JUST MAKE BELIEVE by Maggie Robinson

"A book full of secrets to unearth, alter egos, and multiple murders for readers to mull over!"

Just Make Believe

Posted: July 16, 2020

JUST MAKE BELIEVE is the third book in Maggie Robinson’s “Lady Adelaide” 1920s mystery series. Lady Adelaide Compton is invited by her friends, Lady Pamela Fernald and Sir Hugh Fernald, to their country estate. Fernald Hall is supposed to be the site of a festive going-away party for a military friend but winds up being the site of multiple murders. I’m immediately intrigued. I love the period, house parties, and these familiar sleuths. In addition to the mysteries, there is the added longing between Addie and the delish Detective Inspector Devenand “Dev” Hunter of Scotland Yard. There’s a mutual attraction but, for his own reasons, Dev keeps trying to put the kibosh on that. Sigh.

While visiting, the sudden ghostly appearance of Rupert – Addie’s late husband – means that a murder is imminent. In addition to saving Addie when she is in danger, Rupert’s appearance generally heralds a suspicious death. These ghostly tete-a-tetes alternately vex Addie, as well as provide possible info to help hunt down clues. Lady Pamela is the first to fall, and it’s a struggle for Addie to think why anyone would want to murder her. Apparently, Pamela led a complicated life and figuring out who she really was and who she was close to, helps figure out who killed her and why. I love secrets and tangled motivations, and JUST MAKE BELIEVE has both in spades. There eventually end up being three suspicious deaths for Addie and her inspector to decipher. It’s not immediately clear if they are all connected, or all committed by the same person or persons. Having Dev staying at Fernald Hall over the course of the investigation gives more chances for flirtation with Lady Adelaide, and the sexual tension is bananas. With Dev trying to put some distance between him and Lady Adelaide, by process of elimination, Rupert becomes Addie’s unlikely confidante as she plays amateur sleuth. Their snarky banter is entertaining and adds a little levity to break up the suspense. Governesses, tutors, maids, valets, housekeepers, and other assorted staff play roles as suspects or investigator helpers in JUST MAKE BELIEVE.

JUST MAKE BELIEVE is full of secrets to unearth, alter egos, and multiple murders for readers to mull over. Maggie Robinson strikes the right chord between cozy mystery fun and malevolence and murder. I dearly hope that Dev gets past his reservations, and that Addie and Dev eventually get together in this series. They are adorable together. I look forward to the next “Lady Adelaide” mystery.

Book Summary

Gloucestershire, 1925

A week-long house party in the country--why not? Lady Adelaide has nothing else to do, now that her year of mourning for her unfaithful husband is up and her plans to rekindle her romantic life have backfired. But when her hostess is found dead on the conservatory floor, Addie knows just who to call--Detective Inspector Devenand Hunter of Scotland Yard.

Dev may not want to kiss Addie again, but he's anxious to solve the crime. Who would want to kill Pamela, the beautiful wife of one of Britain's greatest Great War heroes? Certainly not her devoted and wheelchair-bound husband, Sir Hugh Fernald. The other guests seem equally innocent and improbable.

But despite all appearances, something is very wrong at Fernald Hall--there's a body buried in the garden, and the governess has fallen down the stairs to her death. Who's next? Addie and Dev must work together to stop another murder, and they have some help thanks to Rupert, Addie's late and unlamented husband. Rupert needs to make amends for his louche life on earth, and what better way to earn his celestial wings than catch a killer?