The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne: A Mystery
Aug 2020 · Macmillan + ORM
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Mary Higgins Clark Award Winner: A curious-minded woman investigates the murder of an obsessive collector in this "delightful" historical whodunit ( Christian Science Monitor).
One of Publishers Weekly's Top Ten Fall Mysteries
One of Christian Science Monitor's Ten Best Books of the Month
London, 1703. In a time when the old approaches to science coexist with the new, one elite community attempts to understand the world by collecting its wonders. Sir Barnaby Mayne, the most formidable of these collectors, has devoted his life to filling his cabinets. While the curious-minded vie for invitations to study the rare stones, bones, books, and artifacts he has amassed, some visitors come with a darker purpose.
For Cecily Kay, it is a passion for plants that brings her to the Mayne house. The only puzzle she expects to encounter is how to locate the specimens she needs within Sir Barnaby's crowded cabinets. But when her host is stabbed to death, Cecily finds the confession of the supposed killer unconvincing. She pays attention to details—years of practice have taught her that the smallest particulars can distinguish a harmless herb from a deadly one—and in the case of Sir Barnaby's murder, there are too many inconsistencies for her to ignore.
To discover the truth, Cecily must enter the world of the collectors, a realm where intellect is distorted by obsession and greed. As her pursuit of answers brings her closer to a killer, she risks being given a final resting place amid the bones that wait, silent and still, in the cabinets of Barnaby Mayne.
"A must-read series debut for fans of Tasha Alexander's and Deanna Raybourn's historical whodunits." — Booklist
"Hart is bound to become a household name for readers who love clever and fair whodunits." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Engrossing characters and lush setting, enshrouded within a murder mystery brimming with compelling curiosities, make this a stunning read." — Historical Novels Society
Minneapolis Star Tribune's Summer Reading List * One of The Washington Post's Five New Thrillers & Mysteries for the Beach * One of Amazon's Best of the Month * One of LitHub's Five Books You May Have Missed This Month
One of Publishers Weekly's Top Ten Fall Mysteries
One of Christian Science Monitor's Ten Best Books of the Month
London, 1703. In a time when the old approaches to science coexist with the new, one elite community attempts to understand the world by collecting its wonders. Sir Barnaby Mayne, the most formidable of these collectors, has devoted his life to filling his cabinets. While the curious-minded vie for invitations to study the rare stones, bones, books, and artifacts he has amassed, some visitors come with a darker purpose.
For Cecily Kay, it is a passion for plants that brings her to the Mayne house. The only puzzle she expects to encounter is how to locate the specimens she needs within Sir Barnaby's crowded cabinets. But when her host is stabbed to death, Cecily finds the confession of the supposed killer unconvincing. She pays attention to details—years of practice have taught her that the smallest particulars can distinguish a harmless herb from a deadly one—and in the case of Sir Barnaby's murder, there are too many inconsistencies for her to ignore.
To discover the truth, Cecily must enter the world of the collectors, a realm where intellect is distorted by obsession and greed. As her pursuit of answers brings her closer to a killer, she risks being given a final resting place amid the bones that wait, silent and still, in the cabinets of Barnaby Mayne.
"A must-read series debut for fans of Tasha Alexander's and Deanna Raybourn's historical whodunits." — Booklist
"Hart is bound to become a household name for readers who love clever and fair whodunits." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Engrossing characters and lush setting, enshrouded within a murder mystery brimming with compelling curiosities, make this a stunning read." — Historical Novels Society
Minneapolis Star Tribune's Summer Reading List * One of The Washington Post's Five New Thrillers & Mysteries for the Beach * One of Amazon's Best of the Month * One of LitHub's Five Books You May Have Missed This Month
Mary Higgins Clark Award Winner: A curious-minded woman investigates the murder of an obsessive collector in this "delightful" historical whodunit ( Christian Science Monitor).
One of Publishers Weekly's Top Ten Fall Mysteries
One of Christian Science Monitor's Ten Best Books of the Month
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Ratings and reviews
1 review
Kristina Anderson
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August 5, 2020
The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne by Elsa Hart is an intriguing historical novel that takes a reader back to London in 1703. It is a time when people were intrigued by science and curious to learn more. Rare items were highly prized by collectors. The author created a rich atmosphere with her word imagery. Her descriptions allow readers to imagine Sir Barnaby Mayne’s crowded house. It is filled with his vast collections that are meticulously maintained. I could imagine the cabinets filled with their items of wonder. There are a variety of characters present at the Mayne household when the murder is committed. Any one of them could have committed the deed. Cecily Kay and Meacan Barlow are the two female sleuths. They are intelligent ladies who pick up key details and have a knack for sleuthing. The mystery reminds me of the classic mysteries (Sir Author Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie). It plays out slowly as the two women search for the truth. There are multiple suspects all with motive for doing away with Sir Barnaby Mayne. There are good plot twists with a classic reveal at the end. All those pesky questions that plague us while reading are answered at the end (who, how, and why). It depends on how many mysteries you have read on whether you solve this one before the reveal or not. The language in the book is formal which was how people talked during that time-period. The Cabinets of Barnaby is a good book, but I had trouble getting into it. It is a slow starter and failed to hold my attention. Those readers, though, who enjoy classic whodunits will find themselves riveted while reading this historical mystery.
About the author
Elsa Hart is the author of several acclaimed mystery novels set in eighteenth-century China, including City of Ink, one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2018. She was born in Rome, but her earliest memories are of Moscow, where her family lived until 1991. Since then she has lived in the Czech Republic, the U.S.A., and China. She earned a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.
Elsa Hart is the author of several acclaimed mystery novels set in eighteenth-century China, including City of Ink, one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2018. She was born in Rome, but her earliest memories are of Moscow, where her family lived until 1991. Since then she has lived in the Czec...
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