Murder Made Her Wicked

Marigold Manners #2

by Elizabeth Hobbs

Bicycle-riding, aspiring archaeologist Marigold Manners is back and ready for adventure in Elizabeth Hobb’s next mesmerizing historical mystery.

“A humdinger…whose characters bring to mind those of both Emily Brontë and L.M. Montgomery” (Kirkus), this second installment is perfect for fans of Deanna Rayborn.

1894, Boston. The cloistered closed world of a women’s college is a mysterious place to many, but not Marigold Manners. The penniless, bicycle-riding Boston heiress and accomplished modern woman is at home among her like-minded academicians. Until the peace of their bucolic campus is shattered by the death of one of their own.

Marigold has put her past to good use, selling the story of the Great Misery Island Murders to earn enough money to resume the life she was always meant to have. She returns to her beloved Wellesley College, where she once again takes up her studies to become a classical archaeologist. But her carefully laid plans for academic excellence are thrown into disarray when she stumbles across the body of a young woman who has presumably drowned in the campus lake. When the victim’s means of demise is soon determined to have been intentional, Marigold must use every ounce of her logic, enlist her eccentric, colorful cast of fellow students and found-family to identify the girl and find the murderer—before he kills again.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical

336 pages, Hardcover

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Elizabeth Hobbs is a New Englander born and bred who spent her childhood roaming the woods, making up stories about characters who live far more exciting lives than she. It wasn’t always so—long before she ever set pen to paper, Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in classics and art history and then earned her MA in nautical archaeology from Texas A&M University. While she loved the life of an underwater archaeologist, she has found her true calling writing historical mysteries full of wit, wickedness, and adventure. Elizabeth writes wherever she is and loves to travel from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband, the Indispensable Mr. Hobbs, and her darling dogs, Ghillie and Brogue, in an empty nest of an old house filled to the brim with bicycles and books.

Elizabeth Hobbs also writes historical romance under the name Elizabeth Essex.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and I have read the previous book Misery Hates Company.

We meet Marigold Manners again, this time as she returns to Wellesley College to continue her studies. However she does not seem to apply much time to these once she finds a murdered girl in the campus lake and turns her mind to sleuthing instead.

The story is set in Boston in 1894 and features many of the social attitudes at that time. Marigold is the epitome of the modern woman of the day- determined to succeed academically and pursue a career even to the extent of not marrying. I felt sorry for Cab, the romantic interest. He should probably look for someone else to love! It all made for an interesting book and I will look out for the next one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[shereadswith_coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Murder Made Her Wicked” set in 1894, Boston Massachusetts, Miss Marigold Manners is returning to her life at Wellesley College but instead of jumping head first into her studies, she is pulled straight into a murder investigation.

Marigold has instincts and a severe passion to delve into the mystery of a murder. The elite women’s campus is anything but safe but she continues to cast her own safety aside and seek out her intuitions. She pieces together the murder mystery with her insight and emotional intelligence while confirming her own confidence.

It’s a whodunnit with a plot leaving you guessing. A historical English dialect is used with a certain formality appropriate for this era.
I appreciated how Author Elizabeth Hobbs characterized Marigold to notice hats specifically while using them as a symbol of the era and class.
This era is full of social constraints and influence as the women of Wellesley naturally collide but when it comes to severe matters are a unified front.

Suspenseful
Mysterious
Subtle romance
Feminist fiction
Victorian-era
Insightful

A great October read. Thanks to @suzyapprovedbooktours for this ARC book in exchange for my honest review.

[Sophia]

Managing Modern Woman, Marigold Manners is back and determined to achieve scholastic success in the field of archeology, if only a pesky murder hadn’t derailed her academic plans. Elizabeth Hobbs penned a true original when Marigold burst on the scene in the first book, Misery Hates Company and now continues her escapades in Murder Made Her Wicked.

