The Curse of Braeburn Castle by Karen Baugh Menuhin Series: Heathcliff Lennox #3
Published by the author on August 22, 2019
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 326
Format: eBook
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A centuries-old skeleton is discovered in a lonely Scottish Castle. It wears a crown and hides a curse. Lennox's detective friend, Swift, now lives at Braeburn Castle and it was he who uncovered the skeleton. As ghosts are heard and treasure-seekers appear, the murders begin. Lennox must go to Braeburn and investigate as Halloween draws near.
Heathcliff Lennox (please call him Lennox) was in WW 1 and his butler Greggs, with whom he has an entertaining and humorous relationship, was his batman. Now back home, Lennox is having a bit of an adjustment to civilian life. He prefers solitary activities like fishing or walking his dog, Mr. Fogg, in the countryside around his slowly declining estate. However, he has friends and family that can bring him out into the world beyond his gates. Lennox is likable and intelligent, tongue-tied around women, but loyal and honest. The Curse of Braeburn Castle is the third mystery I’ve read featuring him and may be the best so far.
This third one begins when Lennox’s newly-married friend, former detective Swift, asks him to come to Braeburn Castle to help with the discovery of a centuries-old skeleton. The discovery of the skeletons has brought a team of archaeologists to the castle, a group Swift doesn’t trust, and now the skull and it’s gold crown have disappeared. To top it off, all the locals think the castle is now under a curse. Of course, not long after Lennox shows up, the first murder occurs. And the castle is cut off from the mainland. And there’s a storm. And it’s almost Halloween. And one of the other guests is a medium.
It’s a fun mystery. It’s a bit spooky around the edges, with the possibly haunted castle and unsettled spirits, but the motives and solution are all quite earthly. I would not have guessed who the killer was and a couple of things they did were rather clever.
Lennox is charming, but the other characters are well-drawn too. Greggs is funny and just nosey enough. Swift is smart but can be a bit abrasive, especially here where the mystery threatens his wife and home. Lennox has a potential love interest, but the romance barely gets off the ground. Hopefully, she’ll be back in the next one. The stars, though, might be Fogg and Tubbs, Lennox’s dog and kitten, who steal every scene they’re in.
About Karen Baugh Menuhin
At 60, Karen Baugh Menuhin decided to write, and suddenly the stories came pouring out, along with the characters. Eccentric Uncles, stalwart butlers, idiosyncratic servants, machinating Countesses, and the hapless Major Heathcliff Lennox.
An itinerate traveller all her life, she grew up in the military, often on RAF bases but preferring to be in the countryside when they could.
She is living and writing in the Cotswolds with her dear husband Krov. Krov is a professional writer, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, professional diver, pilot, ex US special forces soldier, and the eldest son of violinist, Yehudi Menuhin.