The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman: The Lady in Blue Mysteries, Book 3

The Lady in Blue Mysteries #3

by H.L. Marsay, Bianca Amato (Narrator)

Inspired by the remarkable life of Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent.

Even in war, your enemies can linger too close to home …

While war and revolution continue to ravage Europe, Dorothy Peto embraces her new role at Scotland Yard as she and several detectives investigate a series of jewel thefts. Then Dorothy is tasked with assisting the inscrutable Inspector Derwent and the charming Colonel Cartier to find a missing French aristocrat.

Their enquiries take them to a country house in Yorkshire, that’s been converted to a hospital for wounded soldiers and was the last place the Frenchman visited.

However, the more questions they ask, the more questions they have.

When the body of a man suspected of being the marquis is discovered, the investigative team returns to London, but the dead man is a stranger. Dorothy speculates that the death, the jewel thefts and the missing Frenchman may be connected. She finds herself tangled in a web of conscientious objectors, Irish republicans and communist agitators, and not everyone is who they appear to be.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published August 13, 2024

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back with Dorothy Peto and Scotland Yard and I loved it H L Marsay has taken me on another mystery through London and are investigating a series of jewel thefts, when Dorothy is requested specifically to assist in the case of searching for a missing Frenchman, Colonel Lamarchant has arrived requesting help to discover the whereabouts of his relation, Marquis De Nagay and then this takes them to a country house in Yorkshire, will they get the answers they need to uncover their missing Frenchman and what about the jewel thefts?

Dorothy fits really well at Stray Park in Yorkshire and is a great help to Inspector Derwent but the more questions they ask the more they have, when the body of a man is discovered they immediately think it is the Marquis De Nagay, but no it is not and Dorothy is convinced they need to return to Stray Park and Yorkshire retracing the Marquis’s steps is not giving them answers and the Colonel is getting closer to Dorothy and they seem to be getting nowhere fast, but Dorothy is feeling very strong about the views of the of detectives and the group of Irish, communists and conscientious objectors, will they find the Marquis and will they discover the answers about the jewel thefts are they linked somehow?

I loved this one from start to finish and I was guessing till the end, what a story suspenseful and a page turner, I really am loving this series I think Dorothy is the best she is so real and honest as she learns her way through Scotland Yard and Inspector Derwent is just so good, this is one that I highly recommend and the ending was not what I expected but so good, it really is a fabulous story and I can’t wait for more.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is my pleasure to submit this review of The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman by H. L. Marsay. This is book #3 in her The Lady in Blue Mysteries series. This was my first time reading a work by H. L. Marsay. For most of my life I was a dedicated mystery reader, especially if the setting was Great Britian. My favorite mystery authors were John Le Carre, Frederick Forsythe, and Jack Higgins. I now add H. L. Marsay to my favorite author list.

Our story occurs during the early part of World War I. Dorothy Peto is one of a tiny group of women working as detectives for Scotland Yard. Her boss, Inspector Derwent leads her group as they investigate a rash of home jewel robberies. They are asked to assist an aristocratic French officer, Colonel Lamarchant as he searches for a younger missing nephew. The Colonel is charming, and Dorothy enjoys his company, but her fellow officers are not easily swayed. Answers are hard to find, and the search itself seems to become more complicated with each passing day.

Tragically, the nephew is found murdered. Where are some expensive jewels that he carried? Could there be a connection between the murder and their previously investigated jewel robberies? Despite the Colonel appealing to her heart, Dorothy must lead with her head. Who can she trust? Her brother Raymond who works for British intelligence, and her stodgy boss, Inspector Derwent for sure. Dorothy is very analytical and the pieces in this puzzle are almost in place. Are all the crimes connected? Is the Colonel helping or impeding the investigation? Is Dorothy in danger?

I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful story. At university, I studied the English suffragette movement and this time in British history. In my opinion London is the absolute best urban setting for mysteries. I very much appreciate how the author wove historical people and events into her story. The story is a delight to read and should be a cherished addition to any library.
My rating: 5 STARS!

