A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder

I am again in awe of the variety of fantastic novels by a diverse group of authors that I have been introduced to over the last few years by the team at Bas Bleu that selects the Mysteries of the Month as part of their annual offering program. Some novels arrive in hardcover format and some as paperbacks. I don't know if I would have discovered these eclectic titles in any other way. "A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder" is the May selection in the Mysteries-Book-a-Month 2020 package. I have purchased the package to ship monthly over the last few years but at this time of year it is only available as "ship all at once" but that is not to say that one could not keep the remaining titles as a monthly reading treat. show more target="_top">https://www.basbleu.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=DETAIL&ITEM=UR4902

The cover gives a hint of the amusement and whimsy that begins in the first novel in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery Series. The story takes place from April to August 1899 in Victorian England, when country estates were the norm for the wealthy of society, and social gatherings included hunting parties, garden walks, extravagant dinner parties, and calling hours. It was also a time when young women made their debut during the season at an array of parties in London under the watchful eyes of a chaperone. As the Countess of Harleigh, Frances Wynn is an American by birth. Her unconventional ways add to the mirth of many situations and raise more than a few eyebrows in society. Still, she's also quite clever and can't be discounted.

I loved the setting, and the characters (primary and secondary) and especially hope that Aunt Hetty and Lily (sister of Frances) will stay in England longer than the 1899 social season. The dialogue between the characters is engaging, and I couldn't stop turning the pages to enjoy more of this reading treat! show less

Frances Wynn, Dowager Countess and American heiress, has just got out of mourning from her husband and decides to let a place of her own out from the money-grubbing hands of her brother-in-law, Graham, and his wife. Her mother sends her sister, Lily, along with her Aunt Hetty as chaperone, to enjoy the London Season under Frances's care, and Lily soon has multiple suitors. But all is not well, as police questions lead Frances to believe that her husband's death may have been murder rather than natural causes. Plus, there have been a series of thefts in Mayfair society, and all three of Lily suitors are among the suspects.

This uneven historical mystery is a series starter and introduces Frances and a group of quirky characters including show more her younger sister Lily, her aunt Hetty, her friend Fiona, the handsome next-door neighbor (and Fiona's brother) George Hazelton, and more. Frances' narrative voice kept me amused, the historical setting has potential, but the mystery itself fell rather flat and there was just too much going on with two mysteries and a potential romance. I figured out the thief very early on and was extremely annoyed with Frances for missing an obvious turn in the case. I was less than impressed with the way her husband's murder was resolved as well. I won't turn you away if there are elements that intrigue you, but I won't be recommending it to all and sundry either. show less

I really enjoyed this book -- it reminds me of Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey mysteries, but even with significant danger to the heroine, it feels somewhat lighter and less angsty. The romance that may or may not be heating up has just the right level of slow burn and respect. The inspector isn't as terribly disapproving and overblown as that figure often is in mysteries, and Frances is just a good character. I like how she's expanding her horizons, and I like her household of women.

This book was a delightful start to a charming historical mystery series. The female protagonist is bright, feisty, tender-hearted and clever.

Author Dianne Freeman cleverly pokes fun at the ton of 1899 with all of its constricting rules of etiquette. The story opens with American born Frances Wynn, aka, Countess Harleigh, eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the mourning period following the death of her philandering husband, Reggie. She is eager to move on with her life now that she has no claim to the Harleigh manor estate. Her brother-in-law and sister-in-law try to persuade her otherwise, as they are severely in need of the Countess' cash for their plans regarding the estate holdings as they assume the titles, Earl and Countess show more Harleigh.

Meanwhile, Frances' sister has come to London for her first season of introduction to society and is quickly swept up in the attentions of several suitors. Jewel thefts and murder abound. Can Frances with the aid of her new neighbor, George Hazelton, keep her loved ones safe while fleshing out the thief and murderer? Only time will tell.

If you're looking for a humorous and witty historical mystery, then this may well be the perfect book for you. show less

American Frances Wynn was a “dollar princess”, whose husband, Reggie, was the Earl of Harleigh. After Reggie’s death, Frances is ready to get out from under the thumb of the new earl, her brother-in-law, George, and his wife. Frances doesn’t announce her purchase of a leasehold property in London until it’s a fait accompli. To Frances’s surprise, her new neighbor in London is George Hazelton, the brother of her best friend, Fiona. George is also one of two besides Frances who know the true circumstances of her husband’s death. When questions are raised regarding the possibility that Reggie was murdered, Frances must investigate the rumors to clear her own name. Meanwhile, Frances is serving as chaperone for her younger show more sister, Lily, whom their parents have sent to London for the season to find a husband. Lily has no less than three suitors, one of whom may be the thief who has been stealing valuables from wealthy homes.

