of "Dido Kent mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, and they have the theme "starring famous figures"; the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "missing persons," and "amateur detectives."
These books have the appeal factors strong sense of place and atmospheric, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "victorian mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "upper class," and "social life and customs."
These books have the appeal factors strong sense of place, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "amateur detectives," and "heirs and heiresses."
These books have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "amateur detectives," and "heirs and heiresses."
These books have the appeal factors strong sense of place, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "haunted places," and "aunts."
These books have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "aunts," and "amateur detectives."

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NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These authors' works have the appeal factors strong sense of place, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "social life and customs," and "women amateur detectives."
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These authors' works have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "social life and customs," and "women amateur detectives."
These authors' works have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "missing persons investigation," "women amateur detectives," and "missing persons."
These authors' works have the appeal factors atmospheric, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "missing persons investigation," "upper class," and "social life and customs."
These authors' works have the appeal factors strong sense of place and atmospheric, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "upper class," "women amateur detectives," and "amateur detectives."
These authors' works have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "british history," and "haunted places."
These authors' works have the genres "historical mysteries" and "victorian mysteries"; and the subjects "missing persons investigation," "upper class," and "haunted places."
These authors' works have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "british history," and "women amateur detectives."
These authors' works have the appeal factors strong sense of place, evocative, and atmospheric, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "missing persons," and "amateur detectives."
These authors' works have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "upper class," "women amateur detectives," and "amateur detectives."
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Published Reviews

Booklist Review

In April 1807, Miss Dido Kent, a spinster almost past marriageable age and with no fortune, is compelled to accompany her Aunt Manners on a visit to Charcombe Manor. In letters to her sister Eliza, interspersed through the narrative, Dido probes one mystery after another. Why and how has Miss Letitia Verney, an heiress, disappeared from the estate? Why has Aunt Manners not been to the Elizabethan country home belonging to her brother, George Fenstanton, for 30 years? And why is Miss Gibbs, Letitia's companion, the only one hearing the ghostly sounds at night? Then the gathering is drawn into the murder of Mr. Brodie, who had just traveled from the Caribbean, perhaps with a letter from Letitia's father about Letitia's engagement to Tom Lomax, the prime suspect. Convinced of Tom's innocence and wanting help in finding Letitia, Dido begins a round of purposeful conversations with the others living at the manor, trying to piece the puzzle together. This fourth in the series will be popular with lovers of historical fiction as it combines a good mystery with gentle probings into societal norms during the Regency period.--Muller, Karen Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

In Dean's highly entertaining fourth Regency mystery featuring 30-ish spinster Dido Kent (after 2012's A Woman of Consequence), Dido bristles at serving as companion to her Aunt Manners during the latter's visit to Charcombe Manor, which she finds to be "not a house at ease with itself." One reason for the underlying tension is the disappearance two days earlier of 19-year-old Letitia Verney, who was under the care of Dido's host, Lancelot Fenstanton. Letitia was last seen with a young man of dubious reputation, Tom Lomax, who just happens to be the son of the man Dido is in love with. Tom insists that he not only walked Letitia back to the manor but watched her enter, despite the testimony of those in the house at the time that Letitia never came through the door. The solution to that impossibility is as clever as the rest of the plot. Agent: David Marshall, Marshall Rights. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

In 1807, being an unmarried woman dependent upon the goodwill of her brothers can mean that when she is selected as a lady's companion by a cantankerous, wealthy aunt, she has no choice in the matter. Arriving at Charcombe Manor to visit her aunt's family, Dido struggles with the unpleasant feelings her servitude and further loss of status in society have bestowed upon her. Only when Dido is invited to investigate the whereabouts of missing fellow houseguest Miss Verney does her zest return, even with the complication of Tom Lomax as the missing young lady's suitor. When Tom is accused of murdering a man, Dido must exonerate Tom in order to keep the family name, and his father, respectable. A clever, crafty lady with unending determination to do what is right, Dido Kent deserves a spot alongside Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple in the great sleuth pantheon. VERDICT In this fourth series outing, historical observations on how gender and wealth affect the perceived value of an individual life give greater depth to Dido's personal story line and time period. Plus? The actual whodunit portion of this novel is superb, surprising, and satisfying!-Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kirkus Book Review

