I adore Venetia. I think it's because it's so unashamedly romantic. And because I have an enormous crush on quite fancy Damerel. And the secondary characters are also fab. Especially Oswald.

I have read two (possibly three) of her detective stories and I did quite enjoy them, but then I am never someone who reads detective fiction for the sake of the plot. I agree that the social prejudices are sometimes a little too sharp and less forgiveable than in the historicals.