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Amelia Amesbury is a young Victorian widow. She is a countess but was not raised in high society. She secretly writes an advice column at night. When her sister, Madge, experiences a scandal, she comes to visit to hopefully find a husband during the season. When a string of thefts starts occurring at balls and a murder takes place at her own home, will Amelia be able to solve the crimes?
My thoughts on this novel:

• This is the third book in A Lady of Letters Mystery series. It is the first book I have read in the series, and it gives enough background to read it as a standalone. I need to read the first two books in this series – I enjoyed Murder in Season so much!

• The start of each chapter has a letter to Lady Agony and her response. They are amusing and often related to the plot. They had great advice!

• I loved the developing love story between Amelia and Simon. Simon was Amelia’s husband Edgar’s friend, and this fact is holding him back from having a relationship with Amelia. Will they, or won’t they? It was a good slow burn romance.

• I enjoyed the characters – especially Madge and Amelia’s late husband’s Aunt Tabitha. Madge is impetuous and says what she feels. Aunt Tabitha is the same and keeps Amelia and the entire household in line.

• This cozy mystery had many twists and turns with two different mysteries – the jewel theft and the murder. I liked the final resolutions and the path to get there. I did not guess the ending for either mystery.

• I enjoyed the 1860 Victorian Age England setting.

• This cozy mystery was short in length, which is perfect for reading during a busy holiday season.

Favorite Quotes:
“Good people did bad things for the right reasons. Who was to say she wouldn’t do the same when it came to her family members?”

“People were measured by the money, title or status they could bring to the marriage. Love was, for the most part, for the youthful and inexperienced. Yet Amelia held out hope that exceptions existed, such as Oliver and Kitty. And maybe, one day, she and Simon.”

Overall, A Murder in Season by Mary Winters is a delightful cozy historical mystery with a wonderful slow burn romance and great characters.
Book Source: Review copy from Severn House Imprint as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Good addition to the series. I love the letters at the beginning of each chapter and Amelia’s responses that truly show her personality and just a touch of snarkiness when needed. I enjoyed the extended visit by her sister, which gave the opportunity for more matchmaking and the introduction of more characters, rather than the blossoming relationship with Amelia and Simon, which is moving along nicely. The mystery was OK but seemed to take a backseat to the romances. Hoping we get back on track for the next one.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery with a touch of slow burn romance! There’s an “inconvenient death” and theft and clandestine meetings and an advice column and mystery.

THOUGHTS 💭
🩷 This book gave me Bridgerton vibes - it had British high society and scandal and love.
🩷 I enjoyed the Lady Agony letters, where anonymous people write into a magazine with questions that our FMC answers. Each chapter starts with a letter and I loved that the letters related to what was happening in the story.
🩷 I loved watching Amelia uncover bits and pieces to this story’s mysteries. The “unknowns” were uncovered nicely by the end of this read.
🩷 Amelia is a strong, adventurous FMC, especially for the day/time in which she lives.
🩷 Romance was not the main focus of this read, but I still enjoyed the romance element underpinning the whole story.

Thanks so much to Mary Winters, Severn House Imprint, and Austen Prose for the beautiful ARC of this book!

This was a very interesting story! Even though I hadn't read the first two, I was introduced to the characters and the family well enough that I felt like I understood them and their motives. The story was well written too despite being short. There were a few historical inaccuracies with the language but I've read worse so this didn't bother me. I was surprised to see who ended up being the culprit in the end! It was a pretty good plot twist.

I’m so happy I found this delightful series! This is book three in The Lady Letters series. (I’m reading book two as soon as I’m able.) The story and characters had me turning pages quickly. Amelia is back with another mystery on her hands. Actually two.

Amelia’s sister Margaret (who is my favorite!) is in town, running from the Inn because of a possible scandal. And what comes from it brings more mystery and danger.

