Carola Dunn - Dead in the Water

This is book 6 in the Hon. Daisy Dalrymple mysteries. They're set in the 1920s and are just wonderful. The author, Carola Dunn, brings the era into her stories - including the morals, ethics and attitudes of the different classes. Generally most historical fiction is more hysterical fiction and worth avoiding, but not these books. They really make me feel like I'm in 1920s England. I love the glimpses into the post-war landscape, the nod to the horrors the men faced and the evolving roles of women in society.

Most books from this era would focus on the 'Bright Young Things' and model the heroine on an Elizabeth Ponsonby clone. Thankfully Dunn knew they were few and there was so much more to the era than a small number of 'nobs' wandering around London drunk and delirious.

Dead in the Water has Daisy racing off to the Henley Royal Regatta to write an article for an American magazine. It's meant to be a quiet weekend with her fiance, Alec, but of course Daisy stumbles over a body and the amateur sleuth with her 'guileless blue eyes' uses her people skills to find the killer.

The antics of the University crowd are worth the read alone - as are the descriptions of breakfasts! Those rowers could really eat, I spent the book half starved and drooling!!!

All in all an awesome read. I'm so looking forward to the next book. I hope it arrives today.