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Lily Adler Mystery #3
Death at the Manor
Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to spending the autumn away from the social whirl of London society. When she arrives in Hampshire with her friends, Lord and Lady Carroway, she doesn’t expect much more than a quiet country visit and the chance to spend time with her charming new acquaintance, Matthew Spencer.
But something odd is afoot in the small country village. A ghost has taken up residence in the Belleford manor, a lady in grey who wanders the halls at night, weeping and wailing. Half the servants have left in terror, but the family is delighted with the notoriety that their ghost provides. Piqued by this spectral guest, Lily and her party immediately make plans to visit Belleford.
They arrive at the manor the next morning ready to be entertained—but tragedy has struck. The matriarch of the family has just been found smothered to death in her bed.
There was no one else in her room, and the door was locked from the inside. The dead woman’s family is convinced that the ghost is responsible. The servants are keeping secrets. The local magistrate is flummoxed. Lily is determined to learn the truth before another victim turns up—but could she be next in line for the Great Beyond?
But something odd is afoot in the small country village. A ghost has taken up residence in the Belleford manor, a lady in grey who wanders the halls at night, weeping and wailing. Half the servants have left in terror, but the family is delighted with the notoriety that their ghost provides. Piqued by this spectral guest, Lily and her party immediately make plans to visit Belleford.
They arrive at the manor the next morning ready to be entertained—but tragedy has struck. The matriarch of the family has just been found smothered to death in her bed.
There was no one else in her room, and the door was locked from the inside. The dead woman’s family is convinced that the ghost is responsible. The servants are keeping secrets. The local magistrate is flummoxed. Lily is determined to learn the truth before another victim turns up—but could she be next in line for the Great Beyond?
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First published August 9, 2022
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About the author
Katharine Schellman
19 books1,207 followersKatharine Schellman is the author of the Lily Adler Mysteries and the forthcoming Nightingale Mysteries. Her debut novel, The Body in the Garden, was one of Suspense Magazine's Best Books of 2020 and led to her being named one of BookPage's 16 Women to Watch in 2020. Her second novel, Silence in the Library, was praised as "worthy of Rex Stout or Agatha Christie" (Library Journal).
Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering. Find her on Instagram as @katharinewrites.
Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering. Find her on Instagram as @katharinewrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
September 9, 2025
Death at the Manor is a locked room murder mystery with a Gothic flavour. I generally like locked room mysteries, so this kept me going, even though the book felt a little clunky. We see more of Ofelia through her POV, which is a plus point. I like to see lead characters less than Mary Sue perfect learn and grow as people, but here they felt both modern and somehow self- centered at the same time, which kept jarring me.
I'm still looking forward to the rest of the series however.
The rating is two and a half stars rounded up to three stars for Goodreads as I like the series.
🌟🌟🌟
[Half a star for the premise and whole book; Half a star for the characters; Half a star for the writing; Half a star for the story; Half a star for the world-building - Two and a half stars on the whole.]
I'm still looking forward to the rest of the series however.
The rating is two and a half stars rounded up to three stars for Goodreads as I like the series.
🌟🌟🌟
[Half a star for the premise and whole book; Half a star for the characters; Half a star for the writing; Half a star for the story; Half a star for the world-building - Two and a half stars on the whole.]
August 10, 2022
The third book in this excellent series is as good as the previous two except for the almost total omission of Captain Jack Hartley. I suppose he had to go back to sea but it may have been a mistake on his part as Lily quickly finds herself with another admirer to help in her sleuthing.
In Death at the Manor Lily is visiting her Aunt at her home in Hampshire. She hears about an apparently haunted house nearby called Belleford Manor and with her friends makes a visit there. Before they arrive however the mistress of the house has been murdered in her bedroom with the door locked from the inside.
Lily sets herself to discover what happened with the help of neighbour and new admirer, Matthew Spencer, and her friends Ophelia and Ned Carroway. It is a clever mystery with its locked room theme and several possible suspects. There is a twist at the end too which is always a good way to conclude any mystery.
Looking forward to book four now because I am wondering how the author is going to deal with the dreaded love triangle.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In Death at the Manor Lily is visiting her Aunt at her home in Hampshire. She hears about an apparently haunted house nearby called Belleford Manor and with her friends makes a visit there. Before they arrive however the mistress of the house has been murdered in her bedroom with the door locked from the inside.
Lily sets herself to discover what happened with the help of neighbour and new admirer, Matthew Spencer, and her friends Ophelia and Ned Carroway. It is a clever mystery with its locked room theme and several possible suspects. There is a twist at the end too which is always a good way to conclude any mystery.
Looking forward to book four now because I am wondering how the author is going to deal with the dreaded love triangle.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 13, 2022
In this third regency mystery featuring young widow Lily Adler, she has left the swirl of London society behind her for some time away in the country, especially after her involvement in solving a murder. She is initially visiting her much loved aunt in a small Hampshire village with her friends Lord Edward and Lady Ophelia Carroway. They are hoping for a quiet, relaxing time but it is not to be. Hearing of a ghost in local manor Belleford, they visit with their neighbour, widower Matthew Spencer only to discover the matriarch of the house is dead in her bed in a room locked from the inside, believed by all the house to have been killed by the ghost they call the Grey Lady.
While it’s not too hard to guess how the murder was done in this locked room mystery, the who and the why are much harder to discover and take some serious investigation and snooping around by Lily and her friend Ophelia. I was disappointed not to see Lily’s delightful friend Captain Jack Hartley involved in this mystery, as he has been sent back out to sea, but hope we will see him again soon, although he now has a competitor for Lily’s affections in Matthew Spencer, who seems very charming and smitten with Lily. Ophelia does make for a good fellow sleuth as she is as forthright, intelligent and courageous as Lily herself. (I was also pleased to see the author’s note as to why Ophelia reminds me so much of Miss Lambe in Jane Austen's Sanditon). I enjoyed this delightful historical mystery complete with a ghost and a fractured family in a decaying manor and can't wait to see where Lily finds her next murder.
With thanks to Crooked Lane books via Netgalley for a copy to read
While it’s not too hard to guess how the murder was done in this locked room mystery, the who and the why are much harder to discover and take some serious investigation and snooping around by Lily and her friend Ophelia. I was disappointed not to see Lily’s delightful friend Captain Jack Hartley involved in this mystery, as he has been sent back out to sea, but hope we will see him again soon, although he now has a competitor for Lily’s affections in Matthew Spencer, who seems very charming and smitten with Lily. Ophelia does make for a good fellow sleuth as she is as forthright, intelligent and courageous as Lily herself. (I was also pleased to see the author’s note as to why Ophelia reminds me so much of Miss Lambe in Jane Austen's Sanditon). I enjoyed this delightful historical mystery complete with a ghost and a fractured family in a decaying manor and can't wait to see where Lily finds her next murder.
