Editorial Reviews. About the Author. Amy Corwin is a member of Mystery Writers of America The Vital Principle (A Second Sons Inquiry Agency Regency Mystery Book 1). The Vital Principle (A Second Sons Inquiry Agency Regency.
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- The Second Sons Inquiry Agency Regency Mystery Series in Order - Amy Corwin - FictionDB
Available in Kindle Unlimited! The David Rivers Series: Product details File Size: Fireside Mysteries; 1 edition February 21, Publication Date: February 21, Sold by: Related Video Shorts 0 Upload your video. Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Read reviews that mention second sons amy corwin sons inquiry inquiry agency highly recommend mystery and romance illusion of desire nicholas ainsley cast of characters read by this author good mystery kathryn murder captain war delightful mysteries plenty ending intriguing. There was a problem filtering reviews right now.
Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. Amy Corwin knows how to structure a traditional English upper-class house party mystery, and this one has the twistiest plot yet, with too many likely suspects. By the time you reach the big reveal, you likely will be surprised by who the murderer is. As with her other murder mysteries, Corwin stands above the pack by emphasizing the sadness of loss: Corwin deftly weaves history into the story without breaking character and revealing too much, which can be frustrating, Background: Captain Nicholas Ainsley, our hero, was seriously wounded at the port of Corunna at the end of the Peninsular campaign, when the British army in their retreat out of Spain was attacked by a superior Napoleonic French force.
We know from Nicholas' reflections that he escaped only due to the kindness of a fellow soldier, who helped him off the field, and we get the impression that fatalities were high. Over a decade later, Nicholas is tormented by nerve pain in his damaged arm as well as horrible nightmares. And have no doubt: By applying to Second Sons, Nicholas shows great courage in the face of his deep, helpless self-doubt. After owner Knighton Gaunt the hero from prior, and later novels accepts him into the agency, Nicholas learns his worth as he unravels the mystery and gathers to him an odd second family of lost and damaged souls.
And the characters Corwin introduces in this thread of the plot are vital and distinct people we come to care about more than most of their upper class "betters". Rather than running on, I'll simply say: I want to read more about Nicholas and Kathryn, and hope Corwin will oblige. One person found this helpful 2 people found this helpful. Installment number four in the Second Sons Inquiry Agency series stays true to form and features another inquiry agent as the Unlikely Hero and an all new Plucky Heroine. In my mind, this paves the way for her to become a truly Plucky Heroine.
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The Unlikely Hero of this novel is much more fascinating than she is. Injured in the War with France, the man, Capt. Nicholas Ainsley who now wishes to be known only as Mr.
Ainsley feels strongly that he is less than a whole man. Upon securing his employment with Second Sons, he begins to realize that he still has plenty of ability to make meaningful contributions to the world. The plot of this novel is easily surmisable from the early pages, but the actual mechanism of the thing is intriguing. As with the previous stories, the seamy underbelly of polite society is revealed, and how far some people will go to ensure a certain outcome is once more revealed. This particular book in the series introduced another pair of characters; the brother and sister-in-law of the Unlikely Hero.
They are hilarious in their disregard for the conventions of the day. You will simply have to read the book to find out how and what they did. One person found this helpful.
I am a fan of my Corwin's writing. And this book was a prime example of why. The attention to period detail in intense, but the best part is the way she addresses the issues of the day without being tiresome: They are an integral part of the story. This is a murder mystery, but it is a romance as well between two apparently damaged people who help each other Although it is part of a series, it definitely stands alone just fine.
I do recommend the other books in the Second Sons Inquiry series also, although this one just might be my favorite so far. I really enjoyed both Kathryn and Nicholas's characters. The author did a great job helping the reader get to know and understand them both. The cast of characters in Nicholas's sphere - Sgt. Toddy, Henry and Eleanor- were quite delightful. The mystery was intriguing and the plot moved along at a nice pace and kept my interest all the way to the end. I would have liked more development of the romance between Kathryn and Nicholas plus I thought the ending was rather abrupt.
An epilogue would have been nice. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. Corwin has enlarged the cast of her Second Sons Inquiry Agency in a way that is both brilliant and promising of further adventures. It is also a book of compassion and redemption. Captain Ainsley attracts dubious companions, such as two thieves, a streetwise boy, a disabled veteran, and an accused murderess.
The plot is as much about resolving their futures, as it is about solving the murder of Lord Taunton. I highly recommend The Illusion of Desire. The more stories I read by this author, the more I admire her and look forward to the next book to purchase.
I had read her in an anthology and liked her story so much, I looked for more novels to read. Corwin has not disappointed. In fact, her suspensefull settings only add to her genious.
- The Vital Principle (Second Sons, #1) by Amy Corwin?
