This is a fun historical cozy mystery set in the VIctorian era. Countess Amelia Amesbury is the writer behind the popular Lady Agony newspaper column. When Amelia receives a letter from a lady's maid who believes her boss may have been murdered, the two women arrange to meet. But the maid is murdered before Amelia can reach her, so Amelia decides to investigate both murders on her own. She's a great protagonist--smart, capable, and compassionate.

Widowed Countess Amelia Amesbury could sit back and enjoy the life that her title entails, but as someone who has always seen herself as being clear-headed and helpful, she's taken on the role of 'Lady Agony' - an advice columnist in Victorian England. Many of the letters she receives revolve around a woman's propriety of the era and in which Amelia's responses sometimes defy modern convention and sometimes it falls right in line with convention - keeping readers on their toes.

When Amelia gets a letter for Lady Agony in which the writer asks for advice in following a suspected murderer, she knows that she must help investigate - that she may be the writer's only true hope, and help. She enlists the assistance of an acquaintance - a handsome marquis - and her best friend.

It doesn't seem too dangerous in theory, but the more Amelia and friends learn about the murder and potential killer, the more dangerous it becomes. Her secret about being the advice columnist Lady Agony may soon be revealed. Can she protect her name, and her life? And what of Simon Bainbridge - the marquis helping in the investigation? How can a socialite like Amelia, who advises others on their love lives, not know whether there's any flirting going on between the handsome man and herself?

I'm generally not a fan of the cozy mystery, but with the clear connection to the popular Bridgerton books and series, I was intrigued enough to request this.

The mystery itself is nicely done here, but still it takes a back seat to the historical setting and the more fun parts - the ever-so-proper budding romance and the advice column. Each chapter begins with a letter to Lady Agony and her response and of course the chapter includes actions that are in some way mirrored in the advice column missive.

I liked the character of Amelia, though I never felt I understood quite who she was that she was able to write this column and have the leisure to track a murderer.

There's no shortage of books in the cozy category, but this is definitely better than most that I've read. It's great for that long commute or sitting at a beach.

Looking for a good book? Murder in Postscript is a cozy mystery by Mary Winters set in Victorian England with a prim and proper countess writing an advice column as well as tracking down killers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I was so surprised by how much I LOVED this book! This is the first book I've read by this author, and I absolutely loved her writing, the characters, the found family, and the love interest!

I was sad to leave this book at the end of the novel and look forward to more books by this author!

I enjoyed this; the two main characters are interesting and very likable. This seems like the beginning of a fun series, sorry that so far this is the only one. The letters to agony aunt and the answers added charm and the mystery kept me reading. The author did a good job setting up the series with several interesting chatacters.

I am a sucker for cozy mysteries. They are just a joy to read. Plus, I love trying to figure out where the next clue leads or who did it. Murder in Postscript is a new historical cozy mystery read. It was just released today.

Murder in Postscript features Amelia, who writes her column while being a mother and countess, but it’s a secret. A bit of a secret! Back in the day, no woman could do anything. But I applaud her for taking the chance, even though it’s a secret. She is determined to do what makes her happy. And she is in the right position to do so without getting caught until she receives her latest postscript.

Her latest postscript pleads with her about her former mistress getting murdered, but no one is taking her seriously. And it does not get better when the woman who wrote the postscript gets killed as well. This is a big deal for Amelia. It may be dangerous, but she is determined to find out the details.

All of this captured my attention and kept me going until the end. It was the perfect cozy mystery read. If you enjoy reading cozy mystery books, then you will love this one as well.

Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters

Amelia Amesbury has a secret identity. In public, she is a widowed Victorian Countess with an adopted daughter. In private, she is Lady Agony; an advice columnist in the local newspaper. When a lady’s maid writes to Amelia indicating that her mistress might’ve been murdered and her own life is in danger. Amelia knows she might have to come out of hiding to help solve the case with the help of a handsome marquis.

