This is a terrific series. I liked the historical setting. I loved finding out about the castle. I even did a quick search about it. I find the characters interesting and I am vested in their lives.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's 1906 and Lady Emily and her husband Colin are in Bavaria but, of course, things don't go so smoothly. First, there's snow, second there's murder. Well, first there are a series of accidents that befall their hostess's obnoxious son-in-law Felix. This is a dual time line novel so know that it flips backward 40 years to tell the story of King Ludwig and Niels, who meet by chance. No spoilers as to how the two plot lines come together but know that they will and that you.like me might find yourself doing a bit of research into Ludwig and, of all people, Wagner. I've been a fan of this series because of the wonderful settings and the relationship between Emily and Colin, This is not my favorite because it felt too trope-y (it's that snowed in castle thing) but it was still good to spend time with them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read that should also be fine as a standalone.

Tasha Alexander’s Death by Misadventure is another thrilling installment in her popular Lady Emily series, a historical mystery series set in the Victorian and Edwardian periods. As with her previous novels, Alexander combines her love of history with a flair for intrigue and suspense, resulting in a satisfying read for fans of historical fiction, especially those who relish strong female protagonists and artfully constructed mysteries.

In Death by Misadventure, Lady Emily Hargreaves once again finds herself embroiled in a mystery that threatens both her personal life and the society she navigates so gracefully. The story begins with the sudden and suspicious death of a local aristocrat, which is quickly dismissed by some as a tragic accident. However, Lady Emily’s keen instincts tell her there is more beneath the surface. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on a journey that takes her from the quiet English countryside to the sophisticated salons of Europe, revealing dark secrets and hidden motives along the way.

Alexander excels at creating immersive historical settings, and this novel is no exception. From the opulence of upper-class Victorian society to the shadowy underworld lurking beneath it, the novel paints a vivid picture of the era’s tensions, both social and political. Her attention to detail brings authenticity to the narrative, whether through the customs and manners of the time or the descriptions of period-specific architecture, fashion, and art.

One of the most compelling aspects of this series is Lady Emily herself. In Death by Misadventure, she continues to evolve as a character. Intelligent, independent, and determined, she refuses to conform to the rigid expectations placed on women of her social standing. This rebellion against societal norms gives her the freedom to pursue her passion for solving crimes—much to the consternation of those around her.

Lady Emily’s wit, resourcefulness, and fierce loyalty to those she cares about make her a heroine to root for. At the same time, Alexander doesn’t shy away from portraying her vulnerabilities, which add depth to her character. Her marriage to Colin Hargreaves, a diplomat and fellow investigator, adds an intriguing dimension to the story, as their relationship is based on mutual respect and intellectual partnership—unusual for the time period, but refreshing for readers.

The mystery at the heart of Death by Misadventure is well-plotted and engaging. Alexander keeps the tension high throughout, with enough red herrings and twists to keep readers guessing until the very end. As Lady Emily delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers a web of deceit and intrigue that goes far beyond what she initially anticipated.

Beyond the mystery, Death by Misadventure also offers insightful commentary on the limitations placed on women in Victorian society.
Alexander also touches on the darker aspects of the Victorian era, including the disparities between the aristocracy and the working class, and the moral ambiguities that often come with power and privilege. These themes add a layer of complexity to the novel, making it not just a mystery but a reflection on the society in which the characters live.

Tasha Alexander’s Death by Misadventure is an enjoyable and cleverly constructed addition to the Lady Emily series. With its strong sense of time and place, well-developed characters, and a plot that keeps readers on their toes, it is a must-read for fans of historical mysteries. Alexander’s blend of suspense, historical accuracy, and social commentary makes the novel stand out in a crowded genre.

This was another fine entry in Tasha Alexander’s turn-of-the-century mystery series featuring Lady Emily and her husband, Colin. They travel to the Bavarian Alps to a party featuring a strange group. The baroness hosting the party has a beloved daughter and a brutish son-in-law who irritates everyone. It seems that someone is out to kill him, but the surprise is when someone else is the murder victim.

