Mad for Orchids

THE BLACK ORCHID (Lady Jane #2)
Annis Bell
Amazon Crossing
October 25, 2016


It is 1860 London and the newly married Lady Jane has just received a letter from her best friend, Alison. Alison is visiting her cousin Charlotte at her home in northern England. Alison is stranded because of her own advancing pregnancy, but she is very worried about her cousin. Charlotte seems to be suffering from some sort of wasting illness and her husband, Lord Frederick, is not only unconcerned but unsympathetic. Lord Frederick seems to be caught in his own obsession, the growing and importing of rare orchids. Alison wants Lady Jane to come and investigate. Lady Jane's new husband, Captain David Westcott, is against the journey, fearing the winter weather in the north. Having been in Northumberland in the winter, I can certainly understand his concerns. Lady Jane, however, has other ideas and goes anyway. Upon her arrival, she discovers a missing servant, a housekeeper who is still loyal to her former mistress, a seemingly mentally disturbed young son, a secretive governess  and a husband who is verbally abusive. The mystery only deepens as Charlotte sinks into hysteria and manic behavior.

The Black Orchid is an entertaining historical mystery that blends social commentary and a look at the beginnings of the orchid obsession in England and Europe. I particularly enjoyed the letters from South America written by his orchid hunter. Orchid obsession is nothing new and continues with some gardeners even today, I was somewhat troubled by anachronisms in the novel but it was meant more as entertainment rather than education. Her descriptions of Captain Westcott's investigations in the infamous slums of London are vivid and true to the history of the city and the poverty of the people in them. Lady Jane, David, and the supporting characters are appealing. I wish that I had read the first book in the series, The Girl at Rosewood Hall, before The Black Orchid as there are spoilers. I intend to remedy that as soon as possible. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.

RATING- 3.5 rounded up to 4 Stars