Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

It's the winter of 1906 and Lady Emily is at a house party hosted by a friend-of-a-friend in the Bavarian alps with her husband Colin. But no sooner have the festivities begun than someone is trying to kill one of the guests, Kaspar (the hostess' son-in-law). When a storm hits and tragedy ensues, it's up to Emily and Colin to yet again unmask a murderer and save the day. But how is their story intertwined with that of Niels, a companion for the King Ludwig in 1868, and what does it all have to do with King Ludwig's fairy tale castle?

I was honestly disappointed in this latest installment. I've been a fan of the series from the beginning, but it seemed like Alexander "dialed" this one in. While the descriptions of real art and artists and locations had me scrambling to look everything and everyone up on the internet, the plot seemed formulaic. I also felt that Emily and Colin were more high-handed than usual and without the usual justification for being so. I missed their children who were growing up to be so interesting too ;) In the end both timelines were tragic--stories that were doomed from the beginning, in the strong tradition of operas, Wagnerian and otherwise. I plan on sticking around to see what happens in the next Lady Emily book in the hopes that I'll once again be hooked by the story and the mystery, as I have been so many times before by Alexander's writing.

After a string of suspicious “accidents” at a secluded Bavarian villa, Lady Emily uncovers a web of secrets and hidden passions dating back to the reign of Ludwig II. With the guests entangled in fear and suspicion, Emily must stop the killer before another tragedy strikes.

This is an atmospheric novel with a varied cast of unique characters. The mystery kept me guessing to the end. The audiobook narration was well-done, though I struggled to understand the German accents. I ended up reading the ebook instead.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The story takes place in a dual timeline - 1906 at a house party attended by Lady Emily and her husband Colin, and 1868- King Ludwig and Niels. I'm a real fan of house parties. You put a bunch of people together and adding inclement weather so that no one can get in or out, and then a murder happens. It really increases the spookiness and sense of dread because you know someone within the house is guilty. Lady Emily is very capable and intelligent. It's also refreshing to see that she and Colin have a great relationship too. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Historical Mystery set in 1906 Bavaria which finds an English noblewoman with her husband's help must as they sift through events from 1868 and how they link to current day "mishaps" that have turn deadly.

5/5 stars: This is the eighteenth entry in Alexander's Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries series which is a Historical Mystery set in 1906 Bavaria featuring an English noblewoman and her secret agent husband who are wintering at an opulent estate with views of Mad King Ludwig's fairy tale castle with an eclectic collection of guests one among them, it begins to appear, someone wants dead. After a string of "accidents", she turns sleuth to uncover the culprit but the killer strikes true and it's up to her to sift through old secrets, some stretching far into the past, to unmask the murderer. Alternately in 1868, we follow a young German lord who's captured the attention of a not-yet-mad King Ludwig, soon their friendship deepens into more and will lead to unexpected consequences. With plenty of twists and turns, Alexander has masterfully 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. I always marvel at Alexander's ability to write two mysteries taking place in different timelines and marge them so effortlessly. Additionally, Alexander's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's a joy to catch up with Lady Emily, her husband Colin and their eccentric French friend Cecile. As always Alexander's secondary cast members are well crafted and uniquely voiced. Alexander touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and the 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, And Only to Deceive.

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

3.5 stars

Death by Misadventure the 18th instalment in the A Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander. This is the fourth book I have read by Tasha Alexander and won’t be my last. Lady Emily must solve a string of high stakes “accidents” while trapped in a lavish villa in the Bavarian Alps.

I found it to be a quick easy read and finished in two days, I enjoyed the dual narratives telling us the story of Niels, a young German lord and a young King Ludwig in 1866 to lady Emily in 1906 in the Bavarian alps during a winters storm.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Lady Emily and Colin.

I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Minotaur Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. I have read all of the Lady Emily books.
Tasha Alexander's "Death by Misadventure" is a compelling entry in the historical mystery genre, offering readers an engaging blend of intrigue, well-drawn characters, and a richly detailed setting. Set in the late 19th century, the novel continues the adventures of Lady Emily Ashton, a sharp-witted protagonist with a keen eye for solving complex puzzles.

Alexander excels at creating a vivid historical backdrop, immersing readers in the opulence and social dynamics of the Victorian era. Her attention to detail helps bring the setting to life, from the grand estate's elaborate interiors to the nuances of the period's social etiquette. This historical context enriches the mystery, adding layers of complexity to the plot.

The characters are well-developed, with Lady Emily standing out as a particularly engaging protagonist. Her intelligence, resourcefulness, and empathy make her a refreshing and relatable figure in the realm of historical mysteries. The supporting cast, including Colin and the various guests at the estate, are also well-crafted, each adding depth to the narrative and contributing to the story's twists and turns.

The mystery itself is skillfully plotted, with Alexander weaving clues and red herrings throughout the narrative. The pacing is steady, with enough suspense and intrigue to keep readers guessing until the final reveal. The resolution is satisfying and ties together the various threads of the story in a clever and unexpected way.