[Nan Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess this is the first Dorothy Peto book, but it certainly won't be my last! She is heroine I can get behind--full of curiosity, a little unsure, but oh, so smart! The twists and turns surprised me and that makes a mystery even better for me! I'll be going back to read the first two Dorothy mysteries!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman is the third book in H.L. Marsay’s fabulous series, The Lady in Blue Mysteries. The author has written such an exciting book with fascinating characters based on real life women. I didn’t know much about the historical happenings in England during the early 1900’s. Dorothy Peto is the heroine in this book. I’m in awe of what strides were made by Dorothy and the others in her Women’s Police Group. It seems so unreal that a lot of the freedoms we take for granted were not offered to the women back at the time of WWI.

In the prior book, we learned that Dorothy was invited to work with the male detectives at Scotland Yard. She is worried about making a wrong action and being sent back to the Women’s group. As the book opens, Dorothy is working with her fellow detectives in Scotland Yard to solve a jewel thief case that has stumped them. Then, a French diplomat, Colonel Lamarchant, arrives to ask for their help in locating his missing cousin, Francois. He had arrived in London with his grandmother’s jewels. Both he and the jewels had vanished. The diplomat is very charming and wealthy. He reminds Dorothy of her carefree life before she came to London and the war began. Inspector Derwent, the Colonel and Dorothy start investigating to discover what Francois did after he arrived in London. They followed his trail to visit an elderly tailor and then to a house in the country that was turned into a hospital. Dorothy begins to suspect Francois has met with foul play. She also wonders if there’s a connection between the Frenchman’s missing jewels and the jewel thefts they had been investigating. Then a dead body is found with a connection to the missing Francois.

Ms Marsay has once again provided the reader with lots of twists and surprises in this book. I kept trying to guess unsuccessfully who the killer was and the connection with the jewel thefts. In addition to a thrilling mystery, there was also a lot of fascinating information on the events of the time with respect to women being allowed to be on the police force as well as the ongoing war. Dorothy and her brother have a great relationship and it is fun to see them interacting. I also like the relationships between Dorothy and the women of her group and the other detectives she is now working with. Inspector Derwent and Dorothy work well together and I enjoy their scenes together as well. This is a five star book that I highly recommend. I am happy to learn from H.L. that book four is in the works.

