Publication: 7th October 2025 – Severn House
Countess-turned-advice columnist Amelia Amesbury has a wedding to plan alongside a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.
Countess Amelia Amesbury has her work cut out. As well as balancing her alter ego—secret advice columnist, Lady Agony—and the blackmailer threatening to reveal her real identity, her sister has also announced she’s getting married. It’s joyous news, but places all the planning for a high society wedding firmly at Amelia’s door.
Luckily, her good friend and local vicar Mr. Cross has agreed to the expedited nuptials, so that’s one less thing to worry about. Until Cross is found dead at the church. Now in between bridal arrangements, Amelia must follow the clues Mr. Cross left behind.
Clearly, he’d made some enemies during his parishioner work, as strange mishaps begin to occur wherever Amelia goes. But when the danger becomes all too real, Amelia must rely on her friends and the handsome Simon Bainbridge to help solve the murder, save the wedding, and Amelia’s life too . . .
I am delighted to return to this fantastic Victorian mystery series featuring Lady Amelia Amesbury, columnist and occasional detective. In Murder in Matrimony, the fourth book in the series, Amelia is quite busy. First, her sister Madge is getting married in a month and the wedding is at her house so Amelia is juggling wedding preparations, the arrival of her entire lively family, and her sister’s cold feet. Then, her close friend, Reverend Cross, is murdered leaving her a cryptic letter and a mystery to solve, while someone threatens to reveal her secret identity as the columnist Lady Agony.
This is such an entertaining and immersive series with a strong, smart, and confident protagonist. Lady Amelia is a widow who lives in Mayfair with her young ward and her late husband’s fierce aunt. As in the previous books, she investigates with the help of her friend Kitty (and, this time, even her husband Oliver) and with Simon, her charming love interest.
The mystery is intriguing with lots of secrets and a good pace and I loved the inclusion of the blackmail plot, even though it was resolved a bit too quickly and too easily. The family drama surrounding her sister’s wedding was also engaging with the arrival of the drunk uncle and the loud aunt, and the romance between Amelia and Simon was well-developed as it moved forward and it reached a satisfying ending. I loved how each chapter begins with a letter to Lady Agony and her witty responses are quite amusing. Murder in Matrimony is an engaging and thrilling cozy mystery and I am looking forward to the next books!
A huge thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.
Mary Winters is the author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series, two cozy mystery series, and several short stories. A longtime reader of historical fiction, Mary set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip to London. Since then, she’s been busily planning her next mystery – and another trip!
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