This is the third in the Lady Frances Ffolkes mystery series by R.J. Koreto.
I was unfamiliar with the series before this installment and it works perfectly well as a standalone mystery. I will be picking up the others in the series.

I really engaged with Lady Frances from the beginning. She's intelligent and well spoken and able to take care of herself. She and her personal maid have a sort of Holmes and Watson dynamic (which Lady Frances refers to often). They're engaged by an elderly family acquaintance to find out what happened to the friend's daughter over 30 years ago. It's the coldest of cold cases and Lady Frances agrees to investigate while maintaining at least some social decorum.

The characters are easy to relate to and well written. The dialogue and narrative flow naturally and are enjoyable. It's a very light fun mystery and the fact that Lady Frances doesn't suffer any real social stigma from her very unconventional lifestyle or habits isn't a deal breaker.

It reminds me a bit of Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series or even Kerry Greenwood's wonderful Phryne Fisher books (but more chaste and cleaner :) I enjoy cozy period mysteries and even though Mr. Koreto's Edwardian London isn't slavishly drawn from real history, it's still easily recognizable as London.

The mystery itself is well written and the denouement is satisfying.

Four stars, well worth a look.

Such a remarkable story and also preferable characters.
I am giving my best shot at reviewing this brilliant book that is one of the best mystery novel I have read so far.

Lady Frances Efolkes is an aristocracy that her father was a marquess and now her brother. She is leading suffrage club in early 1900's society. This story, as her first female consulting detective in London, begins from submitting by her family friend to locate Louisa who ran away from home to be an actress in a theatre 30 years ago. As Lady Frances pursues the trace of Louisa, she immerses herself deeply in this secretive mystery. Besides, she steps in glamorous theatre world to chase the veiled riddles.

The plot has full of twists that fascinated and puzzled me till the very end of revealing which sets in dramatic scene appropriate to its splendid ending. Owing to the nicely done writing by author without revealing overwhelming hints, you can pursue the truth of this story by phase.

I am also charmed by the characters and cultural background. The behaviors of each characters who belong to different class society are very interesting. Moreover, Lady Frances is tempting to advancement of ladies in society, she rides on a bicycle, lives in elegant residential hotel for ladies, learn Japanese martial art and so on, even some of her behaviors meet with opposition of her marquesses brother. She is extraordinary and her efficient to people around is amusing. Speaking of people around her, the trusting relationship with her maid, Mallow who is always loyal also clever and also the romance and future prospect with her solicitor fiancé, Hal, such a kind heart he has, are my favorite.
The detective work that she making it samples by Sherlock Holmes is likable as well.

This is the first book I read of this series, as my craving of more mystery I have to start over from very beginning from its series soon.

Thank you Crooked Lane books via Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

"All the world's a stage. And the men and women merely players."

And sometimes the role we play revolves around the complicated, the intense, and the ever-changing.

Lady Beatrice Torrence, the elderly widow of Sir Arnold, wishes to make amends before that role of hers meets its final act. She beckons to Lady Frances Ffolkes (Yep, that spelling is correct.) to join her privately. Lady Beatrice wishes to be discrete. Her secret has been contained within her heart for over thirty years.

Enter Lady Frances, suffragist, daughter of a marquess, and a self-made detective who knows well enough to keep the hidden hidden. Lady Beatrice asks Frances to search for her older daughter, Louisa, who fled the Torrence mansion to become an actress so many years ago. Raven-haired and beautiful, Louisa fit the draw of that eye-catching part and would command attention on any stage. It's 1905 in Edwardian London and the scandal would surely cast its shadow over this household. Lady Beatrice lets it be known at social gatherings that Louisa died of a fever on a trip to America. But now, old and remorseful, Lady Beatrice merely wants to know of her whereabouts and to say good-bye to her.

So much passage of time will prove to be quite the challenge for Frances. But armed with her lively maid, June Mallow, Frances visits the Emerald Theater. It is here that Frances picks up on a curtain that doesn't seem to close completely. Light seems to pour onto this darkened stage. There are individuals who know more about a dark-haired actress of long ago named Helen than what they are saying. Perhaps Helen is the elusive Louisa who seems to have disappeared into thin air. The trail goes cold when it leads to a grave in the local cemetery. However, as always, it's not over until Lady Frances says it's over.

