It did take me a little bit to get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed it. I will look for more from this author. I liked the MC, and her friends (not her father however). The mystery was interesting.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Finding a corpse in the library??? That's my dream!
I find the blurbs really really interesting and I got the ARC! I love and enjoy everything while I read this book! I love the main female character, Lily!
You'll keep guessing until the end!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Oh this was a good one - these books are really well-written and that makes it a more enjoyable reading experience. Even though I knew who the killer was early on and then knew the why midway through, it was still a very enjoyable story - watching Lily grow as she deals with being a widow is awesome to watch and I love her interaction with both Jack and Mr. Page [the constable]. Watching her deal with her father [and isn't HE a ray of sunshine {SMH} ]is very sad, but how she stands up for herself and her relationships [he doesn't approve of Jack] is all rather glorious.
Because of the nature of the book, not much of a review can be given - everything I would write would just end up giving things away and that would do a new reader a huge disservice. This is a lovely book that deserves to be read with no preconceived notions and ideas in their head. THAT is the best review one can give IMO.
Very well done - I highly recommend this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katharine Schellman, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Silence in the Library is the second book in Katharine Schellman's historical Lily Adler Mystery series. I am infinitely pleased to discover that I have the first book in this series in my huge TBR pile, as I enjoyed this outing immensely and want to go back and see what I missed. This installment stands alone perfectly well. I have a feeling this is going to be a favorite historical mystery series of mine.

Widow Lily Adler has settled into her London home and is getting used to being an independent woman. That is, until her semi-estranged (and totally disagreeable!) father Mr. Pierce shows up uninvited, informing her that he will be staying with her for a time. His dear friend Sir Charles Wyatt has recently gotten married, and Mr. Pierce disapproves; however, someone in his family must give their regards to the new couple, and apparently that someone is Lily. The day after visiting the Wyatts Lily and her friend Captain Jack Hartley return to the home to go riding with Lady Wyatt, only to find that Sir Charles has died after falling and hitting his head. Bow Street constable Simon Page is called to the home, but he suspects something isn't right...and soon Lily finds evidence that Sir Charles has actually been murdered! Mr. Page was with Lily when she previously caught a murderer and he trusts her judgement, so Lily and Jack begin to investigate the murder alongside Mr. Page. Every possible suspect appears to have an alibi, but then Lily is summoned to the Wyatt home by one of the maids to whom they previously spoke...only to find the woman is dead. Just who in the Wyatt family is behind these murders? Lily must convince her judgemental father to help draw out the killer.

This was a very entertaining and charming Regency mystery. Lily was a great heroine! She was still becoming accustomed to losing her husband and settling into her London home and certainly didn't need her frankly horrible father to show up unannounced for a visit. Lily was a clever woman and apparently helped Simon Page of Bow Street solve a previous murder. He didn't want her involved with his investigations, but he couldn't deny the fact that she was quite useful, not only because she was smart but also that she could help him navigate the world of the upper class. Lily was good friends with Jack, who was her deceased husband Freddy's best friend since childhood. They helped each other through their grief after Freddy's passing. Jack was a great character; I especially loved his wicked sense of humor and his closeness to Lily. The suspects in the Wyatt family were all well drawn, especially son Frank (who Lily's father loved like his own son, never mind that he had a perfectly lovely daughter) and cousin Percy, who was in deep financial trouble. There were enough red herrings to keep me guessing. I'm excitedly looking forward to Lily's next investigation; but maybe even more, I want to see the direction that the relationship between Jack and Lily may take!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I loved the first instalment in this cozy historical mystery series, and I loved this one as it’s a gripping and well written story.
It’s a well written story that kept me turning pages as it’s gripping and highly entertaining.
Lily is a strong heroine, clever and strong willed. She face the prejudice of her age towards clever woman and she’s not afraid to speak her mind or to challenge the convention of Regency time and of the Ton.
Women were expected to act ladylike and not be involved in murder investigation.
I love how she cares for her independence and how she manages her life.
The cast of characters is well thought and likeable. Both Simon Page and Luke Harley are interesting characters as they both have to face prejudices.
Simon is middle class and he has to relate to Ton people during his investigation. The class prejudice is strong and Lily is a sort of proxy helping with people who despise him. Jack is a likeable and fleshed out characters, half Indian he has to face racial prejudice.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns. There’s plenty of suspects, red herrings and I was able to guess who did it but not how.
One of my pet peeves are love triangle and there won’t be one in this story.
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Katharine Schellman, Partners in Crime and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I thought I would love this one. Because who doesn't love a mystery in a library. But alas both the sitting and the characters fell flat for me.

