A Daughter's Guide to Mother's and Murder is the first book by Dianne Freeman I've read, and I loved it. The plot was interesting and kept me guessing who the murderer was. I must say that the twist took me by surprise, but I was correct in my assumption kn the involved parties. I will definitely be reading the other Countess of Harleigh Mysteries.

A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman is the eighth book in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery. George, the Count of Harleigh and his wife, Frances Hazelton, the Countess of Harleigh are taking some time in Paris. They are hoping for leisure time to spend with each other and family. However, before they know it they are drawn into a mystery looking for a killer, while trying to suss out information about marriage prospects from an acquaintance. If all the intrigue is not enough there is also the fact that Frances’s mother is visiting them (and she can be a bit of a pill).

They start off by investigating the worthiness of marriage to Carlson Deaver, a wealthy American. His wife was murdered. Carlson is determined to find Sarah Bernhardt guilty as she received a blackmail letter. Frances and George end up helping the french police, Daniel Cadieux. Together they find a twisted set of leads, letters and other interesting revelations, none of which solve the mysterious deaths.

The story was interesting. The solution was surprising and unexpected. George and Frances were able to figure out the crime and helped come up with a solution to get the confession from the correct person. A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman was a good read.

I’ve followed the Countess of Harleigh series from the beginning, and this book is another charming, witty addition. Frances and George are as delightful as ever—sharp, intuitive, and full of playful chemistry that never fails to make me smile. Their Parisian getaway quickly turns into another amateur sleuthing adventure when an old friend from London pulls them into a suspicious case involving a suitor with a scandalous past and a murder that refuses to stay buried.

The mystery is well-paced and deliciously layered, with poisoned pen letters, missing jewelry, and even the legendary Sarah Bernhardt at the center of the intrigue. I loved that this time Frances and George are actually working with the police, which felt like a nice change of pace and added realism to the stakes.

As always, the supporting characters are vibrant—Frances’s mother, in particular, shines here in unexpected ways, and I really enjoyed seeing her in a new light. The Paris setting adds a bit of sparkle, and the societal circles they navigate make for a fun, lightly gossipy backdrop.

This series continues to be a comfort read for me—smart, cozy, and reliably entertaining. While the mystery here felt a touch lower-stakes than others, the twist was satisfying and the journey so enjoyable. Looking forward to whatever Frances and George tackle next!

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Kensington for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to express my gratitude to @diannefreemanwrites @kensingtonbooks and @austenprose for the #gifted e-book.

This is the 8th installment in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series, and I can say it stands out even for a first-time reader of this author. It can be enjoyed as a standalone.

This delightful murder mystery effortlessly blends charm with intrigue, featuring a brilliant twist that keeps readers engaged. Frances shines as the quick-witted heroine, complemented perfectly by her wonderful husband, George.

Set in Paris in 1900, this narrative is infused with the pulse of historical events, the vibrant energy of the theater scene, and the allure of iconic figures like Sarah Bernhardt. The backdrop of the Olympic Games adds an exhilarating dimension to the mystery, elevating its intrigue to compelling heights.

The writing is top-notch, with well-developed characters that come to life on the page. The pacing is mostly steady, leading to an impactful ending that leaves a lasting impression. I was captivated by the dynamic duo of George and Frances as they delve into the investigation, showcasing their intelligence, mutual respect, and evident affection for one another. With numerous twists, turns, and an array of suspects, this book will have you eagerly turning pages!

For anyone who appreciates cozy mysteries, historical whodunits, or strong female leads, this series is a must-read.

I am always amazed by the in-depth research that Ms. Freeman does to enrich her books. The historical world of Paris during this time period was brought to life as Frances and George travel around Paris which is hosting both the Exposition and the Olympic games while trying to solve the mystery. Frances and George are a perfect sleuthing duo as they are smart, quick thinking and adaptive as the clues are revealed.

Mother and daughter relationships are a focal point in this book as Frances and George are asked to investigate a cold case murder mystery that involved a French actress who was married to a rich American. It was fun to see both George and Frances starstruck when introduced to Sarah Bernhardt who has provided the police with a new lead in this cold case. Murder or a robbery gone wrong, blackmail, deft twists and turns that kept me guessing and a theatrical conclusion that wrapped up this story perfectly. From the first page to the last page, I was completely invested in this story; and I'm already looking forward to the next one in the series.

Another exciting whodunit in the Countess of Harleigh mystery series! Dianne Freeman brings all the twists, witty humor, & delightful relationships in A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder. Set in Victorian era Paris, this cozy mystery had me eagerly trying to fit together all the clues to discover the murderer of a Parisian actress.

