Lucy and Robert's joy in christening their new daughter, surrounded by extended family and loved ones who have gathered in the village of Kurland St. Mary, is only enhanced when Robert's aunt Rose — now the second wife of Lucy's father Ambrose — announces that she is with child. However, not everyone is happy about the news, in particular Rose's adult daughter Henrietta and her husband, who fear for their inheritance.
When her father, the rector, is implicated in the death of his wife's son-in-law, a very disagreeable man, Lady Lucy Kurland, with her daughter's christening marred by murder, must clear his name and expose the real culprit.
Three years have passed since Major Sir Robert Kurland and Lucy Harrington, the rector's daughter, became husband and wife. Having established a measure of contentment among the gentry of Kurland St. Mary, the couple lately have found an unsettling distance grown between them. But when the small-village peace is disrupted by the arrival of an anonymous letter accusing Lucy of witchcraft, her as yet unfulfilled desire to be a mother becomes the least of her worries-- especially after she learns she is not the only one to have received such a malicious letter
Returning to Kurland St. Mary to help with a friend's wedding, Lucy Harrington is dismayed at the presence of Major Robert Kurland, but calls a truce with him when Mrs. Chingford, a meddling widow who had set her sights on Lucy's father, is found dead at the bottom of a staircase.
It’s harvest time in the village of Kurland St. Mary as Lucy and Robert prepare to wed—but a murderer has taken an unseasonable vow of vengeance . . . As Miss Lucy Harrington, daughter of the village rector, and Major Sir Robert Kurland plan their nuptials, the major is beginning to wonder if he’ll ever hear wedding bells. He’s seen complex military campaigns that involved less strategy, and he’s finding Lucy’s meddling family maddening. When the body of Ezekiel Thurrock, the church verger, is discovered crushed by a gargoyle that has fallen from the bell tower, the wedding is delayed. But the evidence suggests this was no accident, and Lucy wonders if bad blood at the village fair had anything to do with the man’s mysterious demise, since there was much bitterness over Ezekiel’s prizewinning vegetables. As Lucy and Robert uncover long-standing village feuds, the town’s dark secrets begin to take their toll and the couple soon finds they too are in grave danger . . .
"On a visit to Bath, Major Sir Robert Kurland and Lady Lucy Kurland discover that the English spa town is not beneficial to everyone's health when an elderly businessman befriended by Robert is found drowned in the baths."--
Set against the backdrop of Regency England, the story follows Miss Caroline Morton, a lady’s companion grappling with her low social standing due to her family's disgrace. When an opportunity arises for her to reclaim her rightful place, she finds herself entangled in a perilous murder mystery that threatens her aspirations. The narrative explores themes of social class, ambition, and the quest for identity amidst intrigue and danger.
In a quaint village, a wounded soldier teams up with a rector's daughter to uncover mysterious happenings. Set against the backdrop of the Regency era, their investigation reveals secrets lurking beneath the surface of Kurland St. Mary, blending intrigue with the charm of the period.
A season in London promises a welcome change of pace for two friends from the village of Kurland St. Mary--until murder makes a debut. . . With the reluctant blessings of their father, the rector of Kurland St. Mary, Lucy Harrington and her sister Anna leave home for a social season in London. At the same time, Lucy's special friend Major Robert Kurland is summoned to the city to accept a baronetcy for his wartime heroism. Amidst the dizzying whirl of balls and formal dinners, the focus shifts from mixing and matchmaking to murder when the dowager Countess of Broughton, the mother of an old army friend of Robert, drops dead. When it's revealed she's been poisoned, Robert's former betrothed, Miss Chingford, is accused, and she in turn points a finger at Anna. To protect her sister, Lucy enlists Robert's aid in drawing out the true culprit. But with suspects ranging from resentful rivals and embittered family members to the toast of the ton, it will take all their sleuthing skills to unmask the poisoner before more trouble is stirred up. . . Praise for Death Comes to the Village "[A] delightful debut. . .Readers will hope death returns soon to Kurland St. Mary." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Lloyd combines a satisfying mystery with plenty of wit and character development." --Booklist
