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Deadly Kin: A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Mystery Book 4) Kindle Edition

4.6 out of 5 stars 681 ratings

Murderous family secrets

Summer 1764. Alec and Selina anxiously await the birth of their first child at their estate in Kent. It should be a time of family celebration, but the death of a young poacher has Alec investigating murder. And when renovations to his sprawling manor unearth a secret burial chamber, a shocking family secret comes to light. Everything Alec thought he knew about his birth is again called into question, and with it the special bond with his irascible uncle Plantagenet.

Praise for the Alec Halsey Mysteries

Very well written, fast paced, and full of secrets… A cracking good adventure! —Historical Novel Society

I challenge anyone not crave more from the handsome Alec Halsey with his high sense of morals, dark good looks, and divine analytical mind. —Reader’s Favorite

Quite simply, a perfect combination of mystery, romance, and history. —Romantic Historical Reviews

Recent Acclaim for the Series

Two times USA TODAY bestsellers, Goethe International Novel Writing Competition Finalist, RONE Finalist for Best Published Mystery, RONE Cover Design: Finalist & Runner-Up, In'Dtale Crowned Heart, three times B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree.

Connecting Books

Enjoy Lucinda's meticulously researched 18th century world, where characters, places, and events all intertwine.

Roxton Foundation Series (the early married years of Antonia and Roxton)

  • August 1745 NOBLE SATYR (Renard and Antonia, includes letters from ETERNALLY YOURS)
  • October 1746 HIS DUCHESS (Family life in Versailles)
  • November 1746 HER DUKE (Domesticity disrupted)
  • November 1746 THEIR GRACES (Scandal at Court


Roxton Family Saga

  • 1740s NOBLE SATYR (Renard and Antonia)
  • 1760s MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE (Julian and Deb)
  • 1770s AUTUMN DUCHESS (Antonia and Jonathon)
  • 1770s DAIR DEVIL (Dair and Rory)
  • 1770s PROUD MARY (Mary and Christopher)
  • 1780s SATYR'S SON (Henri-Antoine and Lisa)
  • 1743-77 ETERNALLY YOURS (Roxton Letters Vol. 1)
  • 1772-87 FOREVER REMAIN (Roxton Letters Vol. 2)


Salt Hendon Series

  • 1763 SALT BRIDE (Magnus and Jane)
  • 1767 SALT REDUX (Antony and Caroline)
  • SALT HENDON COLLECTION — boxed set with bonus novella SALT ANGEL


Alec Halsey Mysteries

  • Spring 1763 DEADLY ENGAGEMENT (Country house murder and mayhem)
  • Autumn 1763 DEADLY AFFAIR (A poisoned vicar and the mysterious Miranda)
  • Winter 1763 DEADLY PERIL (Bloody intrigue abroad)
  • Summer 1764 DEADLY KIN (Murderous family secrets)
  • Winter 1765 DEADLY DESIRE (Lies, levées, and lovers)
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From the Publisher

Alec returns to Deer Park, his ancestral home in Kent.
Murderous family secrets…
Example images from the Deadly Kin Pinterest board.

The history behind the fiction

Explore the people, places, and objects in Lucinda Brant’s Deadly Kin Pinterest board board. Details inside the book.

Alec Halsey Mysteries

Lucinda Brant's mysteries explore the darker side of her richly authentic 18th century world. Along with her customary wit and high drama there are deeper subplots and even quirkier characters that will have you shuddering and laughing in equal measure.

Editorial Reviews

Review

5 STARS: In the top three I have read all year
Lucinda Brant offers up another Alec Halsey triumph with Deadly Kin, tightening the threads of an intricately woven quilt that is Lord Halsey's life. The historical detail is stunning and the overlapping mysteries allow for a balance of Georgian beauty and trademark Brant tension on every page. In Deadly Peril, we learned how imperfect the perfect Alec actually was, but Deadly Kin digs deeper into the Halsey past and brings forth some dark secrets that his Uncle Plantagenet (and who else remains to be seen) has guarded closely for Alec's entire life. This book ranks in the top three I have read all year and I am officially a die-hard fan of the Alec Halsey Mystery Series. --Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

