When journalist Daisy Dalrymple goes to Wentwater Court to write a magazine article about the estate, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. One of the guests is found face down in the nearby pond and Chief Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard has come to investigate. He relies on Daisy’s help to get the information he needs. Strange and intense secrets come to light between family members and guests at the estate.

Death at Wentwater Court is the first installment in the Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries by Carola Dunn. I listened to an audio edition published by Blackstone Audio Inc. Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey in this story set in Britiain 1923. We follow Daisy Dalrymple who comes from a wealthy family, but wants to work as a journalist. She discovers intrigue both past and present among the family and guests. Lord Stephen Astwick is found face down in the nearby pond. Many of the inhabitants had it in for him as he was a swindler, extortionist and a cad. Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard comes to investigate the case. Daisy is a skilled stenographer and takes very helpful forensic photographs for the police and helps with valuable insight into the family.

Main character Daisy Dalrymple, 25, is the daughter of a baron. Family and guests trust her and she clearly knows her way around the rich and titled, but I felt she took over and behaved a bit like the hostess instead of the guest at times.

Supporting character Annabel, Countess of Wentwater seems desperately unhappy. I was pleased to see Annabel trusted Daisy because she seemed to be in need of a friend. She was my favorite character in this story.

Different from Agatha Christie’s plots is that the sleuth arrives before the murder happens. The setting is an isolated opulent place. Guests and people who live at the manor all become suspects. While investigation is ongoing, police order everyone to stay put. All this is similar to Agatha Christie’s plots. Not similar is the questioning of servants as a vital source of information about the family.
Following some exciting twists and turns, the ending was a thoroughly shocking surprise I could never have anticipated.

The dialogue and language in this story were very entertaining. It felt like seeing a movie. Skating as the winter activity for the wealthy was an enjoyable and different element I haven’t read about before. I loved the unique and amusing, posh language which drew me into the story. My favorite part of the story was descriptions of Alec’s thought process and deliberations during the investigation and when Alec and Daisy discussed the findings of the investigations.
My least favorite part was descriptions of the intrigue and dysfunctional family relationships within this family.

Conclusion: Death at Wentwater Court is the Agatha Christie meets Downton Abby like story which included some exiting twists along the way and a surprise ending in more ways than one.

Fans of Carola Dunn will love this book. As will readers who enjoy the cozy mysteries genre. Similar authors to explore might be Rhys Bowen or Victoria Thompson.

Rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: interesting plot, great language and dialogue, very surprising ending