I really enjoyed the writing of this book. The mystery kept me invested (though it dragged a little in the middle). I wish we saw a little more of the romance between Amelia and Simon. I think we will see more of it in the upcoming books in the series (slow burn). I definitely would never have guess the antagonist so that was a very thrilling end! Can’t wait to read more of this series.

I liked this and would read the next book in the series! A unconventional female heroine, a murder mystery, and a potential future love interest all made for an enjoyable read.

<i>ARC Provided by NetGalley<i>

Amelia Amesbury is far more than a widowed countess and mother. In fact, she pens an advice column for a local newspaper under the pseudonym Lady Agony. The advice that she offers to her readers goes further than the written word. A recent letter from a reader has Amelia looking for a possible murderer. Not only is this not Amelia’s first time helping out her readers, she is not alone in this as she has the help of her best friend and now a marquis she meets named Simon who affects her more than she’d like to admit.

At first it seems that Amelia just might be on the right track, but the clues quickly lead to more than one possible suspect. No matter how confounding things get for her, she soldier’s on, desperate to find the killer before they can strike again.

This engaging new cozy mystery series starts off with a bang with our intrepid heroine leaving no stone unturned. The romance brewing between Amelia and Simon is set at a nice pace. Also, the formatting of this book contains a lot of letters from readers seeking advice and Amelia’s wise counsel. These exchanges add to the enjoyment of this delightful read. I can’t wait for the next book in this series to next see what Amelia will be getting into.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters is a spectacular mystery with the elegance and disdain of the upper crust.

Will Amelia figure out what is happening before her secret is announced to the ton?

Countess Amelia Amesbury
Amelia is our sleuth. However, she is more than that. She is also a widow, mother, Countess, writer, friend to all, stubborn and opinionated for a lady of the 1860s. I enjoyed getting to know her. Amelia isn’t like many ladies of her time. She is very forward-thinking for that period. However, she is extremely loyal, enjoys having fun, and doesn’t seem afraid of hard work.

The Countess is also Lady Agony, an advice columnist. This is not something that she wants to get out as the ton would never forgive her. And the repercussions to her ward would be terrible.

The Mystery
One of her followers has written her asking to meet to discuss the recent death of the maid’s lady. Amelia wants to help, but the maid is dead by the time she gets to the meeting place. Now Amelia feels obligated to figure out what happened. Oh my, I bounced all around trying to figure this out along with Amelia, Simon, and Kitty. Yet, I was caught off guard by the culprit. I honestly didn’t expect whodunit, and the reasoning is atrocious. Well played, Ms. Winters.

Five Stars
I love a good historical cozy mystery, but this one went beyond. It is entertaining, with the perfect balance of history, mystery, and a touch of romance. The use of the Lady Agony letters in the plot is a unique and fun way to get her thoughts into the story.

I will be on the lookout for the next Lady of Letters Mystery. My rating for Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters is five stars. I recommend it to everyone.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Dear Readers!

What an utterly delightful book this was. Not since the New Year hit us with all it’s force, have we enjoyed a book this much.

Lady Amelia Amesbury is a breath of fresh air here in the ton. Widowed and taking care of a charge at a very young age, is no easy feat for a young woman from her social background. Alas, she handles it with grace and compassion, but a strong enough sense of self to not bother with the knitty gritties of life on the ton.

Thank heavens she has the good senses to do something to occupy her time in a productive an insightful way. Having a life-giving alter ego in the form of a gossip or agony column, can do wonders for a woman’s soul and sense of purpose in life. Receiving a tray filled with correspondence letters does tend to make life more interesting. Especially if all the letters request advice on love, labor and life. Mostly love of course. And who better to guide society than a member of the social elite.

Knowing that no-one in the ton knows your identity, just adds to the thrill. But, when you receive a letter from a concerned ladies maid with a postscript hinting at murder, you simply have to take action.

But what to do? Lady Agony could not and would not reveal her true identity. But still – she has to solve this murder! Oh what to do! Enter the handsome marquis Simon Bainbridge. Of course she had no choice but to bare her identity if she wanted his help. One can but wonder how much more she will bare to the handsome marquis in good time.

This reader has it in good authority that Murder in Postscript will be one of this social season’s biggest surprises. We can’t wait for the next instalment!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie

This is a solid and delightful first in a new historical mystery series, and I found it very impressive! The characters, especially Amelia, Winifred, Tabitha, and Kitty are wonderfully depicted, establishing their personalities. The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing throughout. While there were many suspenseful moments, there was also humor. Life in London in 1860 was demonstrated well, and I found the background of Lady Amelia’s secret project fascinating.

Lady Amelia Amesbury was not always a member of the British nobility. She worked at her family’s respectable country inn where her family entertained guests with plays and musical events. She met and fell in love with Lord Edgar Amesbury before she knew he was an earl and one of the wealthier men in London. He did not tell her until she had accepted his marriage proposal. His goal in marrying was to provide an excellent mother figure for his orphaned niece, Winifred. It would only be a short time before the degenerative disease he had not yet divulged to her would take his life and he wanted someone interested in Winifred’s welfare rather than his money.

Two years after his passing, Winifred, who Amelia adored, was preparing for her first pianoforte recital. She had incredible talent, as had her late mother and other family members. Amelia had a secret nobody could know about, especially Edgar’s Aunt Tabitha, who ran the estate. Tabitha also made certain that Amelia learned and abided by every nuance of London’s high society. How well Amelia lived up to these unwritten rules would ensure – or damage – Winifred’s place in society.

Lady Amelia’s secret is that she answers readers’ questions as Lady Agony in a popular penny weekly. Society matrons would disapprove to the point it could cause harm to Winifred’s future position. Amelia loves to write, and this is the only thing she does just for herself. I enjoyed samples of letters to Lady Agony and her responses at the opening of almost every chapter. Some are amusing and her responses blunt yet kind, until she received a most unusual missive in the packet from the newspaper.

A young woman named Charlotte was despairing, having witnessed what she is certain was the murder of the woman she worked for. She wanted Lady Agony to meet her that evening to help her. She would wear a red hat so Amelia could recognize her and discuss this delicate matter. Instead, a long-time family friend, Simon, Marquis of Bainbridge, was coming to dinner. He and her late husband had grown up and served in the Royal Navy together, and Aunt Tabitha insisted on her presence.

Claiming a sudden headache during dinner, Amelia changed clothes and slipped out the back. She couldn’t find Charlotte at first, until she saw a red hat and crumpled dress floating on the water near the bench where they were to meet. Charlotte was dead. When turning to run and look for the killer, she is met by Lord Bainbridge, who is very interested in what she is doing. Before he will get a constable, she had to tell him how she knew Charlotte, if he would keep the Lady Agony persona secret.

They discovered Charlotte’s mistress was Flora, the recently deceased daughter of Admiral Edwards, under whom Edgar and Simon served in the navy. Out of respect for Amelia’s care of Winifred, Simon told her to go home and let him handle the constable. She did so only after extracting his promise to help her get to the bottom of the young women’s deaths. Both could be considered accidental, yet Charlotte’s letter says otherwise. Against his better judgment, he will see her the next day to begin their arrangement. Amelia soon receives threatening letters by someone who figured out her true identity and wants her to stop asking questions.

The author has designed realistic, unique characters. I like Amelia the best. She thinks for herself, is caring, responsible, and funny, and willing to do all she can to be a good example to the beloved Winifred. Winifred and Simon are also favorites, and I even grew to like Aunt Tabitha. I already see growth in each of these four people and look forward to getting to know them even better.

The mystery has been plotted and executed with excellence. It is a riveting read, one that I found difficult to put down. The real killer was elusive, and I wrestled with who the killer was. I was very surprised at the reveal and satisfied with the entire novel. The next one in the series can’t come too quickly for me; I highly recommend this excellent historical mystery!

