A Lady Compromised

*** 3.5 Stars ***

Historical Mysteries are my favorite sub-genre and I am always looking for new-to-me authors and series to love. I found this series and wanted to give it a try even though I was coming into the series on the 4th book rather than starting at the beginning. This book can easily be read as a standalone and I don’t feel I missed much by not reading the first three books. I can also say that this book didn’t entice me to go back and read the first three books.

Rosalind Thorne, daughter of Baronet Sir Reginald Thorne, who is/was a forger, has lived in very reduced circumstances for the last several years. She has survived and supported herself by becoming ‘A Useful Woman’ in society. Basically, she helps ladies out of show more tangled situations. As she prepares to leave London for a two-fold mission – to help her friend Louisa Winterbourne prepare for her wedding – and to see if her former relationship with Devon, Duke of Casselmaine is still as warm as it once was. She wonders if she can leave all she has created for herself in London for the quiet country life of a duchess. Of course, decisions can never be simple, so a letter from Helen Corbyn arrives, asking Rosalind to help unravel the mystery of her brother’s death while she is visiting Louisa and Devon.

There are a great many secrets held within several families as well as family animosities and feuds. With suspects galore, Rosalind may not escape before a murder ends her life as well. Twisted and tangled relationships nestled within political issues of the time make Rosalind’s inquiries particularly perilous.

I am not a fan of love triangles and this series seems to have had one during the previous three books. It doesn’t appear that any of the relationships were secret and each of the men knew about the other, so I guess that is good. I believe this book was to ‘settle’ the triangle – and I suppose it did in that Rosalind made a choice to decline one of them for anything beyond friendship. However, it didn’t appear to me that she actually chose the other. Frankly, I like more romance in my mysteries that this one had – it was lukewarm at best.

Overall, it was a good mystery, but it was slower paced than I usually like, and without an active romance to shore it up, it fell flat for me. The author threw a lot of historical ‘facts’ at us about life during the period, but I’m not sure how much of it was totally accurate. For instance, Adam Harkness, Principal Investigator at Bow Street would not have been wearing a red vest. The Bow Street Horse Patrol was the only one who wore the red vests. Others at Bow Street wore regular clothing. I am happy to have read the story and to have met Rosalind, Devon, and Adam, but I wouldn’t re-read the book – nor am I sure that it enticed me to try the next book when it comes out.

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

I tell you what: this series has conclusively proven to me that I will just never be able to engage with a love V of any kind. The V in this series is written as well as I think it’s possible to write the trope, and it is at least partially resolved in this book, and yet. I can summon up only disinterest for the romance, which is going to materially affect my ability to enjoy subsequent books in the series.

Also, this book is notable for one of the worst reveals of a character’s queerness written in modern times. But! An ongoing character is revealed as queer, which is very nice. It will be interesting to see how that goes in other books. (Really very much hoping this isn’t a “mentioned but never acknowledged, and also that show more character will never have any relationship of any kind” type deal.) show less

In the fourth book in the Rosalind Thorne series of cozy Regency mysteries, Rosalind has been invited to the country estate of Devon Winterbourne, the Duke of Casselmaine. Nominally the visit is to help his cousin Louisa prepare for her wedding. However, the visit will also give Devon and Rosalind an opportunity to determine whether they are still suited for each other after several years apart. Louisa has alternate plans for Rosalind though as Louisa's friend, Helen, is desperate for Rosalind to dig into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Helen's eldest brother. As Rosalind brings her skills to bear, she does so knowing that digging into the mystery may irrevocably damage her reputation in the neighbourhood and show more prevent her ever being respected if she does marry Devon.

It's been a while since I read one of these mysteries, but I fell back into Rosalind's world with ease. These books continue to be a fun mysteries with lots of excellent Regency era details. I really enjoyed the direction the mystery went and appreciated how Wilde resolved the situation with Devon. I'll definitely continue on with the series. show less

Enjoyable read!