Silence in the Library is the second instalment in Katharine Schellman's Lily Adler Mystery series set in London. The year is 1815 and Lady Lily Adler's estranged father, George Pierce is visiting the doctor. He is staying with Lily and she's not very happy about it. His friend, Sir Charles Wyatt who currently lives in Wimpole Street in the city, has recently remarried so Lily goes to visit him and his new wife in place of George who is suffering from ill-health to pass on his good wishes. Charles is out when she arrives at their house, so she chats to Lady Winnie Wyatt and Frank, Charles's son. Lily invites Lady Wyatt to go riding the next morning, but when she arrives she finds the door slightly open but nobody answers her knock. She enters the house and encounters Frank who, in a state, announces that Sir Charles is dead.

I loved this cosy-style historical mystery and found that the author's writing style worked well for me. The Bow Street investigation into Sir Charles's death was interesting to follow, as were Lily's sleuthing exploits. The characters were all quirky and delightfully brought to life. I haven't read book one yet but aim to very soon. A compelling and charming read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Silence In The Library by Katherine Schell;man

Regency widow, Lily Adler, didn’t expect to find a corpse when visiting a family friend. Now it’s up to her to discover the killer in this charming story.

This was a murder mystery which took place in London. Women had their places then and were not out in s0ciety alone. It had many enticing characters. I enjoyed this book and trying to figure out who was the murderer. Well-written.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Silence in the Library (Lily Adler Mystery #2) by Katharine Schellman from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… A true whodunit with multiple suspects, clever red herrings and unexpected twists and turns …

In Silence in the Library, we meet up again in Regency London after widow Lily Adler had proven herself as a brilliant sleuth in the first book in the series The Body in the Garden which I was fortunate enough to review here.

Silence in the Library begins with the unexpected arrival of Lily’s somewhat estranged and extremely critical father. Her father a society climbing solicitor is concerned more about social mores than his daughter’s happiness. Despite being widowed two years prior young Lily has carved out a wonderful life for herself with close male friends and a consulting position with the local police much to her father’s chagrin. Her father insists she visit an old society friend Sir Charles Wyatt and his new wife. After an uncomfortable visit Lily returns home, the next day she receives word that Sir Charles has been murdered and Lily feels compelled to follow the trail with her friends make a re-appearance namely Captain Hartley and officer Simon Page, a member of the Bow Street Runners. I was disappointed at first but pleasantly surprised with the appearance of Ofelia later in the book.

A true whodunit with multiple suspects, clever red herrings and unexpected twists and turns Silence in the Library keeps you guessing until the end. Although I preferred the first book in the series Silence in the Library was a great read, and I am looking forward to reading future books in this series!

Silence in the Library is the second instalment in the Lily Adler Mystery series set in Regency London. It's 1815 and London resident and young widower Lady Lily Adler is taken aback to discover her estranged father and notorious bully George Pierce has arrived in her neighbourhood and has invited himself to stay with his less than impressed daughter while he visits the doctor. Due to his health, Pierce doesn't have time to visit his long time friend Sir Charles Wyatt who has recently remarried and could be moving from the bustling city to the wilds of the countryside any day now, so Lily uses this as her means of escape. She heads off on her way to his home to personally convey her father’s well wishes to the happy couple. When she arrives she finds that Charles Wyatt is out attending to business but Lady Wyatt and their son Frank, who is the same age as Lily, are present to receive George’s respects. The following day, Sir Charles’ remains are discovered in his library.

This prompts perceptive, sharp as a tack Lily to immediately believe he met death at the hands of someone he knew. A murder investigation bursts into life under detectives at Bow Street station, and Lily seemingly cannot just sit back and let the police do their work, so she persuades her father to help her to collar the perpetrator and bring justice to the Wyatt family in their time of need. This is a compelling and thoroughly charming historical murder mystery in the style of British cosy crime novel set just after the turn of the nineteenth century. The plot is intricately woven, well-paced and absorbing with social commentary on racism, classism, prejudice, family dynamics, neurodiversity and women’s fight for independence. An immersive, engrossing mystery centred around vivid, quirky characters who come to life and a tale wholly reflective of the societal conventions of the era; it all culminates in an unexpected and satisfyingly explosive conclusion. Highly recommended.

