| Title | : | A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #6) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 149673162X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781496731623 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published June 27, 2023 |
Kate is charming and intelligent, though perhaps not quite as sheltered as she might first appear. More worrying to Frances is the Viscountess’s sudden deterioration. The usually formidable dowager has become shockingly frail, and Frances suspects someone may be drugging her. The spotlight falls on Kate, who stands to inherit if her aunt passes, yet there are plenty of other likely candidates within the dowager’s household, both above and below stairs.
Joining forces with her beloved George, Frances comes to believe that the late Viscount, too, was targeted. And with the dowager seeming to be in greater danger every day, they must flush out the villain before she follows in her husband’s footsteps, directly to the grave . . .
A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #6) Reviews
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Happy publication day!
Investigating murder with Frances and George is always a treat, I’m so honored to be able to review this arc!
Frances has been asked to sponsor Miss Stover, a niece of the dowager Viscountess Lady Winstead. It soon turns out that the job comes with perks - we’re investigating!! 🥳There is something wrong about that family; the Viscountess’s condition is becoming worrisome and her niece suspects that she is being drugged. In the meantime a priceless journal of the late Viscount goes missing and coincidentally George is tasked to find it so our lovebirds can join forces to solve this puzzle.
Either I’m very distracted lately (I know I am 😂 ) or this mystery was more mysterious than the previous ones. I had no idea what the answers were until the very end. (As if I knew in the previous books 🤣.) The clues were scarce and red herrings aplenty so good luck detectives!
I was also a little disappointed that George was mostly absent and Frances did ALL the job. I liked other characters though, Hetty and Gilliam are getting more and more interesting and the two snarky old ladies provided lots of entertainment.
I enjoyed this book but unfortunately not as much as the previous ones so three stars this time.
I strongly recommend reading this series in order even though the mystery itself is a separate storyline.
Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Buddy reading with my favorite detective
Deema ♡
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Approved for the arc!!! 🍾🎈🎉🎊🥳🥳🥳 -
Another cozy read! I find this series to be a comforting treat, though the mysteries themselves are always different and not easily solved, the consistency of the characters, the humour and the historic elements just make me happy. They aren’t rip roaring, exciting reads, but still very enjoyable.
I found George to be very adorable in this one and we saw some slice of life of his and Frances’ marriage, which I liked. The mystery itself was all Frances though and I missed those elements of spying and solving with George that were more prevalent in the other books in the series. I did enjoy seeing Aunt Hetty shine in this one with her boy toy Gilliam, those two added a great comedic element and I’d actually love to read about them in their own spin off series.
So fans of cozy mysteries with wit and warmth should pick up this series, I recommend starting at the beginning, though all the mysteries are contained, the character arcs and romance develop over the course of the series.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. -
The sixth book in this very enjoyable series and I have read them all.
Frances, Countess of Harleigh, is now married to George and the two of them plus her daughter Rose have formed a very happy little family. There is no time for a honeymoon though because George is investigating a case for the British Museum and Frances has found herself sponsoring a young woman called Kate in her presentation to the Queen.
Kate is in a very unhappy situation, staying with an elderly relative who appears to be being slowly poisoned. Then a murder occurs and Frances puts on her detective hat and begins an investigation. Curiously it seems to overlap with George's case as well.
I enjoyed the mystery and had no idea who the murderer might be. There were many possible suspects and, when events reached a climax, Frances had no idea who it was either. It was all good fun, Frances and George together were delightful and fully expect the next book to be a honeymooners guide to love and murder.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. -
This is book 6 in the Countess of Harleigh series and while I haven’t read the earlier books I still greatly enjoyed this one. It is a great concept to have a Countess as an amateur sleuth and I have to admit she was a great character. Lady Harleigh has volunteered to help present an old acquaintance’s niece to the queen and society but on her first night there it is clear something is wrong because the Lady of the house isn’t loved by her stepchildren and she is sick with a mysterious illness and hasn’t seen a doctor. Of course Lady Harleigh needs to investigate more and her trying to wade through the house’s drama was pretty amazing. I definitely will be reading more of these books, it was the perfect mix of cozy mystery and historical fiction.
