Lady Dunbridge, know as Phil to her friends has come to America to stay with a friend and be introduced to society. Upon arrival her friends husband is found murdered with his mistress by his side. What is a lady to do but start investigating on her own. Along the way she meets Mr X, who helps her along the way. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Goodreads

Flashes of potential, but a bit of a mishmash and some strangely abrupt plot developments made it a harder read than it should have been. I love a historical mystery series and I wanted to like this more but it just didn’t click.

Might drop back in in a few books time.

I didn't realize turn of the century New York was quite as nefarious as this! Or, that a Lady, no less, will become such an engaging sleuth in this historical mystery series. Very well done!

In what is hopefully the first in a new mystery series, Lady Dunbridge leaves England for America after the death of her husband. She didn’t exactly mourn the dead Earl for the last two years, so she’s greatly looking forward for her old school friend and her husband to introduce her to New York society. Of course, the husband is then murdered in the arms of his mistress while waiting to greet Lady Dunbridge at the docks, and then all hell breaks loose.

This is an exciting look into early 1900s New York, and the world of horse racing. Lady Dunbridge is easy to like, as are her mysterious maid and intrepid butler, but her friends and new acquaintances are annoying. I look forward to future books to flesh out both Det. Adkins and the super mysterious Mr. X, and to see how their relationships with Lady Dunbridge evolve.

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

In Ask Me No Questions by Shelley Noble, Lady Dunbridge moves to Manhattan after the death of her husband. She moves in with her friend Bev who will introduce her to society. But before Bev has the chance her husband is murdered and Lady Dunbridge steps in to comfort her and also finds herself trying to figure out who murdered her friend’s husband.

I found this to be a quick fun book. The mystery held my attention and kept me guessing. It was easy to picture Manhattan during the time period of 1900. The characters were fun and I especially liked Lady Dunbridge’s maid Lily and butler Preswick. Along with the compelling mystery and engaging characters there was also horse racing and corrupt police. This is the first book in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series and I look forward to reading more.

Life has been very limited thus far for Lady Philomena (Phil) Dunbridge, whose parents married her off at age 17 to an older titled man of means. When her husband, the Earl, dies suddenly of a heart attack after years in an unfulfilling marriage, Phil's future seems bleak. Her family expects her to either return home or live nearby with a chaperone. Longing for independence and excitement, Phil is determined to leave England and begin her life anew. She sets sail on the SS Oceanic for New York City, where she will reunite with Beverly Reynolds, a dear friend from her finishing school days in Paris.

Bev is from a wealthy, well-established New York family and the plan is for the girlhood friend to introduce the young widow to New York Society and brighter prospects. But things go terribly wrong from the very start when Bev's husband Reggie, who is at the pier with Bev to meet Phil's ship, is shot and killed in his car. Beverly is considered a prime suspect in Reggie's murder, and after a second murder victim turns up in the library at the Reynoldses' Manhattan brownstone, Phil feels compelled to clear her friend's name. Her inquiries reveal that Reggie was a bit of a rogue, and his associations and activities are most likely what led to his death. As the list of suspects grows, so does Phil's focus on unravelling the truth.

Set in New York's Gilded Age and brimming with delicious society scandals, illicit affairs, losses of fortune, corruption, and falls from grace, Ask Me No Questions introduces readers to a lively cast of upstairs and downstairs characters revolving around a clever amateur sleuth. Lady Philomena Dunbridge is an astute observer with a flair for piecing together clues and forming working relationships at all levels of the social strata. Phil's further introduction into New York Society and the identity of a mystery man whose subtle hints were integral to solving the case heighten the interest for further installments in this series.

Ask Me No Questions seemed to have the potential of becoming a excellent new historical mystery series. However, the novel took a while to get started. I also did not like Philomena’s character. She was vain and selfish. She also complained throughout the novel. I also found her weak and a damsel in distress. The mystery was predictable. I hope the next novel was better. Still, I recommend this for fans of The Secret Life of Anna Blanc and Her Royal Spyness series.

FUN, FUN AND MORE FUN!

Shelly Noble’s new novel is rich in historic detail and so funny I was giggling out loud. The Countess of Dubridge is a memorable character and the story takes you on a fun ride from 1907 England to Manhattan New York.
I have just become a number one fan of her work and plan to read more.

I was so excited to get my hands on Shelley Noble’s Ask Me No Questions. Personally, my favorite mystery novels are also period novels. (I won’t lie, I consider mystery novels placed in the 90s as period novels at this book, because technology solves for half the problems they face.) Taking place in New York during 1907 it captures a little of everything I love. The drama of the clothing and energy of the time, as well as a murder mystery to follow along. I was provided a copy from Macmillin Tor/Forge Books via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. A bit of background first:

Lady Philomena Dunbridge, just off of her year of mourning, arrives to New York to restart her life – and find a new husband – just in time for her dear friend’s husband to be murdered, in his car at the harbor to pick her up no less. Finding herself once more in a house focused on mourning, she instead decides to focus on solving the murder, with her resourceful lady’s maid and very British butler to help her. From the dining rooms of the very wealthy, to the stable housing the murdered man’s race horses, she must also dodge both terribly corrupt policemen as well as infuriatingly upright detectives.

Lady Dunbridge – Phil for short – is a tough sort of woman. Having survived an unloving marriage to an abusive Lord, she’s focused on the future and finding something or someone better. Unfortunately, her fortunes (no pun intended) are not on her side, as she’s nearly penniless and relying on the generosity of dear friends. However, given the chance to focus instead on solving the murder, Phil does just that.

Ask Me No Questions is a bit of a longer story, it wasn’t a quick vacation read, however, it does very well to set the stage for further entries into The Lady Dunbridge Mysteries as a series. Noble’s writing draws you very much into the time and place flawlessly.

While Lady Dunbridge is a very strong character, I did have some issues latching on to the ensemble, there are very few characters who are more than a momentary splash. Even her dear friend Beverly comes off rather flat and you never feel like you know anyone but Phil. I would like to see Noble strengthen the other major characters in future books and give us more than one person to care about.

Overall, this was a great read and I look forward to seeing how this series continues. I would say if you really read books, rather than rushing through, this one will take a bit to read. If you’re looking for a new series, definitely worth it!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We meet Lady Dunbridge after mourning her husband’s death for two years. She and her “maid” and butler journey to Manhattan in 1907 where her friend Bev Reynolds will introduce her to all her high society friends. Right after they get off the ship gunshots ring out, she hears Bev scream, and chaos ensues. Getting through the crowd they find Bev’s husband dead in the arms of a floradora girl crying that he killed himself. The evidence doesn’t support that claim and the police set their sights on Bev as their main suspect. Lady Dunbridge may have just arrived but she knows her friend is not a killer. While making her introduction at all the dinners and balls she vows to keep her eyes and ears open to prove her friend’s innocence. Of course, she will do a bit of snooping too.

Ms. Noble has created an impressive amateur sleuth in Lady Dunbridge and teamed her up with excellent assistants in her “maid” Lily, and butler Preswick. Lily has many talents and Preswick does all he can to keep the both of them safe. All three are strong characters. The supporting cast includes Bev Reynolds, her staff, her husband’s staff, and their friends. They are a very eclectic group. Bev’s husband Reggie ran with a horse racing set and he seems to have owed everyone money. Bev friends are the elite set and the spouses of the men her husband seems indebted too. The author has really fleshed out these characters by the end of the story.

Solving the mystery takes us all around New York to the dinners and parties and out to the Reynold’s stable at Holly Farm where their horses are kept and trained. There is twist after twist after twist. I had my focus drawn to one character and then away and back again, yet the climax was surprising and exciting.

The author gives us so much detail throughout the whole story that every place came alive in my mind, The same with the people. Her words generated some wonderful imagery. She also kept true to the language of the time which I liked.

This series is off to an excellent start. The author has left doors open for future installments. I am excited to learn more about Lily and Lady Dunbridge and her life as she continues to live in New York.

