The Butler Did It

By Kasey Michaels

Book Overview

The Butler Did It by Kasey Michaels released on Aug 25, 2004 is available now for purchase.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373770065
• ISBN13: 9780373770069
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Hqn
• Length: 395 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

This book is a hoot!

'The butler did it' is a hilarious, extremely well-constructed farce that, frankly, had me reading it a second time just to admire the author's skill in putting it together. If there's a loose thread, I didn't see it. I loved it!

The Funniest Book I have ever read

This is the funniest and most entertaining book I have ever read; the secondary cast is a real hoot, especially the irrepressible grandmother. The entire ancillary goings on sometimes overshadows the love story, but all in all this is one entertaining read. It would make a great play!

Highly Amusing!

This novel is more of a farce than a romance, but in any event, it is very entertaining. The secondary characters, some of whom are engaged in nefarious schemes, are just as interesting as the primary ones, and Michaels very cleverly weaves the many threads of her tale to a satisfying conclusion. Well done!

a wonderfully entertaining frolic

After 5 years of self imposed exile, Morgan Drummond, the Marquis of Westham, has decided to leave his country estate and return to London for the season so that he can find a suitably demure and even tempered wife. By now, he's sure that 1) the scandal that he had precipitated by challenging his best friend to a duel while drunk would have been forgotten, and 2) that he is able to control his easily raised short temper. But when he arrives at his London house, he discovers that his enterprising butler, Thornley, has for the past two years, been leasing rooms to those who want to partake in the season. And currently, the marquis is (unknowingly) 'hosting' a colourful group of people from a con artist out to pull his last con, to a might be murderess, to the almost penniless Clifford family that's come to London in order to net the beautiful and fiery Emma Clifford a rich husband. When Morgan discovers what's going on, he doesn't know if he should murder his butler or throw out his 'guests' first. That is until he meets Emma who tries (and fails) to blackmail him; and grandmother Clifford (Fanny), a woman with a highly colourful past who successfully blackmails him into letting them all stay on, and into squiring Emma about town. Soon Morgan finds himself at every fashionable do with Emma on his arm, only to make the startling discovery that he's more occupied with keeping an eye on the infuriating termagant instead of finding a proper wife for himself! Could Morgan (horror of horrors) be falling in love with Emma? "The Butler Did It" definitely can be classified as a Regency-era romp, and what a fun read it was too. Kasey Michaels was one of the first authours I started off with when I discovered Regency-era romance novels -- light, funny and fast paced, her early books were a joy to me back then. And "The Butler Did It" really fits into this mold of her earlier works. I finished the book before I even knew it. Morgan and Emma were a joy to read about: their interaction was witty, humorous and fiery -- definitely a pair that was meant for each other. And I rather enjoyed Emma's mother (who tends to think in Capital Letters) and her romance with the butler, Thornley as well. However, I did think that Ms Michaels may have gone overboard with her quirky characters and funny incidents. Even though they contributed magnificently to the confusion and profusion of goings-on, I really didn't think that Cliff (Emma's idiot brother), Riley (the rascally footman), Claramae (the somewhat simpleminded housemaid with big breasts whom Riley lusts after) or Mrs. Olive Norbet (the might-be murderess) was all that essential to the story (ditto the entire subplot where grandmother Clifford, Fanny decides to join the con-artist in his con). Since I was enjoying Morgan and Emma and Daphne and Thornley, these other characters and the things they got up to were real distractions at times. However, that is just my opinion. All I'll note is that if you're looking for a

feels like a historical British You Can't Take It With You

Five years ago, Lord Morgan Drummond lost his temper over an insult to a lady love and fought a duel of honor. Afterward, when he reflected back on his stupidity he thought he almost killed someone over nothing or he could have died as his father Mad Harry had when he was young. Feeling ashamed that he could have left his mother mourning and all alone, Morgan exiled himself from London to control his temper and make things right. Now Morgan feels ready to return to high society so he travels to London only to finds his home has been invaded by strangers. He tries to toss these weirdoes out, but instead is blackmailed by an elderly lady to allow these squatters to remain. Morgan cannot believe he is a hotelier to lunatics who belong in Bedlam. However, the worst of the lot of maniacs is Miss Emma Clifford, seeking a husband amongst the Ton. Morgan decides that if he finds her a spouse, he rids himself of her and her pesky kooks until he realizes he loves Emma and wants to play host to her and her brood permanently. This amusing Regency romance feels like a historical British You Can't Take It With You or the Adam's Family joins early nineteenth century aristocratic London. The story line never takes itself seriously as Morgan plays straight man to a bunch of nice nutty folks. Even the romance plays second fiddle to the top banana, Kasey Michael's humorous historical escapades. Harriet Klausner