Ok, full disclosure, I stumbled across this while looking for The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, the upcoming sequel to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. But don’t worry, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder has a full helping of scandal, snark, and murder.

When the story opens, Countess Frances Harleigh, an American heiress turned titled Brit, is just coming out of mourning for her husband. Reggie died rather inconsiderately, in bed with his mistress, and Frances had to snap into action, moving the body (with the help of the unfortunate mistress and another guest at the house party) to be found more appropriately in his dressing room. At the end of her socially enforced mourning, Frances is moving to Belgravia, although her brother- and sister-in-law are hoping to keep her, and her bank account, at the family estate.

This might seem a lot like Downton Abbey, but it’s not all Julian Fellowes-style manners novel. Nope, our heroine isn’t just doing the Season in style, while guarding her younger sister from fortune hunters. Her new next-door neighbor in Belgravia just happens to be the same houseguest who once helped her move a body, an anonymous letter warns local police to look into Reggie’s death, a mysterious, handsome and wealthy Viscount appears just in time for the season, a series of petty thefts plagues the pre-Season parties, and a man is killed in Frances’ back garden. At first, Frances tries to restrain her curiosity to casual, ladylike queries about who was attending which party, as she quietly ferrets out alibis. But the drama comes closer, and with her outspoken American auntie and her good friends, Frances is on the trail.

One villain is incredibly obvious, to the point where I was completely convinced he was a shiny red herring distracting readers from the actual villain. The other reveal made me literally gasp aloud, so all in all a pretty good mystery.

Thanks Kensington Books and netgalley for this ARC.

Convoluted, wise cracking, and ton satire make this a fresh voice in historical mystery. Can't wait to get back to this fun loving crew.

For the most part, I was pretty bored by this book. None of the characters really engaged me, the relationship had no tension, and honestly? There was hardly even a serious mystery or any investigating done. In all? Boring.

My major problem was just not feeling anything for the characters. The only one I really liked was George, but even he irritated me at times (the overprotectiveness trope can die already). The rest I just didn't care enough about. That may have partly been behind my lack of investment in the relationship between George and Frances too. I love a slowburn, but there was just no tension to this one. They didn't even really interact that much before starting to call each other by their first names, so there wasn't that much development going on either.

In terms of the plot - there really wasn't that much investigating going on until beyond the halfway point. It just kind of drifted along for most of the book, then all of a sudden the mystery is solved. Not to mention the blurb made it sound like Frances being accused of Reggie's murder was going to be a bigger plot point than it was - it ended up being pretty much brushed aside in the end.

It was also really hard to work out when this book was supposed to be set. I assumed kind of Austen era, but then there are telephones and cars, so obviously it's later than that. It just didn't really have a distinctive feel to it. It could almost have been any time.

So, yeah. Overall, I just didn't have a good time of it with this one.

A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman is the first book in the A Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. This series is a bit of a different take on the average cozy mystery in that it has a historical setting mixing both genres wonderfully.

Frances Wynn is an American that was born to a wealthy family that found herself in an arranged marriage to her husband, Reggie, that brought Frances the title of the Countess of Harleigh and her husband access to her family funds. In the beginning Frances thought she could learn to love her husband but as time went on she began to see the man he truly was.

One night Frances was awakened by a house guest who seemed to be extremely upset, it seems that Frances’ husband Reggie had been in the lady’s bed and passed from a heart attack. To save them all scandal Reggie’s body had been moved back to his own room, the doctor called to pronounce his departure and Reggie buried putting Frances into a season of mourning.

Now that Frances’ mourning season is coming to an end a year later she finds that she finally feels free of her philandering husband and his money hungry family. Frances purchases her own home where she’s invited her younger sister Lily to prepare for her first London season. However, before Frances really gets settled she gets a visit from the law claiming they have reason to look into Reggie’s death as a possible homicide leaving Frances to set about finding out what really happened before she’s accused of a crime.

Taking a cozy mystery into the past giving it a historical setting had A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder a fun read right from the start. I wasn’t sure how the historical side would mix with the leading lady going about investigating on her own but the author worked it all into the mix quite nicely keeping the feel of those times. With this being the first of a new series I’m really excited to see what happened next for Frances and the rest of the characters.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is an entertaining, light read that I enjoyed, though it did not make a substantial impression on me. I found it easy to root for Frances as she navigated the difficulties of being a single woman in Victorian England. I liked how she gained confidence and a sense of independence throughout the novel as she investigated the case, and her insistence on being involved and listened to despite the discouragement of others.

The novel contains lots of details about the particular financial and social status of married and unmarried women during this period which was interesting, and for the most part they organically informed the plot rather than being shoehorned in.

The mystery itself was reasonably engaging though not particularly complex. I liked the characters, particularly Aunt Hetty, though they were largely sketches which played a functional role rather than characters of depth, though this fits the crime/mystery setting.

In summary: I enjoyed this novel reasonably well though would be unlikely to revisit it.

A wonderful trip into the past with a touch of mystery! I normally do not like historical mysteries, but this novel was so well written I couldn't put it down. The characters were great, just enough lightheartedness, and a solid mystery! A great start to a new series.

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder gathered pace as it went along. One assumes it is to be the beginning of a series featuring the main characters as there are many loose ends to be tied up. Slow to start, it became more involving as the story unfolded. The mystery element was handled fairly well and it took me a while to unpick all of the clues. If you're looking for a light-hearted murder-mystery with some romance alongside this could well be for you.

This was a quick fun book to read during the weekend.
I enjoy a good period mystery, and when we have murder, theft, the “good” society of London getting ready for the season, balls, romances and some hilarious scenes, I think nothing can go wrong with the story.