4.5 stars

What a charming series debut!

I was instantly captivated by Mary Winters’ writing voice as well as her heroine, Lady Amelia Amesbury… aka Lady Agony. The young countess, widowed merely two months after her marriage, is guardian to her late husband’s niece and the secret author of the popular Lady Agony advice column. I loved how the letters to Lady Agony – and her replies – prefaced each new chapter, partly because they were just plain fun to read & partly because it gave me further insight into Amelia’s personality – spunky, a little sassy, and full of heart.

For that matter, I found all of the characters to be extremely likable – even crusty Aunt Tabitha (Amelia’s late husband’s aunt) who seems to have a good heart & equally good intentions despite her reticence. From Tabitha to Winnifred (Amelia’s ward) and Kitty (Amelia’s best friend), Murder in Postscript is full of strong female supporting characters that readers will want to spend even more time with on the pages. Luckily, this is the first in a series with hopefully many more to come! And then there’s Simon…. the swoony marquis who was Amelia’s late husband’s best friend, newly returned from time in America. He’s obviously captivated by Amelia at first meeting, and their friendship made me giddy with the potential for a delicious romance in future books. I loved how he treated Amelia with respect, even affection, and how he valued her for who she is.

The mystery is packed with plausible suspects, spanning both the upstairs and downstairs of Victorian society. Drawn by a letter to Lady Agony, from a lady’s maid, with the words, “I think my mistress was murdered,” Amelia stumbles on a mystery that will test her amateur investigative skills and further cement her budding friendship with Simon. With him close at her side and bodies piling up, she seeks to solve the murders while continuing to preserve her secret identity as Lady Agony. Red herrings and some unexpected twists will keep readers on their toes, and the banter between Simon and Amelia will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Bottom Line: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters, and I think you will, too. The Victorian setting and Lady Agony letters create exactly the right mood for the story, and Amelia and Simon’s relationship is completely delightful. I can’t wait to see where their friendship-with-the-growing-possibility-for-more takes them in future books. The mystery is smart and well-plotted, the conversations are engaging, and the characters are layered and genuinely likable. Not to mention the cleverly done hook in the epilogue that has you already invested in and waiting for book two!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT
by Mary Winters, Berkley, out now.

SYNOPSIS
"When one of her readers asks for advice following a suspected murder, Victorian countess Amelia Amesbury, who secretly pens the popular Lady Agony column, has no choice but to investigate in this first book in a charming new historical mystery series.
_____________

MY THOUGHTS
What a fine read! As Countess Amelia gets swept into a murder investigation, I got swept into this delightful tale, perfect for readers who adore historicals as much as I. Great humor and heart also grace MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT, as revealed in Amelia's answer to one reader obsessed with a friend's tresses:

"Dear Hair, There, and Everywhere,
Some women are born with great hair.
Others are born with great wit, vivacity, or kindness. Cultivate one of the latter.
Or purchase a wig. The choice is just that simple.

Yours in Secret,
Lady Agony"
~~

I loved the spirited female writer/sleuth, her swoony marquis, and the unpredictable twists that kept me guessing right to the end. And author Mary Winters' luscious language, a joy to read:

"Amelia set down her cordial. Whatever may come, she would go to St. James's Park tonight. It would be dark, and she would have to disguise herself to cloak her identity. If it was a ruse, she would know it and flee. Flee. Glancing around her posh surroundings, she decided a word never sounded so delightful."
_____________

Historical mystery/romance lovers, don't delay, put MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT on your TBR list today! Hearty thanks to author Mary Winters, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#murderinpostscript #authormarywinters #berkleypublishinggroup #NetGalley #cozyvictorianromancemystery #pennydreadfulcolumnwriter #ladyagony #bookstagramcommunity

3.5 Stars

Countess Amelia Amesbury has taken many changes in her life in stride, from becoming countess, mother and then widower. Her secret occupation answering letters as Lady Agony for a London newspaper has been a welcome distraction. She finds giving frank, useful advice, with a little bit of cheek and fun to be fulfilling. However, one of her writers claims to know of a murder, her mistress, and when Amelia goes to meet her to find out how to help, she finds the poor woman dead. Amelia’s determined to find out who murdered the lady’s maid and her mistress.

