A Place For Repentance

Verity Underwood is concerned that her husband is not recovering well from his recent poisoning ordeal so she enlists the help of his brother, Gil, in finding them somewhere peaceful for him to recuperate. The holiday, however, proves to be less relaxing than planned, for Dacorum-in-the-Marsh is not far from West Wimpleford, where Underwood had a brush with death at the hands of a highwayman.

Underwood and Verity also renew acquaintance with some people from their recent past: Will Jebson, the apothecary and his ambitious wife Martha, Rutherford Petch and his sister Cressida. They also rescue an abandoned and penniless French emigre, Violette.

Back in Hanbury, arrangements are underway to celebrate the birthday of their friend Major Thornycroft and many of his old comrades descend on the town, intent on carousing. When ill feeling between two of the ex-soldiers leads to a fatal duel, something tells Underwood that all is not what it seems. Then another of the men dies in similar circumstances and Underwood is proved right. Panic ensues.

Are all Waterloo veterans under a death sentence? Suddenly there is an outpouring of xenophobia towards Violette - for who else could hate those who fought at Waterloo more than a native of France?

Can Underwood find the killer before any more military blood is shed?


Genre: Historical Mystery