Enjoyed this one very much, another great cozy suspense from author Alyssa Maxwell. Never disappoints, highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Alyssa Maxwell

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

I love this series and it just keeps getting better

This is the first time I read a book where the servants go on strike and that made for some interesting reading. Emma is great and her relationship with her husband Derrick and best friend Jesse - this murder mystery and theft is sure to please

Please keep this series going.

An intriguing and enjoyable Historical Murder Mystery. At times a bit of a stretch considering the time it is set in but interesting enough to keep me going to the end,

With thanks to Netgalley, KensingtonBooks and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love the era of this series and this mystery had many twists and turns. The story is engrossing and I loved the descriptions of Newport.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was born in Newport Naval Hospital and thought it would be fun to read about Newport's historical mansions. Murder at the Elms did not disappoint. I enjoyed Emma's savvy detective work and puzzle solving skills. Being a part of the Newport elite, yet friendly with the police, allows her to move between both worlds and offer insight that others cannot. I will gladly follow Emma on more adventures in Newport.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Emma and Derrick have returned from their honeymoon and as they adjust to their life together, Emma gets swept into a controversy that pits the two sides of her social standing against each other. The staff of the Elms is provoked into demanding time off or they will strike. Their employer sacks them all except one lone housemaid who refused to join them. New staff are hired and the things seem to settle quickly.

But on the night of a grand social event, the lone holdout is murdered and a very valuable necklace is stolen. Emma and Derrick are asked to sort things out as she has the advantage of being able to move from one social stratus to the other. When a second murder occurs and a gadfly appears at the Elms to incite a riot, the moving parts in this mystery increase in speed and volume. How much are the various events and personalities connected? It becomes clear that the two murdered people were in cahoots but who was the puppet master and what was the reason.

It is no wonder Emma and the police chase after false trails. She does eventually discover the clue that reveals all but will it be too late for her. There is a rather exciting finish where all things are put to right, or as right as they can be. It was a taut and thrilling story set in the Gilded Age where one woman fights to do the things we modern women take for granted.. Four purrs and two paws up.

During the Gilded Age, Emma Cross and her husband Derrick are part of the social set in Newport, Rhode Island and also own the local newspaper. They become involved in detecting when a young maid from a neighboring estate is discovered dead in a coal mine at the same time a very valuable necklace is discovered missing.

I wanted to read this mystery because I have enjoyed several of the books in Alyssa Maxwell's A Lady and Lady's Maid series. I have not (yet!) read the other books in the Gilded Newport series, but Murder at the Elms works well as a stand alone.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I love historical fiction and cozy mysteries, and this book is a perfect blend of both. The Gilded Age setting is perfection! There are so many great period details and descriptions that make this earlier time come alive.

I really like Emma as an amateur detective. She's smart and independent. Her relationship with Derrick, which is more modern than many marriages of this time, was also interesting.

The mystery aspect of Murder at the Elms was well done, with a brisk pace and a storyline that unfolds as Emma sleuths.

I recommend Murder at the Elms for fans of historical fiction, historical mysteries, cozy mysteries - and for anyone who is interested in the Gilded Age. I want to go back and read the rest of this series!

The eleventh Gilded Newport mystery finds Emma Andrews and her new husband Dereck back from their honeymoon to Rhode Island to their newspaper Newport Messenger. Emma is related to the Vanderbilts and Dereck comes from a wealthy family. It is 1901 and a Newport cottage, the Elms, has just opened with the Berwinds as owners who have just fired their entire staff for forming a union. One maid is murdered and the guests at the Elms are proving slightly shady. Whodunit? Emma is on the scent again.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Newport, Rhode Island, 1901 - Coal Baron Edward Berwind's Belleview Avenue estate, The Elms is complete. It is one of the first homes in America dependent on electricity thanks to the coal from Berwind's mines. He can't wait to show it off and invites the elite including newlyweds Emma and Derrick, to an extraordinary affair that includes a wondrous musicale. Emma was able to get a little sneak peek when she was covering a story for her Newport Messenger. All but one of the staff had gone on strike claiming the terrible working conditions at the modern mansion. Berwind didn't put up with their ire. He fired them and they will all be replaced, hopefully before his party.

