Georgette Heyer

I have just realised that there is ONE GH I do not own. An Infamous Army! Now as DH and I have made a solemn vow not to spend one penny on non-essential items until the end of April does that mean I am going to have to restrain myself for searching for it now I know what I am missing?
Damn!

How could I have forgotten about Mary Stewart, also hand me downs from my Mother. They're still at her house, I must filch them under the cover of darkness next time I'm home. The Moonspinners is fab. What was the one one with David and Charity driving round the South of France pursued by a Nazi war criminal called?

God I love GH.

And Dorothy L Sayers, esp the Wimsey/Vane books.

This is a REAL stretch of a recommendation, but Lois McMasters Bujold is a fabulous author of fantasy and space operas. She is a big GH fan and takes inspiration from her, esp in that she writes interesting, strong female characters ("Cordelia's Honor" being a good place to start for that). One of her later novels is a SF comedy of manners directly inspired by GH.

Coming on here to second all the murder mystery suggestions, esp Mary Stewart.

I also CANNOT get on with Penhallow.

Patricia Wentworth's Miss Silver mysteries also v comforting.

the New Zealand whodunnit writer Nyago? Marsh is also good and along similar lines to DLS. I enjoy her books too. Inspector Allen mysteries

Posted too soon, meant to also add, have you tried Dorothy L Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries? The Wimsey/Harriet Vane ones and 'Murder must Advertise' second place in my comfort reading list, just losing out to GH.

I love Georgette Heyer. My Mum gave me her 1st editions when I was about 13, they are barely hanging together now. The yellowing sellotape is just about still doing the job, though have had to buy a new copy of The Grand Sophy as it finally could hold out no longer.

Could have sworn crushed strawberries came up in False Colours as well but I haven't read it for ages, or maybe it was cucumber for a sallow complexion.

Brilliant research, Thumb - I have also read the whole set about 12 times but couldn't think where crushed strawberries came up! I loved the Marquesa falling asleep in front of her guests. GH was so good at minor characters.

Why thank you Zen!
It's not like I've read the whole set about 12 times or anything, I mean, you wouldn't notice, would you!!!

GH really is my comfort read - I read the whole set again while in the early days of bf'ing (~2 hours at a time = half a GH novel!)

Thumbburns - I'm awed! And strangely at peace. Thank you.

On another note - anyone who is out there who can write, there is clearly a huge, gaping gap in the market.

zen m'dear, you are still confusing books - in the Balck Moth, the sister of Belmanoir (the Devil) is lavinia married to Richard "Dickie" Carstares.

The crushed strawberry ref is in Grand Sophy - I have found it - Lady Ombersley and the Spanish Marquesa at Merton, post-nap:
Lady Ombersley had awakened from her slumber, uttering the mystic words :Lotion of the Ladies of Denmark, which had operated so powerfuly on her hostess as to make her sit bolt upright on her sofa, exclaiming: "But no! Better distilled water of green pineapples, I assure you!" By the time the party on the south lawn entered the house the two elder ladies had thoroughly explored every path known to them that led to the preservation of the complexion, and if they differed on such points as the value of raw veal laid on the face at night to remove wrinkles, they found themselves at one over the beneficial effects of chervil water, and crushed strawberries.

Now you don't need to go bonkers any more!

Diana is in The Black Moth. Devil managed to frame her to-be husband for cheating at cards, so he could ensure the family fortune for Jack (Diana's husband, and an occasional highwayman)'s younger brother, who is married to Fanny, Devil's sister.

I think you're right about it not being Infamous Army.

Could it be Devil's Cub? And then maybe someone and Fanny?

Or maybe it is Infamous Army and Judith and someone?

It's surely a conversation between two older characters, who sort of make a cameo appearance.

Honestly, I have sat here, for quarter of an hour, drawing out a genealogy of the characters. My head is spinning ... . And yet I am completely drawn in. I really hope someone remembers, or I might go bonkers.

Fanny is the brother of the Devil (Justin Duke of Avon), aunt of the Devil's cub and is in These Old Shades and Devil's cub but not an Infamous Army - where the Devil's cub is actually the grandfather of Barbara Childe.
Don't remember a Diana in those books..

yy to crushed strawberries but have no idea which book they are in.

Don't remember anyone called Fanny or Diana in An Infamous Army... that's the Waterloo one, surely it's Judith (nee Taverner) and Lord Worth/Barbara Childe and Worth's brother who loses an arm?

This is a long-shot but could the crushed strawberries for the face be in An Infamous Army?

I remember crushed strawberries coming up in a conversation between Diana and Fanny. Diana calls on Fanny, who has just been lying in her room with a crushed strawberry face mask. Fanny looks Diana over to see if Diana or she are ageing better.

The novel is one where the offspring are at the centre of the action , which makes me wonder if it's An Infamous Army, Diana is calling on Fanny to discuss their children .... .

The other possibility would be Devil's Cub but then it wouldn't be Diana.

I'd love to find a replacement for Georgette Heyer. I never have.

Ah, now that sounds more likely. I remember it as being an older lady - bet Mrs Scattergood was scandalised at Judith being too outdoorsy. Will dig out my copy to check - thanks - has been a minor niggle for some time!

The Amelia Peabody mysteries are a hoot. I've only read a couple, as I thought they got a bit samey but I really enjoyed them. They are like Nancy Drew or The Famous Five for adults!

Were the crushed strawberries used by Mrs Scattergood in Regency Buck? Can't find my copy to check

yup - just got that, wonder where I got the GH bit from. Ah, it was along time ago.

Jean Plaidy was Victoria Holt and Philippa Carr. And a few other less successful authors.

Jean Plaidy IS GH isn't she, and someone else?
I used to read as a teen, off to google and see if I am imagining the above.

no, that was pineapples. But there are definitely strawberries somewhere.

The crushed strawberries are in Grand Sophy, aren't they? What do the mother and the Spanish senorita talk about when they're swapping tips?

I think she is the one and only Regency romance writer.
I read Jean Plaidy at about the same age. Might be worth a try if you haven't discovered her.