#BookReview: ONLY MURDERS IN THE ABBEY by Beth Cowan-Erskine @HodderBooks

Publication: 13th February 2025 – Hodder & Stoughton

Loch Down Abbey is full of guests for a Highland Ball. Including several uninvited members of the Inverkillen clan, the Abbey’s former residents. Housekeeper Mrs MacBain thinks her biggest challenge will be finding suitable rooms for everyone and keeping the peace at cocktail hour.

Until the morning after the ball, when one of the guests is discovered inside the Abbey’s library – as dead as a doornail.

Who would have had motive to want them dead? And how did they manage to commit their crime and escape while keeping the door locked from the inside?

With an Abbey full of suspects and secrets, it is down to Mrs MacBain to catch the killer before they strike again…

A brilliantly twisty and deliciously witty Golden Age murder mystery to transport you to 1930s Scotland. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Janice Hallett and Richard Osman.

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I am delighted to return to Loch Down Abbey and its colorful inhabitants with their secrets and murders to solve.

Set in the 1930s in the Scottish Highlands, the story picks up a few years after the events of Loch Down Abbey. What once was the residence of the Ogilvy-Sinclair family, is now a luxury hotel. While some members of the family have remained on the estate working for the hotel, others have scattered around the world, but they are now returning for the first Highland Ball organized by Mrs McBain, the former head housekeeper and now the owner of Loch Down Abbey Hotel. The return of the Inverskillen clan means drama and having to deal with arguments and rivalries between the siblings. Add uninvited guests full of luggage and secrets and there is enough for Mrs McBain and her staff to keep busy. Luckily, the ball seems to go smoothly until one of the guests is found murdered the next morning. It is up to Mrs McBain to help constable Jarvis find the killer.

I didn’t know that Loch Down Abbey was the first in a series so when I saw that there was going to be a new book I was really excited because I adored it. And Only Murders in the Abbey is a fantastic sequel. If you love cozy crimes with humour and eccentric characters, then this is the right book for you. The Ogilvy-Sinclair family is once again self-centered and too immersed in their own problems to notice anyone else around them, while Mrs McBain manages to keep everything under control in a calm and steady manner even in front of the most demanding guests. 

Only Murders in the Abbey is a wonderful read: well-paced, beautifully-written, a murder full of twists, and, my favourite of all, with a Scottish backdrop. I hope there will be more books in the series!

A huge thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Beth Cowan-Erskine wrote her first novel, Loch Down Abbey, during the pandemic, mostly because she had nothing better to do. There is only so much sourdough one can bake. Her second novel came about when her husband, sensing literary fame and an early retirement, moved her to the most depressing place in England so she could turn it into a series. Happily for him, Lady Georgina kept waking her up with plotline notes, and thus we have another book. Enjoy. The author now lives in the Scottish Highlands and there is no telling what will happen next.

#BlogTour: THE CONFESSIONS OF A LADY by Darcy McGuire @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources

Publication: 9th February 2025 – Boldwood Books

Dare she risk her secrets?

In the world of upstairs/downstairs, Housemaid Penny Smith anticipates her employer’s needs and blends into the background making her the perfect spy for the prime minister against a suspected member of the Devil’s Sons. There’s only one problem. When she meets the guilty marquess, his actions don’t match the evidence against him. Lord William Renquist defies her every expectation and sets her traitorous heart racing.

Lord William Renquist, Marquess of Stoneway and secret spy to Queen Victoria, must infiltrate the Devil’s Sons, tearing the brotherhood apart from the inside. His mission – to bring evil men to justice while atoning for the sins of his family, proving honour is stronger than tainted blood. There’s only one problem. A canny maid who is always in the right place at the wrong time and who deliciously challenges his every order.

Liam and Penny are unknowingly playing a dangerous game from opposite sides of justice. And at a masked ball, forbidden attraction burns into something far more complex as their secrets spin into daring confessions. This battle against their enemy will only be won if Penny and Liam can work together. But can a maid from downstairs ever trust an upstairs marquess?