Overall, "Death by Misadventure" is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of historical mysteries and those who enjoy strong, intelligent protagonists. Tasha Alexander has crafted a novel that is both entertaining and thoughtful, offering a glimpse into a bygone era while delivering a thoroughly engaging mystery.

Thank you to @netgalley and @StMartinsPress @MinotaurBooks for this ARC. 1868: Ludwig II comes across a man singing near the grounds on the site of his new castle dream. He invites this man to join him for lunch. 1906: Lady Emily and friends have gathered at the estate of Baroness Ursula von Duchtel with the view of the famed Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein castle. Mishaps start to happen and it looks like someone is out to kill one of the guests. Can Lady Emily find the killer before they are successful? Also, how does Ludwig II relate to Ursula? If you want to start a new series, this is a good one. #DeathByMisadventure #TashaAlexander #LadyEmily #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #Sept2024

1906: Trapped in a winter storm in the Bavarian Alps with a view of the nearby fairytale castle of Mad King Ludwig, Lady Emily must solve a string of accidents that eventually result in a murder.

1868: Niels, a young German lord, meets Ludwig and their relationship quickly deepens, changing the course of his life forever.

The first chapter introduced several characters very quickly and I found myself struggling to keep everyone straight, especially since the chapters regularly alternated between the two stories/timelines. The murder mystery moved at a good pace, though, so it was easy to stay engaged. With various suspects and theories, I was kept guessing until the very end.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of response from St. Martin's Press for the racist, Islamophobic, and queerphobic comments made by one of their employees I cannot review this title.I tried holding off on sending this "review" to give SMP time to do the right thing in response to this boycott, but I can't have this continuing to hurt my feedback ratio when it's out of my control.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

2.5 stars
Although this is #18 in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. That said, I think if I picked this up without reading the others, I wouldn't read any others. This is my least favorite of the entire series by far. It was boring and had too many characters. I couldn't keep track of who was who and how they were related. I didn't like any of them. I also skipped the Ludwig chapters until close to the end without missing out on anything. I really missed the fun and the banter between Emily and Colin in this one. I hope that returns in #19.

4.5 / 5.0 Stars

This is yet another wonderful adventure in the Lady Emily mystery series. It's 1906 and Lady Emily and SIr Colin Hargreaves are called to a house party at the Villa von Düchtel in Bavaria - the newly built mountain home of Baroness Ursula von Düchtel. They only know one attendee who is a close friend of the Baroness. It does not take long for them to be warmly received among the others. As they all spend lots of time with one another, the hostess' boorish son-in-law appears to be within someone's crosshairs. It all seems like scary pranks until a dead body dampens everyone's spirits.

In alternating chapters, the year is 1868, also set in the same Bavarian region, and features the story of the Fairytale King - King Ludwig II. His is a tragic tale, which to this day, it's not definitively known whether he was murdered or committed suicide.

Author Tasha Alexander writes an exquisite narrative capturing two stories set a mere forty years apart, with a narrow thread connecting them. Both are centered in the pre-alpine splendor of Bavaria, not distant from Schloss Hohenschwangau and Schloss Neuschwanstein. The author has captured well the awesome rugged and desolate mountainous terrain in its white winter raiment. The research into the King Ludwig II story is tremendous and well delivered throughout the story. The touches of French and German phrases, appropriately spoken by the various characters add to the richness of the story's mise en scène. The references to Wagnerian operas left melodic threads as sweet soundtracks for the story' setting. Eventually, the two stories are connected across the short divide and the stories draw to a satisfactory unified conclusion.

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: September 24, 2024
Number of Pages:‎ 304
ISBN:‎ 978-1250872364

This is only the second Lady Emily mystery I have read, and they are always enjoyable. This story had a locked-room mystery vibe. But it also had a secondary plotline that seems to be a theme in the Lady Emily series. I liked that the secondary plotline gave more background into the characters and the rationale behind the murder. But it took a while for me to figure out how it connected at all to the mystery so I was a little annoyed by it for most of the story. Once I realized how it was connected, I enjoyed the story, but I wish I had a reason to connect the stories earlier on in the plot. Overall, a solid mystery, but not the kind of mystery I typically enjoy, so I am not sure if I will pick up another book in the Lady Emily series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I fear Ms. Alexander has lost interest in this series, and sadly, so have I. They used to be tongue-in-cheek, bantering, swashbuckling adventures. The last few have been overburdened with characters and shackled by a dual historical narrative which was fine for a gimmick but is wearying after several books.

This time Colin and Emily are in the vicinity of Mad King Ludwig's castle. That historical narrative is interspersed with their jaunt to see a fabulous art collection with an odd assortment of characters, one of whom, of course, ends up murdered. I hope Ms. Alexander turns her many talents to something new and fresh.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was my first Lady Emily novel and I admit I was expecting just another cozy mystery. I was, however, pleasantly surprised with a dual storyline with historical content about King Ludwig of Neuschwanstein castle in the Bavarian Alps circa 1868 and a whodunit murder taking place in 1906 with a well-developed cast of characters. A series of "accidents" is construed to be an attempted murder and motives are plausibly presented and I changed my guess more than once. There is some foreshadowing as to how the two storylines intersect and I was pleased to see everything wrapped up tidily at the end. I believe I'll go back and read some of Tasha Alexander's previous books as this one was quite unique and enjoyable.

Death by Misadventure is the 18th book in the Lady Emily Mystery. This is a dual storyline book with two very interesting storylines. The first storyline follows Lady Emily as she is invited to visit the mountain house of a friend of a friend in the Bavarian Alps. While there, the annoying husband of the hosts daughter is targeted by a series of mishaps. But, when the daughter is murdered and a snowstorm cutting off access to the nearest town, it is up to Lady Emily and her husband to solve the murder. In the other storyline, a talented young singer, Niels, becomes the close friend (and soon more) of the "Mad" King Ludwig. His time with King Ludwig is magical but Niels has responsibilities at home. There was a point in the book where I wondered how these two storylines were connected. My questions were answered at the end of the book. The author explains everything, in heartbreaking detail.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery! In the early 1900s, Lady Emily and her husband attend a house party in the Bavarian Alps. Their location is close to the castle built by King Ludwig. Chapters often switch between the house party, and earlier times when Ludwig was building his fairy-tale castle. Note: I had never heard of him, and it was interesting searching the internet and learning a bit about Ludwig and his life.

When attempts are made on a party guest's life, Emily investigates. I loved the setting, the isolated atmosphere, and the descriptions of art and passion for the arts. And I really like the main characters. I'd recommend this series.

4.0

I’m glad to have a slightly less traumatizing Lady Emily book. Her adventures themselves are not trauma-inducing, but the historical “flashbacks” are. The last audiobook I listened to (this newest book was the Kindle version for me though), I played those flashback chapters at my fastest speed ever used just so I could breeze through them for my own wellbeing.

Even though the flashback in the previous book didn’t end as tragically as I was expecting based on other books, these are all usually tragic historic events like the eruption in Pompeii, the bonfire of the vanities in Italy, witch trials in Scotland, etc., so I expected devastation. Don’t get me wrong, Ludwig II is also a tragic story and one for which we’ll never have complete answers. I did feel a little closer to the subject having been to Schloss Neuschwanstein years and years and years ago and knew its appearance how incomplete it was left. The unique thing about the King Ludwig story is that it takes place not long before the “present day“ of the story with Lady Emily and there is a tie in to the time of Lady Emily’s mystery. That’s all I’m saying.

The current mystery is how a cad who is married to the daughter of hostess of this house party in Bavaria is being targeted with potential harm potentially and nobody knows by whom or why. Unfortunately, real tragedy comes after several attempts. I don’t know what the summary tells you, but it’s not what you think.

There is a lot of back-and-forth with the investigation and annoying people who don’t know how to behave, but it was also very interesting to hear about early skiing and what life was like both in the early 20th century and the second half of the 19th century like in the stories with Ludwig.

The end is, I don’t know. Though I did give the score right away, I unfortunately didn’t write this review immediately after reading the book, which I find is always a bad idea. Now I question everything when my takeaway at the time was that it was a good book with pretty gripping storyline, even if not one with the three young triplets.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

I enjoy learning about new places, historical events and historical figures through Alexander's writing. Although I had no interest in this book's location, I understood Alexander's lenghty passages about the setting and their relevance to the story about a third way into the book. There are more likeable characters in this series of the installment than there were in the last two books. Even Lady Emily was more likeable than usual (maybe because Cecile is in this book and Colin's daughter is not).

I would have given this 5 stars if not for an implausible element of the plot committed by the murderer. Looking forward to visiting the castle that inspired this novel if I'm ever in the area thanks to Alexander's detailed writing.

Oh a castle. I do like castles. The book has 2 stories. There is the story Emily is sorting out. Then there is the older story of the King and his life with Niels. How are they related? It does take the whole book to get the full story. Why is someone shooting at the guests of the house party? Emily is busy looking for answers. Of course the weather is difficult. It is the mountains after all. The ending is a surprise I didn't see coming. How can the guests go on as if nothing happened?

I’ve loved every Lady Emily book so far, but this one just didn’t pull me in like the others. The dual timeline was distracting to me. While the secondary story that builds context for the contemporary murder mystery is interesting and serves its purpose, the relationship between the two stories is not as significant as the amount of space given to it. I wanted more of Lady Emily, more of Colin, and definitely some time with their children. While new settings are interesting, I’d love to have Emily and Colin embroiled in a home-grown mystery again.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author Tasha Alexander for early access to this entry in a favorite series.