The Disappearance of Lady Edith by Christina McKnight
The Undaunted Debutantes #1

Potential is there but there were so many things that didn’t ring true. I can’t imagine a young “lady” in early 1800’s London being allowed to run free without a chaperone whether on a horse or without one. Being up in a tree spying? Leaving public gardens to follow a man…and into a questionable neighborhood? Three friends searching for the killer of their friend might be possible just as they might desire to prevent other young women from making horrendous marital mistakes BUT in that day and age and economic strata women were bargained off on the marital market with little say in the matter and the freedoms and access to newspapers the three had seems a bit fantastical. The hero might be a hunk but he did not seem to have many if any redeeming qualities and the relationship between him and Edith seemed…unlikely.

If you are looking for a fantasy rather than a historical novel this series might be for you. I cannot recommend it as “historically accurate” though. Would I read more of the series? Perhaps – to find out who killed Tilda and to find out what else the author might decide to have the young women get up to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barclay Publicity for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars

Full review soon.

This book has a great concept, but I struggled with all the mistakes. E.g.: there is no such thing as a "marquis" in the English peerage; it's a marquess. The name "Triston" is wholly American (not appropriate for an aristocratic English hero). And it's *couldn't* care less.

Great concept, highly readable prose, but the editing and research were disappointing.

This is a good solid historical romance with a good plot. I was hooked from the start.

This novel was an enjoyable and quick read. The plot flowed very quickly and had a few twists. This novel contains romance, mystery, and adventure.
Ladies Edith, Lucianna, and Ophelia found one of their best friends dead after she supposedly fell down the stairs. Their friend had just married a duke and one of them heard an argument between them. This leads them to prove that the duke was responsible for their friend's death.
Lady Edith Pelton is caught spying on the duke by Triston Neville, Viscount Torrington. It was quite entertaining how their first meeting went. Triston wants to know why she is on the property but Edith gets away before he learns her name. Triston has his own issues to deal with, especially after the woman he was betrothed to married his father. He also has to escort his sisters to various functions, where he sees Edith again.
Edith follows Triston one day to get some "information" on him but he catches her. Edith gives him her notebook, which has notes about the duke and any encounters he has had with others. Edith leaves and then shortly later goes missing. Triston needs to put the clues together to find her before it is too late while Edith tries to figure out who took her and why? Will Triston find Edith in time? What is the kidnappers motive? Read and find out!!

One tragic night changed sensible, proper Lady Edith Pelton’s life: when her best friend Tilda fell to her death from plummeting down a flight of stairs on her wedding night. Did she fall down the flight of stairs or was she pushed by her new husband the Duke of Abercorn. Now, Edith & her friends Ophelia & Lucianna dedicate their time watching the man they think is responsible, whilst gathering information to expose other scoundrels posing as gentlemen of honour about London. But when her spying is noticed by a perfect stranger, Lord Torrington things take an unexpected turn.
This was a quick, easy & entertaining read, the pace was very good & it kept me reading to the end. There is mystery, kidnapping as well as romance. The characters are well portrayed & have plenty of depth. Triston is trying to avoid scandal after he was the centre of a huge one a couple of years earlier, he’s everything you want in a hero & I could definitely relate to Luci’s vision of him pulling a cart! This is the first in a new series & is a very good series opener & I look forward to the rest of the series where the truth about Tilda’s death will be revealed. Tilda is level-headed & I’m only glad she was a modern woman & was wearing drawers when she tumbled from the tree.

I really liked Triston and Edith and thought their story was cute. Be prepared it reads more like a short story than a novel and fees rushed at times.