My full review will post at The Quill Ink on TBA.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Made Her Wicked” by Author Elizabeth Hobbs is an intriguing and suspenseful novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Mystery and Amateur Sleuth Mystery. The timeline for this novel is set in 1894, and takes place mostly in Boston and at Wellesley College. In this well written novel, the author vividly describes the scenery, the dress of the times, the plot and the complex and complicated characters. The Protagonist of the story is Marigold Manners, a modern woman of the times, that fights for justice. Marigold is a Boston Heiress, with no money, that has earned some money from selling her first story of “The Great Misery Island Murders” to go back to College to finish her degree. Her goals are interrupted by Marigold’s discovery of a young woman found dead in the lake by the campus. Marigold is very polite and manages to get around by bicycle. She also has some accomplished and helpful friends.

At first, there is no identification of the body, or if the dead woman is a student. To avoid startling the students, Marigold is told to be discreet as she investigates what is going on. There is no shortage of tabloid press that prints unauthorized and untrue stories. There are several characters that could be suspect. There are twists and turns, betrayals, and surprises. I recommend this thought-provoking mystery to others. I appreciate how the author mentions the importance of friends, sisterhood, and honesty.

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

MURDER MADE HER WICKED had me from the first time I read the title! When I found out it was historical fiction, I was even more intrigued! Set in 1894 Boston, I was having some pretty high expectations which were met in every way. Elizabeth Hobbs is an excellent writer and I was thoroughly impressed!

Many thanks to Elizabeth Hobbs for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of an ongoing mystery series. In Murder Made Her Wicked, Miss Marigold Manners resumes her university studies in archaeology with the money from the financial success of her book. Unfortunately, she discovers the murdered body of an unknown young woman trapped underneath the boathouse on campus...

This series is just about exactly what you'd expect from a novel with a protagonist named Miss Marigold Manners. While I'm never one to critique too much competence, sometimes Marigold's endless series of perfect reactions takes a little bit of the mystery out of things. But I enjoyed her pert, determined Modern Women jaunt through Gilded Age New England regardless. The solution to the actual murder was obvious from early on, but the identity of the victim and the recalcitrance of the police to believe it was murder rather than suicide added a little zest. Perhaps a bit pedestrian for the murder mystery enjoyers, but fun enough as a character piece. I liked it, but I'm not sure I'd bother to read a third book.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so close to being a 5 star and it was mostly minor quibbles that stopped me. I did not read the first book but there are enough recaps in this that I didn't feel lost (and I don't think I'll be going back to read it because in one of the recaps she mentioned the local detective was anti-her and that is my big dislike in amateur sleuth stories. Luckily this one had no such issues)

Marigold is probably very much like what I would have been if I were still me in the 1890s (okay I'm more Ethyl but you get the point). She has earned money, fictionalizing her first mystery for publication and she now has enough money to return to Wellsley College which she desperately wants to do to continue her students in archaeology. She is coming into the semester late and has a huge amount of work to make up. Her main support is Isabella Dana, widow and part of the House of Dana fashion, Cab, lawyer and would be spouse of Marigold and now-President of Wellsley, Professor Irvine. Her distant cousin, Sarah, is there to make her life hell, especially so now that she's award that Marigold is actually illegitimate (a very big deal back then)

Marigold makes some new friends in Aggie of the lovely hat and Ethyl, the chemist but her happy return is quickly marred by thinking she saw Aggie and her hat floating in the lake. Instead, Marigold fishes out an unknown dead girl who was quickly identified as not a student. Worse, Eliza, a photojournalist wanna be shared a sneaky picture via her detective camera (I had to look to see if they existed because that surprised me. indeed they did) of Dr. Baker and Marigold tending to the dead girl with the papers. This leads to a yellow journalist Wilkerson to go out of his way to get a story from Marigold and a little bit more if he could being handsome, charming and flirtatious.

Marigold is not about to let this girl go to an unmarked anonymous grave. She first works to identify the girl and once that is done, she wants to discover her killer and find where they went off to. And it's that last bit that is the bulk of the last half of the book since it's plain who the killer is but the where is the mystery.

I very much liked Marigold. She's smart and resourceful. Isabella, Ethyl and Cab are all fun characters too. So why not five stars? A few things. Marigold for all her logic does blow up emotional a lot. She also repeats one should not make too much of oneself way too many times for my tastes. But the biggest quibble is her schooling. It is nearly forgotten for too much of the novel. I found this annoying especially after so much was made of how much she needed to make up. It would have been easy to weave it in.

What I very much liked: Marigold's attitude and dedication to the education of women and women suffrage. I'm a student of women's suffrage and accomplishment in science from the 1800s-mid 1900s especially. So this mystery series is right up my alley. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marigold Manners returns to Wellesley College in 1894 Boston, determined to resume her academic journey in archaeology despite the tumultuous revelations of her past. Marigold, a penniless heiress and fiercely independent woman, quickly becomes entangled in another mystery when she stumbles upon the body of a young woman in the campus lake. The Wellesley campus, with its comforting traditions and scholarly pursuits, is soon exposed as vulnerable to the malice and wickedness lurking beneath its surface. As tensions rise, old rivalries and slights threaten to boil over, and Marigold must rely on her keen logic and the support of her eccentric friends to uncover the identity of the victim and the perpetrator before another tragedy occurs.

Marigold shines throughout the novel—her intellect, determination, and commitment to women's advancement are refreshing, especially set against the backdrop of the 1890s. She's not only navigating academic challenges but also the societal limitations imposed on women, refusing to let her personal life distract from her ambitions. The secondary characters, from the loyal college physician to quirky classmates and beloved friends, add depth and color to the story, making the closed college community feel both vibrant and tense. The author, Elizabeth Hobbs, does an excellent job weaving information from Marigold’s first case into the narrative, so even those new to the series can appreciate her history and motivations.

This book is an engaging historical mystery that is well written and nice paced. While some elements—such as the predictability of the murder plot and certain contrived character dynamics—may detract slightly, the rich period details, well-researched setting, and compelling lead make this a satisfying read. The book balances suspense, character development, and just a hint of romance. I will admit a bit of frustration with Marigold in her desire to remain independent, I understood her reasons and know change will only come to those who take a stand, but to basically insist that Cab throw away his reputation to satisfy her needs did come across as a bit selfish, but I sincerely hope they find a way to be together that makes them both happy. Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it to fans of historical fiction and classic murder mysteries. This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no issues.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👀 love a good murder mystery
🎩 like to wear hats
📚 want a new series to read
🕵🏻‍♀️ think you’d make a good detective

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

1894, Boston. Penniless Boston heiress and accomplished modern woman Marigold Manners has put her past to good use, selling the story of the Great Misery Island Murders to earn enough money to resume the life she was always meant to have and return to her studies at Wellesley College. But her carefully laid plans for academic excellence are thrown into disarray when she stumbles across the body of a young woman in the campus lake. 

When the peace of the bucolic campus is shattered by the murder, the cloistered world of a women’s college that Marigold finds so comforting proves it is not immune to the malice and wickedness of the world. The closed community becomes a hothouse where disparagement blooms into insult and small slights that have festered for years blossom into academic rivalries that could spill over into something far more sinister. Marigold must use every ounce of her logic and enlist her eccentric, colorful cast of fellow students and found-family to identify the girl and find the murderer—before they kill again.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

I never read book one, but the author does a good job of including snippets of Marigold’s first case into this story in case you missed it! I loved seeing how Marigold’s mind worked, and the fact that she was a young woman who was supposed to be attending college but was instead doing all kinds of detective work in this era was refreshing to read about! The historical fiction accuracy of this book is on point, and the murder will keep you guessing til the very end!

[Auriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's October, 1894, and Miss Marigold Manners is finally back on campus at her beloved Wellesley College. She's making new friends, fielding not-to-subtle digs from her rivals, and generally settling in, when she discovers the body of a young woman in the water near the campus boathouse. Naturally, she finds herself drawn into the investigation, and before it's over, she will risk her own life to bring the killer to justice.

This is the second of Elizabeth Hobbs' series about thoroughly modern Marigold. While the first book was a little slow to really grab me, this one got its hooks in right from the start. I appreciate Hobbs' style of writing that grounds me in turn-of-the-century Massachusetts, from the way the characters speak, to their attitudes and beliefs.

