As usual, another enjoyable installment in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series (though I think we should just call this series "Francis and George Get Into Trouble Again!") Set in France once again, Francis and George set out to discover information about a suitor for a friend, but it doesn't stop there. An unsolved murder has shaken the theater community and has put the Great Sarah Bernhardt in the crosshairs. Could the infamous actress be guilty of murder? It's a race against time and bubbling anger to find the culprit.

This installment in the series is sweet, funny, and well researched. You can tell the author has a passion for the era and includes interesting bits, even if it's not central to the story - like the Olympics being in Paris that year. The characters are likeable and well rounded. Well done!

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington publishers, Penguin Random House, and author Dianne Freeman for the eARC of this novel.

I quite enjoyed “A Daughter's Guide to Mother's and Murder” by Diane Freeman. It is the 8th novel in the series, and I waited to read it until after April 1st so I could read the novella, “George and Frances Roll the Dice,” that came out between books 7 and 8. It is my personality that I need to read books in order. I do recommend that for this series, even though it is a very satisfying mystery, regardless of whether you recognize the characters from previous stories. However, there is significant arching of the characters from book 1 to book 8.

From here on, there are mild spoilers if you haven’t already read any of the books in the series.

Frances Hazelton is the Countess of Harleigh and is married to George Hazelton. They are currently in Paris visiting Frances’s sister Lily, who has a daughter. Their mother also arrives from Egypt. Lily’s in-laws are there, as are some older acquaintances. Francis is asked to look into Carlson Deaver by Alicia Stoke-Whitney to find out if he murdered his wife. Carlson has shown some interest in Alicia’s daughter, Harriet, and she wants to make sure it is a safe match. Turns out the French inspector has also asked George, Frances's husband, to look into the murder of Carlson’s wife as well, because a beloved actress had received a blackmailer's note suggesting she had something to do with the murder and the police did not want to touch the case.

We follow along as George and Francis interview possible suspects and others who might know something that could lead to solving the case. During their investigation, we also learned that Lilly finds raising a child to be incredibly tiring, and Lily's sister-in-law is playing in the Olympic golf tournament that's happening in Paris at the time.

I really enjoy the interplay between Frances and George and how they work together as a loving couple and as equals. It was also great to see them working with the police instead of having to work around the police as they investigate. I would say that I solved the mystery, at least I wasn't surprised.

This series of mysteries is considered a cozy mystery. Aside from the victims, no one's in grave danger or gets harmed, and the murders tend to happen off stage, meaning you are not with the character as they are killed. In fact, there are moments of lightheartedness and things to giggle at.

It was a satisfying mystery, and I enjoyed it.

I was given advanced access to the book via Netgalley and the publisher, Kensington Publishing Corp., in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing installment in Dianne Freeman's electric series. I adore the Countess of Harleigh and George (what a sweetiepie). She settles into another mystery with zest and humor once more.

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder is a fun mystery set in Paris around the turn of the 20th century — cars are a new innovation, the second-ever modern Olympiad is taking place to little fanfare because the Paris exposition (a World’s Fair) is also going on, the actress Sarah Bernhardt is building her status as the first big modern celebrity … It was an exciting time, and author Dianne Freeman takes full advantage of all Paris has going on.

Frances (the former Countess of Harleigh) and George Hazelton (her new husband) are returning to England through Paris. They become increasingly involved in searching out the solution to a murder and other crimes, and we are pulled into their large circle of friends and acquaintances as they diver deeper into the mystery.

There are a lot of characters with complex relationships, and it might be confusing for readers who are new to the series — but stick with it. The denouement is unexpected and powerful.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

8.5 books in and I am completely addicted to the Countess of Harleigh series. Dianne Freeman has created a universe that is fully of brilliant characters, stories, history and mysteries. Every time I begin to read one of the Countess Harleigh books, I am hard pressed to stop. A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder was no different, I was completely locked into this book!!

