England Expects

Mirabelle Bevan Mystery #3

by Sara Sheridan

Set during the heatwave of 1953, England Expects finds Mirabelle and Vesta investivating the seemingly unrelated murders of a racing journalist and a cleaning woman. Their searches lead them through Brighton Pavilion's crumbling passageways, to the quad of a Cambridge college and finally into the shady underworld of Brighton freemasonry. And, while not on the murder trail, Vesta has to make some difficult decisions about her personal life.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Crime, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Born in Edinburgh. I'm a complete swot - love books always have! Currently obsessed with late Georgian/ early Victorian culture, the subject of several of my novels, and with 1950s Britain for my Mirabelle Bevan murder mystery series set across the UK - and even one in Paris. Occasionally write tie-in books for historical dramas on TV, children's picture books and short stories, mostly for charitable causes.

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book because I considered it had plenty of promise being set in Brighton in Coronation year, 1953. And for the first part of it I was not disappointed, it seemed to heading in the right direction. But sadly it drifted off into nothingness and meaningless twaddle between some of the characters. As for the plot, freemasons and all, where the heck was it going?

At the beginning one doesn't mind the main character, Mirabelle Bevan, but as the story progresses she becomes more and more predictable and less and less likeable. And the Brighton ambience, at first adding flavour to the story, evaporates and we are left with a hum-drum tale that leaves the question of 'What is the plot about anyway?' very much up in the air. And then when it is partly revealed the question arises, 'Where did that come from?'

It may be me who couldn't get my head around it all but the more I continued, the more confused and disinterested I became, so much so that I gave the whole thing up 50 pages from the end without knowing the outcome and, what's more, not caring what it was.

I don't think I will be acquainting myself with Mirabelle any more.

[Linda Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

England Expects begins with the apparently professional murder of newspaper sportswriter Joey Gillingham in Brighton. The reading of a newspaper article about the killing piques Mirabelle's interest and a conversation with Bill, her employee and former policeman, Bill Turpin, indicates a possible connection to the local lodge of Freemasons. Since Mirabelle is always looking for a puzzle to solve, she visits the lodge and is on the scene of yet another murder. By the time the case is resolved, Mirabelle and her friends are in more danger than she could ever have imagined.

I have been a fan of Mirabelle Bevan since the first in the series, Brighton Belle. The 1950's setting is fascinating in itself. Mirabelle is beautiful, fashionable, insightful, and absolutely focused on any case she becomes interested in. However, the Brighton Police, except for Inspector McGregor, does not like her meddling. Inspector McGregor has a personal interest in Mirabelle and knows that her background as a former Special Operations Agent in World WarII gives her excellent investigatory skills. Mirabelle has been sunk in grief after the sudden death of her lover, Jack, several years before, but with the help of her co-workers Bill and Vesta Chamberlain, is finally digging herself out. Vesta Chamberlain is a young black woman whose life gives insight into being a person of color in England at the time. The Freemasonry angle is historically correct because there was a scandal involving the Masons and the Brighton Police in the 1950's; just not as grave as this case. I am happy that Mirabelle seems to unthaw a bit in her personal life and is showing signs of becoming more engaged in life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING-3.5 Stars rounded up to 4

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous installment in the Mirabelle Bevan series. I like that Mirabelle and Superintendent McGregor are getting closer romantically. Vesta her partner in work is there of course, right in the thick of it. I enjoy coming back to these familiar characters and the historical setting of Brighton just after the war.

[Susan Beecher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the characters not particularly interesting and the situations that they got themselves into as not very believable.

[Denise Mullins · Rating 2 out of 5]

They always say "Don't judge a book by its cover", but the title, campy stylized photo, and dust jacket blurb made me believe this would be a clever cosy championing a fun heroine operating outside her normal scope of expertise. And while I didn't expect a deeply intriguing crime, I would have settled for a fun romp of high jinx and plot twists.
Set in 1953 England, this tale features Mirabelle Bevan, a female sleuth who is not only hard-drinking, Vogue fashionable (oh, those aviator sunglasses!), supernaturally intuitive, but also a virtual martial arts expert. With these credentials, it's no wonder that she's the gal everyone wants to emulate, adore, or marry.
Unfortunately, this doesn't make much sense as one reads, only to learn that she fails to integrate herself realistically into a world of lesser mortals( and they're all lesser), lacks the ability to cooperate with others, and is merely handed solutions to all dilemmas by an author who leaves reason by the wayside. The final confrontation involving a shoot out with one character contained dialogue that was so ludicrous, I winced( admittedly, I would never expect a potential assassin to compliment my perfume as he held a knife to my jugular nor would I wonder if my assistant would marry her fiancé at such a dramatic moment).
Although there was a fleeting mention of delving into the substantive topic of women achieving personal fulfillment in this historic period, it was never adequately explored. Characters were one-dimensional stereotypes, and the inept buildup of the entire police constabulary being under the control of Free Masons has been overused in literature in the last few years "ad nauseum". In essence, this was a book that left me expecting more than it delivered.