R.J. Koreto presents the third book in the Frances Ffolkes Mystery series. Each book can be read as a standalone in a delightful romp through Edwardian London. Koreto has created his Frances as a bicycle riding, dojo self-defense artist, and a self-proclaimed detective with a niggling desire to solve the unsolvable. Together with her maid Mallow, Frances employs her analytical skills with hard-nosed determination. Koreto gets it so right with time, place, and historical action. Can't wait to see what Lady Frances will be involved in next time. Oh, and be sure to bring Mallow!

I received a copy of Death at the Emerald through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to R.J. Koreto for the opportunity.

I thought this book was very entertaining. It's a historical mystery set in Edwardian (early 1900's) London, and the time period was well described, especially the social mores of the time.

Lady Francis Ffolkes is the daughter of a marquess and sister of the current marquess. She is a modern woman for her time, however. Lady Francis is a suffragette, rides a bike, and considers herself a female consulting detective. She is hired by Lady Torrence to find her long lost daughter, Louisa, a great beauty who disappeared over 30 years ago into the theater world as an actress.

With her trusty maid Mallow, Lady Francis goes to The Emerald Theater where Louisa was last heard of. She finds evidence of a beautiful actress called Helen, who married the theater's accountant and was never heard from again. As Lady Francis investigates further, she finds suspicious behavior on the part of the theater's old guard (managers, dressers, actors) who were around during Helen's time there. Soon after she asks questions, one of Helen's co-workers, Mr. Mattins, is found dead. Lady Francis is convinced the two are connected, and now she has murder to solve as well.

The more Lady Francis investigates, the more confusing and misleading the trail becomes. Was Helen really Louisa? Is she still alive? Who killed Mr. Mattins, and why? Lady Francis won't give up until she finds the truth.

The characters were delightful and fun to read about. The writing was well paced and the book was an easy read.

I highly recommend this book. I had not read the previous two books in the series, but I will be adding them to "to read" list now!

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

Another great addition to a really good historical mystery series. This book is extremely well written and interesting. Frances is such a likable character as well. I enjoyed the plot and historical aspects of the novel. I highly recommend this book!

A really good clean mystery! I enjoyed the plot very much, I liked the maid, more than Lady Frances. I am truly tired of good stories, being ruined by having Feminist shoved down my throat. However, it is a good Mystery. Lady Frances sets out to find a daughter who has been missing for thirty years. She was last seen at the Emerald Theater, and then through a Christian couple who took in troubled people. The bizarre thing to me is, if this book is supposed to be Christian, then Someone hasn't read their Bible. Feminism goes against GOD'S LAWS! Read HIS BOOK! Anyway, it is worth reading. I recommend. Thanks ! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒

3.5 stars

Diverting historical mystery featuring a suffragist aristocrat with a title and her ladies maid. Lady Frances is quite radical for her time, not only for her radical politics, but for her career as a private investigator. She disdains society's rules concerning dress and deportment, takes jujitsu lessons, and is embarking on an engagement to a very egalitarian man.

Lady Frances has been asked to find the long-lost runaway daughter of an aging widow. Her investigations unearth some old secrets that lead to murder. The ending is a bit over the top, but the independent Lady and her maid Mallow are interesting and quirky characters and their adventure is entertaining.

I received an ARC via Net Galley in return for my honest review.

I LOVED IT!!!! The best mystery/thriller book I have read so far this year! I finished this book 2 days ago, and I still can’t get out from Lady Frances’ world!! I’ve been feeling sad that I already finished reading this book, and I’m hoping to re-read it soon!!

Lady Frances, a daughter of a former marquess and a sister of a current marquess, is a renowned suffragist and the first woman detective. One day, she receives a letter from an elderly woman, Lady Torrence, who is on her last attempt to search for her long-lost daughter, Louisa, who has changed her name and had started working as a theater actress when she disappeared more than 30 years ago. Frances takes the job, and visits her last known site, the Emerald theater. However, at the interview of “Louisa” with her ex coworkers, Frances soon realizes that they are hiding something. She ends up leaving the theater without any kind of information regarding “Louisa” nor figuring out the name Louisa adopted, but soon finds out one of the interviewees, Mr. Mattins, is stabbed to death right after the Frances’s visit. Someone has killed him to keep his month shut. After his death, Frances sneaks in Mr. Mattins’ room and steals a box that was hidden under his bed. In the box, Frances finds several clues that would help her figure out what has happened to “Louisa” , including the first clue which indicates “Louisa” had adopted a name “Helen”.