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3.5 stars. I have pretty generous standards for cozy mysteries. I primarily read for fun, and while I like a challenge, I won't be disappointed if I'm not totally stumped. The Countess of Harleigh series meets those standards - it's clever, witty and pleasant reading.
This installment features newlyweds Frances and George on separate but overlapping missions: finding a lost journal of critical archeological significance AND investigating the suspected poisoning of its owners. The beginning was strong, but it lost steam near the middle and became repetitive. However, there was a neat twist that reengaged my interest. Overall, it was an enjoyable and solid, if not the strongest, entry in the series. -
‘ware the elderly Doyennes of the Ton.
A welcomed dive into the latest doings of the former Lady Hartleigh and her husband George Hazelton. Frances has been asked by Vicountess Winstead to sponsor her niece’s presentation to the Queen. What could go wrong? A fortunate opportunity for George to ask for Frances’s assistance in looking around Lady Winstead’s rooms for the deceased Viscount Winstead, Lord Peter’s journal. It lists the Egyptian artifacts he’d obtained in his travels, including the journal, that were all willed to the British museum. The journal has disappeared
It turns out that someone is drugging Lady Winstead with laudanum, and a murder occurs. The niece might be more than she appears and Frances finds herself negotiating with two truly frightening older women of the ton who wreak havoc wherever their attention lands.
An enjoyable Victorian mystery.
A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.) -
What a deliciously fun Victorian cozy mystery this sixth book in the "Countess of Harleigh Mystery" series was.
Our plucky protagonist, newlywed Frances Hazelton, (former Countess of Harleigh), has been requested to present to the Queen, the Devon country niece of an aging acquaintance, Lady Winstead. Frances embraces the task, heads off to the Ashley home to meet with Lady Winstead and her new charge, Miss Kate Stover. While taking tea, Lady Winstead collapses and is carried to her room. By all accounts, Lady Winstead's health has suffered tremendously in the few short months since her husband's death. Meanwhile, Frances' husband, George Hazelton, has been tasked with recovering Lord Winstead's expedition diary on behalf of the British Museum. The journal is to accompany the Egyptian collection which Lord Winstead had amassed on a number of expeditions. The new Lord Winstead had been hesitant to release it and recently found that it was stolen. By observation, Frances finds the behavior of all of Lady Winstead's stepchildren unsettling and it raises concerns regarding Lady Winstead's welfare. A sudden death occurs and Frances is soon on the case with George.
Author Dianne Freeman does a spectacular job of spinning a yarn replete with many red herrings, twists and turns. Her discussion of the pitfalls within polite society resulting in scandal is well laid out and based in historical fact. The double standard between the sexes of Victorian England as to what passes as acceptable behavior among aristocrats is well illustrated. The constrictions placed on polite society are also well described and most informative. Ms. Freeman's writing is engaging and well crafted, carrying the reader toward a satisfying conclusion of this twisted tale.
I am grateful to author Dianne Freeman and Kensington Publishing Corps. for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publication Date: June 27, 2023
Pages: 304
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
ISBN: 978-1496731623 -
3 stars
I did enjoy this one but maybe not much as the previous one as it is very, very repetitive.
Looking forward to the next one though . -
I do enjoy this series but while the first couple weren’t very compelling in the mysteries I kept reading because I loved George and Francis, so I would like to see a few more cute moments of them and Rose. I also felt that the twist at the end was random - what did Violet have to gain? All she did was complain about being in mourning which would continue to be extended every time she murdered someone? And making an appointment to go murder someone was extremely random.
