This second book in the Poor Relations Hotel was a fun romp. The Kindle edition did suffer a little from typos and I am unsure how historically accurate it is so I am giving this 3 rather than 4 stars. ( )

Stand and Deliver
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2012) of the 1993 original

Unless God send his hail
Or blinding fire balls, sleet or stifling snow,
In some time, his good time, I shall arrive - Robert Browning, used as the epigram for Chapter 1 of Miss Tonks Turns to Crime

Miss Tonks Turns to Crime is the 2nd of 6 books in Marion Chesney's Poor Relation series. The eponymous Miss Tonks sets out from the Poor Relation Hotel to steal some jewelry from her stingy social climbing older sister, in order to support the hotel's finances. She does a rather hapless impersonation of a highwayman in order to deliver the "Stand and deliver!" robbery attempt of a carriage. The plan goes awry, but a sympathetic Lord Eston helps her out. The standard shenanigans ensue with a thwarted romance, a rival hotelier and squabbles at the Poor Relation. This is very light comic fare, but is especially entertaining due to the narration performance of Davina Porter.

I've completed my pandemic listening and reading splurge of cozy mysteries by M.C. Beaton, the penname used by [author:Marion Chesney|50258] (1936-2019) for her popular Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. Chesney first became a writer with various historical romances from 1977 onwards, before branching out into the crime genre with her first Hamish Macbeth in 1985 and first Agatha Raisin in 1992. Other series such as Edwardian Murder Mysteries and the Poor Relation are period historical fiction with light social commentary.

The main draw for these Regency or Edwardian period stories is the narration by veteran [author:Davina Porter|500666] (approx. 230 book narrations to her credit) which is excellent throughout. Porter is especially good with her range of voices that is able to effectively mimic male as well as female tones.

The entire Poor Relation series is available free to Audible Plus members. ( )

Ya gotta love the horrible Sir Philip - filthy, obnoxious, dishonest, but with a good heart in there somewhere. Lots of fun. ( )

Miss Tonks Turns to Crime - Chesney
Audio performance by Davina Porter

A short, lightweight, regency romance, read by the ever entertaining Davina Porter. The book is the second in the Poor Relations series. Poor management and overspending leaves the hotel in serious need of funding. The mildly comical Miss Tonks draws the short straw and is delegated to steal something valuable from her wealthy, despicably selfish, older sister. She fails miserably in her attempt at highway robbery, but is rescued by the dashing Lord Eston. Escaping with the goods, she becomes the chaperone for her beautiful, runaway niece. Absolutely no surprises in the final outcome.

This is not great literature. It’s mildly humorous and pleasantly distracting. A completely non-stressful way to spend four listening hours. ( )

The plans have gone somewhat awry, the Poor Relations Hotel is actually successful but now it needs another cash injection, now it's Miss Tonk's turn and she decides to steal from her sister, who had stolen from her in the first place.

Hijinks ensue and if you look too close things start to crumble but it's a light-hearted fun read all the same. ( )