Tag: Mary Lancaster

Petteril’s Baby by Mary Lancaster

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

Petteril's Baby (Lord Petteril Mysteries Book 8)

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Lord Petteril Mysteries #8
Publication Date: 6/19/25
Period: Regency London – Winter
Number of Pages: 160

I am absolutely enamored with Lord Petteril (Piers) and April. They are engaging characters who are warm, caring, intelligent, and devoted. They are side by side in all things, whether it is solving a mystery or making family decisions.

Early morning chaos descends on the Petteril household when the servants discover a baby on the steps to the servant’s entrance. Most aristocratic families would have the child delivered to a local orphanage, but not Lord and Lady Petteril. They intend to see the child is cared for while they track down its family, even though everyone will assume the worst – that it is Petteril’s illegitimate child. They begin their search in their neighborhood, but quickly spread out and – well – it seems almost anyone in London could be a suspect. The clues that come to light lead them in all directions. What is going on? Are they solving more than one mystery – or – is it all related?

This is an excellent read, featuring a well-developed, excellently paced mystery and endearing characters that you’ll love. You can read this book as a standalone, but to fully appreciate the characters, I recommend reading from the beginning. I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did.

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

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Review: Petteril’s Christmas by Mary Lancaster

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

Petteril's Christmas (Lord Petteril Mysteries Book 7)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Lord Petteril Mysteries #7
Publication Date: 11/1/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 161

MERRY CHRISTMAS from Piers and April, Lord and Lady Petteril! Petteril wants their first Christmas together to be at his rural estate with just the two of them. April wants that too, but she just really wants to be with her husband wherever that might be. April has never celebrated Christmas and is looking forward to learning all the traditions.

Christmas in the country is not to be as his great-aunt Prudence, whom he had all but forgotten, summons him to town saying she is dying and the servants are stealing from her. He’s ashamed he hasn’t sought her out earlier, but he had no idea she was in London – or even England. She has always been a gadabout and never in one place for long. Piers does have fond memories of a childhood when he and his brother spent happy hours at her home. Yes, help her he must!

Great-aunt Prudence’s mystery is easily solved, and the ton is expected to behave disrespectfully and discourteously. What is not expected is for April’s past to rear its ugly head in the form of blackmail and murder. The blackmailer raises many memories for April, and she has to deal with those before she and Petteril can enjoy their Christmas.

While there was a murder to investigate, this was still a sweet, lovely, happy Christmas story that will make you smile much more often than it will make you frown. We visit with several old friends and meet some new ones that I hope will drop in for visits occasionally. If you are looking for a quick, short, lovely story that will keep you captivated from beginning to end, this is it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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