Category: Victorian Era (1837-1901)

In the history of the United Kingdom, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardian period, and its later half overlaps with the first part of the Belle Époque era of continental Europe.
Preceded by: Regency era
Followed by: Edwardian era
Monarch: Victoria

Murder in Matrimony by Mary Winters

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Murder in Matrimony (A Lady of Letters Mystery, 4)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Lady of Letters Mystery #4
Publication Date: 10/7/25
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 240

Lady Amelia Amesbury hardly has a minute to spare in this fast-paced, brilliantly written historical mystery! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each installment in the series, but this might just be the best one yet.

With her sister’s wedding to plan, a blackmailer on her trail, multiple murders to solve, and her Lady Agony column to manage, Amelia is nearly at her wits’ end. She’s so busy, in fact, that there’s barely time to explore her growing feelings for Simon Bainbridge—until a dire situation forces her to confront them.

Since the death of her husband, Amelia has leaned on the local vicar, Mr. Cross, as both a spiritual guide and a close friend. When she goes to the church to ask him to officiate her sister’s wedding, all seems well. But the next morning brings shocking news: Mr. Cross has been murdered. Even more unsettling, he’d sent Amelia a cryptic message hinting at another suspicious death. Were both victims murdered? And how are their deaths connected?

As if that weren’t enough, someone is threatening to expose Amelia’s secret identity as the voice behind Lady Agony—unless she reveals the identity of the elusive Mayfair Marauder. But Amelia refuses to be manipulated, and she’ll need all her wits to unmask the blackmailer.

Whew! Are you tired yet? I know Amelia is! Despite the whirlwind of plotlines, the author keeps the narrative tightly woven and easy to follow, with clever pacing and satisfying twists. The familiar cast returns—Kitty and Oliver, Simon, Aunt Tabitha, and a maturing Winifred—to lend continuity and warmth to the mystery.

This book has everything I love in the series: wit, heart, mystery, and a heroine you can root for. And there’s a delightful surprise at the end that fans will especially appreciate.

Highly recommended—happy reading!

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

View all my reviews

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. *