Lily Adler’s father surprised her with a visit that was both unexpected and unwelcome. They have never been close and he begins his visit by criticizing her home, her library and her friend Captain Jack Hartley. Lily lost her husband a few years earlier and Jack was his best friend. He has stepped in to escort her while he is in London. At her father’s request they visit Lady Wyatt to congratulate her on her recent marriage to Sir Charles Wyatt, his friend of many years. During their visit a theft is discovered and Lily uncovers the thief. Invited to go riding the next morning, they arrive to discover that Sir Charles has been murdered. Set up to look like an accident, Lily finds the murder weapon and presents it to Simon Page, the Bow Street investigator on the case.

Lily had assisted Page in a previous case. While he warns her against meddling, he also admits that her social standing is an asset to his investigation. The family resents his intrusion in their home, but everything points to a family member as the murderer. Lady Wyatt is deemed too fragile to have moved the body. Wyatt’s son Frank was not at home the night of the murder and his cousin Percy, outed as the thief, says he had been forgiven by Sir Charles. Lily’s father considered Frank as a son and she has trouble believing that he could be involved. Sir Charles’ marriage was a surprise to him and there is a lot of animosity between Frank and his step-mother, but they are all hiding a family secret. There is another family member who has been kept hidden and may know something about the murder.

Katharine Schellman’s story reflects the class distinctions in Regency London. As a Bow Street Runner, Page is looked down on by the upper classes. Lily’s father is also critical of her involvement in the investigation as something that a lady would never do. This is a Regency mystery that will definitely appeal to fans of Deanna Rayburn and Jennifer Ashley. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for my review.

Returning home one day Lilly Adler, a young recent widow, encounters a set to on her doorstep. Her staff versus a man ordering porters to unload a mound of luggage into her front hallway. Sorting out the raised voices, she comes face to face with her not so dear father's valet. She instantly knows that her calm and peaceful life in her new home is now being turned upside down. Her father has decided to invade her home while recovering from an illness. This is the father who finds fault with her every action and has little to no respect for her. Lilly will always hold her own. She is a woman who knows her own mind and speaks it, too.
As she sorts things out and gets her father settled in the best guest room her father asks that she act on his behalf and make a call upon Sir Charles and his new, second wife, Lady Wyatt. Of course Lilly agrees - it will get her out of the house for awhile. Soon Sir Charles will be dead and his new bride will join Lilly in widowhood. Luckily the constable on the case is Simon Page from the previous investigation and he knows that Lilly has the skill and insight to help catch the killer. The team of Lilly, Captain Jack and Simon is great. Between them there isn't a part of London society that they can't enter. So who wanted Sir Charles dead and why? There is an undercurrent of tension from the moment Lilly meets Lady Wyatt and it moves the mystery along at a very nice pace. Between the mystery, the setting, and the Regency period I stayed up way past my bedtime. If you enjoy historical mysteries with strong women and a solid puzzle to solve, don't miss this series. I kept saying to myself just one more chapter until there were none left. I hope it isn't a very long wait until the next investigation for Lilly, Jack and Simon. If you enjoy historical mysteries with strong women and a solid puzzle to solve, don't miss this series.
My thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have enjoyed reading this 2nd book about Lily Adler just as much as I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Body in the Garden, which came out last year. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries and strong, likable female protagonists then you are sure to love Lily! She is such a wonderful character who comes alive in the pages. I can imagine living in this different time period and solving mysteries with her. I can’t wait to see what Lily gets involved with next!

Lily Adler arrives home to find her father's staff moving his things into her house. He has come to London to see a doctor, and she and her father have never gotten along. Since his appointment is that afternoon, he is happy to have Lily go visit the new wife of his old friend Sir Charles Wyatt. Jack has called a cab, but four young men jump in ahead of them. When Lily and Jack do get to the Wyatts, they find that one of the young men is there, Percy, the nephew of Sir Charles. The new Lady Wyatt is about 10 years older than Lily. It seems that someone has stolen some money from Sir Charles, and from the conversations Lily overheard when they stole her coach, she figures out it was Sir Charles nephew, Percy. Jack is able to grab him as he is about to leave. Before they leave, Lily makes plans to come riding with Lady Wyatt the next morning.

When she arrives the next morning, Sir Charles is dead. It soon becomes clear to Lily that he was murdered by a member of the family. Mr. Simon Page from Bow Street is called in. Lily has worked with him before, and she and Jack continue to investigate. Lily's father is godfather for Sir Charles' son Frank, and Lily believes that her father is much closer to Frank than to her. Sir Charles is also supporting his nephew, Percy. Lily also finds out that Sir Charles has another son, Arthur, who has problems. He has been taken care of by a staff member, Ellen, who understands him. However, soon Ellen is also dead.

