Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer

Lady Darling #1

by Colleen Gleason

Lady Bridgerton meets Miss Marple meets The Thursday Murder Club in this charming, Victorian-set mystery series from bestselling and prolific author Colleen Gleason (who also writes historical mysteries as Colleen Cambridge).

The widowed marchioness of Darling has successfully married off all of her children, and her son’s wife is the new marchioness—making her the dowager, and giving her absolutely no responsibilities. As a woman who was not born into the peerage, but, against the mores of Victorian London society wed Lord Darling in a love match thirty years ago, Lady Darling chafes at the restrictions of the gentility and is looking forward to her “retirement” to the country—at least until the grandchildren come along.

Unfortunately, fate has other plans for her. When an old friend implores her to sponsor her daughter into society, Lady Darling agrees. Not long after she commences with this project, Lady Darling and her charge, Miss Bedwith, attend a dinner party where a man is found dead.

Lady Darling, an aficionado of Sherlock Holmes (and friend of Arthur Conan Doyle) and Wilkie Collins’s work, dives into the investigation simply because she can.

During her investigation, she employs the assistance of her housekeeper and butler—the Josephs, who are also her close friends (another impropriety! being friends with servants!)—as well as her favorite modiste, Monsieur Claude—to help her track down clues to the killer. When the investigation takes her into the dingy streets of Seven Dials, she encounters a mysterious and dangerous man who seems to know an awful lot about her. Maybe too much. Still, even at her so-called advanced age of fifty, Lady Darling finds him interesting and titillating. But can she trust him?

A charming, thrilling, witty romp of a mystery series, the Lady Darling books will find fans with readers of historical cozies, Bridgerton, and The Thursday Murder Club.

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

306 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2025

About the author

Award-winning, NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author Colleen Gleason (who also writes as Colleen Cambridge) has written more than fifty novels in a variety of genres…but always feature smart, strong women determined to right wrongs and get shit done.

Colleen lives in the Midwest United States where she is fortunate enough to be working on her next book.

She loves to hear from readers via her website, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a few of the author's other series (under a pen name) and enjoyed the historical fiction / mystery aspects. In those ones, the protagonist are semi-famous figures from history... but here, the main character is pure fiction. I liked it just as much. Good setting, especially given the popularity of The Gilded Age in the US and Downton Abbey in England. A cross between them setting-wise, plus a focus on finding a suitable husband for a friend's daughter. Makes for a lot of engaging dialect, drama, and eventually, conflict. Looking forward to the second installment.

[Linniegayl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I would like this one, but I really liked it! Lady Darling is a 50+ widow with four grown children in Victorian England. She ends up back in London (she much prefers the country) to serve as a chaperone for a friend's daughter who is making her debut. Turns out the young woman, Priscilla, has her sight set on a duke (not going to happen).

At the very first dinner party the two attend, one of the guests is murdered, and Lady Darling decides to investigate. We quickly learn that Lady Darling is bright, tenacious, likes being older (older women can get away with things), likes whisky, and more. I loved Lady Darling, and look forward to seeing more of her adventures.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Darling. Trouble is thy middle name!

Delightful Victorian cozy mystery romp starring the eccentric and lively Lady Darling, Irene Colchester, Dowager Marchioness of Darling has reluctantly returned to society to sponsor a friend’s daughter for the season. It’s nine years after the death of her beloved husband Edward,
The unusual Lady Darling feels that now she’s fifty others will make allowances for her idiosyncrasies. Mind you her French modiste Claude keeps designing her dresses with a low décolletage—the discussion about this is hilarious.
As Lady Darling is not in her dotage no-one believes her. She’s as sharp as she ever has been.
Lady Irene had an unusual childhood having been the daughter of a ship’s captain. This accounts for her straight thinking, and no nonsense approach to things, and a few other odd characteristics, like uncouth expressions.
Lady Darling’s re-entry to the social scene is noted by all. She had conveniently retired to the country after seeing that all her offspring had been married (for love). She’s reluctant to re-engage. But a close friend has asked Irene to sponsor her daughter’s come out into society.
Her charge’s introduction will be at the Enfield Ball. It’s been four years since the event was held. Then shockingly, the death of the hostess’ husband occurred.
There’s a host of delightful characters. I’m much taken by Barth, her new carriage driver who provides the least comfortable rides in the kingdom. Then there’s the mysterious “Wall of Man”, and so many others.
Within the space of a few days, two of the men she meets at a select dinner are murdered. One at the dinner and one at the theatre,
Lady Darling decides to take up detecting, like Sherlock Holmes. After all she is a friend of Conon Doyle’s. The games afoot!
A witty and amusing read!

