Admission: Marty Wingate just got a buyer for all of her mystery series. I loved listening to the audio version of A Body on the Doorstep. I ate it all up as fast as I could, enjoying its historical setting in 1921 London, the cast of characters from the fading music hall actors, to the wealthy customers of the Useful Women Agency, to the women of that agency, to Flea, a deaf teenager who scrapes along on the waterfront. Mabel Canning has left her small town where everyone thinks she's the perfect match for the widower vicar who had been married to her best friend. She is on a mission to become an independent woman. Her father allowed it (Mabel is 32) because she got a small flat in a building where his old army friend is the porter and looks out for Mabel.

Mabel becomes one of the useful women, washing dogs, sorting out moth ridden furs and escorting a very lively boy to the train to boarding school. She is sent, with very little information, to assist at the wake of an Irish shipping magnate. He was the husband of Rosalind Desparts, former music hall performer.. Rosalind's friends and family are people from the music hall, her husband's employees and her brother Park. During the wake, Mabel hears a knock at the door and answers to a body of a man in a great coat. An observant, smart woman with a large dash of common sense, Mabel gets involved, connecting with people from all walks of life to figure out the dead man's identity and why he died on the doorstep. Wingate can be very witty, creates a fun group of cozy characters, and plans two more books in this series. Love it! Just the right cup of tea on a winters day. And a fun dog character too. The narration is quite nice.

I liked this book, it's a fun little 20's cozy murder mystery. I enjoyed the main characters and main side characters, and it was fun to watch a mostly female led detection instead of over reliance on a male love interest. I'd recommend it to fans of the cozy mystery genre.

I was immediately captivated by the enchanting concept of this story and the charming, cozy London vibes from the early 20s. However, I found the pacing to be slow at times and occasionally had difficulty staying fully immersed in the story. Despite this, I loved the unique story concept.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an advance copy of A Body on the Doorstep by Marty Wingate.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of the audiobook of "A Body on the Doorstep." If you are in the mood for a cozy mystery, but also like the vibes of historical fiction, this would be a great choice for you!

Mabel Canning (a "middle-aged," by her accounts, plucky 32 year old single woman) has just moved to London to become a "modern woman." Her new job at the Useful Women's Agency sends her on many adventures, some mundane (arranging flowers and reading to clients), some humorous (escorting a cheeky young boy prone to running away to the train to take him to boarding skills with only moderate success), but none more intriguing than when she assists her client, Rosalind Despard, at her late husband's wake only for there to be a mysterious dead body found on Rosalind's doorstep. Her involvement with the murder case and the Despard family, including Rosalind's kind but mysterious brother, Park, brings out a whole new side of Mabel as she goes from being simply a "useful woman" to essentially an undercover detective trying to solve this case for her new friend before the body count rises.

I enjoyed Mabel's character, even if the plot points that were used to developed her character seemed a bit far fetched. It will not take a reader who is paying attention long to guess correctly as to the twist or "whodunnit" of the story, but I don't think that is the point of the "cozy mystery" genre anyway. I wasn't super compelled though by the murderer's motive in the end, so that took the wind out of the sails of the books ending for me slightly. However, this book has a really enjoyable cast of ensemble characters (from Mabel's neighbors, to the policemen working the case, to the other clients she works for at the Useful Women's agency) and the audiobook experience was great. I would certainly give the next book in series a read at some point! 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook ARC. After listening, I'm a new Marty Wingate fan. This cozy mystery had all the elements I look for in a mystery--engaging plot turns, a bit of romance, a good level of suspense with periods of relief and recovery, and engaging characters. I'm looking forward to the continuation of this series.

Mabel is a “modern woman” in 1921, single and in her 30s. She has come to London from a small town to make her way in the world She manages to get employment at the Useful Women’s Agency (this was an actual thing!), doing various odd jobs: arranging flowers, taking an 8-year-old to the train to get him to his boarding school; washing a dog; mending a lacey piece of clothing; helping at a wake; etc.

While at the wake for Guy Despard, who had disappeared 7 years earlier (finally able to be declared legally dead), Mabel answers the door and a man falls at her feet, dead, holding a letter from the woman’s husband, dated 7 years earlier. And so the mystery starts! Who was the man and why did he have that 7-year-old letter?

When I read books about the lives of women in earlier times, I’m always struck by how limited their lives could be, due to social conventions. It was basically “unheard of” for a woman to go to a restaurant alone or to a music hall (similar to American vaudeville), for example.

