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London Ladies in Peril Mystery #2
Murder at Madame Chambon's
Paris-educated Evelina Chambon has no idea her mother is London’s most infamous brothel madam.
When Evelina arrives in the capital to make her debut in the spring of 1883, she quickly becomes society’s darling, choosing as her future husband wealthy shipping magnate Lord Dunstable over dangerously charismatic Lord Childers.
Evelina cannot afford to involve her heart in as important a matter as her marriage.
But when Lord Dunstable is found dead in Madame Chambon's private sitting room at her High Class House of Assignation, and Madame Chambon is charged with his murder, Evelina’s future teeters on a knife edge.
Can those with intimate knowledge of the young women who work at the brothel, and the aristocratic gentlemen who frequent it, protect Evelina from social ruin, if not the truth of her parentage?
Former spiritualist Lily Bradden, who now works to secure respectable work for the "fallen women" at Madame Chambon’s, and her new husband, newspaper proprietor Hamish McTavish, are prepared to stake their reputations—and Evelina’s—on solving the case of who really murdered Lord Dunstable. And why.
When Evelina arrives in the capital to make her debut in the spring of 1883, she quickly becomes society’s darling, choosing as her future husband wealthy shipping magnate Lord Dunstable over dangerously charismatic Lord Childers.
Evelina cannot afford to involve her heart in as important a matter as her marriage.
But when Lord Dunstable is found dead in Madame Chambon's private sitting room at her High Class House of Assignation, and Madame Chambon is charged with his murder, Evelina’s future teeters on a knife edge.
Can those with intimate knowledge of the young women who work at the brothel, and the aristocratic gentlemen who frequent it, protect Evelina from social ruin, if not the truth of her parentage?
Former spiritualist Lily Bradden, who now works to secure respectable work for the "fallen women" at Madame Chambon’s, and her new husband, newspaper proprietor Hamish McTavish, are prepared to stake their reputations—and Evelina’s—on solving the case of who really murdered Lord Dunstable. And why.
- GenresMystery
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2024
About the author
Beverley Oakley
86 books210 followersAlso writes under Beverley Eikli.
Beverley Oakley writes Regency, Victorian and Georgian-set romances full of passion and laced with mystery and intrigue.
Born in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, she married the handsome bush pilot she met in Botswana while managing a safari lodge and has spent the rest of her life as a ‘trailing spouse’ doing what she loves most: writing books from sweet to steamy; and from humorous to historical romantic suspense.
Here’s more about her series.
Daughters of Sin
A very steamy, funny, witty and dangerous Regency-set ‘Dynasty’ featuring two nobly-born debutantes and their illegitimate sisters - laced with political intrigue, cheating spouses and, of course, dangerous gentlemen.
1. Her Gilded Prison
2. Dangerous Gentlemen
3. The Mysterious Governess
4. Beyond Rubies
5. Lady Unveiled: The Cuckold’s Conspiracy
(Prequel coming October 2021)
The Scandalous Miss Brightwells
A humorous, sometimes steamy, matchmaking series – with some books sweeter and more sensual and poignant.
1. Rake’s Honour
2. Rogue’s Kiss
3. The Wedding Wager
4. The Accidental Elopement
5. The Honourable Fortune Hunter
6. The Wilful Widow
7. The Courtship Caper
Fair Cyprians of London
A group of women who work in a high class House of Assignation. Ranging from very steamy to sweet, hopeful redemption stories.
1. Saving Grace
2. Forsaking Hope
3. Keeping Faith
4. Wedding Violet
5. Christmas Charity
6. Loving Lily
Hearts in Hiding
Historical romantic suspense, very steamy often showing the darker aspects of Regency society, including the dependence and subjugation of women – and how, against the odds, they find their happy-ever-afters.
1. The Duchess and the Highwayman
2. The Bluestocking and the Rake
3. Duchess of Seduction
4. The Countess and the Cavalier
Scandalous: Three Daring Charades
Three sweet, yet intrigue-filled Regency historicals
Lady Sarah’s Redemption
Lady Olivia’s Butterfly
A Little Deception
You can connect with Beverley on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeverl...,
or through her website at: www.beverleyoakley.com
http://twitter.com/BeverleyOakley
https://www.facebook.com/beverley.eikli
Beverley Oakley writes Regency, Victorian and Georgian-set romances full of passion and laced with mystery and intrigue.
