Devil May Care by Elizabeth Peters

I have read many of Elizabeth Peter’s books with Amelia and Emerson Peabody the archaeologist couple who are involved in mysteries and murders on digs mainly in Egypt. I have thoroughly enjoyed their adventures and seen them fall in love, have a son who grows up and follows in their footsteps through the series. So when I picked up this book it was certainly a surprise that it was not a part of the Amelia Peabody series. In fact there are other series by this author and also non series books of which Devil May Care are one. I had not even read the synopsis and so had not even an inkling of the story that unfolded.

The story begins with Henry (who I gather at once is a stuffy pompous lawyer) and his fiancé Ellie. Ellie has to go for a few days and house sit for her rich aunt in Virginia. It appears that Henry did not know about this ‘eccentric’ aunt and now that he does is very interested in the fact that she is rich. Henry plans to drive Ellie there and stay overnight, giving a lift to Aunt Kate to the airport the next day. Along with Aunt Kate one wonders as to what Ellie sees in Henry who is constantly thinking of the ways in which he would change her behaviour and her style once they are married. He is also calculating the worth of the contents of Aunt Kate’s home as he wanders around. Kate keeps hinting that Ellie could do better. 

While she was away, Kate said that there was a local family, who came and did the house chores and a young man who did the extensive gardens. At dinner, she also introduced Ellie to her friend Ted, who lived nearby and visited often. It was a long time since Ellie had visited her aunt and was looking forward to spending some quiet time on her own there. Next morning she departed with Henry with a cryptic ‘And the ghosts are no trouble, they are very quiet types’ thrown in among the list of things that needed doing and animal issues that Ellie had to keep an eye on. 

Ellie thinks about this but dismisses it as there has never been any talk of ghosts even if this was an old 18^th century building. The first day seems to pass peacefully but as she is going up to bed she sees this person as an image on the wall in the landing of the stairs. It is clear and seems to dissolve as she goes up close. While this unnerves her a little she is not scared. But then she is woken in the middle of the night. There is a noise outside and she looks out of the window into the garden. Who is that couple in the garden? What are they doing? Why have they started running? Who is that man who came out of the shrubs to follow the running couple?

This frightens her and she calls Ted for help. This tale gets all around the village. The ghosts seem to have the people divided. It is all about the history of the 6 families who originally lived there. There are some dark parts to the lives of the people long gone. The young man who looks after the garden turns out to be the local doctor’s son, who looks strangely like the ghost on the wall, but is willing to help Ellie when the ghostly antics increase in intensity. 

The pace of the book is steady and many small but intriguing incidents occupy your mind. Why is Henry not answering his phone? Do the locals want to publicise the ghosts to increase tourist trade? As sightings escalate Ellie thinks it is time to inform her aunt. But where is Kate? No one seems to be able to get hold of her and the place she is staying at is closed. Will a séance help to find out what the ghosts are up to?

As Donald the gardener has been helping and supporting her, is something more than friendship developing? So were will all this lead?

This story certainly kept me hooked right till the end. There are lot of detailed descriptions of the house, the history of the families, the people and events. It is a good read with some mystery, some ghosts and some romance.