This murder mystery is interspersed with the story of Mad King Ludwig and a young man who catches his attention. Alexander likes to alternate her Lady Emily mysteries with parallel stories that took place at that location in a different time period. If you’ve ever seen the famed Neuschwanstein Castle that was the model for Disney’s Cinderella castle, this is the mad Bavarian king whose earlier life is told in this book. It’s a fun look at a very strange historical figure. The book doesn’t go as far as exploring the king’s mysterious death. That would have been an interesting addition.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This was such a fun historical fiction mystery to read. It is an Agatha Christie-like mystery set in the mountains of Bavaria, with King Ludwig’s Neuschweinstien castle practically next door. The twist at the end had me shocked.

Nothing like jumping into a series on book 18. This was good and I got a good handle on the characters that are the stars of the series, so this can totally be read as a stand alone. The mystery was good, kept me guessing. I loved that there was a second story line from the past that tied into the present.

I got nearly as frustrated as Lady Emily and Colin trying to figure out this mystery! Very twisty, plenty of red herrings. Also an intriguing parallel story set in the past, based on King Ludwig the Second. I'm sure our couple were happy to depart Bavaria by the end of this adventure.

Death by Misadventure
Death by Misadventure is the first book I've read in the "A Lady Emily Mystery" series.

Synopsis - In the winter of 1906, Lady Emily and husband Colin are invited to Baroness Ursula Von Duchtel in the Belgian alps. Outside you are able to see the beautiful castle of mad King Ludwig. Inside the villa host a magnificent but eclectic art collection as well as as the other guests. There is a musician, an art dealer and Kaspar the Baroness son-in-law, who it appeared that someone was trying to kill. You will also return forty years earlier to the life of Niels a German lord, who loves to sing and who is friends with King Ludwig.

My thoughts - I found the book to be wonderfully written mystery that has several twist and turns that kept me engaged throughout the book. The descriptions of the mountains with the snow and icicles brought back beautiful image's of when I was there. I loved seeing the development of the character's and how the mystery unfolded. I have always been fascinated by the story of King Ludwig and seeing this part of the story gave me insight to what his life could've been like.

I highly recommend "Death by Misadventure"

Disclaimer - I received this complementary copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

Death by Misadventure is the 18th installment in Tasha Alexander’s series featuring feisty, whip smart Lady Emily. Set primarily in the wintry Bavarian alps this time ‘round, the novel focuses on the efforts of Lady Emily and her hunky, liberated hubby to solve a murder mystery while at a house party, with the villa serving as something of a “locked room.” A second storyline occurs a few decades earlier and features “Mad” King Ludwig and the genesis of his fairy tale castle. As is typical, Alexander’s prose is crisp and intelligent, and she has once again created a strong sense of place and time and expertly woven in many a history lesson. I will say I was disappointed that Lady Emily’s sons and ward had no role in this particular tale, and found that several of the secondary characters were not all that likable or interesting. But kudos to Alexander for the sensitive LGBTQ representation in this story.

Three and a half stars, rounded up.

Recommended to all Lady Emily “regulars” and other fans of intelligent, well researched historical mysteries featuring strong women protagonists. I’ve read every book in this series and look forward to Lady Emily’s latest adventures each year.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I’ll freely admit that I love this series. Of course some of them are even yummier than others, and this latest one might be one of the most delicious. The books follow Lady Emily and her dishy husband, Colin, as they investigate crimes all over the globe, and although Colin has a mysterious secret arrangement with her majesty’s government, it’s often Lady Emily’s intuition and intelligence that solves the case. Another standard element in the books is a dual timeline, with events from the past connecting or relating to events in the present in some form or fashion, with part of the mystery consisting of figuring out how.

In this installment, present day (1906) Lady Emily and Colin are in a lovely home in Bavaria, visiting Ursula, a collector of all kinds of art. Lady Emily is fascinated by the way her hostess can put an impressionist painting next to a Greek vase and somehow make it work. Also present is their mutual friend Cecile; Ursula’s daughter and boorish son in law; a dashing man about town; a young, vapid beauty and Liesel, an art dealer there to present a few paintings to Ursula for possible purchase.

In the past timeline (1866), a certain young Niels, who loves opera and natural beauty, is wandering the wilds of his family home when he encounters the infamous “mad” King Ludwig. The two become fast friends, with Niels eventually going to live with Ludwig. Ludwig is known for building a number of lavish castles, including Neuschwanstein, thought to be the model for Disney’s Cinderella castle (they do look quite similar). He hated official duties and court and spent most of his time worshipping the music of Wagner, who he patronised, and creating his architectural wonders. As presented here, he seems moody and eccentric, certainly, but not actually crazy.