Born in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, she married the handsome bush pilot she met in Botswana while managing a safari lodge and has spent the rest of her life as a ‘trailing spouse’ doing what she loves most: writing books from sweet to steamy; and from humorous to historical romantic suspense.
Here’s more about her series.
Daughters of Sin
A very steamy, funny, witty and dangerous Regency-set ‘Dynasty’ featuring two nobly-born debutantes and their illegitimate sisters - laced with political intrigue, cheating spouses and, of course, dangerous gentlemen.
1. Her Gilded Prison
2. Dangerous Gentlemen
3. The Mysterious Governess
4. Beyond Rubies
5. Lady Unveiled: The Cuckold’s Conspiracy
(Prequel coming October 2021)
The Scandalous Miss Brightwells
A humorous, sometimes steamy, matchmaking series – with some books sweeter and more sensual and poignant.
1. Rake’s Honour
2. Rogue’s Kiss
3. The Wedding Wager
4. The Accidental Elopement
5. The Honourable Fortune Hunter
6. The Wilful Widow
7. The Courtship Caper
Fair Cyprians of London
A group of women who work in a high class House of Assignation. Ranging from very steamy to sweet, hopeful redemption stories.
1. Saving Grace
2. Forsaking Hope
3. Keeping Faith
4. Wedding Violet
5. Christmas Charity
6. Loving Lily
Hearts in Hiding
Historical romantic suspense, very steamy often showing the darker aspects of Regency society, including the dependence and subjugation of women – and how, against the odds, they find their happy-ever-afters.
1. The Duchess and the Highwayman
2. The Bluestocking and the Rake
3. Duchess of Seduction
4. The Countess and the Cavalier
Scandalous: Three Daring Charades
Three sweet, yet intrigue-filled Regency historicals
Lady Sarah’s Redemption
Lady Olivia’s Butterfly
A Little Deception
You can connect with Beverley on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeverl...,
or through her website at: www.beverleyoakley.com
http://twitter.com/BeverleyOakley
https://www.facebook.com/beverley.eikli
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 10, 2024
Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.
This is listed both as Book 7 of the Fair Cyprians series and Book 2 of London Ladies in Peril and I did think it was the start of a new series when I first started it. On saying that, it is a Victorian murder/mystery mixed with a sweet historical romance and a heavy dose of family secrets and intrigue. I read it without reading any of the Fair Cyprians and while it seems like it could be read as a stand alone, there was heavy references to previous events in the previous books and there is the heavy involvement of significant secondary characters from the previous books in this book. I can't help but wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I did read at least Loving Lily.
On saying that, the series starts out with the introduction of Evelina TAROT (not Chambon as it says in the blurb on Goodreads). She is a young woman, separated from her family for many years as she trained at an exclusive finishing school run by nuns in France. She was raised an innocent, beautiful, but lonely young woman, very much a protected ingenue, but aware that she is wealthy, with a large dowry, and expected to wed well, and she is on return to London by train to do so, despite a delay of a couple of years due to illness. Unfortunately she is involved in a tragic train crash that causes death and injuries to many, including her lady's maid. She is fortunate to have been helped by a heroic young man, and when she encounters a frantic mother whose child is trapped, she bravely steps in, with the man's help and saves the child. They then are separated in the chaos.
Evelina enters London Society, sponsored by a friend of her mothers. But her hopes of returning to a family are dashed - she lives with her sponsor, with her mother occasionally visiting, and she has no contact with her reclusive father. Her mother refuses to give her information about her father and how to contact him, and essentially weaves a story of them being separated and living separate lives. Mrs. Tarot in the meantime drives Evelina towards finding a husband, pushing particularly hard about one man, Lord Dunstable. Evelina, a dutiful daughter and knowing that is what is expected of her and not expecting to make a love match agrees to his courtship. That is when she is reunited unexpectedly with her heroic rescuer, Lord Bellingham, a widowed lord and father, with political aspirations.