Frances & George are continuing their honeymoon in Paris when Frances is approached by an old frenemy from England. Alicia Stoke-Whitney’s daughter is being courted by a wealthy American, Carlson Deaver who recently lost his wife in tragic circumstances. Alicia would like Frances to investigate him & make sure he wasn’t responsible for his wife’s unsolved murder. On top of this, Frances’ mother is coming to visit her & her sister who’s experiencing the highs & lows of caring for a newborn without any help. Will her mother be a benefit or detriment to the investigation?

Wow! Frances & George are back. I loved seeing this duo work together to solve a complicated mystery full of twists. I enjoyed the way the famous real life actor Sarah Bernhardt made an appearance in this story & the role she played.

The story gets even more complex with a blackmailer & second murder. Carlson is not a particularly sympathetic fellow, but there are other suspects as well including his own mother. I enjoyed seeing Frances’ mother take part in the investigation & it’s easy to see where Frances gets her talent for sleuthing from. I loved trying to decipher each clue & was shocked at the ending. The way they catch the killer is very creative & fitting.

Highly recommend this book & the entire series to cozy mystery fans! It’s a delightful read with witty banter, a touch of romance, & a creative whodunit. I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are completely my own & voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars!

An unsolved murder has baffled everyone and even the police stopped investigating- until now. Frances and George are on the case. Meanwhile, mothers, mother-in-laws, daughters, sisters, and even female frenemies take center stage for Dianne Freeman’s latest.



A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder is the eighth of the Countess of Harleigh cozy historical mysteries. They read decently as standalones, but I definitely get more out of them when I started reading them in order. Speaking of such, I somehow missed a tweenie novella that I discovered when I went looking when mentions of honeymoon antics had me feeling like I missed something- and I did. So, if you get the chance, don’t skip the novella.

Frances and George are still over in Paris visiting with her sister, Lily, who’s had a baby. Lily’s exhausted by motherhood. Lily’s sister-in-law is competing in the Paris Olympics for golf. Frances’ mother shows up from Egypt and Frances’ old enemy Alicia is concerned about the gent her daughter is to marry. She wants Frances to investigate the murder of his first wife, a stage actress. Meanwhile George is asked by the French detective to conduct the same investigation because a popular actress, Sarah Bernhardt, has received a blackmail note about that very same death.

By now, Frances and George work well as partners in investigation and I really enjoyed tracking with them, seeing historical Paris in all its glory, experienced a lot of surprise that Frances’ mother toned it down and didn’t go in for so much drama this go-around, Woman Power!!! and oh yes, the giggle-worthy moments were there as well. I enjoyed A Daughter’s Guide a great deal. Those who like the lighter-toned historical mysteries when the characters and backdrop get as good attention as the mystery plot should give Dianne Freeman’s sparkling Countess of Harleigh series a go.

A Daughters Guide to Mothers and Murder is a delightful little mystery, Frances works with her husband George to help the police in Paris solve a murder involving actresses and people in the upper echelons of society.

Frances is a witty and insightful character. Her mother has a personality all her own. Her sister is a sleep deprived new mother determined to impress her mother in law by not employing help. While this goes on there are other mothers, mothers-in-law, and suspects at large,

George and Frances are a comfortable couple and turn to each other to talk things through. It is. a delightful example of a partnership.

The writing itself is compelling. The narrative takes you through their investigation and gives little away. Though there are clues to be had. Is there a good mystery without them?

This was a fascinating and fabulous book that intersected society from France, England, and America. Mix in a few actresses and you will be enthralled with every lead that they chase down.

I have read and enjoyed all the other books in this series, this one however is not my favourite. I found the beginning to be quite slow and there seemed to be a lot of explanation of who the characters are and the mystery took a while to get interesting. That said once it got going I did enjoy the mystery and the outcome was not one that I expected. I still really like the characters and would read more in this series.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

While in Paris, Frances and George are drawn into a murder investigation involving a wealthy American’s deceased wife, a legendary actress, and a string of incriminating letters, forcing them to navigate Parisian high society to uncover the truth.

What fun to visit with Frances again! Fast-paced and full of twists, this compelling novel kept me guessing. The mystery can be read as a standalone, though the family relationships will be best understood if you read the series in order.

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

I enjoyed the characters and the setting. The mystery kept me guessing.

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

A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder is book number eight in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery set in the Victorian Era. This is the first book I have read in the series, and I was able to follow along easily. Frances Hazelton and her husband George are living in Paris when they are asked by Daniel Cadieu, Inspector for the Sûreté, to help solve the mystery of the death of the wife of Carlson Deaver who was a former actress. Frances and George are such a wonderful crime solving duo.

I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns in this sweet cozy mystery. I loved the setting of Paris, the fantastic characters, and the historical time period. The story surprised me and kept me engaged as I kept turning pages and tried to solve the mystery. There was great comradery with the women in the story and it was fascinating to learn about the opera in Paris at the turn of the century.
This delightful story was thoughtful, engaging, and a wonderful mystery. I loved the setting; mystery and that Frances was so clever. I highly recommend A Daughter’s Guide to Mother’s and Murder and plan to go back and read the others in the Countess of Harliegh Mystery series.

