D.M. Quincy's latest Atlas Catesby mystery will please readers of the series -- although it is also a pleasurable standalone set in Regency England. This time, the backdrop is the opera house at Covent Garden--and the victim is the notorious courtesan of a nobleman. Full of backstage intrigue and colorful characters, Quincy brings the Regency era alive like never before and gives the intrepid Catesby his most challenging and interesting case yet. Featuring a nice bit of romance mixed in with the mystery, MURDER AT THE OPERA has a whopper at the ending that is a totally satisfying payoff!

This is a very well-written, well-plotted, page-turning, adventurous romance and mystery with wonderfully well-developed characters. There are twists and turns aplenty and you are always wondering – right to the end. You will think you know who the villain is – but, you can’t be sure. My only complaint is that is has been over a year-and-a-half since the last book. I definitely hope we don’t have to wait that long for the next book.

Solving the murder of Mrs. Wendela Pike turns out to be bittersweet for Atlas Catesby. If you read the earlier books, you are aware that Atlas has been haunted by the murder of his sister, Phoebe. Twenty years ago, her husband pushed her down the stairs and eleven-year-old Atlas, who was in the house at the time, was sure it was a deliberate act. Now, that same husband, Malcolm Lennox, the Marquess of Vessey, is involved in another murder. You see, Mrs. Pike is the long-time mistress of the Marquess. Atlas would love for the Marquess to be guilty – but – that would hurt his nephew Nicholas, and Atlas is only just getting to know him – so – bittersweet.

There are actually several suspects – the Marquess had several children with Mrs. Pike, could it be one of them? Then, there is the vicar who says he was betrothed to Mrs. Pike – could he have done it? Was she involved with someone besides the Marquess? Could it be Atlas’ nephew, Nicholas, who murdered her? Then, of course, there is the Marquess himself. Yes, there are lots of twists and turns and more suspects than you can shake a stick at. Just buckle your seatbelt and hang on for the ride.

Atlas is still, of course, besotted with Lilliana and their romance is softly and unobtrusively woven within the mystery. As always, Lilliana helps with the solutions and constantly confounds Atlas by insisting on going places he doesn’t want her to be. It is too bad Atlas is still feeling that he, the fourth son of a baron, isn’t good enough for the daughter and sister of a duke. He probably just needs a big shock to get him moving – maybe he’ll get it.

It was fun visiting with all of the returning characters. I thoroughly enjoyed Jaimie and it was nice to see how he’s growing and adapting as Atlas’s Valet. Of course, we couldn’t have a book without Atlas’s best friend, the Earl of Charlton and Lilliana’s brother, the Duke of Somerville.

I can definitely recommend this book and this series. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Atlas Catesby has had a pleasant evening at the opera with Lady Lilliana but it ends viciously when Atlas witnesses the murder of a woman outside Covent Garden. He later determines that the woman was the mistress of his former brother-in-law, Marquess of Vessey, who he blames for his sister's death many years earlier. Atlas is determined to lay the blame for this death at Vessey's feet so that he can re-connect with his nephew, Nicholas. But how can he prove it?

Atlas searches to find all the connections to the victim hoping to find the motive for the murder.

The characters have grown in depth and the backstory of Atlas' sister gives more of an insight to his character as well.

Hoping for more!

I really enjoyed Atlas as a character, and I really enjoyed going on this journey with her. The characters were great and I really enjoyed reading this book.

D.M. Quincy gives the reader Murder at the Opera, a regency mystery, with Alex Catesby as the gentleman investigator who is set to find the murderer of the long time mistress of his brother-in-law, the Marquess of Vessey. Lots of red herrings, low life, and high society. Read and enjoy.

