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1800s: Bella Wallis is a glamorous widow with a secret identity: in an office buried deep within the dodgy backstreets of Victorian London, she writes sensationalist novels exposing the scoundrels that litter high society
Bella Wallis: A Victorian Mystery Quartet
What you need to know before your trail
Bella Wallis is a respectable widow with a very secret and intriguing identity: In the seedy backstreets of Victorian London, she writes sensationalist novels exposing the scoundrels that litter high society under the pen-name Henry Ellis Margam. She is a woman of mystery – just like
‘the sprawling fig’ outside her drawing room window that ‘suggested secret gardens beyond. But in truth the foliage hid a blank wall.’
There are many interesting characters in Bella’s world – Captain Quigley a seedy man who provides her with information, her French friend Marie Claude D’Anville but there are many more and the mishaps and situations she gets herself into – prove to be quite an interesting mix!
Locations
Reset- England - London
- A: The Strand
- B: Bella's home
- England - Cornwall
- C: St Ives
- D: Lizard Point
- England - Yorkshire
- E: Wakefield
- F: Castle Howard
Travel Guide
The Widow’s secret – London
In this first case, a cigar case is hidden near the body of a murdered prostitute – its owner is a rich and dangerous man who is not afraid to step on those who cross him. But Bella wants to avenge the murdered girl and so soon crosses the path of this troubled character…
Now this first tale is rather muddled and I found it quite hard to get through. However the premise was so interesting that I wanted too follow through and I finished it then read the next one which I am so pleased I did –
The Sailor’s ransom – Cornwall
The second story in the series is set in 19th Century London and Cornwall. Philip Westland comes to her now with a problem: his best friend Kennett is smitten by Miss Mary Skillane, an heiress whose father has promised her to Robert Judd, a vulgar treasure seeker. Mary is due to inherit some pearls, currently residing in a Cornish bank, but it seems the pearls may have been acquired by ill gotten means.
The subject of smuggling and shipwrecks is evoked on every page.
The players curse – Yorkshire
More questions posed. Some answered others less so. Bella’s fiance of sorts – Westland has a rather shadowy job. He works for the government and is often abroad on a ‘mission’. Is he a spy? He certainly has many secrets since his sister has been locked up in a French nunnery and he refused to talk about it – even to Bella.
Bella naturally wants to find out about this as much as she can and so she travels to Yorkshire this time.
Booktrailer Review
Susan:
The Bella Wallis mysteries – A Victorian Mystery Quartet is a rickety romp of a ride through Victorian London and the hypocrisy and shenanigans of that time.
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