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Corwin, for amazing stories. Amy Corwin never disappoints. I have read several of her books, and each one is a special gem. Her writing flows easily with vocabulary that is true to the period. Her plots are believable with characters that react in that slim margin of reality a reader has every right to expect. In each book I am transported to the time and place wishing it would not end, wanting more. Illusion of Desire is as fulfilling as the rest.
What I like is that the series revolves around the Second Sons Inquiry Agency so each book has different characters, but there is a tie in to all of the books. See all 41 reviews. Most recent customer reviews. He is a despicable little man, hateful and hideous, who ended up hurting and damaging several people, specially women. Also, we end up understanding and caring for Pru and Knighton who, of course, are romantically attracted. I see my "philosophical" views alternate between Pru and Knighton, Pru's view of "the truth" is much alike mine and Knighton's view of the people around him specially the women who he thinks are, usually, untrustworthy or histerical.
Really, screaming, histerical females drive me crazy. Get ahold of yourself woman! The historical aspect, the relations between man and women, between noble people and workers "working for a living" being something awful and all, really cute , the difference on the police and inquiry work, that's all just very interesting.
Amy's rythm is amazing, she keeps you turning pages without breathing, wanting to see what'll happen next, wanting to see what Pru was thinking during that one scene that Mr. Gaunt just narrated did I mention they both narrate chapters? They do , who is the killer, why, when, how?
Keeps you asking but also keeps you giggling, laughing, entertained. May Allen is a separate delight. The perfect portrait of so many women nowadays, her speech was a bit hard for me, English not being my first language and all, with the way she speaks being too coloquial, illiterate, some words I didn't know, some I had to infer from the context. We'd call her a golddigger, nowadays, but when you think about it, sure, she was being ambitious and, well, pretty greedy, but what was in the world for her? So she had to take her faith on her hands. And do it for herself, work with whatever she had.
Hell, I would've killed him if he wasn't dead. Hideous, awful little man, hurtful, despicable, misoginist, likes to feel enpowered, hurting people even after he's dead, his own poor mother Quite interesting to see how Amy shows the women on the book, some are strong, most are weak and sad, depending on man, just. I mean, when you think about it, the world didn't change all that much But maybe I should leave that to another post ; Overall, The Vital Principle is an amazing book, with strong characters and a very clever plot, full of witty remarks, cute, romantic, funny but also full of mistery.
I look forward to reading more of Pru Barnard and Knighton Gaunt, although I'm adding the other "Second Sons Inquiry Agency" books to my wishlist my very long wishlist , for when I'm actually able to buy books my mom and my boyfriend say I will only be allowed to buy when I have under 4 on my TBR pile, so that may take a while. Read it, you won't regret it. Everyone has Secrets and Pru Barnard is no exception.
But is she a charlaton? With no family and no inheritance, Pru Barnard must find a way to support herself and her maid without working or she will be unable to maintain the lifestyle to which she is accustomed.
The Vital Principle
Knighton Gaunt was once a member of the ton, but as a second son, he's no lord and he chooses not to live off t Everyone has Secrets and Pru Barnard is no exception. Knighton Gaunt was once a member of the ton, but as a second son, he's no lord and he chooses not to live off the generosity of his older brother. But when he opens his own inquiry agency, he's no longer accepted as a guest in the finer homes.
And Pru just might have some psychic abilities after all. As Knight searches for the truth, Pru tries desperately to prove her innocence. The motivations are believable and the dialouge witty. Corwin also does a superb job weaving in the character's backsoty and romantic tension between Knighton and Pru that make me wish to read more about these two. I can't say I was surprised by the ending, but I was satisfied. Unlike some mystery writers, Ms.
Corwin did not try to "surprise" the reader by blaming the murder on some obscure character and then divulging the motive at the very end, making it impossible for the reader to guess correctly. The clues are sprinkled through out the story so the reader can "solve" the case along with Knighton and Pru. And I love being able to solve the mystery I'm looking forward to reading all the books featured in this series. Pru Bransford is suspected of murder by the inquiry agent hired to reveal her as a fraud.
Even when falsely accussed of murder; Pru Bransford keeps her head, remains calm, and eventually her innocence is proven. An interesting mystery from beginning to end.
The suspense grows gradually, and builds until the final chapters where the murder is finally revealed and apprehended. The only christian element of sorts, is that Knighton Gaunt believes in Even after the mystery is solved, the story continues. I love a good story where the ending is just as good as the beginning, and Amy Corwin delivers. A great novel for mystery buffs. As for the "christian fiction" genre;tThere seems to be an underlying note that inquiry agent Knighton Gaunt believes in God, but it is understated. Gaunt quotes in Chapter five that "there is only one truth.
When her father was alive they were invited to homes so he could investigate hauntings. Now that he's gone, she gets invited to try and speak to the dead. Instead of her scientific studies, she is considered entertainment for the bon ton. As a guest at Rosecrest, her entertainment suddenly puts her in the position of a prime suspect for murder. Knighton Gaunt is a second son who didn't feel called to the church, but he does like the truth. His older brother, a baron, is displeased to have his brother as an inquiry agent, stirring up the truth among the realm.
