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A Moment of Silence
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Product Description
Product Description
It is Belsfield Hall, 1805. The sudden disappearance of her niece's fiance at their engagement ball leads Miss Dido Kent to worry that something sinister may have occurred. Before long, her fears are confirmed. Family secrets, long consigned to the darkest recesses of the past, begin to emerge as Dido attempts to unravel the strange happenings. But with the discovery of a body in the shrubbery, Mr Richard Montague's unexplained absence becomes all the more suspicious, and when she finally arrives at the startling truth, it is to change the lives of all involved for ever.
About the Author
'Beautifully written. Characters one cares about immediately and a mystery which becomes more urgent with every page' ANNE PERRY, author of the Inspector Pitt novels
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First Sentence: My dear Eliza, I must begin another letter to you, although it is not six hours since I sent my last.
Catherine Kent is engaged to Richard Montague. During a special ball at Betsfield Hall, Richard reacts strongly to a red-headed man and then disappears.
Catherine's father sends for his spinster sister, Miss Dido Kent. The same day Dido arrives, the body of a murdered woman is found under a hedge on the property and Dido decides it's up to her to discover the killer.
Ms. Dean's writing is literate, intelligent, funny and completely captivating. I give her top marks for sense of time and place, as well as dialogue, which is delightfully appropriate to the period. Her observations on women, marriage and inheritance are done with a light, but informative, touch.
Dido Kent is a wonderful protagonist. She is smart and clever without being malicious; something of a Miss Marple of 1805, but better. I particularly enjoyed the letters to Dido's sister, which convey Dido's internal questions, observations and explorations. All the characters come to life under Ms. Dean's deft hand.
The story is very well plotted. Ms. Dean provides her readers all the clues as Dido uncovers them but, as one who let's the protagonist solve the crime, I was delighted watching the solution unfold.
Those who are fans of Jane Austin, traditional mysteries, and/or historical mysteries, should enjoy this book. Personally, I loved it!
Catherine Kent is engaged to Richard Montague. During a special ball at Betsfield Hall, Richard reacts strongly to a red-headed man and then disappears.
Catherine's father sends for his spinster sister, Miss Dido Kent. The same day Dido arrives, the body of a murdered woman is found under a hedge on the property and Dido decides it's up to her to discover the killer.
Ms. Dean's writing is literate, intelligent, funny and completely captivating. I give her top marks for sense of time and place, as well as dialogue, which is delightfully appropriate to the period. Her observations on women, marriage and inheritance are done with a light, but informative, touch.
Dido Kent is a wonderful protagonist. She is smart and clever without being malicious; something of a Miss Marple of 1805, but better. I particularly enjoyed the letters to Dido's sister, which convey Dido's internal questions, observations and explorations. All the characters come to life under Ms. Dean's deft hand.
The story is very well plotted. Ms. Dean provides her readers all the clues as Dido uncovers them but, as one who let's the protagonist solve the crime, I was delighted watching the solution unfold.
Those who are fans of Jane Austin, traditional mysteries, and/or historical mysteries, should enjoy this book. Personally, I loved it!
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A Moment of Silence is an intelligent, literary whodunit set in the early 19th century. This is the world of Jane Austen: country houses and marriageable young women. It is a rich and multifaceted novel: Anna Dean creates a very satisfying and complex murder mystery through which she explores (light-heartedly) a number of early 19th century historical themes - love, marriage, property and the place of women. The lives of the main characters are told in elegant and witty prose which captures the tone and feel of Austen's world with great skill. Much of the story is told through letters between the novel's sleuth - Miss Dido Kent - and her sister Eliza. It is in these, especially, that the authentic voice of the period is heard.
Dido Kent, is a very appealing detective. (Though that's not a word she would use to describe herself. Dean is very careful about the vocabulary she uses and avoids anachronisms such as this.)
As a murder mystery, this is at the `cosy' end of the spectrum; if you like your crime writing `gritty' this isn't going to be your cup of tea. It doesn't take itself too seriously, although the plot is good. Dean plays fair; all the clues are there (and anyone who knows JA's work and life well may well get a few bonus clues).
This is Anna Dean's first novel in this genre. One hopes there's more where this came from. A very enjoyable read.
Dido Kent, is a very appealing detective. (Though that's not a word she would use to describe herself. Dean is very careful about the vocabulary she uses and avoids anachronisms such as this.)
As a murder mystery, this is at the `cosy' end of the spectrum; if you like your crime writing `gritty' this isn't going to be your cup of tea. It doesn't take itself too seriously, although the plot is good. Dean plays fair; all the clues are there (and anyone who knows JA's work and life well may well get a few bonus clues).