5 STARS: Transporting
I loved this novel right from the first page. The author introduces the setting and captures the seasons, the location and cultural elements with brilliance. The prose is tight and very descriptive, punctuated by dialogues that deepen plot points and enhance character depth. Lucinda Brant knows how to capture and retain the interest of the reader, keeping them focused through every page. Characters are elaborately developed and I loved Uncle Plantagenet. He is an unusual character, the kind that displays so little but knows so much. Deadly Kin is an intelligently plotted and deftly written mystery. I found it as well written as it is transporting. --Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Praise for the Alec Halsey Mysteries
Very well written, fast paced, and full of secrets... A cracking good adventure! --Historical Novel Society

I challenge anyone not crave more from the handsome Alec Halsey with his high sense of morals, dark good looks, and divine analytical mind. --Reader's Favorite

Quite simply, a perfect combination of mystery, romance, and history. --Romantic Historical Reviews

About the Author

Lucinda Brant is a New York Times, USA Today, and Audible bestselling author of award-winning Georgian historical romances and mysteries. Her books are renowned for wit, drama and a happily ever-after. She has a degree in history and political science from the Australian National University and a post-graduate degree in education from Bond University, where she was awarded the Frank Surman Medal. Noble Satyr, Lucinda's first novel, was awarded the $10,000 Random House/Woman's Day Romantic Fiction Prize, and she has twice been a finalist for the Romance Writers' of Australia Romantic Book of the Year. All her novels have garnered multiple awards and become worldwide bestsellers. Lucinda lives in the middle of a koala reserve, in a writing cave that is wall-to-wall books on all aspects of the Eighteenth Century, collected over 40 years-Heaven. She loves to hear from her readers (and she'll write back!). lucindabrant@gmail.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07ZBF4BW7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sprigleaf
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 419 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1925614503
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 4 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Alec Halsey Mystery
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 16 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 681 ratings

About the author

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Lucinda Brant
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LUCINDA BRANT is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of award-winning Georgian historical romances and mysteries. She writes about families, creating worlds that are full of history, heart, and Happily Ever Afters.

Lucinda has university degrees in history, politics, law, and a post graduate degree in education. Now a full-time writer, she has had many careers: university administrator; selling merch at rock concerts; mentor to first year medical students; and history and geography teacher at an exclusive boarding school for young ladies.

Lucinda lives in a villa full of books by the beach, with her scientist hubby, and an Italian Greyhound princess called Mabelle. She has been researching and reading about the 18th Century for over forty years, and still finds the Georgian era just as fascinating now as then.

A proud member of Novelists Inc. (NINC); The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi); the Audio Publishers Association (APA), and the Beau Monde—Regency Fiction Writers (RFW).

Lucinda's many awards include:

10k Random House/Woman’s Day Romantic Fiction Prize

15 x IndieBRAG Medallion

10 x Readers' Favorite medalist

3x finalist for the RONE award. Awarded the RONE Historical Novel of the Year

Chatelaine Romantic Fiction First in Category Award winner

2 x finalist for the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year (RBY) award

"Quizzing glass and quill, into my sedan chair and away! The 1700s rock!"

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
681 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the historical mystery series, praising its full of twists and turns plot. The book receives positive feedback for its readability, with one customer noting it's a superb page-turner. Customers appreciate the character development, with one review highlighting the shocking reveal of Alec's parentage. The writing style is well-received, and one customer particularly notes the beautiful depiction of the historical setting.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

24 customers mention "Intrigue"21 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the intrigue of the book, praising its full of twists and turns and important plot points.

"...Instead, she delivers an elegantly constructed plot that twists and turns and adds even more dimensions to Alec’s parentage...." Read more

"...how to develop characters, write good dialogue and move her stories along with good pacing. So, why only 4 stars?..." Read more

"...It's a thoughtful and interesting story of how far some will go to preserve their holdings and it's well done." Read more

"...historical facts with her awesome imaginations always make for an intriguing story...." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a very good read that's worth the wait, with one customer describing it as a superb page-turner.