With the help of a family friend, the Marquis Simon Bainbridge, Amelia sets out to find the murderer, hunting down clues and asking questions. Her investigation does not go unnoticed and soon she finds herself facing danger and threats to unmask her identity as Lady Agony, something that risks the reputation of her young stepdaughter and the family name.

I enjoyed Murder in Postscript overall. The letters were fun, the plot was entertaining, and I liked the relationship between Amelia and Simon that hints at a romance to come. I did struggle with the writing style with a lot of telling instead of showing. It made it hard to feel fully immersed in the story, being told of things instead of “experiencing” them through the characters. Also, the dialogue didn’t feel natural in spots. Still, with these issues I did like the story overall and I look forward to the next one.

This is the first of this series that I have read. I really enjoyed the collaboration between Amelia and Simon on their quest for the murderer in this story. The characters are likeable. I was so disappointed when the story ended with the relationship between Amelia and Simon unresolved. I am looking forward to the next installment of this series.

MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT by Mary Winters
The First Lady of Letters Mystery

Young widow Amelia Amesbury finds great joy in two things, being mother to her late husband's niece and writing an agony column for the newspaper. When she receives a letter from a maid fearing her mistress has been murdered and wanting to meet, Amelia wonders if it's merely a ploy to uncover her identity. Deciding to take a chance she agrees to meet the young woman, only to find her dead. With the help of the Marquis of Bainbridge, a good friend of the Amesburys, she'll undertake to find a killer.

I loved absolutely everything about this series opener. Well developed characters with lots of backstory to explore, a complex mystery, and what I hope to be a burgeoning romance kept me from all household tasks as I was compelled to keep reading this historical mystery.

Amelia Amesbury is a fantastic protagonist. She speaks her mind though her ideas may be more modern than Victorian. The Marquis is a solid foil, and the epitome of still waters run deep. Also not one to bow to convention, he's a perfect match for Amelia. Hopefully, he'll be able to trust as well as see that. The secondary characters are infused with rich detail and are not merely decoration. From maids to admirals they all have a story to tell.

Witty and wonderful, MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT combines fantastic characters, a well devised mystery, and a superb setting to create a spectacular start for the First Lady of Mystery series.

Dollycas's Thoughts 

Set in 1860 London

Lady Amelia Amesbury has a secret. She came to London with her husband Edgar who died shortly after from a degenerative disease. While continuing to raise Edgar's niece, Winifred takes much of her time, she still was bored. "mind-numbingly bored". So when a friend offered her a job at his penny paper she gladly accepted and Lady Agony was born. Only a very few people know the real identity of Lady Agony. She gives advice on love, etiquette, fashion, and more. She sometimes gets some odd requests as well. Her latest letter is from Charlotte who "witnessed something dreadful" and begs Lady Agony to meet her. Against her better judgment, she goes to the designated spot but all she finds is the body of a young woman, Charlotte.

Believing had she just arrived a few minutes earlier she could have saved the girl Amelia is bound and determined to find her killer. With the help of her best friend Kitty Hamsted and her new friend the Marquis of Bainbridge, she follows each clue wherever it leads no matter how much danger it puts her in.

_____

I am very impressed with Lady Amelia Amesbury. She grew up in a small village working at her family's inn when a young man arrived and soon proposed. It was then he revealed he was an Earl and that he was part of one of the wealthiest families in London. Sadly, then two months later he was gone. Amelia adapted and followed all the rules of a widow, devoutly watched over by Edgar's aunt Tabitha. But Amelia is a strong independent thinking woman. While she would never do anything to hurt the family name she doesn't let the name rule her. This character was strong from the start but she continued to grow and develop throughout the entire story.

