When the housekeeper dies under mysterious circumstances, Stella and Lyndy jump into action despite his mother's displeasure. Still trying to make an impression on her mother-in-law, Stella tries to be cautious about he investigation, but when another person dies, she and Lyndy double their efforts. Another entertaining entry into this series.

An engaging addition to the Stella and Lyndy mystery series.

Stella, our American heiress is spending her first Christmas at Morrington Hall and is meeting with some resistance when trying to infuse her early warm Christmas memories into the celebrations into her new staid English home. Her unfruitful meeting with the manor's cook is interrupted by the housekeeper who appears to want Stella's help with something but is not forthcoming.

There is a lot going on at Morrington Hall. The hall is being updated with steam heating system, guests are arriving and Stella has set up a farm for old, sick and injured horses. There are Christmas decorations to see to and some of the mince pies as well as Stella's belongings appear to be missing.

That night Stella is awakened by one of the maids who informs her the housekeeper is ill. The doctor is called and diagnoses food poisoning. When Stella goes to the kitchen to make the prescribed peppermint tea she finds the cook meeting with a strange man-and one who has blood on his sleeve.

The next morning the housekeeper's body is discovered on the road to the hall and when the local doctor examines the body, they discover she was hit by a car. But what was she doing out on the road when she was so sick and whose car was responsible.

Soon, the cook goes missing, other secrets come out and another person is murdered..

We follow along with Stella and Lyndy as they parse through the clues, the secrets and possible murderers and motives. This was enjoyable. well plotted mystery with red herrings galore.

I received an ARC from the publisher, but the opinion expressed is my own.

1905, amateur-sleuth, class-consciousness, country-house, cozy-mystery, ex-pat, family-drama, family-dynamics, family-history, local-law-enforcement, married-sleuths, murder, murder-investigation, read, relationships, relatives, series, theft, England*****

Stella is from Kentucky and Lyndy is British aristocracy, but their arranged marriage (she has the money) turns out to be a love match anyway. He is learning to be nicer to others and not as hung up on status. BUT. They are stuck at his parents country home for Christmas and the guests are stuffy aristos. Awful enough until the housekeeper becomes ill and then her body is found outside in the lane, and then the cook goes missing! But the newlyweds are (to their own dismay) experienced sleuths and get into the fray. A growing list of suspects, a few amazing twists and alarming red herrings make this an enjoyable cozy. Loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley.

A warm cozy mystery set in England at the turn of the 20th century. Newly married Stella and her titled husband are preparing for their first Christmas together.
Things go swimmingly until one, and then another, murder take place. Who can they trust and can they solve this mystery before another person dies?

The description of the Christmas season is spot on, and the characters delightful.