A Lady of Quality Regency mystery!
The Body in the Garden (A Lily Adler Mystery #1)
by Katharine Schellman
Two delightful characters in the lead roles in this new Regency mystery add to its charm. Lily Adler is a young widow, a no nonsense woman who knows her way around the ton.
Attending her friend Lady Walter's Ball was a beginning to her new, independent life.
Unexpectedly coming across a couple of men exchanging terse and threatening comments in the garden, after having slipped out of the crowded ballroom for fresh air, Lily beats a hasty retreat. As she quietly sidles away from the scene she is frightened by a gunshot as she retreats.
That's where her dead husband's friend, Captain John Hartley—Jack, comes in handy. Stumbling back towards the ballroom she runs into him and seeks his help. Disbelieving he accompanies her, only to confirm the truth. There obviously was a gunshot because they find a dead body.
When Lord Walter has the investigation into matters surrounding the death, including the identity of the person squashed, Lily is determined to find out why, and what lies behind the murder. Jack of course is drawn into the chase and there's an interesting cast of additional characters including Jem a cheeky young messenger boy from the Dials area and Simon Page the Bow Street Constable.
Jack and Page don't get of to the best of starts but as the chase for the murderer progresses they do come to respect each other.
Lily having been dismissed as a mere woman wastes no time in changing Page's opinion. Danger treads her path and Jack is infuriated as she places herself squarely in its way. Her investigations reach to the heights of society, secrets are exposed and Lily makes not only powerful enemies but new friends, including a very independent and unusual heiress.
As we leave Lily contemplating carving out a new path for herself as a discreet investigator, I for one felt ready to pursue more of her adventures.
A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley
*** 1/2
by Katharine Schellman
Two delightful characters in the lead roles in this new Regency mystery add to its charm. Lily Adler is a young widow, a no nonsense woman who knows her way around the ton.
Attending her friend Lady Walter's Ball was a beginning to her new, independent life.
Unexpectedly coming across a couple of men exchanging terse and threatening comments in the garden, after having slipped out of the crowded ballroom for fresh air, Lily beats a hasty retreat. As she quietly sidles away from the scene she is frightened by a gunshot as she retreats.
That's where her dead husband's friend, Captain John Hartley—Jack, comes in handy. Stumbling back towards the ballroom she runs into him and seeks his help. Disbelieving he accompanies her, only to confirm the truth. There obviously was a gunshot because they find a dead body.
When Lord Walter has the investigation into matters surrounding the death, including the identity of the person squashed, Lily is determined to find out why, and what lies behind the murder. Jack of course is drawn into the chase and there's an interesting cast of additional characters including Jem a cheeky young messenger boy from the Dials area and Simon Page the Bow Street Constable.
Jack and Page don't get of to the best of starts but as the chase for the murderer progresses they do come to respect each other.
Lily having been dismissed as a mere woman wastes no time in changing Page's opinion. Danger treads her path and Jack is infuriated as she places herself squarely in its way. Her investigations reach to the heights of society, secrets are exposed and Lily makes not only powerful enemies but new friends, including a very independent and unusual heiress.
As we leave Lily contemplating carving out a new path for herself as a discreet investigator, I for one felt ready to pursue more of her adventures.
A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley
*** 1/2
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