The Crown for Castlewood Manor: My American Almost-Royal Cousin Series
by Veronica Cline Barton
Reviewed by S. S. Bazinet

Description: The English ancestral manor of Cherrywood Hall is ready to compete for selection in an upcoming British TV period drama series: the grounds are manicured, the mansion is polished, and the servants are poised. American heiress Gemma Lancaster Phillips has crossed the pond to help her cousin defeat the three other stately homes vying for the prize.

What Gemma doesn’t realize is that this competition is life or death, and someone is taking that challenge literally. The occupants of one home are killed in an automobile accident, and murder becomes a frequent occurrence at the other locations. Who is behind the mayhem? Selection would be a major coup for both the estate and the community. At first the other contestants seem to be likely suspects, but no one is quite certain as the tragedies continue. Could it even be Emma’s beloved cousin Evan, the surviving heir to the Lancaster fortune, or Kyle, his best friend and estate manager? With the Royal family in attendance at each event, the puzzle becomes a crucial one for Scotland Yard, and they enlist Gemma’s help to solve the mystery.

When the competition’s winner is announced on New Year’s Eve, will Gemma’s future be forever tied to her ancestral past?

Review: A five star whodunit with lots of charm and sophistication thrown in!

In this sleek mystery by Ms. Barton, we’re soon swept away from the relaxed, pretty beaches of Malibu. We’re introduced to a wholly different environment when we cross the pond and find ourselves in an elegant estate in England. Unlike many of the money poor estates of the UK, Castlewood Manor is thriving. It’s so lavishly restored and breathtaking that it’s being considered for a grand television series.

A beautiful and bright American, Dr. Gemma Lancaster Phillips, is invited to England to help her cousin, Evan, win the competition. Gemma is well suited for the job since she just wrote her doctorate dissertation on some of her family’s history. She’s also been recently betrayed by her boyfriend. After careful consideration of how to proceed with her life, Gemma decides to accept her cousin’s offer. Thus begins a rich, satisfying and often dangerous adventure not only for Gemma, but for the reader too!

We’re given a beautifully written description of the many grand aspects of upper class living. We’re introduced to a majestic main building with spectacular grounds, including magnificent views of the sea, and richly appointed rooms. There are also wonderful accounts of other aspects of this type of lifestyle. Exquisite gowns and jewels, extravagant feasts, and horseback riding on splendid steeds. However, our strong, protagonist, Gemma, quickly discovers that all is not nice and proper when dealing with some of the landed gentry. The violent side of Castlewood’s fierce competitors becomes very clear when people start dying.

“The Crown for Castlewood Manor” has all the elements needed to make this an engaging read, one that includes a page-turner mystery and a lovely romance. Its well-written characters, including some who seem to be lurking on the other side of the veil, will keep you guessing. Who can be trusted and who’s out for blood? There are surprises right up to the end! A five star whodunit with lots of charm and sophistication thrown in!

Veronica Cline Barton’s website: myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com
Twitter: twitter.com/VClinebarton