Paris 1900 - in the middle of not only the Exposition, but the Olympics. Frances and George Hazelton’s long-delayed Parisian holiday has been less than idyllic, what with the murders, but they manage it all with their natural aplomb. While the honeymoon is winding down, the murders are not. We are pulled as Frances and George are recruited to help solve a cold case that has started to thaw.

I adored so many elements of this book, starting with the historical, for which I am a sucker! Adding the great actress Sarah Bernhardt as a supporting character in this book was divine. Ms. Freeman brought her to life in a way that new generations will get to know and appreciate.

I can’t wait to enjoy the next installment!


Thanks to the publisher for sharing an advanced copy of this book.

What a rollercoaster of a read! From the very beginning, I was drawn into the world the author created, even though the start was a bit slow. It took some time to get to know the key characters and to fully immerse myself in the setting, but it was well worth the patience. The careful buildup helped establish the stakes, and once the action picked up, the story truly took off.

As the twists and turns began to unfold, I was absolutely hooked. Each unexpected revelation left me eagerly turning the pages, desperate to see where the story would go next. The pacing picked up considerably, and before I knew it, I couldn’t put the book down. The suspense was palpable, and the author did an excellent job of keeping me on the edge of my seat.

The ending, though, that was something else. It completely blew my mind and left me thinking long after I had finished reading. There were so many layers to it, and the ambiguity of it had me scratching my head in the best way possible. It’s one of those conclusions that makes you want to dive back into the story, looking for clues you might have missed the first time around.

I can’t wait for the next installment! The way this book ended has set the stage for what promises to be an even more thrilling continuation, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next one as soon as it’s released

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book 8 of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series continues with Frances and George back in Paris when an acquaintance, Alicia Stoke-Whitney, asks Frances to investigate Alicia’s current love interest, Carlson Deaver, a wealthy American whose wife was murdered less than a year earlier. The couple are working together with Daniel Cadieux, Inspector for the Sûreté, on a startling new lead on the case. Frances manages to co-opt her mother into helping with the detective work. The lead suspect is the divine Sarah Bernhardt, but she has received an earring she recognizes as belonging to Deaver’s wife.

Author Freeman has reached a new peak in handling multiple suspects and theories, leading to delightfully unexpected twists and turns. I also enjoy that Frances is liberated woman who becomes more liberated with time. Here she learns to drive and to play golf.

This book was an excellent continuation of the series. Frances lives up to expectations as an amateur sleuth, and the other characters do not disappoint. I was unable to guess who did it, and was surprised during the reveal.

I have loved the series from the start! I always love seeing Frances and George and all the hijinks they get up to. I also enjoyed the addition of Frances’s mother as an intriguing side character in this book. My only complaint is that this one seemed slower and it didn’t seem to move as quickly as the others in this series. I can’t wait to see where this Frances and George head to next!

Thanks for NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my review!

You’re not reading this book if you didn’t already love the previous books in the series.
The mystery was fun and I very much enjoy the dynamic between the main couple.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Lots of fun, surprises, and red herrings in this latest installment of the Lady Harleigh Mysteries. Lots of female empowerment. It felt a little like The First Wives Club, but in 1900 in Paris. Thanks to Kensington for the ARC.

I love this series! Being back in Paris is so much fun! The wonderful characters always take the stories to the next level! This book is a fast and fun read! I recommend for everyone!

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder is the eighth installment in the Frances Hazelton mystery series, the second of which to take place in Paris around the 1900 World's Fair and Olympics. Rival-turned-friend Alicia Stoke-Whitney asks Frances to investigate whether widower Carlson Deaver would make a good husband for her daughter. George returns home to reveal he's been discussing the still-open murder investigation of Deaver's first wife. Before long, the divine Sarah Bernhardt has been roped in as a potential suspect, and Frances and George are as focused as ever in cracking the case.

I did not crack the case this time. As a big mystery reader, to me, this is a signal that Dianne Freeman is truly bringing new ideas to the table - I highly recommend A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder to anyone looking for a relatively cozy murder mystery that will keep you on your toes!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The eighth book in the Countess of Harleigh series. Francis and George are at the height of their crime-solving powers as they navigate Paris society looking for clues. This time, Sarah Bernhardt might be involved in the crime, if only in a peripheral way, and they have to tread carefully. The dialogue is witty, the plotting is complex and of course, the Paris setting is a delight. Can't wait for the next installment and hope this series goes on forever.