However, before their attachment becomes public, Lord Dunstable ends up dead at a notorious brothel run by Madame Chambon - who is secretly Evelina's mother. She is suspected of the murder, and a past acquaintance, Lily Braddon, and her husband Hamish McTavish, who runs a printshop and publishes a news sheet, become involved with both Evelina, Lord Bellingham, and investigating the murder, through their various points of connections to the other people involved.
Lord Bellingham never forgot the brave young woman at the train crash, and had travelled to London to seek her out, only to discover that Lord Dunstable had laid claim to her. He thinks his way clears when Dunstable's death occurs before any formal announcement is made. But then other barriers such as Evelina's connection to Chambon, her mysterious father, etc, become potential barriers. But he determines he loves her and works to solve the mystery of all.
Lily and Hamish act as devil's advocates, not revealing to Evelina their suspicions of her family, and being involved with the ladies of Chambon's both through Lily's history and her current endeavours to help those who want out of that lifestyle find jobs elsewhere. She and Hamish work to dissuade Bellingham from forming an attachment to Evelina, not knowing how deep their past and affection are. They are afraid that their relationship would put her in under greater scrutiny and possibly expose them both to scandal when her history comes to light. Bellingham is determined though, when they reveal the truths they know to him, to find out the truth of Evelina's parentage and father, and clear the way towards marrying the woman he lives.
Evelina is very naive as to her own family history and the lies and manipulations woven by her mother about it. But she is starting to get more suspicious and rebels against some of her mothers dictates. Ultimately, she ends up in danger from the real perpetrator of the murder, and it all links back to a complex conspiracy of lies about Evelina and her parentage that started to unravel, and the mastermind turns to murder to get rid of all the evidence of the past - including Evelina.
This was a rather interesting read, with a lot of interlocking parts of the storyline crossing over. I felt that Evelina was a very naive character who took what others told her at face value, but that could be contributed to her being raised for so many years by nuns and not having much guile herself. The conspiracy of lies and family secrets and how it linked to the murder was and interesting story, but it felt like it was all touched on superficially and left dangling in the end when the couple got their HEA. Afterall, what happened after Evelina's father discovered her, and what about his other family? Does their connection remain a secret? Because the concerns Lily and Hamish have would still be an issue, unless Bellingham and Evelina are willing to live with the scandal and brave it out, or live a private, reclusive life outside of politics.
This was a fair read, interesting concept, but I found the characters generally tepid, or frequently unlikeable, such as Madame Chambon. Or acting in ways I felt objectionable, such as Lily and Hamish interfering in Evelina and Bellingham's relationship when ultimately they are not that close to either one of them. Though if they did not, then where is the driver in the plot for Bellingham to be involved with them in solving the murder and Evelina's past? At times the story was a bit convoluted and slow going for me and that was perhaps I did not feel any strong connections to the characters.
3 stars out of 5
This is listed both as Book 7 of the Fair Cyprians series and Book 2 of London Ladies in Peril and I did think it was the start of a new series when I first started it. On saying that, it is a Victorian murder/mystery mixed with a sweet historical romance and a heavy dose of family secrets and intrigue. I read it without reading any of the Fair Cyprians and while it seems like it could be read as a stand alone, there was heavy references to previous events in the previous books and there is the heavy involvement of significant secondary characters from the previous books in this book. I can't help but wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I did read at least Loving Lily.
On saying that, the series starts out with the introduction of Evelina TAROT (not Chambon as it says in the blurb on Goodreads). She is a young woman, separated from her family for many years as she trained at an exclusive finishing school run by nuns in France. She was raised an innocent, beautiful, but lonely young woman, very much a protected ingenue, but aware that she is wealthy, with a large dowry, and expected to wed well, and she is on return to London by train to do so, despite a delay of a couple of years due to illness. Unfortunately she is involved in a tragic train crash that causes death and injuries to many, including her lady's maid. She is fortunate to have been helped by a heroic young man, and when she encounters a frantic mother whose child is trapped, she bravely steps in, with the man's help and saves the child. They then are separated in the chaos.
