If you enjoy, mysteries in historical regency , you will like this, It's Quite enjoyable but it's a bit of draggy & repetitive. Im not sure Im going to continue with the series but you can still read this as a standalone though!

This was such a cozy book to curl up and read on a cold, wintery night.

This is book three in the A Useful Woman Mystery series. I read this one easily, even not having read the first two.

Set during the Regency period, in London, this story is a mix of historical fiction, mystery, and romance. Our main character, Rosalind Thorne, helps ladies of the "ton" with most delicate matters. She's like a modern-day fixer for celebrities.

Rosalind takes on a case that involves the King's rumored secret marriage and she wonders if she's taken on too much when two people are found dead over this matter, and her reputation ends up at stake.

The historical aspect of the story was very interesting. I did not know about this period of history, King George IV's attempt to divorce the queen, and his secret marriage to a Mrs. Fitzherbert. It made for a great story of intrigue, m$rder, and mayhem.

I really enjoy stories set during this period with strong female characters who buck normal social conventions, and Rosalind Thorne is a great character. The romance throughout this story between Rosalind and her business associate, Adam Harkness, was so sweet, especially at the end of the story.

Add this to your reading list if you enjoy Regency era stories, with some mystery and romance.

Thank you to Kensington for the free advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Rosalind's livelihood is helping women with their tricky problems, orchestrating solutions from the shadows and maintaining the gentile position in society on which everything depends. So when Maria Fitzherbert--King George IV's one-time mistress--begs her to recover her stolen marriage certificate (proving she actually married the King), Rosalind thinks twice. After all, King George IV's divorce proceedings against Queen Caroline are public and incendiary, and the certificate's existence would throw more fuel on the fire already gripping London. But when a man is murdered who might have connections to Mrs. Fitzherbert, Rosalind and her beau Adam have to consider the possibility that they may have been suckered into this investigation for other reasons.

This is a stand-alone novel, but the relationships and some references make more sense if you've read the previous books in the series (I'm almost caught up!) The "will they or won't they" tension from the earlier books is gone, but in it's place are questions about Rosalind and Adam's future. This installation did move the characters in a different direction, which I found interesting: Rosalind is used to working with a low profile, and the notoriety of this high-stakes problem upends her life and uncovers some feelings and memories she had buried. I also appreciated the treatment of the tricky topic of divorce: English law made two people one at marriage by erasing the individual identity of the woman and making her totally dependent on her husband. So if the King could set aside his wife so easily, what chance did a normal woman have? Also, like now, the way that debt was managed was a business that benefitted those holding the debt more than it helped the debtors escape it's hold on them.

Triggers: violent murder, off-page death of a loved one, misogyny

The mystery is well-crafted with plenty of possible suspects as Rosalind and Adam and their team of friends rush around investigating the missing marriage certificate, This story is based around real character like George IV and Mrs Fitzherbert which is a nice touch. However there was rather a lot of politics that did distract a bit from the story. But the romance between Rosalind and Adam was just great looking forward to further developments. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I truly enjoyed this story because it had great historical information. A mystery of the first order, Rosalind risks her reputation to solve the mystery of the missing certificate. Filled with great character depth as well as adventure, this is one series I'm going to want to continue reading and one I'm going to go back to for the first two books.

Rosalind puts her reputation and position in society on the line to help the King's former wife in the latest Rosalind Thorne mystery. Her relationship with Adam is also in flux, as marriage could mean giving up everything she's worked for.

Why you should read this book: Excellent characters, intriguing plot, and as always, great dialogue.

Why you might not want to read this book: If historical cozies based on true events and people aren't your thing, you might want to give this one a pass, but that would be a shame.