Purchase Linkhttps://mybook.to/theconfessionsofalady

It’s my turn on the blog tour for The Confessions of a Lady, the new fantastic novel by Darcy McGuire.

The Confessions of a Lady is the third book in the Queen’s Deadly Damsels series in which an organization known as the Devil’s Sons, consisting of powerful men, is involved in human trafficking. Queen Victoria and the Prime Minister are determined to stop the group once and for all with the help of a separate group of determined and brave women and war veterans.

In this third book, the protagonist is Penny Smith, who all her life has known suffering and poverty, but now has the chance to save her mother from prison. All she has to do is find proof that Lord William Renquist, Marquess of Stoneway, is a member of the Devil’s Sons, so she finds a job as a maid at his house, but she doesn’t expect to be so attracted to him. What Penny doesn’t know is that Liam not only is also equally attracted to her, but he is actually working undercover to destroy the Devil’s Sons.

This was such a fun read! There is spicy romance, secret spies, and suspense all set in Victorian England. Penny is resourceful and brazen, while Liam tries to amend for the mistakes of his family by bringing down the organization that destroyed it and I loved their chemistry and their witty exchanges.

Well-written, witty, entertaining, and engrossing, The Confessions of a Lady is the perfect read if you love bold heroines, spy romances, and strong friendships. Also, although this is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend the entire series. I can’t wait for the next book!

A huge thank you to Rachel and Boldwood Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and providing me with a proof of the novel.

Darcy McGuire is an award-winning New Zealand-born writer now living in the Pacific Northwest. She will write a five-part Victorian romance series for Boldwood, focused on a group of ‘Deadly Damsels’.

Facebook: AuthorDarcyMcGuire

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#BookReview: MAKING A KILLING by Cara Hunter @CaraHunterBooks @HarperFiction @Hemlock_Press

Publication: 13th February 2025 – Hemlock Press

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of the Tiktok sensation MURDER IN THE FAMILY and the DI Adam Fawley series comes a brand new gripping crime thriller about a figure from the past…

In 2016, eight-year-old Daisy Mason vanished from her Oxford home.

Her disappearance made the national press and the final culprit shocked everyone. DCI Adam Fawley remembers the case well, he arrested Daisy’s mother for murder himself.

But her body was never found.

Now, forensic evidence at a current murder scene calls the whole case into question. DCI Adam Fawley and the team are brought back in to investigate. And they all have one question on their minds.

What really happened to Daisy Mason?

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The DI Fawley series is one of my favourite and I am always looking forward to a new investigation, but Making a Killing even exceeded my expectations. The first book in the series, Close to Home, is actually one of my favourite, not only because it made me fall in love with the series and its characters and become a fan of the author, but also because its ending was so unexpected. And now that case is back to haunt DI Adam and his team.

A few years ago, eight-year-old Daisy Mason disappeared from her home during a party and the investigation was suspenseful and full of surprises. Now, when the body of a woman is found buried in a shallow grave in the woods, the police also finds evidence connected to that case and Fawley is called to reopen the Mason case. And, once again, Cara Hunter proves that she is an incredible storyteller who can keep me on the edge of my seat from the first to the last page with all the twists and turns.  

I was curious to see what the characters were up to: everyone has gone for a different path or has been promoted. DI Adam Fawley is now DCI Adam Fawley, while, on the family side, his six-year-old daughter keeps him on his toes, Quinn is a DI and he’s married, and DC Somer is working as a Ministry of Justice intermediary.

I was happy that the story is again told in different formats, from newspaper articles to readers’ comments, from journals to police reports, and the story is intriguing and addictive with, once again, a surprising ending that makes me wait eagerly for the next one! 

A huge thank you to Hemlock Press and NetGalley for a proof of this terrific book!