When Emma and Derrick arrive at the gathering they can see the home is understaffed but the new employees are doing their best. Emma noticed the one employee that failed to strike is nowhere to be found. They learn a bit later that there has been a death. The young chambermaid Emma was looking for has been found in the coal tunnel, dead. Soon, it is learned that a guest's diamond necklace has disappeared and so has another of The Elms laborers.

When Detective Jesse Whyte arrives on the scene he asks Emma and Derrick for help finding out if the young woman was murdered and if her death and the missing necklace are connected and if the missing laborer may be the one responsible for both.

_____

Isn't that cover gorgeous!

Another "cottage" from the Gilded Age, The Elms is modeled after an 18th-century French chateau but features the newest technology of the Gilded Age costing about 1.4 million dollars to build. It is the summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind, whose fortune was made in the coal industry, and the perfect place for the setting of a murder and a theft. The author has done a lot of research and she gives her readers detailed descriptions of the mansion, and the inhabitants and visitors. It is always special to learn some true history while reading these stories and that real people join the fictional characters.

Emma and Derrick have just returned from their honeymoon and are adjusting to working together as man and wife and trying to live at both their homes. Nanny and Katie would prefer them to spend all of their time at Gull Manor but Emma is a little nervous about living there with Derrick. Emma is also learning how her going off on her own to investigate affects her new husband. The biggest adjustment may be that now she is actually part of the 400.  She still has a huge heart and wants to help women in need and neither Derrick or their status will never change that.  Their longtime friend, Detective Jesse Whyte, seems to have established a pecking order with his partner Detective Myers, and makes it known that Emma and Derrick need to help with this current investigation. I love that these core characters all continue to develop realistically. Marriage changes relationships all around and Ms. Maxwell addresses that so well.

The mystery was complex and some twists and turns really were surprising. We are introduced to several new characters in the Berwind's guests and they are all flawed and some are very ruthless. While Emma and Derrick are more modern thinking,  most of them are not. The Berwinds don't appreciate Emma asking questions, going so far as to encourage Derrick to reel her in. And all these guests are suspects and they all seem to be hiding something. Emma and Derrick chase all over following clues. Many times what they find only gives them more questions. When all the clues fall into place Emma is again in danger. I do love her tenaciousness. There truly is never a dull moment when Emma is chasing down a story or when she is trying to catch a killer.

My only disappointment with the story is that Derrick and Emma's wedding and honeymoon took place between books. It is discussed and readers are given some important information about where it was held, who attended and who didn't, where they went on their honeymoon, and who they visited with. Thankfully, no murder mysteries were involved.

Murder at the Elms is a wonderfully entertaining historical mystery with marvelous characters that remain fresh and continue to grow through each new story. I am looking forward to the next book in the series for another trip back in time to Newport. Until next year...

This series by Alyssa Maxwell is my favorite Historical Mysteries set in America, my personal favorite settings take place in England, this series is the equivalent, beautiful homes, elegant parties, beautiful dresses, in England, Lords and Ladies, in America, Robber Barons, throw in a murder, and I am a happy camper. This book is about the Coal Baron Edward Berwind, and his employees, both at the mill and the servants in his mansion. The Elms is one of the first homes to wired with electricity, with coal from his own mines, and Berwind is throwing a Ball to show it off. Andrew being part of the The Four Hundred, is of course invited with his beautiful bride Emma, herself being related to the Vanderbilts, are in attendance for this auspicious occasion, when a murder occurs. Now the fun begins, not for the corpse of course. Now enters one of my favorite characters in this series, Detective Jesse Whyte, who was once enamored of Emma, I believe he still is, but I digress, who out of the angry employees of Berwind committed the murder, or was it a disgruntled employee? The book can be read on its own, or you can become thoroughly familiar with the main protagonists from the beginning of the series, I know that you will enjoy them.
This is an Arc which I appreciate, the opinions expressed are as always my own. Thank you #Netgalley #Kensington
carolintallahassee

