This is a cosy historical mystery set in 1930s. The characters are likeable and well developed. There are twists and turns. I liked the authors writing style. A great start to a new series

Atalanta Ashford's father was born to wealth, but quarrelled with his father and rejected his family and their wealth. He proved unable to manage what money he did have. Being a pragmatic and practical person, Atlanta trained to be a teacher, and once employed teaching girls music and French, paid off her father's many bills. All the while, her wealthy grandfather had her and her father watched, and became impressed with Atalanta's good sense, but remained absent from their lives, at his son's request.

Some years later, Atalanta is surprised to receive a letter from her now deceased grandfather's lawyer, and even more surprised to find out she's now a very wealthy woman. She also finds out that her grandfather was quietly sleuthing for wealthy friends and acquaintances, and he wanted Atalanta to continue helping out people, discreetly.

Atalanta is almost immediately asked for help by a young, wealthy woman, Eugénie Frontenac, who wants someone to vet her fiancé, as Eugénie has received a letter implying her fiancé's first wife's death was suspicious. Posing as Eugenie's cousin, Atalanta travels with Eugénie to her fiancé's estate in France to begin her first case.

They're greeted almost at once by the death of a poacher, and Eugénie's fiancé's ward, Yvette, hell bent on sabotaging the wedding and festivities, as Yvette deeply dislikes Eugénie. The animosty and arguments grow worse and worse, with another death occurring , and suspicions falling on multiple guests, and even on Yvette, before Atalanta wades through contradictory and murky motives to the truth.

Atalanta is a likeable main character. Her experience teaching comes in handy as there's much drama and ill feeling amongst the guests. There are many clues and reveals, and the plot moves along nicely. Though there was mounting evidence against one person in particular, I liked how Atalanta maintained a cool head and didn't jump to conclusions, or cause alarm as she carefully interrogated and weighed motives. This was an enjoyable cozy, and a good start to a series.

Thank you to Netgalley and to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I loved the era and the setting for this book. The mystery was solid and well written with twists and turns. I look forward to book 2!
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

As with many cozy mystery series starters, Mystery in Provence starts off with the protagonist going through a huge shift in her life. What makes this one slightly different is that the shift causes her to become an amateur sleuth. But not as a career choice (Atalanta doesn’t need the money) but as “a calling”. Left a sleuthing legacy by a grandfather she never really knew, I found it really fun to follow Atalanta as she tries to navigate her new reality. Unlike many of our amateur detectives, Atalanta is NOT entirely comfortable with her new vocation, but tries to do the best that she can. I really liked that she has a lot of adjusting to do and we can see her struggle with her new role. I found it made her so much more interesting and sympathetic as a character.

She is aided in her new life by a very competent butler, and letters that her grandfather left her that offer advice and wisdom on being a “detective to the rich and famous”, as they say. There’s also the introduction of a potential love interest, Raoul, who also helps Atalanta out in her detecting. While I know that the butler will most likely be around in future books, Raoul is still very much a mystery at the end of this story.

The story itself had a very “classic murder mystery” vibe to it but with enough twists to keep it from getting too predictable. The pacing was fantastic and I felt like I really needed to know what happened next!

The characters all seemed to have something to hide and it was lots of fun watching Atalanta try to unravel all the little lies, half-truths, and misdirections thrown at her. I honestly had a really great time reading this story and look forward to the next book in the series because I can’t wait for more adventures with Atalanta (and hopefully Raoul too!)

*** Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

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A good start for a new cozy series: lovely setting, solid mystery, well developed characters.
It's an entertaining novel that kept me hooked and guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

You know you’ve just finished a really special book when it comes to a close and you miss the main character already. I came to this thinking it was going to be a quirky little story about a quirky little mystery and I was looking forward to it, I’ve never been so glad to be wrong, it’s so very much not, yet so very much more than that.