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

Another winner by Dianne Freeman. This one my fav series and I thoroguhly enjoyed this instalment even if it's not one my fav.
I loved the well researched historical background, the mix of historical and fictional characters, the humour and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is my second book from Freeman and I adored it. I have the beginning books of this series waiting for me on Audible and I can’t wait to listen.

Frances and George are favorites. I adore their relationship. The respect and love the two show each other is lovely. Frances is asked by an acquaintance to see if the man her daughter wants to marry, Carlson Deaver, is worthy of her. Frances is brought into the mystery of Carlson’s former wife that was murdered and his over-the-top mother.

The women in the book are wonderful! They all carry this story so well. And there are many. Frances, her mother, sister, her mother in law, sister in law, and more, make this story strong. I appreciated the way the author gave reminders of the previous books to catch up the reader.

The variation of creative settings added to much to the plot. The author does a great job of making me believe I knew whodunit with planted hints and way of telling the story. The twists and turns were done so well, I couldn’t turn pages fast enough and everyone is a suspect. Even though I’ve only read one another book in the series, I will continue to read and get caught up on the other books as soon as time allows.

I received a NetGalley link and hardcover from the publisher. All views are my own.

I've only read Book 1 in the series, so I struggled a bit at first as various characters from previous books were mentioned. There's definitely a balance when it comes to making a book a standalone. This had a little too much explanation. Just needed to get on with the story. One the mystery began, I really enjoyed reading. Excellent ending!

I thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for an advance reader copy of “A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Frances, the Countess of Harleigh, now happily married to George Hazelton, is friendly enough with her first husband’s mistress, Mrs. Alice Stokes-Whitney. And while she and George are in Paris, the woman asks a favor -- vet her daughter’s possible suitor. The man, Carlson Deaver, has a checkered past; there’s a rumor he may have done away with his wife. Not a good start for a new marriage. But he’s rich, and handsome, so… Frances agrees to do some investigating. And then the fun begins, with blackmail notes, pieces of jewelry from the dead woman, and the most fun of all; an appearance by Madame Sarah Bernhardt, who the would-be boyfriend accuses of the murder of Mrs. Deaver! “A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder” seems to have it all.

Well, not quite. Where’s a murder mystery without more murders? We get that, and more. With the help of Inspector Cadieux from the French police (who of course must find someone, anyone but Madame Sarah guilty), Francis and George tip toe their way through American and French society (quite the differences in viewpoint there -- author Dianne Freeman points them out quite succinctly) to figure out much more than who’d make a good son-in-law. And boy howdy, did we get a big finish.

“A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder” contains convincing word pictures of its characters, including Madame Sarah, who is always acting, whether she is on stage or not, and other leading lights of the international stage in the early 1900s. There’s also the happy circumstances of mothers and daughters (and daughters-in-law) that fight for each other. It’s another sterling effort in the series.

If you are looking for a murder mystery, I suggest picking up A Daughters Guide to Mothers and Murder. This is the 8th book of the series, but can be read as a standalone, which I can attest to since I haven’t read the rest of the series and still enjoyed this installment.

Some of my favorite elements:
- An overbearing mother
- Challenges of motherhood
- so many unexpected surprises
- Paris setting
- Olympics setting

I would categorize this as a clean mystery, there is some violence but descriptions are tame enough to not cause nightmares. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book. A review was not required.

I enjoyed this mystery set against the backdrop of the theater in Paris that includes well known actress, Sarah Bernhardt, as a suspect. Frances and George Hazelton as a team are able to discover things the police can’t because of their place in society and their connections. With the assistance and insights of friends and family they are able to gain access to the suspects and discover new information. An unexpected twist and a new crime had me reconsidering the direction I thought the story was going. Frances and George make interesting and engaging detectives and their friends and family round out the characters and action nicely.This is the eighth book in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series and it was easy to jump in and enjoy it. Now I want to go back and read the other books in this series. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy cozy Victorian mysteries.

Dianne Freeman's Countess of Harleigh series continues to delight. Although George and Frances seem to have an unusually criminal set of friends and acquaintances, it is easy to suspend belief to enjoy their investigations in turn of the century Paris!

George and Frances are continuing their extended honeymoon in France, accompanied by an ever-changing cast of characters, including Frances' seemingly much-mellowed mothers. Mother/daughter pairs and their relationships are key to the events in this delightful episode in the Countess series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Frances and George are still in Paris when they are asked by an old friend to investigate the background of a protective husband for their daughter. This leads them to delve into the secrets of backstage Parisian theatre and even includes the famous Sarah Bernhardt as a character.

This was not my favourite of the series so far. I felt that the plot was overcomplicated and events moved very slowly. It was still an okay read with a twisty mystery and a surprise ending.