Evelina enters London Society, sponsored by a friend of her mothers. But her hopes of returning to a family are dashed - she lives with her sponsor, with her mother occasionally visiting, and she has no contact with her reclusive father. Her mother refuses to give her information about her father and how to contact him, and essentially weaves a story of them being separated and living separate lives. Mrs. Tarot in the meantime drives Evelina towards finding a husband, pushing particularly hard about one man, Lord Dunstable. Evelina, a dutiful daughter and knowing that is what is expected of her and not expecting to make a love match agrees to his courtship. That is when she is reunited unexpectedly with her heroic rescuer, Lord Bellingham, a widowed lord and father, with political aspirations.
However, before their attachment becomes public, Lord Dunstable ends up dead at a notorious brothel run by Madame Chambon - who is secretly Evelina's mother. She is suspected of the murder, and a past acquaintance, Lily Braddon, and her husband Hamish McTavish, who runs a printshop and publishes a news sheet, become involved with both Evelina, Lord Bellingham, and investigating the murder, through their various points of connections to the other people involved.
Lord Bellingham never forgot the brave young woman at the train crash, and had travelled to London to seek her out, only to discover that Lord Dunstable had laid claim to her. He thinks his way clears when Dunstable's death occurs before any formal announcement is made. But then other barriers such as Evelina's connection to Chambon, her mysterious father, etc, become potential barriers. But he determines he loves her and works to solve the mystery of all.
Lily and Hamish act as devil's advocates, not revealing to Evelina their suspicions of her family, and being involved with the ladies of Chambon's both through Lily's history and her current endeavours to help those who want out of that lifestyle find jobs elsewhere. She and Hamish work to dissuade Bellingham from forming an attachment to Evelina, not knowing how deep their past and affection are. They are afraid that their relationship would put her in under greater scrutiny and possibly expose them both to scandal when her history comes to light. Bellingham is determined though, when they reveal the truths they know to him, to find out the truth of Evelina's parentage and father, and clear the way towards marrying the woman he lives.
Evelina is very naive as to her own family history and the lies and manipulations woven by her mother about it. But she is starting to get more suspicious and rebels against some of her mothers dictates. Ultimately, she ends up in danger from the real perpetrator of the murder, and it all links back to a complex conspiracy of lies about Evelina and her parentage that started to unravel, and the mastermind turns to murder to get rid of all the evidence of the past - including Evelina.
This was a rather interesting read, with a lot of interlocking parts of the storyline crossing over. I felt that Evelina was a very naive character who took what others told her at face value, but that could be contributed to her being raised for so many years by nuns and not having much guile herself. The conspiracy of lies and family secrets and how it linked to the murder was and interesting story, but it felt like it was all touched on superficially and left dangling in the end when the couple got their HEA. Afterall, what happened after Evelina's father discovered her, and what about his other family? Does their connection remain a secret? Because the concerns Lily and Hamish have would still be an issue, unless Bellingham and Evelina are willing to live with the scandal and brave it out, or live a private, reclusive life outside of politics.
This was a fair read, interesting concept, but I found the characters generally tepid, or frequently unlikeable, such as Madame Chambon. Or acting in ways I felt objectionable, such as Lily and Hamish interfering in Evelina and Bellingham's relationship when ultimately they are not that close to either one of them. Though if they did not, then where is the driver in the plot for Bellingham to be involved with them in solving the murder and Evelina's past? At times the story was a bit convoluted and slow going for me and that was perhaps I did not feel any strong connections to the characters.
3 stars out of 5
January 23, 2024
There is a lot happening in this book!
The story idea was a good one and the characters kept me interested enough to keep me reading.
I do enjoy a story where there is sufficient discussion and exploration of ideas and solutions to keep me reading and guessing what the outcome will be and this story did exactly that for me.
It was also good to be reintroduced to past characters and have them play a reasonably big part in the book. It was like meeting up with old friends again.
I read an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and am happy to leave my voluntary review.
The story idea was a good one and the characters kept me interested enough to keep me reading.
I do enjoy a story where there is sufficient discussion and exploration of ideas and solutions to keep me reading and guessing what the outcome will be and this story did exactly that for me.