I was fortunate to receive an ARC from Tule Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel very angry on Dorothy’s behalf when she has to put up with men and their nonsense when she has good ideas and they are dismissive because they dont align with their prejudices. I am incredibly impressed as I know this Dorothy is based on the real life Dorothy and others like her who had to deal with this and probably much worse in real life. I’m proud that they stayed the course and paved the way for those of us coming behind them. In terms of this story I think she also would have come to her conclusion sooner if the men around her weren’t having tantrums and generally acting foolish for various reasons. And I think everyone reading would be like there’s something fishy going on here and it isn’t the soldiers coming back from the lake!
In general I enjoyed the story. It’s intriguing in all aspects of the word, with an excellent mystery our investigators need to unravel and full of a cast of incredibly well written and interesting characters. I am pleased that this was more focused on an investigation with Scotland Yard and less centered on the WPS headquarters. I’m not overly fond of Mary or Margaret. I think Margret means well but she’s a pushover and Mary is a bully. No judging on the real women and the fight they fought for the rights we now enjoy but the characters in the book are rather unlikable in my opinion anyways.
For those of us with short attention spans tldr? Greta mystery, fabulous world building and delightful characters. A great story!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well written mystery. Has lots of action, drama, murders, history , twists and turns. Dorothy is a young woman belonging to a group of other women working with the police. She meets up with Inspector Derwent and his others at Scotland Yard to start looking for a missing Marquis. He's a Frenchman who has 3 sapphires in his possession to put in an English Bank for safe keeping. After he goes missing his cousin, Colonel Lamorchant, asks for their help in finding him and the missing jewels. Not sure if they tie into the other cases where jewels go missing. Dorothy, Colonel Lamorchant and a Detective go to the home of Lady Birbeck in hopes of finding him or even more clues but do not. All they find is more clues that have not given them the answers of who dun it and where is the missing man. Does keep you turning the pages to find the answers. Would strongly recommend to everyone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carol J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason it took me a while to get into this book, maybe because I hadn’t read the first two books in the series and had to process the information introducing the Inspector, the Sargent and Dorothy. But once I got into it I really enjoyed the story. For one thing, the setting of the story during World War 1. It’s a century after the Regency period. There are now trains and automobiles as well as horses for transportation. Women are stepping into new roles. I knew that many women did “men’s jobs” during World War II, but I confess to being surprised to find out that there was a Women’s Police Service as far back as World War One and that the Dorothy in the book was inspired by the real –life Dorothy Peto. Now I want to go back and read the first two Lady in Blue books!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shelagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mystery Of The Missing Frenchman is WPS officer Dorothy Peto’s latest book and as always, it’s packed with plot twists and misdirection. Set during WWI, mostly in London, this book gives readers a glimpse at life in a bygone era, a time when women were just beginning to assert themselves in roles outside the family home and when there was a clear class divide. I love Dorothy as a character. She’s bright and intuitive but also susceptible to a handsome face and a touch of Gallic charm. I loved that Inspector Derwent was a touch jealous at her reaction to the flattery directed at her. While this is a mystery story, it is those human touches that endear these characters to me. I thought the plot was well constructed and even though I had a good inkling as to the outcome of Dorothy’s investigations, I enjoyed finding out how it all ended up.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman the third book in the Lady in Blue Mysteries Series indicts this series just keeps getting better and better. H L Marsay has written an addictive series of books based a true historical person. This story follows more closely with police procedures then the last two books. Dorothy Peto seems to have been accepted by the men at Scotland Yard. I am not suggesting that she is treted the very same mind you, the social rules concerning women during WWI are still in this story but as a person Dorothy has made a headway. No wonder she is such a heroine.

This mystery is a bit baffling for all, including Dorothy. It includes some travel along with a determined investigation on her part. It is an addictive read that kept me reading until the missing person and murder mystery were solved. One of the best books of the best series.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman ~The Lady in Blue Mysteries #3 by H.L.Marsay

Note: Inspired by the remarkable life of Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent.

I have been following this series from the start, and each book keeps getting better than the last.
This book completely captured my attention from start to finish, it has been written extremely well. It's a fast-paced story and I liked the characters I was introduced to. I cared about them, the twists and turns in the plot line, and how H.L.Marsay has written this story keep you trying to work out who the murderer is until the end. A compelling story with lovable, relatable characters. I highly recommend this book to all.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Informative, Inspirational, Page-turner, Realistic, and Wonderful characters

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Lady in Blue mystery series. H.L. Marsay is one of my favorite authors and has several series that I am addicted to. Set in England during the war, women are being used by Scotland yard since so many men are at war. Dorothy has helped solve several murders and has been assigned to the detective division. When a french diplomat is reported missing and found dead Dorothy is busy interviewing witnesses. When a local man is found dead wearing the diplomats clothes the investigation expands. A glimpse of life in the 1940's and women's role in that society. A winner. Can be read as a stand alone but don't miss Dorothy in the previous books. A body in 7 dials and a death in Chelsea.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothy of the Women’s Police Service is assigned to Scotland Yard during WWI. She works with the men of Scotland Yard this time to solve high-end jewelry thefts, the mystery of a missing French aristocrat, and a few murders. Are they connected? Hmm. The story flows well with a lot of travel around/near London and keeps a person wondering who did what. We got to read more about Dororthy’s brother and his job as well. I voluntarily read an advance copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1917. Colonel Louis Lamarchant has arrived in London looking for his missing cousin Francois, Marquis de Nagat, 25, and his sapphires. With the help of Inspector Derwent and WPS Dorothy Peto they start to trace his movements, taking them from London to Yorkshire.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its interesting and varied characters which can easily be read as a standalone story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sam Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and I loved it just as much as the other two. I really enjoy the blend of mystery with social history and Dorothy is becoming one of my all time favourite detectives. As always she has some great supporting characters like Margaret, Willerby and Inspector Derwent but she also encounters the charming Colonel Lamarchant and the grieving Lady Birbeck. As they try to find the colonel’s missing nephew, it’s safe to say nobody is who they seem!

