This was a nicely written mystery by an author that I like with a very interesting main character. But plot strangeness and inconsistency explain the 3 star rating.

Lady Caroline was a daughter of the aristocracy. But after her disgraced father committed suicide (after wasting his daughters' dowries and inheritance) they were forced to rely on the charity of an aunt. Caroline's pride found this distasteful and she decided instead to *gasp* work for a living and became a sort of lady in waiting to Mrs. Frogerton, a widow with a fortune, a keen intellect, a marriageable daughter, but no pedigree.

At that point Lady Caroline became plain Miss Morton. Her fiance and her former highborn friends part company with her and her family is left uncomfortably unsure of where Caroline fits in.

Caroline and her employer and her employer's daughter attend a birthday celebration at Caroline's former home. It's a hot mess -- Caroline's great aunt is discovered strangled and stabbed and her family inexplicably refuses to acknowledge it. Minor vandalisms are occurring in the mansion, and an old servant is harassed and then found dead.

Quite oddly, the celebration includes the waifs and strays that Caroline's aunt has taken in over the years. It is hard to believe in that time period that could ever have occurred, the servant class mixing with the nobs. And the former orphans are anything but grateful -- they bitterly hint at dark deeds and mysteries surrounding their stay at the estate.

A young doctor, Caroline, and Mrs. Frogerton attempt to unravel what is going on even though the family is united against admitting there are any problems. While Caroline is an admirable character, the plot made little sense to me. If this is the beginning of a series, let's hope that it sets Caroline up to be independent and that following entries are more straightforward.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

LOVED IT! There isn’t much more I can say - this was an absolute joy to read! Lots of twists and dark turns, if you enjoy a good murder mystery then this is the book for you.

Lady Caroline Morton was once a successful debutante engaged, until her father died and left her and her sister with nothing. Now Caroline is working for Mrs. Frogerton. When Caroline is invited to her cousin Mabel’s ball her employer Mrs. Frogerton and her daughter Dorothy accompany her. Soon accidents and murders begin to happen. The only ones who truly believe something is amiss are Caroline, Mrs. Frogerton, and the village doctor Dr. Harris. Caroline and her companions must figure out what is happening but they end up exposing a painful secret as well. Will they be able to catch a killer or are one of them next?

I love a good cozy mystery and this one was a lot of fun. It combined my two favorite things: regency England and a murder mystery. I’m really looking forward to more books in this series!

*thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the ARC

A very nice cozy! I enjoyed reading about the recently impoverished Lady Caroline Morton, her employer (and wealthy widow) Mrs. Frogerton, and their weekend at the country home of Caroline's aunt and uncle in Catherine Lloyd's Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder. When first the butler and then her great-aunt die under mysterious circumstances, Caroline believes they've been murdered, especially when she realizes there's a macabre connection to the nursery room doll house. Fast paced and fun to read! A+

Good and light read, with an interesting mystery

I quite enjoyed this book, it sets up a good start of the series. The main character is quite likeable, as her employer. It did take me a while to get into it, but once I did I read in one sitting. I am quite curious to see the next books of the series, would definitely check it out!

Can you go home again? Would you want to? Lady Caroline really doesn't = she doesn't want to be wrapped into her aunt's schemes- but her new employer Mrs. Matty Froggerton, who Is eager that her daughter Dorothy get a place in society, is invited to Greenwood, she's got to go. It's not a happy reunion for her as others hold her apart thanks to her father, among other things. Everyone except the servants, who come to her with their concerns. AND then the butler is found injured and her elderly aunt murdered! Luckily, Lady Caroline and Matty bond with one another and they set off to successfully find the villain. It's sort of a Regency cozy, which I liked more for the characters than the mystery (often the case for this genre). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC, Looking forward to another one.

This was such an amazing premise, with kinda a rushed ending.

When Caroline Morton's father mysteriously dies and leave her and her sister penniless, she doesn't have much options. Caroline decides to take a post as a lady's companion to the wealthy Mrs. Frogerton and to earn enough money so she and her sister can live on their own. When Caroline's aunt invites her and her employer to a house party in the countryside to celebrate her youngest daughter’s birthday, Caroline sees this as the perfect opportunity to visit her sister (who's staying at the aunt's house) and introduce Mrs. Frogerton's daughter to society. Before the party, strange events start happening around the house, culminating in a murder. Caroline, along with Mrs. Frogerton, try and solve the crime while having to dodge her ex-fiance Francis, a young doctor, and her family.

