Once again, Dianne Freeman has written a fun and intriguing addition to this historical /mystery/romance series. The wedding of Frances, Lady Harleigh and George Hazelton is finally happening (yeah!) but that’s not all. Of course, the investigating pair cannot have an uneventful wedding day. Murders happen, family members and friends are implicated, accused, arrested and exonerated. That George Hazelton loves Frances unconditionally is proven again and again as they work together to solve two murders whilst dealing with the various members of her overbearing, interfering and loving family. As Frances states, “my family was best enjoyed in small portions.”
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

I absolutely love this entertaining series! Frances and George’s wedding day is here, which surprisingly goes off with a hitch. Until the reception anyway, when the police show up announcing that Frances’s brother is the prime suspect in a murder. Add is two families with a complicated history and another murder leading to an intriguing mystery, and we have ourselves about her fantastic book in this series!

Two things that I love about this series continue - I love Frances’s character in general, she’s smart and funny, but I’ve always enjoyed her with George. They’re a great at supporting each other, complete with witty dialogue. The mystery was interesting and the writing and pacing of it was perfect. I’m glad Frances and George were actually able to get married before the murder happened! I’m looking forward to book six, and I recommend this book and entire series, even if you don’t usually read historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Two feuding families. Both invited to the same wedding. What could go wrong?

Although the wedding goes off without a hitch, before the bride, American-born Frances Wynn, can even throw the bouquet, a dead body is discovered nearby. Even worse, the bride's brother is found holding the knife. The wedding trip is off. The groom, George, finds himself defending his new brother-in-law from murder. This is book five of the series, new to me, but worked well as a standalone. I felt like we got to know not just Frances and George well as we watched them navigate through the complications of family -- you've got to love them even when they drive you crazy -- and the social norms and expectations of 1900 London. Will they ever get off to that wedding trip to Cannes?

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Bride's Guide to Marriage and Murder". Told via the view point of Frances, we meet the movers and shakers of the plot, even the less than stellar ones. I also enjoyed that the author, rather than relegate the servants to the shadows, did an excellent job of introducing us to many as real people, not just token bodies to cater to the wealthy. The importance of communication, real communication, is highlighted throughout. It was also fascinating to learn a bit about photography of the era. I had no idea how photos of that era were processed. It was also lovely to see how well the author conveyed the love between Frances and George without going overboard with it. Nice touch. The mystery was intriguing, with lots of red herrings and potential suspects and it was fun to watch Frances and George sift through the clues.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to the wedding and letting me hang around to watch it being solved. I'm looking forward to following Frances and George's future adventures, well, once they finally get their honeymoon behind them.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"A Bride's Guide to Marriage and Murder" by Dianne Freeman
is the 5th book in the Countess of Harleigh Cozy Mystery Series.
I have been lucky enough to have read all the books in the series and this book continues the witty, clever & entertaining vibe of the 1st 4 books in the series.
What I love so much about this cozy mystery series is:
1-there is always a great murder mystery, where you never suspect the person who is the actual killer;
2-some nice romance;
3-great characters;
4-it takes place in an interesting time period, England 1899-1900.
I really hope Ms. Freeman is busy writing book# 6 in this great series.

Lady Harleigh strikes again; this time, a murder interrupts her wedding! She's a wonderful heroine, the mystery is twisty, and the book is - as I expected - delightful.

I love, love this series. These are the first historical mysteries that I have read and now I am hooked. Franny and George are awesome as a couple and the supporting characters just make the book more enjoyable. I like how George doesn't try to keep Franny out of the investigation but welcomes her input. So many mystery books have a female amature sleuth and a male that tries to stop her usually with guilt. I look forward to many more books with Franny and George.

This is delightfully smart and witty cozy historical mystery series. You could start with this book, but I suggest returning to the beginning to read all of the character development. I figured out the mystery about halfway through, but I still enjoyed this book.

The fifth book in the delightful series of Countess of Harleigh Mysteries..... we finally see Lady Harleigh wed the man she loves, George Hazelton.

I'm happy the wedding went off great and her brother-in-law, the Earl of Harleigh hosted the reception in what was once Frances (Lady Harleigh's home).

Everything is wonderful, until the murder of one of the guest happens next door, and Frances' brother, Alonzo is arrested, causing the new Mr. and Mrs. Hazelton to postpone their honeymoon.

It's a fun cozy to read, it's witty and engages the reader from the start.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher

*Received a copy for review.*
These books are the perfect small escape. The characters are interesting, the mystery is always good,& thus one gave me the wedding I was waiting for.

I don’t usually like historical stories but I enjoyed this one. The characters are great and the story is interesting. #ABride’sGuidetoMattiageandMurder #NetGalley

In the fifth Countess of Harleigh mystery, it’s Frances’ and George’s wedding day. Although the wedding itself goes off without a hitch, before the happy couple can depart for their two-week honeymoon, they are informed that a murder has taken place, and Frances’ brother, Alonzo, has been arrested.