It was also good to be reintroduced to past characters and have them play a reasonably big part in the book. It was like meeting up with old friends again.
I read an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and am happy to leave my voluntary review.
March 1, 2024
Very well written, full of love, romance, murder, society, suspense, a kidnapping, intrigue, action and everything you could ever want in a who done it mystery. This author did a fabulous writing to keep you spellbound while reading this story. Evelina returns to London for a season after growing up in Paris. It's there that her life changes and she finds herself falling for a man who helps her after a train wreck. William falls for her at the same site , while the two of them help a child. Later that they meet and realize that their feelings for each other mean everything but then a murder occurs. How is she involved in it? William will need to help Evelina as someones tries to destroy them. Evelina disappears at the funeral and now time is of the essences, they have to rescue her. Has so much action, very hard to put down to do anything else. Would strongly recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 7, 2024
Wow, this story trots along with a malicious undercurrent, and then takes a windy road to its finish. Evelina and William’s first meeting is at a disaster where they become heroes, well he more so than she. They are seperated and meet again in London, but only after she has already committed to another. A murder gives William the chance he needs to court Evelina, and the two lovebirds are blissfully happy for a few minutes until he learns unsettling things about her past. This story is emotionally charged, has fiendish villains, a gaggle of young ladies, and many surprises. It is really good and leaves you wanting more!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 29, 2024
MYSTERY and romance
It took me a while to get into the story. I thought the introduction was rather long before finally getting into the book’s intrigue. Once the plot began, I was captivated by the novel because there was so much action, tension, and twists and turns. Which then makes the book most interesting. This book has a good story full of mystery, secrets, and danger. Rated 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It took me a while to get into the story. I thought the introduction was rather long before finally getting into the book’s intrigue. Once the plot began, I was captivated by the novel because there was so much action, tension, and twists and turns. Which then makes the book most interesting. This book has a good story full of mystery, secrets, and danger. Rated 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 9, 2024
I love this beautiful start to a new (if I read right ) series. This was a very intriguing story, and I can’t wait to see how it continues. It had a lot of twisted and turns and a lot of surprises. The characters were wonderful. I also hope to see more of them. I would recommend this to anyone who loves romance, surprises, and suspense.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2024
I love Beverley Oakley's Fair Cyprians series, with it's colourful cast of fallen fem fatale's, but Murder at Madam Chambon's has taken the series to the next level, with a brilliant who done it woven into the fabric of this fabulous romance series set in London's seedy underworld. I really hope Oakley follows this title with another genre blending book because I'm definitely hooked!
July 16, 2025
A young lady travelling by train from Dover is suddenly in a carriage in a river. She is rescued & then she & her rescuer rescue a young boy from the carriage just as it slips into the water. She gets to London and the High Society she’s been trained for, dances, dinners etc. There’s a lot in this book & I’m glad I could finish it in one go. Murder and mystery combined.
January 22, 2024
Errors in text.
This book needs a rewrite. One chapter is repeated in the next chapter. Wrong names are used and many words are missing. Wait for book to be edited and reissued.
This book needs a rewrite. One chapter is repeated in the next chapter. Wrong names are used and many words are missing. Wait for book to be edited and reissued.
April 13, 2024
I liked this historical fiction romance story! The characters were fun and had great chemistry, a sweet romance, and nice historical elements.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2024
Who murdered Lord Dunstable and why?
When Evelina who has arrived from Paris for her Debut, falls in love with Lord Bellingham, her mother tries to stop the match. Evelina discovers her mother is the famous owner of the brothel at Madam Chambon's where Lord Dunstable died.
Does Lord Bellingham love Evelina enough to risk social suicide and marry her?
Beautifully written. A wonderful story. It's so easy to be lost in Oatley's world.
When Evelina who has arrived from Paris for her Debut, falls in love with Lord Bellingham, her mother tries to stop the match. Evelina discovers her mother is the famous owner of the brothel at Madam Chambon's where Lord Dunstable died.
Does Lord Bellingham love Evelina enough to risk social suicide and marry her?
Beautifully written. A wonderful story. It's so easy to be lost in Oatley's world.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews