To Write a Wrong is Jen Turano’s latest entertaining and humorous romantic historical mystery novel. Its pages abound with numerous quirky characters that includes a delightful heroine, a dashing hero, and some absolutely loathsome villains. What could be better than that for an evening’s enjoyment?

Featuring Miss Daphne Beekman of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency who is also secretly a famous mystery author who writes under an assumed male moniker, the tale begins when the agency is hired by another famous mystery writer Mr. Herman Henderson who has received death threats from an unknown person. Daphne is sent to pose as Herman’s secretary during a house party at his country estate and from that point on it is anybody’s guess what might happen next.

As in all of Turano’s novels there is quite a bit of dialogue, especially between the featured couple. I did find that to be a bit tiresome during one evening but I suppose it was just my own mood because when I picked the book back up the next day, I was no longer annoyed by the abundance of conversation.

The story moved along at a good pace with plenty of amusing accidental incidents interspersed with numerous suspicious characters as well as enough plot twists and red herrings to keep the best detective confused. As always secrets were revealed and the case was solved to everyone’s satisfaction.

To Write a Wrong is one more example of why Jen Turano’s books are so popular. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. To borrow and alter a famous commercial “You can’t read just one!”

I think Daphne Beaker is my new favorite female agent. She is refreshingly honest about her weaknesses but is able to express them in a way that made me giggle out loud on multiple occasions. While this is a light-hearted, humorous book, it does handle heavy topics in a sensitive manner. The banter between Daphne and Herman is outright delightful and full of wit. Daphne is extremely intelligent and a successful writer, although no one knows this. I love her cover as a poet! Herman does a great job of supporting her, believing in her abilities, and building her up from the moment he meets her. The differences in their styles make them a perfect pair. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to others who enjoy humorous romances with a touch of mystery.

I received a complimentary copy, with thanks, from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.

To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

Jen Turano returns us to the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency to share the love story of Daphne Beekman and Herman Henderson - a couple that have more in common than they initially believe.

Don't you just love a story that has both sharp wit and an excellent plot? I enjoy Jen's books because I can always count on those two things being present. I was so glad to see this second book in the series focus on Daphne given how much I enjoyed her conversations with Gabriella. Though her logic was sometimes a bit skewed, she did everything with the best of intentions. Too bad she has a bad habit of fainting when things get a bit hectic. Daphne is in the middle of writing her latest Montague Moreland and has written her character in a corner she can't see a way out of. In an attempt to "get into character" she makes the trek down the street to the Inquiry office in search of inspiring clothing. She's interrupted in her quest by the unexpected arrival of Mr. Herman Henderson, a fellow writer and man in search of protection. It appears that someone is trying to murder him but Herman is completely ignorant of anyone who would do so. Thus begins the quest to discover the culprit and a hysterical journey to love for Daphne and Herman. It's too good a story to spoil by telling much beyond this short description but I'll tell you it's one you don't want to miss. I loved Daphne's unconventional ways of figuring things out and making herself brave. Her investigative skills weren't always the best but she found ways to get around the sticky moments and preserve her secret identity until it was necessary to reveal it. I really liked Herman and his treatment of Daphne. Though he was often frustrated with her somewhat skewed logic, he wasn't rude and always took time to listen to her. He inspired her to be better that she ever dreamed and to stand up for herself when others wanted to take advantage. Definitely add this delightful story to your TBR so you can dive into a fun and smart mystery /love story you'll want to read again and again.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and all opinions expressed herein are entirely my own and were not required by anyone.

The second book in this fun series follows Daphne Beekman, who is a mystery writer and one of the lady inquiry agents. Daphne is searching for the next big story to write and is having trouble figuring out her plot when a fellow mystery writer, Herman Henderson, requires the agency’s help. Daphne and Herman work together to figure out who is behind the attempts on Herman’s life.

Once again, Jen Turano delivers a story filled with quick wit and humorous situations.

The novel is dialogue-heavy, more conversation than action, though the banter between characters is amusing enough that it doesn’t weigh the story down. There are a slew of amusing secondary characters that make their way onto Daphne’s list of suspects. And the clothing/disguises Daphne dawns are a bit over the top, yet work for her character.

Daphne does lament fashion as limiting women’s abilities to accomplish much – though it was a humorous situation, it didn’t quite seem to fit with my understanding of the suffrage movement. The character does go on, in a later part, to talk about joining the suffragists.

The romance part seemed to play second fiddle to solving the mystery, and some hard topics about Daphne’s past were tackled in a sensitive way.

To Write a Wrong is a light, humorous read just in time for summer.

I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

One thing that always makes Jen Turano's books stand out from other authors is her sense of humor that so naturally shows up in the writing style of her books.
Her characters are always so realistic and well rounded. I was laughing out loud as I read this .
Some of her characters can be a bit quirky but she does it in a way that you love because it makes you chuckle but at the same time you think to yourself you may now someone like that.
A true page turner that has some suspense, who wants a character gone and why?
The book is well paced and will keep you on your toes. The ending can't be beat.
I love this author's books!

Pub Date 03 Aug 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Jen Turano writes implausibly delightful comedic romances. In this novel, an element of mystery is thrown in as well, with twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat and reading far too late into the night.

Like the previous book in this series, To Write A Wrong, started off at a very fast pace which actually made it hard for me to engage at first. It is quite a different type of writing than I usually read, but once I settled in to the rapid fire events of the book I found it very difficult to put down.

With some genuinely laugh out loud moments, Herman and Daphne drew me into their adventure and kept me turning the pages. Though there is a murder plot, the story is so light and filled with comedy that the book avoids feeling heavy and remains delightfully entertaining throughout.

I continue to be a fan of Turano’s stories and will be on the lookout for the next book in the series.

I received a free digital galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved Daphne and Herman's love story! I don't think I've ever read a book where both main characters are authors and it was just plain fun!

Jen Turano always writes humorous books that you can escape into which is particularly nice in these lingering Covid days. I love Jen's series where you get to know the characters and then have them pop in again in later books. For a clean and fun book full of mystery and romance, read a book by Jen Turano, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Miss Daphne Beekman has created a place for herself at the Bleecker Street boardinghouse. A respectable place where a Victorian woman can exercise a bit of independence. When the muse hits, Daphne follows her career of writing mysteries under the pseudonym of Montague Moreland. The rest of the time, she collaborates with the other women at the boardinghouse to run the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency.

She prefers to place her protagonists in perilous situations over seeking out perilous situations. Her fainting habit makes it difficult to deal with unexpected situations. When a client enters the inquiry office late one night, Daphne courageously crosses swords with him—even if her sword consists of pasteboard. Even though she tries to dissuade the stranger from hiring their agency (after all, they’ve only had female clients up to this point), he makes a strong case for the agency needs to investigate the attempts on his life.

When Mr. Herman Henderson stops by the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, he doesn’t expect to face a sword-wielding female pirate. But the more she tries to convince him they can’t take the case, the more convinced he becomes that they should. As a mystery writer, the attempts on his life have rattled him. He prefers to write about life-or-death situations, not live them.

As they team up to solve the mystery, they soon discover Daphne has drawn the would-be murderer’s attention. Can they learn to trust each other enough to solve the mystery and become each other’s hero in the process?

Why I Loved this Book

Turano latest rollicking adventure will keep you laughing and guessing to the last page. She surrounds Daphne and Herman with a delightful cast of supporting characters—many of who seem to harbor secrets of their own. Above all, Turano shows readers the possibilities one experiences when one steps out of one’s comfort zone and grabs hold of abundant life.

Fans of Roseanna M. White and Emma St. Clair will enjoy this book.

One of the many things I love about Jen Turano's books is that she always delivers a fabulously entertaining story mixed in with some strong female characters and wacky, unexpected circumstances (even in the midst of dangerous situations). Mystery writers Daphne and Herman meet under unlikely circumstances, when Herman seeks out the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency for help with suspicious threats on his life. This leads Daphne to join forces with a Pinkerton agent in going undercover at a house party to gather intelligence while keeping Herman safe from ongoing threats. Mishaps and mayhem ensue, providing ample fodder to inspire these two main characters in their careers as authors as well as force them into one another's proximity. The more time they spend together, often while trying to survive some mishap or other, Daphne and Herman start to notice their budding attraction for one another and have to decide how much love is worth fighting for.

