Stranger at the Manor by Mary Kingswood
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Family trees: Hi-res version available here.
Maps: Hi-res versions available here.
A note on historical accuracy: I have endeavoured to stay true to the spirit of Regency times, and have avoided taking too many liberties or imposing modern sensibilities on my characters. The book is not one of historical record, but I’ve tried to make it reasonably accurate. However, I’m not perfect! If you spot a historical error, I’d very much appreciate knowing about it so that I can correct it and learn from it. Thank you!
The great houses: Most of the houses I describe in the books are creations of my imagination, or ‘generic’ styles of a particular era, but sometimes I base them on real houses. In this series, Maeswood Hall, home of the Saxby family, is based on Stourhead House in Wiltshire, designed by Colen Campbell. Lower Maeswood Grove, where the Gage family lives, is loosely based on the Queen’s House, Greenwich, designed by Inigo Jones. The Squire’s home, Cloverstone Manor, is based on Hatfield House, another Inigo Jones project.
Isn’t that what’s-his-name? Regular readers will know that characters from previous books occasionally pop up. Lawyer Mr Willerton-Forbes, his flamboyant sidekick Captain Edgerton and the discreet Mr Neate have been helping my characters solve murders and other puzzles ever since Lord Augustus. Michael Chandry, first seen helping after the shipwreck in The Clerk and more recently in The Duke, is now a crime-solving partner to Captain Edgerton and his pals. Mr Smith, also known as Erasmus Kent, made his first appearance in Dulcie, and a rather more significant one in Hope, in which readers discovered his real name.
About the Strangers series: There’s a famous saying attributed to John Gardner that authors like to quote: that there are only two plots - a stranger arrives in town, or a person goes on a journey. Most of my books have been based on the latter, in its loosest sense (sometimes a journey of discovery, rather than a literal journey, but a major change, of death or misfortune or even good fortune which propels the main character in a new direction). So I wondered what the other side of the coin would look like - a stranger arriving in town. And there was my series title - Strangers.
Book 0: Stranger at the Parsonage: a new parson arrives at the village of Great Maeswood, and tragedy strikes the baron’s family. (a novella, free to mailing list subscribers).
Book 1: Stranger at the Dower House: a widow moves into the long disused Dower House and makes a horrible discovery in the wine cellar.
Book 2: Stranger at the Grove: an estranged brother is forced to return to his home and face up to his past.
Book 3: Stranger at the Villa: a new physician arrives in the village, but is he all he seems?
Book 4: Stranger at the Manor: a destitute man comes looking for help from his cousin, and uncovers some mysteries.
Book 5: Stranger at the Cottage: an out-of-work governess tries to start a school in the village.
Book 6: Stranger at the Hall: the newly discovered heir to the barony arrives to claim his inheritance.
Any questions about the series? Email me - I’d love to hear from you!
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