A Deadly Inheritance

By Charlotte Vassell is the third book in the Detective Beauchamp series. This time Caius Beauchamp settles some more into his role of a 'nouveau rich' after he finds himself in line for a notable inheritance. He is, however, still active as a police detective and is introduced to a case that hits a bit closer to home; he's sent to solve a double homicide in an upper-class family where there's also a sizeable inheritance at play.

A Deadly Inheritance is the first book I've read by Charlotte Vassell, and she made me fall in love with Caius Beauchamp. He has a smooth but non-arrogant air about him, which makes him a great police detective (who has to be intimidating at times), but he's also the perfect boyfriend/husband material for his girl Callie. So, when I'm looking for my next whodunnit, be sure that I'll be picking up this series!

The story is written chronologically; each main chapter refers to the day of the week, and all subchapters are introduced with their location. This is a crystal clear way to indicate time and place, so no dramatic flashbacks or flash-forwards, and I'm all here for it!

The characters are also built very well. Caius himself is a very likeable, dutiful person who connects well with his team, Amy and Matt, and with his girlfriend Callie, who he supports above all else.

The writing is clear and a good fit for a whodunnit. Although the novel is a bit lengthy, I don't think it's too long. For Charlotte to depict the characters to their fullest potential and have the plot run its course, she needed it to be on the lengthier side. If you prefer a fast-paced murder mystery, you might find this novel a bit too lengthy for your taste.

Although A Deadly Inheritance is the third book in a series, it is perfectly readable as a standalone. The only slightly offputting thing would be Caius' backstory how he is entangled in this family history and how his claim to its inheritance came to be, which is better understandable with the knowledge of the first two instalments.

In all, it is a well-written murder mystery that aligns with my interest in Janice Hallet's work, like The Appeal and The Twyford Code. Charlotte, however, adds another layer to the story with the involvement of London upper-class members and addresses social issues like racism and political intrigues. It is simply a perfect fit for everyone who loves a good, profound whodunnit. To be honest, though, I would also enjoy a poshly catered train ride to Bath!

All opinions are my own, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher of this book, Faber & Faber Ltd, for providing this DRC