Rattle His Bones
Daisy Dalrymple Mystery, No 8

by Carola Dunn

     Daisy is down among the dinosaurs in her eighth case, entertaining her stepdaughter-to-be, Belinda, and nephew, Derek, in the Natural History Museum.  This might seem a safe, quiet place to work, but as Daisy interviews the staff for a magazine article, seething jealousy, bitter rivalry, and academic strife seem to be the norm.  Suddenly a crash alerts everybody, and one of the most acerbic curators is lying dead amongst the shattered bones of a pareiasaurus.  It is up to Daisy and her fiancé, Alec Fletcher, to discover the murderer before anybody else adds their own bones to the museum’s collection.

First, I enjoyed Ms Dunn’s descriptions of this most wonderful institution and her evocative portrayal of academic rivalry.  The addition of a Ruritanian-style Grand Duke puts the cherry on this already well-iced cake, and enjoyment is guaranteed.  Also worth mentioning is the depth of historical research that must have gone into this series; two examples being the ever-present spectre of the First World War and people’s differing attitudes to and knowledge of dinosaurs.  An absorbing and lively plot, engaging characters, and sense of fun make this one of my favorite series about this period.  Highly recommended.

Reviews of other titles in this series

Death at Wentwater Court, 1
The Winter Garden Mystery, 2
Requiem For A Mezzo, 3
Murder on the Flying Scotsman, 4
Damsel in Distress, 5
Dead In The Water, 6
Styx and Stones, 7
Rattle His Bones, 8 [review 1] [review 2]
To Davy Jones Below, 9
The Case of the Murdered Muckraker, 10
Mistletoe and Murder, 11
Die Laughing, 12
A Mourning Wedding, 13
Fall of a Philanderer, 14
Gunpowder Plot, 15
The Black Ship, 17
Sheer Folly, 18
Anthem For Doomed Youth, 19
Gone West, 20