Thank you to Crooked Lane and NetGalley for the chance to read this!
Murder at Midnight is a great work in the Lily Adler series. The setting was perfect and is a wonderful take on the locked room mystery with a snowbound house party.
I appreciated the plot and the characters we were introduced too. As in many mysteries there was an initial confusion between them all. I appreciate the breadth of characters Schellman includes and stories she tells. I appreciated how the romance was handled. As a fan of the series I was thrilled with the return of Jack. This is probably my favorite in the series so far and would encourage any fans of cozy mystery to read!

2.5 stars

First I'd like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review.

This was a cozy 19th century murder mystery novel. The main character is quite likeable and the majority of the story is good.

Unfortunately the beginning is extremely slow are you are force fed multiple characters and all this unnecessary information. It takes a long time for the story to gain momentum and it is easily lost multiple times throughout the story. I had to skim over lots of parts to finish this book as it wasn't pulling me in as much as I'd want a murder mystery to. The ending is a bit lackluster with what feels like a forced "twist".

There is SO MUCH drama in this story, which I wouldn't normally mind for a 19th century story but here it felt like too much with the murder story along with all the other "attacks" that are also present.

I have to say, I appreciate the fact that although this is book 4 in a series, there is no need to read the first few books to feel like you understand the main character and the gist of this universe.

I also liked the romance story that was going on throughout.

I'd like to thank Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

I have always enjoyed the Lily Adler mysteries. There's something comforting about a self-assured lady detective and her friends solving murders. I love the characters and the every evolving story of Lily's life and relationships that is in the background but never draws away from the main focus.

Schellman has written such a solid series, and I enjoy returning to it with each new book in the series. I would say the only drawback to this one is that there is such a wide cast of characters I had a really hard time keeping track of who was who and didn't feel like I had a firm grasp of it until about 75% of the way through the book. Maybe a guest list for the ball at the beginning of the book would have been helpful for readers to refer back to.

We return to Lily Adler's sleuthing in this fourth outing of the series. Lily ends up housebound with family and friends after a terrible snowstorm hits. It's become rather awkward that Lily seems to find herself involved with yet another murder investigation during this house party. If I were her, I would be worried to associate with anyone for fear of another murder occurring. :D At the same time, Lily has her friends Jack Hartley and Matthew Spencer along for the ride. In previous stories we don't see the two men together but here they provide considerable material for Lily's personal story. Both men provide some support to Lily during her investigation but it's Jack's sister who is most involved this time. I really like the way Lily is supported not just by male characters but also by the female ones. It just shows we can all have potential to be helpful in the right circumstances. Aside from the murder, the presence of Lily's deceased husband's family gives us a bit more background into her story.

As is usual, there are plenty of secrets amongst the guests at the house. Liaisons exist from several of the guests that are meant to be kept secret, some for very good reasons. Fortunately, Lily and company are sensitive and considerate of these people. Secrets aren't revealed for the sake of revelation but only when they are too pertinent to the investigation to ignore.

Overall I give this 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me a free advanced reader copy. I have provided this review voluntarily.

No lo estaré leyendo todavía. Lo leeré mas adelante.

I won't be reading it yet. I will read it later.

The fourth Lily Adler mystery is out, and I was so excited to time-travel back to England in the 19th Century! Murder at Midnight is cleverly written, intent on exposing the dynamics of amateur sleuths, tense family dynamics, social gossip and outlaws. With every successive book, Lily Adler grows on me! Her sharp eye, wit and motivation to get to the bottom of a series of murders shine throughout the book. The author has done a fantastic job introducing diverse characters and touching on relevant social issues. On a personal front, Lily has a significant and life-changing decision to make, and this component is well-integrated throughout the book. Get ready to go down the rabbit hole with an evergrowing suspect list, with twists and turns that deliver an engaging and high-stakes read! The ending tugged my heartstrings, and I look forward to reuniting with Lily and her crew.

Thank you, NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

Murder at Midnight is the fourth installment of the Lily Adler series. Lily is a widow in Regency England, and has begun to earn a reputation in her social circles as being the person you want around if there's been an untimely death. With the help of a fascinating assortment of characters, often including voices that have been missing from historical cozies, she manages to unravel what's happened.

In this episode, the characters find themselves snowbound after a Christmas season ball. Lily's dear friend and co-conspirator, Jack, is back on land, and has enlisted Lily's help to decipher a scandal involving his younger sister, Amelia. Jack and his sister are both mixed race, as their mother is Indian. That adds to the levels of social complexity that need to be worked through to find out what's going on . When the man involved in the situation with Amelia turns up dead, Lily and Jack need to go into overdrive, as Amelia becomes the prime suspect. Lily also needs to navigate her relationship with handsome widower Matthew, and somehow not offend her brother-in-law, who is the somewhat hapless magistrate charged with solving the case.

