Category: America’s Gilded Age (1870-1900)

Murder Made Her Wicked by Elizabeth Hobbs

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Murder Made Her Wicked: A Marigold Manners MysteryMurder Made Her Wicked: A Marigold Manners Mystery by Elizabeth Hobbs

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: A Marigold Manners Mystery #2

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Marigold Manners returns to Wellesley College in 1894 Boston, determined to resume her academic journey in archaeology despite the tumultuous revelations of her past. Marigold, a penniless heiress and fiercely independent woman, quickly becomes entangled in another mystery when she stumbles upon the body of a young woman in the campus lake. The Wellesley campus, with its comforting traditions and scholarly pursuits, is soon exposed as vulnerable to the malice and wickedness lurking beneath its surface. As tensions rise, old rivalries and slights threaten to boil over, and Marigold must rely on her keen logic and the support of her eccentric friends to uncover the identity of the victim and the perpetrator before another tragedy occurs.

Marigold shines throughout the novel—her intellect, determination, and commitment to women’s advancement are refreshing, especially set against the backdrop of the 1890s. She’s not only navigating academic challenges but also the societal limitations imposed on women, refusing to let her personal life distract from her ambitions. The secondary characters, from the loyal college physician to quirky classmates and beloved friends, add depth and color to the story, making the closed college community feel both vibrant and tense. The author, Elizabeth Hobbs, does an excellent job weaving information from Marigold’s first case into the narrative, so even those new to the series can appreciate her history and motivations.

This book is an engaging historical mystery that is well written and nice paced. While some elements—such as the predictability of the murder plot and certain contrived character dynamics—may detract slightly, the rich period details, well-researched setting, and compelling lead make this a satisfying read. The book balances suspense, character development, and just a hint of romance. I will admit a bit of frustration with Marigold in her desire to remain independent, I understood her reasons and know change will only come to those who take a stand, but to basically insist that Cab throw away his reputation to satisfy her needs did come across as a bit selfish, but I sincerely hope they find a way to be together that makes them both happy. Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it to fans of historical fiction and classic murder mysteries. This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no issues.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

The Earl That Got Away by Diana Quincy

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), Movie / Story Retelling, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Earl That Got Away (Sirens in Silk, #2)The Earl That Got Away by Diana Quincy

Tracy Rating: 3 Maybe 3.5 of 5 Stars

Series: Sirens in Silk #2

Release Date: September 30, 2025

Once upon a time Miss Naila Darwish met Basil Trevelyn in Philadelphia and fell in love. So in love, that when he proposed she was happy to accept, but later she was worried that her family would disapprove and ultimately rejected him. She returned to Brooklyn and tried to convince herself that she had done the right thing, but her heart never forgot. Fast forward eight years, Naila’s sister Raya is getting married to the Duke of Strickland in England and Naila and her relatives have arrived for the wedding. They are at a ball to celebrate the betrothal when Naila is introduced to the duke’s best friend, the Earl of Hawksworth, also happens to be Basil Trevelyn, her long lost love. At first, she thinks she is being given a second chance, but it soon becomes obvious that Basil doesn’t feel the same.

Basil Trevelyn never expected to see Naila again after she broke his heart in Philadelphia. No long after she left him, he learned that a distant cousin and his sons died making him the new Earl of Hawksworth, a title he never expected to inherit. Seeing Naila again makes wonder what happened to her, she is nothing like the vibrant, bold girl he met in America, and tells himself it doesn’t matter, he is over her and she is only interested now because he is an Earl. To prove to himself that he is over Naila, he tells Raya that he is looking for a bride and even agrees to host Naila and her family while Raya and Strickland are away on their honeymoon. Let the angst begin…

This is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion with a unique spin; as Diana Quincy has taken that book and made it her own by incorporating a multicultural aspect to the story. Naila is American, but comes from a traditional Arabic family, her parents immigrated to America from Palestine and have raised their family to hold fast to their beliefs – which is a big part of the reason Naila didn’t marry Basil when they first met. The story is filled with miscommunication, misunderstanding, angst, longing, regret, jealousy, flashbacks, warm love scenes, second chances, more misunderstanding, meddling relatives, and finally a HEA. I accept the fact that the book needed both the time during and after of their meeting in Philadelphia, but I felt like the alternating chapter flashbacks made the first part of the book drag, I would have preferred the story in two parts rather than mixed together. I liked this book, but not nearly as much as the first book, in fact the scenes with Raya and Strickland acting stupid in love were my favorite parts of the book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *