Sometimes my TBR truly is like being on an archeological dig. Will I uncover a precious gemstone? An old coin of moderate value? Or heaven forbid, animal dung. Nobody's Sweetheart Now by Maggie Robinson is the first of four books in her Lady Adelaide historical mystery series and it is one of the gemstones. This book was a pure delight from start to finish.
It's been six months since Lady Adelaide Compton buried her husband Major Rupert Charles Cressleigh Compton. Rupert was dashing, charming, and a bonafide war hero (a pilot!) in World War I. He was also, and this cannot be overstated, a first rate cad. Rupert died after crashing one of his cars in the Cotswold countryside, with a French mademoiselle in the passenger seat.

Adelaide has spent her mourning period bringing the country house up to scratch and is ready for a house party, much to the horror of her mother, the very proper Dowager Marchioness of Broughton. But, quite frankly, Rupert played Adelaide for a fool so why should she hang on to outdated notions of "mourning." It's 1924 after all.

Unfortunately just as her guests are about to arrive, Rupert, rather his ghost, makes an inconvenient appearance. Blathering on about how he cannot cross over to the other side until he does a few good deeds. Addie is, quite naturally, concerned for her sanity, but before she can start making plans to see a doctor (obviously it will need to be a discreet one!), a murder interrupts her house party.

The victim, who was not invited, is the ex-wife of one her neighbors, who was invited. Lady Kathleen Grant is found dead in one of the estate's barns, naked as the day she was born. She was also the very definition of a good time girl, a flapper who took many lovers, consumed a fair amount of drugs, and made her way through life being brash and unapologetic. Plenty of people, including nearly all the members of Addie's house party, had motive - but then her gardener, Mr. McGrath, turns up dead in his bed, and not from natural causes. Who would want the kindly Scottish gardener dead?

The local law makes a total muck of things, so riding in to solve the case is Devenand Hunter, an Anglo-Indian police inspector who has to somehow solve the case without ruffling anymore blue blood feathers. He's immediately intrigued by Lady Adelaide, even though he knows any attraction to her is disastrous, but also she seems rather eccentric. Always talking to herself...

I'm going to be honest, yes this sat in my TBR for a long time because of the "ghost thing." I have a hard time with paranormal anything as is, but ghosts in mystery novels have this unfortunate way of acting as sleuthing shortcuts - which just annoys me. I want the humans to actually put in the work and puzzle things out for themselves. And while Rupert naturally does do some noising around, his contribution is mainly to help Addie take the blinders off. There's quite a bit about some of her house party guests that she didn't know, just making her feel even more naïve in light of Rupert's disregard to their martial vows. Rupert's main purpose is largely comic relief and yes he was a cad in real life, but as a ghost cad it's all very funny - especially with Addie trying to stop herself from bickering with him for fear of her own sanity.

Inspector Hunter serves the role of intelligent outsider who has to come in and puzzle the whole mess out and for that he knows he needs some help. Despite her eccentricities, he rules out Lady Adelaide as a potential murderess fairly quickly, and comes to appreciate her insights on the victim and the potential suspects. She also has a stake in wrapping up the mystery, not only because the victim was found on her property, but also because her gardener was likely murdered because he saw something he shouldn't have seen.

The world-building is top notch, truly it cannot be overstated how well the author writes about the time period and sets her stage. There's also a very light romance brewing between Inspector Hunter and Adelaide that will undoubtedly further develop over the course of the next three books in the series.

My only quibble is that certain events take place off-stage (the local constable mucking up things for example) as the author moves her story ahead, but it's all so charming, delightful, really such a perfect blend of cozy and traditional British mystery, that it's hardly worth harping on. Truly a delight from the first page to the last. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Final Grade = B+

This has been sitting on my TBR pile for three years (!), and I’ve finally read it. And it’s delightful! I loved the plot device of the dead husband, but I’m not quite sure what to make of him. He was a horrible adulterer in life, but he seems sincerely regretful in death - but that’s what makes him so interesting! I’m looking forward to getting further into the series to see if Rupert can be redeemed, and what becomes of Addie and Dev.

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

The characters were the strength of this first novel in the Lady Adelaide mysteries – generally speaking. They are unique enough to be remarkable (Addie, the lady who’s sensitive to the everyday struggles of common people, and Dev, the Scotland Yard inspector with Indian ancestors, just to mention the main characters), but they are also realistic and plausible. Their unique characteristics never stretch their credibility, and this is something I appreciate very much.

There’s only one exception to this, at least for me: the ghost. Honestly, I don’t see what the ghost of Addie’s husband is adding to the story. His conversations with Addie were the most improbable thing in the book. They were meant to be funny, but to me, this somehow just made them even more unlikely and frankly jerking. The story would have worked perfectly fine even without the ghost.

