Okay, so you know how there are some books that you keep thinking that you should read but never do because the timing is wrong or whatever? Sometimes I end up not reading books because of SPITE, and I'm very glad in this case that I was finally able to let go of it.
This is a prequel to Think of England, one of my very favorite historical queer romances, and for years we had been hoping for a sequel about the main pairing in that book, and instead we got a prequel about a different (but also delightful) side pairing in that same book. And basically, it took reading all of the Will Darling trilogy which gives us some glimpses of the future for the ToE pairing for me to let that go and be able to enjoy reading about Pat and Fen's origin story. I can say both that I am delighted I was finally at a point where I could read this for them, because it is a romp and a half, and glad that I didn't force myself to read it when I was still feeling bitter, because I think I would have ended up ruining it for myself.
This is another mystery at an English country house at the turn of the twentieth century, and this time our focus is on Pat, who is for the first time trying to figure out what to do with her life now that her eldest brother has married and she's no longer needed to manage the family estate. While there she encounters Fen, the superficially silly fiancee of one of her oldest friends who is hosting the shooting party, a match she finds extremely puzzling. She teaches Fen how to shoot, and the two of them become closer as they all deal with the brother-in-law of their host, who is terrible in basically every possible way.
Pat's voice is wonderful, and the relationship that develops between her and Fen is truly delightful. The sex could have been hotter, if I am honest, but overall I had a great time reading this.
Grade: B
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