"More historical novel than mystery"
In 1905 American expatriate John Vanbrugh is a draftsman
working in the London firm of Burlington and Kent. He is
at the bottom of his company's food chain until wealthy
American Duchess Consuelo Vanderbilt, wife of Charles
Spencer-Churchill, wants John to renovate her quarters at
the Duke's family estate Blenheim. She chooses John
because he is a fellow Yank but mostly due to his sharing
the same full name as the architect who built Blenheim two
centuries ago. John's pregnant English wife Margaret
encourages him to accept, which he does. John and Margaret stay at Blenheim and are ecstatic
until they meet the other guests and the husband of their
hostess. John and Margaret feel overwhelmed by the
duplicities, affairs, and damaging secrets that threaten
everyone within the sphere of the duchess. As John
uncovers hidden messages and falls under the spell of his
hostess, a servant mysteriously dies and the drawings of
artist John Singer Sargent vanish. John wonders if he and
Margaret are safe amidst these backstabbing devious
aristocrats. Though somewhat of a mystery, A WEEKEND AT BLENHEIM is more
of a historical novel that looks deeply at the architect of
the early eighteenth and twentieth centuries as well as the
last elitist days of the English aristocracy. The first
half of the story line enables the audience to deeply
observe the dysfunctional cast interact. However, the
price for this depth is that the action is deferred until
the latter half of the tale. Adding strength to the plot
is a different perspective on Winston Churchill, cousin to
the host. Fans of character driven historical novels will
enjoy J.P. Morrissey's latest design. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted February 7, 2002
|