The author does a great job of catching the reader up. Although I was glad I read book one, these books are written well as stand-alones, I wouldn’t have necessarily needed to read them get a sense of Amelia and the rest of the characters. Winters captures the characters and the setting/plot so well. (Tabitha is still wonderful.)

Like the first book, I adored the letters. Amelia gives her readers honesty, and what’s on her mind. I love it. Again, I love how theory’s incorporated in the chapters. The mysteries are captivating and I had suspected everyone. Margaret was so well done. I loved her spunk and some of the things she said had me rolling.

I can’t wait to read book two!

I received a NetGalley link and paperback from the publisher. All views are mine.

Murder in Season is book #3 in The Lady of Letters Mystery Series by Mary Winters. This blend of cozy mystery and romance is set in London, 1860. Lady Amelia Amesbury, countess and advice columnist, is still in mourning when her sister Margaret arriving under duress, asks to remain for the Season. As fans of Bridgerton and the ton know, the Season, a time for young people to find a spouse, is from May to August. Lady Amesbury hosts a ball to introduce Margaret, but the plan backfires when a guest is poisoned. Margaret becomes the main suspect, and Lady Amesbury feels called to prove Margaret’s innocence. Winters whisks readers from balls and concerts in manor houses in Mayfair across to markets in the East End’s Petticoat Lane, and to the exhibition by the Royal Botanic Society at Regent’s Park.
Margaret, or Madge, is known to be bullheaded, brave, and smart. Winters uses an impromptu performance at a concert to develop the sisters’ character by revealing their competitive spirits and musical talents, adding another intriguing layer to their personalities. Their adventurous spirit surfaces as the sisters travel in disguise to Petticoat Lane to track a jewel thief! The action, dialogue and sensory descriptions of the market wares and stalls sink the reader into London’s East End.
Each chapter opens with a letter from a devoted reader to Lady Agony. The writer’s situation often hints at the impending conflict in the plot. Amelia’s slow burn romance with Simon, jewelry thefts, and a poisoning death keep readers following rumors and clues to the mystery. Lady Agony’s readers will discover a surprising, satisfying close to the Lady of Letters Mystery Series.

The perfect historical cozy mystery! Amelia is a widow running her late husband's household along with her late husband's strict Aunt Tabitha. Amelia's mother and younger sister, Madge, show up unannounced saying that Madge wants to have a season. It's all very suspicious until Amelia learns that her tough sister hurt a man's arm in their small home town and now she's the talk of the town. What she needs is a new setting where no one knows of her transgressions. But during a debut ball for Madge, in Amelia's home, someone already knows and makes a spectacle of Madge.

Then everything kind of breaks loose from there with a deceased party guest and missing jewels from Aunt Tabitha's jewelry box. A perfect blend of who-dunnit feels in a historical setting. I love these kinds of stories where you're trying to figure out exactly who is the guilty party and how did everything transpire. Not to mention that Amelia is an astounding character. She's charming, witty, and while she's well behaved in company she also is a fiery one. Especially when it comes to her attraction to her late husband's best friend, Simon.

There are elements of romance within the story between Amelia and Simon as they try to navigate their confusing feelings for one another and attempt to avoid dishonoring Amelia's late husband. But the mystery elements are so fun to follow as well! It took me a while to figure out exactly where it was going and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Countess Amelia Amesbury, widow of the late Edgar Amesbury, lives a double—perhaps even triple—life. When she isn't representing the Amesbury family alongside her in-laws at London's finest gatherings, she's solving problems for her readers as Lady Agony. And when she isn't doing that, she's solving murder mysteries alongside her best friend Kitty and her will-they-won't-they "friend" Simon. But her latest escapade hits closer to home than usual. Amelia has been asked to introduce her younger sister Madge into high society (and to get Madge out of Somerset for a bit after she broke a young man's arm to stop his unwanted advances). It would seem Amelia's sister's secret has followed her, leading to a certain Arthur Radcliffe giving her trouble at the Amesburys' party. So when Radcliffe dies that night, seemingly poisoned, all eyes are on Madge.

