A classic “locked door” snowed in murder mystery. With a long list of characters and a range of motives, the reader is left wonder “whodunnit”.

I felt the barrage of characters in the beginning of the book was very hard to follow and found myself losing track of who was who. I adore Agatha Christie and this kind of mystery but I had to convince myself to keep picking the book up to finish it. Overall this is 3/5 stars for me. I know murder mystery lovers will adore this book.

A ball that's snowed in. A scandal brewing, and an investment scheme presented. To top it all off, a body found, shot to death.

Murder at Midnight was a thoroughly enjoyable novel. It's one part Jane Austen, one part Sherlock Holmes. But unlike other authors who've jumped on the current regency mania, Schellman blends the style of the master (the previously mentioned JA) with modern language and especially sensibilities. And unlike those others, Schellman's tale keeps one hooked. I'll admit, I didn't realize that this book is a part of a series. But it didn't matter, it's the type of series where you can just jump in, wherever.

I'd wholeheartedly recommend this and the entire series to anyone who is voraciously addicted to regency, mystery, and strong female sleuths!

Murder At Midnight is the fourth book in the Lily Adler series. It’s the first book that I’ve read in the series. I didn’t feel that I was missing any information. When I read this book, that the author did manage to give just enough background information on the characters to keep me intrigued. I want to go back and read the first three books to get everyone’s back stories. Lily is a widow who has traveled with her in-laws to spend the Christmas season with friends in their friends in Hertfordshire. Her husband‘s best friend, Jack, is also in attendance. The connections between all the characters make the story itself more complex. It has a large cast of characters, but it’s easy to keep them straight. The mystery itself operates much like a locked room. Mystery. The severe snowstorm has come in trapping everyone in the house. A murder occurs. The police can’t get to the house to investigate. The time. And setting really underscore the constraints placed on women during that time. I appreciate seeing Lily maneuver through those constraints in constructive and thoughtful manner. This story takes many twists and turns that keeps readers engaged to the end. I like Lily as a character. I also liked Jack. Again, these characters’ back stories, intrigue me. In fact, I have already gone back and read the first mystery. That’s another review for another time. I listen to the audiobook format and enjoyed Henrietta Meire’s narration. Thank you to NetGalley and media for the ALC of this audiobook. My opinion is my own.
#murderatmidnight #katherineschellman #lilyadlermysteries #netgalley #dreamscapemedia

Title: Murder at Midnight
Author: Katharine Schellman
Narrated by: Henrietta Meire
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Length: Approximately 10 hours and 49 minutes
Source: Review Copy from NetGalley

Do you like mysteries that are set around holidays? I love cozy mysteries for all holidays including Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, etc. I love holiday books and it’s fun to mix up the genres.

Lily Adler is a widow in the Regency time period and is planning on spending her holiday with her late husband’s family in the country. At a ball, Lily meets new people with new secrets. A snowstorm forces the guests to stay for the night. A dead body is found in the courtyard the next morning. Will Lily be able to determine who is the murderer among them?

This is book number four of the Lily Adler series. I have not read the previous books and I feel like I would have known the characters better if I had. That being said, I did enjoy the story and it worked as a standalone. I loved the intrigue, mystery, and the interesting characters. It also made me wonder what is next for Lily Adler and for her friend, Captain Jack. I always love a locked room mystery, especially when it is at Christmas time and caused by snow.

Henrietta Meire was a good narrator, and I will be checking out more of the Lily Adler historical mystery series.

If you’re in the mood for a cozy, locked room, regency era murder mystery then you’re in for a treat! I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed the narration. Lily is such a fun character. She’s independent, fierce and was like a young Mrs. Maple, as she worked diligently to solve a murder mystery at the party she’s attending. I liked the urgency in this, as they are quickly being snowed in and the wrong person is detained. If you’re a HF mystery lover, this one is for you!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This is the fourth book in the Lily Adler series and unfortunately I didn’t realize that when I requested it. For someone who isn’t a fan of cozies, historical fiction or series, I enjoyed this one! It was a great read for the holidays. I enjoyed the relationship between Lily, Amelia, her brother and Matthew. I may even have to read the rest of the series. Lily Adler, a widow, is tasked with solving a murder and theft that occur at a party where the guests are all snowed in for the night. Are the two crimes connected? Will Lily be able to solve the murder before the police arrive? She sure hopes so since all clues point to her friends as the primary suspects…

Murder at Midnight is the fourth in an historical mystery series featuring “detective” Lily Adler a young widow with a talent for solving crimes. This is an absorbing mystery set during the Regency period that blends an intriguing plot with well-developed characters. In 1816, Lily departs London for Hertfordshire to celebrate Christmas with her late husband's family. Among the houseguests are her sometime lover Matthew, a dear friend Captain Jack Hartley and his vulnerable younger sister Amelia who has become the subject of malicious gossip. When a sudden snowstorm takes place the evening of a neighborhood ball a number of guests are forced to spend the night at the stately hall. The next morning a body is discovered in a locked room. Forced to stay together because of bad weather for a number of days tensions run high and accusations are leveled at Jack and Amelia. Jack's sacrifice to shield his sister and Lily’s interactions with her brother-in-law Sir John, a local magistrate contribute to the narrative richness of the story. While the focus is on the solving the crime, Lily’s interactions with Matthew who has proposed and her emotional reconnection to Captain Jack Hartley add an enjoyable layer of unresolved romance. This satisfying mystery can be read as a stand alone but will certainly invite the reader to seek out other books in this series. The audiobook version of the story has an excellent narrator and is highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to receive an audio copy of Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman, and it was a nice audio to listen to as I cleaned around the house. The thing is I have not read or listened to any of the past books but that did not take away anything to this one. Which I did like. I really love the murder mystery aspect throughout the book, learning of everyone and seeing if they had a reason to kill made it all the more fun. The characters were all fun and because of that, I really want to go back and read the other stories. Such a fun creative story set in historical times. I highly recommend it.

