I was very excited to find this book, having loved all Heyer's historicals, but now am afraid to try any more of her mysteries.  Her writing is excellent: fully formed characters, great descriptions, spot-on depiction of the surroundings and times.  Very atmospheric, so why did I hate this so much?  The family tyrant , Penhallow, has absolutely no redeeming features.  I could hardly wait for him to be killed off so I wouldn't have to read any more of his rants.  None of the other characters, although beautifully depicted and described, are at all likeable either.  Well, maybe one, a minor chacter named Clifford, but even he has a hateful wife.  I definitely did not expect the humor and style of Heyer's Regencies.  In fact , I was very  impressed by her skill with a modern-day story,  but what a slog this was !