A Pernicious Fabrication, the newest installment in the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, is another great mystery by Lynn Messina. The dialogue is clever, the characters are fantastic, and I love the Regency setting.

Bea is minding her own business when Hell and Fury Hawes appears in her parlor to ask the Duke and Duchess to investigate the murder of Mortimer Matlock, the duke's cousin. Mortimer was part of Hawes' art forging scheme, and there are many suspects who had motive to extinguish the art forger. I loved the twists and turns, and I can't wait for the next book!

Yet another great addition to an already wonderful series of books. I still love following along with Beatrice and The Duke. This is a fun read but with mystery and all the things that go along with a relationship as well. These two are great characters and reading this book (and the others) is easy and enjoyable. Great writing and hopefully there is more to come.

Thank You NetGalley and Book Whisperer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Book Whisperer for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did enjoy this book even though it wasn't my favorite genre. It did keep my interest and I did read it in one day. I would definitely recommend this book.

I do like the Duke and Bea. They make a great team. The duke has a relative that has been murdered but who did it? The case leads to areas no one predicted. There is hidden complications that hints that the relative was into illegal activity. Actually the whole dive into the gang activity was well thought out and really added to the story. This was one well worth reading.

I've read all of the novels in this series and they just keep getting better. The relationship between the Duke and his wife, Bea, is delightful. They share a way of interacting and thinking as they search for clues, interview suspects and witnesses that allows the reader to be both intrigued and often amused. Bea's desire to become a proficient fencer, marksperson and now pugilist is one of the unique ways her husband indulges her- and most probably wouldn't have happened at the time, but is often useful within the context of the story. As in all of the other books in the series, they are forced to investigate a murder and this time it's more a case of looking for clues as they unravel a larger and larger group of possible suspects.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lynn Messina for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Pernicious Fabrication coming out March 7, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoy this author’s writing. I haven’t read all the books in the series, but I love regency mysteries. I think Beatrice is a strong character. I enjoy her interactions with Damien. The first half of the book was really fun. There were some choices made that I wasn’t super on board with. But overall, I really enjoyed this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys regency mysteries!

What's to say? This is another addition to this fabulous, fun series and I always enjoy visiting with these great, quirky characters!

As much as she does not want to get involved, Bea is forced to because the murder victim is family.

What is one to do? Sit back and enjoy this adventure and hope a new one will be following soon!

I love this series though I am reading it a little strangely. I started with the Lark series and received ARC's of the most recent 3 of the Beatrice series and have been reading from the first one also, and at some point will meet in the middle. I was expecting Verity to show up to teach Bea how to shoot a gun. Maybe in the next book. This was a particularly complicated mystery. The Duke's cousin Mortimer is killed and it is discovered he was forging antiquities for a criminal enterprise lead by the King of Saffron Hill, Hell and Fury Hawes. Hawes comes to the Duchess asking her to find the killer.
There are many suspects and as the Duke and Duchess interrogate them, we learn about how the criminals operate with the help of corrupt men who need money.
The best part of these books is the banter between Bea and Damien. She still is nervous being a Duchess, so a side plot is her anxiety of hosting a house party at the country estate. I hope that is where the next book starts.
Thanks to Netgalley, the Book Whisperer and the author for my EARC. I highly recommend this series and plan to suggest the first book to my female mystery writer book club. The opinions are mine alone.

This thirteen book in the Beatrice Hyde Clare Mystery series was a fascinating and well written cozy regency muder mystery. I really enjoyed this delightful cat and mouse of who did it. It was very interesting and kept me engaged and captivated with how it would end. I highly recommend reading!

With a character named Hell and Fury Hawes, you don'y have to guess as to his illegal activities. When this man presents himself to the Duke, he's looking for help. One of his employees, who also happens to be the Duke's cousin, has been killed and Hawes is determined to find out why. Bea has earned the nickname "Duchess of Murder" but she's only helping with this investigation because it's family.....and she's curious.
This series has become a favorite. While it's not hardcore murder mystery, nor is it a cozy, the blend of the two genre and the characters make it well worth your reading time.

Thanks to the author for the eARC; all opinions are my own.

I would seriously love to know how Lynn Ora up with the ideas for the books in this series, and the companion Verity Lark series, because they are so interesting and creative and detailed and I love it all.

In this one, Beatrice is getting ready to remove to the country estate and continues to feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of running a huge manor, finds out that a friend has gone ahead and issued invitations to a house party at said manor without telling Beatrice, and also needs to investigate, at the behest of London’s notorious criminal mastermind, the murder of her husband’s cousin.

And of course, she must find time to relax in her office of rout cake enjoyment.

In addition to murder, there’s forgeries and theft and so much more.

If you enjoy the Veronica Speedwell series, I highly recommend trying out this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Considering that I read this latest book by Lynn Messina before reading any other of the numerous prequels, I got the gist pretty quickly. Thank you, Ms Messina, for quickly filling in the details I needed to know.

Beatrice (Bea), Duchess of Kesgrave, has shown herself to be quite a detective, and it has not escaped the notice of the criminal elements in London. So when one of the most notorious mobsters shows up at her London residence requesting her help in solving the murder of one of his associates, she is not overly surprised, but she is not inclined to help him either. But when he reveals that the murder victim is her husband's cousin, she and the Duke feel it is necessary to at least look at the crime.

With their rank in society and her notoriety as a crime solver, they have entree into almost any place in London. And when the crime web stretches all the way to the London Museum, it becomes even more important to find the killer and make sure justice is done.

The insights into London Society (with a capital S!), as well as the impunity with which the criminals operate in this pre-Scotland Yard era are interesting and I found this to be a delightful story. AND a mystery that I did not solve, which I always appreciate!!

Her Outageousness prevails!

Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave, “Her Outrageousness” is in a pickle. She’s dreading going to Haverill Hall with its hundreds of rooms and servants to match, the “massive Matlock ancestral estate.” Beatrice is pregnant. The thought of removing to the Hall maybe by September is weighs down on her. Now she learns Lady Abercrombie has autocratically, without permission, issued invitations to a house party at the Hall. Something Bea had said she didn’t want and something the atrociously managing Lady Abercombie had no right to do!
Bea’s secretly apprehensive about how the servants at the estate will react to her.
All that fades though when the Crime Lord, “Hell and Fury” Hawes pays a visit to inform Beatrice and Kesgrave that he’s just come from the Duke’s cousin’s place and has found Mortimer dead, murdered. Hawe’s is calling in his marker. He wants Bea and the Duke to investigate.
Their investigations uncover a lively trade in fraudulent ancient artefacts, including forged Assyrian reliefs, and so much more.
The unveiling of the murderer is dangerous. Bea is not moved.
Throughout this investigation it seems Bea has come to terms with the strong person she now is.
Another fascinating tale from Messina about one of my fav. intrepid regency sleuths.

A Book Whisperer ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Entertaining. The art-forgery and antiquities-smuggling aspects are what drew me in initially, and while these plot points drive the story they aren't the focus (if you see what I mean) as much as the web woven by and for the Duchess. It's book thirteen in a series, so good lawsy me have I missed a lot.

I'm not sure I'll go get three through twelve. Don't start here, but if like me you're a fan of Regency-set stuff, pick up book one. I enjoyed it more than this one; most likely because I missed so much in the middle.

After a slow start, this newest instalment of Beas adventures had me completely hooked. Tasked with solving a murder by a criminal mastermind, Bea and Damien have to navigate a convoluted network of antiques forgers to find out who killed the victim and why. This was a really enjoyable cosy crime read and i particularly liked the involvement of Hell and Hawes Fury, who brought some nefarious drama to the series.

It's another outing for the Duchess of Kesgrave as detective and it's another fun romp in regency London. Bea's already under pressure with the upcoming move to the country and for the house party she's expected to give. But there are matters closer to home with yet another murder needing her assistant. The difference this time is one of the previous villains is one who brings it to her attention and asks her to solve it. She has no intention of doing anything to help this man until a detail comes out about the identity of the victim. Soon the Duchess and Duke are up to their necks in dealing with fraud, antiquities and the art world.

I will note that there are quite a few references to a previous case from a book I haven't read yet. Having read many of the books, though, I was able to enjoy this just as well. It just makes a reminder to me to acquire more of the earlier books so I can enjoy these even more thoroughly.

As always, this was a fun read and I highly recommend it. Thank you to Book Whisperer and Netgalley for providing a free advanced reader copy. I have left this review voluntarily.

A Pernicious Fabrication is another delightful edition of the Beatrice Hyde Clare Mysteries by Lynn Messina. The reader joins Bea as she navigates two problematic events vying for her attention. There is the daunting prospect of hosting a summer house party at the ducal country estates and the mystery of Damon’s cousin Mortimer’s murder. Bea is reluctant to take on the investigation but that has more to do with her skepticism of the criminal mastermind Hell and Fury Hawes, who seeks their assistance to root out the killers from among his underlings. While Kesgrave shares her misgiving, he is intent on pursuing justice for his cousin.

The story involves forgery, murder, and fraud in the world of antiquities. It also explores Bea struggles to reconcile her perception of herself as the shy voiceless spinster with her new role as a self-assured outspoken investigator. This is a fantastic series with wonderful characters that you cannot help but love and this installment is no exception. Bea and Damon are such a great couple, and I adore their interaction. I highly recommend this series to those who enjoy historical cozy mysteries and to those who love this Beatrice Hyde Clare world. This is another great addition to the series.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Book Whisperer for an eARC of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I thank NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for an advance reader copy of “A Pernicious Fabrication.” All opinions and comments are my own.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave” indeed, as the Kesgraves (and readers) will discover, and you might need a scorecard to follow along as to the who and the what and the where when the “King of Saffron Hill,” London’s most notorious crime boss, asks them to find out who’s murdered one of his treasured minions.

Another personal tragedy is the catalyst for a convoluted mystery that will tests the talents of the Duke and Duchess of Kesgrave to the fullest, but one they will solve with their usual panache, while Beatrice does what she does best -- fret at dealing with her place in society. You’d think after thirteen books she’d have a better handle on this, and readers would be spared the hand-wringing a bit. Perish the thought. And Mr. T-T may have departed the field, but unfortunately there’s a new gossip-monger in town to contend with, alas.

With the usual detailed look at London and its inhabitants, and an ending that has Bea showing her mettle, “A Pernicious Fabrication” will keep you guessing as to whether new -- or age-old -- motives for murder are behind the death of a promising artist. The “murder duchess” can continue her activities for another day.

Bea, Duchess of Kesgrave was an unusual mix of personality. On the one hand she was the confident and successful solver of crimes and on the other questioning her ability to hold a house party in their country estate. I liked the way that Bea and Kesgrave worked together and the way he supported her, not something many gentlemen of the time would have done. I did like the close loving relationship and their affectionate banter with each other. This was a complex case with a number of different characters and it certainly had me guessing until the end. This was an engaging read and the ways of speaking and sensibilities of the time were apt for this era. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This series continues to delight with its combination of intrigue, history and romance. I love reconnecting with all the fascinating characters.