London, 1894. Albertine Honeycombe reinvents herself as Countess Von Dagga, a private detective aiding the upper echelons of women in society. As the Countess, she is a married woman, with a conveniently absent husband who doesn’t exist, which allows her far more freedom than being single. When Lord Grendel, from whom she has recovered blackmail letters, is murdered, Albertine is suspect number one—having been the last person to see him.

After seeing so much hype, I jumped in blind! Expecting this to be a historical fiction, it was a delightful surprise to find a comedic cosy mystery instead, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The audiobook performance was perfect - I even chuckled out loud in places.

Albertine was so much fun to watch - her cheekiness and modern thinking often got her in trouble, but that made a humorous and compelling story! Joan was an outstanding side character, one that could overtake Albertine in popularity if she wasn’t careful!

While this was set in 1894, the banters and storytelling felt very trendy and modern. For this reason, it could feel inauthentic to its time period for some people, but I didn’t mind it! I loved the way Albertine and Joan’s friendship was portrayed, and how Spencer inserted himself into the equation.

I hope we’ll get to see a sequel, because I feel that we’re not done with Albertine and Duke of Erleigh just yet!

This was one of my first reads of 2024, and it was absolutely a strong start to the year. While I would say it's primary genre is historical romance, I loved the focus on the fight for women's rights, as well as the mystery. They blend well together and support each other rather than taking away, and it makes for a great reading experience.
I will say, at moments, it can feel somewhat dark but January balances that darkness with lighter comedic moments that makes for a fun read overall!

I enjoyed this mashup of two genres - historical mystery and historical romance. As children, Albertine Honeycombe and her brother dreamed of solving mysteries as a sleuth they named the Mayfair Dagger. When her father and brother both die, her cousin inherits the family estate and plans to marry her off to a neighboring farmer with 15 children. Somehow, this doesn't appeal to her, so she takes off to London with her devoted housekeeper and reinvents herself as the Countess von Dagga, who runs her fictitious husband's detective agency in his absence.
In the meantime, Spencer Sweetman is a Scotland Yard inspector who's unexpected inherited the unwanted title of Duke of Erleigh after the deaths of his father and brother. He'd much prefer to continue his career as a detective, but has agreed that his current case will be his last. The case is investigating a murder where Albertine was the last person to see the victim alive, and rumors that perhaps she's also killed her own (fictional) husband.
Hijinks ensue, with situations bordering on slapstick. Albertine and Spencer are each pretending to be someone they aren't - but this is also a romance, so they're also fighting a growing attraction to each other. There's humor and heart - I just wish they could open a detective agency called Honeycombe & Sweetman. What a fun series that could be.
I did listen to the audiobook and the narration by Elizabeth Knowelden and Dennis Kleinman was excellent on both counts.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

"The Mayfair Dagger" is a thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction novel with a bit of mystery and romance thrown in.

As a woman, when Albertine Honeycombe's father and brother both die, her "care" is then relegated to a cousin who only sees her as an impediment to his newfound fortune. Rather than seeing after her, he arranges her marriage to a neighboring farmer with fifteen children under the condition that the farmer pay him 2 pounds a month for the arrangement.

Rather than abiding by her cousin's wishes, Albertine sets off to seek her own fortune in London, where she and her brother had always planned to go to set up a detective agency. The problem is, being a woman trying to do business in a man's world isn't easy!

So, to make things a bit more tolerable, she gives herself a new identity when she gets to London; one that's intended to circumvent the social niceties by giving her a fictitious husband. But without a man as part of her agency, she finds it's hard to get paid, even when she successfully completes her investigations. So, she hires someone as a front man who she mistakenly believes has responded to her advertisement.

Throughout the story, there is commentary on the treatment of women during that era, but also of men and the role station plays in one's life, and this is interspersed with humor, friendship, loyalty and a bit of chicanery along the way. I found the combination to be thoroughly enjoyable and look forward to reading future stories by this author.

Thank you to Ava January, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

The Mayfair Dagger read more to me like a general novel about a detective vs a true mystery book. There was a mystery, but it felt secondary to Albertine's daily activities and her slow burn attraction that develops. Don't get me wrong, I have no issues with that. I feel like there’s a bit of a blurb misdirection. If a reader goes into this book expecting a straight mystery/detective story, I fear they'd be underwhelmed.

I liked getting to know Albertine and immensely appreciated her no nonsense feminist (for the time) approach to get things done. She is intuitive, creative and endearing. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrators. I thought they brought the time period to life through their performance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ava January, and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook ARC.

3.5⭐, rounding up
I was hoping for more detective story, less romance but unfortunately the case is overshadowed by Albertine and the duke. I did greatly enjoy the friendship between the two women. The grand romantic gesture at the end seemed uncharacteristic and not in keeping with the tone of the novel.
The narration for this book was excellent, both male and female.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

Listening to this after coming off of a Bridgerton High was the exact way to go.
I loved this story. This "witty feminist mystery" was perfectly set in the Victorian 19th century with Albertine Honeycombe as the female Sherlock Holmes, but also a little bit like Amelia Bedelia with how silly things worked out for her at times. She has one of the best friends, Joan, who helps her solve her mysteries, that are also kind of just finding lost items.
Then we meet Spencer, the new Duke/ Scotland Yard agent who is trying to figure out Albertine's angle as she pretends to be a Countess with an absent husband and has secret meetings with women around the ton, and then is accused of murdering Lord Grendel.
The sweetest romance starts to happen and the shoe scene outside the ice cream shop had no business being that good. Whew. It was a very clean romance, nothing "untoward", but seeing their love evolve was very sweet.
The mystery of who killed Lord Grendel is the focus, but also all of the other silly little jobs that she has been taking, mostly for free, are a big focus as well. We really get to know Albertine and her kindness. And I love that everyone agrees that being married to a farmer with 15 children is the worst idea ever.
I loved the wrap up in the end with the trial and how she treated the other girls in the jail house. And I could easily see this turning into a series, that I would gladly read! The pace was great, loved the alternating POV chapters, getting into both of their minds and seeing how hard Spencer fell was so cute, and the audiobook narrators were great! Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for my audio ARC, I loved this!

I had high hopes. I love Victorian era mysteries. But even though the maid had me laughing out loud a few times, the "romance" was too heavy handed and just cringey. Instead of being a serious detective, she takes on silly tasks that she doesn't even get paid for.
The female narrator did great, but the male narrator's voice just didn't really fit for me. He did a great job, just didn't conjure up the character as I imagined him. (I get that is totally just me).

I received an advanced copy of the audiobook from NetGalley.

The Mayfair Dagger is historical mystery set in the heart of London. The story follows the formidable Albertine Honeycomb — a woman who defies 19th century social norms by refusing to marry. Albertine reinvents herself as a Countess, with an absentee (but actually non-existent) husband, which allows her the freedom to start her detective work. But when the Countess becomes the prime suspect in a pair of murders, she'll have to use every ounce of her tenacity and charm to get out of hot water and clear her name.

This was such a fun historical mystery! I really enjoyed the feminist / non conformist protagonist. It's lighthearted, humorous, adventuresome, and witty. The romance subplot is the icing on the cake!

I had a physical and audio copy of this, and while I enjoyed the male narrator, the female narrator is unfortunately not my favorite. I still enjoyed the story overall, but I think I preferred the physical to the audio.

Thank you crooked lane and dreamscape for my gifted copies.

A charming historical romance/mystery about a stubborn and independent young woman who refuses to be forced into marriage following the death of her father. But her efforts to establish a detective agency meet with obstacles at every turn, primarily the reluctance of her aristocratic female clients to actually pay for her services. She decides to hire a man to collect payment for her, and accidently engages a Duke working for Scotland Yard. It's an exceptionally bizarre plot, but fun and entertaining, with likable characters and fast moving pace. The audio narrations by Elizabeth Knowelden & Dennis Kleinman definitely elevate the audio experience, and I've rounded up the story from 3.5 to 4 stars.

Fun historical mystery with excellent narration. Nice combination of mystery and romance, with just enough historical context. High recommended! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Albertine Wants to be her own person and not be someone’s house wife. So she takes her trusty side kick and moves when her father passes away and becomes Albertine Van Dagger. She is trying to make a name for her wife by becoming a detective and solving crimes. Only problem is, is that people of this time do not think women can do a man’s job let alone solve a mystery. On one of Albertine’s missions someone ends up dead and she becomes the prime suspect. The detective investigating her is pulled into her job and he quickly discovers she did not murder the man and is falling for her.

I was expecting a historical mystery, but this was really more of a light romance novel, with a murder to solve, and a vaguely historical setting.
Albertine has a very high opinion of herself, formed entirely by her father's confidence, but not by anything she has accomplished for herself. She sets up as a detective but doesn't manage to secure payment for any of the work she does for high society ladies. Deciding she needs a man to front her business, she hires an undercover Scotland Yard detective, who also happens to be a duke.
There is a great deal of belief to be suspended in this setup, and the escapades that ensue aren't any more believable.

This is a light, casual read with some enjoyable moments.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Albertine Honeycomb has always wanted to be a private detective, so when her cousin inherits her family estate and wants to marry her off, she moves to London under an assumed name of Countess Von Dagga. Along with her sidekick Joan, Bertie tries to establish her detective business. Unfortunately, she is struggling to gain ground and finds herself a suspect in a murder. As Scotland Yard begins to investigate her, the Duke of Erleigh is convinced that she is innocent.

I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, as well as the characters, but I personally found the romance aspect to be a bit awkward. I would read another in the series, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

The narrator did a nice job.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for a free copy of #TheMayfairDagger by Ava January. All opinions are my own.

What a great listen! Excellent narrators, cozy, romance, and murder mystery rolled up into one. I will definitely auto “add to cart” future books by Ava January.

The Mayfair Dagger by Ava January is a fun nineteenth-century murder mystery romance.
After the death of her brother and father Albertine Honeycomb was being pressured to marry the elderly neighbor with fifteen children. Wanting to escape her fate and fulfill her brother's detective dreams she assumes the identity of the Countess Von Dagga. As a Countess with
a fake husband, she can gain access to society and get the jobs she needs to survive...or so she thinks. Turns out no one wants to pay a woman. On a job to retrieve some letters for a patron, she drugs Lord Gredel and finds herself shocked when she learns that he was later murdered that night.
I liked Albertine Honeycomb immensely as a character. She has a big heart and is often trying to help people, who don't appreciate it. Her maid Joan is quirky and funny and the perfect sidekick for all of Albertine's mischief. Their antics have a little bit of a Lucy/Ethel feel at times.
Spencer was a great love interest I think his seriousness balanced out some of Albertine's sillier qualities.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Elizabeth Knoweldone and Dennis Kleinman. They both did a great job bringing the characters to life for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook. This review was given voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a decent historical thriller. This was a fun read.

This was such a fun read! This is the first book I've read by Ava January, and I will be on the lookout for more. This is a lighthearted, charming historical mystery/romance that is funny, witty, well written and easy to follow along. The narration in the audiobook was excellent, and very entertaining. You really cheer for this amateur sleuth lady detective and I look forward to a series, perhaps? The romance was very sweet as well. I'm so thankful to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook.

London 1894

A fun, entertaining historical mystery with an excellent cast of characters! Albertine Honeycomb (how can you not love that name!) sets herself up as a private detective. Inventing a name and a dead husband she navigates the upper society and finds herself a suspect herself in a murder.

With the help of a Duke, she tries to prove her innocence and find the murderer.. Cannot wait for more! I read and listen to audible through NetGallery

Albertine and her brother always dreamed of being a detectives in London just like Sherlock Holmes. Sadly, Albertine’s brother died, er father, the Earle died shortly after leaving no provisions for her and her smarmy cousin has inherited the estate and the title. He wants Bertie to married the widowed farmer who lives on adjacent land and take care of his 15 children. Desperate to escape, Bertie and her dear friend Jane runs with her to London. In an attempt to “fake it til you make it” Albertine sells some jewelry and rents a home in a fashionable part of town, has Jane pose as her maid and starts her PI business. She’s pretty good at fining things and, when a lady of the ton asked her to retrieve some private letters from a Lord’s home because he’s blackmailing her, she accepts the challenge. Posting as the fictitious Countess von Dagger, Albertine attends a costume ball at the Lord’s house, drugs him and retrieves the letters. She’s stunned to learn that he’s dead. She’s fairly sure that her sleeping potion didn’t kill him so she needs to find out who did. Because the Victorian world doesn’t give much freedom to women, Albertine hires a man to be the “front” of her detective agency to collect her fees (which she hasn’t been able to do) and pose as the imaginary Count von Dagger when needed. She ends up mistakingly hiring the Chief of Detectives from Scotland Yard who’s recently become a Duke as her male helper. Craziness ensues and maybe love blooms.