There are suspects galore in this novel. It is very well written and kept my interest throughout. I have thoroughly enjoyed this Regency series and look forward to the next book.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Atlas Catesby is an enigma. He is the son of a baron, yet shuns society festivities. He is very intelligent, preferring to spend his time solving intricate puzzles. He shuns settling down and has traveled extensively. At times he seems like a teenage boy. He admires and is attracted to Lady Lilliana. Not only is he afraid his affection is not returned not does he feel he is good enough for him, even though she gives enough hints that she wants to be more than friends. In this third of the Altas Catesby mysteries, Altas is face to face with his nemesis, the Marquess of Vessey, his late sister's husband. After attending a night at the opera, Atlas witnesses the murder of Vessey's mistress, Wendy Pike. What secrets will Altas uncover as he searches for her killer? Why does he care? How does investigating the murder bring him closer to Lilliana? As you read through this book, the reader can almost hear the wheels turning in his brain as Altas rules out one suspect after another. Although I seemingly guessed who the killer was before Altas, as the story progresses, you know he had this suspect in mind all along. This is a very nice addition to the Altas Catesby mysteries, I do hope there will be more.

Thank you Net Galley. I have enjoyed the previous books in the series and this one, also, did not disappoint.
A well written mystery that kept me turning the pages eagerly.. I look forward to more in the series.

I really enjoyed this story! I read the first two books before digging into this one and I'm so glad that I did, they were all excellent!!

The third book in the Atlas Catesby mystery series, Murder at the Opera is a thoroughly engaging mystery that can be read as a stand-alone, but I definitely recommend reading its predecessors. The mystery here starts with the murder of a marquess’s long time mistress, and Atlas is first on the scene.

The truly beautiful part of the story is the subtly character growth from both the primary and (brilliant) secondary characters, and how it never overwhelms the main mystery plot. It’s a testament to the writing that both storylines were so compelling.

I look forward to the next in the series, hoping it’s not as long in coming as this one was. I need to understand the backstory of Thea (Atlas’ sister) and her husband!

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

I love historical mysteries and I also love Heyeresque regencies. You'd think I'd enjoy some of the regency era with female protagoists, but somehow I never did. All the ones I tried were a bit too much on the cozy side and I prefer a grittier mystery.. Then I stumbled upon the Captain Lacey mysteries and the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries, both with male protagonists (but featuring badass women, too!) and fell in love. Atlas Catesby is a worthy successor to those two gentlemen and I think anyone who enjoys those series will also enjoy this one.

A much anticipated evening at the opera turns deadly for Atlas Catesby. Leaving the performance he hears a gun shot and a woman is dead. Before he knows it, his past comes back to haunt him. The woman who has died is Mrs. Pike, a well known singer and her long time lover and father of two of her children turns out to be the Marquess of Vessey, Malcolm Lennox, known to Atlas as his former brother in law. When Atlas was just 11 years old, his sister, Phoebe, was married to him and Atlas blames him for her death. As he learns more about Mrs. Pike and her relationship with Lennox, Atlas wants to finally find him guilty of the past crime.
Atlas is eager to prove Lennox's guilt until his nephew, Nicholas, comes to him, asking him to help prove his innocence. It turns out that there is more to the life of the late Mrs. Pike than meets the eye and the list of possible suspects isn't short. Atlas needs to put aside his feelings about Lennox if he expects to track down Mrs. Pike's killer. along the way the reader is immersed in the sights and sounds of 1815 London. From the high life to the low life, the reader sees it all. Which makes this one historical mystery series keep its place on my must read list. In the genre of historical mysteries it's one of the best. The mystery itself is well crafted with more than enough twists and turns and some red herrings to keep me guessing to the reveal. I hope this series has a long run.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

1815 London. As the theatre crowd are leaving the opera in Covent Garden the Marquess of Vessey's lost term mistress, Mrs Pike, is shot. Twenty-two years previously the wife of Vessey died. Atlas is convinced that his former brother-in-law Vessey killed his wife Phoebe. Phoebe being Atlas's older sister. So he takes the opportunity to investigate hoping to prove Vessey guilty of this murder.
I enjoyed this well-written mystery with its cast of well-developed characters. Hopefully the series will stay more mystery than romance to keep my interest.

