This is a particularly exciting story in the Emma Cross Newport series! Emma, Derrick, and Jesse try to discover who is poisoning ladies of the 400 and why. Emma doesn't want any of her acquaintances to be suspects but finds herself trying to prove or disprove their involvement. This impacts her physical and emotional wellbeing as Derrick tries to get her less involved. The push-pull of marriage and her friends' safety drains her energy but not her investigation.

I have been really enjoying this historical cozy mystery series and this installment was no exception. I have binged the entire series in the past few months. I liked revisiting this world and the characters.

I can’t believe this is book number 12. This mystery was as twisty and exciting as the first. While it’s not necessary to have read the previous books first, long time readers will be thrilled with the developments.

In August 1901, Emma attends a fundraiser at Vinland, where Edith Roosevelt, wife of Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, is the guest of honor. What begins as a seemingly harmless event takes a dark turn when one of the guests falls mysteriously ill, leading Emma and police detective Jesse Whyte to uncover a poisoned box of pastries. As more ladies are affected, Emma and Jesse must unravel the mystery to protect the luncheon attendees from further harm.

It was a delight to return to the gilded age to see what Emma is going to come up against next. I will admit it was a bit tiring how much she chafed under the concern of her husband, but also how much Derick tried to stop her from doing what she had always done. Still, I like seeing their story progress.

The mystery was interesting. It begins as a poisoning, though no one knows what the poison is. Things get serious as more women are affected and the first victim dies, raising the tension and the stakes. The main setting is Vinland, another house I’d never heard of, but the pictures online are gorgeous.

Overall, this was an excellent addition to the series. Fans of the series and readers who enjoy historical mysteries will enjoy this one.

This is book 12 in the series and another wonderful read. The characters were again well written with a mystery that had you guessing until the end. I thought I had worked out the murderer but I was wrong. I loved the twist and the clues that I didn’t really pick up on. The mystery is very well written and thought out to solve the murders. Because the setting is authentic there is a lot of description which for me I find a little too much so I tend to skip a lot of it. But in saying that I will be looking forward to the next in the series because I enjoy the characters, murders and the way they are solved. I received this as an ARC and freely give my review.

I have not read any of the books in the series by Alyssa Maxwell and now I ask myself...why not? An interesting premise and sticks pretty true to the Gilded Age history that I'm familiar with. House parties by the more well to do families, with causes taken on by those same women, whether to ease their minds about their own station in life or to really help...I think it depended on the person. Who was 'in', who was 'out' and how that affected the women and their self-worth. I loved the ornithological and botanical references.

Weaving historical fact with fiction, this book was entertaining and enlightening. The mystery was well done, although easily followed. This is book 12 in the Gilded Newport Mysteries, but absolutely can be read as a standalone. I'll have to look into reading more in this series. An entertaining quick read for people enjoying The Gilded Age.

Another great mystery from Alyssa Maxwell. I always enjoy the blend of historical characters and early 1900s Newport with the fictional murder. Having read the entire series, I love that Emma is married and still working at the newspaper with the full support of her husband. As always, I adore the family that Emma has created for herself with Nanny and Katie at Gull Manor and the way she can move between worlds. There were many suspects throughout the book and many potential motives but little dropped hints and suggestions of both the murderer and other family issues. Before the end, I had mostly figured out the murder but not the motive which allowed me to still be surprised. I’m looking forward to how Emma confronts the upcoming changes in their lives in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

"Reporter and sleuth Emma Cross Andrews must stop a bold poisoner who is targeting the society wives of the Four Hundred in Gilded Age Newport, Rhode Island...

August 1901: A fundraiser for a new Rhode Island Audubon Society brings Emma to Vinland, the Viking-themed seaside home of her relative, Florence Vanderbilt Twombly, where the guest of honor is Edith Roosevelt, wife of Vice President Theodore Roosevelt. Listening to the speakers and observing the ladies in attendance, Emma is struck by the contrast of the Viking warrior-inspired elements in the house and the admirable but admittedly genteel cause of bird protection. Vinland bears the name of the Vikings' first landfall in North America, but in this room today there is most assuredly no one to fear.

Emma's observation of harmless philanthropy is proven wrong the following morning when one of Mrs. Twombly's houseguests from the luncheon becomes mysteriously and dangerously ill. Accompanying police detective Jesse Whyte, Emma discovers a box of petit fours supposedly sent by Mrs. Roosevelt. They promptly rule out the Second Lady as a suspect, but someone has poisoned the cakes.

Soon another box of desserts as well as letters tainted with ink containing caustic toxins show up at other grand Newport cottages. Are the ladies from the luncheon being targeted? Emma and Jesse must sort through possible motives and means because now more than the birds need protection..."

Getting the Hallmark movie wasn't enough this year. Yeah for a new volume!

Murder at Vinland is a welcome addition to Alyssa Maxwell’s “Gilded Newport” series. Emma Cross Andrews remains a fiery, independent journalist, despite the fact that she is now a married woman in 1901 Newport. Once again, her connections to the Four Hundred allow her to get close to members of society, after a woman is poisoned after a luncheon at Vinland, and Emma assists the police in their investigation. Aspects of Emma’s personal life—the attempt to purchase neighboring property, the activities of her houseguests, and her relationships with distant Vanderbilt relatives—add color and may or may not have bearing on the nefarious things afoot in Newport. This is a wonderful series for fans of historical fiction and mysteries and I’m happy to have had the opportunity to read an ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emma is now married to Derrick. She goes to a luncheon party at Vinland about the Audubon Society. The owner of Vinland is Emma's relative Mrs. Florence Vanderbilt Twombly, and the party also highlights the presence of Edith Roosevelt, wife of Vice President Theodore Roosevelt and Jennie, who has come from Florida to establish the RI Audubon Society. The next day, Mrs. Robinson, a guest at the party and houseguest at Vinlands becomes very ill. Emma finds a box of pettit fours in the room with a note saying it's compliments of Mrs. Roosevelt. When another woman receives a tainted gift, Emma and Jesse, the police man she has helped before need to find who is poisoning the elite in New Port.

Things become very complicated for Emma and Jesse. There are several different possible culprits. First was the engagement that was ended. Then Emma has decided the poison is something that has come from trees in Florida. The Audubon woman and Emma's houseguests all have come from Florida. However, it still isn't clear why certain folks have been poisoned. And then, all of a sudden, Emma is in terrible danger.

This is a very clever book. I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read an ARC before publication.

This is the 12th book in the Gilded Newport Mystery series and while I haven’t read them all I have read and enjoyed some of the earlier books. I like that even though this is historical fiction and takes place in a time women had little to know power the amateur sleuth is a reporter and female. Emma does annoy me at times, it I try to remember this book is set before modern police procedure (like detectives feeling the need to bring women along to make their female suspects more comfortable). I found the mystery to be interesting but I did think the red herrings were either too obvious or there wasn’t enough to make them viable. Emma attends a luncheon where an advocate for the Audubon Society is speaking, but the net day a woman appears to have food poisoning. But very quickly it is clear this is no normal food poisoning and Emma is more than willing to help the police investigate to find who is poisoning women from Newport’s high society.

Following a fundraiser for the Rhode Island Audubon Society, Emma Cross Andrews is summoned to her distant cousin’s Viking-themed estate. One of Florence Vanderbilt Twombly’s houseguests has been poisoned by tampered petit fours. Soon a second woman is also poisoned, and others—including another of Emma’s relatives—are burned by ink that was spiked with caustic toxins. Emma, along with her husband and Detective Jesse Whyte, must find the killer before anymore of Newport’s ladies are victimized.

Once again, Alyssa Maxwell brings to life Newport and gives a detailed look into what life was like in the early 1900s. While I’ve enjoyed all the books in the Gilded Newport Mystery series, but fell a little flat for me. Emma comes across as a bit rude while questioning her suspects, and she’s more of a busybody in this novel than an amateur detective. Having a possible suspect under her roof does add some extra intrigue to the story. And the surprise at the end has me looking forward to the next Gilded Newport Mystery.

historical-novel, history-and-culture, historical-setting, historical-figures, relationships, family, family-dynamics, snooty-people, mystery, reporter, cozy-mystery, class-consciousness, amateur-sleuth, series, 1901, Rhode Island, newspaper-owner, journalist, local-law-enforcement, murder, poisons, investigations, historical-research, attempted-murder, servants, entitled-attitude, no-erotica*****

Reporter-sleuth Emma Cross Andrews (related to the Vanderbilts) and her new husband Derrick Andrews work together with Police Detective Jesse Whyte to solve several grim poisonings done first at a fundraising luncheon at Vinland, the home of one of her Vanderbilt relatives. Speakers include Second Lady Edith Roosevelt and National Audubon Society representatives from Massachusetts and Florida. Little cooperation from the entitled to a "poor relation" who is also a reporter. Well written, as always, with lots of twists and turns.
There are exquisite descriptions of both attire and surroundings, plus exhaustive descriptions of the lineage and implications of financial heredity as well as the general snobbery of the era. Fascinating look into the place and time in a very good investigative read.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
#MurderatVinland #NetGalley #GildedNewportMysteriesBk12
Pub Date Aug 20, 2024

3.75 stars

This reliable historical cozy series features Emma, a distant relation to the Vanderbilts, and her new husband Derrick. They run a newspaper, and are unusual in their egalitarian relationship. Emma fits well into several different worlds, both the aristocratic society and more working class arenas.

Someone is viciously poisoning women in the heady world of Newport society. Because of various intrigues, there are several suspects. Emma endeavors to help the police by gaining entree to places they cannot and speaking as an equal to some of the rich people of interest.

The character development over the course of the series has been interesting with more changes in store for the future. Emma often chafes under the gender restrictions of her time, but still manages to be a rare role model of a working woman. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another interesting Gilded Age mystery by Alyssa Maxwell. This one caught me off guard in that the culprit is soooo not who I expected. It made me remember why I enjoy this series so much. Just when you think you know the who, something happens to let you know you weren't even close. I take that as the sign of an excellent writer: keeping the reader completely engaged and invested in the outcome. I will always look forward to Maxwell's books. They never disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for access to this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once again, back in Newport. Emma has been invited to a society luncheon to present information on the Audubon Society. Invited guests include Mrs. Roosevelt, as well as many other characters from previous stories. When two of the guests are found dead, and proven to have been murdered, Emma is of course drawn in to solve the mysteries.
Twists and turns, a few "will she be caught?" scenes, and once again Emma solves the case. I enjoy these stories very much by Ms Maxwell, who has clearly done her due diligence researching Newport during the gilded age. I look forward to the next story with some happy news being unveiled at the end of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Maxwell, and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Murder at Vinland by Alyssa Maxwell is an easy-to-read murder mystery capable of being for a YA sleuth. Many twists and turns up until the very end.

Releases Aug. 20th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Emma Cross Andrews attends a fundraising luncheon at Vinland for the Audubon Society at which Second
Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the speakers. The next day, one of the attendees falls ill after consuming
petit fours containing a card from Mrs. Roosevelt. Another attendee receives petit fours from one of the other
speakers. Both women fall ill from the tainted cakes. Other society wives are receiving letters that burn the skin. Emma assists the police in questioning those at the luncheon to uncover the reason for the attacks and who the culprit is.
#MurderatVinland #Kensington #NetGalley

This book was so good! I love the exquisite detail of the 'cottage' and the beautiful clothes, and of course the characters. I didn't realize the Audobon Society did fundraising with the elite, but it makes sense, they're the ones with the money. I have enjoyed this series for a while now, and need to circle back and read the beginning ones. I have always been interested in people from the Gilded Age, and this series brings them to life for me.

A series of mysterious poisonings afflicts society women in Newport during the Gilded Age. Reporter Emma Cross Andrews, a distant relation of the Vanderbilts, is dismayed by the case, especially when one woman she knows is arrested and might be innocent. Vinland is the seaside home of Emma’s relative, Florence Vanderbilt Twombly. It’s after a charity luncheon there benefiting the Audubon Society that the first guest falls ill. Others soon follow, and Emma gets on the case before more ladies are targeted. Murder at Vinland is an easy read that will keep you guessing. I had no idea whodunit and was surprised by the finale. The setting details will have you feeling you’re in Rhode Island among the elite, although Emma is just as friendly with her staff as with the upper crust Four Hundred. This historical mystery offers another winner by the talented Alyssa Maxwell.