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jewel thefts and murder take center stage in Dorothy's latest fascinating case. She is specifically requested by Colonel Lamarchant to look into the disappearance of his relative the Marquis de Nagay. Full of twists and turns and unscrupulous characters, Dorothy and Inspector Derwent are led on a wild chase trying to piece together the clues, especially after Dorothy discerns that the thefts, murders and disappearance are related. But how? One of the most moving scenes to me was when the trail led to a country home converted to a hospital for wounded soldiers. The combination of mystery and history made for a compelling read. I can't wait to read more in this series-I enjoyed the characters, the historical context and the author's gift of setting the scene and plotting a mystery. I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was totally engrossed in this one. The motives for all the actions, mistakes, deceptions, crimes are well constructed and convincing. It makes human sense. We are given just enough information to keep us engaged without being overloaded or bored. I was drawn into the time, place and circumstances, not told about it. Highly skilled writing.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must confess that I haven't read earlier titles in this series but this one seems to work well enough as a stand-alone. However while the story was interesting, it didn't feel particularly enriched by the historical period in which it is set.

It comes with this disclaimer: Inspired by the remarkable life of Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in this fascinating series is so good! I love Dorothy and the hard work she puts in to progress through. This story has many twists and turns but I love it! I love that this series is about Dorothy Peto who was a real person who struggled to overcome being a woman in a male dominated society.

[Mark J. Sauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad you changed Dorothy.

I loved the first 2 books! The 3rd book I didn’t like how you dumbed Dorothy down because she had an infatuation; she wouldn’t listen to anyone; which is ridiculous. . Just a thought.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the real-life policewoman Dorothy Peto, this series has settled down into a pleasant cosy detective series with less emphasis on the accurate historical detail, although it is still there, just not so prominent. Dorothy has been seconded to Scotland Yard during WW1 to assist while so many men are on the Front. A charming Frenchman, Colonel Cartier approaches Scotland Yard on a delicate matter, his cousin the Marquis de Nagay has disappeared in London, together with three rather fine sapphires worth £50,000. Meanwhile, London is being plagued by a spate of thefts of jewellery from members of the aristocracy who are all baying for Scotland Yard to find their heirlooms.

They discover that the Marquis left London to visit Yorkshire and the home of Lady Birkbeck, the mother of a former school friend who was killed at the Somme, he was also expected to visit a local factory in which he had a substantial investment. Following her son's death, lady Birkbeck has thrown herself into trying to save other young men, even giving over most of her home to house a hospital for wounded soldiers.

As they try to track down the elusive Marquis, Dorothy and the Colonel find themselves embroiled with Communists, Irish republicans, criminals, mysterious bandaged men, and men dodging conscription.

I enjoyed this, I suspected what had happened (although I got some of the logistics wrong). However, I did think Dorothy was a bit gullible.

Looking forward to the next one.

I received an ARC from the publisher.

Bumped for release.

[AMBER CLARK]

Full of twists and turns, bad guys, wild chases, and plenty of clues. Jewel thefts, a missing nobleman, and murder. Are they connected? Join Dorothy and The Scotland Yard as they solve the case(s).

[Sreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Ok readable English mystery.

[Cheryl Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Dorothy and company are extremely entertaining and this book is no exception. Truly enjoyed it. I already have the next one.