The Butterfly Conspiracy
Author: Vivian Conroy
Series: Merriweather and Royston Mystery
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (August 7, 2018)
Description: In late Victorian times, when new inventions cause both excitement
and terror, a mysterious death at a zoological lecture brings together
two unlikely allies in a quest through London's upper crust and
underbelly to unravel the ingenious murder method and killer behind it.
Miss
Merula Merriweather is not like other women her age: instead of hunting
for a husband at balls and soirees she spends her time in a
conservatory hatching exotic creatures. As the Royal Zoological Society
won't accept a woman's accomplishments, she has her uncle Rupert take
credit for her achievements. But at a zoological lecture, the guest of
honor dies after contact with one of Merula's butterflies, and Merula's
uncle is arrested for murder.
In an attempt to safeguard
evidence to prove his innocence, Merula almost gets killed but for the
timely interference of enigmatic Lord Raven Royston. Viewing natural
history as a last resort to regain respectability lost by too many
dubious business investments, Raven didn't expect his first lecture to
take a murderous turn. Feeling partially responsible because he
encouraged Merula to release the gigantic butterfly from the glass case
in which it was kept, Raven suggests they solve the puzzle of Lady
Sophia's sudden death together by looking closer at her relations with
estranged friends, long suffering staff and the man groomed to be her
heir, so close to her money and yet unable to touch any of it.
With
the police looking for them, and every new discovery raising more
questions than answers, especially about the murder method which left no
traces of foul play on the body, Merula will have to risk her own life
to get at the truth and save her uncle from the gallows in
The Butterfly Conspiracy, Vivian Conroy’s enchanting series debut.
My Thoughts: Merula Merriweather finds herself deep in a murder investigation when an evening at a Royal Zoological Society meeting includes a dead body. Worst of all, Lady Sophia dies after a butterfly Merula has hatched lands on her arm. The first diagnosis is that the butterfly poisoned her somehow. Merula's Uncle Rupert is arrested for the crime since, of course, the butterfly research had to have been his since women don't do that kind of thing. Also, he had recently had a loud argument with Lady Sophia whose nephew had been courting his daughter Julia.
Merula and a new acquaintance - Lord Raven Royston - manage to escape before Merula's connection to the butterfly can be exposed. The two of them have to find out who killed Lady Sophia while keeping out of the hands of the police. Luckily, Raven has a useful and eclectic variety of friends who will be assisting them with their detecting. Galileo is a science nerd who volunteers to test a second butterfly to assure that the butterflies are harmless and couldn't have killed Lady Sophia. Bowsprit is Raven't valet and a very good detective himself with a wide variety of contacts.
Among the suspects are Mr. Simon Foxwell, Julia's suitor and Lady Sophia's sole heir and Lord Havilock, the evenings host who wants some of his specimens back from Lady Sophia. Their investigation adds more suspects including Miss Knight who was Lady Sophia's companion but was in danger of being let go because Foxwell seemed to be trying to isolate Lady Sophia and make her dependent on him. Also, a young woman who is now a milliner but whose mother was formerly Lady Sophia's cook until being let go for accidentally adding an almond to a recipe which almost caused Lady Sophia to choke.
The mystery was entertaining. I liked Merula's determination to take care of the uncle who took her in and raised her when she was more-or-less left on their doorstep. I liked Raven who had a difficult past of his own. I liked the way the two of them and their contacts managed to figure out who really killed Lady Sophia and why. The setting of London in the 1890s was well done. I am eager to join Merula and Raven on their next adventure in Dartmoor.
Favorite Quote:
He looked at her, pale and tired. "Believe me, Merula, there is nothing worse than having to suppose a thousand things and not knowing one of them for sure."
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
You can buy your copy here.