Too bad, it's what Knighton wants to do with his life. When called to find out if Miss Barnard is a fraud, he finds himself deep into a murder mystery. His client died in the same room as him. Not good on all fronts. There is a touch of romance in this book and it is a great murder mystery.
It seems every guest has a secret and a reason they might want to do away with Lord Crowley. It kept me guessing all the way through the book. Book two in this series is called A Rose Before Dying. Historical English country estate murder mystery. Knighton Gaunt has made his own life as he builds his investigation company 'Second Sons' in London so he thinks it is just another fraud case when he is asked by Lord Crowley to his country estate, Rosecrest. Lord Crowley wants to ruin his mother's friend, the young spiritualist, Miss Prudence Barnard.
We start out with a old time-y seance with all the suspects because there is soon a crazy quick murder, then lots of investigation, everyone h Historical English country estate murder mystery. We start out with a old time-y seance with all the suspects because there is soon a crazy quick murder, then lots of investigation, everyone has a twist and a reason for hating the victim. Gaunt has his work cut out for him as he wanders Rosecrest and tries to find the murder while clearing Prudence's reputation.
There is no sexy time scenes, but there is lots of bad things going on in and around Rosecrest, so this is not a book for the young and innocent. Fun twisty mystery to read. Hired to prove Miss Barnard as a fraud, Knighton Gaunt instead finds himself investigating the murder of the man who had hired him.
Prudence fights to prove her innocence as tension grows in the house. I've read several books by Amy Corwin before this one, and I am never disappointed. Her writing style is highly enjoyable, and her characters always jump out of the page. Knighton and Pru were no exception to this. I didn't want to put the book down until I knew how their story would unfold. I espe Hired to prove Miss Barnard as a fraud, Knighton Gaunt instead finds himself investigating the murder of the man who had hired him.
I especially like that their relationship is given time to develop, and though I was a little disappointed by the ending, it made sense. This is a must read for any fans of the Regency period and mystery. This mystery is set in England in roughly The format alternates between the two principal characters -Knighton Gaunt the second son of the subtitle on the cover and Prudence Barnard - narrating the story.
The potential romance between the two is the major sub-plot of the book. Corwin does a good job making this format work and the story flow seamlessly forward through the two points of view. The two principal characters are very well drawn, and hopefully there will be more stories wi This mystery is set in England in roughly The two principal characters are very well drawn, and hopefully there will be more stories with the two. The mystery is well done, with a large number of possible suspects and potential motives - so you are kept guessing until close to the end.
The book does drag a bit in the middle, but is overall a good read. This novel is set in Regency England. A private inquiry agent has been hired to expose a so called medium as a fraud. The medium, Prudence Barnard, is a young woman living by her wits with no money or family to support her. The agent, at first suspecting Prudence, discovers that there were any number of people with reason to kill the victim.
And, as is usual in Regency novels, there This novel is set in Regency England. And, as is usual in Regency novels, there is a certain attraction developing between the two main characters. So glad I stumbled upon this book while browsing online! I love historical mystery and romance and this book had just enough of everything.
I didn't know who the murderer was until the end and I really enjoyed the level at attraction between Pru and Knighton because it seemed easy and natural without being a distraction to the story. It nicely set up for a second novel and I am really looking forward to it.
The Second Sons Inquiry Agency Regency Mystery Series in Order - Amy Corwin - FictionDB
The only thing I would have liked would have been a prologue, I'm in New favorite author! The only thing I would have liked would have been a prologue, I'm interested to know what happened to all of the other characters and I don't want to name any specifics and possibly divulge spoilers! I've gotten so tired of authors trying to inject modern heroines into period pieces, as though it makes sense they could operate as we would, but under the constraints of the mores of the era. Amy Corwin seems able to find the way to make a woman independent and strong enough to stand out, yet still not seem out of place.
The flirtations always have a fun Thin Man quality to them, which also adds to the fun. The romance is the part we're left wondering about at the end, oddly enough, and because I've gotten so tired of authors trying to inject modern heroines into period pieces, as though it makes sense they could operate as we would, but under the constraints of the mores of the era. The romance is the part we're left wondering about at the end, oddly enough, and because you know where it's headed, I can't even complain much about the unfinished story because it's another nice departure from the playbook.
Romance is a cliff hanger. I do not understand why author's write a summary for their books. If the book requires a summary to be understood, fix the plot. This is a light mystery with a smidgen of romance. In the style of the period, life and the mystery's plot goes at a much slower pace than today.
It is well written though very wordy. If you hate a cliff hanger, well just let me state A plot to reader the next book by the au Slowly solved mystery. A plot to reader the next book by the author. It was okay as aristocratic mansion house murder mysteries go, but I kept getting the characters mixed up. Lord this, Lady that, Miss someone