This is such an enjoyable mystery series, set in 1885 England. Violet is still taking over for her Aunt Adelia, answering Dear Hermione letters, when one comes in describing a daughter taken in by the Master and the Children of Aed, a cult. When Violet realizes she knows who the girl is, she pretends to want to join to figure out what is going on. At home, her sister Sephora, never one to be left out of the action, begins her own investigation with their housekeeper, Bunty. The characters are great, the mystery well done. I recommend this series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

After the thrill of solving a murder, sensible Violet Manville is finding life a bit mundane. When ‘Miss Hermione’ receives a letter from a heartbroken mother concerned about her daughter's involvement in a cult, she leaps into action to bring the girl back home. Things become critical when it is discovered that not only is the run away her sister’s dearest friend, but the cult may be hiding a murderer. Can Violet discover the truth with help from her flighty sister and their housekeeper Bunty?

I listened to the audio version of the first book and I was interested to see what happens next! I will admit I was a bit alarmed when this book began with Sephora’s point of view. I wasn’t fond of her in the first book and, although she has character growth in this book, I still don’t like her. Violet was still delightful and I enjoyed following her investigation.

The plot moved at a good pace. While the narrative stays with Violet, there are scenes with Sephora doing her part of the investigation. I guessed the culprit early on, but it was interesting to learn the ‘why’ behind the crime.

I would recommend this to readers looking for a cozy historical mystery series.

Being thrown back into the Victorian era and the way they speak took only seconds to make me feel transported as I joined “Miss Hermione’s” world once more. I really enjoy Violet’s pov and all the adventures she embarks upon but I found this one to be a bit more cluttered with information than the previous. The pov from her younger sister Sephora didn’t get interesting until about 70% but I do love Violet and how her brain works. I’ll definitely be reading the next to see what happens!
3.5⭐️

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Historical Mystery set in 1885 England in which a woman, who writes a popular Agony Aunt column, and her younger half-sister turn sleuth to save a friend involved in a deadly cult.

5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Hastings' Dear Miss Hermione series, which is a Historical Mystery set in 1885 England and features a woman, who writes a popular Agony Aunt column, and her heiress younger half-sister. Hastings' has written incredibly complex but likable characters. Violet's the main protagonist but Hastings does include the occasional POV of her half-sister, Sephora. The two are opposites, Violet's hard working, no-nonsense and more classically educated while Sephora's interests lay with society, gossip and popular novels, but these differences compliment each other and help them in their eventual sleuthing. And once mustn't forget their ever-trusty housekeeper Bunty, who provides insights into the working classes. I also like seeing the development of Violet's relationship with the mysteriously dashing American Eli. And it's interesting seeing Sephora and James, a Constable, work together and get to know each other better. Additionally, I enjoyed how Hastings features penny dreadfuls, the cult and their effects on society. Plus the Autumnal setting of the book leans into the Gothic atmosphere. Also I have to say the Agony Aunt letters and Violet's replies are a delight. With plenty of twists and turns, Hastings has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Sensitive topics are touched on, take care and CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Of Manners and Murder.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Violet Manville receives a Miss Hermione letter from a mother concerned about her daughter who
has become involved with a cult. When Violet begins her investigation, she discovers the daughter in
question is a close friend of her sister Sephora. Violet follow the girl to the home base of the cult,
hoping to convince the daughter Margaret to return home. When Margaret is accused of killing one of
the other members, Violet is now set on uncovering the real killer.
#OfHoaxesandHomicides #NetGalley

This story is the second in the Dear Hermione mysteries. It is set in England in 1885 and stars two very different sisters. Violet is the practical, scholarly one and Sephora is the young, flighty and romantic one. As the story begins, both young ladies are bored with their lives after the excitement of solving a murder in the first book.

When Violet, who has taken over the role of agony aunt from her aunt, receives a letter from a despairing mother whose daughter has joined a cult, she is determined to investigate and bring the young lady home to her parents.

Then Violet discovers that the missing young lady is Sephora's best friend Margaret who had entangled herself with the Children of Aed. Penny dreadfuls written about the cult speak of human sacrifices and other atrocities. Violet is determined to go to the cult to find Margaret and is equally determined to leave her flighty younger half-sister behind safe in London. But Sephora isn't content to stay out of the investigation and ends up trailing Bunty to all sorts of dodgy places and inserting herself in the investigation.

While Violet is dealing with being drugged and seeing a man die of poisoning and seeing Margaret "confess" to the crime, Sephora and Bunty are trying to learn more about the murder victim in London where he is something of a man of mystery.

This was an engaging story with great characters. I like that Violet learns to see her sister Sephora better and begins to treat her as an equal instead of a burden. I also liked that Sephora showed that she was more than a propriety obsesses, fashion obsessed young person.

Of Hoaxes and Homicide is the first book I've read in this series, and I had no trouble following along. I thought this was a fun historical mystery, I was a bit worried when I first started it as the first POV we read from is Sephora, and while I liked her as a character and Violet's sister I could tell from that first meeting I wouldn't like an entire book from her perspective. I enjoyed the story from Violet's POV and her budding romance with a man she met in the first book.
The introduction to a cult, and a young woman Violet and her sister know has been taken by them was really interesting and Violet's digging into the cult and finding a killer kept me entertained. I loved how she went about solving the case and how Sephora and Bunty( the housekeeper) helped along the way. )
This book had a great atmosphere, and I really enjoyed trying to solve the case. I didn't figure out who the killer was until the end.
I would be interested in continuing on in this series.

Sisters Violet and Sephora go to hear a cult leader speak and then get caught up with helping certain young women who have been brainwashed and joined the cult. Violet visits the cult and tries to talk sense into one of the young women.

An absolutely wonderful addition to this series! I can't wait for the next one! The characters are so engaging and the setting is perfect. A must read for historical fiction fans!

"The second in the delightful Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings - when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, fielding questions from both irate housekeepers and heartbroken mothers is par for the course...

"Dear Miss Hermione - what is a mother to do?"

Sensible Violet Manville and her very ladylike half-sister Sephora are absolutely bored, thank you very much. Though neither of them would ever admit it aloud, they're missing the thrill of playing detective.

So when Violet receives a letter from "A Heartbroken Mother" sent to her alter-ego, the Agony Aunt known to the world only as Miss Hermione, her pulse can't help but quicken. The daughter in question has gotten caught up in a cult: the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. Rumors of human sacrifices, mystical doings, and a ghost in the ruined Alburn Abbey where the Children pray have gripped the public consciousness, helped along by a series of novels about the group, written by the mysterious Count Orlando, and clearly this girl has fallen prey.

Miss Hermione's investigation soon collides with very real life when Violet discovers a surprising connection to the cult. With the dashing-but-frustrating Eli Marsh turning up and a member of the Children poisoned, Violet and Sephora - along with their ever-trusty housekeeper Bunty - may have more intrigue than they can manage."

A very Gothic cult? YAS!

3.75 stars

Second in series featuring Violet, who secretly writes an advice column in this historical mystery. When she gets a letter from her sister's best friend's mother, she feels compelled to act on it. The girl, Margaret, has join a cultish group centered around the Master and the Children of Aed. Violet finagles her way in only to stumble on a dead body. And Margaret is the chief suspect and is soon cooling her heels in jail. Violet begins investigating to clear her name.

Violet is a very level-headed woman, in contrast to her sister Sephora who tends more to the melodramatic and a bit of histrionics. But Sephora proves herself also to be ingenious and clever. They are both embroiled before the end, as well as Violet's possible love interest Eli and their household friend/manager Bunty. Light-hearted, fast-paced fun. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Violet and her half sister receive a letter to their alter ego Miss Hermione from a mother who is worried about her daughter involvement in rumoured human sacrifices. The sisters become intrigued as they will seek the truth behind the rumours before it ruins the daughter’s reputation completely.

is this a case of malicious gossip or is their truth behind the scene? You will just have to read the story to find out.

I’m really enjoying this series I was really caught up in the first book and this one drew me in and kept me turning the pages.Anastasia Hastings is a wonderful writer and I’m looking forward to more in the series.#netgalley #minatourbooks

When Violet Manville, the woman behind the Dear Hermione advice column, gets a letter from a distressed mother whose daughter has run away to join the Children of Aed, she can’t help but get involved. Rumors about the Children abound, from orgies to sacrifices, fueled by a series of popular books penned by Count Orlando. Violet decides to make the journey to the group’s compound, pretending to be interested in joining. She finds the missing girl is Margaret, a friend of her sister Sephora. When death visits the Children of Aed, Margaret is accused of the crime and Violet must solve the mystery to clear Margaret’s name and return her to her family.

This book is built on an interesting premise. First is the way the series uses Violet’s “agony aunt” column to pull her into mysteries. Second, we have a mysterious cult-like group tempting away members of the aristocracy into a very different lifestyle. However, this book didn’t quite deliver and isn’t as strong as the first in the series. I enjoyed visiting again with Violet, her sister Sephora, and their stalwart maid Bunty, but the book was a bit slow and not as tightly plotted as it could have been.

I think Hastings has created a series with a solid foundation and hope to see more in the series. Readers of cozy historical mysteries will feel very comfortable diving into this series and while this was just an average read for me, many readers will find it enjoyable.

Dear Miss Hermione—what is a mother to do?"

Of Hoaxes and Homicide
by Anastasia Hastings
Pub Date: 30 Jan 2024

Sensible Violet Manville and her very ladylike half-sister Sephora are absolutely bored, thank you very much. Though neither of them would ever admit it aloud, they're missing the thrill of playing detective.

So when Violet receives a letter from "A Heartbroken Mother" sent to her alter-ego, the Agony Aunt known to the world only as Miss Hermione, her pulse can't help but quicken. The daughter in question has gotten caught up in a cult: the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. Rumors of human sacrifices, mystical doings, and a ghost in the ruined Alburn Abbey where the Children pray have gripped the public consciousness, helped along by a series of novels about the group, written by the mysterious Count Orlando, and clearly this girl has fallen prey.

Miss Hermione’s investigation soon collides with very real life when Violet discovers a surprising connection to the cult. With the dashing-but-frustrating Eli Marsh turning up and a member of the Children poisoned, Violet and Sephora—along with their ever-trusty housekeeper Bunty—may have more intrigue than they can manage.

What a fun historical cozy mystery set in 1885 London and in the English countryside. This second in series book continues the adventurous sleuthing of our plucky "Miss Hermione".

Half-sisters, Violet Manville and younger Sephora, having been orphaned, have settled into their paternal Aunt Adelia's home. They are in their early twenties. Violet lives modestly as she has no dowry. Whereas, Sephora thinks nothing of acquiring frilly frocks as she stands to inherit a sizable sum through her own mother, Mr. Manville's second wife. The difference in character, sensibilities and understanding of the value of money between the two sisters is tremendously vast. Violet is bright, logical and painfully frank. Sephora is flighty, careless and tends toward grand drama. Having continued with Aunt Adelia's "Miss Hermione" advice column during her aunt's extended continental stay, Violet receives a missive from a frantic mother of a young impressionable girl. It appears that the girl has been wooed into a cult and she refuses to leave. Violet goes under cover to try and set the resistant girl free. The girl refuses as she is to be handfasted to a man of the group's leader's choosing. That is until the intended gentleman winds up dead and the young girl is accused of his murder. Suddenly Violet's agenda turns from bringing the girl home to saving her from the noose. But can Violet accomplish this in the nick of time.

Author Anastasia Hasting (nom de plume of Connie Laux), is a fine writer and storyteller. In this story she has spun an intricate and at times, amusing tale highlighting the social mores of the day; how women were perceived and the risks one takes when lured into a secret cult. There are a number of red herrings and a passel of potential perpetrators. Plucky Violet will not stand down. She has a job to do and is committed to doing it well and thoroughly. If you enjoy historically set cozy mysteries, then I commend this story to you.

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: January 30, 2024
No. of Pages: 304
ISBN No.: 978-1250848581

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed how the main character explored the Master and his commune. I enjoyed how her sister showed growth and development in the book. Overall a good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review of Anastasia Hastings latest work.

Anastasia Hastings second foray into the world of agony aunt Dear Miss Hermione. The overall premise is intriguing however the character development and immaturity of major characters distracts from the overall plot development. The book continuously mentions information from the introductory novel leaving me feeling that I had missed essential plot information by not reading it first. The historical references and portrayal of societal norms of the time felt contrived making it difficult to fully immerse myself into the historical storyline. I found myself wondering how a government employee of the time could afford to travel with a family around India.

What a mystery! It was slow to start for me because it opened from sixteen year old Sephora’s POV, and she is so silly and annoying. Fortunately, she began to find her voice throughout the book. Older sister Violet, however, is a rockstar. After the first few chapters, the story took off and was thrilling to the very end.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Of Hoaxes and Homicide by Anastasia Hastings is the second in the Dear Miss Hermione series. When Violet and her half-sister Sephora receive a letter for her Agony Aunt alter ego, they find themselves embroiled in a cult while looking for a missing girl. Another murder connected with the cult sends them into a dangerous hunt for the girl. A fun read and fun characters.