An enjoyable historical cozy with a likable lead and a surprisingly unresolved ending. An enjoyable historical cozy with a likable lead and a surprisingly unresolved ending. Readers will have to suspend quite a bit of belief to truly enjoy this mystery, however. ( )

After Lady Caroline’s father dies penniless, leaving her with few options, she does the unthinkable. She becomes a companion for a woman who represents ‘new money’. When she is invited to her cousin’s brthday ball, she insists she can’t go unless her employer and her employer’s daughter are also invited. But when they arrive at her aunt and uncle’s manor, it is clear immediately that something is wrong. The butler is missing and is found trapped in a cage in the basement. And then the bodies start piling up.

Miss Morton and the English Party Murder is the first in a historical cozy mystery series by Catherine Lloyd and I really enjoyed it. Caroline and her employer, Mrs Frogerton, make for a very likable pair of amateur detectives and the story moves at a nice pace. There were some subplots I didn’t feel added much to the story but, overall, I found it a compelling and entertaining story and look forward to reading more in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review ( )

Sort of a Cinderella story. Young woman of noble birth left impoverished by her father takes a job as a companion to "new money" so she wouldn't have to depend on the kindness of her aunt and uncle. Her employer, is smart in the ways of business and loves mysteries. Clara is.invited to a country house party and says she can only go if her employer and daughter are invited. Lots of snobbery toward the working class on display. It starts with pranks and then a couple of murders during a bad storm. Clara with the help from her employer figure it out. ( )

As a huge fan of this author’s Kurland St. Mary series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest mystery series. It was definitely worth the wait. The characters – especially the featured characters – were excellently done. You didn’t learn everything about them right in the beginning, it was doled out a bit at a time – and some of what you thought you knew, it turns out you didn’t. 😊 You aren’t sure who the good guys are – or who the bad guys are. You THINK you know, but do you?

Lady Caroline Morton, daughter of the deceased Earl of Morton, is penniless and without reputation, through no fault of her own. No, not her fault at all, but society tars her and her sister with the same brush as her father when he kills himself and everyone finds he is deeply in debt. Fortunately, her aunt and uncle take them in and that works fine while they are still pretty young, but children have a habit of growing up. Caroline finally realized that she could strike out on her own and seek employment – or – she could stay with her aunt and uncle and become an unappreciated, unpaid drudge within their home. Being the strong, independent, forthright, intelligent woman she was, she arranged employment as a companion to Mrs. Frogerton. Mrs. Frogerton turns out to be an adventurous lady and one who is anxious to see her daughter marry well. She has tons of money, but their background is tainted with the stench of ‘business’ and ‘work’. Caroline and Mrs. Frogrton are perfect partners in crime-solving – and goodness – do they have some crimes to solve!

A few months after Caroline leaves her Aunt Eleanor’s home, Eleanor pays a visit to Mrs. Frogerton’s home to request Caroline attend a house party being given in honor of Eleanor’s daughter for her birthday. Caroline declines, but Mrs. Frogerton is delighted to attend. It appears they are going to have an adventure after all.

Not long after Caroline, Mrs. Frogerton, and her daughter arrive, bodies begin to drop. While Lady Eleanor refuses to acknowledge that any murders occurred in her home, Caroline and the local physician, Dr. Harris, know otherwise. As they investigate, Caroline begins receiving threats – veiled and not so veiled. Clues turn up in the oddest places, and large sums of money appear in places they should not be. And what about all of those charity children in the nursery? Oh – this is going to be a handful to solve.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, it is interesting, well-plotted, well-paced, and excellently delivered. The book was, very, very busy and had a lot of characters and subplots that weren’t necessary to the story or my enjoyment of it. I will also add that I didn't care for the punishments (or non-punishment) for the murderers. Should you choose to read the book, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. ( )

Families that play together?

A family reunion of a sort, a dead body, seemingly troubled staff, plus an unforgiving ex fiancé makes for a satisfying read. After her father’s untimely death revealed habits unbecoming a member of the ton, Lady Caroline Morton and her sister Susan had been living with their aunt, Lady Eleanor Greenwood. Treated more as an unpaid servant, rather than a family member, Caroline left to charter her own course. As Miss Morton she steps out and become a paid companion. Caroline returns to Greenwood Hall for her cousin Mabel’s birthday party and ball, and to see her young sister. Her employer a wealthy widow, Mrs Matilda (Marry) Frogerton and her daughter Dorothy will accompany Caroline. Matty sees this a chance for Dorothy to rub shoulders with loftier members of society. Caroline’s former fiancé’s presence, Lord Francis Chatham’s is disturbing, as is that of Dr. Harris for entirely different reasons.
When death strikes Caroline and Matty begin investigating. They discover a troubled household with a thinly veiled atmosphere of turbulence. And that’s just the beginning.
Quite a complex mystery, ending on a strange note even if the mystery was reconciled. I will be interested in seeing how this series progresses.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley ( )