At the end, Lily's father needs to help them uncover one of the murderers, and we find that there are two guilty parties. I found the story very engaging with well developed characters and good suspense.

I so enjoy this regency cozy mystery series featuring young widow Lily Adler. Silence in the Library by Katharine Schellman is book two and published tomorrow. I love that Lily is a strong and smart character in a time when women weren’t expected to be either. Strong mystery as well. Thanks so much for this ARC!

Lily Adler has just helped solve a murder and save a friend. When her father arrives unannounced he asks Lily to go visit a friend who has just remarried. Lily and her friend Jack go visit Sir Charles and Lady Wyatt but when they return the next day Sir Charles is dead and Lily finds herself once again trying to solve a mystery.

This is the second book in the Lily Adler Mystery series. They are quick reads and very entertaining. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

*I was provided an ARC by @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for my honest review.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Silence in the Library is the second title in the Lily Adler series which features recently widowed Lily as she is beginning to re-enter society after her morning period for her husband is over. Lily is dismayed when her overbearing father arrives for a visit and proceeds to find fault with everything from her attire to her home. While visiting the friend of her father who has recently remarried, she is shocked to find him dead. His widow is broken up about the death, and Lily feels bad for her still being a relatively new widow herself. There are several suspects including a nephew who fought with the dead mine the night before over money and seems to have some kind of secret, a younger son who is kept hidden due to his developmental difficulties, and the heir who didn't approve of his father's marriage to a much younger woman as a second wife.

When a young maid who appeared to have some knowledge of events leading up to the death are murder, Lily knows she has to do everything she can to determine who the killer is to prevent the killer from going free while dealing with the constant criticism and disapproval of her father. Although we do get to see more of Jack (Lily's likely love interest), the romance is not featured much in this title, but I expect future titles will expand on this element of the story. I enjoyed the mystery and thought it well done. There were enough hints for me to figure out the motive and narrow down the suspects to a few prior to the reveal. I hope to read many more titles in this series.

Regency widow Lily Adler didn't expect to find a corpse when visiting a family friend. Now it's up to her to discover the killer in the charming second installment in the Lily Adler mysteries.

This series turned out to be very interesting and addictive.

Lily Adler, a young widow in regency London, is unhappy when her father turns up to her door unannounced and demanded her to pay a call of his old friend. She obeyed and the wife of an old friend suggested to go riding the next day, but they couldn't because there was a murder in the house - but Lily is determined to find the victim.

The whole story and plot was really nice and this cover is just a cherry on top!

Lily is not the average Regency type lady. Now widowed, just coming out of mourning she has been unexpectedly, unpleasantly surprised by the visit of her father without any notice. Her father and Lily do not get on at all. Lily feels that she will never compare or come up to the expectations of a son and her father frowns on every
aspect of Lily's life - from her clothes to her company, to the way the house is run and just about everything. Lily loves her home, and the peace and contentment that
is there and all this is disrupted by her father.

On a visit to see a newly married woman (at the behest of her father) who disapproves that someone married again after the death of his spouse Lily is once again thrown
headlong into another murder investigation. Finding Sir Charles dead was bad enough but having to declare it was murder, and to be the person who found the murder
weapon was hard. Especially in Regency society who preferred to sweep everything under the carpet, find some innocent bystander or workman to bear the brunt of the
crime and whoever actually did it to literally escape with murder.

Sadly for the Wyatt family who have many secrets to hide, Lily and her side kick Captain Jack, along with Mr. Page the Bow Street runner who was in charge of the case
are not willing to compromise on their principles. Mr. Page is an unusual Detective. He is not open to bribery or to look the other way where the aristocracy is
concerned and the investigation plods on.

Plenty of diversions, another hapless victim found murdered, another son discovered, then another illegitimate daughter discovered and the net closes in.

This was vintage detective genre - one I like very much. Set in Regency England with a bit of history thrown in, just a smidgeon of romance to keep us going till
the next book appears this was a good entertaining read.

Silence In The Library by Katherine Schellman is an engaging historical romance (and in exciting news, there is more Lily Adler to come!) This is the second book in the series and I have truly enjoyed both books. The writing works for me and I like the characters.

I received a complimentary ARC of this title.