Cara Hunter is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling crime novels featuring DI Adam Fawley and his Oxford-based police team. Her books have sold over a million copies in the UK alone, and have been translated into 27 languages so far. The fifth book, The Whole Truth, was a Richard and Judy summer pick for 2021. The series is now in script development for TV, and the screen rights to Murder in the Family have been acquired by Neal Street Productions.

#BookReview: IRON & EMBERS by Helen Scheuerer @HelenScheuerer @panmacmillan

Publication: 6th February 2025 – Macmillan

From the author of the Legends of Thezmarr series, Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer is an epic romantasy filled with a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, dark magic and a world of assassins and warriors. Perfect for fans of The Witcher and The Bridge Kingdom.

Alchemist. Poisoner. Storm wielder.

Wren Embervale, alchemist-turned-assassin, finds solace in only one thing: seeking vengeance for the death of her friends from wars past. But when an unknown form of alchemy is used to attack a king of the war-torn midrealms, Wren is charged with finding a cure for the strange new poison. Offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor, she must claim her spot by conquering the Gauntlet – a gruelling series of deadly trials that could cost her sanity, or her life.

Yet the biggest threat of all might come from the man assigned to protect her – Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero who has hated her since she assassinated his last charge. Their shared history ignites a simmering tension that threatens to consume them both. With peace between the kingdoms as fragile as ever, and enemies lurking around every corner, Wren will discover whether love can truly heal all wounds – or if it is in fact the most lethal poison of all . . .

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This book had me hooked from the first page. The romance and the chemistry between the two protagonists, the tension and the twists, the world-building and the magic, and that fantastic ending that left me eagerly waiting for the sequel. 

The two protagonists are Wren and Torj. Wren is an alchemist, still haunted from the trauma of the war and from seeing her sister and best friends brutally killed which has set her on her own path of vengeance. All her life she’s dreamed of being accepted into the alchemy academy and her dream is finally coming true. All she has to do is find the cure to a new poison and accept the bodyguard assigned to protect her. Torj is a warrior and war hero and their past history can be better defined as quite complicated. Wren doesn’t want him shadowing her every step and being near her gives him conflicting feelings. However, they don’t have any choice. And between deadly trials, cursed wounds, and hidden enemies and allies, they must learn to trust each other.

It was a good thing that I read Iron & Embers during my Christmas holidays as I couldn’t put it down. And I was so engrossed in the story that it took me a while to figure out that Iron & Embers is actually the first book in the sequel of The Legends of Thezmarr series, so now I need to get my hands on the other series. The plot is intriguing and addictive and I loved the slow-burn romance, the found family theme, the forced proximity, and also the flashbacks to the past that gives a glimpse of the tension and attraction that has been burning for five years between Wren and Torj.

The ending was explosive and completely unexpected and I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2!

A huge thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Helen Scheuerer is the author of the bestselling fantasy series, The Oremere Chronicles, the Curse of the Cyren Queen quartet and The Legends of Thezmarr. Her work has been highly praised for its strong, flawed female characters and its action-packed plots. Helen’s love of writing and books led her to pursue a creative writing degree and a Master’s in Publishing. She has been a full-time author since 2018 and now lives amidst the mountains in New Zealand, where she is constantly dreaming up new stories.

#BookReview: A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS by Adrienne Young @QuercusBooks

Publication: 7th January 2025 – Quercus

Two twins. An unbroken bond. A truth unspoken.

The only thing James and Johnny Golden have ever had is each other. For as long as she can remember, James’s deep connection with her twin brother, Johnny, has gone beyond intuition – she can feel what he feels. So, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James knows before her phone even rings that her brother is gone and that she’s alone – truly alone – for the first time in her life.

When James arrives in the rural town of Hawthorne, California to settle her brother’s affairs, she’s forced to rehash the ominous past she and Johnny shared and finally face Micah, the only person who knows about it. He’s also the only man she’s ever loved.