I received an advance copy from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 out of 5 stars

This is the third book in Darcie Wilde's second series, eighth book overall, featuring Rosalind Thorne, a Useful Woman, who solves problems for aristocratic ladies at the beginning of the nineteenth century. This time the woman needing help is Mrs. Maria Fitzherbert, rumored to be the unacknowledged first wife of King George IV, who is attempting to divorce queen Charlotte. Mrs. Fitzherbert's marriage certificate has been stolen, apparently by Josiah Poole, who has been murdered. Adam Harkness, formerly of Bow Street, again works with Rosalind to solve the mysteries--who killed Josiah Poole and where is the marriage certificate--and what happens with the relationship between Rosalind and Adam? Entertaining, but a bit confusing in places. Probably not the best book in the series, but still worth reading.

Darcie Wilde is a new author to me, but I was excited to get back into a good Regency mystery with romantic elements. This is the third novel in a series, but worked okay as a standalone, although I think I would get more out of it starting with the first in the series, as the first few chapters were a bit confusing to me.

The primary mystery is surrounding Prinny's secret marriage to Mrs. Fitzherbert, and the marriage certificate has gone missing/been stolen.  I have never been very interested in royals and royal intrigue, so the mystery itself was not as captivating for me as I hoped, although there is some murder involved in the plot.  There are lots of twists and turns, attention to detail, and some romantic elements that make this a good read for mystery lovers but the layered elements may also turn off other readers.  This includes jumping into secondary character POVs, which was interesting for me but may also be too much for some readers.

I didn't really find similarities with Fleabag or Jane Austen, so that was a misleading pitch that disappointed me.  The book was also long, with a lot of extra info dumping about political aspects that some readers will enjoy but I found dampened momentum as a reader.

There is mature subject matter, some violence, and sexual themes so while on the cozier side of mysteries probably not appropriate for readers who like it "sweet".

I will give the first in the series a go and then maybe retry this one.  For now, I would say great for readers who love the royal history, political intrigue, and light romance.

With the theft of a secret marriage certificate of Mrs. Fitzherbert and King George IV, Rosalind Thorne and Adam Harkness team up to locate it. If they don’t find it, the political atmosphere that is already rife with tension could become even more volatile. Rosalind walks a fine line between helping the noble families with their difficulties and earning a living. One false move or a slip of the tongue could ruin everything she has worked hard to obtain. I like that she is courageous and is determined to see this case through with all of its complexities.

With several subplots and red herrings, you are given several possibilities as to what happened, which is what I liked about this mystery I enjoyed the romantic aspect of the relationship between Rosalind and Adam. He understands her better than anyone else, and they will be an even stronger detective duo in the future after solving this case.

This is part of a series but the first one I have read. It can be read as a standalone without it affecting your understanding of the story. The author’s notes at the end were informative. I love history, so it was interesting to learn a bit about King George IV and his personal life that is central to the plot.

I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

Ah! Rosalind Thorne and friends!

Rosalind is asked for discretion and help by the King’s longtime mistress and possible wife Mrs Maria Fitzherbert.
Mrs Fitzherbert’s morganatic marriage to King George could be exposed if it falls into the wrong hands.
George is suing for divorce from Princess Caroline and the two camps are firmly and riotously dividing the nation.
No sooner has Rosalind said yes to Mrs Fitzherbert, one of the main background players is murdered. What follows is more death, secrets, and planned elopements. The game is definitely afoot!
As well, Rosalind is involved with ex Bow Street runner Adam Harkness but marrying him will mean her loss of independence that she’s fought so hard for.
All her gathered put together family of close knit friends play important roles, supporting Rosalind in full—Alice, Amelia, George.
Looming in the background is Lady Jersey and Countess Levine, both of whom could easily destroy Rosalind’s hard won role.
Intriguing and gratifying read!