I'm glad that I finally had the opportunity to see the world from Daphne's point of view as well as get to know Herman in this book. Their romance was delightful and entertaining. Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Content: murder threats, suffragette, female empowerment/self defense, hovering parental figure, brief mention of past assault

I'm not sure if it's me or Jen, but one of us has changed and the books just aren't working for me anymore. I used to be a huge fan of all of her books, but the last few she has written have just not been stellar for me. In this book, I lost interest fairly early on. There was WAY too much dialogue - we're talking pages upon pages of dialogue, back and forth between the two MCs, without taking a breath for air. I would have preferred more description. I also never really felt the connection between them, and the mystery was executed just OK.

Ultimately, it was not a book I was excited to read, and finishing it was a struggle. Jen has written better, and I think I'll stick to reading her backlist for a little while.

"To Write a Wrong" is a Christian romance set in 1887 in New York. The characters got into silly situations, but the humor seemed to fall flat for me. In the first part of the book, the author sometimes even skipped out on the funny part of the scene. Daphne would get into an awkward situation, then we'd jump forward to Daphne summarizing what had happened rather than getting to see how she managed to talk her way out of it (which is usually the funny part). There were also a lot of scenes with two characters talking things over in detail, so not a lot of action happened until the second part of the book.

The mystery wasn't really the point of the story. Daphne asked enough questions to create an extensive suspect list, but she didn't ask obvious questions to help narrow down that list. Like one incident happened in the secret passages, so who knew how to access them? Daphne was able to solve the mystery, but most of the time was spent in silly situations with Herman, allowing them to get to know each other. They had shared interests, built each other up, and got along well.

Some historical details (mainly about clothing) were woven into the story, but this author doesn't write highly historical novels. For example, she used modern phrases like "you are stronger than you think." Daphne felt like she lacked courage and often prayed to God for courage in the past. There was no sex or bad language.

This is the second book in Ms. Turano's Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series. It is just as funny and quirky as the first book and involves the same cast of characters with the addition of Mr. Howard Henderson, a mystery writer who needs the agency's help finding out who is trying to do him in. Daphne, a mystery writer herself and working under a male nom de plume is the one who steps up to help him. They get into some crazy fixes and all the other eccentric members of the boarding house inquiry team make the story even more engaging.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Turano's rollicking humor fills this novel from start to finish, and your stomach may hurt from laughing by time you're finished. Turano's books are always entertaining, and this one doesn't disappoint. Since it is the second book in a series, I recommend reading the first so you know the back story especially since it is a fun-filled romp also.

Daphne Beekman is a successful mystery writer by day using a pseudonym so her readers will think her a male author since it is 1887 and female mystery writers are not the thing. By night, she is a member of the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency and usually plays her role behind the scene. But when Herman Henderson needs someone immediately and the other ladies are not available, Daphne jumps right into a pot of trouble that will keep you laughing out loud. But as handsome Herman and daffy Daphne put their heads together will they solve the mystery of who's trying to kill Herman or will romance fill the air?

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Netgalley and Bethany House gave me a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I really wanted to love this book! I've heard so many wonderful things about this author and I had high hopes.

However, I really struggled through the first half of the book. It took me that long to get into the rhythm of the language and pacing of the story. Finally, after getting to the mid-way point, the pace picked up, and I was much more engaged. However, it just wasn't the book for me.

tw // attempted assault, pedophilia, anxiety attacks, PTSD

I was really looking forwards to this book! Since reading To Steal a Heart, book 1 in this series, I had been looking forwards to seeing Daphne’s perspective & love story on the page. She was such an interesting character and I was really looking forwards to seeing her point of view!

Unfortunately, those expectations fell a little flat. While Daphne was a really interesting character, she wasn’t as well rounded as I had expected, from the glimpses that was seen of her from the first book. Her romance with Herman was really lacking in chemistry (similar to the relationship in the first book). I didn’t get as much as a look into her head as I would have liked, and Herman was honestly a really flat character.

