Tag: Mystery

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Review: Murder in Season (Lady of Letters #3) by Mary Winters

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Murder in Season (Lady of Letters #3) by Mary Winters

I have loved this series since the first book! I thought it was such a cute series especially with the Lady Agony parts at the beginning of each chapter. It has been a solid, well written, fun series so far. So naturally when this book came up for review it was an easy yes for me! This is a great series for fans of other ‘Lady Detective’ mysteries such as Veronica Speedwell, Lady Darby, or Lady Sherlock.

I know when the series came out, Bridgerton was super popular and I feel like every book that was historical fiction has the marketing pitch of ‘the next Bridgerton’, this book included! I was like how is a mystery novel going to be like Bridgerton? I anticipated this series being more about the romance than a mystery but I was pleasantly surprised that the book really was less about the romance and more about the mystery. The romance is cute and charming but nothing like Bridgerton. It really is more of a Lady Detective novel for me than romance at all!

If you enjoy historical mysteries and are looking for something new and fun, this is one you absolutely need on your radar! It is well written, funny, charming, and has a touch of romance. The mysteries are also equally engaging. Basically I am saying you don’t want to miss this one! I would say that the books should be read in order, while not wholly necessary, I felt like the story made more sense having read the other books first as well las the relationships between the characters as this book dives a bit more into the romantic interest. So reading the other books might be helpful!

Summary

Join Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury as she tries to juggle a new Season and a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.

“A beautiful debutante, a wealthy widow, and a dead would-be baron. What could be more exciting?”

Countess by day, secret advice columnist by night, Amelia Amesbury has life happily balanced on a quill’s edge . . . until her sister Margaret shows up in London under a blanket of scandal and Amelia is catapulted out of mourning and into the ton’s unforgiving Season.

However Madge’s Season debut is marred by a rather inconvenient death at the dining table as the infamous Mr Radcliffe takes ill and is later confirmed dead by poisoning. With Madge being the last person to have cross words with the soon-to-be baron, the ton’s gossip mill – and the police – are looking to pin the murder on her.

Adding to the ton’s troubles is a jewellery thief targeting the most lavish of Society’s houses. Is the murderer and the thief one in the same? It falls to Amelia once again to uncover the secrets buried deep within the pages before her sister goes down for the crimes.

Perfect for fans of witty historical mystery and Regency romances with a similar feel to Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey (summery from Goodreads)

Review

The one thing I was looking forward to in this book is the introduction of Amelia’s family. Up until now the focus has really been on Amelia and her life as a widow and navigating her ‘child’. Now in this book we get to really dive into her own family dynamics with the introduction of her sister. I really liked how Simon sort of took a back seat in this book with Amelia and her sister being the ones who really focus on solving the mystery. There was also another love interest introduced for Amelia which I loved how that dynamic moves the larger narrative forward. I have definitely felt frustrated by Simon’s reluctance to move forward with Amelia and I think this book helps move things along.

The mystery itself was enjoyable. I liked the jewel thief angle and I thought the mystery unfolded well with some twists along the way. The mystery wasn’t overly long or complicated but it held my interested and I loved watching Amelia and Madge work together to solve this. They are spunky, funny, and memorable which worked very well for two ‘lady detective’ in this mystery. It is a witty mystery and I think fans of those classic historical mysteries that are well written, smart, and quirky will enjoy this one.

The only criticism I had for this one was I wish it was a little longer. It’s only 240 pages, I would have liked to have seen a little more development either with the characters or a few more twists within the mystery to give readers a more complete reading. Most historical mysteries run about 320-350 pages so this one felt like it could have been a little longer to give us more of the things we love about this one! Overall though another enjoyable addition and probably my favorite in the series so far! Do not miss this series!

Book Info and Rating

Format 240 pages, Hardcover

Published December 3, 2024 by Severn House

ISBN 9781448314041 (ISBN10: 1448314046)

ASIN English 1448314046

Free review copy provided by publisher, Severn House in partnership with Austen Prose Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: historical fiction, detective novel, mystery, cozy mystery.

WHERE TO BUY (AFFILIATE LINKS)

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Cover Reveal: A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Cover Reveal: A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman

What is a rainy fall with a cozy mystery? Nothing get’s me more excited about reading than the fall and winter seasons! I love curling up with a good book (especially a cozy mystery) in front of the fire! While this book might not be out until JUNE, just seeing this cover makes me so excited for it! I have read Dianne Freeman’s other books in this series and they are so well written and entertaining! If you re looking for a new book to get excited about then look no further! Check out all the details here and feast your eyes on this lovely cover!

