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Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries #19
The Sisterhood
Lady Emily investigates the murder of a glamorous debutante in the next irresistible mystery of Tasha Alexander’s New York Times bestselling series.
London, 1907: When the Season's most accomplished and elegant debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies at her engagement ball, the great and good of London Society prepare to mourn the tragic loss of an upstanding young woman. But all is not what it seems, and after a toxic beverage is revealed to be the cause of death, the king himself instructs Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves to unearth the truth.
Who would want to harm one of the most popular women of the year? Is it her fiancé with whom she had an unusually brief courtship; a rival for his affections bitter at being cast aside; her best friend who is almost certainly hiding a secret from Colin and Emily; a disappointed suitor with a hidden gambling habit; or a notorious jewel thief who has taken a priceless tiara from the Goldsborough home? When a second debutante succumbs to poison, the race is on to find a ruthless killer.
Emily and Colin’s investigation leads to a centuries old tomb in the center of London with a mysterious link to another death dating back to Roman times and the violent reign of Boudica, ancient Britain's fearsome warrior queen. As the stakes rise and the clock ticks down, Emily must find the killer before they strike again.
London, 1907: When the Season's most accomplished and elegant debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies at her engagement ball, the great and good of London Society prepare to mourn the tragic loss of an upstanding young woman. But all is not what it seems, and after a toxic beverage is revealed to be the cause of death, the king himself instructs Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves to unearth the truth.
Who would want to harm one of the most popular women of the year? Is it her fiancé with whom she had an unusually brief courtship; a rival for his affections bitter at being cast aside; her best friend who is almost certainly hiding a secret from Colin and Emily; a disappointed suitor with a hidden gambling habit; or a notorious jewel thief who has taken a priceless tiara from the Goldsborough home? When a second debutante succumbs to poison, the race is on to find a ruthless killer.
Emily and Colin’s investigation leads to a centuries old tomb in the center of London with a mysterious link to another death dating back to Roman times and the violent reign of Boudica, ancient Britain's fearsome warrior queen. As the stakes rise and the clock ticks down, Emily must find the killer before they strike again.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
103 people are currently reading
8303 people want to read
About the author
Tasha Alexander
32 books2,590 followersThe daughter of two philosophy professors, I grew up surrounded by books. I was convinced from an early age that I was born in the wrong century and spent much of my childhood under the dining room table pretending it was a covered wagon. Even there, I was never without a book in hand and loved reading and history more than anything. I studied English Literature and Medieval History at the University of Notre Dame. Writing is a natural offshoot of reading, and my first novel, And Only to Deceive, was published in 2005. I'm the author of the long-running Lady Emily Series as well as the novel Elizabeth: The Golden Age. One of the best parts of being an author is seeing your books translated, and I'm currently in love with the Japanese editions of the Emily books.
I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I live in southeastern Wyoming. I still don't have a covered wagon, but a log house goes a long way toward fulfilling my pioneer fantasies. Andrew makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.
I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I live in southeastern Wyoming. I still don't have a covered wagon, but a log house goes a long way toward fulfilling my pioneer fantasies. Andrew makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
December 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. One thing leads to another and a far ago past comes forward. As always history and fiction meld together with amazing speed and grips the reader until the end! Highly recommend.
November 30, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
It is a truth that must be acknowledged that I am notorious at selecting titles that are part of well-established series. In fact, The Sisterhood is the 19th title in the Lady Emily series and my first reading experience with the author and her main protagonist. I liked this early 20th-century mystery set in 1907's London. While I am not grabbing my wallet to purchase other titles in the series, if I ever found any in my library or on KU, I would definitely read them.
I did a little research, and similar to the other eighteen books in the series, there are dual timelines. While Lady Emily and her second husband, Colin, try and solve the mysterious death of a beautiful debutante, we are also taken back to Boudica and a young handmaiden during Roman rule. The two storylines will eventually come together, so be patient, future readers. The short, punchy chapters did help in keeping me invested in the storyline. Although I have to confess that I just wanted to stay in the 1907 storyline, I do understand why the author needed that other storyline. Otherwise, readers( I include myself here) wouldn't have felt as invested in the path that the story takes.
Overall, a good introduction for me into this series.
Publication Date 23/09/25
Goodreads Review 29/11/25
It is a truth that must be acknowledged that I am notorious at selecting titles that are part of well-established series. In fact, The Sisterhood is the 19th title in the Lady Emily series and my first reading experience with the author and her main protagonist. I liked this early 20th-century mystery set in 1907's London. While I am not grabbing my wallet to purchase other titles in the series, if I ever found any in my library or on KU, I would definitely read them.
I did a little research, and similar to the other eighteen books in the series, there are dual timelines. While Lady Emily and her second husband, Colin, try and solve the mysterious death of a beautiful debutante, we are also taken back to Boudica and a young handmaiden during Roman rule. The two storylines will eventually come together, so be patient, future readers. The short, punchy chapters did help in keeping me invested in the storyline. Although I have to confess that I just wanted to stay in the 1907 storyline, I do understand why the author needed that other storyline. Otherwise, readers( I include myself here) wouldn't have felt as invested in the path that the story takes.
Overall, a good introduction for me into this series.
Publication Date 23/09/25
Goodreads Review 29/11/25
September 8, 2025
A favorite series of mine, which will be re read. Lady Emily and her husband Colin work to solve two murders. There was also some Roman history in the mix. The history was fascinating. Emily and Colin strive to work through the red herrings. The murderer and motive were shocking. Several scenes were elegant and described with a flair. Highly recommend.