As usual in a Lily Adler novel, Lily is able to use her privilege to go places others can't. She is also profoundly aware of the places she can't go because of her gender. The novels all bring issues of race, gender, sexuality and class into the equation, and that's something this reader appreciates. Another fun ride with Lily, although I missed Lady Carroway (a recurring character) in this one, as I missed Jack in the third book. I am hoping they are all united in the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the e-arc.

A cozy historical mystery with a diverse cast of characters,. I like the diversity of having an Anglo-Indian family as main characters, although I felt like this somewhat skimmed over. A pleasant read but not particularly memorable. While I'd definitely read another in the series, I'm not compelled to seek them out.

Many thanks to the author Katharine Schellman, the Publishers, and NetGalley for the much-appreciated digital review copy of this novel.
I have been looking forward to the next book with our heroine Lily Alder. She is growing more and I have enjoyed this FMC grow into the detective she is now. in this book. Adding to the Charm for me is a good mystery taking place during christmas in a kind of Locked room type of scenario. Overall this book was well written, enjoyable, and reread-able!

First, my thanks to the author and publisher for early access to this ARC.

This was a fun 1800s cozy mystery with the classic ‘everyone is snowed in together’ setup. Our detective is young widow Lily Adler, aided (and encumbered) by a variety of friends and family. I enjoyed the time period and the recognition of both the freedom and limitations Lily’s status as a widow affords her. This is the fourth book in the series, which I was not aware of when I requested it, but it was not at all difficult to follow and can be easily read without familiarity of the other books. The reason I didn’t rate it a little more highly was that there were just a few too many things going on for one story. Yes, a good mystery usually has a few twists and turns, but so many people had so many secrets that is was a little over the top for me, Still fun, though, and I have already checked to see that my library has the other books in the series, so I will probably go back and read the rest over time. It makes for a nice, comfortable read.

This is a really enjoyable book reminiscent of Agatha Christie. Set in a stately home with a gathering of high class people attending a ball, celebrations are disrupted when all the guests are snowed in and unable to return home. As if that wasn't enough of a disruption, one of their number is brutally murdered during the night but just who is the perpetrator of the crime and what is their motive. Lily Adler as the amateur sleuth called upon to assist her brother-in-law the magistrate is brilliant and will hopefully appear as the main character in future novels. Highly recommended.

With the festive season in full swing, will murder trump scandal & root out deception?

Suspicions, blackmail, spirling rumours of ruination, disapproving whispers and accusations swirl as a mismatched array of guests are forced to stay over, after heavy snow fall results in a lock in.
In this clever whodunnit, where everyone is riddled in guilt as their secrets, held tightly to their chests, slowly come to light as a murderer walks freely amongst them.
Seemlessly entangling you in a web of hidden motives and agendas as our heroine, the resourceful, resilient and intelligent, widow Lily - a dab hand amateur sleuth and cool observer - is covertly recruited by the floundering local magistrate, her brother-in-law, Sir John, as close friends and neighbours come under scrutiny.
A wealth of past intimacies, history and intrigue brew between the characters here, many of long standing, that you willingly become embroiled in their friendships, affairs and perspectives that you effortlessly get swept along even without the need of further insight into what came before.
Read through the eyes of a newbie to Schellman's work, this fourth book in her A Lily Adler Mystery series, surprisingly enraptured me, adhered me to a host of characters, who I can only assume have appeared numerous times throughout the series, yet nevertheless irrevocably hooked me into their world. Not just leaving a lasting impression but making me eager to hunt out the mysteries that have led to this one, in order to dig deeper and explore the character dynamics... especially between Jack and Lily as with such a rich chemistry that is so intuitive and of long devotion who wouldn't be intrigued and compelled to delve further... to see where it all began.
With a spot of romance... dare I hope hints of a further more profound love brewing beneath the surface of friendship between Lily and our loyal, charismatic, captain, Jack, her fellow partner in crime solving... is delightfully interwoven throughout as suspicions led to engaging suspense. Frayed nerves and encompassing emotions keep you guessing as suspects line up and truths circle ever closer. Until snippets of clues unravel and sort the scandalous from the heinous secrets to reveal the manipulative games at foot and root out the truth behind murder.
With a perceptiveness to human nature that resonants from the characters defined, I couldn't help but enjoy playing amateur sleuth right alongside Lily. A thoroughly enjoyable read that will have me hunting out both its predecessors and the next case with much relish. A great author, fabulous find and absorbing read!

A bit of a locked room mystery where house guests are snowed in for several days and it was a superb read. The Lily Adler series is a favorite and I believe this is the best of the bunch. Lots of great characters who, due to the snowstorm, are mostly all suspects and multiple motives made the sleuthing really interesting. The writing is great in this series and the pacing was absolutely on point in this book. Highly recommend!