"...Yet another great read from Lucinda Brant, and if you’re one of those who are seduced by detailed descriptions and vivid prose coupled with love and..." Read more

"...I don’t find them as enthralling as the Salt series, they’re still quite good because Ms. Brant knows how to develop characters, write good..." Read more

"...story of how far some will go to preserve their holdings and it's well done." Read more

"...Every book gets better and more truths are reveal regarding Alec and his background which is an ongoing mystery in each book thus far...." Read more

13 customers mention "Character development"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer particularly enjoying the relationship between Alec and Selena, while another notes the shocking revelation about Alec's parentage.

"...constructed plot that twists and turns and adds even more dimensions to Alec’s parentage...." Read more

"...I did totally enjoy Alec’s relationship with his wife, his anticipation of the birth of his first child, his sense of responsibility for the people..." Read more

"...In the Audible version the narrator was good, especially considering he had to follow Alex Wyndham who narrated the first three books...." Read more

"...There's a lot to unpack in this one. A (truly) shocking reveal of Alec's parentage, a bizarre and frankly horrific town custom, a murder, and..." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as well-constructed with vivid prose, and one customer notes the engaging dialogue.

"...if you’re one of those who are seduced by detailed descriptions and vivid prose coupled with love and derring-do, I suggest you look no further!" Read more

"...quite good because Ms. Brant knows how to develop characters, write good dialogue and move her stories along with good pacing...." Read more

"...Lucinda Brant's writing style has an immediacy that draws you into her vision of Georgian England...in this case, to a vast and crumbling family..." Read more

"Authors books are captivating. Great stories and subplots. You will not be able to put down. And will go on to the next after each one." Read more

3 customers mention "Beauty"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's beauty, with one mentioning its beautifully depicted historical setting.

"...All this against a background of a beautifully depicted historical setting, whether it be interiors and dress or the somewhat darker aspects of..." Read more

"...one but how Ms. Brant got us to the reveal was so heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It’s a sad story but it also made my heart happy...." Read more

"...-ago England that is fascinating in its politics, culture, food, and fashion. I've read them all and admire Brant's world-building and storytelling...." Read more

Excellent
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Deadly Kin: A Georgian Historical Mystery by Lucinda Brant is the fourth book in the Alec Halsey Mystery Series, preceded by Deadly Engagement, Deadly Affair, and Deadly Peril. In this instalment, which reads as a standalone, Lord Alec Halsey and his wife Selina, are enjoying the comfort of wedded bliss and expecting their first child. News of the disappearance of Hugh, the errant teenage son of a family in Alec's employ—the steward of Deer Park, Paul Turner—and a discovery under the flagstone on his Kent property bring a quite that has only been intermittently disturbed by groundwork to an end. News of a secret regarding his uncle and father throw everything Alec thought he knew about his family history into doubt, “And there's more, a lot more, but that'll have to wait for another day.” Lucinda Brandt offers up another Alec Halsey triumph with Deadly Kin, tightening the threads of an intricately woven quilt that is Lord Halsey's life. The historical detail is stunning and the overlapping mysteries allow for a balance of Georgian beauty and trademark Brandt tension on every page. In Deadly Peril we learnt how imperfect the perfect Alec actually was, but Deadly Kin digs deeper into the Halsey past and brings forth some dark secrets that his Uncle Plantagenet (and who else remains to be seen) has guarded closely for Alec's entire life. This book ranks in the top three I have read all year and I am officially a die-hard fan of the Alec Halsey Mystery Series.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2020
    Alec Halsey may be a nobleman, but his life has not been a walk in the park. Other than overcoming the stigma caused by the circumstances of his birth – gossip has it that he is the fruit of an affaire between Countess Halsey and her mulatto footman – he has had a hard time gaining his rightful place in society, despite his brilliance as a diplomat and his wealth. So when Deadly Kin opens with Alec happily ensconced in the country with his wife, that made me happy. Except, of course, that Ms Brant rarely allows her readers to just sit back and relax. Instead, she delivers an elegantly constructed plot that twists and turns and adds even more dimensions to Alec’s parentage. All this against a background of a beautifully depicted historical setting, whether it be interiors and dress or the somewhat darker aspects of Georgian life such as the Black Act and other laws that drove the wedge between the haves and the have-nots ever deeper. And then, of course, we have the characters, all the way from Alec and Selina to their not always so likeable relatives and neighbours and the many, many people who slip about in the shadows, unobtrusive but constantly there to wait on their lord and master.

