The Lone Fox by Evelyn Roland: A Book Review

The Lone Fox

Author: Evelyn Roland

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense

Publisher: IndieSummer Press

Release Date: July 22, 2023

Pages: 324

Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Nothing is ever amiss in the nineteenth-century city of Northampton. That is, until Miss Roberts is mysteriously found dead.

     Against the advice of young Officer Bentley, the victim’s closest friend—Miss Lydia Alderidge—takes it upon herself to solve what the police refuse to accept as murder. However, as the unlikely pair of detectives fall deeper into the case, more and more baffling deaths create a perilous mystery, and the answers they need cross paths with a devious family.

     But will the murderous fox be rooted out before anyone else suffers?     

     My Review: When Lydia Alderidge’s best friend mysteriously dies, the police believe that it was suicide. Lydia is the only one who suspects foul play. She sets out to find who murdered her friend. She gradually teams up with Officer Bentley to solve the murder. As they investigate, more mysterious deaths occur. Can they find the murderer before more deaths occur?

    I absolutely love Lydia Alderidge! She was the classic female Sherlock Holmes type of amateur detective. She was very observant and highly intelligent. She was also a very loyal friend. She was also a very strong character and was independent. Throughout the novel, we learn more surprising details about her that I found fascinating. Thus, I found Lydia to be very entertaining. She made this book very enjoyable.

    Officer Bentley was the other protagonist in this novel. Initially, I disliked him and found him annoying. He was straight-laced and always followed the book. Eventually, he won me over. He cared about the town and its people. I also liked the friendship and gradual romance with Lydia. I thought that they made a great team. Thus, Officer Bentley was a kind and caring hero in the novel.

    Overall, this novel is about secrets, depression, and love. Besides Lydia and Officer Bentley, I did not care for the characters. Many of them were one-dimensional. The storyline was very drawn-out and repetitive. This was especially true in the middle of the novel in which I felt that the story was not going anywhere. It was more like a drama that did not seem to involve Lydia than a murder mystery. Therefore, I felt like the book did not know what it wanted to be. However, I found the ending to be spectacular and it had a twist I never saw coming! While The Lone Fox has its flaws, it was a solid debut! It was a light and entertaining cozy mystery! I hope that there will be more mysteries featuring Lydia Alderidge and Officer Bentley!

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars