Oh, I really enjoyed reading this one. The characters are all really lovable and the mystery takes some time to progress. It was fascinating to view the troubles of a British manor from the outside, from fresh eyes. And the vivid descriptions made it easy for me to imagine the beautiful countryside. I think once I started reading this book, I didn't stop till I had finished it.

I'd definitely consider reading more books in the series.

Lucy Stone is depressed, things haven’t been going right, she misses Patrick after he left to go back to Alaska, and she needs something new. Lucy’s best friend, Sue, invites her to go with her to England where she is helping an Earl she met previously, with a hat display, and while they are there, they discover a dead body in the British Manor where they are staying. Of course Lucy uses her skills to help find the murderer, and her adventures put her and Sue, as well as the Earl’s family members in danger.

Fans of the Lucy Stone series will enjoy this novel because the beloved characters are back, and Leslie Meier definitely knows how to tell a good story. This cozy series is lots of fun, as well as well-written and easy to follow. Lucy, et al, seem like old friends, and her adventures are usually quite believable. Meier captures the nuances of British life in this novel, and makes readers want to visit England and see for themselves. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this novel.

Ms. Meier gives the reader another installment in this long-running series, this time with a trip "across the pond".
For collections with a strong demand for mystery series.

British Manor Murder is the 23rd installment in the Lucy Stone series. Lucy Stone is feeling depressed that her grandson is in Alaska with his parents, so with the encouragement of her husband Bill she agrees to accompany her best friend Sue Finch to England.

Sue has been invited by Perry, Earl of Wickham to visit his family estate, Moreton Manor for the Heads Up! Hat Festival. Upon arrival they discover the estate is falling into disrepair and as a result the family has opened up the majority of the mansion to the public in an effort to earn money for upkeep. Living with Perry is his sister Poppy and husband Gerald, and soon comes their demanding Aunt Millicent and ladies maid Harrison.

Soon after their arrival the twosome discover the body of a young man and an investigation into his death begins. Lucy and Sue really have nothing to do with the investigation, so really the murder takes a backstage to the plot which mostly revolves around the discord in Perry's family.

Definitely not one of my favorite Lucy Stone books. The thing that aggravated me the most about this book (and some of you may find this silly) - the cover depicts two corgis. The dogs in the book who are only briefly mentioned are a black and yellow lab named Monty and Churchy. I would think the author, her editor and cover designer would have noticed this huge discrepancy.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

I found myself rolling my eyes over the first chapter or two of the book, with Lucy's reaction to Patrick's leaving with his parents for Alaska. Sue seems so unfriendly and hateful, Lucy husband is just blah and a flake