    Yet another great read from Lucinda Brant, and if you’re one of those who are seduced by detailed descriptions and vivid prose coupled with love and derring-do, I suggest you look no further!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2020
    I was introduced to the Lucinda Brant’s writing in the Salt series which I thoroughly enjoyed. So naturally, I was delighted to find her Alec Halsey mystery series and have read all the books prior to this one. While I don’t find them as enthralling as the Salt series, they’re still quite good because Ms. Brant knows how to develop characters, write good dialogue and move her stories along with good pacing.

    So, why only 4 stars? Complex mysteries are a hallmark of this series but the TWO mysteries of this book, one involving the murder of two boys and the other the mystery of Alec Halsey’s birth and family connections, were a bit too convoluted for my taste. The boys’ murder almost felt like window dressing compared to trying to figure out the dramatic ins-and-outs of Alec’s family tree. You might need a spreadsheet to keep all the characters straight and I felt like the pacing bogged down from time to time requiring me to work a bit too hard to enjoy this story.

    I did totally enjoy Alec’s relationship with his wife, his anticipation of the birth of his first child, his sense of responsibility for the people in his employ and under his aegis on his estate and the village of Fivetrees. He is a very likable and believable character much in the same vein as Captain Lacey in Ashley Gardener’s Regency mystery series. I like books with strong, decent main characters who have to look beyond their own baggage to do the good they must do in the world. I also like books that tell a story beyond the trappings of fashion, manners, mores and insta-lust found in so many period romance novels. To my mind, the best historical novels teach the reader something and this book did that. I am thoroughly familiar with primogeniture but knew nothing of gavelkind which figures large in this story. It will be worth it to read the author’s notes at the end of the story.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2023
    Alec and Selina are awaiting the birth of their first child at any day, living on the family estate and in the middle of massive renovations to correct years of neglect. Frictions arise between local workers and additional labor brought in from London when a vault is found beneath the courtyard and not found on any map. Plantagenet Halsey knows what it contains but doesn't want to add any further stress to Alec before the birth of his child. When a group of young boys go missing and two are found murdered, it brings to light an elaborate inheritance scheme going back centuries. Connections are made, including Alec finally having the answers to his own story that he has been searching for. It's a thoughtful and interesting story of how far some will go to preserve their holdings and it's well done.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2019
    This book was so worth the wait. And by far one of my favorite of this series and considering this is the 4th book that’s saying a lot. Every book gets better and more truths are reveal regarding Alec and his
    background which is an ongoing mystery in each book thus far. And I suspected his true relationship with his uncle Plant since it was hinted in book one but how Ms. Brant got us to the reveal was so heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It’s a sad story but it also made my heart happy. I cried and smiled during the reveal and I read the scene a few times to let it sink in.

    As usual, Ms. Brant’s ability to blend real historical facts with her awesome imaginations always make for an intriguing story. And it also gets me interested in researching all things Georgian Era. I can’t wait for Deadly Diplomacy!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
    I could not put this book down. On two separate occasions, I read all night long. This is the very best book I've read in a very, very long time. The many twists & turns and intriguing ups and downs literally have your heart in your mouth. I read all 4 books
    back to book. I can hardly wait for the next book, "Deadly Desire."
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2022
    The fourth in the series, this is the story of an eerie killing of a young boy who was poaching deer on Alec’s land. Many of our favorite characters are here as well as new ones (some unsavory). Add the facts that Alec is uncovering details of his parentage, Plantagenet Halsey is desperate to keep secrets, and Selina is close to giving birth to their firstborn. Just like Lucinda Brant’s other books, there’s no shortage of intrigue throughout. Overall it’s a very good read with a satisfying end.
    In the Audible version the narrator was good, especially considering he had to follow Alex Wyndham who narrated the first three books. He was, however, a bit flat in places.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Beatrix Fitze
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me up all night
    Reviewed in Germany on December 11, 2019
    I work, I need my sleep - but this book held me so spellbound I didn’t care. “The beast lay dead at their feet”... The first line of the prologue immediately had me intrigued. “Wrapped in a silk banyan...” Well, The beginning of chapter one was both a relief and a reason to settle my nerves for the sleep that then had to wait until the early hours! How Lucinda Brant worked out this intricate plot baffles me. It’s a fascinating story and rooted in historical fact, a combination that I love. I’m definitely buying the next book!
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Georgian fiction.
    Reviewed in Australia on January 28, 2021
    Nobody writes fiction in the Georgian era better than Lucinda Brant. Her love of the period and her meticulous research make her novels such a pleasure to read. I love the wealth of descriptive detail that she provides - and all so beautifully written.
  • Carol Cork
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another brilliant addition to this excellent series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2021
    This is the fourth book in the Alec Halsey Mysteries and, once again, Lucinda Brant weaves a gripping tale of murder and shocking family secrets. While this book can be read as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the other books in the series first to fully appreciate this one. It’s no hardship as each one is excellent in its own right.

