Damsel in Distress: A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery, Book 5

This is the fifth of the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple whodunnits and her romance with DCI Alec Fletcher is coming along nicely, although if course he is very much her social inferior. Not that she cares - she is a modern woman, 1920s style, earning her own precarious living and striking out for freedom from her suffocating aristocratic family.The Hon Philip Petrie is much more Daisy's social equal, but not her intellectual equal, although she is no bluestocking, but a rather charmingly chaotic and fun young woman. The very English Philip has fallen for an American girl, Gloria Arbuckle, daughter of a millionaire. The clash of cultures and expectations between the two cultures is amusingly drawn. Carola Dunn is a British woman living in the US and she makes full use of her knowledge of her knowledge of the two cultures. There are lots of jolly japes as Daisy romps to a triumphant solution to the mystery of Gloria's kidnap.Carola Dunn successfully evokes the atmosphere of the England of the 1920s, at least as it appears in the books of writers such as PG Wodehouse. It pokes the same kind of gentle fun at both the antics of the British aristocracy and the brash attitudes of Americans. It is an entertaining romp with a fairly inconsequential plot, very well-written and amusing. I enjoyed it.

The Honorable Philip Petrie is out driving his beloved car when it suddenly gets problems. Skilled mechanic as he is, he gets the bonnet up to see what's wrong and the next moment he is struck by love. American heiress Gloria Arbuckle stops to ask him if he needs help and from then on he spends all his free time with her and her millionaire father who is in Britain to invest in the auto industry. One day, Philip and Gloria, get kidnapped. Since the kidnappers realize they have no use for Philip they dump him on the estate of Fairacres. Fhilip is well acquainted with the estate since he best friend Gervaise was the heir to it, before he died in the WWI trenches. The present Lord Dalrymple, owner of Fairacres, finds Philip in the bushes and brings him home. Philip insists on staying which is strange to the butterfly- and moth obsessed Lord but he lets him stay and he and his wife also let 5 more young people join Philip for what Lord and Lady Dalrymple think is going to be a treasure hunt. The five that descend on Fairacres are there to help Philip find Gloria. But there search has to be done secretly. They are trusted friends of Philip's and one of course is the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, cousin of the present Lord and sister of the dead Gervaise.The book is exciting and funny. Like a P.G. Wodehouse with a mystery attached to it. I loved it!

Daisy Dalrymple's childhood friend Philip Petrie sends her an urgent telegram asking for her help. His girlfriend, Gloria Arbuckle has been kidnapped and is being held to ransom until her wealthy father can produce the large sum demanded for her release. Philip himself was also kidnapped but then dumped by the criminals and fortunately rescued by Daisy's cousin, Edgar Dalrymple.Gloria's father does not want the police contacted so Daisy must try and solve the crime and rescue Gloria before the ransom is paid. This is a fast paced story as Philip and Daisy along with several friends try and track down where the kidnappers are holding Gloria without arousing anyone's suspicions which stretches Daisy's powers of invention to the limit.I enjoyed this story and loved the way Daisy's cousin is portrayed as a bit of a bumbler even though it soon becomes clear her understands more than he will admit to and would quite like to be involved in whatever the young people have going on. If you have not read any of this series before then this might not be a good one to start with though the series can be read in any order. This is an enjoyable mystery set in the 1920s and will appeal to readers who enjoyed David Roberts' Lord Edward Corinth and Verity Browne series.

Ms Dunn demonstrates in this, the fifth Daisy Dalrymple novel, that she can not just knock out a well crafted, cosy mystery set in the classic inter-war period, but that she can also create a sustainably and plausibly structured framework for a continuing series. The twin requirements of short-term plot and location, and the probably more difficult blend of longer term character development within a recognisably continuous background are handled so efficiently that one almost cannot see the join. Old faces change believably to suit the author's purpose and some entertaining new ones are introduced. Admittedly these later additions are increasingly straight from the pages of PG Woodhouse (eccentric aristocrat with obsessive hobby, comedic American millionaire with attractive daughter etc), but, as always, if one is going to steal then do it from the best.There is nothing earth shatteringly different or challenging about these books, but what they do they do very well.

I really enjoy detective stories and I am interested in the history of the inter war years. Carola Dunn's stories are very evocative of the period. Her main character Daisy is a strong willed and capable young lady who is quick witted and tenacious. Although she is an 'Honourable' she is not content to 'marry well' and be looked after. She makes her own way in the world writing illustrated articles for a magazine.In this story she comes to the aid of her friend Philip whose future fiance has been kidnapped for ransom as her father is an american millionaire. After many adventures and with a cast of colourful characters the story eventually comes to a satisfactory conclusion.It is a very entertaining read!

This enthralling series gets better with every book. Daisy is a lovely protagonist and the plots are fun as well.

Another good harmless detective story. A few twists in this one make it a good plot line. And one has great sympathy for the characters.These books are good for trains, buses, planes. Engaging enough to keep you interested. But if you do fall asleep you will find your place again easily enough.