I rarely read historical cozy mysteries but I thoroughly enjoyed this one, the first in a new series set in 19th century England.

Loved the sleuth, Lady Caroline, whose father was ruined financially and brought scandal upon his family, and, as a result. Caroline sought employment as a companion to the wonderful wealthy widow, Mrs. Frogerton, and her annoying daughter, Dorothy.

These three were invited to a house party celebrating the birthday of Caroline's cousin. Lots of nasty goings on, even murder.

An interesting mystery that grabbed me from the start, along with terrific characters. Hoping for many more in this series. Loved it!!

A cozy mystery set in regency England, this is the first in a new series. Lady Caroline Morton has recently taken a post as a lady’s companion after her dad’s disgrace. However, she soon finds herself in different trouble when her great-aunt is murdered during her cousin’s birthday celebrations. As she dives into the mystery aided by her mistress (the lady she is a companion to), she starts to unravel dark secrets at the house.

It took me a few chapters to get into this book but I ended up really enjoying it! I forgot it was the first in a new series because Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton have such a good rapport. I did think the ending was a smidge unsatisfactory in terms of whodunnit but overall I really liked this cozy mystery! I definitely will read future books in this series!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set in 1837, following her father’s suicide and financial ruin and the discovery that she and her much younger sister Susan have been left without income or home because he spent their dowries, Lady Caroline Morton takes a post as a lady’s companion to the wealthy widow Frogerton and her rude daughter Dorothy. Caroline is motivated to earn her own income to someday provide a home for Susan, who lives with their aunt.

Just as Caroline is getting accustomed to her new position, her aunt, Lady Eleanor Greenwood, invites her and her employer to a house party to celebrate her cousin Mabel’s birthday. Caroline runs into her former fiancé there and is looked down on by everyone in the house. When someone is hurt and someone else stabbed with a knitting needle, Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton work together to solve the crime.

I enjoyed this author’s regency set Kurland series and was eager to read this new one.

Caroline used to move in higher circles but is determined to make her own way in the world. She had lost her security after her father died and her life turned upside, and she refuses to be beholden to anyone else again. She’s angry at the world that has rejected her but does a good job hiding it as she tries to move on.

“Hired companions and spinster aunts were rarely accorded any respect or even noticed.”

While I liked Caroline, I struggled to get into this mystery. The orphans and cousins were hard to keep track of, a few of the ages of the characters didn’t make sense to me, and some characters’ motivations were hard to pin down. Caroline’s aunt Eleanor was particularly inconsistent. The supporting characters were flat and I didn’t find the resolution satisfying. While the investigation seemed a little haphazard, Mrs Frogerton and even Dr Harris were good characters and I see enough potential here to give the second in the series a chance.

I received an arc from NetGalley

Enjoyable cozy mystery though I felt like the ending was a little unsatisfying. I am interested to see what happens to the characters in the next book.

Thanks to Kensington, NetGalley and of course Catherine Lloyd for this ARC. I was thrilled to get this new book in Catherine Lloyd's new Regency series. I have been waiting for this one, as her last mystery series, Kurland St. Mary are favorites that I read ( and reread) with pleasure.

The mystery was a mystery until the end and very much kept my attention. Caroline is a delightful character, as is the Doctor, and Caroline's new employer. Please keep them coming

Thank you to Kensington Books and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoyed this Victorian mystery! When Lady Caroline Morton is left penniless, she decides to get a job instead of depending on her aunt Lady Eleanor Greenwood. She secures a position with Mrs. Frogerton. and her daughter. When they are all invited back to an English House Party by Lady Greenwood, the mystery begins. Who is murdering members of the household and why? Soon Lady Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton become involved in a quest to find out what is really going on. Overall, a good gothic-type mystery!

This is a great cozy historical mystery novel that I really enjoyed. It’s very well written and hooked me into the story from the very beginning. The characters themselves are very spunky and feisty. The mystery and plot of the novel is interesting with lots of action, suspense, and twists and turns that turns into a very satisfying read. Highly recommend to all who enjoy a good solid mystery!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

While there was a lot to digest and process in the story, I found it well crafted.

Not my style of book at all. Overly convoluted plot, that requires you to believe people will insist that a someone with a knitting needle jammed into their neck died of natural causes. The characters are two dimensional, there's no chemistry between any of them. the main character is as incredibly boring. It feels like a book written by someone who thought watching Downton Abbey was enough research for anything set in the past. The attempts to highlight the social differences between various characters was bizarre; one minute servants are snarling, cursing, and threatening their employers with violence, the next they are doffing their caps and murmuring, "yes, miss." Random curtseys in the middle of conversations, too many modern idioms sprinkled through out. All in all, a hot mess.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

While the concept was interesting and I enjoyed the widow Frogerton, I had some issues with the timeline of this novel. The physician and his sister were older than Lady Caroline, who is turn was older than her youngest cousin. The lower class orphans were also older than the young cousin, and had been at the house at the same time as the doctor and his sister. The elderly butler had been the First Footman at that point, so can't have been all that old. So how is the butler so elderly, the bulk of the characters probably mid-to-late twenties, and the young lady acquainted with all of them? I did enjoy the story, but can only give it three stars.

Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd is a great cozy mystery that is the first in a new series taking place in 19th century England. I enjoyed this one.

This book starts off in London, 1837. I like this time period, as it is balancing between “old” times and the beginnings of societal and industrial change. Much material can be used within plot lines for books placed during this time. The author does a great job in creating locations, characters, concepts, and dialogue to feel authentic and realistic.

Caroline is a great main character. She is complex, has a few mysteries surrounding her past which in time should slowly be revealed, and gors against the grain of the “norm” in regards to desires and gender/societal expectations. Trying to find her own way and exert some control and independence in her life, she becomes a lady’s companion to a friendly and unique woman Mrs. Frogerton (and her challenging coming of age daughter, Dorothy. I liked both Caroline and Matty Frogerton as they seem unconventional and down to earth in ways that other “higher society ladies” are not. It makes them endearing to some degree.

They travel to Caroline’s formidable Aunt’s estate for a birthday party, and here is where the murder/mystery ensues. Caroline ends up being wrapped up within the drama, and with plenty of secrets, mysteries, surprises, twists and turns, becomes an amateur sleuth in solving said crime.

I enjoyed this story and expect that future books will create more action as we now have the foundations of the characters and location presented and explained.

I will definitely read the next book.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/31/22.

Lady Caroline Morton is a poor relation to the Greenwood family. She and her sister, Susan, were raised in their home after the death of their father and they have always been expected to be grateful to their benefactors. When Caroline returns for her cousin Mabel's birthday ball, she is accompanied by her new employer the wealthy widow Mrs. Frogerton and her daughter. Once they arrive, things begin to happen culminating in the murders of an elderly relative and the butler. Lady Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton begin to investigate.

I have read the author's previous mystery series and thoroughly enjoyed them. However, I wasn't able to get into this one as much. The murders seem to come out of nowhere. There was no inkling of animosity against the victims that I could see. The investigation seemed disjointed and they lighted on one person as the guilty party just from the way he looked -- not that they had any actual evidence at the time. I felt the plot was a little confusing and I was having a hard time keeping the story straight in my mind. I will say that I had no idea who the person behind the murders was so I was completely surprised. Others may feel differently about this book, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone else. I did receive an advanced reading copy from NetGalley and I say thank you for that. I think I will probably want to read the next in the series before I give up.