Lady Sophronia isn't your typical lady. Detective Graham IS your typical Detective. Mostly. He quickly finds himself irritated, then gradually intrigued by the unusual Lady who inserts herself into police business as though she has a right to be there.

All the ingredients for a good mystery along with just the right amount of romance.

This is my first book by this author and I was enchanted! The adventure was thrilling, the detective work intriguing, and the romance was beautifully written. I’m excited to read the rest of this series! I was given this copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions. All ideas expressed are completely my own.

Solving Sophronia by Jennifer Moore
Book #1: The Blue Orchid Society Series
Source: NetGalley and Covenant Communications
Rating: 4/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: I have always been a fan of stories that feature a woman well ahead of her time and place. As if in answer to my very own heart’s desire, Solving Sophronia delivers just such a read. Lady Sophronia is far more intelligent than most of society gives her credit for. Though she is currently a gossip columnist, Sophronia has plans to break into the hard news division. Lady Sophronia’s chance comes when she begins a serious investigation into a local murder. Though she shouldn’t be poking around in police business, she has some help from the dashing Detective Jonathan Graham. What’s more, Sophronia has the unconditional support of her fellow Blue Orchid Society members, a group of young women, who, like Sophronia are well ahead of most of their peers and certainly ahead of their time and place. With that kind of support, Sophronia simply can’t fail. I found this book to be entertaining as well as interesting. I see a bright future for this series.

I love Jennifer Moore's writing and I can now add Solving Sophronia to my favorite of hers to date. I can not wait to read the next installment from The Blue Orchid Society series. This one gets five stars from me.

I enjoyed the mystery of this story-I always love when there is a mystery intertwined with the romance. It was also a nice change from the regency genere to enter the Victorian era. Although quite similar, it seemed there were a few more freedoms afforded just a few years later.

I liked how Sophie made herself useful in the investigation and was appreciated for it. I also liked a lot of the supporting characters, and look forward to seeing them again in future books.

This is the first of a new series. I believe there is a novella before this book. I did not read it prior to reading "Solving Sophronia," but I don't feel like I was missing anything by not reading it first.

This book is absolutely delightful. I love historical fiction and mysteries, and this book combines the genres very well. It is historically accurate, with lots of interesting period details, and I especially appreciate the author's attention to people's thoughts and beliefs during that era, rather than just their fashions or surroundings. She presents her characters and their culture in a very convincing way, and explores the implications of class differences very well.

I really liked Sophronia and her detective love interest. They are both engaging and likable characters, and Sophie is a great example of a strong-minded, independent woman who is enjoyable to read about, rather than just a prop for an author's feminist views. Although there are a few aspects of this book that I found contrived, such as the supportive society that Sophie and other independent-minded women abruptly formed, her character overall is deeply convincing, rather than preachy and message-oriented.

This is a great story for people who enjoy historical fiction, murder mysteries, and clean romances. I'm very grateful that I got to read an advance copy through NetGalley, and I'm thrilled that I enjoyed it just as much as I had hoped. The cover and synopsis enticed me from the beginning, but because I am very picky and have high standards, I am always wary of disappointment. Fortunately, this book was exactly what I wanted it to be. It isn't perfect, and the narrative voice sometimes veers into too much exposition instead of dramatizing the events on the page, but this is an engaging story with likable characters, an interesting mystery, and a slow, charming love story.

As I read this book, I kept thinking about how much I would have loved it when I was a teenager. I was particularly into this time period back then, and loved books about high society ladies who had adventures and pursued unexpected goals. Even though this book didn't exist back then, it makes me very happy to report that it is so utterly clean and inoffensive that if it had, there would have been nothing to stop me from reading it when I was in middle school. This book is a great fit for both adults and teenagers who are interested in the genres, and I will keep it in mind as something to recommend with great enthusiasm.

So, I was a bit hesitant to read this book. From the description and some people’s reviews, I wasn’t sure it would be my cup of tea but I actually really enjoyed it. It reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes type of story and detective work. Not gruesome but you and the characters are trying to solve the crime(s).
Lady Sophronia is known for writing stories in the newspaper about the upper class. She writes about gossip, latest fashions etc...However, she really wants to be a real news reporter and write about something that actually matters. She happens to stumble upon a crime scene and immediately gets to work noticing important details that are extremely helpful, much to the annoyance of the Detective. Soon they decide they could benefit from one another and take on the task of finding the murderer(s).
There is mystery and clues and a little romance, too. The whole story moved at a good pace and I had a hard time putting the book down.
There is a prequel novella of this new series and it’s a Regency story that is about Sophronia’s grandmother, Emmeline. She’s in this book a bit which was fun, too. The next books will probably be about Sophronia’s friends from the Blue Orchard Society. They each have a different passion they want to pursue like nursing school, starting a school for children, running a business, etc. Not sure if they will also be murder mystery type books or if that was just for this first story. Regardless, I look forward to reading them when they come out.

This story has a bit of everything, mystery, romance, friendship, feminism. I was more intrigued by the mystery than the romance. This is a good start to the series The Blue Orchid Society.

This book was such an unexpected delight! I think I was anticipating a normal historical romance - which don't get me wrong I love - but there was so much more to this story! First Lady Sophie writing for the newspaper when this was not the norm for women. Sure, she just writes a Miss Propriety column, but she aspires to so much more. Then forming the Blue Orchid Society with the other ladies who all have goals and ambitions and want to help each other achieve them. I, of course, adored the hero of the story, Detective Jonathan Graham. I love that he can from an unexpected background and has worked hard to get to where he is. The way Sophie and Jonathan get to know and admire each other as they navigate a serious murders is an adventure to be on! Honestly, I simply cannot wait for the next in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for the eARC!

This was novel had a good, suspenseful ring to it and I really liked how the characters tried to be themselves in a world that really wanted them to toe the line. I like how the grandmother support her, especially since her family was not. I thought it was a nod to the author that this simple looking girl could have depth and that she was invaluable solving a mystery.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own.

Lady Sophia Mather works as a society editor; she comes from a noble family, all her family wants is for her to marry well; all Sophia wants is to write stories of real concerns. Her chance comes when she comes across a women's dead body in a Spitalfield's alleyway. As a woman, and a society editor, she notices things that the investigators from the police department have missed about the clothing of the dead woman. And so this delightful story begins of Sophia working in tandem with the police department, and in particular, the handsome Detective Graham. Detective Jonathan Graham, orphaned at an early age, an orphan, grew up in the rookeries, but has done well for himself as a detective. Soon it is not one murder, but three murders, and who is the culprit will surprise everyone.

Lady Sophronia Mather and a few of her acquaintances, have joined forces as members of The Blue Orchid Society. Each of them have made lofty goals to become and be the person that they would like to be. This is Lady Sophronia's story, and I eagerly await the other ladies' stories. This was such a unique and enjoyable plot; I really enjoyed the mystery in this novel. This is a well-written book, and gives you a peak at the workings of .a Victorian police department, and of a relationship that crosses boundaries.

An advanced copy was given to me by NetGalley, which has in no way influenced my review of this book.

I loved this book from the start to the finish. It's hard to imagine how women were able to insert themselves into a man's world but I would love to believe it was just like Lady Sophronia approached it. I can not wait to read more on the futures of the other members of the Blue Orchid Society. I enjoyed the setting of the novel and the slight mystery feel without all the stress. Will be reading again soon.

I read this ARC for an honest rreview
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Firstly, great cover - absolutely loved it
This was a really enjoyable read, really drew me in from the first and couldn't put down

So, lots of great threads throughout the book - a bit of romance, a bit of mystery. Loved the characters and the story was great with lots of unpredictable twists

A great read

This was a very enjoyable read. Sophie and her friends in the Blue Orchid Society were a breath of fresh air. I love characters that are good but don’t fit the mold society would want them to fit. I hope Moore writes a book for each member.

I was reminded a little bit of a female deceive show I saw once (I think it was done by the BBC). Anyway, I loved how Sophie pushed her way into the investigation and also into the hearts of the policemen/detective she worked with.

Sophie’s grandmother and her friends were a hoot. I was so glad she had that support, especially with how awful her mother was to her.

I liked this book so much that I also sought out the audiobook to listen to while I worked. While the reader’s voice let me down as far as the strong personality I had built up for Sophie, it was nice to be able to hear the story again.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting to think of all the advancements in crime solving we have today. I can’t imagine trying to solve crimes without modern technology. I loved the characters especially Sophronia. Can’t wait for more books in this series!

