Monday, June 13, 2016

Book Review and Giveaway - A Golden Cage by Shelley Freydont

Book Synopsis
The author of A Gilded Grave returns to Newport, Rhode Island, at the close of the nineteenth century, where headstrong heiress Deanna Randolph must solve another murder among the social elite.

With her mother in Europe, Deanna is staying with the Ballard family, who agree to chaperone her through the summer season and guide her toward an advantageous marriage proposal—or so her mother hopes. Relishing her new freedom, Deanna is more interested in buying one of the fashionable new bathing costumes, joining a ladies’ bicycling club, and befriending an actress named Amabelle Deeks, all of which would scandalize her mother.

Far more scandalous is the discovery of a young man bludgeoned to death on the conservatory floor at Bonheur, the Ballards’ sumptuous “cottage.” Deanna recognizes him as an actor who performed at the birthday fete for a prominent judge the night before. But why was he at Bonheur? And where is Amabelle?

Concerned her new friend may be in danger—or worse—Deanna enlists the help of her intrepid maid, Elspeth, and her former beau, Joe Ballard, to find Amabelle before the villain of this drama demands an encore.

My Review
A Golden Cage is the second book in Shelley Freydont's Newport Gilded Age series.  (I enjoyed reading the first book, A Gilded Grave, last year.)

Deanna Randolph is enjoying staying at the Ballard family's "cottage" while her family is in Europe.  However, when an actor from a traveling theater troupe is found dead in the Ballard's conservatory, and a young actress goes missing, the mystery begins.  Deanna works to solve the mystery with her lady's maid and friend, Elspeth, and her former beau, Joe.  

I love how atmospheric this book is.  The historical details are wonderful, and the author does a great job at evoking the Gilded Age.  I found the glimpse of the traveling theater troupe particularly interesting.

Deanna is becoming one of my favorite mystery amateur detectives.  She is so smart and determined, and pursues solving mysteries in a time when women had very little freedom.  I really like her friendship with Elspeth, and the way they bridge class differences to work so well together.

The mystery in A Golden Cage was well plotted, and it kept me guessing until the end.

This is such a delightful read, and I recommend it highly to other fans of historical mysteries.   Anyone who misses Downton Abbey will particularly enjoy this read, with the nice interplay of upstairs and downstairs life.


Author Bio
Shelley Freydont is the author of the Liv Montgomery, Celebration Bay Festival Mysteries, (Silent Knife, Trick or Deceit),the Katie McDonald Sudoku Mysteries and the Lindy Haggerty dance company mystery series. Her Newport Gilded Age Mystery seires began in June 2015 with A Gilded Grave, followed in June 2016 with A Golden Cage. 

Shelley loves puzzles of all kinds and when not writing or reading mysteries, she’s most likely working on a jigsaw, Sudoku, or crossword.

As Shelley Noble, she’s the author of the women’s fiction novels, Beach ColorsStargazey Point, and Breakwater Bay as well as several novellas.


She lives at the New Jersey Shore and loves to hear from readers.   

Author Links

Purchase Links
Amazon –  B & N 

Giveaway
Win a copy of A Golden Cage - Winner’s Choice - Print or E-Book.  Giveaway ends 6/19.

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.