Category: New To Me Author

Two Weddings and a Murder by Alyssa Maxwell

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, George V - 1910- 1936, Historical Mystery, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939), New To Me Author, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Two Weddings and a Murder (A Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery #9)

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Lady & Lady’s Maid Mystery #9
Publication Date: 2/25/25
Period: Inter-War (1922)
Number of Pages: 272

I enjoy reading historical mysteries and am always on the lookout for new-to-me authors. When I saw this book, I just had to try it and the author. I didn’t notice that it was the final book in the series, but that was not a problem. I had no trouble reading this as a standalone and following the characters and storyline.

Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her betrothed, Owen Seabright, are celebrating their wedding with friends, relatives, and servants and it is a joyous occasion for all. Eva Huntford, Phoebe’s lady’s maid, is especially joyful because she has served as both maid and close friend for many years – and she has a romance of her own. Speaking of Eva’s romance, why was he a no-show at Phoebe’s wedding ceremony?

Constable Miles Brannock finally arrives only to announce the murder of Chief Inspector Isaac Perkins had caused his delay. Oh! My! While Perkins was not well-liked, who would dislike him enough to murder him? Miles quickly begins his investigation only to be supplanted by a brutish Inspector from Scotland Yard – AND – that inspector quickly decides Miles is the murderer and arrests him.

Lady Phoebe and Owen quickly postpone their honeymoon to help Eva investigate because they are all positive Miles is not the murderer. There are many suspects – including Phoebe’s elderly aunt, Phoebe’s uncle Greville, a local farmer, a gypsy, and more. With many disparate suspects and no clues, the investigation is filled with twists, turns, and surprises.

I enjoyed the mystery and the characters, but, for me, the story seemed to drag. It was not a fast-paced, exciting mystery; but more of a slow-paced investigation. I also enjoyed seeing the storylines for the series all neatly tied up with the appropriate HEAs and good feelings all around. I would have liked to see a wrap-up for Uncle Greville and his wife Giovanna since they were front and center throughout much of the book. We learn the motives for their appearance in England, but there is no wrap-up. I would have liked to see Grampapa deal with them, but now we will never know.

While I enjoyed the mystery and the characters, I wasn’t inspired to go back and read the first books in the series. Perhaps that is because I wasn’t already invested in the characters due to that lack -I don’t know.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

A Lady Would Know Better by Emma Theriault

On By TracyIn Debut Novel, New To Me Author, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

A Lady Would Know BetterA Lady Would Know Better by Emma Theriault

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: None Listed

Release Date: January 28, 2025

While out walking with his sisters, Jasper Maycott, the new Earl of Belhaven discovers an unconscious woman in the snow and he brings her home to nurse her back to health, but when she wakes, she has no memory of who she is or what happened. Having suffered much loss in the last year, including the woman he loved, Jasper has sealed his heart and never expected to have feelings for the woman they are calling Jane. But Jane manages to pull him out of his grief, but without her memories, what future could they possibility have?

When Jane wakes in Mulgrave Hall, she has no recollection of who she is or where she is from but knows something is wrong. She is drawn to the brooding, grief-stricken Jasper as well as his sisters. But without knowing her past, she can’t risk her heart or causing Jasper and his family more pain. Yet when she is reunited with her family, things don’t go as this reader expected and HEA seems like an impossibility.

While I will not deny that this book was technically well-written and the author has a gift for writing a character’s emotions, I cannot say that I enjoyed it. The characters are likable, but formulaic, and the “I was in love and will never love again” trope is one that annoys me to no end. The story starts out promising, but it drags until the ending, which was anti-climactic and frankly, disappointing. Add to that the complete disregard for the protocols and etiquette standards of the Victorian era, and you end up with a contemporary romance in period dress. Overall, I didn’t care for this book, but the writing has promise and I would consider reading another book by this author.

*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. *