GENTLEMAN IN QUESTION

Author: Melinda Hammond ISBN: 0709080859 7/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: ROBERT HALE, LTD.
Time Period: Georgian 1792

In the closing months of 1792, the terror of the French Revolution forces Camille, the young Comte du Viviere, to flee his homeland and seek refuge with his relatives in England. For Madeleine, the arrival of her handsome French cousin marks a change in her so-far uneventful existence and soon she finds herself caught up in a dangerous web of intrigue that also entangles Camille. But is he victim or villain? The author weaves a tale of romance, adventure and intrigue set during the final years of Georgian England.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

GENTLEMAN IN QUESTION is a sweet enough tale, with lively characters and a mystery to be solved.

Madeleine Sedgewick is twenty-two and unmarried, a fact that may concern her family and friends, but not herself. The story opens with Madeleine and her parents waiting to meet her cousin, Camille, who was forced to flee his homeland because of the French Revolution. On the way to the docks she becomes separated from her parents and is almost assaulted by drunken sailors. A handsome stranger rescues her and then quickly disappears as fast as he appeared. Clearly the reader can deduce he will be seen again.

Soon after her cousin gets settled in the Sedgewick home, the whole family is invited to the estate of Madeleine's godfather for the holidays. When they arrive at the Wyre estate, Madeleine is introduced to a Mr. Hauxwell, who infuriates her with his foppish ways and dandified mode of dress. Of course, there is more to Mr. Hauxwell than his outer appearance would have everyone believe. As Madeleine begins to sense the real man under the silk and lace, he upsets her yet again with tales that her beloved cousin may not, in fact, be her cousin at all.

As I said in my opening statement, this is a sweet enough story. However, the mystery really isn't much of a mystery when it is so easy to figure out from the beginning. Madeleine, Mr Hauxwell, and the other characters are likable enough, but they lack depth. Added with already knowing where the plot is headed, it's hard to stay interested all the way through. As far as romance goes, there really isn't much. Not even a kiss or two until the last page, and even that lacked description and heat.

So, although this story is not necessarily bad in any way, there is not enough going on to recommend it, unless you are looking for a quick read with likable characters and a so-so mystery.

Deana Monteleone