Of course, Frances and George delay their trip to help clear Alonzo. Before the true murderer is confirmed, a second murder has taken place, and Frances, George and Inspector Delaney have to unravel a web of complicated relationships between family, friends and acquaintances.

This is a delightful addition to an appealing series, highlighted by the wonderful relationship between Frances and George. Well-paced with witty conversations, this is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for an advance copy.

This series Judy’s gets better and better. The writing is excellent and hooked me in from the very beginning. The characters all have spunk and are feisty making it hard not to smile at some of the dialogue. The mystery and plot are both engaging and interesting with lots of detail and twists and turns. It’s gets 5 stars from me because it’s such a relief and pleasure to read a really good book, highly recommend!!!!

The latest Countess of Harleigh mystery! Frances and George’s wedding day is finally here. They’re looking forward to two weeks away after their wedding, but their plans go awry when frances’ brother is accused of the murder of a shady businessman. They decide to postpone their trip to clear his name.

I was really glad that this mystery didn’t de-rail their marriage! They get married and then discover the murder. Like all the previous mysteries, the characters are great and the pacing is spot on.

Dianne Freeman's fifth instalment in the Countess of Harleigh series is not to be missed. A Bride's Guide to Marriage and Murder returns us to Frances and George's lives. From their wonderful wedding to navigating a difficult family, the humour and murder mystery make this fifth story a good one. The steady pace and slow unravel of the mystery were great. I recommend another great story.

Much to her surprise, Frances Wynn's wedding George Hazelton goes flawlessly. And, aside from a little tension between some of the guests, the following reception at France's former husband's brother's home is perfect as well. Frances and George are about to slip away from the reception for their honeymoon in France when the police crash the party with the surprising announcement that Frances's brother-in-law's next door neighbor was brutally murdered. To make matters worse, Frances's brother, Alonzo, was found standing over the victim with the murder weapon in hand. The victim is Mr. Connor—an unlikable man who has made numerous enemies and used underhanded tactics to get ahead in business. He is also the father of Alonzo's love interest. The honeymoon is put on hold so that Frances and George can help prove Alonzo's innocence.

A BRIDE'S GUIDE TO MARRIAGE AND MURDER is a great addition to the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. It's good to see Frances and George finally married and settling into their life as a couple. I also enjoyed the introduction to Frances's father and brother. The Wynn family has been slowly introduced throughout the series, and each family member adds a new dynamic to the story. I can't wait to see what shenanigans the extended Wynn family gets up to next.

As in the previous novels, Freeman brings to life London in the late 1890s through the descriptions of places, fashion, and day-to-day life. The novel is full of twists and turns, and there are plenty of believable suspects.

A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder is the fifth in the entertaining Countess of Harleigh cozy mystery series in which readers follow both the exploits of the heroine, Frances, the Countess of Harleigh (an American bride) and her romance (once her down-and-out English nobility spouse dies) with George Hazelton, her next-door neighbor.

This is such a remarkably engaging series. I particularly enjoyed the dry quips and witty dialogue which is so appropriate in this historical series. Author Dianne Freeman combines rich historical details with her knowledge of the ton and its customs and locations in London and its environs.
The murders and the plot twist and turns are creative and fun, yet kept me guessing. I especially like that Frances, an American, has worked to be as British as the Brits themselves and blends in well with that society. My favorite thing about her is that she fits within her historical time-frame, and despite the romance aspect, she never pulls the too-stupid-to-live stunts that many romance heroines do.

Frances, George, and their families are a true mix of family characters and provide a mix of the zaniness, mayhem, and madcap stunts that mark true families.

This series is a lot of fun, but this entry in the series was not my favorite. It was a bit slow and laggy, and the red herrings were not particularly red not very herring-like.

A Bride's Guide to Marriage and Murder gives us Frances and George's wedding! And then puts off their honeymoon so they can solve a murder. Frances' family is in the thick of things as her brother is accused of murdering the father of the woman he hopes to court. Her father is also introduced to readers; Frances hasn't seen him since her first wedding.
The balance between Frances' life and the mystery works very well here. I enjoyed the conflict between business barons trying to get into London society and the challenges of navigating people who don't want their secrets exposed to society. The pacing was great and will keep readers on their toes. This series continues to be wonderful and remains an excellent choice for historical mystery lovers.

A Bride's Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman is a great historical cozy mystery that is the fifth book in the wonderful series: Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. Such a great series!

This is such a remarkable, engaging, and addictive series. The quips, one-liners, and witty dialogue blends in perfectly with the rich historical detail, society, and locations.

As always, the murder/mystery component was creative, thought-provoking, amd kept me guessing.

Frances and George are just perfect for one another, and the rest of their family and friends really add to the enjoyment of the book. A nice balance between method and mayhem.

I can’t wait to see what everyone gets into next.

5/5 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 6/28/22.

Another fun entry in the series.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.