Francis and George Hazelton are still in Paris and enjoying their much deserved leisure time when an old acquaintance from London, Alicia Stoke-Whitney crosses their path. They might’ve left on bad terms from London, but everything is new again in Paris and Alicia needs Francis’s help!

Alicia’s daughter it’s being romanced by a wealthy American whose wife suspiciously passed away just a year ago… She needs to know if her daughter is courting a murderer and she needs Francis to find out!

Soon Francis and George find themselves teaming up again with inspector Cadieux, investigating the suspicious death and leading themselves right in the middle of the drama of the Paris stage!

I’ve been a fan of the Hazleton’s and their partnership investigations from the get-go and this book was another fun mystery that had me guessing until the very end! Francis and George are the epitome of a modern era Victorian couple, very much in love and very much with their nose in other people‘s business! I love how murders and mysteries find them wherever they go, but the circumstances always seem probable enough. Fans of historical era murder mysteries will have a lot of fun with this one even if you haven’t read the previous installments.

This was my first Countess of Harleigh Mystery and first book by Dianne Freeman and I must say, I will be back for more! This mystery was compelling and kept me fully engaged. I loved the old movie feel of the plot and how all the characters reveal themselves. Plus having a detective couple working things out is always a fun bonus! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in the series at a future time.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This series is so fun and pulls you in quickly! I have listened to most of it on audible, but this one was a great read and maybe one of the best!

Francis and George are at it again and this time in Paris. What could be better? An old murder comes to life and the suspect just seems wrong. But with this duo on the case, nobody is safe!

Lovable characters mixed with danger, intrigue and murder, bring everything needed for a fabulous read!!

Frances and George enjoying a quiet interlude in Paris, away from family for much deserved leisure time. Cut short with an enquiry re a young man, a potential suitor for the daughter of family friends.

This was the beginning of the story where Carlson Deaver, master of the double life is slowly uncovered, a dead wife miraculously reappears, complicated liaisons under the pretext of respectability, and all the hypocrisy of double standards of the Victorian age are uncovered.

Very nicely told as a story, several strands of the lives of diverse people are brought together in a tale of murder and mystery galore.

Dianne Freeman continues her Countess of Harleigh mysteries in A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder. Paris in 1900 is the site of the Olympics and the Paris Exposition. Frances and George Hazelton are vacationing in Paris and get involved in the murder of the wife of a wealthy American. Because Sarah Bernhardt, the actress, received a blackmailing letter that might implicate her the police ask for the Hazeltons to assist in the investigation. Scandal, theft and blackmail are cause for gossip and danger. Whodunit? Fast moving with lots of suspects and high societoy hijinks. Enjoy.

I embarrassed to say that I read the ARC of "A Daughter's Guide..." when I first received it, but forgot to write a review. When I remembered, I wavered between a 3 and 4 star rating, but ultimately landed on 3 because this installment didn’t hold my attention quite like the others in the series. It may be that I prefer the English settings—Paris didn’t charm me as much—or perhaps the plot felt more convoluted than usual, especially the introduction of Sarah Bernhardt, which came across as a bit forced.

For those unfamiliar with the series, Frances, Countess of Harleigh, and her husband George Hazelton serve as the sleuths. The couple are in Paris when Frances is reluctantly pulled into another investigation. Her old rival, Alicia (with plenty of backstory there), asks her to look into Carlson Deaver, a potential suitor for Alicia’s daughter. The catch? Carlson’s first wife may have been murdered, and Alicia wants to make sure he’s not responsible.

I still enjoyed the read—Frances and George remain a delightful pair—but this wasn’t the strongest entry in the otherwise good series.

This book was an engaging read, filled with unexpected twists and turns that made it a compelling page-turner. The numerous mysteries kept me guessing until the very end, and I appreciated the cozy mystery instead of a violent one. Although it started slowly, the narrative soon became impossible to put down. The well-crafted characters were relatable, and the storyline was intriguing. Loved it and love this series.

This is the eighth book in the Countess of Harleigh series and in my opinion one of the best so far! This novel follows Frances and George as they investigate the robbery and murder of the late wife of a man interested in marrying Alicia's daughter Harriet. Alicia is a personal favorite character of mine and the fact that an Alicia centered mystery didn't have more Alicia in it is my only complaint. Other than that, this was so much fun. This further establishes this series as a personal favorite of mine. I always love the characters, and I find Dianne Freeman is so good at painting a fantastic setting for her novels. This book in particular has an absolutely fantastic twist. I also really loved the second to last chapter and the way the murder was revealed. Overall, I cannot recommend this series enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another enjoyable read. This had lots of twists and turns, with “ I didn’t see that coming” episodes, which made the story a good page-turner. It had me guessing until the end, the answer to the many different mysteries unfolding. I have read all the books in the series, and I only gave this one a 4* because I felt it was a little slow to start. However, once I got into it, I found it hard to put down. The characters are wonderfully written and very relatable, and the storyline is interesting with no violence, which is nice in a murder mystery. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

Diane Freeman returns with the eighth book in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. In this edition, titled “A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder,” our intrepid couple, Frances and George, finally get some much-needed alone time after their most recent adventure. However, their retreat is short-lived as Frances’s mother joins them, and they are soon drawn into another murder investigation.

Inspector Daniel Cadieux of the French police recruited the couple to assist in investigating a cold case involving the murdered wife of a wealthy American, Carlson Deaver. Coincidentally, Alicia Stoke-Whitney has asked Frances to investigate Mr. Deaver’s background. Mr. Deaver is courting Alicia’s daughter, Harriett, but the unsolved murder of his wife casts a shadow over the potential courtship. Additionally, a familiar character reappears in this installment: Mimi Deaver, who previously entrusted her daughter to Frances to be introduced to London society, is also Carlson’s mother. The case takes an intriguing turn as one of the suspects is none other than Sarah Bernhardt, the renowned and beloved French stage actress of the period.

There is so much to love in this delightful story with its strong, engaging and likable characters. The author vividly brings the period to life, offering readers a glimpse into this chapter of history, from the second Olympic Games in Paris to the city’s theatrical world. It reintroduces several characters from Mimi Deaver, providing more insight through her backstory, along with a gentler side of Frances’s mother. The narrative is filled with murder, scandal, blackmail, secret affairs, and mentions of domestic violence.

This first-rate mystery will satisfy those craving suspense, with numerous suspects, plenty of clues, misdirection’s, and surprises that keep the reader engrossed. “A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder” can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, but some nuances and backstories of the characters would be better understood by reading the other books in the series. I would absolutely recommend this series to those who are enamored with cozy mysteries, strong female-driven narratives, and historical suspense. This series never disappoints, and I eagerly look forward to the next installment.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the digital Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder was such a delightful, cozy historical mystery.

This is mumber 8 in the Countess of Harleigh Series. I haven't read all of the books in this series, and I have been reading out of order, so these books can be read as stand-alones. I have come to really love these books and plan on going back and reading all in the series.

Our main character, Frances, and her husband are in Paris, enjoying some time together. Frances is approached by a friend to look into the death of the wife of a man who is courting her daughter. His wife was murdered but the case was never solved. At the same time, Frances' husband is approached by an inspector with the French police to investigate this crime. So, our husband and wife investigative duo are at it again.

I really love our main characters in this series. Frances and her husband are such great characters. They are intelligent, witty, and warm. It just makes reading about them so pleasant. The mystery was so interesting. There was a surprise twist I never saw coming. I suspected who the culprit was, but how it ended up being revealed added the perfect element of justice to this mystery.

What I also appreciate about this series is that you get more from the books than just the mystery. The author really immerses us into the characters' lives and tackles some tough topics. In this story, there is a theme of domestic violence. So, while still cozy, they do have quite a bit of depth to them.

If you are a fan of the Victorian era and cozy mysteries, this one is definitely for you.

Thank you to Kensington Books for the advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Where would you like to vacation this summer? We are touring my second child around to colleges this year so that is our vacation. We recently camped in the Duluth, Minnesota area and visited a college. A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder is set in Paris, which is a place I have always wanted to visit.

Frances and George are relaxing and spending time in Paris when Frances meets with an old frenemy, Alice. Frances’s first husband died in bed with Alice, so Frances and Alice have a strained relationship. Regardless, Alice seeks Frances out to ask for her help investigating her daughter’s love interest. His first wife was murdered, and Alice wants to know if he had anything to do with it. An incriminating piece of evidence is found with Sarah Bernhardt. Could America’s sweetheart be a murderer?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This is the eighth novel in the Countell of Harleigh Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone novel. I’ve only read the seventh novel in the series, and I enjoyed this addition. I do need to go back and start this series from the beginning.

• I love George and Frances. They are both wonderful characters and such a great couple. I love their relationship. I also love that they are such great sleuths that the French police ask for their help in this book. Frances definitely took the lead on the investigation in this novel.

• This was a delightful cozy mystery that kept me guessing. I did not see the ending coming!

• I loved the addition of actress Sarah Bernhardt as a suspect.

• This novel had great female characters and empowerment in this novel.

• Frances’s sister Lily has just had a baby and I felt for her in this novel. Her portrayal of a tired young mother really spoke to me.
• I thought it was interesting that the plot included the second Olympics in Paris as well as the Paris theatre scene. It was fun!
Overall, A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman is a delightful historical cozy mystery starring my favorite couple and crime solving duo, Frances and George.
Book Source: Thank-you to @diannefreemanwrites @kensingtonbooks @austenprose for the review copy as a part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dianne Freeman for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder coming out June 24, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a series that I’ve always wanted to check out. I have several of the books, but I haven’t read them. I really enjoyed this book. I love historical murder mysteries. I thought the characters were really good. I would definitely check out more books by this author.

This was another new-to-me author, but I knew, just from looking at the cover, that this would be a fun read! And it did not disappoint!

But, in all honesty, I will have to say... it took me just a bit to find myself wanting to keep reading. Could this be because I am jumping into the middle of this series? Or because it is a new-to-me author? Perhaps either one could be true.

I did find my rhythm, and as I grew to enjoy the tale and the characters, and, of course the mystery they were determined to solve, I also found myself enjoying the storyline more and more. It gave me just a bit of an Agatha Christie feel, but it did feel more modern than that, I guess I'm not quite sure how to exactly describe the thoughts and feelings I had....

Frankie and George were quite the detective pair.

This book has mystery, humor, and of course, danger and suspense.

I do recommend it!

(Disclaimer: I don't think this is necessarily categorized as Christian fiction, but I found it to be a clean read.)

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

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!