I don’t know what it is about this series, but I always end up devouring these books as soon as I get my grubby little paws on them. And can you blame me? The cast is loveable, the vibes are immaculate, and the experience is always so fun and immersive.

A Scandal in Mayfair takes Lily and the gang back to London for the beginning of the season, and opens with Lily receiving a letter beseeching her to assist a young woman in trouble. Lily, hackles raised, doesn’t agree immediately, but asks the sender to meet her in the park where she can observe the mystery woman before making a decision to help her. Her caution isn’t unwarranted, because Lily soon finds herself face to face with a certain someone from one of the previous books, and subsequently compelled to help untangle a web of family secrets.

This book is by far my favourite entry in the series to date. Schellman’s grown so much as an author since The Body in the Garden and does a wonderful job balancing the fun and the serious aspects of this story. I do wish Lily’s flaws were explored a little more in this series, but I did really enjoy how this book forced the characters to grapple with the knowledge that their sleuthing was putting their reputations and the people they cared about at risk.

I especially enjoyed how the characters were allowed to shine in this book. Lily felt so much more relatable and human in this book than she has in its predecessors - largely due to her having to come to terms with her changing feelings towards Captain Hartley. It was SO nice seeing more of the captain as well - he wasn’t utilized enough in the last book and, I’ve said this before, his cheek and charm is such a great counterbalance to Lily’s seriousness and the books where he features a lot more prominently are the ones that shine the brightest to me.

I love this series dearly, and can't wait to see what new adventures Lily & friends go on.

a good cozy mystery set in 1800s England. Lily is approached by a woman wanting help to get her inheritance from her uncle who is trying steal it from her. A few twists and turns, and must admit it would help if I had read others in the series. Overall though, enjoyed it enough to see to the end and would recommend.