This was a lovely book to read and I have certainly gathered Lady Dunbridge into a favorite sleuth category. I really loved the historical setting and moments in this book. The strength of Phil (Lady Dunbridge) is something that propels her to the top of female sleuths. I think I loved seeing such a strong female for the time period of the setting. If you ask me, this book and this series is one to watch and enjoy. I am eager for my next mystery with Lady Dunbridge.

The Countess of Dunbridge has just come out of mourning the death of her philandering husband and leaves England to have a bit of fun with her old school friend in New York. But as soon as she arrives with her butler and a newly employed maid with a murky past, she is embroiled in a murder mystery that threatens to ruin her reputation before she has a chance to establish one. Aided by a mysterious stranger and occasionally reprimanded by the handsome Detective Seargeant Aitkens, she uses her impressive intelligence and bravery to unravel the intricate crime. Ending with enough questions to entice a reader to pick up the next book, this is a lovely period mystery with a likeable, if slightly snobbish, heroine.

My review

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I love the time period, the pomp and circumstance, and and the spirit of the times. In short, I came into this book with high expectations.

The story begins with a smart introduction of Philomena Amesbury, the countess of Dunbridge. Known as Phil to her friends  She has sass, is smart, and has no compunction about showing up the police.

The strength of this book is the plot and the story. It’s filled with twists that left me unsure of who the killer was until the end. For readers who like the continuity of a series, the author introduced multiple long story arcs, which will likely form the basis of future stories.

In period pieces, I look forward to being immersed in the world, but I found the descriptions and character development weak. There were times when they didn’t paint a clear picture, making it difficult to visualize the setting, the dress, the atmosphere, and others where I was quite satisfied. The one main character who really shined was Detective Sergeant John Atkins. His essence and values were clear from the beginning and remained true throughout.

This was a good story overall. I was always interested to see what was coming next and wanted to know how Phil was going to solve the crime. I’m also curious as to what her next adventure will be.

This was a lively introduction for me to the world of Lady Daindridge. I loved the mystery being tied to horse racing, which was such a thing in that time period of New York. The resolution of the mystery was a little convolutted, and I had to read it a few times to understand all the nuances, but "Phil" is a worthy heorine, and I need to know more about her maid Lily! Plus, oooohhhh....the mysterious "Mr. X". That was surprising and I still wonder if I guessed the idenitity. I would love to read more in this series!

Review of ASK ME NO QUESTIONS by Shelly Noble
(A Lady Dunbridge Mystery)

I view the delightfully independent and free-thinking Lady Dunbridge as the Edwardian English version of Victoria Woodhull, the 19th century American who advocated free love, founded a newspaper, and campaigned for the U.S. Presidency in 1872. Both were “quite the woman,” and both captured a certain spirit which now seems almost blasé, but for their times were truly “off the beaten path,” and more likely to plunge each into scandal and worse trouble, than to achieve their goals. Yet they each persevered.

Lady Dunbridge's much older husband (who acquired her in an arranged marriage) has passed, but why should that derail her life? Her father decides she must return home and live as a dowager, or live in her parents' home, or be exiled to a doddering mad kinswoman in the wilds of Yorkshire. Not any of these for Lady Dunbridge; she's off to America, where her first stop finds her American friend Bev, and Bev's newly-deceased (as of the moment) husband. Suicide? Murdered by his latest mistress? Or something much more mysterious? Lady Dunbridge doesn't think much of the local police detective; she has a much higher opinion of her own intelligence and deductive abilities. As Sherlock might opine, “The game is indeed afoot.”

Shelley Noble introduces Lady Dunbridge to Gilded Age Manhattan in Ask Me No Questions. As she gets off the cruise ship from England, she finds her host shot dead and his wife, her friend and hostess, looked at with suspicion by Detective Atkins. There is a high society race with the friend's horse as a main contender; there is corrupt Tammany hall and corrupt cops. Someone is searching for Reggie, the dead husband's diary. Lady Dunbridge has to solve the case to protect the reputation and life of her friend and herself. Perfect period mystery.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *

Every once in awhile, I like to read a good traditional mystery. While I might not read many of them, I do watch a ton of mystery TV shows and have since I was a kid, so reading them can feel nostalgic. I absolutely love diving deep in and trying to guess the villians from the clues.