What a surprise, Mystery in Provence was. I had not read a Vivian Conroy book so I thought I would try her new series featuring Atalanta Ashford. Atalanta first appears on the page lost in a day dream trying to rise about her dreary life. She has much to dream about. Her father was a spendthrift, a disinherited nobleman, and her sweet mother dies when she was 10. When her father died she was left to pay off his debts or run from the creditors. She did the honorable thing and has been working hard for years to pay off his loans. She is finally free to save money for herself. She dreams of travel but as a teacher at a Swiss boarding school she does not have much time off.

A letter arrives from a lawyer asking to meet concerning her deceased grandfather’s estate. If you think this will be a rags to riches Cinderella story you are wrong. Even though Atalanta is given money, houses, and cars around Europe there is a stipulation. Her grandfather was a discrete inquiry agent for the elite members of society. Word of his assistance passed quietly from person to person, and her wants Atalanta to take over for him. She arrives at her new Paris abode to find out more about her new life and finds a client waiting for her already.

What begins as a quest to make sure the prospective bridegroom did not murder his first wife, becomes a current murder mystery to find killer of a vagrant found on the grooms estate. Is Atalanta up for this?

Fans of Ashley Weaver’s Amory Ames series will love Atalanta. It will be a delight reading this series and seeing her evolve from poor orphan to a world traveler. The opening of Last Seen in Santorini has me impatient for book two.

A great start to what I believe will be a most intriguing mystery series! Not only will the reader get to unravel engaging crimes, but the reader will also get to experience a new locale with each crime. Atalanta Ashford has been given a wonderful opportunity via her grandfather, and I look forward to her enjoying it to the fullest!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

"Mystery in Provence" is a mystery set in 1930 in France. The main characters were likable and interesting. Atalanta always liked problem solving but now she's learning how to solve mysteries. Her grandfather left her advice on sleuthing and some staff that helps dig up information about suspects. Atalanta tried to subtly ask questions and uncover information as she was undercover. This was a clue-based mystery that could be guessed before the end. There's so much information and deception that I felt the author could have chosen between several of the suspects and made them fit the clues in the big reveal, but whodunit did seem the most likely. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.

What a brilliant start to a new series this proved to be
Set in the past with intrigue and mystery.
One which empowers a young lady to help others
By discreetly seeking and sharing what she discovers.

In June 1930 Miss Atalanta Ashford had news
That totally changed her life and her views.
Her grandfather had sadly passed away
But sent her a letter with much to say.

She now has a fortune, homes and a challenge, too,
Endeavouring to continue his secret sleuthing to do!
As she arrives at her new Parisian home she discovers
Her first case is waiting - there will be others!

A bride-to-be has had a letter that has her perplexed
Concerning her groom-to-be - it has her vexed.
Is the content the truth she needs to know
So with her Atalanta decides to go.

Get ready for intrigue, surprises and mystery
As Atalanta delves into the family history.
There's also a ward, who seems to dislike all
And other folks who are also coming to call.

There are murders, secrets and so much more
Even the possibility of romance, someone to adore?
But danger permeates the whole estate
To reveal the perpetrator Atalanta just can't wait!

This is the first book in a series of four
Now I can't wait to read some more!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

Mystery in Provence is a new mystery series set in the 1930’s. School teacher Atalanta Ashford suddenly inherits the estate of her wealthy estranged grandfather. She inherits his lovely Parisian home, butler Renard, oodles of money, oh and his discreet priviate investigation business for his wealthy friends. Her 1st case involves Eugenie Frontenac, the youngest daughter of a merchant family who is bethrothed to the Comte de Surmonne, Eugenie has received a poison pen letter accusing the Comte of murdering his 1st wife for her money. Eugenie asks Atalanta to investigate for her. Atalanta goes to the Comte’s estate posing as a cousin of Eugenie’s to investigate. At the estate there is not shortage of suspects, but was the 1st wife really murdered or was it just a tragic accident? Are Eugenie and the Comte a good match? Can Eugenie’s family be more obnoxious? Is it ever a good idea to invite the mistress to the wedding?

I really enjoyed the time period the book was set in. The glamourous 30’s amongst the wealthy is always a great book to escape in. Atalanta was a clever and likeable character, she is intelligent, modest and honorable. I look forward to more books in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

Accidental detective!

