Jane Jakeman Fool’s Gold

Fool's Gold

Jane Jakeman

Berkley, Feb 2006, $13.00, 256 pp.

ISBN: 0425207773

In 1833, for the first time in his life, Lord Ambrose finds a passionate desire to be with Elisabeth Anstruther, the governess to Edmund Crawshay, whose parents were recently murdered. Ambrose arranged for the child to be educated while proposing marriage to the lovely Elisabeth. To his dismay she refuses to wed him, and instead accepts a post as a companion to Lady Jesmond, about thirty miles from Ambrose's home, Malfine.

Elisabeth and Ambrose exchange letters in which she tells him that her companion wants to learn French, and that Sir Antony of Jesmond Place is an invalid, cared for by young Dr. John Kelsoe. However, the last correspondence states that Dr. Kelsoe was found dead in his bed. Local Dr. Langbridge found a vial of prussic acid near the corpse, so declared suicide by poisoning, but Elisabeth has doubts as he was in good spirits. Ambrose arrives more to insure the safety of his beloved, though he knows part of accomplishing this includes investigating whether a homicide occurred.

As with LET THERE BE BLOOD and THE EGYPTIAN COFFIN, the latest Ambrose historical mystery is a delightful tale that brings to life 1830's England's West Country inside a strong investigative tale. Ambrose is terrific as he is in love, but the woman of his dreams, though she likes him and perhaps loves him, believes she must move on in her life. The inquiry into whether a murder or a suicide occurred is deftly handled so that the audience keeps wondering, and wanting to know more as Jane Jakeman provides a wonderful entry in one of the best early nineteenth century mystery series.