An Oliver Herber Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Widowed and with all her children married, Lady Darling looks forward to a life away from the strictures of society. However, when an old friend asks her to sponsor her daughter’s debut in London society, she feels she has no choice but to accept. When a man is found dead at a dinner party, the inquisitive Lady Darling, an admirer of Sherlock Holmes, cannot resist investigating. With help from her trusted servants and a fashionable modiste, she follows the trail into London’s shadowy streets to find the truth.

I love a bold heroine who isn’t afraid to learn all she can. There’s no denying that Lady Darling is that, but I found myself annoyed with her through most of the book. She claims that she was the inspiration behind Arthur Conan Doyle’s Irene Adler. She thinks she is smarter than everyone else, including the police. When the murder happens, there is no hesitation. She immediately believes she is the only person who can learn the truth because...she isn’t afraid to ask blunt questions.

I also deducted a point because of Lady Darling’s unceasing complaints regarding corsets. She is a “modern” woman, who detests corsets and how uncomfortable they are! (Oh, and corsets can stop a blade, according to her.)

Overall, I was mostly annoyed while reading this one. I suppose readers who enjoy a book with a heroine who is out of her time will enjoy this one. I received an advanced reader’s copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun start to a new series! Lady Irene is a hoot! I love her household staff and her long friendship with her housekeeper. I love her two friends who share a rather complex history. I love the mysterious man (men??). Is he one person or is it two people? I love when there is a spy-type character in a story who has connections with all classes. Priscilla and Hugh were a fun sideline. Hugh is much more interesting though. Lady Irene’s children are so funny. Onto more adventures!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection! Loved this first in the charming new histfic mystery series by one of my absolute fav authors! Is there anything Colleen Gleason can't do? From that outrageously gorgeous cover, to the inimitable Lady Darling herself and her compelling "cozy" whodunit tale, I was all in. You will be too. Highly recommended for any reader who wants to be thoroughly entertained by a delightful Victorian adventure!

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've been looking for mature widows who loved their husbands in your historicals, you'll love Irene, Lady Darling. Irene is 50 years old, loved her deceased husband, and has wonderful relationships with her adult children and their spouses. No toxic family relationships here!

Irene investigates the death of the host of a dinner party. The party gives her several suspects and it was great fun to follower her as she raced around to tracked the killer. At the same time, Irene is sponsoring a young woman in her first season and attending all events helps her investigate the murder.

There's a backstory that emerges over the course of this book that lets us know that Irene is a fiercely loyal friend to two women who she hasn't spoken with in a couple years when the book opens. The friends reunite, but that isn't the main storyline here.

Irene was a commoner who married into the aristocracy, having spent her youth with a father who ran a shipping company. She met her best friend, who works as her housekeeper and whose husband is the butler, on some docks in Turkey. Irene's background explains her comfort in investigating beyond the drawing rooms of Mayfair.

[Lisa]

A fun cozy mystery tho I must say I didn’t “love” how elderly and decrepit the 50 year old protagonist was portrayed as being 😩😜😭. Nice mix of mother-daughter, friendships, possible romance, and straightforward cozy mystery with a dash of upstairs/downstairs.