While Madge is hardly bothered, a vengeful detective from Scotland Yard won't rest until he's pinned the murder on Amelia's younger sister. Thus, Amelia devotes all her resources to clearing Madge's name... or she would, if a spate of robberies hadn't broken out on the same night. With the her aunt Tabitha's diamond brooch missing and other fine pieces of jewelry disappearing, Amelia divides her time between sniffing out a high society murderer and consulting fences about the missing gems. As she navigates Mayfair's many dark secrets, she must also navigate her relationship with Simon. Does her late husband's old friend share her feelings, or is he only by her side for the adventure that comes with investigating murders.

If this is your first introduction to the Lady of Letters Mysteries, never fear: Winters weaves all the backstory in. While it's clear there's more to read if you fancy it, readers stumbling in after the introduction won't feel adrift: a difficult, but important, task for writers of series. The Bridgerton parallels are both obvious and deliberate, but the characters are their own. (Yes, there's more than a little Lady Danbury in Aunt Tabitha, but we should have more Lady Danburys.) It's a perfect intersection for lovers of murder mysteries and lovers of high society romantic drama. And if you're a fan of slow burn romance, Amelia and Simon will be your new obsession.

Although a series, this can be enjoyed as a standalone (as I did). Image Bridgerton, with a murder mystery to solve. Madge, the feisty sister introduced to society. There is a dash of romance for those so inclined, may I introduce Lord Bainbridge?

Mary Winters delivers another exciting installment in the A Lady of Letters cozy mystery series! Murder in Season begins with a surprise. Lady Amelia’s mother & sister Margaret have unexpectedly arrived for the Season under a hint of scandal. In the flurry of balls & parties, one man winds up dead & a notorious jewel thief stalks the wealthy aristocracy. Will Lady Amelia, the secret advice columnist & amateur sleuth, be able to clear her sister’s name when she’s accused of murder?

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this series! After only a few months of marriage, Lady Amelia is widowed & takes up residence with her husband’s darling niece & curmudgeonly but lovable aunt. She pens a delightful advice column under the nom de plume of Lady Agony & I loved the way this witty, funny column begins every chapter. Though she loved her husband, she barely knew him before his death. Though still technically in mourning, she can’t resist the pull to the handsome Simon Bainbridge, a marquis & heir to a dukedom. I was delighted to see their romance progress as they investigate these mysteries together.

Margaret “Madge” is intelligent, strong willed, & spunky. Of course as Amelia’s sister, she has a mind of her own & gets herself into all sorts of trouble. She’s the prime suspect when she was the last person to argue with the notorious bachelor Mr. Radcliffe & he’s later found poisoned.

The mystery was interesting with several suspects & motives. Along with the murder are the thefts of priceless jewels. There’s also a dogged inspector with a former grudge against Amelia’s husband who’s determined to convict Madge. It all comes down to the wire as all the clues come together.

Historical mystery fans will definitely enjoy this quick witted whodunit with a bit of romance! Though part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. There are a few mild biblical swears including taking the Lord’s name in vain as well as brief violence. There’s also a brief reference to a character being gay as a possible motivation for murder. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars!

This was such a fun historical fiction read! And while technically the third book in the A Lady of Letters Mystery series, this could easily be read as a standalone!

With mystery and murder alongside the high society season, it was entertaining to follow Amelia as she sleuthed her way to the truth! Not only that, we get to start each chapter with Amelia’s secret life, being an advice columnist, writing anonymous responses to other ladies within the ton about all sorts - finding love, general advice, what’s acceptable within society, and so much more! These letters were my favorite parts of the book! They set up the vibe for the chapter, sometimes with a little foreshadowing that I started to pick up on as we got further into the book.

I really didn’t know what to expect with this whodunit mystery regarding the murder and the jewelry thief. Every time I thought I knew what to expect, more details would surface that made me question what I knew. It truly made for a thrilling read!