But James soon discovers that the strange connection she had with Johnny isn’t quite gone, and the more she immerses herself into his world, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was keeping secrets, and he’s not the only one.

What she uncovers will push her to unravel what happened in the days before Johnny’s death, but in the end, she’ll have to decide which truths should come to light, and which should stay buried forever.

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I love Adrienne Young’s novels. I adore her immersive stories, her wonderful cast of complex and intriguing characters, and her beautiful writing that captivates you from the first to the very last page.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is her latest fascinating novel set in the small town of Hawthorne. The protagonist, James Golden, left the town when she was 18 years old and she hasn’t been back until now, following the mysterious death of her twin brother Johnny. She’s always had a special connection with her brother Johnny so that she knew the exact moment he died and now she is back to get his affairs in order, including finishing an environmental project he was involved in. But James has other reasons to return to Hawthorne. First of all, she is convinced that her brother’s death was no accident and may also be connected to the tragic event that made her leave town. And then there is Micah, her first love and the boy, now a man, whose heart she broke when she left. And he is probably the only person she can now trust. 

While The Unmaking of June Farrow still remains my favourite novel by Adrienne Young, I really enjoyed A Sea of Unspoken Things. It is haunting, chilling, and atmospheric with evocative descriptions and interesting characters together with supernatural elements, an intriguing and intense mystery, and an exciting romance. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

A huge thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this beautiful novel.

Adrienne Young is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of Spells for Forgetting, the Sky in the Deep duology and the Fable series. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

#BookReview: EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES by Catherine Mack @CEMcKenzie1 @panmacmillan

Publication: 2nd May 2024 – Macmillan

Ten days. Eight suspects. Six cities. Five authors. Three bodies. One trip to die for.

Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series, is on a book tour along the gorgeous Amalfi Coast when life starts imitating art as her ex-boyfriend (and book protagonist) Connor Smith is targeted by a killer.

Eleanor’s sleuthing skills are about to be put to the ultimate test as – among literary rivals, rabid fans, a crazed stalker and another ex-flame on tour with her – suspicions are flying faster than paperbacks off a bestseller shelf. But who is really trying to get away with murder?

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is The White Lotus meets Only Murders in the Building and the first in an irresistible and whip-smart mystery series.

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To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the publication of the book that made her a best-selling author, Eleanor Dash is in Italy for a promotional tour. Accompanying her are Connor, the charming and yet annoying former private investigator she fell in love ten years earlier and took her on the investigation that inspired her novel; Harper, her sister and assistant who seems to be keeping secrets from her; Oliver, her ex-boyfriend who she is still in love with; Allison, Connor’s ex-wife who is always so nice; Guy, a former private investigator carrying a gun; Shek, a disgruntled author; Emily, a young publishing sensation whose book looks to be the exact copy of Eleanor’s debut novel; Isabella, the stranger girl that Connor picked up on the plane and who doesn’t mind all their shenanigans and drama; a group of fans that includes Eleanor’s own stalker; and let’s not forget the tour guide who seems to have no knowledge of Roman history.

Between the ruins of Rome and Pompeii and boat tours around Capri, someone seems determined to get rid of Connor and, as Eleanor uses her detective skills to figure out who may want him dead (and the list is long), she discovers that Connor may not be the only one in danger. Partly funny, partly twisty, I honestly adored this novel and I read it in one sitting. I loved the characters, especially as I rooted for Eleanor and Oliver to get back together, and I loved the author’s writing and how the narrator interacts with the reader, involving them in the investigation as it progresses throughout the novel.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is the first book in the Vacation Mysteries series and I am already looking forward to reading its sequel, No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding, of which the ending already gives us an exciting and captivating peak! Highly recommended!!!

A huge thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for a proof of this brilliant novel.

