Delightful, cleverly plotted, well-developed characters and TWO mysteries that will keep you guessing right to the end. If you love Sebastian St. Cyr, Alec Halsey, Captain Lacey, etc. you will love this book as well. I believe this is Quincy’s first foray into writing a mystery, but it sure doesn’t seem like it.

Atlas Catesby, youngest son of a baron, is a restless wanderer. He is brilliant and solutions to complex puzzles just leap out at him – when he is calm and can concentrate. To ‘relax’ for concentration he often works on impossible picture puzzles that he special orders because ordinary ones aren’t enough of a challenge. For all of that brilliance, he is filled with guilt and that guilt causes him to constantly be in rescue mode – especially for damsels in distress. Hopefully, he’ll work through that guilt through the course of the series and come to realize he has no blame for what happened to his sister.

Lilliana Warfield is a strong, resilient, intelligent woman but she is also very soft and loving inside. Since the age of sixteen, she has been married to a monster. While he doesn’t physically abuse her, he uses whatever form of mental torture he can think up. Yet she manages to remain sane and defiant and produces two beautiful sons that she loves with all her heart. She also hides a secret that she cannot let anyone discover.

There are several other characters in the book that I hope will become the ‘supporting cast’ of the series. (1) The Earl of Charlton is Atlas’ very good friend. He also seems to have a tendre for Atlas’ married older sister. Will be interesting to see if something happens there or if he just loves teasing her or what. (2) Mrs. Thea Palmer, Atlas’ sister, and a mathematician. She is married but we never meet her husband because they live separately though they care for each other. Will be interesting to figure out that whole relationship. (3) Peter and Robin, Lilliana’s children. Delightful little scamps who just need some love and attention – especially from a caring male. (4) The Duke of Somerville is someone I won’t explain, you’ll just have to read the book to find all of his relationships, but he is a very dear and caring young man.

I won’t give you a blow-by-blow of the book because you can get the gist of the story from the blurb that the publisher has developed. What you should know is that there are many twists and turns and so very many possible culprits. The murder victim is a really nasty, hateful man and you are actually happy to see him gone – the only reason to care who the real murderer is – is because Bow Street is thinking that the murderer is either Lilliana or Atlas! The real murderer will be a surprise.

Lilliana and Atlas have a real attraction between them, but circumstances make Atlas think there is no chance of a future for them. So, we will have to wait and wonder if Lilliana and Atlas get together in a future book or will they each find happiness with someone else. Since I love both of them, I’m hoping for them getting together.

"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

"Murder in Mayfair" is a well-constructed, interesting murder mystery, but I was particularly interested in the representation of the Regency time. The author based her story on the practice that a man could sell his wife, which seems to be outrageous from today's point of view and is also an action that the protagonist condemns, but it was still permissible. But the the time period is also otherwise authentically represented; many small details have been woven into the story, which enriches it and makes it more realistic. Even though the reader is most likely not in agreement with all the views that the characters hold, they are nevertheless comprehensible and believable for their background and time period.

The author has succeeded in making sure that the reader is emotionally invested. One suffers with Lilliana, can understand Atlas' desire to help her and finds the husband, the later victim, detestable. I must say that his death could not really move me; Because of his character it was also not surprising that there were a lot of people who hated him and had a sufficient motive for the murder - including, of course, the protagonist and Lilliana, which makes the whole situation precarious. Atlas' investigations were therefore very interesting and although some connections were evident early on, there are convincing false leads and surprising twists so that the story is not predictable and gripping. The resolution was plausible and fit the plot;
The potential for further cases is definitely there, and the complex personal relationships can also provide a lot of material for more books, so I am curious about the second volume.

i love historical mysteries and this one was such a treat! Atlas is an intriguing, clever character and I hope this will be a series, because I would love to learn more about him. The story moved at a good pace and the author really illustrates the setting very well. Recommended!

What a sparkling, wonderful first book of a series! From the first page I was completely hooked. The characters are all engaging, the mystery is fascinating and the relationships are poignant and somehow current even though written about the Regency period. The only way I could deal with the perfect ending was knowing that more is to come. I can't be soon enough for me!

I love a good historical British mystery, and this one did not disappoint! Good plot, and well executed, and author Quinn did a wonderful job with her cast of characters. I look forward to future books in this series.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in Mayfair in the first book in a new series, and I'm looking forward to the future installments. I love a good historical mystery, and really enjoyed this book.

The book is set in 1814 England. Atlas Catesby and his friend, the Earl of Charlton, have stopped for the night at a country inn. Atlas is an adventurer and loves to solve puzzles, so when he hears yelling outside he and his friend go investigate. They find a Mr. Warwick offering his wife Lilliana for sale to the highest bidder. Atlas is outraged and makes the "purchase", and decides to reunite her with her family. As a gentleman, he suspects that Lilliana comes from a good family based on her bearing and her words.

