Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Victorian Book Club Mystery
Publication Date: 4/28/23
Period: Victorian – 1893
Number of Pages: 250

I always love each new installment of this entertaining cozy mystery series. The talented, intelligent, gracious, kind, and often a bit scattered Lady Amy is delightfully entertaining. Then, the equally intelligent, talented, kind, and not at all scattered William is just as entertaining – especially as he tries to manage Amy and keep her in matching shoes. They are so well-suited to each other, their banter delights, and being doting parents to Charles is just perfect.

William had looked forward to moving his wife and newborn son to his quiet, tranquil country estate for several reasons. It is the perfect place to raise a child and in a quiet country village, surely his wife won’t be constantly tripping over dead bodies as seemed to be her habit in Bath. Too bad that dream of peaceful tranquility is quickly smashed.

Luckily the estate has a very large home on it because soon William, Amy, and Charles are joined by all manner of house guests who are also entertaining. Amy and William find their mouths constantly dropping open at the radical changes in each of their visiting relatives – they cannot believe the fastidious Aunt Margaret has become prone to crying, emotions, and less than fastidious appearance. Then, there is William’s mother and new step-father – who would believe what his mother is now very happily doing. Amy’s austere, by-the-book, staid, proper father’s change is as drastic as her Aunt Margaret’s. Yes, those jaw-droppingly changed individuals have descended upon William and Amy for the duration, plus they are joined by a myriad of others as the book progresses.

Poor William, so much for peace and solitude in which to enjoy his new family. Then, to add insult to injury, there is a murder – and then another. The magistrate in Reading is an incompetent, doddering octogenarian who offers no help and tells them they’ll have to solve it themselves – but he does send an equally doddering, inept old man to act as coroner. Yes, another house guest to add to the mix.

They know the murders have to be linked, but cannot find a link between the two victims. One was much beloved and the other was reviled. What could they possibly have in common? Amy and William know they are missing something but they have no clue what that could be – until Amy and Charles are in danger. William is desperate to protect them – but will he arrive in time?

This was an entertaining story filled with a mystery that is seamlessly interwoven with the everyday life of a small English village. The characters are all delightful and you will love seeing them and what they get up to. The only thing I was left wondering about was the state of the marriage of Amy’s father and Mrs. Elliot – it wasn’t mentioned at all. Maybe that will resolve itself in the next book – or between books.

I recommend this book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

View all my reviews

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: A Victorian Book Club Mystery #4
Publication Date: 12/26/22
Period: Victorian Bath
Number of Pages: 261

What a delightfully witty and entertaining visit with Lord William Wethington and his mystery novelist wife, Lady Amy Wethington! For the further delight and entertainment of the reader, the extended family and friends are all included as well. We find that Amy is well into that stage of pregnancy where you feel like a whale and move about as gracefully, and she’s sharing that wonderful experience with her best friend Eloise, who is also her sister-in-law.

The ever-protective and loving William is doing his best to get Amy to look after herself and not exert herself on so many projects – like continuing to write her mystery novels. He’s just thankful there are no more murders for them to investigate because he knows Amy would be right in the middle of that. Until . . . the midwife who is to attend the delivery for both Amy and Eloise is found floating in the Roman Baths. Amy truly tries to leave it alone, but her natural curiosity, as always, gets the better of her – especially when the two inept police detectives immediately arrest someone for the murder.

Amy frets, so William frets, and they both decide they must investigate if there is going to be any serenity in their lives. When yet another body turns up they have to wonder if the two deaths are related. Neither of the victims was particularly nice people, so there could be any number of people who might wish them harm – but to murder them. . . Who, among their suspects, could be that cold-blooded?

The author does a nice job of making the mystery interesting. There are plenty of red herrings and plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. The story is nicely paced so it keeps you reading without wanting to put it down.

I am a big fan of this series and I always love the mysteries better than the romance – though they MUST have a romance to suit me. With this one, however, the mystery was a really good one and well-written, but my favorite was the personal storyline. If you read the book, you’ll see why. So, I guess you could say this book has it all – a great personal story and a great mystery. What more could you want?

I can definitely recommend this book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews