Emma is the niece of the robber baron, Cornelius Vanderbilt. She is active in the Newport social life. But her uncle has just passed away and she is in no mood for socializing.

But one of her relatives needs her assistance. At their fete, an influential judge is found murdered. Emma swings into action to find the murderer.

Dollycas's Thoughts

September 1899 - Emma's Uncle Cornelius Vanderbilt has passed away and the family should all be in mourning but his son has his mind set on attending the Elizabethan fête on the opulent grounds of Wakehurst. His wife has asked Emma to go with them to help her keep her husband out of trouble. Emma really has no desire to attend but finally agrees to go.

Anglophile James Van Alen has gone all out for the festivities. An archery competition, a swordplay demonstration, a stage with actors doing scenes from Shakespeare’s works, and the main event is a joust. Emma chooses to wander the grounds instead of watching the joust. In her meanderings, she hears the Van Alen’s dogs barking like crazy. As she draws near, she sees a dead man on the ground with an arrow in his chest. She is shocked to recognize Judge Clayton Schuyler, one of the 400’s most influential members.

A new detective is assigned the case because Detective Whyte allowed Emma to "assist him" in his cases too many times. When a piece of evidence in the murder connects to a case Detective Whyte is investigating he, Emma, and her beau Derrick team up to solve both cases. Their investigation takes them in many directions and they learn that the judge had some significant secrets. Secrets that put a lot of people in danger including Emma.

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I love traveling back in history with Alyssa Maxwell. In this story, Wakehurst, the Ochre Point “cottage” is a replica of Wakehurst Place in West Sussex, England, complete with English furnishings as well. It is owned by Anglophile James Van Alen. Again, the cover shows the "cottage" and Ms. Maxwell's descriptions take us inside and all through the elaborate gardens. I appreciate the Author's Note after the story is done where she gives historic details of the real people and places that are featured in the story.

All the core characters are very well-developed.  Emma is a strong woman, independent and free-thinking. She receives something in the story that could change her life, but will she allow herself to use it? Nanny and Katie are sure to help her figure things out.  Derrick's mother still isn't happy with the relationship he is building with Emma but he knows how to handle her. Detective Whyte's professional life takes a bit of a shift but it doesn't slow him down. He still works with Emma and Derrick and together they make a heck of an investigative team. The author's descriptive style really brings all her characters to life.

Ms. Maxwell has plotted out a very intricate story. Emma found herself in very interesting places and she even gets caught once but she has a great explanation, for the immediate moment anyway. I admire her fortitude to find the truth no matter what. Her unique situation allows her to mix with the elite and their staff equally and she uses it to her advantage nicely to follow clues and gets the answers she needs. In the end, she does find herself in a dire straight and that sets up a very exciting showdown. And then, the final pages were heartwarming.

Murder at Wakehurst captures life in the Gilded Age with extraordinary characters and a richly detailed account of the time. Ms. Maxwell has encased her characters in a complex mystery that kept me guessing right up until the end. A fantastic addition to this series.

I apprecitate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this a really interesting read and the characters are quite engaging. it kept me reading until the end. I highly recommend.

Cornelius Vanderbilt II has died and Emma Cross, a niece, is persuaded to attend a garden party at Wakehurst with her cousin Cornelius III and his wife even though they are in mourning. Walking in the garden, Emma hears several arguments and finally, comes across the host, Judge Schuyler pierced by an arrow. When the police arrive, Emma is startled that her friend, Detective Jesse Whyte, is not involved and she is further disturbed when she realizes that it is because of her that Jesse has been replaced. But why has Judge Schuyler been murdered? Was it a criminal that he sent to jail or it a financial or family matter?

Emma seeks out the details of the people involved so that she can keep her cousin out of trouble but is she putting herself in that position instead?

I very much enjoy the setting of these mysteries - poor relation of a wealthy family in early 20th century - it's like a history lesson (electricity , motor cars) along with a mystery.

Cornelius Vanderbilt dies and leaves thousands of dollars to the local paper, the Newport Messanger. Days later Judge Clayton Schuyler is found dead in the yard at Wakehurst Manor during a costume party. Are the two deaths related? Only Emma can find out.

This historical fiction mystery reads like a classic. It mentions many historical facts about the time period. I liked the characters, but it was a little slow and dry for me. I read the beginning and then skipped over most of the middle to read the reveal at the end. Despite my lack of interest in the story. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy a mystery set in a previous time period.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Gilded Newport Mystery series was my first adventure into historical mysteries. Each book is better than the previous ne and this newest installment certainly met those expectations. Emma is one of my favorite book characters and I'm always thrilled when a new book is released. The author gives you a well crafted mystery and the ability to transport yourself to historical Newport Beach. As always this book has left me waiting for more.

This is one of my favorite series. All the characters are totally believable. You get really sucked into the story. And this was one I really didn’t see coming. I love it when they take me by surprise. I’m also thrilled that things are moving forward between the main character and her love interest.

*3.5 stars

I love these Gilded Age mysteries. Emma Cross is back just shortly after the last book ended. Her “uncle” Cornelius Vanderbilt has just died, and the last thing she wants to do is go to a party. She can’t say no to her cousins though when they ask for help. Well, of course, a body turns up dead and before she knows it, Emma is back investigating. However, there’s a new detective in town that doesn’t appreciate Emma’s meddling. This was decent but I thought there were too many unnecessary details that kinda bogged the story down. The investigation was ok, but not as engaging as her previous ones. So just an ok entry but still love this series and can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you Netgalley and Kennsington for allowing me to read the next installment in this series. I loved it.

I've been reading this series and it does not disappoint. I love the gilded age, and the fact that it is set in the US is a bonus. Emma is grieving the death of her uncle, Cornelius Vanderbilt when her cousin asks for the favor of accompanying them to an event in Newport. A fancy fete with costumes and jousting. Leave it to Emma to find a guest murdered. It is now up to her, her beau, her friend, Det. Whyte and a merry cast to find the culprit. The fact that you don't see who it is till the end is a big plus.

What I love about this series, is that we get real historical figures entwined in the story. This time around, we also see Emma's personal life evolving (Lets hope the next book seals the deal). You also have great mysteries.

Can't wait for the next book in the series.

Transitioning back to reporter from editor of the Messenger, Emma finds herself at the site of another murder. This time her police detective friend Jesse Whyte is not the investigating officer, but a new detective who doesn't want any "interference"from Emma. The victim was Judge Clayton Schuyler and his was killed by arrow not long after Emma and the Judge's daughter competed in an archery event. Ema's cousin comes under suspicion and .compels Emma to investigate. The Newport series is always a fascinating glimpse at how the rich lived and ,manipulated the lives of those around them. Another sterling entry into this series

I always enjoy my visits to Newport with Emma and her friends but there was something a little off in this particular book. There as no need for Emma to investigate this murder except being the one to find the body; her family or friends were not being accused and even Jesse wasn't on the case. Still, she persisted and made several other questionable decisions throughout the book that made me wonder about her motivations and proprieties (snooping and overall nosiness). Still, I enjoyed learning more about her family and the other 400 and was happy she has finally made a decision in the love triangle.

Murder at Wakehurst is a great example of my favorite genre reads. Its a historical mystery with a puzzle to solve, and an exploration of the social structure of Newport, Rhode Island in it's gilded age.

Although I hadn’t read previous books in the series, it works quite well as a standalone.

Alyssa Maxwell continues her Gilded Newport mysteries with Murder at Wakehurst. After the death of Cornelius Vanderbilt, his niece Emma returns to Newport where a judge is murdered at a party of the 400. As a journalist Emma follows the evidence to find the murderer. Great mystery of manners. Buy this book and enjoy the historical mystery.

I loved this read as much as I loved the cover—which is to say, very much. Perfect whodunnit for spending a cozy evening with.

Murder at Wakehurst by Alyssa Maxwell is a Gilded Newport Mystery featuring Emmaline Cross as out heroine. Emma is a second cousin of some sort to Cornelius Vanderbilt, who has just passed and is attending his funeral. When asked to stay the night for the reading of the will, she acquiesces, never expecting to be in it, but has indeed been left a small bequest. As she doe not earn mountains of money as a newspaper report, this will be a benefit to her household, which consists of herself, her nanny, and a servant girl, Katie. It will also benefit her charities, to which she is a consistent, if small, benefactor. Within a few days her friend Grace, the wife of Cornelius' son, Neily, is calling to request she attend a party with them. It is highly inappropriate to be out in society while still in mourning, but Neily insists, and Grace is worried He'll drink too much and do something stupid. Emma can control hi m more easily. As luck would have it, while there, Emma discovers a body. So begins the investigation, which she promises to stay out of.

This book is a fascinating glimpse into the end of the Golden Age and society in Newport, which as a beach town holds a significant place in the society of the age. It is an age of decadence and privilege and holds a particular fascination. It is the beginning of a time when women can hold employment outside the home, which is frowned upon but accepted. Emma functions at the fringes of society so is not always accepted into it. She has a firm friendship with a police detective, who has been reassigned, ostensibly because of the assistance he has accepted in the past from Emma, so that is a theme, which is explored in this story while investigating this murder. The characters are numerous and interesting. It is an enticing view of society at this time and in this place, and I highly recommend you read it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder at Wakehurst by Kensington Publishing through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #kensingtonpublishing #murderatwakehurst

1899

Cornelius Vanderbilt II has died. Emma Cross always cared for her uncle and is very sad at his death. Cornelius’s heir is his son, Alfred. His other son, Neily, had angered his father in the past and was told he was disinherited, however, he ended up leaving him a significant inheritance. He left Emma some money as well.

Emma lives in the town of Newport, Rhode Island, which is the place where many of the wealthy Four Hundred have mansions. She is a reporter for the local newspaper and is well known for her ability to have solved many crimes in the area. Her home is much smaller and is called Gull Manor. Her parents live in Paris where her father is a painter. Emma’s Nanny and her maid, Katie, live with her. She also is in love with Derrick Andrews, who owns the newspaper, but his mother looks down on Emma feeling she is not of their upper class.