The next day they go to London, and Lilliana tells Atlas she has no family except for her two sons she has left behind. Atlas leaves her to stay at his sister's house, and goes to speak to Mr. Warwick at his haberdashery in London to negotiate reuniting Lilliana with her children. Mr. Warwick sends a note, and when Atlas comes to the appointment, he finds Mr. Warwick dead.

Atlas realizes that he and Lilliana are suspects, and that he must solve the murder to clear their names. The Bow Street runners are involved (the police in this era), and Atlas shares what he learns with them. As the story progresses, more about Lilliana's past and her family are revealed.

There's no shortage of suspects in this book, which I enjoyed because I didn't guess the murderer until the end of the book. The plot was interesting and moved along quickly. The characters were interesting and well developed. There were a few archaic English words and phrases used, but nothing that was difficult to understand.

I definitely recommend this book, especially to historical mystery lovers.

D. M. Quincy has written a series debut novel. “Murder in Mayfair” is an Atlas Catesby Mystery and the first one in the series. The story takes place in 1814 in England, where Atlas and friend have stopped at an inn for some sustenance. After hearing a commotion in the yard, they investigate and find that a husband is auctioning off his wife to the highest bidder. Sensing that the woman is high born and disgusted at the spectacle taking place, Atlas makes a winning bid determined to see her to her family. However, the woman, Lilliana, has been forced to leave her two boys behind. When the woman’s husband is murdered, Atlas must solve the mystery to keep himself and Lilliana from being suspects. As the story continues, there are many suspects to choose from.

I thought the novel was well planned and executed. The characters were very likable and I enjoyed reading about the time period as well. I have a feeling that Ms. Quincy’s series about Atlas Catesby and his puzzles will be well received and successful. I will be looking for the next book in the series.

I received a Kindle copy from NetGalley.com for my review.

The characters are delightful and the development of a relationship that is not to be despite clear attractions in a mystery where class allegiances are at fault and yet complied with in the end. The maverick younger son who denies the importance of society, and the close friend who is a high placed nob are perhaps cliched themes but they are done well here. What got me down is the gallantry that we are both supposed to admire and yet also to agree to deride - it all turns on a woman's secret and her humiliation in public - and then the uncovering of another secret also wound around a woman's humiliation and a crime against her that she could not reveal. It's not the attitude of the author which is surely unhappy with the misogyny of the laws of the time as to social class and women's place in the law in those times but it lacks an edginess that would have lifted it out of the mire of social history. I suppose if the crime of the husband's petrating on his wife had been more effectively perceived as heinous ( it is al muffled here a bit although we are told it is humiliating) - it's a weird crime anyway because it has to do with laws that are so outdated they cannot seem to have teeth even then. In any case, perfectly polished and pleasant entertainment, just it does not match up to its fictional aspirations.

Set in Regency England, Atlas Catesby, Gentleman and youngest son of a baron, is travelling home, .when, passing through a country village, he discovers a woman apparently being auctioned off to the highest bidder, by her husband. (shades of Thomas Hardy here). So far so unlikely, however after he gallantly rescues her, he finds out she has two small children whom her husband will not let her visit, and as the laws in England at that time, made wives chattels of their husbands, she cannot get custody).
Atlas decides to help her, but soon after, her husband is murdered. It looks as though Lilliana is the most likely suspect.. Atlas begins to investigate and discovers many secrets and people who would be glad to see the back of Lilliana's husband. But who actually murdered him?
An entertaining and intriguing tale of jealousy, love and murder, The characters are brought vividly to life with a great plot, and the pleasing manners of the regency period. There were a few little words used that jarred a little, such as varmint - used towards the end of the book, and I think more of an american word than an English one, but that aside I would rate it as a very good read.
I will definately look out for another book by this author especially if it features Atlas Catesby, who is an immensely likeable character.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. I'm always on the lookout for a good historical mystery series and this series has been added to my list of favorites series. Atlas Catesby is traveling back from a visit to Bath with his friend the Earl of Charlton when he comes across a commotion at an inn. He finds that a local gentleman (Warwick) is selling his wife to the highest bidder; being a true gentleman and haunted by the death of his oldest sister he finds himself "buying" the young woman. Lilliana doesn't trust her savior and soon runs off to re-unite with her sons. Finding herself facing the goal, Lilliana ends up traveling to London with Atlas and installed at his sister's house. After several run ins with her husband (who owns a haberdashery in London) and determining that she has little hope of seeing her sons unless her husband relents, Atlas finds Warwick dead. Finding himself and Lilliana suspected by the Bow Street Runner, he determines he will need to find the killer himself. There are no lack of suspects with motives which keeps both Atlas and the reader on their toes until the killer is finally revealed. A mystery surrounding Lilliana's background prior to her marriage and intriguing secondary characters including Charlton, Atlas's family, and a duke help keep the reader entertained until the final sentence. I can't wait to read the next entry in this new series.