In 1906, Ursula’s house party devolves into something of a disaster. The son in law suffers continual potentially fatal or disabling “mishaps,” ultimately leading to a tragic death. The house is cut off by snowfall and the guests try skiing as an entertainment with varying degrees of success (Lady Emily is not a fan). Because the police cannot get to the castle when the fatality occurs, it’s Emily and Colin who must investigate.
As the book weaves past and present, one of the strengths of this type of narrative becomes apparent. Each storyline is so compelling that it’s a bit wrenching to leave one to return to the other, captivated by each in succession. a skilful narrative feat on the part of Alexander who keeps both strands equally vivid and compelling.

By this time, Emily and Colin may be familiar to readers, but the books remain fresh by varying the settings and the characters who inhabit them. The cast in this one are especially memorable, and I loved the Bavarian setting as well as learning a bit about King Ludwig. I was unfamiliar with him before cracking open the book and I am always a fan of not only armchair travel, but of the kind of armchair history that makes me want to investigate further.. I can only hope this installment is only the midpoint and this series will continue for at least eighteen more!

Another entertaining Lady Emily book. This one features King Ludwig, an actual historical king from Bavaria, set in the late 1800s, and the mystery in 1906 which Lady Emily and Colin are trying to solve.

There are plenty of red herrings surrounding the two storylines and how they intersect, and another great cast of strong female characters. I again enjoyed the relationship between Lady Emily and Colin, and the fact that she is very much his equal, and in many cases his superior in both knowledge and dectecting powers. These are my favourite kinds of books. The ones where women don't take back stage, nor is the man just a prop. I'm also very much enjoying the two historical timelines, and the solid murder mystery.

It’s the winter of 1906 and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, are at a house party in Bavaria near Neuschwanstein Castle. Although they are unfamiliar with the majority of their fellow guests, they quickly discover that not everyone in the party is beloved. What appear to be murder attempts start occurring soon after everyone convenes.

When one of the guests is murdered and everyone is isolated at the villa due to a snowstorm, Emily and Colin begin questioning everyone to determine who committed the crime.

The primary action is set during the house party, but there is a dual timeline aspect to this one. The secondary timeline covers the story of a young German, named Niels, who grows close to King Ludwig, who is famous for his construction of Neuschwanstein Castle (among other things), nearly 40 years before the house party Emily and Colin attend.

I will openly admit that when I requested this one, I did realize that it is part of a series but did not realize that it is book 18 in that series. I feel I probably would have enjoyed this more had I already been a fan of the series.

I appreciated the setting and varied cast of characters as well as how Emily and Colin treat each other as equals.

Although there are various clues and red herrings planted in regards to the murderer’s identity in the narrative, when it comes time for the reveal, there is more telling than showing.

The lead-up to the murder and the investigation themselves drag in this one.

And while I learned more about King Ludwig than I had previously known, I do not feel like the entirety of that plot line is necessary background to the events set in 1906.

All that being said, I could see this book (or this series) being adapted and made popular by PBS.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Minotaur Books . All review opinions are my own.

Death by Misadventure by Tasha Alexander is a fascinating murder mystery. A murder takes place at a house party at the private home of a wealthy art collector in Bavaria in the early 1900’s. Lady Emily and her husband Colin do their usual sleuthing to figure out whodunit. The chapters go back and forth between two time periods as Alexander skillfully weaves the two stories together. The settings are richly detailed and awe inspiring. In the detailed descriptions of the wondrous countryside of the Bavarian Alps, lay a castle built by Ludwig, the Mad King. Its description sounded familiar and a quick Google search led me to learn that the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland came from the castle in this tale. The characters are complex and deep. Alexander is a masterful story teller who weaves together a fascinating tale of family dynamics, history, forbidden love, art and loss. It is exceptionally well written. Be prepared to be sucked into it. I look forward to the next title in the series!

Well, it's another dual-timeline plot, like several previous books in this series. At least this time the secondary storyline is somewhat related to the main one. But this dual timeline structure is getting really tiresome, and it doesn't really add to the Emily/Colin plot. It's more like the author needed to pad out a pretty thin mystery and said, "hey, I'll throw in some research I did on King Ludwig!". The resolution to the main mystery plot felt forced and unimaginative. Overall, it was a rather disappointing novel.

I was excited about this story - then when I reached Chapter 25 I jumped 10 chapters to finish the book. The sad part is I didn’t feel like I missed anything.

There are dual stories that tie at the end like all of her novels.

One being the main story with Lady Emily. The second is King Ludwig of Bavaria. She includes his homosexuality in this story.

It is an interesting story but early in I knew which if the characters would be the murderer. It was a little too formulaic.

Tasha Alexander is a great writer but after 18 books in a series I may not jump at the next novel.

Richly detailed historical mystery thriller.

In the winter of 1906, Lady Emily and her handsome husband Colin are invited to the recently renovated home of Baroness Ursula von Duchtel in the Bavarian alps. Her art collection is amazing. Outside is a panorama of the Alps and a winter wonderland with a view of Mad King Ludwig's fairy tale castle. The eclectic group of guests are enjoying a winter house party except that there are several incidents where Ursula’s son-in-law, Kaspar Allerspach, finds himself hurt or nearly killed. Though there’s no love lost between Ursula and Kaspar, everyone is shocked when a death occurs and it’s not Kaspar. In a dual timeline, the narrative unfolds to reveal hidden desires, tumultuous passions, and unfortunate liaisons that destroyed lives.

I loved this multilayered story with its historical details and complicated plot. The writing is excellent and this series is definitely so well researched and interesting. I like the characters of Lady Emily and Colin, and they always find the most interesting cases on their travels.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Bianca Armato, was absolutely amazing with her voice, accents, and dramatic flair. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book as it was an excellent production.

I look forward to the next book in this fabulous series.

Death by Misadventure is a Lady Emily mystery set in the Bavarian Alps at the turn of the century. Lady Emily and her husband are at a house party. Kaspar, a boorish man is involved in several accidents - was someone trying to kill him? But he is not the one who ends up dead.
The narrative changes from 1906 to 1868 - an interesting twist between the past and present.
Emily and Colin are an engaging couple and I enjoyed this mystery. Look forward to reading the series.

Lady Emily and husband Colin are invited to the home of Baroness Ursula von Duchtel in the Bavarian Alps.
When the Baroness's son-in-law is the target of life threatening attacks, Emily and her husband seek to uncover
who is behind the attacks. The relationships between the guests adds to information gathered.
The chapters alternate with the story of a young German lord Neil's friendship with King Ludwig forty years
ago. As the story continues, the past's impact on current events is revealed.
#DeathbyMisadventure #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

The blend of historical depth with a richly detailed setting and a complex cast of characters makes this installment a standout. The twists and turns, combined with Emily’s sharp wit and determination, create a compelling read that keeps you guessing until the very end. This book is a masterclass in historical suspense, with layers of intrigue and emotion that make it utterly captivating.

The eighteenth Lady Emily mystery finds Lady Emily and her husband at a house party in the Bavarian Alps. Baroness Ursula von Duchtel has built a lovely modern home and filled it with her eclectic collection of art. The house party is also eclectic since it includes her daughter and boorish son-in-law Kaspar, Kaspar's best friend and his love interest, a love interest of the daughter, and an art dealer from Munich hoping to make a sale among others.

When a series of accidents targeting Kaspar occurs, Lady Emily and Colin investigate. But when tragedy finally strikes, it is the Baroness's daughter who is the victim. She was on a solitary sleigh ride with her husband when she was shot in the head.

Bad weather keeps the police from arriving to investigate but also allows Lady Emily and Colin time to find the villain.

Meanwhile, there is another story woven into the main one. In 1868 a young man named Niels meets King Ludwig and the two begin a relationship much to the dismay of his father. Niels' father drags him back home and forces his marriage to a young woman who is no more eager for the marriage than Neils is. The couple are each determined to lead their own lives which isn't possible until the father's death.

It only gradually becomes apparent how the two interwoven stories are connected and how events from the past impact the current murder.

This was another entertaining episode in the Lady Emily series. I like the historical detail.