The Slanderley Curse

"Tightly written and genuinely suspenseful, ....the story is certain to captivate fans of both manor fiction and cozy mysteries, many of whom will not foresee the villainy that Stasz unveils." Kirkus Reviews
Fate sends young Kenal Gundry into service. Though strong and smart, he is also naive and overly pious. At his first placement, a nymphomaniac harasses him. Moving to Slanderley, he finds comfort in its isolated location and several members of the de Loverly family. Then unexpected deaths occur. "It be the Nun's Curse," argue some. "It is just coincidence," claim others. Kenal himself becomes a murder suspect in one case.
The story is in Kenal's voice, from a memoir found decades later. Along with narrating the mysteries, he details events familiar to Edwardian estates, such as an automobile rally, a May Day celebration, and Midsummer's Eve. Exposed to new ideas and personalities, he grows to manhood with a broader view of life's opportunities. His new understanding helps him survive World War I. Framing his account are commentaries from an Oxford don, who leaves one wondering about if he has told the truth.