With thanks to Crooked Lane books via Netgalley for a copy to read
February 20, 2022
"Apparently, it wanders the halls of Belleford at night. Half their servants have quit in fear..." - Matthew Spencer.
Ghosts and murder. The latest book in the Lily Adler series turns slightly gothic when visiting her aunt in Hampshire. While there she learns that Belleford manor is haunted. Members of the family and staff having seen the vision of a "Grey Lady". Rather than the family attempting to distance themselves from these rumors, they instead are promoting it and enjoying the notoriety. Mr. Thomas Wright, the son of the house, talks of giving tours. Thinking a tour might be a bit of fun, Lily and her friend Ofelia decide to visit Belleford and figure out the mystery. But while there the unexpected and unexplained death of Mrs. Wright, Thomas's mother, occurs. Everyone, but Lily, believes it is the Grey Lady who has killed her.
What I liked about the book is how it felt like a traditional mystery to solve. The murder or death appears to be within a locked room with an old, rundown manor with limited servants. So while Lily and her gang attempt to get to know all the circumstances of who and why someone might want to kill Mrs. Wright, there is also the struggle of how it occurred at all.
I also appreciated how the story used multiple individuals to dig into the circumstances and find clues. Even though it is a Lily Adler mystery, it really is a group effort and helps give the story a more well-rounded feel. No one person can do it all, and although Lily is capable, the narrative uses everyone's strengths to help find answers.
Death at the Manor clearly glides into a gothic direction with a potential haunting of Belleford. But while the story goes in that direction, it never feels truly gothic. Gothic stories generally have a ghostly or haunting type of presence, but they also build an atmosphere within the storytelling that leads credibility to the presence. Even though Belleford has a reported ghost, the atmosphere of the book continues to feel more traditional/cozy-mystery instead of gothic mystery. Still, a potential ghost is always a win for me and I appreciated the addition because of how it added to the overall mystery.
Rating: 3.75 stars
Ghosts and murder. The latest book in the Lily Adler series turns slightly gothic when visiting her aunt in Hampshire. While there she learns that Belleford manor is haunted. Members of the family and staff having seen the vision of a "Grey Lady". Rather than the family attempting to distance themselves from these rumors, they instead are promoting it and enjoying the notoriety. Mr. Thomas Wright, the son of the house, talks of giving tours. Thinking a tour might be a bit of fun, Lily and her friend Ofelia decide to visit Belleford and figure out the mystery. But while there the unexpected and unexplained death of Mrs. Wright, Thomas's mother, occurs. Everyone, but Lily, believes it is the Grey Lady who has killed her.
What I liked about the book is how it felt like a traditional mystery to solve. The murder or death appears to be within a locked room with an old, rundown manor with limited servants. So while Lily and her gang attempt to get to know all the circumstances of who and why someone might want to kill Mrs. Wright, there is also the struggle of how it occurred at all.
I also appreciated how the story used multiple individuals to dig into the circumstances and find clues. Even though it is a Lily Adler mystery, it really is a group effort and helps give the story a more well-rounded feel. No one person can do it all, and although Lily is capable, the narrative uses everyone's strengths to help find answers.
Death at the Manor clearly glides into a gothic direction with a potential haunting of Belleford. But while the story goes in that direction, it never feels truly gothic. Gothic stories generally have a ghostly or haunting type of presence, but they also build an atmosphere within the storytelling that leads credibility to the presence. Even though Belleford has a reported ghost, the atmosphere of the book continues to feel more traditional/cozy-mystery instead of gothic mystery. Still, a potential ghost is always a win for me and I appreciated the addition because of how it added to the overall mystery.
Rating: 3.75 stars
July 8, 2022
NICE, BUT NOT MY FAVOURITE LILY ADLER MYSTERY
For me, this book does not feel on par with the rest of the series. While it was not a bad book at all, it just didn't feel like it belonged in a series with the two previous books. And that was a let down, because I really enjoyed them.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Mystery: What really made this book worthwhile was the mystery at the center of the story. It had a sort of classical feel to it. A locked room mystery were all of the suspects are known right from the start. That just felt so retro to me and I absolutely loved it. While I was quick to guess the method of killing, the murderer did surprise me.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Jack: Lily's previous companion in solving murders had been her husband's friend, Jack. I always liked Jack. I felt like he delivered a lot of humour and he always managed to keep Lily grounded. Sadly, Jack isn't in this book at all. He is out at sea. And in my humble opinion, the book suffered from his absence. While the Schellman offers us Ophelia as a substitute, she doesn't fill the void left behind by Jack. Lily needs Jack. They are a duo.
Detour: Most of all this book felt like a detour of sorts. Not like a natural continuation of the series. But more like a spin-off of sorts. Or as if it should have been novella.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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For me, this book does not feel on par with the rest of the series. While it was not a bad book at all, it just didn't feel like it belonged in a series with the two previous books. And that was a let down, because I really enjoyed them.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Mystery: What really made this book worthwhile was the mystery at the center of the story. It had a sort of classical feel to it. A locked room mystery were all of the suspects are known right from the start. That just felt so retro to me and I absolutely loved it. While I was quick to guess the method of killing, the murderer did surprise me.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Jack: Lily's previous companion in solving murders had been her husband's friend, Jack. I always liked Jack. I felt like he delivered a lot of humour and he always managed to keep Lily grounded. Sadly, Jack isn't in this book at all. He is out at sea. And in my humble opinion, the book suffered from his absence. While the Schellman offers us Ophelia as a substitute, she doesn't fill the void left behind by Jack. Lily needs Jack. They are a duo.
Detour: Most of all this book felt like a detour of sorts. Not like a natural continuation of the series. But more like a spin-off of sorts. Or as if it should have been novella.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: 10 Criminally Underrated YA Books with an LGBTQ Twist
August 31, 2022
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
DEATH AT THE MANOR (A Lily Adler Mystery Book #3) is another entertaining historical cozy mystery in this series featuring Regency widow, Lily Adler and her close group of friends. This book is easily read as a standalone mystery but some of Lily’s close friends are carried over from the previous books in the series.
After dealing with two murder mysteries in the bustling swirl of London society, Lily Adler is happy to be retreating to the country home of her aunt and friend. Lord and Lady Carroway accompany her before they are to continue on to their country home. On their first night, they are invited to dinner by Matthew Spenser who made Lily’s acquaintance in London, and they learn of a tale of a ghost haunting the inhabitants of Belleford manor.
They are invited for a tour of the manor and are told the story of the “lady in gray” who wanders the halls weeping and wailing the halls at night. As they are being given the tour by the son of the manor, there is a scream from his sister who finds the matriarch of the manor dead in her bed. There seems to be no way to enter the room after she locks her door from in inside each night, so her death is blamed on the ghost.
Lily and her friends do not believe in ghosts, and she is determined to learn the truth of this death.
I enjoy this series and all the characters, especially Lily. I am always guessing what Lily will choose to do with her love life while she states she is not ready to move on from the death of her husband and yet she has two gentlemen very interested in her. I enjoy a locked room mystery and this addition to the series was well written one with plenty of suspects and red herrings and a surprise twist at the end. I did feel though there were a few places in this story that lagged a bit compared to the other mysteries in the series. All the secondary characters are well drawn especially Ophelia Carroway. The dress, customs, and activities are well researched and suitable to the time period.
I am always happy to read a Lily Adler historical cozy mystery.
DEATH AT THE MANOR (A Lily Adler Mystery Book #3) is another entertaining historical cozy mystery in this series featuring Regency widow, Lily Adler and her close group of friends. This book is easily read as a standalone mystery but some of Lily’s close friends are carried over from the previous books in the series.
After dealing with two murder mysteries in the bustling swirl of London society, Lily Adler is happy to be retreating to the country home of her aunt and friend. Lord and Lady Carroway accompany her before they are to continue on to their country home. On their first night, they are invited to dinner by Matthew Spenser who made Lily’s acquaintance in London, and they learn of a tale of a ghost haunting the inhabitants of Belleford manor.
They are invited for a tour of the manor and are told the story of the “lady in gray” who wanders the halls weeping and wailing the halls at night. As they are being given the tour by the son of the manor, there is a scream from his sister who finds the matriarch of the manor dead in her bed. There seems to be no way to enter the room after she locks her door from in inside each night, so her death is blamed on the ghost.
Lily and her friends do not believe in ghosts, and she is determined to learn the truth of this death.
I enjoy this series and all the characters, especially Lily. I am always guessing what Lily will choose to do with her love life while she states she is not ready to move on from the death of her husband and yet she has two gentlemen very interested in her. I enjoy a locked room mystery and this addition to the series was well written one with plenty of suspects and red herrings and a surprise twist at the end. I did feel though there were a few places in this story that lagged a bit compared to the other mysteries in the series. All the secondary characters are well drawn especially Ophelia Carroway. The dress, customs, and activities are well researched and suitable to the time period.
I am always happy to read a Lily Adler historical cozy mystery.
July 1, 2022
⭐⭐⭐ -- ADORE the cover on this one!
I unfortunately was a little disappointed in this one. The main issue I had with the previous one was that it was slow and drawn out, and again, in this one, we have the same issue. The saving grace of the previous book was that it had a cast of diverse, likable, and intriguing characters. In this one, I struggled to like Lily at all, and Jack and Simon were non-existent. Ophelia was really the only character that stood out for me. 🤷🏻♀️ Will I pick up the next book in the series? Honestly, I am not sure...
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I unfortunately was a little disappointed in this one. The main issue I had with the previous one was that it was slow and drawn out, and again, in this one, we have the same issue. The saving grace of the previous book was that it had a cast of diverse, likable, and intriguing characters. In this one, I struggled to like Lily at all, and Jack and Simon were non-existent. Ophelia was really the only character that stood out for me. 🤷🏻♀️ Will I pick up the next book in the series? Honestly, I am not sure...
**ARC Via NetGalley**
August 8, 2022
… wringing of hands, and wailing, of course!
Lily Adler once again has her hands full. This time investigating the ghost of Belleford Manor. And surprise, surprise, the matriarch of the Manor is found dead in her bed.
The widowed lady sleuth is taken with their neighbor Mathew Spencer and this holiday in Hampshire is a chance to get to know him better. Which she does. But what about the Captain? … some would ask, indeed I ask the same!
However now our regency lady detective has something to get her teeth into, a haunting and a murder. Who knows what else will happen?
Except the investigation, the clues, the raison d’être has little of the excitement and adventure I was looking for. All a bit ho hum really.
Maybe the next in the series will be more defining. I hope so!
A Crooked Lane Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Lily Adler once again has her hands full. This time investigating the ghost of Belleford Manor. And surprise, surprise, the matriarch of the Manor is found dead in her bed.
The widowed lady sleuth is taken with their neighbor Mathew Spencer and this holiday in Hampshire is a chance to get to know him better. Which she does. But what about the Captain? … some would ask, indeed I ask the same!
However now our regency lady detective has something to get her teeth into, a haunting and a murder. Who knows what else will happen?
Except the investigation, the clues, the raison d’être has little of the excitement and adventure I was looking for. All a bit ho hum really.
Maybe the next in the series will be more defining. I hope so!
A Crooked Lane Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
August 18, 2022
Not my favorite, I must admit. The author intentionally made this story more gothic and that is not my cup of tea, though I’m sure some readers will love it. Lily has an affair with Matthew Spencer, too, and I found this deeply disappointing. Though I can understand that they are both widowed and both attractive, I expected more of them morally. I love a good flirtation in a book, but not a dalliance. It muddies the water and makes me like them both less as characters. It also makes Lily’s relationships with her other potential suitors more complicated, but not in a compelling way.
The writing is certainly good, though, and it was interesting to have a two-fold mystery in a way with both the ghost and the murder. I did enjoy the country setting and Lily’s two aunts. I missed having Mr. Page in the story, as well as Jack and his young protege from the first two stories.
The writing is certainly good, though, and it was interesting to have a two-fold mystery in a way with both the ghost and the murder. I did enjoy the country setting and Lily’s two aunts. I missed having Mr. Page in the story, as well as Jack and his young protege from the first two stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2022
Maybe its because I have read too many similar books lately, but I’m so tired of 1800s leading ladies acting like they came straight out of 2022. If I wanted that I would just read a contemporary mystery book. I think its just laziness on the part of the author(s). There are more ways to create a strong and independent female character than giving her 2022 progressive morals and ideals. I much prefer my 19th century lady detectives to act like it, while still displaying an intelligence and solving the mystery.