I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
May 13, 2025
I would have preferred that this histfic mystery focus only on 1907's London, when Lady Emily and her husband Colin investigate the deaths of debutantes. Instead, it also brings in a Roman era element involving British warrior queen Boudica. A bit too much for a story that would have been much more captivating if simplified.
May 28, 2025
If Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones had a daughter it would be Lady Emily.
Herrings are placed front, side and center, in Tasha Alexander's flippingly good new entry in her iconic mystery series. The main timeline features 1907 England debutante season, another covers the Iceni revolt in south east England in 60AD. Never heard of the Iceni? Strap in for some gripping edutainment as a brilliant writer connects the past and present.
Somewhere between violent and cozy, The Sisterhood strikes solid middle ground for mystery lovers. Scenes move at a fast clip as we learn about Boudica, Queen of an ancient British tribe, and a movement she inspired 1850 years later. Themes include suffrage, social positions, poison and Ovid's greatness. These books are a genre of their own.
Fans of Pride and Prejudice, Lupin and innovative murder mysteries will thoroughly enjoy The Sisterhood.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a review copy.
Herrings are placed front, side and center, in Tasha Alexander's flippingly good new entry in her iconic mystery series. The main timeline features 1907 England debutante season, another covers the Iceni revolt in south east England in 60AD. Never heard of the Iceni? Strap in for some gripping edutainment as a brilliant writer connects the past and present.
Somewhere between violent and cozy, The Sisterhood strikes solid middle ground for mystery lovers. Scenes move at a fast clip as we learn about Boudica, Queen of an ancient British tribe, and a movement she inspired 1850 years later. Themes include suffrage, social positions, poison and Ovid's greatness. These books are a genre of their own.
Fans of Pride and Prejudice, Lupin and innovative murder mysteries will thoroughly enjoy The Sisterhood.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a review copy.
October 2, 2025
**Happy Publication Day!**
I have now read the four most recent books in this long-running historical mystery series featuring Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves and have found each of them to be enjoyable. As usual, this story has two alternating timelines that complement each other.
In 1907, Emily and Colin are given free rein by the king to investigate the poisoning death of a young debutante at a society ball. One surprising thing they learn is about a secret group of suffragettes calling themselves Boudica's Sisters. The second timeline is set in AD 60 in Britannia where we meet Vatta, a farmer's daughter, and Boudica herself.
I found it interesting to read about a time when women were fighting to be treated as a full person with rights while some husbands were determined to retain complete control. In Vatta's time too, she was treated as an outsider in her village because she was different and didn't particularly care to get married. Unfortunately in our own times, there are those who are pushing for the return of traditional gender roles, so the fight goes on...
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own. I was disappointed that my arc did not yet contain the Author's Notes which I thought would be interesting to read.
I have now read the four most recent books in this long-running historical mystery series featuring Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves and have found each of them to be enjoyable. As usual, this story has two alternating timelines that complement each other.
In 1907, Emily and Colin are given free rein by the king to investigate the poisoning death of a young debutante at a society ball. One surprising thing they learn is about a secret group of suffragettes calling themselves Boudica's Sisters. The second timeline is set in AD 60 in Britannia where we meet Vatta, a farmer's daughter, and Boudica herself.
I found it interesting to read about a time when women were fighting to be treated as a full person with rights while some husbands were determined to retain complete control. In Vatta's time too, she was treated as an outsider in her village because she was different and didn't particularly care to get married. Unfortunately in our own times, there are those who are pushing for the return of traditional gender roles, so the fight goes on...
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own. I was disappointed that my arc did not yet contain the Author's Notes which I thought would be interesting to read.
September 15, 2025
I have a whole review for this book, but I'm just going to say it was not my brand. It's not offensive or anything, but I wish I had DNFed it. I had this wild hope it would turn a corner for me! Alas...
Thank you to Tasha Alexander, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc. All views are mine.
Thank you to Tasha Alexander, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc. All views are mine.
September 16, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Sept. 23, 2025
“The Sisterhood” by Tasha Alexander is the nineteenth novel in the Lady Emily mystery series. Fans of “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” will love Alexander’s early twentieth-century drama, with not one, but two, intriguing murders.
When the Season’s most eligible debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies during a waltz with her intended, Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband, Colin, are called in to investigate. With the entirety of society up in arms and grieving over the loss, everyone claims that no one could have possibly wanted Victoria dead. Except Victoria has secrets that may have made her a few enemies, some of them very dangerous ones. When the Hargreaves find themselves in the middle of yet another murder investigation, they scramble to find connections between Victoria and the other young debutante, Cressida, before another socialite is targeted.
Alexander’s “Sisterhood” takes place in England during the early 1900s, where women are responsible for marrying “into the right family” and raising a family, while men are responsible for pretty much everything else. Before the right to vote, Victoria and her allies secretly back the suffragette movement, which creates its fair share of enemies for the young woman yet inspires readers to root for her. There are many themes throughout Alexander’s novel that showcase the negative impacts of a patriarchal society, where women have little to no rights, not even to their own bodies, but this only adds to the readers’ rally cry.
This dual-timeline novel primarily features Emily and her husband, Colin, in 1907, but there are also snippets from the Roman era, when Queen Boudica reigned. Although both storylines are seemingly unrelated, they do come together at the very end of the novel in a surprising and enjoyable way. Although a less prominent storyline, I enjoyed learning about the Queen and the cruel savagery of this period in history.
“Sisterhood” is only the second novel in this series that I’ve read, but I’ve somehow managed to follow along on Emily’s adventures without feeling lost. Clearly, it is not necessary to read these stories in any kind of order, which is a good thing with a series with so many installments.
I loved the murder mystery aspect, combined with the underhanded manipulations of the popularity-seeking Society set. There were many characters, as each Royal home came with household staff outside of the families themselves, but each character was unique in their own way and easy to differentiate. Although the path to the ending was labyrinthine, full of plot twists and surprises, the reveal of the murderer was unexpected but satisfying. Alexander’s multi-faceted plot all connected seamlessly by the final pages, with all of the characters storylines ending in believable ways. I look forward to seeing where Lady Emily takes us next.
Expected publication date: Sept. 23, 2025
“The Sisterhood” by Tasha Alexander is the nineteenth novel in the Lady Emily mystery series. Fans of “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” will love Alexander’s early twentieth-century drama, with not one, but two, intriguing murders.
When the Season’s most eligible debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies during a waltz with her intended, Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband, Colin, are called in to investigate. With the entirety of society up in arms and grieving over the loss, everyone claims that no one could have possibly wanted Victoria dead. Except Victoria has secrets that may have made her a few enemies, some of them very dangerous ones. When the Hargreaves find themselves in the middle of yet another murder investigation, they scramble to find connections between Victoria and the other young debutante, Cressida, before another socialite is targeted.
Alexander’s “Sisterhood” takes place in England during the early 1900s, where women are responsible for marrying “into the right family” and raising a family, while men are responsible for pretty much everything else. Before the right to vote, Victoria and her allies secretly back the suffragette movement, which creates its fair share of enemies for the young woman yet inspires readers to root for her. There are many themes throughout Alexander’s novel that showcase the negative impacts of a patriarchal society, where women have little to no rights, not even to their own bodies, but this only adds to the readers’ rally cry.
This dual-timeline novel primarily features Emily and her husband, Colin, in 1907, but there are also snippets from the Roman era, when Queen Boudica reigned. Although both storylines are seemingly unrelated, they do come together at the very end of the novel in a surprising and enjoyable way. Although a less prominent storyline, I enjoyed learning about the Queen and the cruel savagery of this period in history.
“Sisterhood” is only the second novel in this series that I’ve read, but I’ve somehow managed to follow along on Emily’s adventures without feeling lost. Clearly, it is not necessary to read these stories in any kind of order, which is a good thing with a series with so many installments.
I loved the murder mystery aspect, combined with the underhanded manipulations of the popularity-seeking Society set. There were many characters, as each Royal home came with household staff outside of the families themselves, but each character was unique in their own way and easy to differentiate. Although the path to the ending was labyrinthine, full of plot twists and surprises, the reveal of the murderer was unexpected but satisfying. Alexander’s multi-faceted plot all connected seamlessly by the final pages, with all of the characters storylines ending in believable ways. I look forward to seeing where Lady Emily takes us next.
June 9, 2025
I found this to be quite a quick and engaging read. It's an entertaining cozy mystery set in Edwardian high society, with alternating chapters set in ancient Roman Britain.
Although the ancient storyline is not nearly as compelling and tended to slow the pace of the main mystery, it still taught me a little something about a historical period I wasn't familiar with, and (for me) that's always a win regardless.
There are some welcome flashes of humor, provided by the Arsene Lupin-like antihero that Lady Emily has been blessed/cursed to know for many years now. It did make me chuckle from time to time.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for offering me this digital review copy.
Although the ancient storyline is not nearly as compelling and tended to slow the pace of the main mystery, it still taught me a little something about a historical period I wasn't familiar with, and (for me) that's always a win regardless.
There are some welcome flashes of humor, provided by the Arsene Lupin-like antihero that Lady Emily has been blessed/cursed to know for many years now. It did make me chuckle from time to time.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for offering me this digital review copy.
September 9, 2025
Women’s rights and conquered groups challenges!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Interesting, slender—yet not, connection made between the murder of a newly engaged debutante, toast of the season, and the life of one of Boudica’s friends in Brittania AD 60.
Victoria dies as she dances with her fiancé, the very proper English gentleman, Peregrine Marquess of Harrington. This is her engagement ball which suddenly turns into tragedy and sets all of society agog.
Vatta doesn’t die but she sees her society destroyed, the destruction more finely wrought when vengeance begets more vengeance.
Both women want change.
Victoria belongs to a secret society of women suffragettes, Boudica’s Sisterhood, who plan to assist chosen young society women into making highly placed marriages, and then work on their husbands from inside to bring about political changes for women.
Vatta, who has a love of reading Greek poetry and literature sees that change is inevitable once the Romans are in control. She feels her people need to take charge by embracing those parts of Roman culture that will enrich them. Such as poetry and literature, transcribing their verbal heritage into the written word.
Lady Emily and her husband, the very charming Colin Hargreaves, ask King George to allow them to investigate this high society crime, the murder of Lady Victoria.
Yes disparate parts of the plot do come together quite nicely. I was quietly surprised by who the culprit was. Their reasoning either coldly clear cut or straight out barmy.
I was also exceedingly annoyed once more by Emily’s harridan of a mother.
The authors has almost beguiled me into reading the classics mentioned.
Another fascinating Lady Emily mystery.
A St. Martin’s Press ARC invite via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Interesting, slender—yet not, connection made between the murder of a newly engaged debutante, toast of the season, and the life of one of Boudica’s friends in Brittania AD 60.
Victoria dies as she dances with her fiancé, the very proper English gentleman, Peregrine Marquess of Harrington. This is her engagement ball which suddenly turns into tragedy and sets all of society agog.
Vatta doesn’t die but she sees her society destroyed, the destruction more finely wrought when vengeance begets more vengeance.
Both women want change.
Victoria belongs to a secret society of women suffragettes, Boudica’s Sisterhood, who plan to assist chosen young society women into making highly placed marriages, and then work on their husbands from inside to bring about political changes for women.
Vatta, who has a love of reading Greek poetry and literature sees that change is inevitable once the Romans are in control. She feels her people need to take charge by embracing those parts of Roman culture that will enrich them. Such as poetry and literature, transcribing their verbal heritage into the written word.
Lady Emily and her husband, the very charming Colin Hargreaves, ask King George to allow them to investigate this high society crime, the murder of Lady Victoria.
Yes disparate parts of the plot do come together quite nicely. I was quietly surprised by who the culprit was. Their reasoning either coldly clear cut or straight out barmy.
I was also exceedingly annoyed once more by Emily’s harridan of a mother.
The authors has almost beguiled me into reading the classics mentioned.
Another fascinating Lady Emily mystery.
A St. Martin’s Press ARC invite via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
July 30, 2025
This was a dual timeline historical fiction novel that took the reader to London, England in the early 1900s and the first century. First of all I want to say that I have never read the 18 books that came before this in the Lady Emily Ashton series. However not having read the first 18 books did not detract from my understanding or enjoyment of this book. I did not have the background on many of the characters but the author gave enough detail that I was able to pick up what I needed to know. I also really enjoyed both timelines. I love anything ancient Rome, so to read about Vatta, a girl from the Iceni tribe and friend of Boudica, was a great addition to this mystery.
The novel starts out with the death of Victoria, a highly successful debutante. Someone has poisoned her and Lady Emily is put to the test to try and figure who would want the young girl dead. The novel also discusses the women's suffragette movement. The novel did a great job portraying people's attitudes about the issue during this time. Vatta's story reveals her life growing up in the first century during Roman occupation. She befriends a Roman soldier over their shared love of poetry. Vatta has never really fit in with her tribe but when she befriends Boudica things start to turn around for her. Things take a turn for Boudica when her husband dies and Vatta has difficult decisions ahead of her.
If you love historical fiction and mysteries you will enjoy this book. The added timeline of ancient Rome was a welcome addition and I thought made the book even more interesting. I liked getting to know Vatta and wished there was even more of her story. I am excited to go back and read the first book in this series.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
The novel starts out with the death of Victoria, a highly successful debutante. Someone has poisoned her and Lady Emily is put to the test to try and figure who would want the young girl dead. The novel also discusses the women's suffragette movement. The novel did a great job portraying people's attitudes about the issue during this time. Vatta's story reveals her life growing up in the first century during Roman occupation. She befriends a Roman soldier over their shared love of poetry. Vatta has never really fit in with her tribe but when she befriends Boudica things start to turn around for her. Things take a turn for Boudica when her husband dies and Vatta has difficult decisions ahead of her.
If you love historical fiction and mysteries you will enjoy this book. The added timeline of ancient Rome was a welcome addition and I thought made the book even more interesting. I liked getting to know Vatta and wished there was even more of her story. I am excited to go back and read the first book in this series.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
May 28, 2025
In this exciting Lady Emily mystery novel we see not only Lady Emily who is hard at work but also we are transported to another time era and that Boudicca storyline as well. Although that story is provided as a distraction.This novel will surely keep you in suspense. Tasha Alexander does not disappoint.
On the eve of her engagement a young debutant keels over in pain and sadly passes away. Emily and her husband are quickly called to the scene. As they are investigating they believe the cause of death is poisoning. They both go searching the streets to see if they can locate the killer. However, along the way another high society lady is killed.
Overall this was a very lovely story and historical fiction mysteries are usually the best route to go.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
On the eve of her engagement a young debutant keels over in pain and sadly passes away. Emily and her husband are quickly called to the scene. As they are investigating they believe the cause of death is poisoning. They both go searching the streets to see if they can locate the killer. However, along the way another high society lady is killed.
Overall this was a very lovely story and historical fiction mysteries are usually the best route to go.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
September 19, 2025
I have never read a book by this author before, certainly never one in this series. Normally, I wouldn't have read a book that was so deep into a series, but this one sounded really intriguing. And intriguing it was. However, it was also confusing as the two different timelines seemed to have nothing at all to do with each other - at least not until you get to the very last chapter. In my opinion, the timeline during the Iron Age in Britannia during the Roman takeover was interesting.
This was an interesting and complicated mystery set during 1907 Britain among the "upper" classes. And of course the murderer was never someone I thought of. It was a twist that surprised the heck out of me.
This was a well-written mystery, and well worth the time to read. I'm not sure if it was compelling enough for me to read the others in this series, but I was glad I had read this one.
*This ARC was supplied by the publisher Minotaur Books/Macmillan, the author, and NetGalley.
This was an interesting and complicated mystery set during 1907 Britain among the "upper" classes. And of course the murderer was never someone I thought of. It was a twist that surprised the heck out of me.
This was a well-written mystery, and well worth the time to read. I'm not sure if it was compelling enough for me to read the others in this series, but I was glad I had read this one.
*This ARC was supplied by the publisher Minotaur Books/Macmillan, the author, and NetGalley.
June 11, 2025
I always look forward to a new Lady Emily mystery every year, and this was a great addition. Returning back to London about ten years after the last book set during the Season, I particularly enjoyed the plot line around the suffrage movement and how that had developed in the intervening years.
As in previous books, and as others have said, the dual timeline can be a bit iffy for me. While this time I did enjoy it, the payoff with the dual timeline just never quite feels worth it to me, with the exception of the books where it’s focused on Philip. I would much prefer having spent that time reading about Ivy, Margaret, Jeremy, or Cecile - it’s been ages since we’ve seen Ivy or Margaret.
A great installment and I’m thrilled it’s already confirmed we have at least a few more Emily mysteries to look forward to (and I hope many more after that)! Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
As in previous books, and as others have said, the dual timeline can be a bit iffy for me. While this time I did enjoy it, the payoff with the dual timeline just never quite feels worth it to me, with the exception of the books where it’s focused on Philip. I would much prefer having spent that time reading about Ivy, Margaret, Jeremy, or Cecile - it’s been ages since we’ve seen Ivy or Margaret.
A great installment and I’m thrilled it’s already confirmed we have at least a few more Emily mysteries to look forward to (and I hope many more after that)! Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
dnf
September 8, 2025I received a digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While book 19 in the series, I do think that it is totally possible to just jump right into the series!
A major draw back for me when reading this was the switch between the 1907 POV which is our main timeline being mixed with a POV set in Ancient Rome. While they are meant to connect to the present-day murder, I don’t think the ancient POV was necessary and instead worked to take the reader out of the main story again and again.
DNF @ 23%/77pgs
While book 19 in the series, I do think that it is totally possible to just jump right into the series!
A major draw back for me when reading this was the switch between the 1907 POV which is our main timeline being mixed with a POV set in Ancient Rome. While they are meant to connect to the present-day murder, I don’t think the ancient POV was necessary and instead worked to take the reader out of the main story again and again.
DNF @ 23%/77pgs
August 19, 2025
A celebrated debutante drops dead at her own engagement ball in 1907 London, launching the nineteenth installment of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily Mystery series, "The Sisterhood." The opening scene hooked me immediately with its perfect blend of high society glamour and shocking death.
I found myself drawn back into Lady Emily and Colin's world, where their partnership continues to shine as the heart of these mysteries. Their collaborative sleuthing and warm rapport remain the strongest elements in Alexander's series, providing a reliable anchor even when other aspects falter.
Unfortunately, the dual timeline structure didn't work well for me in this installment. The historical sections featuring ancient Britain and connections to Boudica felt disjointed and confusing. The shadowy perspective made it difficult to connect with these historical characters, and I often wanted to skip these sections to return to the main mystery.
The historical portrayal of women's constraints in Edwardian London comes through vividly. Reading about the suffocating expectations placed on young women of society makes me grateful for how far women's rights have progressed since then.
Emily's mother deserves special mention as one of the most infuriating characters I've encountered recently. Her constant criticism made me genuinely angry on Emily's behalf.
While "The Sisterhood" offers an engaging mystery with compelling historical details, the disjointed timeline prevents it from reaching the heights of some previous entries in the series.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my advance copy. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.
I found myself drawn back into Lady Emily and Colin's world, where their partnership continues to shine as the heart of these mysteries. Their collaborative sleuthing and warm rapport remain the strongest elements in Alexander's series, providing a reliable anchor even when other aspects falter.
Unfortunately, the dual timeline structure didn't work well for me in this installment. The historical sections featuring ancient Britain and connections to Boudica felt disjointed and confusing. The shadowy perspective made it difficult to connect with these historical characters, and I often wanted to skip these sections to return to the main mystery.
The historical portrayal of women's constraints in Edwardian London comes through vividly. Reading about the suffocating expectations placed on young women of society makes me grateful for how far women's rights have progressed since then.
Emily's mother deserves special mention as one of the most infuriating characters I've encountered recently. Her constant criticism made me genuinely angry on Emily's behalf.
While "The Sisterhood" offers an engaging mystery with compelling historical details, the disjointed timeline prevents it from reaching the heights of some previous entries in the series.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my advance copy. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.
September 4, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Yes, another dual-timeline plot, which is pointless as the secondary story adds nothing to the main mystery. Speaking of the main mystery, it was mildy interesting until the entire thing was suddenly wrapped up in about two pages! (And the culprit had a very unconvincing motive.) Again, a pretty disappointing novel. This series has really lost its luster for me.
Yes, another dual-timeline plot, which is pointless as the secondary story adds nothing to the main mystery. Speaking of the main mystery, it was mildy interesting until the entire thing was suddenly wrapped up in about two pages! (And the culprit had a very unconvincing motive.) Again, a pretty disappointing novel. This series has really lost its luster for me.
August 6, 2025
I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction but this was a good one! It's 1907 and Victoria is engaged to Peregrine when she's poisoned at her own party and investigator Emily steps in to do what she does best. That's all you need; it's often funny, sometimes, serious, but it's a great story line that kept me entertained throughout!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
June 16, 2025
In 1907 London, a glamourous young debutante collapses and dies at the ball held in honour of her engagement to a most eligible peer. When a poisoned drink is determined to be the cause, Lady Emily and Lord Hargreaves investigate at the King’s request. There is no shortage of viable suspects, including the fiancé, jilted suitors, a jewel thief, and jealous rivals. The centuries old story of Boudicca is woven throughout the mystery, providing a fierce female leader as inspiration for the suffrage movement featured in the novel.
I thought I knew what to expect with this mystery novel set in the era of the marriage market, ballrooms and swoons over eligible peers of the realm. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by a mystery with a historical element of surprising depth and interest. I note that some reviewers did not care for the layering of the 1900s murder storyline with the historical narrative set in Britannia, and felt it did not add anything to the story.
I must respectfully disagree in the strongest terms with this assessment. The reader easily slips back and forth between the two periods, with the Britannia narrative being the more interesting of the two in my opinion. Not only that, but it ties in very neatly with the modern murder story and provides a little “a-ha” moment as well. Not being interested in clandestine rendezvous and heaving bosoms, I feel that the art thievery, history and murder all converge very nicely to deliver an entertaining murder mystery. Thank you to Minotaur for the copy to read, which I greatly enjoyed,
I thought I knew what to expect with this mystery novel set in the era of the marriage market, ballrooms and swoons over eligible peers of the realm. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by a mystery with a historical element of surprising depth and interest. I note that some reviewers did not care for the layering of the 1900s murder storyline with the historical narrative set in Britannia, and felt it did not add anything to the story.
I must respectfully disagree in the strongest terms with this assessment. The reader easily slips back and forth between the two periods, with the Britannia narrative being the more interesting of the two in my opinion. Not only that, but it ties in very neatly with the modern murder story and provides a little “a-ha” moment as well. Not being interested in clandestine rendezvous and heaving bosoms, I feel that the art thievery, history and murder all converge very nicely to deliver an entertaining murder mystery. Thank you to Minotaur for the copy to read, which I greatly enjoyed,
June 22, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
I genuinely enjoyed reading this book! It was a nice change to some of the other books and ARCs I've been reading, so I'm thrilled that I was asked by St. Martin's Press to read and review this book.
Lady Emily is exceedingly good at many things. Solving mysteries and/or murders with her charming husband, turning away excessive proposals by thieves (I want to read more books just for Mr. Paget's character), campaigning for women's rights, etc. Her character is so fun and smart and I love that she's not like the other society misses.
Anyway, the society's darling, a girl with my name, was murdered (that was fun to read about)! Poisoned with a brew of yew. But who could've done it? The fiancé? His best friend? Her best friend? A person in debt? A maid? Someone else? I have to admit; I never would've guessed the right answer and the twist was so good! I also loved the pops of history every other chapter.
Overall, giving 4.25 because while I loved it, it wasn't holding my interest as well as some of the other books I've been reading. I think I would've rated it higher if I had read any of the other books in this series, but I plan to remedy that soon.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Tasha Alexander, and NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own despite being asked to read and review the book in question.
I genuinely enjoyed reading this book! It was a nice change to some of the other books and ARCs I've been reading, so I'm thrilled that I was asked by St. Martin's Press to read and review this book.
Lady Emily is exceedingly good at many things. Solving mysteries and/or murders with her charming husband, turning away excessive proposals by thieves (I want to read more books just for Mr. Paget's character), campaigning for women's rights, etc. Her character is so fun and smart and I love that she's not like the other society misses.
Anyway, the society's darling, a girl with my name, was murdered (that was fun to read about)! Poisoned with a brew of yew. But who could've done it? The fiancé? His best friend? Her best friend? A person in debt? A maid? Someone else? I have to admit; I never would've guessed the right answer and the twist was so good! I also loved the pops of history every other chapter.
Overall, giving 4.25 because while I loved it, it wasn't holding my interest as well as some of the other books I've been reading. I think I would've rated it higher if I had read any of the other books in this series, but I plan to remedy that soon.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Tasha Alexander, and NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own despite being asked to read and review the book in question.
July 5, 2025
Thank you to Minotaur books and Tasha Alexander for an advanced reader copy of The Sisterhood.
The Sisterhood will captivate long time readers and those who are new to the series as the dual timeline is split between Edwardian England and the ancient Iceni British tribe during the Roman Empire.
With mystery and intrigue at the heart of this storyline, Lady Emily, an intelligent and independent detective, guides us along a path filled with twists and turns on her quest for knowledge. A character with a beautiful mind and sharp whit, Lady Emily is not afraid to pursue her curiosity, challenge the status quo, and uncover clues that allow her to pursue justice as she solves crimes.
This book explores themes of female strength and courage based on trust, friendship, and loyalty. When united by a shared purpose, The Sisterhood provides strength of leadership that works to fight against injustice, resist against oppression, and encourage growth that inspires positive change.
The Sisterhood will captivate long time readers and those who are new to the series as the dual timeline is split between Edwardian England and the ancient Iceni British tribe during the Roman Empire.
With mystery and intrigue at the heart of this storyline, Lady Emily, an intelligent and independent detective, guides us along a path filled with twists and turns on her quest for knowledge. A character with a beautiful mind and sharp whit, Lady Emily is not afraid to pursue her curiosity, challenge the status quo, and uncover clues that allow her to pursue justice as she solves crimes.
This book explores themes of female strength and courage based on trust, friendship, and loyalty. When united by a shared purpose, The Sisterhood provides strength of leadership that works to fight against injustice, resist against oppression, and encourage growth that inspires positive change.
June 15, 2025
Quite an excellent next installment in this thrilling series! Murder, intrigue and manners all combined. I can’t wait for the publication date to see what historical notes the author chooses to include at the end as she often does. Highly recommend!!
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
September 26, 2025
This Sisterhood by Tasha Alexander is a story told in two timelines, current day (for Lady Emily, 1907) and in Britannia in AD 60 or so, telling the story of Boudica through the eyes of her friend, Vatta, an Incenian maiden. Vatta had a brother, Solinus, who was born to be a soldier. Solinus had a Roman friend, Gaius Marius, who convinced him to become a Roman soldier. Vatta knew Solinus would never be treated with the same respect as a Roman, but he would hear none of it. Gaius was her friend; they talked about poetry, something clearly Roman. Emily and Colin were are a ball one night when a young woman, Victoria, was dancing with her betrothed and next thing, fell to the ground dead. Colin convinced Bertie (the king) to let them lead the investigation, which took them through the mores of London society before it came to its shocking conclusion.
Boudica lead an army against Britannia’s oppressor, Rome. She made inroads but was eventually killed. It was during Lady Emily’s time when the two stories came together in an interesting way. Lady Emily has always been a great character, ahead of her time, as were Boudica and Vatta. Her mother didn’t approve of her avocation, joining many of polite society in that opinion. Emily and Colin are excellent partners, both in life and in investigating. The mystery was a strange one, especially after another young woman was killed. Alexander did a great job with it; I did not see it coming. I cannot recommend this series enough. Lady Emily is a wonderful character and she surrounds herself with interesting people, even if some are a bit odd.
I was invited to read The Sisterhood by St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #TashaAlexander #TheSisterhood
Boudica lead an army against Britannia’s oppressor, Rome. She made inroads but was eventually killed. It was during Lady Emily’s time when the two stories came together in an interesting way. Lady Emily has always been a great character, ahead of her time, as were Boudica and Vatta. Her mother didn’t approve of her avocation, joining many of polite society in that opinion. Emily and Colin are excellent partners, both in life and in investigating. The mystery was a strange one, especially after another young woman was killed. Alexander did a great job with it; I did not see it coming. I cannot recommend this series enough. Lady Emily is a wonderful character and she surrounds herself with interesting people, even if some are a bit odd.
I was invited to read The Sisterhood by St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #TashaAlexander #TheSisterhood
September 2, 2025
4.5 / 5.0 Stars
This is yet another wonderful tale in the Lady Emily mystery series. It's 1907. London's season is open and matches are to be made. The Marquess of Harrington has made his match with Victoria Goldsborough. They are waltzing at the Harrington House Ball and suddenly, Victoria meets her demise from an apparent poisoning. Given the delicacy of the situation, it isn't long before the investigative services of Lady Emily and Sir Colin Hargreaves are called upon - this time by none other than King Edward VII himself. Who could possibly want to harm Miss Goldsborough? What possible motive could there be? Jealousy? A scorned suitor? It's a troubling case and not everyone involved is forthcoming. Can Colin and Emily resolve the matter before harm befalls others? Only time will tell.
Author Tasha Alexander writes an exquisite narrative capturing two stories set centuries apart, with a narrow thread connecting them. Both are set in and around London. One in 60 A.D. touching upon that of the much revered Queen Boudicca and the main story is set in 1907. The author has captured well the feminine strength of both stories. Eventually, the two stories are connected across the eons and the stories draw to a satisfactory unified conclusion.
As for the writing, it is solid, evocative, and well delivered. The scene settings are rich and the descriptions of evening wear - exquisite. One is easily transported to the times of the story as the tales are beautifully spun. If historical fiction with a mystery woven in for good measure suits you, then I commend this book to you.
I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: September 23, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-1250374981
This is yet another wonderful tale in the Lady Emily mystery series. It's 1907. London's season is open and matches are to be made. The Marquess of Harrington has made his match with Victoria Goldsborough. They are waltzing at the Harrington House Ball and suddenly, Victoria meets her demise from an apparent poisoning. Given the delicacy of the situation, it isn't long before the investigative services of Lady Emily and Sir Colin Hargreaves are called upon - this time by none other than King Edward VII himself. Who could possibly want to harm Miss Goldsborough? What possible motive could there be? Jealousy? A scorned suitor? It's a troubling case and not everyone involved is forthcoming. Can Colin and Emily resolve the matter before harm befalls others? Only time will tell.
Author Tasha Alexander writes an exquisite narrative capturing two stories set centuries apart, with a narrow thread connecting them. Both are set in and around London. One in 60 A.D. touching upon that of the much revered Queen Boudicca and the main story is set in 1907. The author has captured well the feminine strength of both stories. Eventually, the two stories are connected across the eons and the stories draw to a satisfactory unified conclusion.
As for the writing, it is solid, evocative, and well delivered. The scene settings are rich and the descriptions of evening wear - exquisite. One is easily transported to the times of the story as the tales are beautifully spun. If historical fiction with a mystery woven in for good measure suits you, then I commend this book to you.
I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: September 23, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-1250374981
September 26, 2025
Dropping into a series at book 19 should’ve been more difficult, but it was surprisingly easy to catch up on the character arc’s and any back stories I may have missed. In fact, I was pleased that the story moved quickly and I wasn’t completely lost. Lady Emily and her husband are brought in to investigate the death of an acquaintance. Victoria had just gotten engaged and was dancing at a ball with her fiancé when she dropped dead- poisoned by yew leaves. As Emily investigates and interviews the various suspects she finds that there’s a group of young women who have a mysterious link to an ancient Britain queen, and Victoria was one of those women.
The author tells two stories side by side. The first is the story of Vatta, an ancient Britain woman who becomes friends with the famous queen Boudica. The story of her trying to find her place during a Roman occupation provides a juxtaposition of the investigation into Victoria’s death and her belonging to this group of young liberal women who want to fight for their rights as women. I’ll admit that I felt a little lost while reading Vatta’s story, but when the connection was made it became clear the connection the author was trying to make. The investigation itself, was a little more interesting and I did wish the author had stuck to that story line instead of providing the back and forth.
Reading this nineteenth book in the series, I could see that Lady Emily had led quite an interesting life. I think I’d go back and start at the first novel just to see how she broke into investigating murders and how she moved from husband number 1 to husband number 2! If you’re worried that you shouldn’t start a book this far into a series, I think you’ll be ok and in fact you may find that you too want to see where it all started!
The author tells two stories side by side. The first is the story of Vatta, an ancient Britain woman who becomes friends with the famous queen Boudica. The story of her trying to find her place during a Roman occupation provides a juxtaposition of the investigation into Victoria’s death and her belonging to this group of young liberal women who want to fight for their rights as women. I’ll admit that I felt a little lost while reading Vatta’s story, but when the connection was made it became clear the connection the author was trying to make. The investigation itself, was a little more interesting and I did wish the author had stuck to that story line instead of providing the back and forth.
Reading this nineteenth book in the series, I could see that Lady Emily had led quite an interesting life. I think I’d go back and start at the first novel just to see how she broke into investigating murders and how she moved from husband number 1 to husband number 2! If you’re worried that you shouldn’t start a book this far into a series, I think you’ll be ok and in fact you may find that you too want to see where it all started!
