I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A fun romance period novel. Good weekend read.

This is going to be my first historical romance that has a mystery touch in it. I enjoy this but yes, a 3 stars from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Mysterious Lover is a unique historical romance mystery book.
The mystery aspect was great, I was genuinely surprised when the killer was revealed. and the way the romance and the mystery intertwined was also great.
The romance was cute as well, I really really liked Grizelda and Daren's meet-cute and the friendship that bloomed between them.
I enjoyed Grizelda's badass (in a quiet way) character.
Overall it was a really interesting book, and I highly recommend it.

Who Killed Nancy?

A Hungarian refugee and a duke’s daughter find themselves investigating a murder. They were both at the scene of the crime. When he is arrested, she rescued him, and that’s where it all began. Would the find the killer, or would Dragan have to pay for a crime he didn’t commit? Could a duke’s daughter and a Hungarian refugee stand a chance? She decided to remain a spinster; would he change her mind? Would her family accept him? If you like historical romance with mystery, you might enjoy this story. Can you guess the killer?

Amazing new series from Lancaster! It was fun to dive into a later time period than the Regency and learn a little about the unrest of the times. Grizelda was an amazing h with plenty of personality and depth. I loved her unconventional desires to live her own life. I felt so much for the injustices Dragan faced and his cheer and optimism in the face of so much loss and opposition was inspiring. All the fun, intrigue, heart, and romance one expects from Lancaster. Can't wait for the next book!

No this is not a romance novel but one of the best murder mysteries I read in the last months. Set in the last half of the 19th century in London with the winds of revolutions blowing from the Continent. The youngest daughter of a Duke is more or less left to her own devices with her very handsome elder sisters married and her brothers having a career in foreign affairs or just enjoying the life of a gentleman of the higher classes. One evening at the opera to her surprise she thinks she sees her ladies-maid walk out of the door and piked with curiosity follows her into an alley. The next thing she is stumbling over a corpse. A person comes running to help it seems but that guy is promptly declared murder suspect number one.

The people are interesting characters and the murder plot is very well done. The only false note I think is the epilogue part that is not in line with the times the story is set nor with the character of the female hero.

I would suggest to change the title and cover as this hints at a soppy romance instead of a murder mystery with a hunk in one of the leading roles (who is a doctor, a solder, foreign and of noble birth - ticks boxes for romantic leading roles).

I completely love Mary Lancaster, and she has most recently been writing gorgeous but slightly shorter romances, this new series starter combines a really charming romance with an engrossing murder mystery plot.

Lady Grizelda Niven is the youngest, daughter of a duke, and one of a handful of siblings. Overshadowed by her beautiful sisters and powerful brothers, she manages to live a relatively independent life, firmly convinced she is not going to marry as she is plain and too studious. Griz spends her time making herself invisible to her family, so she can have the freedom to spend her time reading, doing charitable works and pleasing herself, aided by the very discreet household staff.

She is out at the opera with her family one night, when she catches sight of her maid, Nancy. She follows her into a dark alley in Covent Garden, and is found bending over her body, with a dagger in her hand, she is soon joined by the very handsome Hungarian Dragan Tizda. Dragan was a soldier and revolutionary, now living in exile, he works as a Doctor, and knows Nancy. When he is arrested instead of Griz, she is determined to have him released and find out who really murdered poor Nancy.

They are both keen to find out what really happened to Nancy, Dragan as he can sense a mystery, and Griz because she is keen to honour Nancy's memory by solving the crime, and remove any lingering suspicion from Dragan. As they work together to solve the mystery, the peril to Dragan increases, and Griz's family become increasingly concerned about the situation.

As they spend time together they grow closer, and are increasingly fascinated with each other.

Mary always writes such tender and lush romances, where you really root for the strong main characters, and the stories are always well paced, interesting and engrossing. I loved this one with it's touch of danger and darkness, and I feel that ML handled the murder mystery plot deftly. all in all a satisfying read of the best kind.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book, and all opinions are my own.

Who killed her maid? That is the question, and no one seems to have an answer to. Lady Grizelda Niven and her family went to the opera and never expected that Grizelda would find her maid in a back alley dead. Or that she would be found clutching a dagger over the body. This really turns in a “who dun it” as she and the handsome Hungarian refugee doctor; that is arrested for the crime, search for the real killer. This is an action packed, romantic adventure with wonderful characters. a great plot and an interesting read. Thank you, Mary Lancaster.