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Frances and George are enjoying some well-deserved leisure time in Paris when an old acquaintance from London, Alicia Stoke-Whitney, seeks Frances’s help to investigate a personal matter. Alicia’s daughter is being courted by Carlson Deaver, a wealthy American shadowed by a very suspicious tragedy.

Less than a year ago, Carlson’s wife, a former actress, was murdered, her body discovered in one of the more dubious quartiers in Paris. Though authorities guess it was a robbery gone wrong, no one was ever brought to justice. Until Daniel Cadieux, Inspector for the Sûreté, follows a startling new lead. None other Sarah Bernhardt, legendary icon of the Paris stage, receives a piece of jewelry stolen from the victim, along with an incriminating note: I know what you did.

It opens a new door for the Hazeltons’ investigation, as well. But not a soul believes that the Divine Sarah would become entangled in something so disreputable as murder—even if she and the late Mrs. Deaver did have a history of theatrical clashes. Amid questions of revenge, blackmail, scandals, and secrets, more poisoned pen letters follow, and suspects abound. Now it’s up to Francis and George to infiltrate the most elite social circles of Paris, and find a culprit before another victim faces their final act.

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Review: Murder Road by Simone St James

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Murder Road by Simone St James

Simone St James is an auto buy author for me. I have read all her books, some multiple times and she is one of my most recommended authors when people are looking for a thriller. Even if you aren’t a fan of ghost stories, her books have a strong thriller/murder mystery component that generally off set the paranormal in the book. This book has been on pre-order for me for MONTHS and I couldn’t wait to read this book. I did read it in one day which is pretty standard for me with her books.

This book had a lot of 1990s nostalgia which was a big draw for me. Being set in 1995, I was excited to time travel in a way back to my teen years and a time when things were simpler. I think the lack of technology in a book and murder mystery like this really added to the sense of ‘unknown’ for me. It wasn’t entirely unheard of for teens to hitchhike still back then, and of course there was no ‘grid’ for them to fall off of so all of this added to the undercurrent of unknown in this book.

If you love thrillers and solid mysteries, and maybe you want to dabble in some supernatural elements or perhaps you are a die hard paranormal fan, wither way there is something for readers to love in this book. I highly recommend any of St James’s books. I never feel disappointed or underwhelmed when I pick up one of her books. Naturally there are books by her that I like more than others but overall I never feel like ‘darn I wasted my time with that one’ I always feel like I read a good story and was fully entertained beginning to end!

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Review: A Grave Robbery (Veronica Speedwell #9) by Deanna Raybourn

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: A Grave Robbery (Veronica Speedwell #9) by Deanna Raybourn

I discovered author Deanna Raybourn many years ago. I love all her books. She has written some wonderful historical mystery series that I will forever cherish, this series being at the top of that list. Veronica is such a wonderful character and I have loved watching her and Stoker grow together as a couple and in their friendship throughout the course of the series.

Naturally this was on the TOP of my TBR list for this year. There have been times though where I have felt like maybe this series could have wrapped up but it is hard to say good bye to characters that you have become attached to. I do think that once a series goes past about 5-6 books it gets to be a little much—not always but occasionally. I definitely felt that way when I read book 8 in this series. But I love the characters so much that I felt compelled to come back to this series for another installment.

If you are finding this series for the first time with this book, I HIGHLY suggest going back to read the books from beginning to end as this book especially would be a challenge to jump into as there are other threads from previous books in this one. I am excited that this isn’t the last book in the series yet, I think there is still more to be had in the narratives—-plus I love this series and even if I feel like it could wrap up, that doesn’t mean I want it to!

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Review: Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters #2) by Mary Winters

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters #2) by Mary Winters

I absolutely adored the first book in this series! I loved the idea of an advice column as a catalyst for a murder investigation (which is how the first book starts!) and while I didn’t think I would like reading the advice columns at the beginning of each chapter—it grew on my and now I love it! A cozy mystery with some romance was just what I needed going into the long winter months. I started this book in early January and was done with it in a matter of days and naturally I am anxious for the next book in the series to come out and sadly I am going to have to wait another year I bet!

I know the reading market is somewhat saturated with historical cozy mysteries/romances, but for me this one stood out for the advice column as a way to get readers ‘in the door’ as it were—it had a little overtones of Bridgerton with the advice column—but readers will stay for the charming characters and mystery! That’s how this series got me, I liked the idea of the story, but fell in love with Amelia and Simon and now I have a new favorite series on my list!

While this is only the second book in this series, I hope that it will be a long running one! This one can be read as a standalone, but there are some elements that readers won’t fully appreciate unless they read it in order. Since this is only book two you obviously don’t have to go back and read a ton of books. So if you are new to the series, sure read this one but also go back and read the first book. You wont’ regret it!

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