Tag: Katharine Schellman

Death at the Manor by Katharine Schellman

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Death at the Manor (Lily Adler Mystery, #3)Barbara’s rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Series: Lily Adler Mystery #3
Publication Date: 8/9/22
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 352

This latest addition to the Lily Adler Mystery series is a bit of a departure from the first two books. There is supposed to be a bit of a gothic bent to the book, but that fell a little short for me. Gothics have an atmosphere to them that is built layer-by-layer – they make your spine tingle, and this certainly didn’t even come close to that. Lily is also missing her normal supporting characters and I felt their loss. One of the nice things about a series of books is the way the cast of characters works together book after book. They grow as a group and as individuals and we sorely missed that in this book. Two of the main supporting characters – Captain Jack, and Bow Street Runner Mr. Simon Page – are missing from the story except for some honorable mentions. It was good that Ofelia and Ned were there as I enjoyed their company and Ofelia and Lily work well together. Mr. Matthew Spencer, who we met in book 2, reappears as a ‘love’ interest for Lily.

Lily, along with her friends Sir Edward (Ned) and Lady Carroway (Ofelia), travel to visit Lily’s aunt Eliza and her companion Susan Clarke. Ned and Ofelia will spend a few days with Lily and her aunt and will then continue to their estate. Lily will stay with her aunt until her best friend’s husband, Lord Walter, arrives to convey Lily to his estate where his wife is anxiously awaiting Lily’s visit. As soon as they arrive at Aunt Eliza’s home, they hear of a neighbor whose home has been having visitations by a ghost. They, of course, simply must visit. That visit lands them smack-dab in the middle of a family crisis – the matriarch of the family has been murdered and they all believe the ghost did it. Who else could it have been since the room was locked – from the inside?

We meet all of the suspects early on, but the investigation into the motives and means wends forward at a steady pace. Lily and Ofelia work well together and their minds work in a very similar fashion, so I liked them working together. Still, I missed the supporting characters from the previous books and I think the story would have been much better had they been included. There are hints dropped throughout the book, but nothing is obvious. I had worked out the ‘how’ and was pretty sure of the ‘who’ before it was revealed, but none of it was just obvious.

All-in-all, it was a very good mystery and I enjoyed it. It was a bit slow-paced in places, but nothing too much. So, kudos for a good mystery. What I do not care for – and will not read – is anything with love triangles. Lily took a very big step in this book, but it wasn’t for the right reasons – certainly not for that period. Then, things were just left hanging and nothing was resolved. We still have Captain Jack and Matthew Spencer as love interests. I had hoped that would be quickly resolved, but apparently not. So, that leaves me to question whether I will read the next book or not – and the answer is, I just don’t know. Captain Jack is, by far, the more interesting character and is a better match for Lily while Matthew is more of a bland, take a back seat, kind of fellow I can only imagine she’d get tired of sooner or later. I guess I’ll know if I continue to read the series.

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

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Silence in the Library by Katharine Schellman

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Silence in the Library (Lily Adler Mystery #2)Barbara’s Rating:  5 of 5 Stars

Series: Lily Adler Mystery #2
Publication Date: 7/13/21
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages:352

After reading his author’s debut novel, The Body in the Garden, I was anxious to read this second book. I loved the mystery in that book but didn’t care for the main characters, so I was anxious to see how they might come across in this book. I’m glad I decided to give them another try because I really liked both of them this time around.

The mystery in this book is excellent with lots of red herrings, a plethora of suspects, plenty of outside characters to cause strife, and plenty of friends willing to go out of their way to help. Lily’s friend, Ofelia, whom we met in the last book, is back from her honeymoon and extends a helping hand as well.

Mrs. Lily Adler has settled nicely into her new home in London. She’s reconnected with old friends and made some new ones – so all is right with her world. Well, it was until she arrives home to discover the entryway filled with baggage belonging to her estranged father. Lily has never been able to please her father – he thinks she is mannish, unladylike, forward, and whatever other negative adjectives there are. He just walks in and takes over her home, finding fault with everything and freely expressing his negative views of her. She should turn him out, but – well – he is her father and she can’t quite do it. Her father’s purpose in visiting London, which he hates, is because of his health. (NOTE: He saw his doctor, but there was never any mention of the results of the visit. We don’t know anything because he never mentioned it and Lily never asked. It just seems to me that a parent’s health – especially when that parent traveled days to visit a town he hates – would at least rate a question or comment.)

One of the social courtesies of that period is to pay a social call on newlywed friends and Lily’s father’s good friend, Sir Charles, falls into that category. To placate her father, Lily undertakes the visit for him even though she doesn’t know the new Lady Wyatt. Lily and Captain Jack Hartley have a nice visit with Lady Wyatt and agree to a ride in the park the following morning. When Lily and Jack arrive, the house is in turmoil because Sir Charles has died. Well, not just died – according to Bow Street’s principal officer, Mr. Page, it was murder. The family is sure that it was an accident, but Lily has uncovered the murder weapon before they leave.

Though he hates the idea, Mr. Page asks Lily and Jack to aid him in the investigation. Of course, Lily would have been in the middle of it whether Mr. Page had asked or not – and Jack is going to be right there with Lily. As they uncover more evidence, it seems it is quickly discounted. Then, when another death occurs, they have to wonder who else might be in danger. Jack, Lily, Mr. Page, and several friends follow leads that get them nowhere, but the evidence is mounting. How can they prove who the murderer is even after they figure it out? Chicanery perhaps?

The mystery was outstanding! It was everything you’d want in a mystery — well-written, excellently paced, exciting, and perplexing. I can highly recommend the book. For me personally, I’m on hold about whether I’ll continue with the series. It is a personal thing – I have to have a good romance to go along with a good mystery. I had assumed Jack and Lily would have a relationship – and I still think that will be the case. However, a new male was introduced into this book and has an interest in Lily – and she seems to have a bit of an interest in him. I won’t read love triangles – and I really like Jack – so, I’ll see where the next book goes before I decide whether I’ll continue with the series.

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

View all my reviews