A Kensington Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I always enjoy a historical novel when I find that it is based on true events or people. This novel was about the scandal of King George IV trying to obtain a divorce from the queen based on her being an adulterer. The document proving otherwise has been stolen and Mrs. Fitzherbert has called upon Rosalind and ex-Bow street officer Adam to discretely investigate the matter and as quickly as possible. As Adam does the boots on the ground research, Rosalind comes up with a plan to get someone on the inside to hopefully obtain information from those who see and hear everything that happens in the house every single day. But as the two work to find who had the motive, it seems those who they need to inquire to, are found dead. As bodies pile up and word starts getting out about the theft, Rosalind and Adam know they don't have much time to figure this out. As the townsfolk make clear whose side they believe, Rosalind once again comes up with a public scheme to flush out the culprit. I enjoyed the tangled web this story wove as we uncovered who did it and why? Thank you to the author and Austenprose PR for the complementary ebook. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

This was a fun overlap of a fictional mystery for Rosalind and Adam with the real historical events surrounding George IV’s attempt to divorce his wife, Queen Caroline. Though the two people at the center of the scandal aren’t depicted, we see the king’s unacknowledged and illegal wife, Mrs. Fitzherbert as well as other famous figures from the Regency period such as Lady Jersey. The author does a good job of explaining the risks if the marriage certificate between George and Mrs. Fitzherbert should be found publicized as well as why so many people supported the Queen during the divorce.

The mystery is well-crafted with plenty of possible suspects as Rosalind and Adam and their team of friends rush around investigating.

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.

London is awash in political intrigue with everyone choosing sides in the divorce proceedings between King George IV and his Queen. Some will go to any lengths to help their side win – even murder. Rosalind Thorne, a useful woman who makes her way in the world by assisting ladies with delicate problems, wants no part of any political intrigue. However, it is dumped in her lap and she has to deal with it. If Rosalind is dealing with it, so are her close friends, and it was a delight to visit with them.

I thought the mystery of the disappearance of Mrs. Fitzherbert’s proof of her marriage to the king was good, but things quickly spun out in so many tangents that it was hard to keep up with it all - and I love convoluted mysteries. All the factions pulling one way or another was almost like buckshot – going in every direction. Because there was so much buckshot, I found it difficult to ‘feel’ the stress, doom, and sense of urgency Rosalind felt for herself and her friends.

I enjoyed the page time with Rosalind and Adam and was glad to see there was some movement there – even if it did wait until the epilogue. This romance has been entirely too slow-burn for my taste and it still isn’t satisfyingly settled even after eight books.

I was disconcerted by the portrayal of Stephen Lavender in the book. He was a real-life, renowned Bow Street principal officer frequently in the news because of the cases he solved. This story portrays him in a very unflattering light, so I’m not sure if this author just chose a name from history and didn’t do much research on him – or if she thoroughly researched him and just got a different view. There is another author who writes a historical mystery series based on his real-life cases and the two presentations of the man are very different.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and will probably read the next book to see how Adam and Rosalind’s relationship grows (or doesn’t). The mystery had a great premise, but too many tentacles to keep them all straight. It also appeared to me this author might have some sort of hang-up with race, though I fail to see what it might be. Upon introduction, every character is given a race or color, and those labeled ‘white’ get the word with the capital ‘W’. If you are an avid fan of historical mysteries, as I am, you will probably enjoy the basic mystery but will lament the labyrinthine twists and turns it takes. As for me, I wouldn’t read the book a second time and probably wouldn’t purchase it as a gift for a friend without giving explanations.

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

This was my first book by this author, and it will not be my last. I was immersed in this world, intrigued by the mystery, and loved the characters. While it is the 8th book in the series, it works as a standalone, but I plan to go back and read the previous books.

Set in the Regency era, this was a well-written and complex mystery. It was sufficiently twisty to keep me guessing, and I fell for one of the red herrings. FMC Rosalind is a woman who has had to make her own way in the world and discreetly takes on helping ladies of the ton with their pressing issues. This time, she's embroiled in a high-stakes situation that involves King George IV, and I found her resourceful, strong, and clever. The historical details, politics, and figures turned characters are so interesting and deftly woven into the fabric of this story. The author clearly does a lot of research.

The characters are lively, and I enjoyed their various interactions. I particularly enjoyed Rosalind's scenes with Adam, her love interest, and their slow-burn romance. I was hooked from the start and found this very entertaining. Fans of historical mystery will want to add this to their tbr!

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the gifted review copy!

Rosalind and Adam investigate a theft that turns deadly, uncovering secrets surrounding King George IV’s marriage and a potential bigamy scandal.

This is a clever novel based on actual historical events. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters. The mystery is fast-paced and kept me guessing.

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

I thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advance reader copy of “The Matter of the Secret Bride.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Author Darcie Wilde takes a true historical event -- the search for truth of the “marriage” of George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) and Mrs. Maria Fitzherbert, and weaves it into another Rosalind Thorne/”Useful Woman” study in how lies, gossip and innuendo can ruin lives, and provide a motive for murder. And trouble looms not just for HM and Mrs. Fitzherbert; if this doesn’t end well, it may put paid to Rosalind’s reputation, too. Such were the ways of Georgian society, ones that Darcie Wilde explores with a deft and sure hand in “The Matter of the Secret Bride.”

The Author’s Note talks about “the rest of the story.” Once again (this is the eighth in the series) Darcie Wilde has crafted a thoroughly entertaining tale using real people and historical events to fit into Rosalind Throne’s fictional world. “The Matter of the Secret Bride” will keep your attention (and engage your mystery-solving skills) on every page.

This is the first time I have read a book from this series and I was entertained and plan on going back to the beginning of the series. The use of real historical figures and the great characters, not to mention all the twists and turns of the mystery made this book a great read.

King George IV is petitioning Parliament for a divorce from his queen on the grounds of her adultery. But rumour has it that the king secretly married Maria Fitzherbert long before he married the queen. Now Mrs. Fitzherbert has been robbed and she’s frantically calling on Rosalind for help. Because what those thieves took is proof that she and King George did really marry. That single piece of paper could destroy Mrs. Fitzherbert and her family—or it could prove the king guilty of bigamy. Rosalind & ex-Bow Street officer, Adam Harkness, take the case but a case of theft soon turns to murder. Josiah Poole, a disreputable attorney specializing in helping debtors, who was seen entering Mrs. Fitzherbert’s house is found brutally murdered.
Another well written & well researched book. I really like both Rosalind & Adam& their very slow burn romance. There are plenty of twists, turns & red herrings & I was kept guessing, which is always a bonus. The characters are very well portrayed & I love how the dynamics between characters have developed throughout the series. The epilogue left me wanting the next book in the series too
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Tropes: MC's team up to solve a mystery; class difference
Steam level: Low
Part of a series, recommend reading the previous books first.

3.75 stars rounded up. I feel that in order to enjoy this book fully, you need to have read the previous entries. As I have not, I was rather lost at times by the cast of characters, so my review is more a reflection of the quality of the writing, pacing, and the central mystery. The focus is definitely on the plot and not the romance, with the MC's spending little quality time together. I liked both Rosalind and Adam and the secondary characters, but there was a lot to keep track of. The mystery element itself was strong but the book was slightly overlong and could have been a bit more tightly edited.

Overall: enjoyable but felt overcomplicated in places.

Book 8 in the Useful Woman series finds us with the highest stakes yet- Rosalind has been summoned by Mrs. Fitzherbert to locate a marriage certificate that proves the King's marriage to Caroline of Brunswick is invalid. This could have implications for the entire country, and tensions are at an all-time high for our dear investigator.

The mystery here proves to be well crafted as usual, but convoluted indeed, taking twists and turns and using details that could easily overwhelm the casual reader. I personally found it to be more than a little confusing, and a bit too dependent on the ins and outs of courtly politics for my tastes. It also crowded the book, making it difficult for any real character development, especially because the POV changes to side characters were many.

Although I appreciate a good slow burn romance, 8 books is starting to feel too slow. There is hardly any development for Adam and Rosalind's relationship until the epilogue, which proves unsatisfying, and they hardly interact through the entirety of the book. It's starting to become frustrating, especially when other character romances are progressing on page.

However, Wilde's pacing for reveals and her writing skill is obvious, and the mystery, though confusing, kept me reading. I'm very attached to this series, so even though I didn't love the installment, I was happy to be back with Rosalind and Adam. I hope the next book will bring us back closer to their immediate circle and allow for a little bit more time with them.