The mystery is intriguing, although I will admit that I figured out two key points before Marigold put the pieces together. I'm sure it's only because I have read and watched more mystery stories than she has in her young life. I never felt frustrated that she was missing something obvious.

If you enjoy historical whodunits with just a smidge of romance, give the Marigold Manners Mysteries a try. This book stands on its own, although there are references to the people and events of the first novel.

I received an electronic advance reader copy of the title at no cost. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Joan Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marigold Manners is back at Wellesley College in Boston, intent on completing her degree in archaeology. The peaceful, scholarly environment is shattered by the apparent drowning of a young woman in the campus lake. But soon, Marigold and the college's physician discover that the woman was murdered. Their first difficulty is in keeping the local law enforcement team from dismissing the death as accidental. Then, Marigold uses all of her powers of logic to figure out if someone at the college is responsible for the crime, or someone outside their society. She is aided by school friends and other colleagues, a couple of whom she holds very dear to her heart.

There is a previous book in this series, and it would have been helpful to have read that book. The events that occurred earlier are frequently mentioned, but only glimpses are given into Marigold's involvement in the first mystery leaving somewhat confused readers who started at this book 2. Nevertheless, the characters are likeable, sometimes quirky, but logical collegians, and the mystery was revealed in a satisfying manner. I would definitely enjoy additional tiles in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kiaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2nd book in the Marigold Manners series….a little predictable but the story, richness of the time and place descriptions and the characters more that make up for guessing whodunit before it’s revealed in book. Marigold is at Wellesley College and back on her path to become a Greek archeologist. The revelations about her life and parentage from book 1 have left Marigold more determined than ever to become an accomplished academician. Also, despite that fact that she and her friend and lawyer Cab love each other, Marigold is determined to remain single because women in the 1890’s had few rights and became “property” of their husbands plus no college would hire a married female professor. Her determination to keep to her life plan is disturbed when Marigold discovers the body of a young woman in a lake on campus. Marigold is determined to identify the unknown woman and bring her murderer to justice. Solving this crime while maintaining her preplanned academic pursuits is a challenge that put Marigold in danger and her close friends concerned for her safety. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marigold has been accepted at Wellesley College to work on her archaeology degree, excited to be back she knows she has a lot to catch up on coming in midterm. Accepting an invitation to be a part of the row team, she heads down to the boat dock and the algae looks odd and string, nope that is not algae at all, but a body in the lake! Marigold gets pulled into the investigation of this murdered unknown woman creating double the workload. With her keen eye, common sense and ability to be discreet Marigold knows that she must find the perpetrator to do this woman justice and so it doesn't happen to someone else. Although another student feels the need to blame Marigold and do all she can to hinder her work and school, Marigold persists on being the better person and does all she can to focus on this case. But she is realizing that something wicked may just be lurking below the surface as Wellesley College. I enjoyed this historical mystery and Marigold's character as a woman ahead of her time. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a charming and unique mystery. Miss Marigold Manners is an amateur sleuth who blends the intelligence of Sherlock Holmes with the proper etiquette of Emily Post.

The story offers a fabulous setting, touched with a bit of Gothic vibes. Marigold has returned to Wellesley Women’s College in Boston to finish her studies after the Misery Island murder incident. But she is welcomed back with academic rivals and a young woman’s body found floating in the campus lake - it would appear murder has followed her here.

These sharp-witted characters truly drew me in; Marigold's bicycle riding and refusal to marry contrast with Ethyl, the chemist, whose silly insults like “podsnapper” add humor and charm to the story.

The book is set in 1894, and the author does a great job of describing the era's fashion, etiquette, attitudes, and even the proper speech of the period; I felt as though I was transported back in time.


𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳; 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦.



Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @hobbsandessexauthor  for the gifted book.

[Reeca Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the setting of 1894 Boston!

1894, Boston. Penniless Boston heiress and accomplished modern woman Marigold Manners has put her past to good use, selling the story of the Great Misery Island Murders to earn enough money to resume her life and return to her studies at Wellesley College. But her carefully laid plans for academic excellence are thrown into disarray when she stumbles across the body of a young woman in the campus lake.

Marigold is a great character. I love how she notices different things than the average person. Of course, this is one of the reasons she is the best amateur sleuth! Plus, she fights for justice in more ways than one! She is also not made for this time period. She definitely clashes with the constraints of the 1894 woman where ever she can. I adored her!

This is a well written historical mystery novel that will keep you guessing. With all the twists and turns and betrayals…perfect read for a night by the fire!

Need a good whodunit with a great setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel for a honest review.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Made Her Wicked does several things well. Foremost, the historical setting is excellently written, with an eye for needed and immersive historical detail. I also found the characters well-written, and appreciate that Marigold had definite flaws as a character. Third, the feeling of university life and academic excitement were so evocative; it took me back to my own days at uni.
My only complaint about the book is the murder plot: it was very slow-moving and, maybe this is just me, but felt very obvious—to the point of slight clumsiness. However, I still ripped through the last 1/3 of the book, delaying my bedtime to do so. So take my criticism as you will.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marigold made the most of her time on Misery Island-telling the story of how she solved the murders there-and made the money she needed to head back to Wellesley College. Note that having read the first book, which introduced Marigold and her time on Misery, will make this a more rewarding read not only because you will know her back story, you'll appreciate her growth. Of course all does not go smoothly as a young woman is found in a pond and Marigold takes time from her studies (she wants to be an archeologist) to solve the murder. This is set in 1894 and Hobbs makes full use of the constraints on women at the time. Marigold, however, is intrepid and whip smart. And she's fun. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of historical mysteries. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 1894-set mystery is like hopping on a bicycle with Marigold herself—charming, determined, a little flawed, and absolutely unwilling to let a murder ruin her college plans. Set between Boston and Wellesley College, the author paints the era with vivid detail: the fashions, the cobblestone vibes, the academic bustle, and of course, the delicious chaos of drama.

When a young woman turns up dead in the campus lake, Marigold is told to keep things hush-hush. Naturally, that goes as well as you’d expect. With helpful friends, plenty of suspects, and twists that keep things lively (even if the core mystery moves a bit slowly), the story leans into sisterhood, loyalty, and the messy beauty of finding your place.

If you enjoy historical settings, academic intrigue, and amateur sleuths with heart, this thought-provoking mystery is worth pedaling into.

[Sarah Bowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read book 1 to really get an introduction to Marigold but wow, she is a smart lady.

She comes back to a college she had been to before (book 1 probably explains why she left) and there "rescues" a girl from a lake but she's already been a victim. Marigold is let in to the investigation by the President of the school. She has to figure who this girl is and what happened before it possibly happens again.

There are mysterious characters and they have secrets to uncover. I can see why some hide the truth and Marigold is such a trusting person that they eventually help her lead to the truth of the poor girl's demise. I always like to read a story at a school and this historical mystery was very good.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marigold Manners is back to Wellesley College to resume her studies in archeology. With the help of Julia Irvine, the President of the college, Marigold is set to succeed in her field. However, when the body of a young woman is found near the boathouse it is unclear who she is and if she is part of the college.

I always enjoy characters that are always undermined because of the times they were born in. Marigold is such a brilliant and smart character and the information she uses to come up with clues to the murderer are so clever. I also enjoyed her friend Isabella Dana, such a brilliant and knowledgeable woman in her field.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who greatly enjoyed Misery Hates Company I will say this second book involving the adventures of Miss Marigold Manners did not disappoint! After her adventures in the previous book and selling her story she now has enough money to go back to school and continue the education she truly desires. You would think that things would only go up from there. Unfortunately that is very wrong and once again Marigold is putting her amateur detectives skills to work.

I will say that this second installment was a treat to read. We saw some really good character development and the change in location was great as well. Overall Marigold Manners is definitely a amateur sleuth you would love to have on your side because of her willingness to work and her brilliant ideas!