June 27, 2025
Well, it had a better ending than i was initially expecting. I don’t think this was one of the best Lady Emily mysteries I’ve read thus far but it was still edge of my seat trying to figure out whodunit! 😊 And I liked the clips about Boudica and Vatta. It was interesting to learn a little about a time you don’t often hear much about.
I love the dynamics between Colin and Emily. Their relationship and humor is heartwarming and funny without being inappropriate. Tasha Alexander is an excellent writer! I love her choice of vocabulary. Authors that know how to write and write well are sorely lacking these days so it is a treat to read a well written, entertaining and engaging story. I only wish the authors appreciation of ancient greek and the Iliad also included the Word of God.
Thank you @minotaurBooks/@TashaAlexanderAuthor and GoodReads for the giveaway..
I love the dynamics between Colin and Emily. Their relationship and humor is heartwarming and funny without being inappropriate. Tasha Alexander is an excellent writer! I love her choice of vocabulary. Authors that know how to write and write well are sorely lacking these days so it is a treat to read a well written, entertaining and engaging story. I only wish the authors appreciation of ancient greek and the Iliad also included the Word of God.
Thank you @minotaurBooks/@TashaAlexanderAuthor and GoodReads for the giveaway..
July 20, 2025
I would like to express my gratitude to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book early. This was another book in this series with every other chapter back in time, this one featuring Boudicca’s period in Iron Age England. There was only a small link to the crimes that Emily & Colin were investigating. I thoroughly enjoyed the investigation of the murders that were solved with a total surprise in the identity of the killer. However, I truly hope that the author will abandon this particular format. It leaves the reader wondering if she just didn’t feel like writing a whole book featuring Emily & Colin, who really deserve better as they are thoroughly engaging characters.
September 8, 2025
This book was a bit rough for me. The bouncing back and forth between the past and present didn’t always flow well. Yes, it would happen at the start of a chapter, but it just seemed to chop into both stories. I wish they would flow together more seamlessly. I did enjoy some of the characters. However, I feel like this is a book where reading others in the series would be very beneficial for the reader. I hadn’t so I feel like this caused me to be a little less interested in the story than I would have liked.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
November 3, 2025
In this latest Lady Emily mystery, Emily and her husband investigate the murder of a popular debutante at the start of the London season. Alternate chapters told a story in Roman terms, about the warrior queen Boudica. I liked the Emily part more, but the Roman/British history was interesting as well.
The mystery was interesting, and I love Emily and her husband. Characters discussed women's rights in 1907. It is hard to change traditions now, and I'm sure it was even harder then. I zoomed through this book because I enjoyed it so much, and I'd recommend the book and the series. (Note: the book would be just fine to read as a stand alone.)
The mystery was interesting, and I love Emily and her husband. Characters discussed women's rights in 1907. It is hard to change traditions now, and I'm sure it was even harder then. I zoomed through this book because I enjoyed it so much, and I'd recommend the book and the series. (Note: the book would be just fine to read as a stand alone.)
August 15, 2025
The Sisterhood by Tasha Alexander
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Sisterhood is the nineteenth book in the Lady Emily Mysteries series. And, while it can be read as a standalone, having a familiarity with the series through past books will certainly strengthen the overall reading experience. The Sisterhood is a fast-paced and engaging read expertly combining historical fiction and mystery to form an unputdownable read!
Set in London in 1907, Lady Emily and her husband Colin aim to discover the truth after the Season's well-known debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, dies at her engagement ball. Lady Emily knows that things are never as they may initially seem and after a toxic drink is determined to be the cause, the king tells Lady Emily and Colin to solve the mystery.
There are plenty of suspects, including Victoria’s fiancé with whom she had a short courtship, a rival, her best friend who is hiding something, an upset suitor with a gambling problem, and a thief who has stolen a tiara from the Goldsborough’s home. Then, unexpectedly, a second debutante dies and Lady Emily and her husband need to solve the mystery quickly before even more trouble comes. As Lady Emily and Colin investigate, they end up at an old tomb in London with a connection to another death in the Roman times. With the stakes higher than ever before, Lady Emily needs to unravel this mystery in spite of its complexity.
Overall, this is a great historical fiction/mystery! The added timeline of ancient Rome was certainly unexpected and super interesting! The wit, intelligence, and determination of Lady Emily is marvelous. The perfect read for historical fiction and cozy mystery readers!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Sisterhood is the nineteenth book in the Lady Emily Mysteries series. And, while it can be read as a standalone, having a familiarity with the series through past books will certainly strengthen the overall reading experience. The Sisterhood is a fast-paced and engaging read expertly combining historical fiction and mystery to form an unputdownable read!
Set in London in 1907, Lady Emily and her husband Colin aim to discover the truth after the Season's well-known debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, dies at her engagement ball. Lady Emily knows that things are never as they may initially seem and after a toxic drink is determined to be the cause, the king tells Lady Emily and Colin to solve the mystery.
There are plenty of suspects, including Victoria’s fiancé with whom she had a short courtship, a rival, her best friend who is hiding something, an upset suitor with a gambling problem, and a thief who has stolen a tiara from the Goldsborough’s home. Then, unexpectedly, a second debutante dies and Lady Emily and her husband need to solve the mystery quickly before even more trouble comes. As Lady Emily and Colin investigate, they end up at an old tomb in London with a connection to another death in the Roman times. With the stakes higher than ever before, Lady Emily needs to unravel this mystery in spite of its complexity.
Overall, this is a great historical fiction/mystery! The added timeline of ancient Rome was certainly unexpected and super interesting! The wit, intelligence, and determination of Lady Emily is marvelous. The perfect read for historical fiction and cozy mystery readers!
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