A Regency mystery with a smart level headed woman cast as the fixer, someone who helps others with their small problems for an accompanying gratuity.
Rosalind Thorne helped Louisa through her London season towards marriage.
Now she's attending the wedding and renewing her acquaintance with Devon Winterbourne, Duke of Casselmaine with the intent of maybe developing the relationship into something more. Only Louise has asked her to help her friend Helen whose brother died in mysterious circumstances prior to a duel.
Gossip, a death, attempted murder and a daring engineering project all play a part.
Bow street runner Adam Harkness makes an appearance and there seems to be some sort of love triangle hovering.
And a rather show more sinister, even salacious man seems to be wanting to know more about Rosalind Thorne.
A very different Regency historical romance/mystery with more to come. Rosalind Thorne is thoughtful incisive woman with a giving heart and insatiable curiosity. My sort of heroine.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley show less

Rosalind has been asked by her former intended to help his cousin plan her wedding. While there she’s asked by a neighbor and friend to help her figure out what exactly happened to her brother who died in a duel. The Duke is hoping to rekindle their feelings but he is definitely keeping secrets about what happened to his friend during the duel.

The first half of this book was extremely slow and basically a lecture on the manners of the time. Rosalind seems a little to progressive for the time while the men in her life are definitely Regency period. Anyway, she gets to the bottom of the “scandal” with the help of her friend, and the Bow Street Detective who is enamored of her.

When Baronet’s daughter and amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne is asked to investigate what appears to be a suicide, she finds nothing is as it seems. Among the upper crust of society she discovers motives for bad deeds fueled by financial greed and social ambition.
A Lady Compromised is book 4 in Rosalind Thorne Mysteries by Darcie Wild, published by Kensington Books. This is the very entertaining and intriguing story about amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne as she is invited to help solve a mysterious case. The authorities have decided it was suicide, but the victim’s sister thinks he was shot as he was getting ready to duel. Rosalind’s investigation reveals a string of hidden secrets and cover-ups among upper class families. They show more consider themselves beyond reproach, which the investigation totally contradicts.

Main character is Baronet’s daughter and amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne. Her family has fallen on hard times following her father’s forger activity. She tries to hide this while assisting friends in need using her investigation skills and connections. She travels to opulent English country estates not unlike Agatha Christie’s Poirot.

Dowager Lady Casselmaine is a well developed and interesting supporting character who seems to have chosen a reclusive life. Her character goes through a development process from rather standoffish into a more amiable person who tries to open herself up to the world and live a better life. For this reason she is my favorite of this story.
The fly-on-the-wall perspective of the upper class lifestyle I found thoroughly amusing. I can’t remember having read anything with similar detailed descriptions of how dinner parties might feel for guests. The characters came alive and felt both relatable and realistic in this setting. My favorite part was descriptions of the Dowager Countess’ journey and development through the story. I also loved following Rosalind’s somewhat complicated and interesting past with her host.
I didn’t know much beforehand about duels, which played an important role in the plot. I very much enjoyed the descriptions of the secrecy surrounding it. Bad attitudes against foreigners and a notion that some people have “superior genes” made the plot stand out, and added drama. I found this a unique, surprising element I have not read about before.

I read this as a standalone, which worked perfectly. The ending left me curious and opens up for the next book. While this is the first cozy mystery I have read by Darcie Wilde, I would very much like to start from the beginning and read the whole series.
Anyone who enjoys the affluent country environments reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Jane Austin would love this. Fans familiar with Darcie Wilde’s works would too.
Similar authors to explore might be Andrea Penrose and Rosemary Simpson.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

Conclusion: A Lady Compromised is the entertaining and intriguing new installment in Rosalind Thorne Mysteries series. Amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne solves crimes in Jane Austin-like opulent English country environments. Somebody ends up dead in what appears to be a duel gone horribly wrong. Bad attitude against foreigners was a unique and surprising element adding drama to the story. show less

Rosalind Thorne has been invited to a house party at Cassell House by Devon Winterbourne, Lord Casselmaine, officially to help his cousin Louisa Winterbourne plan her wedding, unofficially to see if Devon and Rosalind can rekindle their romance. But she receives a letter from Helen Corbyn, neighbour of the Duke, needing her help to find out who did kill her eldest brother, Colonel William Corbyn.
An enjoyable cozy historical mystery, though I suspect it would be helpful to have read the previous books in the series to get some of the background of the characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.