I had fun reading it, although it was kind of predictable. I liked the characters and it was interesting following all the developments.

What's more embarrassing than your husband dying in his mistress's bed? Having it happen at a house party you're hosting. Oh, and then having to bring in another man to carry your husband back to his bed so it doesn't appear as if anything scandalous has happened.

Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh, has spent a year in mourning for said husband and now she's ready to get out of his family's house and away from the brother-in-law who just wants to get ahold of her money. So she moves to London. Too bad trouble follows her. First her funds get frozen when the brother-in-law tries to claim them. Then the police come around having heard that her husband's death may not have been natural.

This was some nice world building for a new series. While it dragged in a few places for me, it felt somewhat fairly clued and I really liked Frances.



Four stars
This book comes out June 26th
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

3.5 stars

Evidently there is no bond like that between a countess and her best friend's brother, after he helps her drag her husband's dead body from the bed of his mistress. Lady Frances, the countess, is drawn to neighbor George Hazelton, the brother, and needs his help again when police begin sniffing around her husband's death.

In the meantime, her favorite aunt and her younger sister have arrived from America in time for the London season and some husband hunting. A series of mysterious thefts and deaths soon has Lady Frances and George busy investigating. Add in her late husband's brother who is attempting to wrest away control of Frances' fortune and she is a very busy woman.

This is a fun read with some spark between the two main characters and lots of crackling dialogue. For Regency purists, they might quibble with the distinctly modern speech and looseness of everyday life details.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman was an excellent start to what I hope will be a long running historical cozy mystery series.

Ms. Freeman introduces us to the recently widowed Countess of Harleigh, Frances Wynn. She is a surprisingly strong young woman for Victorian times who has come into her own now that she is a widow and intends to enjoy her life with her daughter. The descriptive writing of London and the characters made me feel like I was there with Frances as she introduces her sister, Lily, into London society during her first season. She also begins her amateur sleuthing as there has been a rash of thefts at homes nearby, a man is found killed in her back garden, and there is an attempt on her life right on the streets of London. Suspense, subtle humor, only a few suspects, twists that had me confused and a startling reveal kept me turning the pages. I am already looking forward to the next one in the series.

Frances, Countess of Harleigh, moves her small household to London to escape the demands of her in-laws. Almost immediately, her life gets turned upside down when police approach her with questions about how her husband died, her younger sister arrives to be launched into society, her bank account is frozen from her brother-in-law attempting to claim her money, and a string of jewelry thefts happening all over society.

I absolutely adored Frances. Her practical attitude in spite of whatever she faced won me over from the start. She took action for what she thought was right, but accepted the advice of those closest to her.

The plot moved at a good pace, and the supporting characters were excellent at just that: supporting. I learned just enough of each one that I look forward to seeing each of them in future adventures of Frances...and a handsome, charming neighbor.

This is an exceptional historical mystery, and I would recommend it to any reader.

This book was amazing. A rule-following, yet feisty heroine who discovers her own strength and sense of purpose as shocking events unfold all around her. Plus an excessively charming next door neighbor leaves plenty of opportunity in the future. I was thoroughly engaged in this one, and sincerely hope there is indeed a 2nd Lady Harleigh mystery!

I received a copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I received this book for the publisher a honest review i really like the stat it look promising but then became so many things happening and the mystery was put on the side. And it was for my liking way to long about the situations like introducing her sister and the money situation that you forget that you're reading a mystery

I absolutely loved this book! Frances was an absolutely wonderful character - as were the rest of the characters. Books like this are the reason why historical mysteries are my favorite. Add a little bit of humor which had me laughing out line sometimes. The mystery was well-plotted and kept me guessing until the reveal. Fantastic start to the series and I will certainly be reading the rest when they come out!

Frances, a widowed American heiress, finds herself in a tumble of robbery, deceiving, and murder after she leaves the household of her late husband to start a life of her own. With the help of her new neighbor and not really welcomed old acquaintance George she gets caught up in investigating the suspects, who are also the suitors of her younger sister.

This novel was refreshingly entertaining, with a female protagonist who was funny in a tongue-in-cheek way without being the inept or helpless heroine. Her male sidekick was a little bit flat but likeable none-the-less. The story telling was fast paced and believable. Highly recommended!

Interesting tidbits: the novel mentions the use of photographs, telephone, and even a motor car, which prompted me to google the time of invention as I usually don’t find those mentioned in historical novels. Alas, this novel set in 1899 is a bit later than usual, and all three inventions were, indeed, available to the public, if not scarce.

Narrative: 1st POV female protagonist
Location: 1899 London, London countryside
Sexual content: none (while there is a bit of fizz going on between the main protagonists this is not a romance novel)

The story was wonderful and loved the need to finish. The main character was very relatable with a charming personality. The author had a great gift of mixing the humor with the suspense!

What a wonderfully fun read! I love historical mysteries and this one was just great. The protagonist, a recently widowed of the aristocracy (an American!), who lives in the very late 19th century, in England, finds herself embroiled in not one, but several mysteries. The author does an excellent job of character and plot development. I had no problem getting into the story. I love that you don't necessarily know the culprits. You're discovering things right along with Frances. The secondary characters of her aunt and sister show promise - I can't wait to read their further adventures as well.

*I would like to thank the author/publisher/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fait and honest review*

This was a fun book with enjoyable characters. There was depth to characters who I thought would only be one dimensional. The solution to part of the mystery was something that has been done. I do like that in the end the main character was going to have a job that I haven't seen before.

A delightful Victorian mystery with a touch of romance. I’m not an expert but it seemed true to the times. The plot took some twists I didn't see coming, and the narrator/main character is a sympathetic heroine. I look forward to a sequel.

I read an advance reader copy of A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder.