Secrets, lies, and family drama- all the elements of a good read. Good characters who are sympathetic. Thanks for the ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, what little I managed to read of it was kind of terrible, and I have chosen not to finish it. I have not rated or reviewed this book.

This is the second installment in this new mystery series. Our plucky heroine, Flora, has lost her father and travels back to her childhood home, where her father was the butler. Flora, and her husband Bunny, are greeted with open arms, but something is not quite right. Her father fell off of a horse, but her father didn't like to ride horses. HMMM.... This sets Flora off to discover all she can about her father''s death. As the details unravel, Flora finds out much more than she bargained for. Flora and Bunny are a good team, even though Flora tends to wander off to ask questions, much to Bunny's chagrin.

This book is full of twists and turns, surprises and plot devices. The characters are well drawn and interesting and each one manages to leave out a crucial detail from the past that would help Flora solve her father's death and childhood nightmares. I find the books very readable, and have already added the third installment to my ready list.

"Betrayal at Cleeve Abbey" is a mystery set in 1902 in England. It's the second book in a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. However, the characters referred to some events in the previous novel including (I think) spoiling whodunit.

The characters were interesting. I liked how Flora's husband was very supportive of her and that Flora was able to handle herself creditably in a dangerous situation. The many historical details (like news, technology, dress, etc.) were woven into the story without slowing the pacing.

The story involved several mysteries--past and present--that might or might not be connected. Some mysteries were a matter of finding the person who knew what had happened and was willing to talk about it, which wasn't exactly easy. For the murder mystery, Flora asked questions and uncovered clues until she had a good idea of what had happened. I was not surprised by whodunit, but I hadn't guessed whydunit until the confession scene.

There were no graphic sex scenes. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical mystery novel.