Captain Lacey has accepted a position as the private secretary to Everard Rutledge, headmaster of the Sudbury School.  Lucius Greville, a wealthy and influential man, has arranged the post for his friend Lacey.  Captain Lacey is a penniless dragoon captain on half pay.  Lacey has a bum leg, and he really needs this job. Despite these facts, Captain Lacey and Rutledge do not get along, at all.

Sudbury School is a finishing school for young men of the newly rich.  These young men know that some day they will take their father’s position in the company and command large numbers of employees.  Some students are taking advantage of their family’s new prestige.  However, the job of the Sudbury School staff is to teach them manners.   Unfortunately, the young men of Sudbury School seem to be learning more about murder, theft, and racism.  Each boy feels that he is above the staff because of his parent’s wealth.

I was very happy that Ashley Gardner included a prologue that explained the characters and provided the reader with details from previous books.  This addition made the story enjoyable.  I like Captain Lacey.  He’s a blunt officer who has literally been through the wars and does not suffer fools at all.

It has been a long time since I have read a book set in Regency England.  I’ve forgotten some of the “dialect” of the time, but I assure you that matter does not take away from the enjoyment of the book.

THE SUDBURY SCHOOL MURDERS is one of those books that begins slowly and may seem a little dull at first, but it soon picks up pace.  Ms. Gardner’s writing keeps the reader entranced throughout the book.