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read the first book but didn’t need to in order to really enjoy this one. The information added about Marigold’s past adventures filled in the blanks nicely. I loved the main character Marigold. She was proper but wicked smart and thought fast on her feet. The historical setting at a women’s college was great and I enjoyed how her group came together to throw ideas around. Any lead that Marigold had felt logical, but she also had a good sense on people. There were a couple good suspenseful moments and I liked the little romance that was there and her emotions about it especially towards the end. It was an entertaining read and I look forward to more of her adventures.

Thank you @hobbsandessexauthor @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cover, right?! We need more green covers! Looking for a solid historical mystery? Look no further!

Set in Boston in the late 1890s, this is Marigold’s story. While this is technically a series, this stands on its own. Marigold is a former heiress who is returning to her studies at Wellesley. Not long after, she discovers a body in the campus lake, and is totally sidetracked from her studies.

Marigold plays a remarkable sleuth. She’s savvy and observant, and it was fun following along and trying to figure out the twists and whodunit. Perfect tension and suspense, too!

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical mystery that takes place at the end of the 19th century at Wellesley College.

In this second installation, the main character, Marigold Manners (what a fabulous name), has returned back to college and has found a body near the campus boathouse.

I liked the mystery in this book as well as the progressive for their time women. There are strong friendships that Marigold has as well as an enemy or two.

I really liked some of the details of the time as Marigold struggles to use a telephone.

The book does reference some goings on from Marigold’s first mystery, MISERY HATES COMPANY.

[Marilyn Goncalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the second book in this historical mystery series, and the character of Marigold Manners is growing on me.

Set in 1894 Boston, this one brings Marigold back to Wellesley College but her studies take a back seat when she discovers a murdered girl in the campus lake. Once again, she’s determined to uncover the truth, even if it means stepping into danger and stepping away from society’s expectations. I adore her independence.
This sequel has everything that captures my attention in a historical mystery: vivid descriptions, strong atmosphere, twists, secrets, and a heroine who refuses to be anything but herself. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book!

[Dana McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Marigold Manners mystery series. Even though this is book 2 in the series, it can be read as a standalone. The books are interconnected, but can be fully read on their own.

Historical fiction, full of mystery and betrayals, a whodunit murder mystery with amateur sleuthing. Umm, yes please!

Marigold manners was such a great character. Her sleuthing skills were fun to follow. My favorite thing about Marigold was her personality. She knows exactly what she wants. Talk about old school feminism! She was all about being her own person. Definitely not what you think of when you think of the 1890s.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marigold Manners is everything I could want in a female sleuth in a man's world in the late 1800's. Intelligent, charming in her own way, determined, and not afraid of adventure she exudes competence and a very keen mind. I also enjoyed the secondary characters that make up her found family and the close-knit bond they share. I learned a new word from Victorian slang, could visualize everything due to excellent descriptions and research, and had a lot of fun trying to figure out whodunnit. I need to go read the first book in the series, although it's not necessary to enjoy this one.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, I am still not quite convinced that this series will make it in my future tbr list. Why?? Because of Marigold and her insistence that marriage is a jail. How is she to know that when she does not ask or talk to the love of her life but just rejects him outright, actually even worse she uses him when she needs his help, but otherwise does not seem to care about the implications of her decision on Cab.

The mystery itself was nicely done, although the villian seemed a little obvious right off the bat. However, the evolution of the story was well done and the pacing was fast.

#netgalley #MurderMadeHerWicked

[Bookish Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying—I had no idea this was book two until I came here to review it! The story stands so well on its own that I never once felt lost or out of place. The author gives just enough context from book one to keep new readers grounded.

The historical setting is absolutely fabulous, and the characters are both fun and wonderfully written. I might go back and read the first book to see what I missed, but I don’t feel like I have to. It’s a slower-paced mystery with a sharp, intellectual heroine—think Enola Holmes or Stevie Bell from Truly Devious.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Made Her Wicked is the second book in the Marigold Manners Mystery series by Elizabeth Hobbs.

This historical mystery is set in 1894 in Boston. Marigold Manners is back and studying at Wellesley College after selling the Great Misery Island Murders and making enough money to resume her studies.

Unfortunately for Marigold, she finds a body at the lake on campus.
I loved the setting of the Women's college.

This is a great mystery that kept me guessing.