It's the first book i read in this series and won't surely be the last.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read, with a cast of fleshed out characters and a well researched historical background.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

When Mrs. Pike is murdered. Atlas Catesby hopes her lover is the sure perpetrator but in this well-crafted mystery things can't be wrapped up that easily.

Atlas Catesby has been waiting 20 years to see the downfall of the Marquess of Vessey who he believed killed his sister. The death of his mistress at the opera may bring about that conclusion. This is not to be an easy undertaking as Atlas delves into Mrs Pike’s life. There are many red herrings and many twists and turns in this exciting mystery. The characters are very believable and there are previous books in this series to enjoy as well.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars
Atlas Catesby is about to discover the dark side of the bright lights. His long-awaited night at the opera with Lady Lilliana ends abruptly when a notorious courtesan is shot to death in Covent Garden.
The infamous victim was the mistress of the powerful Marquis of Vessey. Atlas believes that the marquis--his former brother in law--is responsible for the long-ago death of Atlas's sister, Phoebe. Atlas seizes the opportunity to potentially avenge his sister's death. But his inquiry is complicated when Phoebe's grown son implores Atlas to help prove Vessey's innocence.
This is the third book in the series & the first I’ve read, I loved it. Murder & mystery set in the Regency era ticked all the boxes for me. I was drawn in from the start & engrossed until the end. A very well written book with characters that have depth & well developed. There are red herrings & the identity of the villain isn’t obvious. I now need to go & read the first two books & look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I have read the two previous Atlas Catesby books and I think the series is growing stronger and more entertaining.

Atlas Catesby is leaving the theater in Regency London when a murder occurs. The victim is the mistress of a member of the aristocracy, a man who happens to be Atlas' former brother in law. The Catesbys believe he was responsible for the death of their sister, his late wife.

Catesby is still pursuing justice, 20 years later, for his sister and vows to find the murderer, especially if it's the peer in question. Family loyalties complicate everything, and so do the untruths floating around when Catesby investigates.

And of course, Catesby's yearning for his lady love Liliana is a major plot theme. Atlas has no fortune or title and she is the daughter of a duke. Their relationship is appealing with lots of sparks flying. This was a fun and enjoyable read with a nicely plotted mystery and likable main characters.

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

Excellent. A very well-crafted historical mystery. I missed the previous titles in the series, but the writing is so solid and engaging that it didn't matter -- Great writing style, well-written characters, and dialog, along with a finely crafted plot. Highly recommended.

I really appreciate the review copy!!

At the conclusion of a theater performance Atlas is attending with Lady Lillianna Warwick, Atlas hears a cry of murder that immediately spurs him to action. A woman, who is later revealed as Mrs. Wendela Pike, has been shot dead. Atlas discovers that Mrs. Pike is the misstress to none other than Malcolm Lennox, better known as the Marquess of Vessey. Atlas' own history with Vessey stretches back many years. He is the man Atlas knows to be responsible for his late sister's death fifteen years prior. Atlas is at a crossroads with the investigation because however determined he is to ensure Vessey pays for any hand he had in the current murder, he is also hesitant to disturb the world of his nephew Nicholas. Will Atlas be able to set past feelings towards Vessey aside, or will he allow his prejudice towards the man to cloud his judgement?
There were plenty of plausible suspects to keep reader's guessing and the investigation moved at a brisk pace with plenty of plot twists to keep the narrative engaging. The secondary characters are all present in this new adventure with plenty of growth woven into the main plot. Readers will feel transported to Regency era England with plenty of accurate descriptions of the period to paint a vivid picture. The overarching mystery surrounding Atlas' sister Phoebe will also come to a conclusion giving some long awaited closure. I do hope there are more adventures featuring Atlas Catesby and crew.