Catherine Mack (she/her) is the pseudonym for the USA Today and Globe & Mail bestselling author of over a dozen novels. Her books are approaching two million copies sold worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages including French, German, Portuguese, and Polish. Television rights to Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies and its forthcoming sequels sold in a major auction to Fox TV for development into a series, with Mack writing the pilot script. A dual Canadian and US citizen, she splits her time between Canada and various warmer locations in the US.

#BookReview: HEAVENLY BODIES by Imani Erriu @VikingBooksUK

Publication: 28th November 2024 – Viking

I WOULD TURN THE WORLD TO DARKNESS FOR YOU

In a world ruled by the Stars, cruel and merciless gods, Elara has been cursed by fate.

A prophecy promises she will fall for a Star, but it will kill them both.

When the Star of wrath and war descends to hunt Elara, the neighbouring kingdom sees an opportunity to take her from her home, the Kingdom of Night, to Helios, the Kingdom of Light – where she strides straight into the arms of an enemy prince.

There, Elara is forced to either let Prince Lorenzo train her into a weapon worthy of battling against the tyrannical reign of the Stars, or to accept her fate.

But there are shadows even within the Kingdom of Light, and they threaten to reveal the darkness in Lorenzo’s past and the ancient magic that slumbers in Elara’s veins – and with it all, the undeniable, star-crossed pull between them…

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Lately I have been a bit dissatisfied with my latest romantasy reads, so I went into Heavenly Bodies a bit wary, afraid that, despite the good reviews I read, this would be another disappointment for me, but I was delighted to find that it hooked me from the very first page. Right from the strong badass heroine, a princess without a kingdom who is taken prisoner from the enemy king to be used as a weapon against the cruel Stars who rule their world. Enter a charming and handsome prince tasked with helping her develop her power and the tension and the banter between these two kept me glued to the pages.

There is also a dooming prophecy, complex magic, a ruthless king and brutal gods, a fantastic cast of side characters, masked balls and sexy dances, and quite a few twists and turns that took me by surprise.

I genuinely liked the two protagonists and how their enemies-to-lovers story develops: smart, loyal, and determined, Elara can walk through dreams and is shadow, while adorable and fearless Lorenzo “Enzo” is light and he would do anything to protect Elara. Both are haunted by the ghosts of their pasts, by their losses and griefs, and I was completely invested in how they find each other and go through them.

I loved everything about this book: the brilliant writing, the incredible world-building, the addictive and riveting story, the wonderful and engaging characters, the slow-burn romance between the star-crossed lovers, and that unexpected ending that left me in absolute need of the sequel. Highly recommended! 

A huge thank you to Viking and NetGalley for a proof of this fantastic novel.

Imani Erriu is the author of the romance fantasy series Heavenly Bodies. She is a graduate from the Manchester Metropolitan University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.

A Lake District born girl, she spent most of her childhood in the forests of the English countryside, which definitely gifted her an overactive imagination. When she isn’t crying over her own fictional characters or daydreaming up her next plot twist, she can be found eating pasta and watching The Office on repeat.

#BookReview: BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL by Sarah Adams @eternal_books

Publication: 7th January 2025 – Headline Eternal

Maybe it’s time for a plot twist . . .

Emily Walker hates anyone disrupting her carefully curated life, especially her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett – the exact opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer. But now Jack’s back in town after a failed engagement and he’s here to stay . . . as both her colleague and her neighbour.

Jack is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. Until, that is, he realises he’s now neighbours with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons.

With their red-hot animosity at an all-time high, Emily makes a mistake that could reveal her secret literary identity. Frustratingly, she needs Jack’s help to make it right. Will their unlikely alliance put an end to their rivalry? Or could it lead to a steamy plot twist they never saw coming?

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I adore Sarah Adams’ novels and her latest one, Beg, Borrow, or Steal is another five star for me. I loved the characters, the story, and I am always happy to return to Rome, Kentucky, and the Walkers siblings. Practice Makes Perfect, Annie and Will’s story, will probably always be my favourite, but Beg, Borrow, or Steal is a close second and I couldn’t get enough of Emily and Jack.