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As Fran and George adjust to married life they continue going about their own business. For George, this means a mysterious assignment for the British Museum and for Fran, presenting the Dowager Vsicountess Winstead's niece, Miss Kate Stover, at court. When Fran arrives to meet Lady Winstead and Kate, she discovers something is very wrong in the household. Lady Winstead is confined to a wheeled chair and is barely alive! Only her niece seems to care for her well-being. At least at first. Lady Winstead's friend, Lady Esther, has concerns for Lady Winstead and wants Fran to investigate! Fran comes to believe that someone in the household is drugging Lady Winstead in order to get their hands on her fortune. In a strange turn of events, George's case dovetails with Fran's as a certain journal of Lord Peter Winstead has gone missing and the British Museum wants it as a record of his explorations and discovers to go along with his collection. Why is the journal missing? Is someone intending to sell it? Lady Winstead claimed some jewels were missing too. Did the same person take both? When their prime suspect turns up dead, the newlyweds will have to go deep into the lion's den to figure this one out.
This was such a fun adventure! It's unconventional because the murder doesn't happen until midway through the story and is not the main mystery. I guessed what and I was close to guessing what happened to the journal but there were so many suspects and some twists I didn't expect. I did guess who at the very end but only because it's a novel and that person happened to show up on page. My heart was pounding and I was anxious for Lady Winstead! Aunt Hetty provides the historical background that gives Fran a clue as to what's going on. I was one step ahead of her but Aunt Hetty elaborates for Fran's benefit because Fran was young and sheltered when Nellie Bly spent 10 days in a mad house to expose conditions there. Asylums are convenient ways to rid a family of an inconvenient female relatives. There's also a bit about laudanum again and the history of how it was abused. Other than that, this could be any sort of time before World War II.
What I love most about this series is the partnership between Fran and George. They're mature and she already knows what she wants. They communicate well, most of the time (sometimes Jarvis, the butler has to tell them what they need) and are true partners. George doesn't mind Fran's sleuthing. He wants her to be safe and just ASKS her to leave if she feels the situation is dangerous. She agrees. Easy as that. Hetty and Gilliam are heading in that direction as well. It was fun to have everyone sleuthing together! Even little Rose goes visiting and unknowingly helps her mother spy on Lady Winstead. Lady Fiona also gets some sleuthing action, on the periphery. As always, George's wit makes me laugh. He's such a charmer. I'm glad Fran's family went away and didn't overstay their welcome any more than they already had. She's happier and lighter without them.
None of the new characters are likable or sympathetic. Lady Winstead is a tyrant. She's from the middle class with her own fortune. She married a widower who went off adventuring and left her alone. He had two sons from his first marriage and now Lord Peter is deceased, Lady Winstead lives with his children. She's beastly to them and while they deserve it, she makes no effort to clue them in on her future plans for them and let it be known how the situation stands. I think that makes them resent her and they misunderstand their financial situation. That leads to trouble. Did Sir Peter even die of natural causes or did one of his horrid family members kill him? Lady Esther is Lady Winstead's only friend and she's just as bad. These old ladies think their age gives them leave to say whatever they want to anyone.
Lady Winstead's late husband, Sir Peter, sounds like he was probably a ne'er to well. He spent money like it grows on trees and I have my suspicions about what's in the journal. He was kind and charming though, unlike his GHASTLY children! Lord Jonathon gives me the creeps. He doesn't take anything seriously except money. He seems to want lots of that and doesn't have it or want to earn it. Vi and Si Ashley are like creepy twins. They're a married couple who were actually friends with Fran's first husband. Yikes! Si actually offers his condolences to Fran. Um what? Didn't he get the memo she's remarried and doesn't miss Reggie? All they care about is their own desires and having fun. They continually whine about being in mourning for their father! Extra yikes! The new Viscount Winstead, Lord Jonathon, has a teenage son Andrew who should be at university but is currently home. He has a caustic wit that isn't funny and his jokes are truly mean spirited. He's just as selfish as his father, uncle and aunt.