A night at the opera brings murder and mayhem, unexpectedly into the life of Grizelda, when she finds her maid murdered. Our hero, Dragan Tizsa comes to help and ends up with the knife Griz found and he is arrested for the murder of Nancy, the maid.

Intent on finding out who really killed Nancy, Griz fights to get him released and the adventure begins! Dragan is from Hungary and a doctor's assistant and becomes intrigued with Griz quickly. They put their heads together to solve the murder and it leads them into places that are dangerous and could get them in trouble.

This was a well written mystery that quickly pulled me in and kept me until the end. I cannot wait to read more in this series!

Mysterious Lover by Mary Lancaster is a leap into Regency mystery for Lancaster, and a successful one if Mysterious Lover is an example. Grizelda Niven was an opera lover. So many were not. As she was running one of her mother's myriad errands, she glimpsed their maid running from the theatre. She shouldn't even be here. Not stopping to think, Griz followed her into an alley after noticing her skirts head that way. What she found there was shocking. Despite the fact it had only been moments, Nancy, the housemaid was dead...stabbed. Right behind her came a mad, well dressed but a bit shabby, who picked up a dagger near the body. Not the murder weapon; there was no blood. Then came the constable, who arrested the gentleman, Dragan Tizsa, for murder. This would not do. Griz knew it was not possible, but how to prove they had arrested the wrong man?

This was a wonderful romance as well as a decent mystery. Prejudice against foreigners and anyone not a member of the ton is in full bloom. Griz's ability to investigate was hampered by the fact she was a woman but not by much. There was plenty going on here: revolutions were rampant in Europe and all nobility was concerned they would spread to England; as is often the case, men lie to women they supposedly love; the guilty are always ready and able to assign blame to someone else, no matter what the cost. This was an exciting novel, from an established author stretching her wings. Mysterious Love is interesting, well-plotted, strongly character-based, and a pleasant love story, above all. I recommend it.

I was invited to read Mysterious Lover by Dragonblade through Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #mysteriouslover

Lady Grizelda Niven is not your usual society miss. When she sees her maid leaving the Opera House, Grizelda follows her into an alley and discovers her maid, Nancy, has been murdered. Instead of getting hysterical Grizelda wants to help solve the mystery of her murder. Especially when the Police try to claim that Dragan Tizsa committed the murder, yet Grizelda knows he showed up to the scene after Grizelda and could not have done it.
Mary Lancaster is one of my favorite authors! Mary has given us a great mystery, strong characters, and great chemistry between Grizelda and Dragan. I read the book through without stopping, it was so good!
I received an ARC of this book and chose to post this review.

Guilt by Association or is it Guilt because of your beliefs? Can you be accused based on this alone?
Dragan Tizsa is a man of strong ideals & principles. He has taken sanctuary in England from his native Country of Hungary. He meets Lady Grizelda Niven over a dead body and their lives are never the same.
Lady Griz & Drag become sleuths to find out who killed Nancy and why! The appearances and elements pointing towards Dragan doesn’t mean that it was him because the murder weapon was not his. The murder weapon left at the scene belonged to Lady Griz’s family, but was that the actual murder weapon?

The author has written an exciting whodunnit with compelling characters! The characters have such spark that the storyline is exuberant. One has to keep turning the pages to see what is the next twist or turn because this is not your average kiss and tell book!

I definitely would recommend this book to a friend!
I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions!

Grizelda never imagined that an evening at the opera would suddenly become a night of curiosity, death and meeting a man with a mystery. When retrieving her mother’s fan, she sees her personal maid-at the opera. Upon discovering Nancy’s body, Grizelda is shaken but still confused as to what secrets died with her maid.
Dragan Tizsa is a refugee. He fled his homeland after participating in a failed revolution. He is immediately suspected by the authorities as the killer, but Grizelda quickly obtains his release. This interaction leads the two of them to form an uneasy alliance to find Nancy’s killer and to remove all suspicions from Dragan. But it is not so easy to do. As they struggle to find the answers, they begin to find themselves drawn to each other. But, will they survive the killer or killers?

At the opera with her parents the Graces’ the Duke and Duchess, Lady Grizelda Niven doesn’t expect to see her maid running away from the theater, then she finds her maid murdered in the street with her father’s dagger at her side. Dragan Tizsa, a Hungarian refugee doctor is also chasing Nancy, the maid, to only discover Lady Grizelda leaning over the body with a knife in her hand. A captivating story right from the first with murder of a household maid Nancy, who was she meeting, why was she there, who is her gentleman lover and why was she killed and by whom? Can they learn to trust each other as Grizelda and Dragan work together to uncover who the real murderer is and the shady characters they meet along the way to uncovering the truth. I have voluntarily read and reviewed the excellent story filled with mystery, intrigue and romance.