I loved following Amelia, who leads this double life, providing secret advice to those around her, trying to keep her rowdy sister in check, and helping her find love this season. While also in search of love again herself, finally ready to try for love again after losing her husband. It was easy to get sucked into this read! I didn’t want to put it down!

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy fashionable society and mystery historical fiction! This was such an entertaining read!

I enjoy this series. I like the setting and the characters. The mystery kept me guessing. I hope for many more.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in Season is a frothy, light romance/murder mystery. Amelia, "" and her sister Margaret are plunged into trouble when a guest at Madge's coming out ball is poisoned. When Madge's outspokenness pushes her to front and center as a murder suspect, Amelia and her friends take up the investigation.

This is a quick and amusing addition to the "Lady of Letters"series.

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

Murder in Season: A Lady of Letters Mystery by Mary Winters is a delightful Regency Mystery with a sweet love story. The book is the third in the series, but a stand alone novel. Countess Amelia Amesbury has finally settled into her life as a secret advice columnist, a countess, and is now out of mourning. But then her Mother and Sister show up and her life is turned upside down! What follows is adventure, missing jewelry, a murder and sister who needs to watched over.

I adore this series. The mysteries kept me on my toes, and guessing to the end.
Amelia is the heroine who you want to be your best friend. She is smart, witty, and helps to take care of those around her as she navigates life as a countess. Amelia’s role as advice columnist, ,Miss Agony, adds a layer to this story that keeps things interesting. The supporting cast of characters added to the story and I kept feeling like they wanted me to come and visit. (I told them I was busy, but hoped to be there next season.)

The story had it all for me, and I consider it the perfect book! I loved the sweet romance, setting in Regency London, and the engaging characters who drew me in and insisted that I come and visit. I highly recommend!

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

This was such a charming and delightful cozy mystery! I thought the characters were very well developed, and the mystery kept me guessing to the very end. The romance between Amelia and Simon was wonderful, and I loved that it didn’t overshadow the mystery. The writing style was excellent, and the story kept me engaged the entire time. It was a great mix of historical mystery, wit, humor, and romance. Loved it!

This is the first book I’ve read in the A Lady Of Letters Mysteries series, but I’ll definitely be reading more!

I received a copy from the author, publisher, and Austenprose via NetGalley, but a positive review wasn’t required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Netgalley doesn’t make a habit of highlighting whether a book is part of an ongoing series – and while I’ve learnt to check, I didn’t this time around. Not that I’m all that bothered about crashing midway into a series, so long as the author gives me sufficient lifelines to prevent me from floundering. And Winters does so. Therefore, while you may wish to start this entertaining series from the beginning – picking this one up without having read other adventures featuring feisty Amelia isn’t a problem.

Winters is adept at blending necessary historical details amid the ongoing mystery without holding up the narrative pace, which is trickier to successfully achieve than she makes it look. I also appreciated the cast of vividly drawn characters, who all pinged off the page sufficiently so I never wondered who was doing what to whom. My personal favourite highlights of the book are the letters at the top of each chapter to and from Lady Agony – the pen name adopted by Amelia in order to dole out advice to her popular readership. And yes – ‘agony aunts’ were a thing in an era where there was no computer network or smartphone to reach for when you needed information about how to tackle a range of problems, from affairs of the heart to practical tips on first aid or stain removal and everything in-between.

However, there were a couple of issues that slightly graunched at my sensibilities. High-ranking women during this time led very sheltered lives – and for good reason. The risk of kidnap for an heiress – either for ransom or forced marriage, given that husbands automatically got access to their wife’s fortune – was a real problem. So Amelia’s foray into one of the more lawless areas of London is a crazy move. There were parts of London at this time that were too dangerous for the police to venture into. The other aspect that bothered me is the casual manner in which Amelia treats the death of one of her guests during a ball. So I’ve knocked off a point for these issues.