But in general, the relationship between the different characters is very realistic, which lends credibility to the mystery. There’s never an over the top kind of investigations. Sometimes it happens, especially in cosy mysteries, that the needs of the story make the actual events quite unlikely compared to what normally happens in real life. Except for the ghost, this doesn’t happen here.

Still, the mystery was a problem for me. Plausible as it is, it’s also quite unimpressive. I had the definite sensation that, rather than cohesively create the story, the author created the circumstances, as well as many red herrings, then just chose the most improbable culprit and made them the murder.
I didn’t see a carefully thought-out mystery here, which is such a shame, considering how lovely and well crafted the setting and the characters were.
The ending significantly suffered for this carelessness. It came out of nothing and didn’t feel like the fitting conclusion to the story. When the culprit can be anyone, there’s something not quite working in the mystery.
Another thing that disappointed me was all the ghost thing.

But I still enjoy it for the good characterization, and the setting.
A light read good for relaxing.

My review is totally unfair. The books concept is interesting - a dead husband that won't go away - but it just did not appeal to me. That is not to say it was not well written or was deficient in any way. Just not my cup of tea.

I love this book!!! So many aspects of it from the cover to the story are things I LOVE. Can’t wait for more from Maggie!!!

Robinson introduces the Lady Adelaide mysteries with Nobody's Sweetheart Now. Set mainly in a 1924 country manor, the uninvited and divorced wife of a guest is found naked and murdered. Then the groundkeeper is found dead. Lady Adelaide has to cope with all her guests, the police Inspector Hunter's investigations and the ghost of her dead husband. What could go wrong? Lady Adelaide discovers friends have betrayed or lied to her. The Inspector develops a fondness for Lady Adelaide who helps him sort out the suspects. A wonderful historical cozy.

I enjoyed the protagonist, she was an interesting full character. However, I wish the dead husband had been left out. When she talks to him and others are around I kept thinking she was going to dragged off and locked for being insane. This made it uncomfortable to read.

A pleasant enough read with the wonderful addition of the protagonist's dead husband's ghost -- he is tart, ambitious, frank, and honest in ways he never was when he was his philandering self in life. The story is a familiar frame: grand country house with servants; marvelous mixture of high and low guests; a shocking murder. I enjoyed it for its mild, somewhat predictable events....Particularly enjoyed Addie. She is a fully developed, fascinating woman doing her best and finding her own way in tough circumstances.

I could not stand this book. I enjoy a book set during the early 20th century but a ghost story as well is just silly to me.

What a delightful, fun mystery! Lady Addie is an enjoyable heroine, her dead husband was a hoot, and the mystery wasn't so easy that I could guess it halfway through. I look forward to the next in the series.

The story was written in omniscient third person and as a narrative. Main conflict was external as characters battle a possible murder. Theme was shown as you really don't know people till after they die.

Lady Adelaide Compton a widow who is still in morning but ready to mingle. She is a flat character who goes through a dynamic change. Major Rupert Compton a ghost who watches over his widow as his affairs come to light. He is a round character who goes through a static change. Inspector Devenand Hunter of New Scotland Yard is a round character who goes through a static change. The exposition brings forth the history of Lady Adelaide and her husband's last six months and her weekend gathering. The rising action brings the mystery of Lady Kathleen's death and possibility of having a murderer in their presence. Climax as another murder and one that hurts her heart even more. Addie becomes friends with Inspector Hunter that enters difficulty. Falling action allows secrets to be reveal, mysteries surrounding Rupert, Addie's sister and Lady Kathleen's ex-husband. Resolution allows Addie to move on with her life.

Its a new interesting idea with a twist allows reader to see a new type of life. Yes, I would recommend to those looking for a light but captivating story. Those who enjoy mystery, historical, and not so easy mystery. Those who don't enjoy ghosts of deceitful husbands, lying and cheating and deceitful mothers who abandoned their children.

I keep coming back to historical fiction. I just love it so much. I'm so glad to read it and be immersed in that time period. I hope that Maggie Robinson keeps on giving. If you're looking for a great, cosy mystery, a female protagonist you'll enjoy accompanying on her journey and a cad that you'll hate but also root for then this is the story for you. I liked that the cheating in this story was talked about but not explained away. While you understood the reasons behind the cheating in the story, it still didn't excuse it and that was fine by me. There will be some characters that will exasperate but never enough to not continue reading the story. Overall, I enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more from this writer.

Thoroughly enjoyable cozy with two winning narrators, a intriguing and intelligible mystery, and a sort of The Ghost and Mrs Muir- thing that really, and improbably, works on almost all levels. In Lady Adelaide, Rupert, and Mr. Hunter Ms. Robinson has really tapped a rich vein and I can see these three turning up at murders throughout English society. Definitely for fans of the Lady Hardcastle series (by T.E. Kinsey) in both its humor and quick writing. If you enjoy 1920s English mysteries of the upper classes, it also gives me strong Amory Ames vibes (by Ashley Weaver) . A strong, strong recommend.