The author has surrounded her protagonist with several strong characters as well. Aunt Tabitha, one of the old guard, prim and proper most of the time, tries to keep a tight hold on Amelia as much as she can. Edgar's niece, Winifred is a sweetheart and smarter than her years and quickly became a favorite of mine. Her friends Kitty and Grady are fun and on hand when she needs them.  Then there is the handsome Marquis Simon Bainbridge. I loved the way he and Amelia banter back and forth. The character development of these core characters is so well done.

Ms. Winters has captured the time period so well and plotted out a very complex mystery. With plenty of suspects, the story moves at a great pace. I was delighted to tag along with her around the streets of London and even to the county to get the answers she needed. I loved every twist and the lengths Amelia went through in her efforts to find the truth.

The Lady Agony theme is very entertaining. Getting to read the letters and Amelia's answers added to my reading enjoyment.

Murder in Postscript is an excellent debut for this series. This book checked all my boxes for a fine historical cozy mystery. It truly was A Perfect Escape! I am looking forward to the next A Lady of Letters Mystery.

I expected a fun, easy read from this, and it certainly is lively, with colorful characters and enjoyable chemistry between the heroine and her love interest. However, I found it hard to settle into, not least because Amelia's actions are difficult to understand. The very first sentence tells us she's bored with her life, and when she declares she'll catch a murderer without any real reason for why she is the person for the job beyond "she wants to do it," the sense of a bored aristocrat (even if only one by marriage) is reinforced. I never really believed Amelia felt for the dead women as more than a distraction, a puzzle to solve — which could have been an interesting characterization if we weren't clearly intended to feel her sincerity. And when she has no particular skill that makes her the best person to solve a mystery, and when Charlotte's murder was only dismissed as an accident by the authorities because Amelia withheld crucial information, I could only assume she was an interfering busybody and women of London were very lucky she stumbled upon the truth anyway.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in Postscript
Mary Winters
Pub date: Mar 28 2023
Lady of Letters #1
Berkely
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This cozy historical mystery was very entertaining. It grabbed my attention with likable characters.
The authors note at the end was very interesting about how advice columns have changed over the years,
4 stars

Lady Amelia Amesbury became a widow at the tender age of 25, after a two-month marriage. Convention has required a two-year mourning period that has Amelia dressing in black and refraining from social activities. Until recently, the only bright spot in Amelia's life has been her ten-year-old niece Winnifred, the budding piano prodigy Amelia promised her late husband she would raise as a daughter. That is, until Amelia is offered the chance to anonymously write the Lady Agony column in her childhood friend's penny newspaper. Most of the letters she responds to relate to social conduct and relationships, and Amelia cheerfully doles out common sense answers laced with wit and solid advice. Things take a more serious turn, however, when she receives a letter from a maid who thinks her employer was murdered. Amelia agrees to meet the maid, but before she is able to interview her, the maid meets the same fate as the lady she served.

Not one to shy away from an intriguing mystery, Amelia recruits her closest female friend Kitty and her late husband's friend Simon Bainbridge to assist in the investigation. As their inquiry proceeds, the elusive killer strikes again and Amelia begins to receive threatening letters warning her to stop her investigation or risk personal harm. Will Amelia expose the killer before she becomes the next victim? Can she do so without her identity as Lady Agony being revealed?

Murder in Postscript is a delightful beginning to a new historical cozy mystery series set in Victorian London. Its engaging plot is filled with a healthy dose of red herrings and upstairs/downstairs characters. The banter between protagonist Lady Amesbury and Marquis Bainbridge is scintillating and hints at the possibility of a future romance between two characters who have each suffered a devastating personal loss. And, best of all, after the murders are solved, the author uses a very clever hook to leave readers craving more. The series is off to a solid start, with great potential for a long run.