Set in 1816 America. A party of friends and neighbours. The setting is a luxurious house of a widow. During the evening it starts snowing and doesn’t stop for days. The roads are blocked so no horses and carriages can get through. The hostess summons her servants to find nightwear, clothes and bedrooms for the guests.
But the next morning, outside buried in the snow, is one of the guests that has been murdered! Luckily there is a magistrate in the house who is quickly summoned to solve the murder. A young girl is locked up on suspicion, but is she really guilty?
A quick interesting read which highlights the lives of the rich at that time, the formalities and yet the shenanigans that go on. A good mystery.

DNF. I have read the other books in this series and it is the same theme each time - the MFC is always underestimated because of her gender and the time period. While I understand this is a real thing (and it still exists today), the repeated reminders in the book become exhausting and unbearable, to the point where I can’t even focus on the plot. As such, I unfortunately had to put this book on the DNF shelf.

A party where the guests are snowed in is a fantastic settings for a book, but Katharine Schellman's takes things to a delightfully angsty level in Murder at Midnight.

The protagonist of the series, Lily Adler, is attending a party with her late husband's mother and brother. Her mother-in-law has invited Lily's sometimes love interest, Matthew Spencer, to join them. In addition, the best friend of Lily's late husband, Jack Hartley, is in attendance with his parents and sister. Jack and Lily have become quite close since her husband's death and investigated mysteries together in two previous books. Throw in a murder, jewelry theft, and blackmail, and things are tense when a snow storm traps everyone for days.

Anyone who jumps into this book without reading the previous three in the series will be entertained. The backstories of the main characters are clear early on. Knowing the events of the last three books, however, makes this a page-turner than can't be put down. There's an added sense of urgency during the investigation because of who is wrongly detained as the presumed murderer. It was also a treat to see Lily interacting with her in-laws and Jack with his family. The resolution of the investigation has the expected action scene and ends with a beautiful moment between Lily and Jack. If this is the end, we can imagine what comes next, but I hope the ending is setting the stage for a fifth book.

series, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, historical-fiction, historical-research, 19th-century, snow-season, murder-investigation, murder, secrets, friends, friendship, gossip, country-house, widow, family-dynamics, family, closed-circle-mystery, extortion, England*****

The best thing about book series (as opposed to TV/film) is that books keep getting better instead of more lame and boring.
The in-laws, the outlaws, and the sleuths. There is no lack of creditable suspects despite that few of the guests had expected to have to stay in the house after the gala. Lots of suspicious characters, honorable characters, plot twists, red herrings, and good solid clues. Stayed up too late because it grabbed me and held on. The publisher's blurb is a great hook, and the book is definitely a keeper!
I requested and received an EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Such a fun read! I highly enjoyed this next book in the series! It is superb for fans of historical mysteries and classic/traditional mysteries! I will be putting this on my book club's list.

Let's start this review of by saying I have never been this invested in a romance. I usually hate romances, tolerate them at best. But this series is doing something to me because Lily almost chose the wrong guy (in my opinion) and I actually had to tell The Husband about how big of a mistake she was about to make (because why would you not choose Captain Jack?). Yeah, who am I?

Anyway... Lily and a bunch of other rich people are at a ball when they get snowed in and have to spend the night. Of course, someone gets murdered, and it is up to Lily to find out who did it... making things worse, all clues point towards her friends so she has to find the real killer before the snow melts and the police can arrive. The mystery is intriguing, the plot very well put together and delightfully lacking filler (apart from the little bit of romance drama), and the setting is absolutely Perfect. Add to that some social commentary, Upstairs/Downstairs drama, both asexual and lesbian representation and a very fun main character... and you have a great cosy murder mystery to spend some time with.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in return for my honest review. This is my first Lily Adler and I had not realized this was part of a series. Thankfully it was well written that it can be read as a standalone.

Lily attended a Christmas ball together with the family of her late husband's, the Adlers. All the guests had to stay back as they were unexpectedly snowed in due to a snowstorm. Lily wakes up the next morning to someone screaming and ran out to check on the commotion to which a dead body has been discovered in the thicken snow. Putting her investigation skill to good use, Lily helped Magistrate John to solve this murder mystery before everyone leaves the vicinity once the snowstorm has cleared.

As the title suggests, this is a murder mystery series that I find it with a blend of Poirot and Marple and a tinge of Murder She Wrote and Sherlock Holmes. Although it is book 4, I was not left wondering nor hanging and I liked that it was referenced nicely without being overwhelmed with too much unnecessary fillers. The only setback for me was the many characters that I find it a little confusing at times. Not sure if it was me only a little slow in grasping the story and switching of characters to and from. With a slow start to building the gist and all, it was moderately exciting to try to figure out the killer. I have sort of guessed it midway LOL! Not forgetting there was another unsuccessful murder plot which thwart the investigation a little. A nice touch, actually.

If you liked lady detective mystery during historical regency era, I would recommend this. Be forewarned that it has a tiny bit LGBT, nothing overly portrayed.

"Dear God, brother, focus. If I can handle such a revelation with equanimity, surely your worldly self can manage?"