[EP · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the third installment of the Mirabelle Bevans mysteries, and each one finds me a little more disappointed than the prior one. In my opinion, the author is just too in love with her own character. Mirabelle is Wonder Woman - she has the looks and wardrobe of a supermodel, the brains of a master detective, and the physical ability of a ninja (no one can scale walls in heels and skirts as nimbly as she can). Mirabelle is super perfect, she is thin and beautiful (b/c she doesn't eat and she ridicules Vesta for needing to eat at some point in the book), and the detective superintendent is in love with her b/c everyone is. Tellingly, one of the book club questions at the end of the book is "Do you think MacGregor is worthy of Mirabelle?" which I found a little ridiculous and completely in line with the rest of the idolization of her character. Why shouldn't it be "Do you think Mirabelle is worthy of MacGregor?" She says she never judges though she does judge Vesta throughout the book for her life choices (oh, the moralizing inner thoughts, oof). She says she wasn't a homewrecker, though she was having an affair with a married man. And finally - and I may be a terrible person for saying this - enough of Jack already. He's long dead and that's enough moping over a man that we've never met and frankly may not have liked that much anyway seeing as how he was cheating on his wife and building a little love nest with Little Miss Perfect.

2 stars b/c the book wasn't terrible, the mystery wasn't bad, and because Charlie is awesome.

I received an ARC from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't really enjoy this one. It started out OK. Mirabelle investigates something that wasn't really any of her business. The plot wasn't very interesting either. I think it could have been more interesting. This book is not one of the best in this series.

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly more far-fetched than the previous stories but still very enjoyable with an engaging bunch of characters.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

England Expects is the third Mirabelle Bevan mystery by Sara Sheridan. Published 27th March 2018 (originally pub. 2014) by Kensington, it's 256 pages and available in ebook format (earlier editions are available in hardcover and paperback formats).

This is a nice period mystery set in 1950s Brighton. The plot is fairly straightforward with a satisfying pace and a number of twisty surprises. The ensemble cast is varied and deftly written. Even though the female lead (Mirabelle) outshines everyone around her, I really like that her associates have and follow their own motivations and the end result is a team effort. There were a few over-the-top scenes, but it's a 1950s mystery/thriller.

It's a clean book, there's no explicit language or sexual content. There is scattered (contextual) racism and several murders (including one throat slashing which was pretty brutal, but not graphic). The book has a sort of noir-light feel in my opinion. It's traditional, but definitely not a cozy.

I did get the sense that the author is very invested in Mirabelle and yes, at times she's a stylish ninja supergirl model secret agent. And yes, the evil illuminati masons conspiracy is a trifle overused, but honestly the plotting and characterization are so perfect and so spot on that I really didn't mind. This is an eminently readable and enjoyable book. The characters (even Ms. Superwoman Mirabelle herself) are well written and (mostly) believable and in character throughout.

I wouldn't recommend this as a standalone, there's a lot of past history which would be lost with a solo read.

All around enjoyable series and this installment lives up to the quality of the previous books. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series (there are 6 books and a handful of shorter works at this point).

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara Sheridan has, in Mirabelle Bevan, created a character that will stay with the reader long after the last page of “England Expects.” In this, her third adventure (hopefully you’ll have read the first two; it isn’t absolutely necessary, but it’s always good to get a thorough grounding in the dramatis personae), she is asked to look into the murder of a sportswriter by the man’s sister. Shortly thereafter, based on some interesting information (which becomes the theme of the story), she finds herself at a Brighton location when the building’s cleaner dies suddenly -- and Mirabelle can tell she’s been poisoned. There’s got to be a connection, she thinks, between these two deaths -- and she and Vesta Churchill, her debt collection coworker and sidekick, are off and running.

What everyone realizes from the get go is that the first murder isn’t quite as simple as the police would like you to believe -- and things evolve from there (notes at the back of the book explains the author’s research). Since this is a historical mystery, I appreciated the sense of time and place that’s evident, especially the information about the Royal Pavilion, which becomes a part of the setting.