So the story is about Frances and her assistance/maid Mallow try to identify the killer and to locate “Helen’s” whereabouts. I have read many detective books, but this one was one of the best! Unlike the other books which reveal the killer in the beginning of the story or the ones you can easily guess, you can read this book through the eyes of a detective. In other words, there are lots of investigations involve, and you won’t be able to know who the killer is until the very end of the story! And not only that, the killer is revealed by a great surprise with a very dramatic way, and then you will realize that you have been deceived all along! For that, I praise Koreto for his skillful writing. He is very good at not giving away too much information and details for readers not to easily figure out who is “Helen” or the killer.

I also liked the time setting of this story. The setting takes you to the early 1900s of London; Lady Frances being a noble born woman made everything a little bit more fun. For example, Frances and Mallow take advantage of Frances’ ladyship status a lot to interview people without being questioned lol And her social status helps them seek help from the right people when they need it.

“ladyship is not accustomed to having her word questioned.”—by Mallow

“She(Frances) is not accustomed to answering questioned.”—by Mallow
I loved how the story reflected a mind and a role of women in early 1900s , too. Although Frances is being a very active feminist (she rides a bicycles, practices martial art, being suffragist and a woman detective, and believes in gender equality), she does however become uncertain and unsure of the choice of her profession when it comes to her fiance Henry. Regardless of Henry being extremely understanding and supportive of her profession, she gets caught up in thoughts of being a traditional wife and what the society expects of her and of her status. This element has expanded Frances character much more likable. Well, in my opinion. Because I think everyone can relate the feeling of the pressure society gives you. What you want to do and what you want to be sometimes don’t fit in the role society expects from you.

Although this book is rather a heavy read with many characters and plots, I could finish it in 2 sittings. I just couldn’t put it down! Also, I haven’t read the first and the second books of this series, so I’m looking forward to reading them, too!!

I rate this book 5 stars based on the rating below.

(1 star: couldn’t finish, 2 stars: made myself finish it, 3 stars: I liked it💕, 4 stars: I loved it💕💕, 5 stars: loved enough to reread it!!)

Thank you Net Galley. This was a fun bedtime read for me. I enjoyed the characters and the writing so much that I promptly went out to get the previous two books. Looking forward to future books.

I love the main character, She is passionate in her beliefs but can be somewhat oblivious in her actions do she isn't perfect. The supporting characters are also interesting. I also like the London setting. This is my favorite series by this author and look forward to reading more.

Excellent! Engaging and enjoyable.
Review scheduled for publication date.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of Death at the Emerald, the third novel to feature Lady Frances Ffolkes, set in Edwardian London.

Lady Frances is approached by Lady Beatrice Torrence who asks her if she can find her daughter, Louisa, who ran away to become an actress 30 years ago and has never been seen since.

I enjoyed Death at the Emerald which is a fun, if slightly preposterous, read. The plotting is suitably melodramatic for an era where the shame of having a daughter on the stage was too much to admit as it was regarded as one step up from prostitution. I must admit to guessing the main thrust of the plot early on and spending the rest of the novel waiting for "Franny" to catch up. Not that it really matters as most of the charm of the novel comes from Franny and her escapades.

I'm not quite sure that the thoroughly modern Franny is possible in Edwardian times (surely the less acceptable in modern day parlance diminutive of her name,Fanny, would have been used at the time?) but I dropped my suspicions and just went with the fun and exhilaration of her character. She is a suffragist bent on not just votes but equality for women, scandalously for an unwed woman lives with her maid in a hotel, rides a bicycle and is learning jujitsu. In other words a modern woman in a period setting. She is also tenacious, indefatigable, smart and witty, mistress of a good put down when required.

Death at the Emerald is a fun read and Franny's exploits and one liners had me chortling throughout. I can recommend it to anyone looking for a light read.