I really enjoyed the first 3/4th of this book. I am always a fan of regency and when you combine that with a mystery, that is definitely my cup of tea. I really liked how Catherine Lloyd managed to create such a mysterious atmosphere where everyone can be a suspect. I had a lot of fun sorting through the various clues she left to try to figure out exactly what was going on and who was behind it all. Since this was a regency I really enjoyed Caroline's perspective, going from the daughter of an earl to the working class. You really get to see her independence and drive that usually isn't present in regency novels.

I wasn't a fan of how rushed the ending seemed. After all that build up, it felt like the main mystery got resolved too quickly, while at the same time other small questions were left unanswered. I really hope that there's a sequel because I would love to read more of Caroline's story!

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Caroline Morton is the daughter of the deceased Earl of Morton who committed suicide after squandering the family fortune and his daughters' dowries. Being destitute and disgraced, Caroline and her sister, Susan, were sent to live with their aunt, Lady Eleanor Greenwood, but Caroline yearned for her independence and a life of her own. She takes a job as a lady's companion for Mrs. Matilda Frogerton, who is new money and thus looked down upon b the ton. Lady Eleanor invites Caroline, Mrs. Frogerton, and her daughter, Dorothy, to Greenwood Hall in the country for a house party to celebrate Caroline's cousin Mabel's seventeenth birthday.

Mrs. Frogerton sees this as an opportunity for Dorothy to make some contacts with the ton before her debut in London. Little do they know that shortly after they arrive at Greenwood Hall, two murders will happen and mystery surrounds the circumstances. Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton set out to try to find the guilty culprit(s). In the meantime, Caroline must also deal with her ex-fiance, Lord Francis Chatham, who has been invited to the house party. After Caroline became homeless and penniless, she released Lord Chatham of his obligation to marry her and he fled without looking back.

This story presented many interesting plot twists and kept me guessing till the end who the guilty party or parties were. I liked the main character, Caroline, for her strong and independent demeanor which is not common among nineteenth century women.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington for an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first in a new series by Catherine Lloyd. Lady Caroline Morton is the penniless daughter of a deceased earl. Not wanting to be under her aunt's thumb, she becomes a companion to a wealthy widow. At a house party for her cousin's birthday, a family member is stabbed. Lady Caroline decides to investigate with help from her new employer. Unfortunately, they discover a number of skeletons in the family closet.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the plot is incredibly well done - a murder with a motive steeped in the past that helps Caroline work through old hurts and set herself up for her future. I look forward to the next in this series! Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #MIssMortonandtheEnglishHousePartyMurder.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC to review.

Compelled by circumstance to accept the post of lady’s companion to a wealthy widow, Lady Caroline Morton soon finds her duties entail investigating a murder.

There were several aspects of this novel that I enjoyed. The first is the writing style, which I found engaging. Caroline's story was unique, which made me care about her story. I found myself rooting for her to discover everyone's secrets, even when doing something that was stupid. The final mystery reveal was satisfying for the most part. There were the occasional open-ended plot arcs that were annoying, but I could ignore them for the most part and be happy.

Now for the negative. While I did enjoy the characters and the mystery, I found it annoying that Caroline's style of investigating was to go up to every character and blurt out facts. Just hoping that some new bit of info would come forward. I prefer a more subtle sleuthing style in my cozy mysteries, and I will be taking off a point for that reason. I give this book a solid 3.75/5 and recommend giving it a chance to charm you.

This is the first book in what I hope is a new series. Lady Caroline's mother died in childbirth with her much younger sister Susan. Her father squandered the dowery her mother left her, lost all his money, and committed suicide. Caroline and her sister had lived with her Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Nicholas in their stately home, Greenwood Hall, for some time. Caroline had been engaged to Lord Frances, but after her father's shame, his father was unwilling for the marriage to happen.

Lady Caroline has become a companion to the wealthy widow Mrs. Frogerton in London who wishes Caroline to help her daughter Dorothy in the London Season. Her Aunt Eleanor wants her to attend a ball for Mabel, her cousin, at Greenwood Hall. When Caroline demurs because of her job, Aunt Caroline invites Mrs. Frogerton and her daughter to come to the hall with her. Mrs. Frogerton is pleased to be asked, and they go.