July 24, 2023
2.5 stars. This writer is excellent at creating an atmosphere; however, I am truly weary of the constant need for every new book to have a same-sec couple, and even more for a historical character to essentially lecture the reader with their “modern” attitude towards the couple.
March 3, 2022
I thank Netgally and Crooked Lane Books and of course the author Katharine Schellman for giving me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 9 August
Lily Adler and her friend Ophelia Carroway go and stay with Lily's aunt for a few days only to be present at the occurrence of a murder of Mrs. Wright. Previously successful with solving murder mysteries, Lily cannot stop her mind from trying to find out the murderer. Here's the catch, everyone thinks the ghost that haunts that house is the one the frightened the poor woman to death.
This book is for those who are just getting into the world of murder mysteries and this is the perfect place to start as it slow and light. Unfortunately, being used to heavy murder mysteries with thrilling twists and turns, this book was not for *me*
The book was okay, pretty good but also slow and a little boring in places. It started off really slow with unnecessary descriptions and it only picked up once the murder happened. After that again it was a little slow with little bursts of information which excited you but no fun until about 50%. It's at this point you kind of figure who could be the murderer based on eliminating people and arriving at the conclusion.
I really liked that both Lily and Ophelia shared equal parts in investigating and I really liked their characters and their significant others.
The second half of the book really picks up and completely invites you into a thrilling mystery, but at this point even when they bring back suspects with evidence, you still have an inkling of who is the murderer. The end completely shocked me and the how and why I was astonished and had absolutely no idea. Woah. Indeed.
One thing, there were A LOT of romance plots here and a lot of talk about love and potential love etc which at the beginning felt unnecessary but definitely added a cute element to the book.
Publication date: 9 August
Lily Adler and her friend Ophelia Carroway go and stay with Lily's aunt for a few days only to be present at the occurrence of a murder of Mrs. Wright. Previously successful with solving murder mysteries, Lily cannot stop her mind from trying to find out the murderer. Here's the catch, everyone thinks the ghost that haunts that house is the one the frightened the poor woman to death.
This book is for those who are just getting into the world of murder mysteries and this is the perfect place to start as it slow and light. Unfortunately, being used to heavy murder mysteries with thrilling twists and turns, this book was not for *me*
The book was okay, pretty good but also slow and a little boring in places. It started off really slow with unnecessary descriptions and it only picked up once the murder happened. After that again it was a little slow with little bursts of information which excited you but no fun until about 50%. It's at this point you kind of figure who could be the murderer based on eliminating people and arriving at the conclusion.
I really liked that both Lily and Ophelia shared equal parts in investigating and I really liked their characters and their significant others.
The second half of the book really picks up and completely invites you into a thrilling mystery, but at this point even when they bring back suspects with evidence, you still have an inkling of who is the murderer. The end completely shocked me and the how and why I was astonished and had absolutely no idea. Woah. Indeed.
One thing, there were A LOT of romance plots here and a lot of talk about love and potential love etc which at the beginning felt unnecessary but definitely added a cute element to the book.
October 28, 2022
A book pal put me onto this series since I adore Regency England and historical mysteries. I probably should have waited and started at the beginning, but I spotted that blurb mentioning a haunted house and locked room mystery and I had to dive in here.
Death at the Manor is third in the Lily Adler mysteries. I had no trouble diving into this one out of order, but I could see where her personal connections and background were established earlier and I might have had more of a connection to her and the others if I’d encountered them when they were introduced.
Wealthy widow, Lily Adler farewells her friend Captain Jack Hartley when he leaves for his ship and is joined by her friends the Carroways for a visit in the country to her aunt in Hampshire. Their first night at her aunts has them away to the dashing Matthew Spencer’s home for a dinner party and the ghost at nearby Belleford estate is mentioned. Wanting to be entertained, Lady Ofelia Carroway gets the idea for their party to visit the Wrights, who don’t take their ghost that seriously in spite of the servant problem, and investigate the ghost.
Unfortunately, their visit is interrupted by the news that Mrs. Wright has died in the night and the family are convinced the ghost of the Grey Lady frightened her to death since she was alone in a locked room and was the only one to possess the key. Lily is unconvinced of a gothic ghostly visitation and her detecting skills are needed once again when no one except Ofelia by her side, including the local magistrate, is ready to investigate it further.
Meanwhile, Lily was oblivious to Captain Jack Hartley’s interest as more than her friend, but she is warming to the charm of Matthew Spencer.
Death at the Manor was an engaging cozy historical mystery. I liked the cast of characters led by Lily, the Regency country house backdrop was pitch perfect, and the mystery was entertaining. I had my suspicions early and how the locked room bit was achieved. I was right though there are some good twists later on that gave me some good surprises.
There are some moments of lag, but the pace picks up before I could grow bored. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I’d been in on the series from the beginning. Ofelia was a fun partner to Lily in detection, but Lily got help from the others at times, too. I’m a little wary because I sense of love triangle as this series progresses and I find that distracting at the best of times let alone in the background of a mystery, but, there is enough other elements to appreciate that I might find it worth it. But, first, I think I’ll go back for the earlier stories.
All in all, I was glad to be introduced to this series and look forward to more. Oh, and it has a nice Jane Austen vibe for those familiar with Miss Lambe from Austen’s Sanditon. Those who enjoy historical cozy mysteries would be a great fit for this one.
I rec’d an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Oct 19th.
Death at the Manor is third in the Lily Adler mysteries. I had no trouble diving into this one out of order, but I could see where her personal connections and background were established earlier and I might have had more of a connection to her and the others if I’d encountered them when they were introduced.
Wealthy widow, Lily Adler farewells her friend Captain Jack Hartley when he leaves for his ship and is joined by her friends the Carroways for a visit in the country to her aunt in Hampshire. Their first night at her aunts has them away to the dashing Matthew Spencer’s home for a dinner party and the ghost at nearby Belleford estate is mentioned. Wanting to be entertained, Lady Ofelia Carroway gets the idea for their party to visit the Wrights, who don’t take their ghost that seriously in spite of the servant problem, and investigate the ghost.
Unfortunately, their visit is interrupted by the news that Mrs. Wright has died in the night and the family are convinced the ghost of the Grey Lady frightened her to death since she was alone in a locked room and was the only one to possess the key. Lily is unconvinced of a gothic ghostly visitation and her detecting skills are needed once again when no one except Ofelia by her side, including the local magistrate, is ready to investigate it further.