What is paramount here is Ms. Sheridan’s ability to carry the story along while crafting intricate plotting and situations. Vesta and Charlie, Vesta’s boyfriend and would-be fiancé, and Bill, the ex-policeman at the firm, make contributions that keep the plot rolling. Superintendent McGregor is here, too. There’s much from him about his feelings towards Mirabelle, who remains as enigmatic a character as ever. I’m hoping that more will be revealed in future books. This is one of those stories that keeps you riveted to the pages, and I found myself reading it in one session. I think you might, too.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ebook copy I received, in exchange for an honest review.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been a very long time since I last read a book this boring. I picked it up from a sale because the cover looked interesting and the blurb sounded like my sort of thing - a woman sleuth investigating murders. The problem was not the plot (which was predictable) or the structure (we find that the culprits are masons in the blurb, and on p. 28 of the novel), but the writing. I have rarely seen such a clear instance of 'Tell, don't show'. There are paragraphs upon paragraphs of unnecessary, boring descriptions of character actions, character motivations and character thoughts. There are conversations between characters that are completely flat and do nothing to advance character development or to advance the plot. There is a variety of characters that feel two-dimensional - they have no goals, no true, human motivations, no interests (except Vesta who likes biscuits and Mirabelle who likes good whisky).
Chekhov's gun comes to mind in one instance: there is a scene of several pages of two men speaking to each other, giving the feeling that they will say something important to the murders, or they will discover something that will be key. Instead, they meet a tertiary character who has zero input to the case, and the whole scene adds absolutely nothing to the story.
One thing they've done right is the proofreading - the book does not have a single spelling mistake or misplaced word. Unfortunately, a correctly written text does not a novel make.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a Kindle version of this title from the publisher in advance so that I could write a voluntary review.

I really liked both of the main characters Vesta and Mirabelle and really enjoyed the chemistry they had between each other as far as being co-workers, friends, and mystery agents as they solve the murders that are happening in their town of Brighton, England. The story intertwines their work at a local debt collection office after the Second World War. Most items that were considered luxury merchandise were found on the black market, such as nylons, some medicines, and alcohol after the war so Mirabelle found herself making new contacts and finding more to the story after a local cleaning lady was found dead in a local Freemasons Lodge. I didn’t realize until I start reading further into this book that it was the 3rd in a series, so one great thing about the book is that you do not have to read the first 2 in the series in order to follow the plot of this one. So that was really nice!

The majority of the book that I really enjoyed was how the author, Sara Sheridan included a lot of historical information along with fictional characterizations and story-telling, to create a fun and quick read. There were definitely details throughout the story that kept me wondering what was going to happen next.

[Reggie Billingsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have given this 3.5 if allowed...indicating that I am interested in checking out the other titles.

In England Expects, Sheridan owns her worthy research, the tone is right, her style invisibly entertaining, the characters neatly drawn and believable. While I felt it stall in the middle a tad, overall Sheridan's plot intrigues as it reveals the self-important oddities of those secret boys clubs that appeal to so many, irritate those who question their actual beneficial purpose and/or morality and then just bore the pants off the rest of us...like any of us care about your pointless secrets.

Just personally, not sure how believably the debt collection agency employment launches Ms Bevan's post-war career. Seems unnecessarily restrictive. A straight forward investigation agency was perhaps too banal, but it strikes me that the debt collection premise might unnecessarily complicate future plot stimuli. Even so, at title number 6, it would seem Sheridan is coping nicely.

And finally, this is just me...as an ex-pat Canadian: the name "Mirabelle" repeatedly has me thinking "airport". (Some of you will get that.) It causes a slight read-stutter: like naming the hero Adolf.

Gives one pause .... and then with a mental shake one continues reading.

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Mirabelle and Vesta, but this one fell a little short of the previous ones for me, purely because I didn't enjoy the plot. There story concerns a series of murders linked to the Masonic Lodge (which put me off, I must confess from the beginning, it's an organisation that gets my hackles up).

As ever, there were lots of twists and turns, and I do enjoy the intricate plotting, but this one felt rather stretched. The sub-plot which I won't go into for fear of spoiling it, involved the Brighton Pavillion, and this was one of the big highlights for me - not the sub-plot but the descriptions of the Pavillion crumbling and neglected before preservation work started. Oh, how I wished I could have seen it like that, pried into all the corners, opened the cupboards, found all the secret stairways. Sara Sheridan does ambiance brilliantly. I wish the book had revolved around this setting.

Mirabelle and Vesta as characters are developing nicely, and I was relieved to see Mirabelle making an effort to move on, at last. The writing is excellent, and if only the plot had been less masonic, and a little less complex I think I'd have liked this a lot more. That said, it kept me reading, and of course I'll be going back for more very soon.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy historical and period mysteries and this , new to me, series looked like one I would enjoy. The setting of Brighton got my attention, too. Mirabelle's backstory intrigued me as well. To say that she is larger than life seems fair - smart, talented, beautiful, able to take care of herself just fine, thank you and never one to pass up a puzzle. Add to that she is nursing a broken heart. Her WW!! experience makes her a good investigator but the police are not fans. With the help of her co-worker, Vesta, they put the pieces together in a satisfying mystery. I liked this entry well enough to go back and find the previous books so I can fill in her backstory.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman PI, Mirabelle, in post-war England, her husband dead, her mentor dead, but still keeps the office working w/ two other PIs.