Fran isn't sure she can even trust Miss Kate Stover, Lady Winstead's niece. Kate is a no-longer very young woman from the country who doesn't seem to want to be in London and make her debut at court. She just wants to be with her aunt and care for her aunt. However, one of Andrew's cruel jokes hits the mark and makes Fran suspicious. Kate's father died, Lord Peter died and now Lady Winstead appears to be dying. Uh-oh! Did she overdose them on laudanum to get her fortune? She has secrets and isn't truly forthcoming with Fran. I'm not sure she can be trusted. Like Fran, I go back and forth on suspecting her. The maid, Aggie, is also a suspect. She may be following Kate to spy on her for Lord Jonathon. She's certainly not very efficient, always lurking about and not interested in relaxing in the servants' hall or gossiping with Bridget. Finally, there's Nurse Plum. Is she being paid to drug Lady Winstead? Did she drug Lady Winstead and steal the jewels and journal to sell? It certainly seems suspicious that Nurse Plum is the one providing Lady Winstead with her daily doses of laudanum.
I just love this series so much and can't wait to see what Fran and George get up to next! -
I love cozy mysteries, and this combo of cozy + historical + romcom is just perfect!
I adore the couple who are this story's main characters. Frances is headstrong and George is intelligent and adequately accommodating, and their conversations are tastefully humorous. At any rate, they're delightful together!
"He snuck a peek at me. I rolled my eyes." 😆
And the friendships with others are fun. After all, everyone needs a friend to talk to about one's suspicions. I think that's what Bookstagram is for!
To top it off, the mystery itself is quite engaging. A fun read, highly recommended! -
Another fun cozy mystery in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series! I’ve loved this series from the very beginning and enjoy the swoony, romcom elements as well as the compelling mysteries. In this story, George is off on another case so Lady Frances does the majority of the investigating by herself. When she’s asked to sponsor the dowager Viscountess Winstead’s niece for her presentation to Queen Victoria, Frances is shocked to find the older woman in surprisingly ill health. Is it a natural deterioration due to old age, or is someone hastening her demise?
There’s a whole host of suspects with various motivations who Frances must ferret out; there’s the nurse whose life takes a frightening turn, the Viscountess’ stepchildren who all have motivations to want her dead, even her niece isn’t who she’s presumed to be. Enlisting the help of her Aunt Hetty and Hetty’s much younger “boyfriend” Gilliam, Frances’s determined to find the truth and stop a murderer before it’s too late.
I so love these mysteries mainly because of the witty dialogue, romance, and bizarre situations Frances finds herself in. This story definitely focused more on the mystery side rather than the romance. I enjoyed meeting new characters and also seeing more of the side characters taking a lead in this one. The Viscountess and her determined friend Lady Esther made me laugh. They’re delightful, spunky older ladies and forces to be reckoned with. It was also fun seeing Hetty and Gilliam getting into the sleuthing act.
The only one I really missed seeing more of was Frances’ husband George. I enjoyed it every time he was on the page and seeing the newlyweds tackle the art of blending two households. Money issues especially with Frances’ wealthy father, and making the best use of their space were all things they needed to grapple with. After all, Frances definitely needs an office if she’s going to keep solving mysteries and sponsoring young ladies.
The mystery really kept me guessing. The suspect and motivation were somewhat of a surprise. There are a lot of red herrings and I almost wish there had been a few more clues because the whodunit really came down to the last few chapters. It’s definitely one that was hard to predict.
While this fun, cozy mystery is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone, though it’s more enjoyable if you’re familiar with all the characters. Highly recommend this and the entire series to cozy mystery and historical mystery fans. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. -
Victorian England has never been so mysterious, dangerous and fun! When the wealthy Viscountess Winstead is suddenly taken ill, Lady Francis begins to suspect someone is trying to murder her.. So many suspects and so little time for Francis, George and a crew of lovable and quirky characters to save the day!