Meanwhile, Lily was oblivious to Captain Jack Hartley’s interest as more than her friend, but she is warming to the charm of Matthew Spencer.
Death at the Manor was an engaging cozy historical mystery. I liked the cast of characters led by Lily, the Regency country house backdrop was pitch perfect, and the mystery was entertaining. I had my suspicions early and how the locked room bit was achieved. I was right though there are some good twists later on that gave me some good surprises.
There are some moments of lag, but the pace picks up before I could grow bored. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I’d been in on the series from the beginning. Ofelia was a fun partner to Lily in detection, but Lily got help from the others at times, too. I’m a little wary because I sense of love triangle as this series progresses and I find that distracting at the best of times let alone in the background of a mystery, but, there is enough other elements to appreciate that I might find it worth it. But, first, I think I’ll go back for the earlier stories.
All in all, I was glad to be introduced to this series and look forward to more. Oh, and it has a nice Jane Austen vibe for those familiar with Miss Lambe from Austen’s Sanditon. Those who enjoy historical cozy mysteries would be a great fit for this one.
I rec’d an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Oct 19th.
April 26, 2022
The is the third Lily Adler mystery and I’ve been eagerly awaiting it. I think it’s easy enough to jump in if you haven’t read the others, but you get a better feel for Lily if you’ve read the first two.
Lily Adler is a young regency widow who has had some luck solving murders other people want to sweep under the rug. When she arrives in Hampshire with her friends the Carroways to stay with her aunt and her “friend”, she expects a quiet visit to further her with acquaintance with nearby Matthew Spencer. But a ghost has taken up residence nearby. Half the servants have left in terror, but the family seems delighted with the notoriety. Intrigued, Lily and her party arrive ready to be entertained—only to find that the matriarch has been killed in her bed and her door locked from the inside. Mrs Wright’s family is convinced that the ghost is responsible. Lily is determined to learn the truth before another victim turns up. This story has a more gothic bent than the previous ones.
In the previous mysteries, Lily was assisted by her late husband’s best friend Captain Jack Hartley, a half-Indian naval officer who she’s grown closer to. It’s clear Jack loves Lily, but she’s oblivious/fighting it and in this book she’s taken by widower Matthew Spencer who she met in book 2.
I prefer Jack over Matthew, so this was rough for me since Jack has returned to sea. His insight and support was a notable absence for me. I like Sir Edward and Lady Carroway—a Miss Lambe-esque heiress from the previous books—but Ofelia doesn’t have Jack’s humor. Lily didn’t have as active a role as she typically does compared to her supporting cast. Bow Street constable Simon Page is also absent.
If you haven’t read the previous books, you’d think Matthew was great and the investigation satisfactory. But for me, Jack and Simon’s absence cast too long a shadow and I’m not thrilled with the attempted gothic tone. The middle of the investigation dragged for me, and I haven’t felt that way about the previous books. Here’s hoping book four gets back on track and the gang gets back together.
I received an arc from NetGalley
Lily Adler is a young regency widow who has had some luck solving murders other people want to sweep under the rug. When she arrives in Hampshire with her friends the Carroways to stay with her aunt and her “friend”, she expects a quiet visit to further her with acquaintance with nearby Matthew Spencer. But a ghost has taken up residence nearby. Half the servants have left in terror, but the family seems delighted with the notoriety. Intrigued, Lily and her party arrive ready to be entertained—only to find that the matriarch has been killed in her bed and her door locked from the inside. Mrs Wright’s family is convinced that the ghost is responsible. Lily is determined to learn the truth before another victim turns up. This story has a more gothic bent than the previous ones.
In the previous mysteries, Lily was assisted by her late husband’s best friend Captain Jack Hartley, a half-Indian naval officer who she’s grown closer to. It’s clear Jack loves Lily, but she’s oblivious/fighting it and in this book she’s taken by widower Matthew Spencer who she met in book 2.
I prefer Jack over Matthew, so this was rough for me since Jack has returned to sea. His insight and support was a notable absence for me. I like Sir Edward and Lady Carroway—a Miss Lambe-esque heiress from the previous books—but Ofelia doesn’t have Jack’s humor. Lily didn’t have as active a role as she typically does compared to her supporting cast. Bow Street constable Simon Page is also absent.
If you haven’t read the previous books, you’d think Matthew was great and the investigation satisfactory. But for me, Jack and Simon’s absence cast too long a shadow and I’m not thrilled with the attempted gothic tone. The middle of the investigation dragged for me, and I haven’t felt that way about the previous books. Here’s hoping book four gets back on track and the gang gets back together.
I received an arc from NetGalley
February 10, 2022
Thank you to the author and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for letting me read an ARC of this amazing mystery book through NetGalley!!!
“The lady in grey killed our mother”
“No one wishes to admit they might be living with a murderer”
This was great !!!!
This book was a Miss Murple in the 19th century and I loved it !!!
Not only the mystery, the gothic themes, the investigations and the small romantic vibes … it has a great POC representation with an amazing character married to an amazing man, both being an amazing couple !!!
Lily is great, sweet, witty and intelligent and her background plus the possibility of an interesting future with a certain male character ??
I’m in love!!
And don’t let me even start on her aunt and her aunt’s best friend … which may be more than they seems !!!
This story, this plot, these characters were just unique and beautiful and so easy to love and cherish !!!
You don’t even have to read the first two books to understand what happens in this one … but you absolutely should !!!
I really hope I’ll have the chance to experience something else. To follow Lily’s journey through murder and mystery as it develops in the future !!!
“I am intrigued to see not only what you uncover but how you uncover it”
“We assumed - and we kept assuming. Once again”
“The lady in grey killed our mother”
“No one wishes to admit they might be living with a murderer”
This was great !!!!
This book was a Miss Murple in the 19th century and I loved it !!!
Not only the mystery, the gothic themes, the investigations and the small romantic vibes … it has a great POC representation with an amazing character married to an amazing man, both being an amazing couple !!!
Lily is great, sweet, witty and intelligent and her background plus the possibility of an interesting future with a certain male character ??
I’m in love!!
And don’t let me even start on her aunt and her aunt’s best friend … which may be more than they seems !!!
This story, this plot, these characters were just unique and beautiful and so easy to love and cherish !!!
You don’t even have to read the first two books to understand what happens in this one … but you absolutely should !!!