The murder mystery moves along at a good clip, though the denouement was a tad abrupt. Nonetheless, I’d happily read another book in this series and recommend it for fans of historical mystery. While I obtained an arc of Murder in Season from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

If you are looking for a story that has mystery, romance, and adventure, then Murder in Season is the perfect read for you.

Murder in Season is the third book in the Lady of Letters series featuring protagonist Amelia, also known as Countess Amesbury and, less known, as Lady Agony, a secret advice columnist for a weekly magazine. Occasionally, she also turns her hand into investigations, solving murders and mysteries.

In this third book, we are in the full London season and there are many parties and balls to attend, but this is not the only thing keeping the ton busy. There is a thief of jewels who is targeting Mayfair houses, a murdered victim who seemed to have made quite a number of enemies, and a feisty young debutante who is not afraid to speak her mind, which often gets her in trouble and, in this case, a suspect of murder. Fortunately, there is also her sister Amelia who is determined to prove her innocence and find the killer with the help of Lord Simon Bainbridge, who may (or may not) finally admit his feelings for her. As she navigates London society, Amelia will have to solve a few mysteries and maybe also find a bit of time for love.

I really like the character of Amelia. She is loyal, honest and she takes care of her family, even going undercover and facing dangerous situations for those she loves. I enjoyed that each chapter begins with an agony letter followed by Amelia’s witty and hilarious responses and the mysteries are very well-developed and full of surprises.

Perfect for both fans of historical mystery and Regency romance, Murder in Season is an immersive and intriguing novel and I am already looking forward to the next book.

London - 1860

Lady Amelia Amesbury lost her husband, Edgar, not long after their marriage. She is content to live her quiet life but works secretly as Lady Agony, an advice columnist.

She is surprised to learn that her sister, Margaret Ann (Madge) is in town with their mother, to be presented for the season. Amelia is one of 4 sisters. So, Amelia decides to host a ball for Madge. There are many attendees and while Madge does not care for this sort of thing, she is determined to do her best. One man, Arthur Radcliffe, dances with Madge and hints that he knows a secret about her, leaving her furious. At the midnight supper, he becomes ill and is removed from the soiree. It is learned later that he has died and it appears that he may have been poisoned. The police arrive in the morning and begin questioning Madge thinking that she may have done it.

As the story builds, for me it became more confusing. There are a lot of characters and keeping them straight wasn’t easy. Once again, I encountered a problem I see too often and that is if one doesn’t read the first books in a series, you might end up lost. That was certainly the case here. An OK little mystery, but unfortunately not one that appealed to me.

Copy provided by NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lady Amelia's sister Margaret is accused of murder when the guest who was sitting next to her is poisoned during dinner at a ball, so Lady Amelia investigates.

This will be my last book in the series. It's not horrible per se but the romance between Amelia and Simon did nothing for me and there aren't enough period details- though I did enjoy one bit of trivia about Petticoat Lane. I also think you should read these books in order if only for the enfolding of the romance. I didn't (I skipped number two, this one is an ARC) and that's probably why I didn't enjoy this to the full.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and Severn House of this ARC!

Amelia Scott married into the wealthy and titled Amesbury family. Her husband died young leaving her a widow living with her husbands aunt, Lady Tabitha, an astute matriarch in her 70’s. Amelia’s mother and one of her sisters, Margaret, make a sudden and unplanned visit and announce their plans for Margaret to participate in the coming season. Lady Tabitha predicts that trouble lies ahead which indeed it does starting with a suspicious death and stolen family jewels.

Set in the romantic regency period this story is enriched with great attention to detail around social etiquette and London high society. The characters are engaging and the dialogue is witty and fast paced with intriguing mysteries to be solved. The potential for romance between Amelia and Lord Simon Bainbridge adds a nice dimension to the story. Amelia is also an Agony Aunt which adds an interesting opening to each chapter.

This is the third in the Lady of Letters historical mystery series and although this is the first that I have read it will not be the last. Looking forwards now to read about Amelia’s earlier adventures and hope that there are more to follow.