I am new to this series and loved it. The descriptions of life in Victorian England were enjoyable and added to the mystery. I love couples "sleuthing" together and Francis and George were perfect. I was able to follow the story, even though this was my first look at the series. I loved it so much that while I'm waiting for the next installment, I'm reading the other books!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own. -
I enjoy every visit I make with Frances and her family. This one was particularly nice because there was more with Rose, her daughter. However, this was not my favorite in the series as this one tended to drag on in places and I wasn’t as engrossed in the mystery portion. I found the premise of an introduction to the Queen fascinating but it wasn’t enough to hold my interest. Hoping the next one will have more of a mystery.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review. -
This was delightful!
I enjoy them as a married couple tremendously. -
I tried to drag this book out as long as possible because I don’t see any indication that the author is writing another one in this series.
Cozy mystery set in 1900 London. The MC always gets involved in dangerous situations because she is impatient and can’t wait for the police. Then she needs rescuing from the bad guy or gal. Predictable but fun read. -
A Newlywed's Guide to Fortune and Murder is the sixth book following the Countess of Harleigh solving a mystery. In this story the dowager Viscountess Winstead needs someone to sponsor her niece, Kate, for presentation to Queen Victoria. Obviously, Frances is the perfect person to do so. But it seems that someone is trying to poison the dowager, so mystery ensues. What follows is yet another delightful cosy mystery with a wonderful main character. This series also contains one of the very few romances I don't dislike. Frances and George are just great together and their banter actually works. The mystery itself is entertaining, though I did feel the story dragged a bit at times. Overall, this wasn't the strongest book in the series, but still a great read.
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Another delightful romp with Frances and George. Newly married, now Mrs. Hazelton, finds herself mentoring a young woman for her entrance into society. But not all is as it seems with the family.
The story builds slowly, and is quite frankly plodding at times. But there are some moments of intrigue, and enough action to keep it interesting. As always, it is enjoyable to see the banter between the Hazeltons and Aunt Hetty is in fine form. We even get to see a little bit more of Rose. All in all, an enjoyable adventure.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. -
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Countess of Harleigh Mystery #6
Publication Date: 6/27/23
Period: Victorian – 1900 London
Number of Pages: 304
Missing jewels, a missing diary, a dead Viscount, a drugged Viscountess, a dead nurse, and a debutante with secrets will keep you on the edge of your seat in this excellently written and delightfully entertaining story. George Hazelton and his new wife, Frances, the former Countess of Harleigh, have their work cut out for them this time. Not that they exactly knew it was a case in the beginning. George was asked by the British Museum to find a diary that had been left to them by the late Viscount Winstead. They must have the diary to provide the provenance of the artifacts also left to them by the late Viscount, yet it wasn’t turned over to them along with the artifacts. The missing diary makes the artifacts practically worthless. At the same time, Frances has been asked by the dowager Viscountess Winstead to help introduce her niece into society. It is a happy little accident that both of their tasks coincide because Frances has access to the home of the Winsteads and George does not.
The Winsteads win the prize for dysfunctional families. When Frances walks into their home she finds a nearly comatose Viscountess whose illness no one can explain, a new Viscount with no love for his stepmother, and various other family members living off the Viscount. They are venal, disrespectful, and have no thought for anyone other than themselves. However, being dysfunctional, venal, disrespectful, or hateful doesn’t make you a murderer – does it?
With Frances ensconced within the Winstead household, George has plenty to be concerned about. Without him there, there is no one to protect Frances from the murderer who is surely roaming the halls of that house. Frances could easily fall prey to someone clever enough to keep the Viscountess drugged, has committed at least one murder and maybe two, and has stolen some of the Viscountess's jewels. Who can it be? Is it a member of the family? Is it more than one person? Is it the nurse? Is it the viscountess herself perpetrating a hoax? I’ll not tell – you’ll just have to read the book.