There wasn’t really an established backstory about Herman, nor was there any motivation behind any of the characters, both protagonist and antagonist. Herman in particular was the most nondescript man I have read in a while. His only character trait seemed to be that he was a big man. While he was a writer, he didn’t seem to have any inclinations towards writing: he never mentioned writing, he never had to spend time writing, or thinking about stories, or anything of the sort. While the story was partially told from his perspective, he didn’t contribute any interesting thoughts at all.

The story was interesting, though it was REALLY slow and felt pretty pointless. The premise was really interesting: a group of famous novel writers at a big house in the city, with someone who was trying to kill the host. However, the story was executed really poorly. The story revolved very little around the writers and the stories and the publishing content but way more about what their daily life was, but with very sparse details. It was really boring and I had to push to get through the middle third/40% of the book.

There was way less talk about the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency than I would have liked as well: in the previous book I really enjoyed seeing the dynamics of the agency and having it come together. In addition, the dialogue was really stilted and unrealistic, and while Jen Turano’s books always require a certain level of suspension of disbelief, the dialogue in this book was unrealistic to an awkward degree.

The only part of this book that really held my attention was the discussion of the heavier topics: both Daphne and Herman’s grandmother suffer from anxiety, the grandmother to a greater degree. Daphne was sexually harassed when she was younger, and the man returns further on the book to harass her some more. In addition, (spoilers ahead, aforementioned trigger warnings)

<spoiler>One of the antagonists corners Daphne in the hallway and says that she has been enticing him by “flipping her hair” and “curling her hair around her finger” starting from when she was 12 or 13, and attempts to assaults her. Nothing too graphic, but he does grab her and corner her in a room. It later then comes out that he also tried to sexually assault her when she was 13 (he didn’t do it, and only ended up kissing her non consensually), causing Daphne to have lasting PTSD.</spoiler>

While nothing really was described very closely, it did span several pages and occupy a pretty good chunk of conversation, so if you’re sensitive to topics like that, this might not be a good book for you. With that said, these topics were handled well, and with a pretty feminist bent, and I liked how they were discussed.

Overall, I was disappointed by this book: from what was teased of it from the previous book I was expecting this book to be much more interesting than it was, but it ended up being a lot of mundane discussion instead of drama. Most of the main characters were not very well developed and the dialogue and plot were not well-thought-through. There were some pretty heavy topics discussed, and I liked how they were done, but otherwise I unfortunately didn’t really enjoy this book very much.

#BookReview: TO WRITE A WRONG by Jen Turano 4.5 stars

I enjoyed Daphne and her quirks in the first book and I was so excited to read more about her. The title is so good and perfect for the story. The way Herman and Daphne met was so funny but mysterious at the same time. The play of words and witty dialogues are such a joy to read. Daphne is very smart and her mind is constantly working. I love how Herman takes care of her and understands her uniqueness. Herman finds her fascinating. They just blend well together.

Addressing the issue of women’s rights in society was good. Daphne knows how hard it was to fit in a male-dominated profession. I was pleased to be more acquainted with Daphne’s family in Boston and how protective and supportive they are of her. Oh and that kiss in front of the Beekman family was unexpected!

The mystery behind Herman’s case kept me going. But the girls at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency are very entertaining with all their different personalities too. How they handled and solved the case was unconventional but amazing. Cooper is a Pinkerton but is a friend who cares too. I am glad he is part of the story. This book will definitely make you laugh out loud. I am excited for the upcoming books in this series.

If you like historical romance, quirky characters, mystery authors and smelling salts, this one’s for you.

Thank you #netgalley and @bethanyhousefiction for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Despite being a published mystery writer, Miss Daphne Beekman, aka Montague Moreland, does not care to venture out of her comfort zone. Prone to fainting, she prefers to stay invisible and letting her friends be the public faces of their investigation agency. But, with a major player out of town and having been the first person to meet their new client, Daphne finds herself on the front lines and needing her smelling salts. She is, however, determined to close the case and even visits Herman’s upstate estate where his grandmother is hosting a house party.