This was a really fun read. It’s about a Victorian lady and a police detective who fall in love while investigating a murder. Sophie is a society columnist for a London newspaper, but she wants to write about real news and convinces Detective Jonathan Graham to let her tag along. It turns out that they make a good team—for solving crimes, and maybe for other things too. I enjoy stories that include characters overcoming some of the artificial divisions humans put up (in the case of this book, class differences). The book involves murder and social injustice, but it’s all handled with a hopeful lens, and the romance is wholesome. This would be a good one for teens or adults (I’d even let my middle-grade readers have a go at it).

I am going to gush about this new book, Solving Sophronia, by Jennifer Moore. It is SO GOOD! I stayed up way too late reading it, then woke up to finish it first thing in the morning. That's how compelling it is. I love that this is a Victorian mystery romance and the author seamlessly blends so many aspects of a complicated crime with a complicated romantic relationship. It was very well-done.

The beginning was obviously a set up for the rest of the series when we are witness to the formation of the Blue Orchid Society---women who have goals and dreams and are determined to achieve them. Sophie wants to be a real reporter, more than just a society columist. She inserts herself into a murder investigation to the chagrin of Detective Jonathan Graham. He can't figure out this nobleman's daughter. Sophie moves about high society, but cries over the death of a servant. She is intelligent and kind, yet nosy and exasperating. I loved watching him unravel his feelings for her. And Jonathan is a bit of an enigma himself, with a scarred past, and yet he still has a tender heart. Such a sweet hero! The author has obviously done her research on crime investigation in the Victorian era and it makes all her characters shine in this book. They mystery is so twisty and turny, I really didn't guess the villain until the very last moment! I also enjoyed the secondary cast. They are just as memorable as the main cast---especially the constabulary family.

I can't wait for more in this series. This one is definitely going on my rainy day shelf to be read again and again!

A brand new cozy historical mystery series, Solving Sophronia introduces us to Sophie, a journalist in Victorian London who yearns to write something more than just society gossip. One night Sophie stumbles across a murder scene where she meets Jonathan, a police detective who's mildly irritated at first by Sophie's journalistic observations and tries to shoo her on her way. Turns out though that she was spot on, and Jonathan needs her help in catching the murderer.

There are shades of Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries series in this. An upper class lady of society who doesn't fit the mold solving crimes with a blue collar detective with no family connections to speak of. And I love the fact that Sophie has found herself a set of similarly minded women who have formed their own group called The Blue Orchid Society.

Good mystery. Cleverly drawn characters. A great new addition to the female sleuths in the historical mystery genre. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this great book!

Solving Sophronia by Jennifer Moore, 224 pages. Covenant Communications, 2020. $15.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Meeting by chance in the library at yet another boring society event, 22-year-old Sophronia and her friends have committed to go after their unconventional dreams. Sophronia wants to be a reporter and finds her chance when she comes across a murder scene as the police arrive. Detective Jonathan is not pleased to find a haughty woman poking around his work -- especially when she finds more headway in cracking the case than he does.
Following the mystery with Sophronia and Jonathan chasing after clues is fun as they are forced to work together and navigate societal rules. The mystery is the focus of the book, though, of course, Moore weaves in romance that is as entertaining as it is cheesy. Overall, I enjoyed the story and liked the message of how we can achieve our goals, but I wasn’t wowed by Moore's writing. The mature content rating is for mentions of drugs and illegal activity; the violence rating is for blood, gun use, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

“Perhaps the real mystery wasn’t the murders but the man solving them.”

Not all detectives wear pants. In fact, some even wear skirts. Detective Jonathan Graham’s new murder case has him stumped, that is before a pretty face and an inquisitive mind barges onto his murder scene.

From the very first page, I couldn’t put this down. I love that although Jonathan had been very against the idea of sucking up his pride and allowing a woman to help with his investigation, he started to trust Lady Sophie Bremerton’s judgement and her ideas. He even sat back a few times just to watch what she might do or say. I think he found her amusing and delighted in her company.

There was great chemistry between the hero and heroine, with hilarious interactions between the characters. I loved Sergeant Lester and his interesting quirk. It brought out a surprising comic relief I did not see coming.

It was so fun to go along on a journey to solve a murder mystery with three awesome characters along every step of the journey. I highly recommend this book, and I’m crossing my fingers that there is a second one in the works.