However, things soon get pretty bad. Caroline's former Fiance Lord Frances shows up for the ball; the butler goes missing and is found in a locked cage in the basement; Great Aunt Ines is murdered with yarn around her neck and a knitting needle into her neck. The new town doctor, Dr. Harris comes to care for the butler, and then has to stay because of bad weather. Lady Caroline finds out that some of the orphans in the nursery have been treated badly. Lady Caroline is kept very busy trying to solve crimes with the help of Mrs. Frogerton, and and Dr. Harris before someone else is killed.

I thank Netgalley and Kensington books for an ARC for my honest review.

I really loved Catherine Lloyd’s Kurland St. Mary series, so I was really looking forward to reading the start of her new series.

Caroline Morton takes a job as a companion after she and her sister are left penniless after their father’s death. When she ends up back at Greenwood Hall for a ball, she ends up turning into a sleuth when there’s a locked room type murder mystery.

This is very different from the author’s first series, which isn’t actually a bad thing because I can’t stand when authors always follow the same formula in a new series just with different characters. This is a bit darker, and while I didn’t find Catherine a particularly engaging character yet, I wasn’t intrigued by her story and I loved Mrs. Frogerton. I’ll certainly be reading the next book in the series, because even though I didn’t love this, it kept my interest and I’m looking forward to a little more character development.

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dark, Disturbing Themes…
The first in the Miss Morton Mystery series set in a Regency England. Following the death of her father from dubious causes, Lady Caroline takes a post as companion, a house party brings problems and all is not well at the estate of Greenwood. Exploring the social structures of the times, painting an atmospheric and immersive picture and presenting a mystery combine with some very dark, disturbing themes here. This is no cosy mystery in the traditional sense.

Not a cozy mystery by far. This book broaches some pretty heavy themes such as child abuse and social inequality between the classes. Along with issues of women's rights and the roles they were expected to fill in Regency England.
Miss Morton, or Lady Caroline, who was born into the aristocracy but lost her standing in society when her father dies in less than a steller manner and Caroline and her much younger sister are left penniless. Unable and unwilling to accept living on the charity of her Aunt, Caroline takes a position as a ladies companion to a Mrs Frogerton, a brash, wealthy widow whose wealth is new money from businesses she herself runs. When Caroline's aunt invites her and her employer to a house party Caroline is not as thrilled to return to a place she once called home as her employer is to attend. This time Caroline will be returning as a working girl, well below the status of her long ago friends. As she expected she is shunned by those who were once her friends and now only wish she would disappear into the horizon with her scandalous past.
When her great aunt is found murdered, but the Lord and Lady of the manor keep denying any murder has taken place, not seeking justice, Caroline takes it upon herself to investigate and bring about the justice that is deserved.
I enjoyed this book but it is not what I expected. There is a plot within the plot which is at times confusing, not knowing which way to focus on, but overall the story held my interest and I finished reading in a day. I have not read any others by this author so having nothing to compare it to I liked it a lot.
Thank you to the publishers at Kensington Books and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

I am a huge fan of Catherine Lloyds's Kurland St. Mary Mystery series, so it was with great anticipation that I found 'Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder.' I could see patterns of the former series in the characterizations in this book, however I developed none of the affection for them I previously held. This is a dark, mean story that ended abruptly with no positive resolutions. I look forward to more, because of the past, to see if the series can be elevated. I hope so.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Slow start but I stayed with it for the atmosphere. Overall, I'm glad I did and would probably read another book in this series.

I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I enjoyed this not quite so cosy murder mystery in the traditional setting of Greenwood, an English manor house. But while the book may look like a traditional cosy mystery there are dark, modern themes running through the book that might surprise anyone looking for a typical cosy crime.