A young journalist's throat it slit, his notebook gone & Police remove the body before the inspector could work with it.

Next the cleaning woman for the Masonic Lodge & Royal Pavilion is poisoned while working at the Lodge.

The young restorer of the Royal Pavilion has a secret cache of letters regarding the Scottish Brotherhood, of which her father is one....

Blackmail, murder, kidnapping, & masonic secrets all come undone in this post-war mystery!

I liked the basic story, the characters were action driven, & the narratives were too long at times (- 1/2 *).

I might or might not read another as I never warmed up to the characters.

[Chris Gifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a post WW2 mystery series. Two women take over the running of collection agency and solve mysteries on the side. Mirabelle Bevan worked for the owner before he died, she was also a spy for England during the war. She has skills and great mind for solving puzzles. Vesta, a young black woman worked at the insurance agency next door. Even then there was prejudice with black people. So she goes to work with Mirabelle and assist in the solving of murders. there is a new detective with the local police who things Mirabelle is prettiest, most risk taking, aggravating woman in Brighton. He just can't help himself with Mirabelle, he wants her safe and does not know about her wartime activities. Between the three of them and there friends, they manage to solve crimes.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brighton’s favorite secret agent turned debt collector turned amateur sleuth is back with another intriguing case! In this third Mirabelle Bevan book, the dignified heroine continues to recover from the loss of her paramour – much the same way England continues its own postwar recovery. Clever dialog and familiar characters carry on the lighter ‘dignified cozy’ tone of the series, and Mirabelle and Vesta make a solid team. In this particular case, the number of bodies piles up – as do the suspects – and sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of them all. A few scenes do require some suspension of disbelief, and it’s a shame that Vesta’s character is not yet more developed.

[Paul Allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another murder solved in this 1950s thriller - enjoyable stuff.

Mirabelle and her associate, Vesta, gets themselves embroiled in investigating the murder of a journalist and this becomes quite involved and complicated as Freemasonry and gambling all feature. They get themselves into all sorts of potentially lethal bother. It's a relatively easy and engaging read although I think that I preferred the earlier stories. Also there was a little too much street directions around Brighton for my liking. However an engaging mystery story.

[Verity W · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read the first and second Mirabelle mysteries so it took me a while to get back into her world. But once I did this was a fascinating trip through the machinations of Masons in 1950s Brighton. Having been to the (restored) Pavillion it was nice to see that featuring in its then dilapidated state. I like the characters and I like the series and having finished this I feel like I need to go and look out for the next one.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit up front to being a Mirabelle fan- she's certainly unique in the panoply of amateur women detectives, not only because this is set in 1950s Brighton but also because of her background as an SOE. AND, her sidekick, Vera, is black. These two characters, along with McGregor make this worth reading. The arcane world of Masonry is not the most engaging subject matter but it made for an educational read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Learn something new every day!

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mirabelle and Vesta insert themselves into the murder investigation of a journalist and a cleaning woman who works for the Masons. As usual, they continually get themselves in trouble and give the leading inspector, who cares for Mirabelle, constant grief. Although I enjoyed the book, many situations were unbelievable and I wondered how credulous the author believed her readers were.

[Rachel Glass · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The mystery rattles along at a good pace but I'm getting to actively dislike Mirabelle, who thinks she is too good for Inspector Macgregor, never eats if she can help it, and never makes any mistakes. I like Vesta a lot more but she's kept out of a lot of the action; it would have been nice to see her do some useful things as in previous books.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to stay focused on this, but that may be due to external factors rather than this story itself. It was set in Brighton and also in the Grand Palace, and so I really wanted to read it before my trip there! Interestingly, in this book, *3* murders happened at The Grand (the hotel where I’m staying!!!)

[EmmyT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Stunning Mirabelle Mystery

Once again, another edge of the seat thriller that is also a cozy!

Mirabelle is smart, not flawless, and not stupid. Her friendship with Vesta, and Vesta's grace in the face of ignorance and cruelty is a lesson not to be missed.

[Nancy Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #3 in the series. I've been enjoying this series since the first book. I enjoy all the characters and the time period in which the stories are set. I did a binge reading of books 2 and 3. Now I'll have to wait until the author publishes book #4. I wonder what will happen next?!

[Craig Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A peek at 1950s Brighton, and the links between secret societies and our ordered world. Mystery, action, thrills, this book has it all. Well written, often unexpected, and an outcome that each turn wonders if it will ever resolve.. and does it?

[Andrea Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s another action-filled yarn from Sara Sheridan … It’s 1953, and Mirabelle and her partner Vesta are involved in the murder of a newspaper man … it all begins innocently enough with a visit to a boxing match at the Crown and Anchor in Brighton … grand fun …

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mirabelle takes on the Masons. Another ripping yarn.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. Enjoyable third book in the series, but a somewhat outlandish finish.