Clues are sprinkled about but I didn’t guess or be sure of the identity of the killer until the very end. Frankly I didn’t care as I was enjoying myself watching Addie come back alive and gain some agency. The lack of romance doesn’t bother me either as there is a little attraction begun that might eventually lead somewhere. But nothing is pushed too quickly. Dev is written with respect as a character though the attitudes of a few other people seem “period.” He’s careful about how he goes on which makes sense in 1924 but doesn’t hesitate to push back when someone tries to threaten or browbeat him.

The strengths of the book for me are in the period detail and watching Addie pull herself up and take charge of her life. She doesn’t turn into a detective whiz nor dash off into danger. While the murder investigation isn’t bad, it’s not the best part of the story. I think that the Lady Adelaide series is off to a good start – next stop prohibition New York City – and hope we’ll be seeing more of her and Dev. Rupert the ghost? Hmmm, I’m still not sure of him. B

A charming and light-hearted debut cozy. Proper Lady Adelaide is trying to recover from the death six months earlier of her philandering husband (and his mistress) by giving a little house party. But two shocks await her: a dead (and naked) body discovered in her shed, and the bizarre appearance of the evident ghost of her late hubby Rupert.

Only Addie can see him, and she can't tell if the specter is real or if she is losing her mind. Soon handsome young detective Dev Hunter from Scotland Yard arrives to take charge of the investigation and Addie becomes even more confused.

Addie is a very appealing character and her interactions with the late unlamented Rupert are comedic. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I would happily read another Lady Adelaide adventure.

Nobody's Sweetheart Now by Maggie Robinson is the first in what appears will be a very successful series.

Set in 1020's it tells a story of a very nice lady called Adelaide who finds out that her husband has been unfaithful when he and his mistress get killed in a automobile accident.
Trying to get on with her life she organizes a weekend party for her best friends. There is also an uninvited guest, a ghost of her dead husband.
Since local police is not capable of handling the investigation, Scotland Yard is called to take over. A very charming and intelligent Inspector shows up and immediately there are sparks flying.

I loved how sweet, funny and generous Adelaide is, treating everyone with respect. Her gradual acceptance of her husband's apparition is hilarious. The story is well presented and absorbing.
Characters are well developed and realistic. It reads easily, and is hard to put down.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and hope there will be many more sequels.

Lady Adelaide is having her first dinner party since the death of her husband. It's not going too badly but then her staff tells about the nude dead body of a woman in one of the outbuildings. She has her ex-husband at the dinner party...

Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It is being published today.

The murder is bad enough, but now she has Rupert's ghost to deal with, too. Then they find the gardener is dead. It appears to be a drug overdose, but he never used drugs.

The Inspector who is investigating thinks she might be a bit batty because he hears her arguing with herself. (She's the only one that can hear Rupert.) He thinks she's innocent, just stressed. He works with her as they look over the guests at the dinner party. She finds him attractive and even flirts a bit. She has an old friend she grew up with who wants to marry her, but she's not attracted to him in that way.

The killer was a real surprise and Adelaide might have gotten shot if Rupert hadn't saved her.

This was a very good read and I hope Adelaide hooks up with the Inspector.

This book is lovely and was a lot of fun to read. It made me laugh out loud more than once and it is a great mystery.
I loved the mix of paranormal, cozy mystery and historical fiction.
Addy, the heroine, is a fantastic character, full of humour and well developed.
The paranormal part, Rupert's ghost, was fun to read and engaging.
The other characters are quirky and well written, lively and interesting.
The mystery was great and kept me guessing till the end.
This is a page turner and I wasn't able to put it down.
I look forward to reading the next instalment, I'm curious about what will come next.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC

Was Lady Adelaide "Addie" Compton upset when her husband crashed his newest car into a tree? Well, it would've been better had his companion not have been his current mistress, the last in a string of lovers. And it would have been even better if he had stayed dead instead of coming back as an all too real ghost. And in the middle of her first house party since his death. One where the wife of one of the guests has been murdered.
Also sort of awkward? The childhood friend who seems determined to court her, even though they've never leaned that way before. And her attraction to the detective sent from London. Inspector Devenand Hunter is the first person in his family born in England and that does produce the requisite prejudices from many of the characters. It stinks to see them but it is true to the time.
Overall a nice historical but with the addition of a ghost. Not sure how the series will continue but will be interested to find out.

This book came out November 13
Three stars
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Edelweiss; Opinion is my own

A delightful mystery set in 1920's England with a winning protagonist and a delightful, light & humorous style. Addie was widowed at 31 six months ago. This weekend she's hosting a house party at her newly-redecorated country home.

It's a small foray back into society that's complicated by two things: the sudden appearance of her dead husband's ghost and the death of a houseguest's ex-wife, found in her gardener's barn. The investigation complicates things by showing Addie that many people she knows are not what they seem.

I'm looking forward to more in this series.