The audio reader’s voice and tone perfectly capture Frances’s affability and gentle sarcasm. Since Frances is a first-person narrator, audio seems a great choice for experiencing this series. show less

A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman
Book #1: A Countess of Harleigh Mystery
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars

When you’re the Countess of Harleigh, even the widowed Countess of Harleigh there are certain things that are expected of you. You are expected to be a proper lady, you are expected to participate in society, and you’re expected to fully and financially support your extended family. You are not expected to refuse funding, you are not expected to leave the family estate, you’re not expected to live alone with just your young daughter, and you’re certainly not expected to get yourself involved in mystery.

Frances Wynn, the widowed Countess of Harleigh has decided to live her life far differently show more as a widow than she did as a wife. As a wife, Frances tended to bury her head in the sand. Oh, she knew her husband was unfaithful, but she never expected to be confronted with it so bluntly and blatantly as the night he died in another woman’s bed. During her year of mourning, Frances made some serious decisions about her life: she was moving out of the estate home she shared with her dead husband, she would no longer indulge in her in-laws by allowing them to request more funds from her trust, and she would certainly never marry again. With her plans in place and a solicitor willing to work for her interests, Frances moves herself and her young daughter into a modest home in London.

Unfortunately, the fresh start Frances was hoping for doesn’t quite work out according to her plans. Within hours of settling into her new home, her past comes calling! Only two other people know what really happened the night Frances’ husband died, and one of those two people is now her next-door neighbor, Mr. Hazelton. What’s more, the police have also come calling regarding the manner of her late husband’s death, there have been a series of robberies among her upper crust friends, her younger sister and aunt have come to stay for the duration of the Season, AND, her greedy brother-in-law has decided to sue for access the Frances’ money! As a proper lady of society, Frances should step away from all the scandal, all the drama and allow the proper authorities to sort it all out on her behalf. But, that’s not the type of woman Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh has decided she wants to be.

With decisions made and a course set, Frances, with the help of her dogged aunt, Mr. Hazelton, her husband’s last mistress, and her best friend, begins asking questions and sussing out motives and motivations for the players in a most dangerous game. Though she isn’t a professional investigator, Frances is smart, curious, and has access to certain levels of society the police just can’t get to. The deeper Frances delves into the hearts and minds of men, the closer she gets to flushing out a killer, resolving nearly all her problems, and risking her own precious life.

The Bottom Line: I have always liked books featuring women ahead of their time and place and the Countess of Harleigh certainly fits that description. Frances Wynn isn’t looking to cause scandal or be a scandal, but she is determined to live her life on her terms. What I particularly liked about Frances is her willingness to admit when she’s in over her head and needs help. Though she’s brazen and bold, she isn’t stupid and has no desire to leave her daughter alone in the world. As a result, Frances has surrounded herself with a whole host of interesting and loyal people which are going to make for fun reading in future installments of this historical cozy mystery series. show less

I bought this book at Barnes and Noble, just before going to Bouchercon, where Kensington was giving away free, signed copies, and the author was speaking on several panels. Doh. As luck would have it, I enjoyed the story enough that I don't begrudge the royalties the author earned from my lack of foresight in the least.

Lady Harleigh is just coming out of her one year's mourning following the death of her husband, the Earl who exchanged his title for her American fortune. Throwing off the widow's weeds and fleeing from the in-laws who intend to bleed her dry of her private fortune, she settles in London with her daughter. But someone has sent an anonymous letter to the police claiming she killed her husband, and a string of small jewel show more thefts from the ton put her on a different suspect list after she finds one of the stolen pieces in her purse after a party.

First things first - those who enjoy historical accuracy should avoid this book. Not that the author didn't do her research; I don't know if she did or didn't as I'm not well versed enough in 1899 England to spot inaccuracies, but the narrative has a distinctly contemporary voice. I also remember that Freeman was on an historical fiction panel I attended and she was not one of the sticklers for historical accuracy (I remember her sort of falling in the middle of the spectrum).

But my historical ignorance was bliss in this case. I just enjoyed the story for what it was: a fun mystery with strong female characters, a likeable romantic interest, and few, if any, TSTL moments. it was also a very, very clever plot.

For those that like Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness, this series has a similar feel, though a slightly more mature MC and less charming narrative. It's a great start to what could be a very fun series.

I read this for my last square in Halloween Bingo: Darkest London. Blackout! show less