    Alec and Selina have removed from London to Deer Park, the Halsey ancestral home in Kent, to await the birth of their first child. This is no quiet retreat however, as the long-neglected Jacobean manor house is in desperate need of modernisation to make it habitable. Overseeing the work provides a welcome distraction from Alec’s fears over Selena and the forthcoming birth.

    However, when a young boy is found brutally murdered, and his workmen discover a secret vault below the flagstones, Alec is determined not only to find the murderer but also to uncover the secrets the vault holds. The more he investigates, the more certain he becomes that the murder, the vault, and the conspiracy of silence that pervades among the villagers, are all interconnected in some way. But Alec is unaware that in uncovering the truth, everything he thought he knew about his past will be turned upside down.

    The chilling Prologue sets the scene for an intricately plotted story in which Ms. Brant builds the suspense with plenty of unexpected twists and turns, leading to a dramatic climax. The identity of Alec’s father has always been the subject of conjecture and it is one of the revelations in this story, although I did already have my suspicions. Alec has always believed that his mother simply abandoned him, but the truth is far more complex, and the letter she leaves in the vault for Alec is both heartbreaking and strangely uplifting, so much so, that it brought tears to my eyes.

    I enjoyed the quiet moments of intimacy between Alec and Selina which provided a welcome contrast to the darker elements of the story. I loved how they are so attuned to one another’s thoughts and I could certainly sympathise with Alec’s fears about childbirth.

    Ms. Brant’s books are always rich in history and detail, creating a strong sense of place - of being transported back to the Georgian era. I like how the Black Act and Gavelkind (full details are provided in the Author’s Notes) are woven into and form the backbone of the story.

    As with all her books, there is an extensive, well-developed and colourful cast of secondary characters, many of whom were introduced in the previous books.

    - Alec’s irascible, republican uncle, Plantagenet Halsey, (who seems to be hiding secrets of his own), and Alec’s formidable, aristocratic godmother, Olivia, The Duchess of Romney St. Neots, who have formed a most unlikely romantic attachment.

    - Hadrian Jeffries, Alec’s valet, and apothecary, Thomas (Tam) Fisher, whose devotion to Alec brings them together as unexpected allies.

    - Clive Vesey, Earl of Cobham, Selina’s idiot brother and Head of the Foreign Department, who supplies some much needed light relief.

    ”I want to strangle someone every time I trip over a confounded cushion or Lady Cobham shoves a bowl of that Frenchie stuff under m’nose and tells me to sniff. Once got a piece of dried orange peel lodged up a nostril. Painful bloody business!”

    The other secondary characters provided an abundance of potential murder suspects.

    MY VERDICT: Another brilliant addition to this excellent series and I’m looking forward to meeting up with my favourite characters again soon in DEADLY DIPLOMACY.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous writer ,fabulous series.
    Reviewed in Australia on September 7, 2020
    Absolutely awesome story and the whole series had me riveted . Thanks for another absorbing tale so well written and researched.
  • cheryl
    4.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing mystery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2019
    I did enjoy this book very much. Alec is home with his wife and awaiting the arrival of their baby. There are two mysteries to clear up, one in the present day ( who is the murderer) and one connected to the past that seems to involve a number of people. I certainly didn’t work out who was the murderer as there were a number of possibilities. Alec also gets to know the truth about his birth. There are a number of interesting secondary characters and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

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