Book 1 of 8: Countess of Harleigh Mysteries 
AMAZON
ASIN
:
B07638LZZB Publisher
:
Kensington Books 290 PAGES Publication date
:
June 26, 2018 In
this exciting historical mystery debut set in Victorian England, a
wealthy young widow encounters the pleasures—and scandalous pitfalls—of a
London social season . . .
Frances
Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a
widow than she did as a wife. With her young daughter in tow, Frances
rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister, Lily,
arriving from New York—for her first London season.
But no
sooner has Frances begun her new life than the Metropolitan police
receive an anonymous letter implicating Frances in her husband’s death.
Frances assures Inspector Delaney of her innocence, but she’s also keen
to keep him from learning the scandalous circumstances of Reggie’s
demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new neighbor, George
Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full story.
While busy with social engagements on Lily’s behalf, and worrying if Reggie really was murdered,
Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever-chivalrous
Mr. Hazelton to uncover the truth. A killer is in their midst and
Frances must unmask the villain before Lily’s season—and their
lives—come to a most unseemly end . . .
“This
lighthearted debut tale of mystery, love, and a delightful sleuth will
leave you wanting more—which is presumably just what Freeman had in
mind.” —Kirkus Reviews
MY REVIEW- 5 STARS TITLE: It's got it all, romance included
George Hazelton is in love with Frances. She doesn't even realize it or even that's she's romantically attracted to him. Not yet !They are friends. Well, after she stops trying to ignore him because of what happened with her husband. He's in on a dangerous secret and she's not 100% sure that it's safe with him. Well, he's not only helpful but also funny! He's great and has quite the sardonic humorous responses to her trying to avoid him. Fiona is George's sister and she was stern, funny, direct in speaking truth, and compassionate too as Frances's best friend. She also secretly and sometimes not so secretly thinking that George and Frances would make a great couple.
Lily is the sister who is excited about her first season. While Frances has a mix of excitement for her and wariness of her falling for the first charmer who gets her attention. Fortune hunters are out there and Lily is beautiful and charming herself. Aunt Hetty shows up with Lily, and she's a great, outrageous and funny addition to the family gathering.
Reggie is a rotter as they would say ! Dying in bed, in their home with his mistress. And that mistress had me turning back and forth trying to figure out IF she could be trusted. Alicia-Stoke-Whitney, Frances and George make for strange bed-fellows, who don't actually share a bed. But they do share trying to escape the investigations that keep mysteriously cropping up. Rose is someone that Frances will also protect at all costs. She might have ended up hating Reggie at the end of their marriage but loved the daughter that they produced.
I enjoyed it all, well except for that rather LONG title. Made for a lot of typing and looking up the spelling of, Etiquette. But it does get the attention !
I got to read a sneak peek into : A Newlywed Guide to Fortune and Murder. by Diane Freeman. Set in the 1900's.
Graham is Reggie's equally evil brother who causes Frances MANY problems as well. So does Graham's wife, they both just scheme to get more of her money.
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