I definitely recommend this book and this series. The writing is excellent, the pacing nearly perfect, and the character development will make you want to meet them in person. Well, you’ll want to meet the good ones anyway. It is a fun, entertaining read with a lovely mystery and lots of shenanigans among some of the characters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. -
I enjoyed this installment a lot... Frances has accepted the responsibility of launching a friend's niece into London's social scene. The plot thickens when a mutual friend asks Frances to spend more time at Ashley House, investigating the family. It thickens even more when her new husband, George, asks her to search the house for a missing journal that is wanted by the British Museum. The niece, Kate, is in her late twenties and seems to have her own secrets and her own reasons for being in London, none of which have anything to do with making her curtsey to the Queen. I enjoyed the way the plotlines all twisted together, and seeing Frances and George as a married couple. I will definitely continue with this series.
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I really like this cozy mystery set in the Victorian era and it is one of my favorite summer reads. George and Frances are a great detective couple, but what always makes the difference are the characters around them, first and foremost Aunt Hatty.
Questo cozy mistery ambientato in epoca vittoriana mi piace proprio ed é una delle mie letture estive preferite. George e Frances sono un'ottima coppia di investigatori, ma quello che fa la differenza sono sempre i personaggi che li circondano, prima tra tutti la zia Hatty. -
Another amazing book in this series. As George and Francis are settling into married life, George receives a job from the British Museum to find a missing journal that was supposed to be included in the artifacts they received. Meanwhile Francis receives a request to prepare a young lady to be presented to the queen. Little do they know that their tasks will lead them to the same place. As Frances prepares to meet her charge for the first time another lady shows up and demands to go with her as she is friends with the Aunt of her charge and is concerned that something has happened to her as she has not been allowed to see her. What Frances finds is a hostile household and a woman who is in dire health and seems to be drugged. As Frances investigates she find there are too many suspects and no real way to weed them out.
This book as an absolute page turner. Great pace and a twist at the end that I did not see coming. A must read.
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. -
I love this series so much! I thought it was fun to see Frances take such a major role in this one, though I do love the team she and George make. Bringing in Hetty and Gilliam into the story more was great. I love the cute banter between George and Frances. I want to hear about their wedding trip… maybe that will be in book 7…? They could always meet up with Julia, just saying! Haha
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This is the first book I’ve tried from this series and I’ll definitely be going back and reading those that came before it!
This is a terrifically fun Historical Mystery, solidly plotted, subtly atmospheric, and populated by an excellent cast of characters.
I read so many books in this subgenre that they all start to feel the same after a while. Though this one uses all the standard elements, it felt fresh and original, and has a far better plotted mystery and solve than many in the genre.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.* -
Another enjoyable outing with the Countess of Harleigh, although I did find that this one seemed to drag on a bit.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. -
Enjoying this mystery series, and happy to see that the relationship between Frances and George continues to grow stronger each episode. And the mystery was fun, too!
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As always, I am intrigued by the mystery of these cases. This time around, we have Frances helping dowager Viscountess Winstead and her family, who are drugging her. We aren't sure who and precisely the reason
We do know they need money, and dowager Viscountess Winstead has all the funds and asset.
This one truly gets into the disadvantage women face when the family feels entitled to what they have. They can get committed and or killed quickly with little fuss. -
Frances Wynn, now Mrs. George Hazelton, is back for her fourth mystery set against the background of aristocratic society. Frances and George have been married for two months, still working at merging their lives—and households. And while George has taken a new special mission, Frances has taken on a mission of her own, sponsoring Kate, the niece of the dowager Viscountess Wingate, for her presentation to Queen Victoria. She’s not having the easiest of times. Kate is not only uninterested in becoming a member of society, she’s very worried about her aunt’s sudden deterioration. Is someone in the dowager’s household looking for an early inheritance?
I love a good historical cozy mystery and this series by is one of my favorites. I have been waiting for this new installment to come out, and I definitely was not disappointed. Loved it from the opening page. It is cleverly written with an inventive plot, witty dialogue, and appealing characters. Freeman fills the story with historical elements, details of Victorian social manners, and misdirection, using them to create a fun mystery.
Highly recommend. Next installment soon please! -
I thought this one was less enjoyable than past books in this series.