I really hope I’ll have the chance to experience something else. To follow Lily’s journey through murder and mystery as it develops in the future !!!
“I am intrigued to see not only what you uncover but how you uncover it”
“We assumed - and we kept assuming. Once again”
January 16, 2022
Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!
My Review
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. The writing is excellent, and the story is easy-going and interesting. I believe that this book can be read as a standalone, or after reading Schellmen's first two books in the series (The Body in the Garden & Silence in the Library), and that is a huge plus for any book.
The Good Things
1. I love the main character, Lily Alder! She is written well and jumps off the page, as the main character should.
2. Much like Lily, the rest of the characters in the book are engaging.
3. The dialogue between characters is realistic and intriguing.
4. This story is the textbook definition of a Mystery, and I love it!
The Bad Things
1. There were two or three places where the story seemed to sput out a bit. However, they were short, so I moved past them quickly!
My Review
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. The writing is excellent, and the story is easy-going and interesting. I believe that this book can be read as a standalone, or after reading Schellmen's first two books in the series (The Body in the Garden & Silence in the Library), and that is a huge plus for any book.
The Good Things
1. I love the main character, Lily Alder! She is written well and jumps off the page, as the main character should.
2. Much like Lily, the rest of the characters in the book are engaging.
3. The dialogue between characters is realistic and intriguing.
4. This story is the textbook definition of a Mystery, and I love it!
The Bad Things
1. There were two or three places where the story seemed to sput out a bit. However, they were short, so I moved past them quickly!
August 17, 2022
More like 3.5/5 stars
I did like this. I like this series a lot. I love Lily and the cast of characters, and seeing Ofelia take on an even more prominent role in this one was fantastic. I loved meeting Lily's aunts. I even like Matthew Spencer a lot, and Lily's attraction to him makes sense to me even if I ultimately want to see her end up with Jack. But this book had a slightly different feel than the first two, and while I still liked it, it didn't quite reach the highs those did for me. Some of it was the more gothic/ghost story elements of this, which aren't always my jam, and some of it was honestly just... Jack wasn't on the page much at all. Not having him around changed some of the dynamics. Some change can be fine, but I did miss him and I'll be extremely disappointed if he's not back in book four.
The other thing here was the resolution of the mystery. I just am not really interested in reading a story where the overlooked maid becomes a villain because no one sees her. I honestly probably would round my rating up instead of down if not for this. I saw it coming, but that didn't mean I was any less annoyed about it.
Anyway, I still like this series a lot, but I am hoping the next book is a little more aligned with the things I loved about the first two.
I did like this. I like this series a lot. I love Lily and the cast of characters, and seeing Ofelia take on an even more prominent role in this one was fantastic. I loved meeting Lily's aunts. I even like Matthew Spencer a lot, and Lily's attraction to him makes sense to me even if I ultimately want to see her end up with Jack. But this book had a slightly different feel than the first two, and while I still liked it, it didn't quite reach the highs those did for me. Some of it was the more gothic/ghost story elements of this, which aren't always my jam, and some of it was honestly just... Jack wasn't on the page much at all. Not having him around changed some of the dynamics. Some change can be fine, but I did miss him and I'll be extremely disappointed if he's not back in book four.
The other thing here was the resolution of the mystery. I just am not really interested in reading a story where the overlooked maid becomes a villain because no one sees her. I honestly probably would round my rating up instead of down if not for this. I saw it coming, but that didn't mean I was any less annoyed about it.
Anyway, I still like this series a lot, but I am hoping the next book is a little more aligned with the things I loved about the first two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2022
Death at the Manor is the third instalment in Katharine Schellman's Lily Adler Mystery series set in London. Lady Lily Adler is visiting her aunt Miss Eliza Pierce and her aunt's friend, Miss Susan Clarke at Longwood Cottage in Hampshire. Matthew Spencer, a new acquaintance, lives nearby so there is an outing to visit him and Lily finds out about a house nearby called Belleford Manor, owned by the Wright family that is believed to be haunted. With her friend, Ofelia Carroway, Eliza, and Mr Spencer, she makes a visit as Thomas Wright allows tours. When the group arrive at the manor they find Mrs Wright dead in her bedroom.
I loved this cosy-style historical mystery and found that the author's writing style still works well for me. The investigation into Mrs Wright's death was interesting to follow, as were Lily's sleuthing exploits and stumblings. The characters were all quirky and delightfully brought to life. I haven't read book one yet but aim to very soon. A compelling and charming read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
I loved this cosy-style historical mystery and found that the author's writing style still works well for me. The investigation into Mrs Wright's death was interesting to follow, as were Lily's sleuthing exploits and stumblings. The characters were all quirky and delightfully brought to life. I haven't read book one yet but aim to very soon. A compelling and charming read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 27, 2023
3.5 stars I enjoyed this one a bit less than the previous two, only because I’m not sure why we needed Olivia’s POV, which didn’t really add anything. I liked seeing Simon Page’s POV in the last book because you see the investigation from his eyes, but Lily herself is perfectly capable of accidentally witnessing private moments between servants as well. Still an enjoyable series. I just prefer the focus on Lily.
Should be interesting to see what happens when the Captain gets home eventually…..
Should be interesting to see what happens when the Captain gets home eventually…..
August 16, 2022
This book is a major disappointment after really enjoying the first two books in this series. Will not be finishing this one and I don’t know if I will continue in this series or not.
December 21, 2023
HISTORIC LESBIANS! And there’s another man!! Aaahh can’t decide. I love Jack and Matthew. I think Matthew is more willing to let her solve murders without such a protective side as Jack has. I also love how we know which one her bestie ships her with.
August 20, 2022
I'm in a big mystery mood lately, which is new. I was finishing up the second book in this series when I saw this one was coming out soon, which delighted me. I don't think this one was quite as good as the second one, but it was still great. The mystery was intriguing and the setting was a bit different than the previous books. I missed Captain Jack Hartley though! I hope he's in the sequel! If there's a sequel, as it's not listed on GoodReads yet.
August 10, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this opportunity to review Death at the Manor. All opinions and comments are my own.
Is there a ghost at Belleford Manor? Well, logic says not, but the Wright family that lives there says there is, and also insists it’s the “gray lady” that killed their mother. Thus Death at the Manor, the latest in the series by Katharine Schellman begins, when a quiet visit to Lily Adler’s country cottage accompanied by her friends Sir Edward and Lady Ofelia Carroway soon finds the gentlewoman engrossed in solving the mystery.