Fantastic! Dianne Freeman does not miss. A wonderfully lighthearted murder mystery with a terrific twist and great interpersonal dynamics. Frances is fantastic as our quick-witted heroine and George her long-suffering but equally quick-witted husband.

I actually thought about the twist - my brain went "hey, what if?" - but I got distracted by another detail until it happened and I went HA! out loud. I really enjoyed this book as I always enjoy this series and I can't believe I'm going to have to wait a year for the next one!

This book is one of my favorites of the series. George and Frances and varies friends and family members are all still in France and enjoying Paris. In this outing, George and Frances are trying to figure out if a possible suitor of a friend’s daughter murdered his late wife. The case has been languishing for almost a year, as the actress Sarah Bernhardt is on the fringes of the case as a friend of the murdered woman, and no one wants to tarnish her reputation. She meets George and Frances and then becomes further involved in the investigation when a second friend is murdered. It’s a difficult case, but George and Frances figure out what happened and then figure out how to trick the guilty party into confessing. If you haven’t read this series, I definitely recommend it. It’s got great characters, interesting locations, and good plotting.

Dianne, how are you going to beat this perfection now?

Frances and George are still in Paris. They were asked to help investigate a murder from a few months prior. They are so awesome, even the French police need them.

There are a few unexpected turns in this book, but the masterfully crafted mystery is not the reason why it’s the best book in this series. We already knew that Frances and George were the best sleuths in the world. (George is also the hottest.)

What stands out is the girl power; I loved the women in this book, and I loved the feminist undertones. Frances’s mom was mostly a Mrs. Bennet type in the previous books, but she redeemed herself in this one. The portrayal of early motherhood (Frances’s sister just had a baby) was very realistic and I loved the pragmatic approach the author took here. We need more books like this.

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

This was fun!

Eight books into this series and she gives us a twisty mystery with extra snark and a decidedly pro-woman flavour. I dunno if Dianne was radicalized recently but this had a great undertone about men, power and motherhood that I loved.

You know I love an anti-men agenda, and though George is a golden retriever ideal husband and the exception that proves the ‘not all men’ rule, Frances was the star of this show (she usually is) and she kept him in his place as her low-level sidekick. Maybe I’m the one who’s radicalized 🤔.

Anyway I enjoyed this and I’ll probably tone down this review at some point but I’m annoyed by the world right now and any book that speaks truth to power will make me happy.

This installment finds in Freeman’s Countess Harleigh series finds Frances and George still in Paris, where the previous installment took them, and once again in the midst of a murder, where every installment finds them. If you enjoyed the earlier books, you will find this just as engaging: with Sarah Bernhardt on the scene, the Olympics in the background, explanatory backstory on American Mimi Deaver who resurfaces in Paris (having previously abruptly dropped her daughter on Frances to manage her London debut), and a détente between not only Frances and her own mother (who turns out to be a good egg and able partner in setting things to rights), but also (oddly) between Frances and the nemesis who had an affair with her first husband. The book requires some suspension of disbelief—from the Bernhardt appearances to the collaboration with the Paris police—to name a couple of plot devices. But it is buoying in its consistent theme of women serving as allies to one another, outmaneuvering many a man, and righting all manner of wrongs that are artfully interwoven in the plot.

This is the 8th book in the Countess of Harleigh series. Hard to believe it's been eight books. Frances and George are in Paris enjoying a little vacation when an acquaintance contact them to look into a potential suitor for her daughter. The suitor's wife was murdered less than a year before but because he's a rich American, he's prime pickings. The murder hasn't been solved, and the acquaintance is concerned about whether the American is the murder. Nothing points to him but you never know. The American's mother is involved with a Count who is living off her money. I thought I had the American's mother pegged for the murder but boy, was I wrong. A delightful story with lots of twists and turns in it.