Take an improbable situation—a young woman who takes on her dead father’s debts, pays them off working as a teacher in a school in the Swiss alps, suddenly discovers she’s the heir to her wealthy grandfathers fortune (including houses and cars apparently). The condition is that she’ll take on his work of “providing advice“ (detecting for those who need help) for anyone who asks. It’s all very subtle and it seems they’ll all be wealthy types.
At first I went ho hum. The beginning was a tad too contrived. After all it’s a bit of a fairytale beginning. However as we progressed into the story I became quite interested. There’s a body or two—not in the library but in interesting places nevertheless. And then there’s the family of the young woman Atalanta has chosen to help—all very dramatic with an overbearing mother who’s not going to let a little thing like a dead body stop the wedding. Not to mention the Comte, his ward, and his previous mistress. (Of course she’s an opera singer!)
Atalanta’s first case could well be her last. And what of the mysterious Raul?
An enjoyable cosy mystery set in the 1930’s with a heroine who has the world at her feet and the money to go wherever.

A One More Chapter ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series set in the 1930s.

Atalanta Ashford is a music/French teacher at a prestigious school in the Swiss Alps where she has been working to pay off her late father’s debts. She receives word that her wealthy late grandfather (estranged from her father) has left her his entire estate. However, as a request from him, she needs to continue his discreet private investigations for the privileged aristocracy. With the direction of his butler, she sets off to Provence to try and uncover if her client’s fiancé killed his first wife before she weds him.

I liked Atalanta. She’s spunky and determined and very humble about her inheritance. Unfortunately, I can’t say that I related to anyone else in the cast. I found the story uneven and filled with unsympathetic characters, some downright immature and strangle-worthy. Also, I felt like it was too long, with Atalanta’s back and forth suppositions a bit wearying.

This one turned out to be just an OK for me overall. However, that said, I read the first chapter of the next book (included), and it piqued my interest enough to give it a try.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing the free early arc of Mystery in Provence for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an advance copy of Mystery in Provence, the first novel to feature Atalanta Ashford, set mainly in Provence in 1930.

Atalanta is working as a teacher in an elite Swiss Boarding School when she learns that she has inherited her estranged grandfather’s considerable fortune and a request that she continue his discreet private enquiry business for the rich and famous. Her first case takes her to Provence and a wedding. And murder.

I enjoyed Mystery in Provence which is a light read with plenty of the eponymous mystery and a series of seemingly unrelated events. It is told from Atalanta’s point of view, so what she knows, the reader knows. It didn’t help me to guess in advance, so the solution came as a surprise.

This is not a demanding read, but there is enough going on to keep the reader occupied. There is murder, a potential murder already written off as an accident, all sorts of disagreements and showdowns, some dirty tricks and a hint of romance. It’s not difficult to follow, just plentiful, and I zipped through it in one sitting, wanting to know what was coming next.

Atalanta Ashford is a fairly standard protagonist. She is honest, forthright and, above all, level headed, unless, of course, she’s thinking of a certain man. She’s low key so I didn’t feel her personality really stood out, but perhaps the following novels will bring more familiarity.

Mystery in Provence is a good read that I can recommend.

Such a promising start to this cosy-style murder mystery series, 'Miss Ashford Investigates'. Atalanta Ashford has all the qualities of a cosy detective; she has commonsense, intelligence and likeability. Her backstory is interesting, and the mystery is full of twists and false leads. The setting in 1930s Provence is iconic and well described, giving this a golden age murder mystery vibe. There is a good cast of supporting characters, many of whom are suspects, and most have unlikeable character traits.