[Lavender Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that keeps a smile on your face as you compulsively turn the pages. It is beautifully written, with an intriguing story and unforgettable characters. I love, love, love Lady Darling! Highly recommended!.

A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Caitlin Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason follows Lady Darling, who becomes a sponsor for a friend's daughter for the season. At one of the first activities of the season, a man dies and Lady Darling takes it upon herself to find the killer.
I absolutely love Lady Darling! Her humor and stubborn attitude made her so likeable. I also liked that Lady Darling didn't let people get in her way. This book was written in a fun and playful tone that made it easy and a joy to read. I didn't expect the killer, but there were plenty of clues along the way to make it believable. The pacing kept my attention locked in.
This was a great read!

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars

was the mystery a bit simple? sure. but by golly if I didn't have a grand ol' time with this book. Lady Darling is an absolute icon in so many ways, and I'm very hopeful we'll get another adventure with her soon!

*content warnings for mild profanity and murder

[Tealkitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Lady Darling. She’s sassy and doesn’t care what others think of her. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Heatherinblack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little disjointed. But extremely fun.

I wonder if Dowagers really has a much freedom as Lady Darling takes. The girl’s betrothal was obvious. The answer for the solution was weak. But it was a LOT of fun. I look forward to the next.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Darling is an absolute delight as a character, and her first (I hope) novel is an entertaining, absorbing romp of a mystery novel. The plot was tightly paced and neatly woven, and the period details feel just right. But it is Gleason's characters that kept me reading Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer the entire weekend. Lady Darling reminded me of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age--if they were titled, rich, and lived 150 years ago. Irene was entirely her own person, though, and I really loved Gleason's writing. The side characters were well-written too, and I am sincerely hoping for more of this series because I need to come back to them all!

Thanks to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the opportunity to read and review this ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Fun and fast start to a new series. While I enjoyed the listen and Lady Darling was adorably quirky... it really didn't bring a "new" spin to the genre. Which is perfectly fine... hoping for a more complex mystery next time and to see more of the other outside-the-box characters that were introduced.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Booksprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the start of a new historical cozy mystery series and I am delighted totally delighted from page 1. I feel like I have met my Victorian soul sister... Her name is Irene Darling, and I feel she is living my life.... or the life I would like to be living if I were a Victorian Englishwoman - including the vocally judgmental parrot, and the beloved spoiled doggies.

Lady Darling is a widowed marchioness who is also an empty nester. While there are some joys to London, she is not enamoured of the nonsense of High Society, and outside of marrying off her children, has been enjoying long stretches of country life. But she has agreed to help a friend launch her daughter, Miss Priscilla Bedwith, in Society for the Season.

Irene Darling is rather eccentric and notorious, but is also very self-assured, and despite not being raised in the Ton, knows how it work, how to wield her status and power, and how not to take it too seriously.

There are many layers to this story, including Irene dealing with aspects of her past, including being widowed, after losing her beloved husband, and an empty nester. She is trying to guide the naive Miss Bedwith and encourage an appropriate match, despite the young miss having neither real connections or an overly large dowry, but also an overly tight grip on societal norms and expectations, and an overly high expectations for herself. Irene Darling is also dealing with gossip and sneers about a past scandal and how it has affected some of her own friendships... all while dealing with creaky knees and hips, and her unexplained flushes at night.

Then, to take the cake, just as when she starts introducing her new charge at a small dinner party hosted by a friend, their evening is ruined when they find their hostess's husband dead in his locked study.

One interesting fact is that Lady Darling happens to be a good friend of Arthur Conan Doyle, and the inspiration for one of his characters. After her own experiences, she has little confidence in the competence of the authorities, so she sets out to investigate the murder herself... in between being a mother, and a Society madam guiding her debutante charge through the Season.