A Regency lady must prove a man innocent of murder if she is to have any chance of future happiness. Clever, independent Dido Kent chafes under the strictures of caring for her wealthy Aunt Manners, who's visiting her childhood home of Charcombe Manor. The task is Dido's punishment for refusing an offer of marriage from a cleric with a pack of children after she had already received an offer from William Lomax. Although she loves William, she has given him no answer because she fears that her self-reliance might jeopardize their marriage. Upon their arrival at Charcombe, they discover that Letitia Verney, a wealthy heiress, is missing and that William's son Tom is suspected of spiriting her away, even though he is to be found in the neighboring town. The annoying George Fenstanton and his charming nephew Lancelot, who owns Charcombe, have a good deal of money invested in a new town they are building at the nearby seaside, and Miss Verney's fortune would certainly be a help to their scheme. Dido can see that both George's daughter and Miss Verney's best friend are hiding secrets. Even her Aunt Manners is acting strangely. When a man bringing information about the disappearance is found murdered, Tom Lomax is arrested, and although his father does not want Dido putting herself in danger by investigating, she knows that any chance of a marriage between them will be over if Tom is not proven innocent. The fourth in this excellent series (A Woman of Consequence, 2012, etc.), beautifully written in the style of Jane Austen, will leave even die-hard mystery mavens puzzled until the final chapters.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Booklist Reviews

In April 1807, Miss Dido Kent, a spinster almost past marriageable age and with no fortune, is compelled to accompany her Aunt Manners on a visit to Charcombe Manor. In letters to her sister Eliza, interspersed through the narrative, Dido probes one mystery after another. Why—and how—has Miss Letitia Verney, an heiress, disappeared from the estate? Why has Aunt Manners not been to the Elizabethan country home belonging to her brother, George Fenstanton, for 30 years? And why is Miss Gibbs, Letitia's companion, the only one hearing the ghostly sounds at night? Then the gathering is drawn into the murder of Mr. Brodie, who had just traveled from the Caribbean, perhaps with a letter from Letitia's father about Letitia's engagement to Tom Lomax, the prime suspect. Convinced of Tom's innocence and wanting help in finding Letitia, Dido begins a round of purposeful conversations with the others living at the manor, trying to piece the puzzle together. This fourth in the series will be popular with lovers of historical fiction as it combines a good mystery with gentle probings into societal norms during the Regency period. Copyright 2013 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2013 Booklist Reviews.
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Library Journal Reviews

In 1807, being an unmarried woman dependent upon the goodwill of her brothers can mean that when she is selected as a lady's companion by a cantankerous, wealthy aunt, she has no choice in the matter. Arriving at Charcombe Manor to visit her aunt's family, Dido struggles with the unpleasant feelings her servitude and further loss of status in society have bestowed upon her. Only when Dido is invited to investigate the whereabouts of missing fellow houseguest Miss Verney does her zest return, even with the complication of Tom Lomax as the missing young lady's suitor. When Tom is accused of murdering a man, Dido must exonerate Tom in order to keep the family name, and his father, respectable. A clever, crafty lady with unending determination to do what is right, Dido Kent deserves a spot alongside Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple in the great sleuth pantheon. VERDICT In this fourth series outing, historical observations on how gender and wealth affect the perceived value of an individual life give greater depth to Dido's personal story line and time period. Plus? The actual whodunit portion of this novel is superb, surprising, and satisfying!—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH

[Page 60]. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

In Dean's highly entertaining fourth Regency mystery featuring 30-ish spinster Dido Kent (after 2012's A Woman of Consequence), Dido bristles at serving as companion to her Aunt Manners during the latter's visit to Charcombe Manor, which she finds to be "not a house at ease with itself." One reason for the underlying tension is the disappearance two days earlier of 19-year-old Letitia Verney, who was under the care of Dido's host, Lancelot Fenstanton. Letitia was last seen with a young man of dubious reputation, Tom Lomax, who just happens to be the son of the man Dido is in love with. Tom insists that he not only walked Letitia back to the manor but watched her enter, despite the testimony of those in the house at the time that Letitia never came through the door. The solution to that impossibility is as clever as the rest of the plot. Agent: David Marshall, Marshall Rights. (Aug.)

[Page ]. Copyright 2013 PWxyz LLC

Copyright 2013 PWxyz LLC
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