In 1901, newlywed Emma Cross Andrews finds herself once again in the position of seeking justice. Coal baron Edward Berwind's luxurious Elms estate is being opened. Immediately, it is plagued by a servant strike. The servants are all fired and new ones hired for a grand party. During the party, a maid is murdered, a guest's diamond necklace vanishes, and a laborer disappears. Detective Jessie Whyte enlists Emma and her husband Derrick's help to unravel the connection between the maid's murder and the missing necklace. As the dark secrets of the mansion threaten to overshadow its grandeur, Emma takes on the task of uncovering the elusive culprit.

I always look forward to seeing where Emma ends up next! She married and went on a honeymoon to Italy between this book and the last book. Now she must learn to balance her work life with being married. Her husband wants her to be more careful in seeking criminals, though he does respect her independence.

I have not heard of the Elms before, so I was intrigued to learn more. The descriptions didn’t give me a vivid description so I had to look up pictures. The other historical details, the time period and clothing, made the story come alive. I was kept guessing as to the culprit for this one, which is always fun.

This series is one I definitely recommend to readers who enjoy historical mysteries and this book is no different.

Returning from her honeymoon, reporter Emma Cross attends a meeting of the servants at The Elms. Protesting the working conditions, all but one maid votes to go on strike if they are not granted a schedule with some time off. Rather than negotiate, Ned Berwind, a coal tycoon, fires his staff with the exception of the one maid. Staff is quickly replaced in time for a musicale hosted by the Berwinds to showcase their new home. As members of society, Emma and her new husband Derrick Andrews, owner of the local newspaper, are invited. The entertainment is cut short when a body is discovered in the coal tunnel. It is the maid who remained. Her death coincides with the theft of a valuable necklace. When Emma first met the maid she was shy and fearful for her future. As Emma interviews her former and present co=workers they paint an entirely different picture. If she stole the necklace, she must have had a partner. When another employee is murdered Emma realizes that the necklace may still be somewhere on the estate and must be found before there are more deaths.

Alyssa Maxwell paints a picture of great estates in Gilded Age Nantucket. Murder at the Elms is also a social commentary of the time. Emma was raised as a poor relation to a wealthy family. Now that she has married into wealth, her former acquaintances no longer relate to her. The treatment of the servants by the Berwinds and their guests is a clear display of society’s levels. Emma is also adjusting to married life. Neither her home nor Derrick’s feels like “their home” and she is struggling to find a solution. Maxwell’s story is filled with wonderful characters, a complex mystery and unexpected twists. It is a delightful addition to this series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this book for my review.

Alyssa Maxwell has brought us back to Newport, Rhode Island in 1901 to explore another one of the gilded age’s success stories. Edward Berwind and his wife were fabulously wealthy and known to be heavy handed with their staff. With dissent comes dismissal and murder and scandal which provides Emma Cross and her husband with a new case to investigate.

Described as an installment in Maxwell’s “cozy historical mystery series” I can’t help thinking there is cozy and then there is well researched, informative, and challenging puzzles to be solved. Nothing is completely clear nor simple which is what makes Maxwell’s mysteries so enjoyable. She doesn’t pander to her readers - she expects them to become informed and involved which is a problem because once started her books are hard to put down. Yeah, I am a fan and I loved this book. I learned more about The Elms and the Berwinds from Alyssa Maxwell than I did from the tour I took of the Mansion years ago.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.

Every book in the series is wonderful and this series just gets better and better. I love the turn this book has taken, with Emma and Derrick doing everything as a couple. I enjoyed the inclusion of how others viewed their relationship and how it affected their social set. The setting, as always, is fantastic, and allows us to visit a new mansion in Newport. The mystery was excellent and definitely had me guessing. I highly recommend this series but start from the beginning so you can see how Emma evolves.

When Emma and Derrick come back from their honeymoon they find out that the servants at The Elms have gone on strike due to issues with the owners. Odd, since this house is one of the first homes in America to have electricity.

Not long after a servant is found murdered and so the mystery begins.
Twists and turns abound in this historical thriller whodunit!

I would highly recommend this book and well as the others in this series.

Murder at the Elms by Alyssa Maxwell is the eleventh in the insanely delicious Gilded Newport Mysteries series. The author is always adept at painting her stories with a magical brush which captures a plethora of historical detail (luxurious homes, fashion, food, jewelry), quirky set of characters, clever plots, slivers of romance and a social look at upstairs/downstairs life. What else could one wish for in a 1901 gilded Newport mystery?

Most of us cannot relate to the privileged The 400 and Vanderbilt connections...but such fun to read about and contemplate what made people tick in this time. This time, Emma and Derrick are married and refreshed from their honeymoon to Italy. They own the Newport Messenger newspaper rub shoulders with the obscenely wealthy. They are at the right place at the right time when murder comes knocking at The Elms in Newport with experience in unnatural deaths and investigative know how, though they have help from Detective Jessie Whyte. A maid is discovered lifeless in a coal tunnel. The out-of-touch uber rich who have staffing issues are at a loss. Strikes protesting work conditions and missing jewelry add to the intrigue. Homes in the neighbourhood are amongst the first to get newfangled electricity. Details such as this add spark and personality.

If you yearn for a charming and whip-smart series to dive into it, this may just be what you need. Besides.
Alyssa Maxwell's writing is evocative and witty.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this fantastic book!

A high society party. A body. Something missing. Secrets. That’s what you find in this story set in the Gilded Age of America when so many advances were pushing the nation forward into a new age and money coated the walls of the homes of a few families. In this story, the reader is taken into the many worlds of Newport, Rhode Island during that time. The main character glides easily between the social structures of society as she has lived in many of them at one time or another while she pushes for her freedoms as a woman. But that doesn’t stop her from solving a mystery.

This is one book in a series, but you don’t have to have read the others to enjoy the story or understand the characters. There are references to previous stories and the characters’ past, but these references are not burdensome in the story as I have found in others that I have read. They are just enough to fill in gaps and help the reader continue enjoying the read.

An enjoyable read, the story had me hooked nearly from the beginning. Maybe it is my love of history that had me pushing further into the lives of these people that I do not know and only a few I have heard of in class or in documentaries. This was a time that was both shameful and amazing, explosive yet lagging, glitzy and bold while being secretive. I thoroughly enjoyed looking into the homes of the rich and powerful as well as the backstreets where all who actually held up society moved about.

Then there was the mystery. Was the woman found dead who we thought she was? Why was she there of all places? What secrets are the people staying in the house are keeping them quiet or causing them to sneak around? Then there is… Well, I can’t say too much more or I’ll ruin the story for you. Let’s just say that there are a lot of things that need discovering with only a few vital to the solution of the murder.

This is a really good read. So much so that I’m going to go back and read the earlier books in the series. Mystery, great characters, and magnificent settings. Can’t ask for much more than that.

11 books in, Alyssa Maxwell’s Newport series remains entertaining.

Because the mysteries themselves in this series are just okay, I really wish more was done descriptively to establish atmosphere and sense of place. After reading these I always find myself feeling mostly satisfied but frustrated at never getting that truly immersive experience that features in the best historical mysteries.

What is there is good when it comes to historical detail, there just isn’t enough of it, especially when the plots are fairly tropey and the characters, though likable enough, are pretty standard for the genre. I wish the books better incorporated setting into the mystery, or at least gave us more descriptive information so that as readers we might imagine our way there.

That said, the series remains very readable, the pacing is good, and the author’s note is always a delight to read.

I really enjoy this series. The MC moves forward in her life in each book. The mystery kept me guessing. I look forward to more in the series.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.