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Reviewed by Cloie Belle Daffon for Readers' Favorite
The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook by Tessa Barrie begins with Jocelyn Robertshaw, a best-selling novelist and former actress, being discovered dead in her bedroom in the tranquil village of Didsbrook. Jocelyn's young protégé, Lucy Fothergill, had just finished her last day of university and had arrived home. She was excited to start a new chapter in her life. However, instead of returning home to a party, she discovered that her long-time mentor, Jocelyn, was dead. What made matters worse was that the police believed she had committed suicide, but Lucy knew Jocelyn and was certain she would never take her own life. After all, she was intelligent, kind, and adored by everyone she knew. But what if there was more to Jocelyn's seemingly perfect life? Lucy sensed something strange about her death, so she decided to delve into Jocelyn's past for answers. Was this truly a suicide, or was a murderer lurking in the picturesque village? Discover more in The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook!
Tessa Barrie’s The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook is intriguing, well-written, and moderately paced. I was fully immersed in the plot. Everything was so detailed that it felt as though I was witnessing the entire scenario unfold while reading. I appreciated how the story gradually unfolded, and I took notes on each character as they were introduced, trying to fully understand their backgrounds and connections to Jocelyn to determine who might be responsible for her death. At the same time, I wondered if Jocelyn had committed suicide as a result of everything she had been through. I enjoy it when a novel makes me consider different options before surprising me with unexpected plot twists. Every chapter had me so eager that I lost sleep because I couldn't wait to discover what Jocelyn was hiding and the truth about her death. An amazing novel. This is now one of my favorite books. Great work!
