This dual time line murder mystery was very confusing to a new reader to this author. It seems like these are best read in order to have the background to the main characters and even some supporting characters in this book. The narration was excellent. The story was just ok to me.

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to listen to a copy of the audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was not familiar with the Lady Emily Hargreaves series and I suspect this was the wrong entry for an introduction. Lady Emily and her husband Colin are guests of Ursula, a wealthy Baroness with a country estate in Bavaria. Nearby is the "fairytale" castle of Ludwig II of Bavaria, a/k/a "Mad King Ludwig." There is a house party including Ursula's daughter Sigrid and her boorish husband, an old family friend who Ursula hoped Sigrid would marry. A beautiful young woman accompanying another family friend. Ursula's old friend Cecilia who is the connection with Lady Emily. Also present is an art dealer, Liesl, who has brought two paintings for Ursula's inspection and possible addition to her well known and large collection. There is tension in the air as to a number of the relationships among the guests.

This novel is a two timeline piece with a story about a young German man named Niels, who befriended Mad King Ludwig 40 years earlier and their "problematic" friendship that runs quite deep.

I love dual timeline novels. I like Tasha Alexander's Writing. The version I received in audio is read by a narrator named Bianca Amato and she gives a lovely performance filled with various entertaining accents. The problem is, this book just dragged and dragged for quite a while, like for 2/3 of the novel. I try hard to finish all of the books I get from NetGalley to give them a fair shake, but this got really boring. There were various accidents and incidents directed at various guests that suggest evil is afoot. The dual story lines seemed only to have the location of the players in common and the connection became apparent only at the 2/3 mark. This meant that the book felt disjointed rather than entertaining until the final third of the move. I was very entertained by the last third and since read some reviews of earlier novels in the series and recognized I might really enjoy them.

So, it was a 2-3 star book for me until the 67% mark and then a 3-4 star book for me, which would be a good rating from me. I'm giving it a solid 3. It needed something else and I believe that fans of the series will feel less negative than I do and I plan to read at least a couple of the earlier books to further decide about Alexander's writing in general.

Death by Misadventure is the 16th book in the Lady Emily mystery series. In 1906, Lady Emily and her husband, Sir Colin, are staying at Baroness von Düchtel's recently completed Villa in Bavaria. The guests were enjoying themselves until several accidents, initially dismissed as pranks, started to occur, ending with one murdered guest. Trapped at the Villa due to an impassable snowstorm, Emily and Colin began investigating. Intertwined and set in 1868 is the tragic story of the fairy tale King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

The mystery in Death by Misadventure is a skillful creation, balancing two different timelines that gradually become connected. The story is filled with numerous clues and red herrings, maintaining a steady pace and enough intrigue to keep the reader engaged. The ending, however, is a stroke of genius - clever and completely unexpected. Even if you haven't read the other books in the series , this book can be enjoyed as a standalone. But be prepared to be surprised and satisfied by the conclusion!

The audio version of the book, narrated by Bianca Amato, was delightful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Audiobooks for providing me with the advanced audio copy of Death by Misadventure in exchange for an honest review. And thank you, Tasha Alexander, for writing another amazing book!

Another remarkable story from Tasha Alexander. The characters and plot are captivating. They draw you into the book and keep you wanting more. Highly suggest you read this series from the beginning to truly understanding the main characters. Colin and Emily’s relationship is a solid one and they work together wonderfully.

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.

Thank you to Tasha Alexander, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into this book. Part I wasn't focused, part the beginning lacked an interesting hook, and part the B storyline confused me. I did not absorb anything prior to the one guy's ski boot breaking. It's a little murky after, too, but I started paying attention around 45% when the suspicious happenings started building up and tension began to escalate. I figured out the B story and sorted who was who.

I cared little about the B storyline, and I'm not a huge fan of dual timelines in general, so I was usually impatient to move on from those segments. It was a sad story about miserable people with no HEA. No, thank you. The only thing that interested me about that bit was the king's suspicious death and the associated conspiracy.

The main storyline didn't thrill me either. Revenge by the resentful "other" child or "other" lover/spouse is so utterly trite. If that's your twist, you better tell a damn entertaining story with very charismatic leads, or it'll just be so much forgettable cliche. This one was not entertaining or energetic, and Emily and Colin ceased being interesting leads several books ago. Every fall I remind myself I don't like this series anymore, but for some reason I click request. Nostalgia, I suppose, or hope. Or the gorgeous covers. Alexander needs a fresh new series, or to give up the mysteries and just do straight historical fiction.

The 18th Lady Emily mystery by Tasha Alexander does not disappoint! What I loved most: the very tight connection between the two timelines. Usually, in historical fiction of this type, they are set centuries apart, but here it is just a few decades. The way in which they eventually connect is very well done and I really enjoyed the interplay. The death of the title is accompanied by a series of misadventures, which throws uncertainty over everything and makes it difficult for Emily and Colin to unravel the culprit, as they attend a house party and meet some intriguing people. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this play out on audiobook, and the narrator did a wonderful job of presenting the international cast of characters with a variety of accents. The setting in the snowy Bavarian Alps was delightful, and provided a great backdrop to the crime at the center of this book. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook and offer my honest opinion.

Well, I certainly joined the series late at book 18, ha. Still, I didn't have any problem getting into the story. Lady Emily and her husband Colin are on holiday at a castle called Villa von Duchtel, in Bavaria. It's winter and they spend a lot of time skiing. One member of house party is murdered and then they are trapped by a snowstorm. I enjoyed watching Lady Emily and Colin solve the crime. They have a very loving relationship and it shows.
.Bianca Amato was a great choice for the narrator. She sounds just like I think Lady Emily would sound. And she does male voices well too. Excellent choice all around.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.