I enjoyed investigating the mystery, getting to know Miss Ashford and immersion in the time and place.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own. Mystery in Provence is the first in a new series to feature Atalanta Ashford. The story begins when she is informed that she has inherited money and houses from her estranged grandfather. Atalanta is shocked as she had no expectations of inheriting and sad it means she won't have a chance to connect with her only remaining family member. In addition to the typical inheritance, she has also inherited her grandfather's "vocation" of helping people with sensitive situations. She immediately leaves the boarding school in Switzerland where she had been working and travels to Paris. She barely arrives and finds her new house when she is presented with her first case. Eugenie Frontenac is engaged to be married to the Comte de Sumonne and has received a poison pen letter suggesting he was responsible for the death of his first wife. Atalanta agrees to act as a poor relation to travel with Eugenie to the Comte's house for the upcoming wedding. Atalanta has to try and figure out if the first wife's death was in fact an accident or the result of something more sinister. I really liked Atalanta and found her to be a very likeable character that I am looking forward to following as she grows into the role she has found herself thrust into. There are several secondary characters including her grandfather's butler Renard and Raoul that are promising and likely to appear in future titles. I'm delighted to find a new historical series that is so enjoyable and will be excitedly reading the next entry in the series.

Set in 1950 Europe, especially Provence, Mystery in Provence is a refreshingly clean and delightful mystery with a variety of interesting characters and settings. It is the first in the Miss Ashford Investigates series. Though the premise of an unexpected inheritance is similar to many stories, the difference is that the young lady who is left loads of money by her grandfather is to use it to help people.

Atalanta is an orphan who became a teacher in magnificently beautiful Switzerland. Her dream is to travel. But her father had squandered away all his substantial money which left he and his daughter destitute. Atalanta is forced to be thrifty, enterprising and economical which suits her common sense mentality and independent spirit. When she discovers she is heiress to a fortune she is shocked. But this is no usual inheritance. Nononono. She is to use it to the good and she does not know where to begin. Through letters her grandfather started her off immediately in Paris, of all places, giving her no time to change her mind. Like all adventurers, she is game to pursue this dream come true, yet an unexpectedly different dream than she had had in mind. She did not expect to have clients, nor did she expect to encounter murder and other crimes.

The atmosphere of the grounds including shell grotto is fun (do be sure to read the author's lovely notes in the back) and I have had the fortune to see a few myself so can envision it. As an expat international traveler I am excited to read about her further adventures in the next country (I won't spoil the surprise). A few aspects are quickly told, almost skimmed over, but I believe there is a reason for that.

Historical Fiction Mystery fans ought to swarm this book like bees to honey. It is fun, engaging and spirited. A great place to start for those who have yet to fall in love with the genre.

My sincere thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this captivating book!

"Agatha Christie meets Julie Caplin in this exciting new series that whisks you away to the most gorgeous escapist destinations!

A beautiful French estate.
A wedding.
A murder.
And a novice detective intent on solving her first case!

Fresh from teaching at her prestigious Swiss boarding school, Miss Atalanta Ashford suddenly finds herself the most eligible young lady in society when she inherits her grandfather’s substantial fortune. But with this fortune, and an elegant new Parisian home, comes a legacy passed down from grandfather to granddaughter…sleuthing discreetly for Europe’s elite.

This young lady isn't one to back down from a challenge and Miss Ashford must depend on her sharp wit and charm to solve her first case, which takes her to the lush lavender fields of Provence and a wedding at the mansion of the Comte de Surmonne.

Now, as murder strikes twice, Atalanta will have to race to solve the case but will she be able to stop the blushing bride from facing a fatal 'I do?'"

Who doesn't want to be transported to a wonderful location for a thrilling murder mystery?

Miss Ashford Investigates Book 1

Fresh from teaching at her prestigious Swiss boarding school, Miss Atlanta Ashford suddenly finds herself the most eligible young lady in society when she inherits her grandfather's substantial fortune. But with this fortune - and an elegant new Parisian home = comes a legacy passed down from grandfather to granddaughter.... sleuthing discretely for Europe's elite, This amateur detective isn't one to back down from a challenge and Miss Ashford must depend on her sharp wit and charm to solve her first case.

Set in the 1930s, this is a cosy historical mystery. The characters are well developed and likeable. There are twists, red herrings and clues. I liked Atlanta, she's a new sleuth to look out for. I also liked the authors writing style. and i also liked that we will be investigating in different countries with each new book. A great start to this mystery series.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUk #OneMoreChapter and the author #VivianConroy for my ARC of #MysteryInProvence.