This is Anna Dean's first novel in this genre. One hopes there's more where this came from. A very enjoyable read.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an utterly delightful novel sure to engage fans of Jane Austen, Agatha Christie's spinster detective, or anyone who enjoys good writing.
Set in 1805, it takes a Jane Austen-alike plot (particularly, perhaps, Mansfield Park) and mixes it up with a murder mystery in a country house, complete with assortment of diverse characters. Why has Catherine's recent fiance, Richard Montague, suddenly broken off their engagement and disappeared? Who is the mysterious woman found shot in the shrubbery? What is the secret of the odd household in a nearby village?
The author cites Jane Austen as a favourite of hers, and the 'detective', Catherine's spinster Aunt (improbably named Dido!), bears more than a passing resemblance to Jane herself as she appears in her letters. In fact, the narrative alternates between a 3rd person and Dido's own letters to her sister Eliza, a reference to JA's own letters to her sister Cassandra.
My only quibble with this book (and it's a small one, but hence 4 stars) is that the relationship between the classes is all wrong: Dido mingles easily with the servants and they, too, are at home with her. Any reader of Jane Austen will know that servants were beneath even her upper-middle class notice (apart from the housekeeper of Pemberley, and even she couldn't ever be imagined sitting down and having a cosy chat with Elizabeth).
But small quibble aside, this is a delightful, amusing, vastly entertaining read, with some very sly humour (Colonel Walborough and his pursuit of the handsome servant Jack is priceless!). Highly recommended.
Set in 1805, it takes a Jane Austen-alike plot (particularly, perhaps, Mansfield Park) and mixes it up with a murder mystery in a country house, complete with assortment of diverse characters. Why has Catherine's recent fiance, Richard Montague, suddenly broken off their engagement and disappeared? Who is the mysterious woman found shot in the shrubbery? What is the secret of the odd household in a nearby village?
The author cites Jane Austen as a favourite of hers, and the 'detective', Catherine's spinster Aunt (improbably named Dido!), bears more than a passing resemblance to Jane herself as she appears in her letters. In fact, the narrative alternates between a 3rd person and Dido's own letters to her sister Eliza, a reference to JA's own letters to her sister Cassandra.
My only quibble with this book (and it's a small one, but hence 4 stars) is that the relationship between the classes is all wrong: Dido mingles easily with the servants and they, too, are at home with her. Any reader of Jane Austen will know that servants were beneath even her upper-middle class notice (apart from the housekeeper of Pemberley, and even she couldn't ever be imagined sitting down and having a cosy chat with Elizabeth).
But small quibble aside, this is a delightful, amusing, vastly entertaining read, with some very sly humour (Colonel Walborough and his pursuit of the handsome servant Jack is priceless!). Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Quite Enjoyable
I quietly enjoyed these books without feeling the need to ever revisit them. Very well hidden clues in this first book mean that you could hope to solve the mystery, unlike most... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Liz
A Moment of Mystery
Miss Dido Kent is a forthright spinster, often called upon to assist various - and better off - relations in their trials and tribulations. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Stormkhan
A Moment of Silence
Dido Kent is 29 years old and unmarried. She is the maiden aunt, always on call and relient upon her brothers for her allowance. Read more
Published 5 months ago by S Riaz
Poor Period Detail
I tried this on the strength of previous reviews. The story was amusing enough for a cozy mystery, but I was very disappointed by the appalling lack of research into the period,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by inkylittlefingers
Jane Austin meets Miss Marple
What a great book.
Anna Dean writes in the style of Jane Austin, particularly as much of the story is related in letters to her sister. Read more
Anna Dean writes in the style of Jane Austin, particularly as much of the story is related in letters to her sister. Read more
Published 18 months ago by S. W. Taylor
A wonderfully witty detective!
A Moment of Silence is an entertaining murder mystery set in the early 19th century. It's the first in a series of novels featuring the wonderful Miss Dido Kent. Read more
Published 19 months ago by H. Skinner
Fiendishly intriguing
This is a very clever and entertaining book which starts with a body in the shrubbery and then piles on layers of mystery for the reader to solve. Read more
Published 19 months ago by D. H. Swift
Good Book
Very good read. Arrived on schedule and in good condition no problems with delivery. Reasonably priced.
Published 21 months ago by S. H. Stockley
Enjoyable moments
Anna Dean's Dido Kent has been described as a cross between Jane Marple and Jane Austen and that would appear to be a fair assessment. Read more
Published on 6 April 2010 by CJ
A country house mystery in early 1800's England.
This book was originally titled "A Moment of Silence".
What a happy circumstance it was for me to discover this lovely novel. Read more
What a happy circumstance it was for me to discover this lovely novel. Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by J. Lesley
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