I’ve been a fan of Jen Turano for many years. But I felt I didn’t enjoy To Write a Wrong as much as her previous books. Turano has stated that this was a difficult book for her to write, due to the COVID situation in which we all found ourselves this past year, and I wonder if some of that seeped through. I also think I didn’t care much for Daphne. Don’t get me wrong; there were a couple of characters I didn’t like. This was more a case of indifference. It was only when a part of her past was revealed towards the end that I felt any emotion for her. My favorite character was Winston the one-eyed dog. His actions at the start of the book are surely familiar to many a canine owner, I’m sure. Sadly, he didn’t have a significant role.

While the novel is mostly light, there are a couple of dark moments. The secondary topic of the plot, after the case, is the status of women during the Gilded Age. While Daphne and her friends are forward thinking women, and some of the men around do treat them as equals, this is still a time when women are basically treated as property and second-class members of society. Daphne was forced to take on a pseudonym to appease her publishers, who didn’t think women should write mystery novels. But there are also the men who believe they can do what they like with a woman. While the R word isn’t mentioned, attempts of it are implied.

As for who wanted to murder Herman? The answer may well surprise you as much as it did me. It’s a running theme throughout the pages as Daphne and her cohort discuss the suspects, but Turano subtly and intriguingly misdirects readers. I came up with my own list of possibilities but hadn’t expected the twist.

The final book in the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series is scheduled for release in January 2022. I do believe Jen Turano has left the best until last, for it focuses on Daphne’s intriguing companion, Eunice. To Disguise the Truth is already available for pre-order.

Disclaimer: Although I received an advance electronic copy of this book from the publisher, the opinions above are my own.

When mystery writer Herman Henderson starts getting death threats, he seeks out the assistance of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency.

Daphne is not usually a field agent, but due to a peculiar set of circumstances, she's the best fit for Herman's case.

When Daphne and Herman get together, sparks fly and disasters happen. But for some reason, these two are good together.

I loved reading Daphne's story.  It was quirky, funny, romantic, and full of drama. Though she wouldn't have considered herself courageous, she demonstrated great courage in standing up for what she believed in and for people who were left in her care.

Herman was the perfect hero for her. He understood and accepted her quirks. He supported her when she needed it while allowing her to defend herself when that's what she wanted to do.

To Write A Wrong is the second book in the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series but can be read as a standalone. The book was at times laugh-out-loud funny while tackling serious issues like the lack of rights that women had during that era and the unsafe fashion trends.

Readers will be reminded that when we are weak, God's strength is available for us. I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

After absolutely loving the first book in this series, I couldn't wait for this one to come out! I was literally stalking NetGalley hoping for an advance copy, and I was so excited when I received one! I have enjoyed every book I've read by this author, but the first one in this series had an unexpected depth that made it my absolute favorite I'd ever read of hers. I was really hoping this one would build on that new depth, but it was more like all her others. That said, I've loved her others so this was still a 5-star book for me. It just wasn't quite as great as I was hoping for.

Herman was a great character as were all the side characters introduced at his party. I also really loved Daphne's family and was so surprised by how great they turned out to be. I loved Daphne's quirky and fun personality and the way she thought and expressed herself. And I loved getting to know the other Bleecker Street ladies better! I'm so excited for more books in this series. I really like how the author is using this setting to explore some of the horrible abuses women experienced at that time and, sadly, continue to experience today, and how she is showing that ordinary, even eccentric, women can do their part to change things for the better.

Such a fun book! Author Jen Turano continues with more adventures with the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency. The main characters Herman and Daphne meet at the agency office in a most unusual manner. There are Laugh out loud situations that happen throughout the book, as well as the dialogue! Daphne is a writer, but must write under a pen name, so no one knows she’s a female. Herman is a writer as well. Someone is out to harm Herman and the Agency, along with Pinkerton Agent Cooper are on the case! I really enjoyed the story and the banter throughout the book. And the mystery of who was behind it all was a shock to me. I didn’t figure it out until the author revealed it. Definitely recommend reading this one and I am looking forward to more adventures with the ladies of The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated are my own.