This book provides a great atmosphere while also giving enough clues to let the reader play along. It is an entertaining book and kept me guessing. The historical detail was rich and, to my knowledge, accurate and the characters really shined through because of it. This time period is one in flux where things are changing, so it was nice to read about different ways of living, fashion, and protests for change.
I liked Lady Dunbridge, but she could be a bit too stuffy for my tastes-- this is totally a personal preference though and not something I'm holding against the book. As a character she is done well. Her friend Bev is one I didn't always have a handle on. Her personality seems to be different than what Phil keeps remembering. "She's so smart and clever" but then doesn't act it... almost ever. It was weird. Many of the other side characters I did really enjoy, especially those in Phil's care, which is a good thing since we will be seeing them more in the series.

I enjoyed the mystery, I enjoyed reading this, so why three stars instead of four? For some reason, it just didn't keep my attention. It was easy for me to put down. There were moments I was super into it, but most the time I wasn't deeply committed. This doesn't mean I don't think other people will like it!

If you like traditional mysteries and historical settings done accurately, then you should give this one a try! It is well worth trying out and I will probably read the sequel.

Lady Dunbridge is escaping from the role expected of her in England. Her escape is to New York in America. Her arrival is not what she expected. Seems the husband of her host has just been shot and it looks like his wife may be to blame. This has some interesting characters, some great historical data and a mystery with a lot of red herrings. A nice start to a new series and as a bonus there is a mystery character in the background.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

The year is 1907. After the death of her husband, Philomena Amesbury, also known as Lady Dunbridge, along with her butler and lady’s maid, boards the SS Oceanic and sails from England to Mahattan where her old friend Beverly Reynolds awaits to introduce her to the very best people in society and to her new life. Disembarking from the ship things go immediately wrong when a shot rings out and Philomena learns that Reggie Reynolds, Bev’s husband, has been shot and killed right there on the dock.

Her plans curtailed by this string of events, Philomena must now dedicate her time to finding out the truth behind the murder of her friend’s husband and proving Beverly’s innocence. As the plot thickens it becomes abundantly clear that her own life may be in danger as well as the lives of her staff and Beverly herself. We follow Lady Dunbridge to high society balls, horse races, and back alleys as she races to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

This book was fun and clever. I truly enjoyed being immersed in the time period and watching the characters break all the rules set upon them as women in society. Our main character Lady Dunbridge is both smart and sassy while also being modern for the time and always dressed impeccably. The best friend, Beverly, is a bit flighty but perfectly rounded off the friendship between the two women.

There was plenty of action as the story unfolded to keep the reader interested and to add to the plot. It was easy to identify the shooter pretty quickly but not so easy to discern the why and how, which was a nice surprise at the end of the book. All in all an entertaining read and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next installment!

Ask Me No Questions is an excellent start to a new gilded age female amateur detective series.

Philomena Amesbury, Lady Dunbridge, has finally finished the obligatory 18-month mourning period for her husband. The Earl of Dunbridge, was, by all accounts, not a very good husband. Deciding that staying in England as a 26-year-old Dowager Countess doesn’t appeal, she escapes to America. With only her aging butler, Preswick, and Lily, a stowaway she decided to make her ladies’ maid, she arrives in New York City. Philomena sees her childhood friend, Bev, walking toward the gangway to greet her. Before Philomena can reach her, Bev rushes back to her car and finds her husband shot dead. Worse, he is lying in the lap of his mistress. When the police suspect Bev, Philomena decides to try to find the real murderer.

The setting of early 20th century New York is so well described that the reader is transported to a different time. The use of the language of the time period (like thimblerig and cortege) added to the authenticity. Philomena is an exuberant heroine who seems to be both of the time period but also more modern in her thinking. Both Preswick and Lily prove to be excellent sidekicks. The mystery was excellent. I didn’t guess the murderer though looking back there were plenty of clues carefully hidden in the story.

This is the first Lady Dunbridge Mystery and I can’t wait for the next. If you like Sherlock Holmes type mysteries with a dash of American spunk, you will love this new series. 4 stars!

Thanks to Forge Books and NetGalley for an advance copy.