This one just wasn’t really for me. I had a hard time getting into it, and staying into it. I would purchase for someone else though! Just not my cup of tea.

I enjoyed catching up to these characters. I liked the setting, a country house party. The mystery kept me entertained and I was really wanting to know what the sister had gotten herself into!

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

It’s very strange to me how immersive the books in this series feel despite the fact that the text dedicates very little space to building atmosphere and sense of place. This is especially odd for a historical mystery, yet somehow Schellman’s unusual approach seems to work.

The mystery in this is about on par with the others in the series: Nothing earth-shattering or unusual, but enjoyable to read, well constructed, and apt in its solve.

Lily isn’t really a standout among historical mystery heroines/amateur sleuth heroines, but she’s likable enough and pleasant to spend time with as a reader.

These also feel a bit more accurate to the time period than others set in this era, which isn’t necessarily a requirement for me but is certainly something I make (positive) note of.

I listened to the audiobook version of Murder by Midnight by Katharine Schellman and it was my first time listening to this author. I absolutely loved the main character, Lily Adler, who is a smart and inquisitive widow from the Regency era. Her brains and keen observations help keep a young woman from being accused of murdering a young man who was trying to blackmail her at a country estate, as well as the girls older brother, whom Lily is friends with. As it turns out, many of the guests stranded at the country estate wanted the man dead.

The audio version I listened to was narrated by Henrietta Meier, who did an excellent job. She enunciated with aplomb with varying voices for all the characters.

When I started listening, I didn't realize that Lily was featured in three previous books. Although her prior investigations were hinted at, I didn't feel like I was lost at all as each book featured a separate and distinct mystery to solve. I am now eager to listen to the previous three installments!

In summary, I recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves Agatha Christie novels.

Lily Adler was invited to a house party in Hertfordshire in England. It was great to reunite with her old friend Captain Jack Hartley. The guests were stuck in the house because of the snowstorm.

The next day, a body was found outside the house. Amelia, who was Jack’s sister, now was the suspect due to her connection with him.

Even though the mystery story was set in a snowy night, trapped house, a dead body was found the next day and a main innocent suspect, I still enjoyed the whole story. Smartly written. I would definitely go back to read the first three installments in this series.

I listened to the audio format of this book and maybe reading is better since there are SO many characters in this. I tended to get lost listening and keeping all the characters straight. I was also a bit thrown off by the cover of this book since it seemed Christmas themed, but the story didn't surround the holidays, only wintertime.


The book is an old-time murder mystery. When a group of people get snowed into a house after a party and they wake up in the morning one of the guests at the party is dead outside. Lily Adler, a widow returning to town, is the main character in the book trying to resolve who murdered a party guest and why.  


Thank you NetGalley for the advance audio book copy!

I listened to the audiobook of this 4th book in the Lily Adler series. This one is set at a house party in England when a snowstorm hits and all are stuck at the house. And then there is a dead body found and everyone there could be the murderer. Once again Lily is called upon to help investigate and everyone is not who they seem to be. I enjoy this series and the characters.

This was first time reading something from this series, and I enjoyed this so much I plan to go back and listen to the others. I was pleasantly surprised to find this historical cozy mystery to have a lot of character depth and a fairly complex and twisty plot line. Not something I typically see in the genre.

Lily Adler is a great MC and I look forward to diving into the backlist and seeing where she started. Also, I loved seeing all the unexpected LGBTQ+ rep.

If you are a fan of Jane Austen and Agatha Christie, I think you'll have fun with this.

***Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.

I adore a locked room mystery and this one proves to be quite good. Snowed in but stir crazy, all the characters are at their wits end when they are stuck at a friend's home with none of their belongings and all of their secrets.

I am new to this series, but Lilly was a delightfully clever character and the plot was wonderful. Thow in a few red herrings, wrench up the desperation, and you have a delightful cozy mystery to read in from of the fire or curled up in a blanket on a rainy night.

Thank you NetGalley and Katharine Schellman for this Audio ARC!


I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Super engaging. I love mysteries but regency mysteries are just sooo much better! This is my first book by this author but will not be my last!

I found this book to be really engaging and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for regency mysteries so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

Set in Hertfordshire England, the fourth installment of Katharine Schellman’s Regency mystery, “Murder at Midnight,” has our heroine Lily Alder attending a holiday house party with her late husband’s mother and brother. Lily’s mother-in-law, Lady Alder, has also invited widower Matthew Spencer, who she sees as a potential match for Lily. Captain Jack Hartley, a close childhood friend of Lily’s husband, his parents and younger sister Amelia are also in attendance. Jack confides to Lily that he is concerned about the malicious gossip swirling around Amelia. It all comes to a head when one of the young male guests is murdered and Amelia becomes the prime suspect because of her connection to the murdered man. Added to the mix, several of the guests are forced to stay over due to a severe storm and Lily is quietly enlisted to try to discover the true murderer.

I love this series, especially our heroine Lily. Her character has grown so much, becoming a more self-assured and independent woman. It was good to have Jack back in the story. The story was well written with loads of suspects, interesting characters, and many unexpected twists. The mystery kept me engaged and there was a romance thrown in. Who will Lily choose, Jack or Matthew? I would absolutely recommend this series. It can be read as a standalone but some of the nuances and backstories of some of the characters would be better understood by reading the other books in the series.

This is a review of the audio book and the narration was excellent. I received a free copy of this audio book from NetGalley in exchange for providing an unbiased review.