Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place

I finished the series.  Do NOT read beyond this if you have not read it before, as there will be spoilers.

OK - so what I LOVED about the series and what I did NOT like.

The first four books are so tightly knit together in their story line and characters.  It is truly such a good mystery, woven page by page and I absolutely LOVE how Penelope Lumley thinks and loves the three Incorrigibles.  I LOVE the adages sprinkled throughout the book and how the author takes time to explain literary concepts in such whimsical ways.  

But book five, although good, was like a sharp turn from the first four.  I thought for sure the author would correct it in book six...I mean we went from hearing about Miss Charlotte Mortimer and Swanburne Academy to barely mentioning them.  It was if the Incorrigible children suddenly grew up by years and Penelope was suddenly different - I can't put my finger on it, but she was just different... 

BUT that was nothing to book six.  

I feel like the author had so many ideas on how to wrap things up, explain the mystery, and tie it all together that it was TOO much crammed into fifteen short chapters.  

1) All of a sudden Lady Constance matures beyond her self-absorption and becomes a mom and is willing to embrace the Incorrigibles (SERIOUSLY?!), 

2) Lord Frederick is a doting husband (WHAT?!?), and he hardly goes to the club?!?!  Is all of a sudden willing to believe his father is still alive (COME ON!).  

3) Frederick's mom (remember her from book three?  This is the first time she is mentioned again, randomly thrown in at the end none the less and wasn't there for the birth of her first grandchild(ren)?!?!).  

4) Not to mention Charlotte Mortimer and the Long Last Lumley's?!?!  And the fact that Penelope is the big sister of the Incorrigible children? And how they told the three Incorrigibles?  And they were all just ok with this?  

All of this unfolds in the last four chapters (not to mention we are also going to randomly throw in Admiral Faucet again).  

I was SO SO disappointed.  

Oh and this is after dedicating so much of book five and the beginning of book six to the horrible Babushkinov family - besides one small passing reference regarding mail, they are never mentioned again after the debacle with Princess Popkinova's emerald ring (how in the world did they navigate the "audition" - did they give the ring to the General or keep it to appease the grandmother once they returned home?!?!)

These are only a sampling of all the rabbit trails the author dove headfirst into without tying them together in any kind of a coherent manner.  I wish she had taken her time with the last two books (she is SUCH a good author) and that she had kept writing in the same whimsical magical ways as she did in the first four books.  

So, as a recap, for the first four books I HIGHLY recommend the series, but with the last two included I would say : seriously adjust your expectations.

PS I also went back and re-read book one (my favorite) - we have read and listened to this one so many times I just jumped straight into book two when I decided to complete the series.