The ghost story gains credence immediately, because this is a “locked room mystery.” Well, Mrs. Adler considers that an impediment, of course, but since she doesn’t believe that a ghostly hand did the deed, she gets busy, even to the point of enlisting a Bow Street runner friend and calling in another friend, another magistrate, since the local ones are content to bring in the “person or persons unknown” verdict and let it go at that. Not that they do much; Lily and her friends have it all well in hand.
The books has chapters from Lily’s and Ofelia’s point of view, handy for ferreting though a bunch of clues. And suspects. The Wrights, brother and sister, are front and center, as they should be. But Mr. Wright has an alibi; handy, that. But could he have had help? And those servants -- what do they know? Our author has her readers questioning everything, which makes for a good mystery, so that when the “big reveal” is revealed, it’s quite the surprise.
On a personal level, we have the continuation of the “courting of Lily Adler” by suitor Matthew Spencer. Lucky that he lives in the neighborhood. Captain Jack isn’t going to be too happy about this, but since he’s going to sea, there’s not much he’s going to be able to do about it. Ofelia doesn’t like it much, either; she’s a Captain Jack fan.
Our story ends with Lily leaving for home, happy to encourage Matthew Spencer as a suitor. We’ll have to see how that goes, in a future book.
Is there a ghost at Belleford Manor? Well, logic says not, but the Wright family that lives there says there is, and also insists it’s the “gray lady” that killed their mother. Thus Death at the Manor, the latest in the series by Katharine Schellman begins, when a quiet visit to Lily Adler’s country cottage accompanied by her friends Sir Edward and Lady Ofelia Carroway soon finds the gentlewoman engrossed in solving the mystery.
The ghost story gains credence immediately, because this is a “locked room mystery.” Well, Mrs. Adler considers that an impediment, of course, but since she doesn’t believe that a ghostly hand did the deed, she gets busy, even to the point of enlisting a Bow Street runner friend and calling in another friend, another magistrate, since the local ones are content to bring in the “person or persons unknown” verdict and let it go at that. Not that they do much; Lily and her friends have it all well in hand.
The books has chapters from Lily’s and Ofelia’s point of view, handy for ferreting though a bunch of clues. And suspects. The Wrights, brother and sister, are front and center, as they should be. But Mr. Wright has an alibi; handy, that. But could he have had help? And those servants -- what do they know? Our author has her readers questioning everything, which makes for a good mystery, so that when the “big reveal” is revealed, it’s quite the surprise.
On a personal level, we have the continuation of the “courting of Lily Adler” by suitor Matthew Spencer. Lucky that he lives in the neighborhood. Captain Jack isn’t going to be too happy about this, but since he’s going to sea, there’s not much he’s going to be able to do about it. Ofelia doesn’t like it much, either; she’s a Captain Jack fan.
Our story ends with Lily leaving for home, happy to encourage Matthew Spencer as a suitor. We’ll have to see how that goes, in a future book.
July 28, 2022
Lily Adler's third case is a death that may have been caused by a ghost. In "Death at the Manor," Lily, along with her friends Lord and Lady Carroway, are on a visit to Lily's aunt in Hampshire. There have been recent sightings of a "Grey Lady" at the local manor, so Lily and Ophelia wish to investigate. Matthew Spencer, who may or may not be a potential beau, is a neighbor of the Wrights, and assists with their investigation.
While good, this book may be suffering from sophomore slump, even though it's the third in the series. I think this is largely due to the absence of Jack and Simon. Matthew may be a potential suitor, but he isn't the foil for Lily the way the other two are. It was nice that Lily and Ophelia got to spend more time together, and we got to spend time with the Carroways as a couple and see more of their relationship.
I also think the book couldn't decide what it wanted to be, a Regency romance, a cozy mystery, or a gothic. It led to some slow pacing and an overall disjointedness. That said, it's still a really good mystery on its own merits, and if I hadn't had the previous two to which to compare, I'd probably have rated this one more highly.
3.75/5 stars
I received an advance copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
While good, this book may be suffering from sophomore slump, even though it's the third in the series. I think this is largely due to the absence of Jack and Simon. Matthew may be a potential suitor, but he isn't the foil for Lily the way the other two are. It was nice that Lily and Ophelia got to spend more time together, and we got to spend time with the Carroways as a couple and see more of their relationship.
I also think the book couldn't decide what it wanted to be, a Regency romance, a cozy mystery, or a gothic. It led to some slow pacing and an overall disjointedness. That said, it's still a really good mystery on its own merits, and if I hadn't had the previous two to which to compare, I'd probably have rated this one more highly.
3.75/5 stars
I received an advance copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
January 27, 2022
Lily is pragmatic and she is looking forward to a quiet companionship with her aunts in Hampshire. She is accompanied by her friends and is looking forward to meeting Mathew Spencer whom she has a fondness for. Arriving in this small village, her interest and the interests of her companions is aroused by the stories surrounding a ghost in a manor bordering the village.
The story takes off from there. Visiting this manor house, Lily is not met just by stories of a ghost who has been
seen by many in the house, but also by the death of the mistress of the house - supposedly at the hands of the ghost. Unfortunately the local magistrate is not willing to deal with a proper investigation but is willing to pass it off as a death by an unknown party. Not attributing it to a ghost or to a human being either.
Lily sets in motion an enquiry with Bow Street and uncovers a story of intrigue. The obvious suspects are taken into custody but with no real proof - only suspicion and the actual villain of the piece gets away almost scot free.
Very lovely setting - the English countryside and the English countryside way of life adds piquancy to the story.
The story takes off from there. Visiting this manor house, Lily is not met just by stories of a ghost who has been
seen by many in the house, but also by the death of the mistress of the house - supposedly at the hands of the ghost. Unfortunately the local magistrate is not willing to deal with a proper investigation but is willing to pass it off as a death by an unknown party. Not attributing it to a ghost or to a human being either.
Lily sets in motion an enquiry with Bow Street and uncovers a story of intrigue. The obvious suspects are taken into custody but with no real proof - only suspicion and the actual villain of the piece gets away almost scot free.
Very lovely setting - the English countryside and the English countryside way of life adds piquancy to the story.
January 26, 2022
While I loved the first two books in this series, this third book seemed to have a different feel and I didn’t connect with it emotionally. Death at the Manor continues Lily Adler’s life as a young widow in Regency Britain who seems to stumble into murder investigations. This time, she’s out of London, traveling with her friends Lord & Lady Calloway, to visit her aunt in the country. While there, Lily is reunited with Matthew Spencer, who we met is book #2. Matthew is a wounded war hero, widower and father of 2 younger children,. He seems more interested in Mrs. Adler than when he was in London and is courting her. The murderer in this book may or may not have been “the grey lady” a ghost plaguing Belford Manor and the family and servants who live there. Lily doesn’t believe in ghosts but finding the real killer is a big challenge.
The book was well written and a fun read but it seemed like a departure from Lily’s story — a bubble outside of the her trajectory. I hope the next series installment gets back on track.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
The book was well written and a fun read but it seemed like a departure from Lily’s story — a bubble outside of the her trajectory. I hope the next series installment gets back on track.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
January 3, 2023
This was my least favorite in the series. The mystery/murder was a bit contrived and the end was far from satisfactory. Also I missed the banter between Lily and the captain.
August 21, 2022
Regency widow Lily Adler seeks refuge from the bustle of London in Hampshire, only to run into another murder.
The sleuthing widow solves another competently structured case, in a series that continues to be solidly written and plotted if devoid of much atmosphere and personality.
The last two books were a tick better than this one, showing at least some sense of place and a bit more uniqueness in character and story. Though this book was a lesser animal, it’s still a pleasant enough read and the mystery itself is just fine.
It’s tough to stand out in a sea of historical mysteries without either an exceptionally memorable cast of characters or an excellent sense of atmosphere. This book does both of those things competently but ordinarily enough that I’m unlikely to remember much of the story in a few months.
This is fine for an installment of a throwaway mystery series if that’s what you’re craving, but if you want something more evocative and substantive, I’d recommend the author’s standalone novel Last Call at the Nightingale, which is exceptionally fun and memorable.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The sleuthing widow solves another competently structured case, in a series that continues to be solidly written and plotted if devoid of much atmosphere and personality.
The last two books were a tick better than this one, showing at least some sense of place and a bit more uniqueness in character and story. Though this book was a lesser animal, it’s still a pleasant enough read and the mystery itself is just fine.
It’s tough to stand out in a sea of historical mysteries without either an exceptionally memorable cast of characters or an excellent sense of atmosphere. This book does both of those things competently but ordinarily enough that I’m unlikely to remember much of the story in a few months.
This is fine for an installment of a throwaway mystery series if that’s what you’re craving, but if you want something more evocative and substantive, I’d recommend the author’s standalone novel Last Call at the Nightingale, which is exceptionally fun and memorable.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
November 17, 2022
Widowed Lily is visiting her aunt when a party goes to the manor house where a ghost has been reported. When they get there, the matriarch of the house has been killed in a locked room--clearly by the ghost. But Lily does not believe in ghosts, nor does her half-West-Indian friend Ofelia, Lady Carraway. Aided by her new suitor, Lily investigates--but that locked door proves an obstacle. The fairly limited cast of characters also limits the action in this new entry.
August 7, 2022
I really love this series - the characters have really grown on me and I have loved the stories so much. When I saw there was going to be a new one, I was very excited and even more so when I got it from NetGalley. I have to admit, this is one that I have been really excited to read [which sometimes comes back to bite me; thankfully, that was not the case here!!].
Here is where I need to be honest - I really enjoyed this book and the story/mystery swept me along. I love how the author uses the language of that time and at no point did I think the conversations were "modern" [I am very sensitive to this right now because of that hideous new "Persuasion" movie]. I loved the parts that DID remind me of Jane Austen's novels; it was like coming home and putting on a comfy sweater and being with friends you haven't seen in a long time. I really enjoyed the addition of Lily's aunts and of Ofelia and Ned [the jury is still very much out on Matthew Spencer - I LOVE Captain Jack and missed him tremendously in this book and the addition of Mr. Spencer didn't make me miss him less, if anything, I missed the Captain more] and the Wrights are...well, they are typical gentry of that time frame [with Miss Wright being the silliest of silly girls. Good grief. ]
I say all that to say this - I knew who the "ghost" was very early on and by halfway though I knew who the killer was and some of the why [though some of it was a surprise to me and that was AWESOME]. I was lulled several times into thinking I was incorrect [the red herrings in this book are outstanding] and at no point was I bored and wanting to skip ahead, so I will take that as a win.
It is difficult when you read as many mysteries as I do to not look at the story differently than some and I often guess who the killer is and what the mystery is about in the books I read - to have all that and still really, really. like a book says so much about how great a writer the author is [and she is]. I was sad when the book ended, but then happy when I saw online that the author is working on book 4!!! SQUEEEE!! I truly look forward to the next one. I am pretty sure, no matter how much Lily says that she will not find murder and mayhem in Surrey, that that very thing will happen and sweep her up once again. Can I hope that Captain Jack will be around to help this time?? ;-)
Thank you to NetGalley, Katharine Schellman, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Here is where I need to be honest - I really enjoyed this book and the story/mystery swept me along. I love how the author uses the language of that time and at no point did I think the conversations were "modern" [I am very sensitive to this right now because of that hideous new "Persuasion" movie]. I loved the parts that DID remind me of Jane Austen's novels; it was like coming home and putting on a comfy sweater and being with friends you haven't seen in a long time. I really enjoyed the addition of Lily's aunts and of Ofelia and Ned [the jury is still very much out on Matthew Spencer - I LOVE Captain Jack and missed him tremendously in this book and the addition of Mr. Spencer didn't make me miss him less, if anything, I missed the Captain more] and the Wrights are...well, they are typical gentry of that time frame [with Miss Wright being the silliest of silly girls. Good grief. ]
I say all that to say this - I knew who the "ghost" was very early on and by halfway though I knew who the killer was and some of the why [though some of it was a surprise to me and that was AWESOME]. I was lulled several times into thinking I was incorrect [the red herrings in this book are outstanding] and at no point was I bored and wanting to skip ahead, so I will take that as a win.
It is difficult when you read as many mysteries as I do to not look at the story differently than some and I often guess who the killer is and what the mystery is about in the books I read - to have all that and still really, really. like a book says so much about how great a writer the author is [and she is]. I was sad when the book ended, but then happy when I saw online that the author is working on book 4!!! SQUEEEE!! I truly look forward to the next one. I am pretty sure, no matter how much Lily says that she will not find murder and mayhem in Surrey, that that very thing will happen and sweep her up once again. Can I hope that Captain Jack will be around to help this time?? ;-)
Thank you to NetGalley, Katharine Schellman, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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