I enjoyed the character of Mabel, as well as many of the side characters, such as the two other young women who live in her building: Cora, an aspiring milliner, and “Skeff”, a journalist (I’m sure that was quite unusual then). Bridget, the feisty maid at the Despard house is another great character. The wife of the missing/dead man, Rosalind, used to sing in music halls and her brother, Park, is a former Scotland Yard detective. Mabel winds up working with Park on the case of the “body at the doorstep” and they made a good pair. Park’s dog, Gladys, provides some welcome fun.

I look forward to reading of Mabel’s further adventures - the next book in the series is A Body at the Seance.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was narrated beautifully by Naomi Frederick, a new-to-me narrator.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

An entertaining read. While the story does start out a little slow, it wasn't long until the mystery and the characters caught my interest and hung on. So much so that I inhaled the book in one day.

Mabel is new to London after leaving her small town home to live out her dream of being an independent woman. She takes a job at the "Useful Women's Agency" in London and is assigned varied and unusual assignments, one of which lands her in the middle of a murder mystery.

I liked Mabel and her boldness. I also enjoyed the supporting cast of characters, especially her neighbors Skeff and Cora who added a bit of humor and friendship to Mabel's life in the big city. I hope to see more of the handsome Winstone in future books, who has the potential to change Mabel's mind about romantic entanglements.

I very much enjoyed this cozy mystery and am looking forward to more of the London Ladies' Murder Club.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a cozy mystery this is for you. I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator, and while it is not a suspenseful mystery, I looked forward to figuring out the answers. Some of the answers I could see coming, but the big reveal totally caught me by surprise.

An enjoyable romp with interesting characters, a fun premise and of course some mysterious murders! It's well paced and lighthearted enough for a gentle weekend read but with enough character growth to draw you in and keep you guessing. Looking forward to the sequel

Engaging and very well-narrated! This was a propulsive story with compelling characters; Mabel especially is strong and savvy and certainly fits the description of the company for which she works, which employs “useful women.” Fun listen!

This was a very enjoyable cozy mystery, especially to listen to in audiobook format. The narrator’s voice is super soothing and the story itself was intriguing without ever getting your heart racing, perfect to listen to when winding down at night. The plot follows Mabel, a young woman who moves to London to fulfill her dream of being an independent woman in the 1920s. she gets a job at the Useful Women Agency, essentially doing odd jobs for ladies of London. In one of those jobs she encounters a dead body and obviously has to become an amateur sleuth as the story progresses. We also get to see other odd jobs that she does around London, as this book is basically introducing the premise of a new series, so although some of those jobs seemed to be off-narrative, I assume we’ll see some more importance to some of those characters later. I definitely would recommend this to anyone who likes a good cozy historical mystery, and I myself plan to continue with the series and see how Mabel grows her sleuthing endeavors, hopefully alongside Park again! Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I really enjoyed this 1920s cozy mystery! I fell in love with Mabel instantly and really enjoyed the Useful Women Agency and the various tasks Mabel was set to, including stumbling on the investigation of a murder. Mabel came into her own throughout the story and I loved seeing that happen. The pup, Gladys, was adorable. Excellently narrated on audio by Naomi Frederick. I cannot wait to continue this series!

An enjoyable, engaging and compelling audiobook featuring Mabel Canning, a professed independent woman in 1920s London, working for the Useful Women’s agency and finding herself confronted by the titular body on the doorstep when helping out at a wake. The book has great characters and sets us up for many more adventures involving Mabel, her neighbours and colleagues at the Useful Women’s Agency, the dashing ex-detective Park Winston and his dog Gladys. This type of story lends itself well to an audiobook as it doesn’t demand too much of the listener but has plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep them engaged.

With thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

A Body on the Doorstep is an intriguing suspense laden cozy mystery. It is reminiscent of a film noir. Mabel is a strong independent 30 something young laden who moves to London to her career. While in the employ of the Needful Ladies ( a temporary agency), she encounters Rosalind ( Aka Rosie) Despard. Rosalind requires a compassion for her husband’s official wake. Her husband Guy Despard disappeared 7 years ago and has officially been declared dead. Mabel is a perfect companion offering empathy and emotional support. Things take an odd turn during the wake, when a corpse is found on the doorstep. The dead man appears to be clutching a letter written by the late Guy Depard. The man’s identity adds to the mystery. Who is he and was he the last to communicate with the missing Guy.
Rosalind possesses a knack for solving mysteries. With a little help from her new found friends, she begins to put the puzzle pieces together. Something is not what it seems. There’s a killer in their midst l.
I absolutely loved this novel and would heartedly recommend it. There are breadcrumbs throughout the tale. The writer weaves a tale that keeps you guessing until the end. With excellent character development, A Body on the Doorstep is quite the enjoyable read.

This book was perfect for audiobook! A cozy, warm, engaging mystery. I loved Mabel as the lead character- an "independent" woman who found herself in the middle of a mystery to solve. The side addition of Winston as a potential love interest had me smiling. Because, yes, Mabel needs to learn she can have both! Looking forward to any other novels that might occur as this definitely seemed like the start of a series!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture Audio for the ARC.

A Body on the Doorstep by Marty Wingate is a fun and cozy murder mystery set in London during the 1920s. Mabel is determined to be an independent woman and the story highlights her journey from a small town woman to one of London’s most useful women. The plot was slow and relatively predictable at times but that is what made the book so charming and delightful. Naomi Frederick did a superb job at narrating the story and truly made the story come to life. I look forward to listening to the next installment of the London Ladies’ Murder Club.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an advanced copy of this wonderful novel.

This one sounded amazing, and I did enjoy it, but it was just a little bit strange...

It takes place in the 1920's. Mabel Canning is a strong, independent woman who wants to work, but in that day and age, women did not work...they stayed home and took care of their husband's and kids. But Mabel does not want marriage.
So, she decides to work at the Useful Women's Agency. This place offers an array of services...they can help out with the home, write letters, arrange flowers, shower dogs...etc, etc.
On her first assignment, helping a grieving widow at her husband's wake, she realizes that the husband did NOT just die. He disappeared 7 years ago, and is now legally dead (due to the passage of time)...so his wife is having the ceremony. As this is happening, everyone gathered hears a big THUMP. Mabel goes to the door to discover a dead man.
No-one knows who it is.
The widow's brother (an ex policeman) is there and decides to help Mable investigate what is going on. Now mind you, she is a woman, and should not be putting her nose into ANY of these matters. So, while investigating, she needs to continue working at the agency, so that she does not draw attention to herself.

But, the deeper she gets in the case, it seems the likelier it is that she will get into trouble or die.

Funny at times. Morbid at times too. But overall, it was a good read!

3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 4.

#ABodyOnTheDoorstep by #MartyWingate (there's another book by the same title, but it's a different author...so be aware!)
Narrated nicely by #NaomiFrederick.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which releases on January 11. Of note: This is book #1 of the series.

For all my upcoming reviews and pre-views follow me on Goodreads, or on my Book IG account #BookReviews_with_emsr or on my new Facebook Book Group: Book Reviews with Elaine

And, as always, Happy Reading!! 📚📖

Naomi Frederick narrates this story wonderfully. I was captivated from the beginning and did not want to stop listening. These kinds of cozy historical mysteries are my favorite. It is not too cheesy or simplistic nor too confusing with numerous characters that are difficult to keep up with.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to listen to this one in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A fun, historical mystery-caper. 32 year old Mabel works at the Useful Women’s Agency, a role where she might be found bathing dogs, restringing pearls or simply providing companionship. All is going well until, as the title suggests, a body turns up on the doorstep and Mabel turns sleuth.

I enjoyed this audiobook and look forward to the next in the series. Narration was fantastic, really bringing the characters and story to life. Thank you to netgalley and
bookouture audio for my review copy.

My thanks to Bookouture Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘A Body on the Doorstep’ by Marty Wingate. The audiobook was narrated by Naomi Frederick.

This is Book 1 in Wingate’s new series of cozy historical mysteries set in 1920s London. The overall title is the London Ladies Murder Club.

In 1921 Mabel Canning arrives in London. She is proud to be a modern, independent woman and has signed up with the Useful Women’s Agency, which provides a variety of services to the ladies of London.

During her first week she is assigned to assist Rosalind Despard, a wealthy former music hall star, organise a wake for her husband, who after seven years has been declared legally dead. Just as they are raising their glasses to toast the memory of Guy Despard, the doorbell rings. There is shock all around when there is the body of a young man on the doorstep. In his pocket is a letter from Guy!

Alongside her duties for the agency Mabel searches for clues with Rosalind’s brother, Park Winstone, and his adorable terrier, Gladys. Park had formerly been with Scotland Yard. No further details to avoid spoilers.

I enjoyed this cosy mystery very much, finding that it had a nice balance between an intriguing whodunnit with a degree of gentle humour. It’s clear that Mabel has quickly been bitten by the amateur sleuth bug and there’s even a tip of the hat in the direction of Agatha Christie.

With respect to the audiobook, Naomi Frederick is an accomplished actor with stage and screen credits. She currently has narrated around 40 audiobook titles. I felt that she did an excellent job. I was pleased to see that she will be continuing to serve as narrator for this series.

Overall, I found ‘A Body on the Doorstep’ a fun cosy mystery that sets up the formation of the London Ladies Murder Club. I certainly plan on continuing with the series as published.