Beatrice Goes To Brighton
The Travelling Matchmaker Series – Book IV
M C Beaton

Robinson (Constable and Robinson)
24 February 2011/ ISBN 9781849014823
Historical Romance /1800 Brighton
Amazon US || UK

Reviewed by Rachel A Hyde

Hannah Pym’s taste for travel continues as she undertakes a fourth journey, this time with her new and unconventional footman Benjamin in tow. Her destination is Brighton, popular since the Prince Regent made it fashionable. En route in the stagecoach the haughty Lady Beatrice Marsham gives her the cut, but she soon discovers when the lady is carted off by her supposed fiancé that all is not well. She takes matters into her own hands as usual to discover exactly what is going on.

I will be sad when I have read the last one of this delightful sextet of novels, as I cannot think where else I have come upon such a mix of historical setting, adventure, romance and sheer fun. There is a new series character this time in the shape of the irrepressible (and very useful) Benjamin who adds a fresh dimension and a different slant on what has gone before. Also, in case anybody was thinking that the whole series would revolve around coach journeys this one does not, Brighton being fairly near London. As ever the author appears to have a good knowledge of the period and this comes to the fore here as she brings Regency Brighton (complete with Prince) to life. All budding Regency writers ought to read this series to see how to write something so succinct yet full of incident and color.

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