When she accompanies her family to the opera in Covent Garden, Lady Grizelda Niven does not expect to be discovered in a nearby back street, clutching a dagger over the dead body of her maid Nancy. However, she is even more surprised when the police arrest not her but the devastatingly handsome young man who found her. Clearly, it behoves her to have him released and to enlist his alliance in discovering who truly killed Nancy. Dragan Tizsa, a Hungarian refugee doctor, revolutionary, and soldier, lives constantly with the anguish of loss. The death of one more acquaintance makes little difference to him, except that it brings the vital and eccentric Griz into his life. He is a man who likes puzzles, and the mystery that is Griz soon assumes as much importance as that of the murder. As they work together to unravel the layers of Nancy’s life and discover why she died, friendship and attraction blossom, much to her family’s unease.
The start of a new series & what a start? Murder, intrigue & of course romance. I love the author’s books & eagerly await each one, they never disappoint. Strong characters & a very well paced tight plot had me glued from cover to cover. I loved both Dragan & Griz, she’s the bespectacled youngest child of a Duke who thinks she’s destined to be the aunt until she meets Dragan who is gorgeous, loyal, caring & who sees her for herself & wants her happiness. Together they form a formidable team in tracking down the murderer, along the way they encounter Nick, a young urchin who Griz takes home, he's adorable. a very well written page turner & I look forward to the rest of the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I loved the set up of the book. I love historical romance and adding the murder to it made it more enjoyable for me to read. It was a fun read! I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good historical romance.

❤️❤️❤️❤️1/2
💋💋

These two have such a beautiful building Chemistry right from the beginning of the book.

Action and excitement on every page that really have you dying for the next one to see what’s happening next.

A very enjoyable and entertaining read .
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for more in the series.
Mary never fails to give me everything I want from a book , such a wonderful writer.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review.

5 stars

Great story and introduction to a new series. Our hero is an ex soldier, trainee doctor who is a Hungarian exile. Our heroine, the youngest daughter of a duke. The get together to solve her maids murder and there are lovely scenes as they build their relationship and start to solve the mystery. We meet other members of Grizelda's famly (bit of an awful name but perhaps indicative as to why she feels the odd one out in her faimily). and perhaps they will turn up in other books. I enjoy this author's work and like how she brings in history into a romance. In this case the building of the Great Exhibibition and the lives of the aristocracy and those that work for them.

I thoroughly recommend this book.

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

4 1/2 * STARS*
Lady Grizelda and Dragan Tizsa find her maid dead in Covenant Garden back street Mudd Lane. Dragan fought in the revolution in Hungary for two years. His side lost and he fled to England. He has little money and no great prospects. Griz is the daughter of a Duke, A family of influence. This unlikely couple want to solve the puzzle of a maid's death. Who's guilty, who's innocent and why was she murdered? As they search for a murderer, they find a connection that breaks social barriers. Then an unexpected murderer is revealed. Very entertaining start to the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Sherlock Holmes meets Regency Romance in this delightful start to a new series. I found myself engrossed in this well-written novel from the opening pages and my interest never flagged. Set in an era when change was taking place all over the world, Lady Grizelda has more freedom than most young ladies of her time. However, she was not prepared for the sight of her maid flitting down the corridors of the opera house, nor did she expect to find her a few minutes later murdered in a back ally. She is even more perplexed when she is discovered holding a knife in her hand by a foreign gentleman, but when he is arrested for a murder that he did not commit, things go beyond the pale. Hungarian refugee, Dragan Tizsa, a doctor's assistant, is intrigued by the intelligent woman who demands he is released from custody, but he is even more surprised when she wants to be part of the investigation into the murder of Nancy Barrow. As Griz and Dragan put their heads together, they start sifting through the information they find and it leads them deeper and deeper into the underbelly of London life. Despite her family's reservations and warnings, Griz is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, which leads her straight into Dragan's arms. Whilst English misses are discouraged from following intellectual pursuits, Dragan has no problem with the bluestocking Grizelda Niven, who matches him intellectually and has the same sense of adventure. I loved how the relationship between the main characters in this book evolved, Dragan's charm and acceptance of Griz, whilst she never stood on ceremony and had a generous heart. I found the plot intriguing and the background to the story was very interesting. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series and hopefully will meet up with Dragan and Griz again. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.