The book is told from the third-person point of view from Caroline's point of view. Caroline was an interesting character, a noblewoman who has fallen on hard times due to her Father’s mismanagement and suspicious death but instead of becoming a passive victim, she takes on employment with the formidable Mrs Frogerton. Mrs Frogerton was also a woman ahead of her time- a woman who has made her money through trade much to the disgust of the people who have been born to wealth.
Caroline and Mrs Frogerton are the mystery-solving duo trying to find a murderer when the Lord of the Manor refuses to acknowledge that any murders have taken place ( despite very convincing evidence otherwise). There is a good range of suspects- an interesting mix of noble people and former residents of Greenwood who had been taken in as children instead of being sent to an orphanage.
This wasn’t a typical murder mystery. This book explores the social structure at the time and the terrible choices facing women without money at the time. The difference between the classes, the resentment from the nobility towards the new monied trade families, the underlying resentment between the working class and the people they serve- in fact, Greenwood is a place brimming with barely suppressed Regency rage. The murders almost take second place to the underlying mystery as to why the Greenwood orphans are so angry.
Caroline was well written and has a definite grey shade to her character which makes her more and it is her development as a woman who accepts the change in her life and embraces this, that kept me reading rather than finding out who did this.
Content warning
Suicide, sexual assault,
Perfect for fans who
Anyone who likes a more substantial and more thought-provoking murder mystery or anyone interested in society’s treatment of women in Regency England.

Lady Caroline Morton has taken up a position as companion to a wealthy widow. They are invited to a countryside house party to celebrate her cousin’s birthday. Matters are uncomfortable enough, given Caroline’s past, but she never expects murder to occur. And when she is the only one to be concerned that the murder be solved, she and her employer, Mrs. Frogerton take it upon themselves to learn the truth.

This one left me conflicted. There were parts of it that I really enjoyed. Lady Caroline, or as she insists on being called, Miss Morton, was an interesting character. I understood her motivations and feelings. There is even a moment where she makes a less than stellar choice and it felt very human. Her employer, Mrs. Frogerton, was an absolute delight. I almost wish the book had followed her instead of Miss Morton.

The mystery itself felt complicated. There were clues that went nowhere. Hints that didn’t make sense. Even when the murderer is revealed, I was left confused. There was no satisfying conclusion to the story and the overall story was just a bit darker than I usually like to read.

Overall, this was well written with interesting characters. Readers who are looking for a murder mystery set just before Queen Victoria takes the throne will probably enjoy this one.

It is 1837 London. Miss Caroline Morton and her sister have been left penniless by their father in a society where being poor is an unforgivable sin. However, Caroline instead of depending upon the largesse of her aunt chooses to do something more than unforgivable- she gets a job as a companion for a lady for wages!

The book begins when her aunt invites Caroline and her employer Mrs. Frogerton and Miss Frogerton for the grand ball at Greenwood Hall. Caroline is forced to go back to Greenwood Hall- a place that she once called home and face all those people who would have preferred her to have disappeared. But little does she know that she must hone her sleuthing skills for there is a murderer in the house.

The book is a pleasant read but unfortunately, as far as a locked-room murder mystery is concerned it is flat. The plot proceeds at an indifferent pace. None of the characters, except Mrs. Frogerton, are memorable. I believe the author wanted to portray Caroline as a strong, virtuous, morally incorruptible girl facing the unfair society alone. But Caroline fails to impress. I found Caroline boring and dull. Dr. Harris is wasted and the ex-fiance is insignificant. An attempt was made to make the Aunt a formidable character but as the story proceeds, she too loses significance. Only Mrs. Frogerton leaves a lasting impression- she is pleasant, amusing, headstrong, and practical.

For me, this is one of those books which is good while you are reading it but one forgets the minute it is over. I received an ARC from NetGalley- unfortunately, Lloyd makes no impression at all.
#MissMortonandtheEnglishHousePartyMurder #NetGalley

What a disappointment. I really like Lloyd’s Kurland St. Mary Mystery series and had high hopes for Miss Morton. This new first in a series started off well, but the quality went down fast. Most of the characters are stock, and the narrative was repetitive – Miss Morton bickering with the new doctor who she may or may not be attracted to and who may or may not be a murderer, various candidates for the murderer saying “keep your nose out of it or you’ll be sorry.” The jealous cousin. The aunt who continually actually calls her niece “Niece.” Someone is found with yarn wrapped around her neck and a knitting needle stuck into it and her, and yet everyone keeps saying she must have died of old age. The device of having the murderer act out the deeds in a dollhouse is a very tired trope. The eventual resolution of who was behind what was happening was boring and unbelievable. The young woman ruined by her father’s scandal and suicide is also well worn. Only Lloyd's overall likable writing style kept me from giving this book two stars.

I did like the main character of Caroline Morton, her employer Mrs. Frogerton and her daughter, and the new doctor (who I suspect will be moving to wherever Caroline lives), and I will give book 2 a chance. Hopefully now that the introductions have been made, Lloyd will return to her usual form.

I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.