Emma is asked to attend a party with an Elizabethan theme at Wakehurst. Much of the entertainment takes place outside with a stage, archery, and jousting. Emma comes across the body of Judge Clayton Schuyler with arrow through his chest. Once again, our heroine sleuth takes on her favorite role and strives to solve the crime.

The author takes us through many scenarios that, admittedly, can be confusing at times so it takes lots of concentration to keep up. She writes well and I admire her attention to proper grammar. I have enjoyed reading all of this author’s Gilded Newport Mysteries. It is quite an undertaking and she has introduced readers to many of the beautiful mansions of the time period with a story written around it.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The latest installment (9th) in the Gilded Newport Mystery series is here! Once again, the intrepid Emma Cross, a distant cousin of the prominent Vanderbilt family, has a murder to solve. While attending a fete at the Van Alen family estate Wakehurst in Newport R.I.; Emma stumbles over another dead body. This time it is Judge Clayton Schuyler, with an arrow protruding form his lifeless body. Despite warnings from the local police, Emma cannot help but investigate to find the murderer. Is it the Judge’s daughter Imogene, his widow, or someone with a vendetta against him because of his ruling on a recent case?

Set against the background of 1899 Newport, the summer playground of New York’s 400, this is a spirited, intricately plotted, and richly detailed historical mystery. Emma’s relationship with the Vanderbilts gives her an entrée into Newport’s summer mansions, and access to the famous and infamous of the late 19th century. With an intelligent and feisty heroine, a superb group of recurring minor characters, a plethora of suspects, and fascinating historical background; Murder at Wakehurst will keep readers engrossed until the final paragraph.

It's Autumn 1899 and Emma's uncle, Cornelius Vanderbilt has died and she is dealing with the loss and the fact that they had been estranged. Emma may be a Vanderbilt cousin but she makes her way in the world as a reporter. Partly in the world of the Newport elite and partly in the world of their house staff, she can hold her own in either one. The last thing she wants to do is attend a lavish English themed party with jousting, archery, theatrics and much more with her cousin Neily (Cornelius III). When his mother, Grace, implores Emma to go with him so she can keep him out of trouble, she agrees. It turns out that trouble, in the form of a murder, is to be part of the festivities and Emma will be investigating.
Emma overhears an argument from the other side of a hedge and soon enough the dead body of Judge Clayton Schuyler is found, shot with an arrow. Was he done in by somebody connected to his legal profession or is the killer one of the famous elite 400? With the police not wanting her help, Emma goes ahead searching for clues while added by her beau, Derrick Andrews and Det. Jesse Whyte. The judge was not as he appeared to be, harboring a less than upstanding side that might put Emma in danger as she tracks down a killer.
This is the ninth of the Gilded Newport series and it continues to entertain with a well crafted mystery, full of twists, turns and red herrings, beautifully described scenery and a great cast of characters. It's a series that has a well earned place on my must to read shelf.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Gilded Age. Over-the-top parties, opulent mansions beyond the wildest dreams that were used for only 6 to 8 weeks, decorative items and decorative lives. The days of the Robber Barons. Big business that strove to make things faster, cheaper and with little to no regard of human lives and with no government regulations. In fact, government was often in cahoots with big business.

Newport, the playground of the fabulously rich, is the setting for Alyssa Maxwell’s newest historical mystery. Emma, grieving for her uncle, Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the richest of the rich, attends a lavish party to help keep her cousin out of trouble, instead finds it herself when she discovers a body. This intrepid reporter will not keep out of the investigation no matter what the police want. Who killed the prominent judge? One of his family who are not at all teary-eyed over his demise? Or did one of his rulings come back to haunt him? Does his connections with the Robber Barons have something to do with his murder? Emma must find out before the killer comes after her…

Alyssa Maxwell has recreated the opulent lifestyle in great detail and is a lot of fun to read. Her main character, Emma, has entry to the rich through family connections but her own money situation and her career choice (the fact that she has a career is enough to get more than a few disapproving looks) puts her in a different social stratum so both are shown in this series. The characters are complex so no one is good just because they in one social class or another or because they are liberal or conservative. Neither is the book completely frothy or filled to the brim with grim details of working conditions. This book has substance but still is a good candidate for an entertaining, cozy read.

The mystery has plenty of red herrings and twists and turns. Don’t be so sure you have the culprit figured out, they are surprises ahead. Enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gilded Age Mystery Amongst the High Class
This book is a wonderful mystery that takes place in the opulent richness of the titans of industry in the late 1890s. The tale includes the vast difference between the 'common man' and 'The 400' that made up the upper class of the eastern seaboard at that time. The elite treated everyone else very poorly and the trade unions were making themselves known. It makes a wonderful setting for a mystery. This book is the 9th in a series of good mysteries. If you are a new reader of the series, it is obvious that you have missed much of the growth of the characters. The author tries to mitigate that, but it just made me realize how much I missed. I may need to go back and read the first books in the series. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.