Enemies and competitive since the day they met in college, Emily and Jack had never got along, not even when they started working together as teachers in the same school. Then, Jack left to move to Nebraska with his fiancée and it appeared that that was the end of their story. Except that Jack is now back in town, single, and back to work at her school and, worst of all, he is her new neighbour. Emily is determined to make sure that Jack regrets it and gets the whole town to support her sabotage attempts. However, when she makes a mistake that could ruin her career, Jack jumps in to help her and she discovers that maybe he is not the detestable man she thought he was.

I had so much fun reading this novel. It’s hilarious, addictive, romantic and I loved the characters of Emily and Jack. Since the death of their parents when she was very young, Emily has been taking care of her family, always putting their needs above hers. But now they don’t need her anymore and she is struggling. Jack is also facing his own problems, his difficult relationship with his father, and his secret career as a best-selling author. I loved how their story develops, their journey as they face their struggles, on their own and together, and how they turn from enemies to friends to lovers.

I can’t ever get enough of Sarah Adams’ novels. Her writing is witty and immersive and I always fall in love with her wonderful characters and her beautiful stories. Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the fantastic third book in the When in Room series (although it can be easily read as a stand-alone) and I already can’t wait for the next one!

A huge thank you to Headline Eternal and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Sarah Adams was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She loves her family, warm days, and making people smile. Sarah has dreamed of being a writer since she was a girl, but she finally wrote her first novel when her daughters were napping and she no longer had any excuses to put it off. Sarah is a coffee addict, a British history nerd, a mom of two daughters, married to her best friend, and an indecisive introvert. Her hope is to always write stories that make readers laugh, maybe even cry – but always leave them happier than when they started reading.


To learn more, visit: www.authorsarahadams.com or follow Sarah on Facebook and Instagram: @authorsarahadams.

#BookReview: LADY AVELY’S GUIDE TO LIES AND CHARMS by Rosalie Oaks @rosalieoaks

Publication: 15th December 2024 – Parkerville Press

A lady shouldn’t be seen to incite a duel… but Judith wasn’t even there when it happened.

Lady Avely doesn’t know what infuriates her more: that someone used her image to provoke the Duke of Sargen into killing a man, or that the duke actually believed it was her trysting in the maze that night.

Now she and the duke must concoct their own subterfuge to shake out the culprit. Otherwise, Dacian might be arrested for murder, or worse, the shadowy guardians of the Musing might inflict their own cruel punishment for the misuse of his Gift. Judith will need her most respectable mobcap, and unfortunately, the duke will need a false moustache.

With Judith’s ability to detect lies and Dacian’s now carefully contained power, they set out to uncover the truth – but their own hearts make them easy to manipulate. Facing a master of deception, as well as the duke’s renewed determination to win her, Judith will need a stiff drink of chocolate and the help of her cheerful, tiny vampiri companion before she can find her way out of the deadly tangle…

Can Judith and Dacian unmask the killer before more blood is shed? And how many different ways can one disguise a duke?

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​​Lady Avely’s Guide to Lies and Charms is such a fun read. There is a mystery to solve, magic involved and vampiri companions, there is slow-burn romance with the two protagonists trying to admit their feelings for each other,  all in the beautiful setting of Regency England.

In a world where people have magic, the two protagonists, Dacian, the Duke of Sargen, and Lady Judith Avely, are trying to solve a murder that, nine years earlier, had sent Dacian to exile. During a party, in a fit of jealousy, Dacian used magic to kill Lord Garvey under the illusion that he was seducing Judith, the woman he’s always loved. After nine years abroad, Dacian is back and together with Judith, a stubborn and helpful young man, fake moustaches, and two (sometimes) reluctant vampiri, he travels in search of the truth to a country house that may be haunted and that hosts two suspicious and irritable servants, a recluse matron, and a suggestible young woman. Who wanted Lord Garvey dead? Or did the killer want to get rid of Dacian by forcing him into exile?

Lady Avely’s Guide to Lies and Charms is the second book in the Matronly Misadventures series, but it can be easily read as a stand alone. The plot is intriguing and engaging and I loved Rosalie Oaks’ writing style and how she masterfully manages to merge together fantasy, history, romance, and mystery. The characters are fun and well-developed and I enjoyed the witty banter between them. The story ends with a cliffhanger that left me curious about what’s next and I am also looking forward to starting on the Lady Diviner series, which features some of the same characters.

A huge thank you to Parkerville Press and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Rosalie Oaks writes cozy novels set in a magical Regency England, full of manners, mystery, and the occasional outrageous breach of propriety.

As a child, she loved conducting home-made theatre productions with her three younger brothers. Now she directs her characters instead, but like her brothers, they don’t always do what she says.

While writing, Rosalie consumes vast quantities of tea and chocolate, and steadfastly ignores the housework.

Join Rosalie’s newsletter to get writing updates, as well as the exclusive prequel novella to the series, A Pendant for Trouble.

#BlogTour: MURDER IN SEASON by Mary Winters @marypensmystery @severnhouse @austenprose #aladyoflettersmystery #historicalmystery #historicalromance

Publication: 3rd December 2024 – Severn House

Join Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury as she tries to juggle a new Season and a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.

“A beautiful debutante, a wealthy widow, and a dead would-be baron. What could be more exciting?”

Countess by day, secret advice columnist by night, Amelia Amesbury has life happily balanced on a quill’s edge . . . until her sister Margaret shows up in London under a blanket of scandal and Amelia is catapulted out of mourning and into the ton’s unforgiving Season.

However Madge’s Season debut is marred by a rather inconvenient death at the dining table as the infamous Mr Radcliffe takes ill and is later confirmed dead by poisoning. With Madge being the last person to have cross words with the soon-to-be baron, the ton’s gossip mill – and the police – are looking to pin the murder on her.

Adding to the ton’s troubles is a jewellery thief targeting the most lavish of Society’s houses. Is the murderer and the thief one in the same? It falls to Amelia once again to uncover the secrets buried deep within the pages before her sister goes down for the crimes.

Perfect for fans of witty historical mystery and Regency romances with a similar feel to Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey

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I am really excited today to take part in the blog tour for Murder in Season, the fantastic new novel by Mary Winters.

If you are looking for a story that has mystery, romance, and adventure, then Murder in Season is the perfect read for you.

Murder in Season is the third book in the Lady of Letters series featuring protagonist Amelia, also known as Countess Amesbury and, less known, as Lady Agony, a secret advice columnist for a weekly magazine. Occasionally, she also turns her hand into investigations, solving murders and mysteries.

In this third book, we are in the full London season and there are many parties and balls to attend, but this is not the only thing keeping the ton busy. There is a thief of jewels who is targeting Mayfair houses, a murdered victim who seemed to have made quite a number of enemies, and a feisty young debutante who is not afraid to speak her mind, which often gets her in trouble and, in this case, a suspect of murder. Fortunately, there is also her sister Amelia who is determined to prove her innocence and find the killer with the help of Lord Simon Bainbridge, who may (or may not) finally admit his feelings for her. As she navigates London society, Amelia will have to solve a few mysteries and maybe also find a bit of time for love.

I really like the character of Amelia. She is loyal, honest and she takes care of her family, even going undercover and facing dangerous situations for those she loves. I enjoyed that each chapter begins with an agony letter followed by Amelia’s witty and hilarious responses and the mysteries are very well-developed and full of surprises.

Perfect for both fans of historical mystery and Regency romance, Murder in Season is an immersive and intriguing novel and I am already looking forward to the next book.

A huge thank you to Austenprose and Severn House for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and providing me with a proof of this brilliant 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!