This is a murder mystery set in the beautiful landscape of Lake Como, Italy. And the scenery is probably my favourite thing about this book. The descriptions are tranquil and beautiful; at odds with the plot.

Penelope Jones has been committed to a mental institution in 1920. She is a wealthy socialite who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, at the time a very misunderstood illness. She is suffering from the delusion that someone is trying to kill her. Multiple attempts have been made on her life. Or have they?

Penelope’s husband, the womanising gambler Alexander Cavendish is murdered outside of the cabin he is renting near to the hospital. Who did it? Nobody likes the man. His father-in-law, Wellington Jones, and Wellington’s PA/PI, Mr Cain, are prime suspects. As are Penelope’s doctor and his wife, Joseph and Rose Barnett, who knew Cavendish from the war and had every reason to want him dead. And then, there’s the gangster and his henchman to whom Cavendish owes a lot of money.

I liked the mystery. There were times I was ripping through the pages. But, also, there were times it felt like the same thing was being said for the umpteenth time. For example, Penelope and her claims of people trying to kill her got a little boring at times. I wanted the story to move on. I liked the conclusion, and I still wasn’t sure who was the murderer until the end. Although, I did have a pretty good idea about what was going on.

It was a good, solid read, albeit, slightly repetitive at times.

Anyone who loves to read about the beautiful Italian countryside. Also anyone who likes historical fiction or cozy murder mysteries.

The landscape. The old hospital and its beautiful surroundings.

The amount of time spent showing Penelope's claims of people trying to kill her.

Visit Lake Como!

John Anthony Miller. From Amazon: "John Anthony Miller writes all things historical—thrillers, mysteries, and romance. He sets his novels in exotic locations spanning all eras of space and time, with complex characters facing inner conflicts—fighting demons both real and imagined. Each of his novels is unique: a Medieval epic, five historical mysteries, two Cold-War thrillers, two 1970’s cozy/romances, a Revolutionary War spy novel, five WWII thrillers, and Emma Keene’s Diary. He lives in southern New Jersey."

It's a quick, intriguing read.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Honour the Dead   from Amazon.Com!

Created Feb 18, 2025 at 4:18am • Submit your own review...