Loved this story - it was warm, cozy, funny, and intriguing because there are still so many little threads of her story that are not neatly trimmed, despite this particular case being settled, as is her charge's marital aspects, by the end of this story. One interesting tool Ms. Gleason used was to tell the story from two perspectives - Irene, and from Priscilla's viewpoint. An interesting contrast of viewpoints and personalities - and while I did not really like the prudish Priscilla, the contrasting viewpoints were amusing and worked well to drive the story and add an interesting dynamic - since I am reading it as a fellow 50-ish woman with the woefully creaking knees and hips.

I am Irene, and she is me... and I want more.

4.75 stars out of 5 - despite being annoyed by Priscilla and a couple of other characters.

[Bks43v3r · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

When I saw the summary for this book, it held a lot of appeal. First, the heroine is of a certain age (50, I believe) and secondly it was a new to me author (always on look out for a possible new favorite). Usually when I read this type of trope of in a historical mystery novel, the FMC is significantly younger and there is someone else--a police officer/love interest/other--it's often a romantic interest (which is often a slow burn romance). So, this book really switched things up because there was no romance, not even a flirtation. And no hint of one to come in future. Perhaps in later books? I also like how it was more historically accurate in the sense that in the 1890s, 50 was up there. If you lived to 50 then, you were doing pretty good (mostly wealthy folks) and you might it to 60-70 if you were very fortunate or especially healthy.

Besides that, I would describe this book as a historical cozy mystery: 1) Lighthearted. Although there were multiple somewhat grisly murders, plot maintained a somewhat lighthearted feel. 2) Amateur sleuth. The marchioness, Irene, decides only she can solve this crime. She is an avid Sherlock Holmes fan and it was alluded she was named after a book/character. 3) Close knit community. Well, it can be argued the ton is a close-knit community.

I think I prefer my mysteries to be less 'cozy' and more 'real'. I just can't get with a person dying in on scene and something irrelevant or humorous happening five minutes later. That's me, though. Both murders were of the locked door variety. One classic locked door, and the other a kind of variation of it.

The FMC was likeable. It was all her show. The police not incompetent but mostly just missing in action. The secondary characters played pretty minor roles: the suspects, her daughters. The pets were more prominent.

All in all and okay read.

Content:
Intimacy: None
Language: Little/light usage (words for that time period and for a woman to say)
Violence: Well, folks got murdered but not grisly or describe in detail.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars

I was so excited to see that Gleason/Cambridge had a new series coming out, and just like her other ventures, this one seems destined to be just wonderful.

Lady Darling is a 50-year-old wealthy, widowed aristocrat. As the Dowager Marchioness of Darling, she has seen her four children successfully and happily married off and is looking forward to some "me" time which includes coddling her pets, gardening and reading. However, she doesn't count on the dead body at a dinner party she attends. As she feels pulled into the investigation of her host's death, she finds that she has an affinity (and the means) for ferreting out villains.

While this story started a little slow for me, I reminded myself that all initial books in a series have a lot to set up...characters, backstories, relationships, settings, etc. But as it hit its groove, boy did it deliver. Lady Darling is a treasure and such an original character...she's "of society" but doesn't necessarily enjoy that society, she's refreshingly herself, she's opinionated but of course with age comes wisdom. She's a doting mother, a bereaved widow who still mourns her beloved husband and a highly intelligent woman who is uniquely placed to solve puzzles (while also being entertained and challenged by them). She's such fun, and with her backstory (she grew up traveling the world on her father's ship and also has a few secrets of her own), there's so much rich material to pull from in further adventures...I can't wait to see what she gets up to next.

A very well-written, entertaining and humorous beginning.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for providing the free early arc of Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new series -- I think #2 is due out later this year -- and definitely worth checking out. The setting is Victorian, so late 1800s, and Lady Darling is a bit eccentric and intimidating. She's a widow with all her children grown and successfully launched and is happy to keep to her country house ad avoid the gossips and scandals of 'the season'. But she's asked by an old friend to sponsor her daughter as the mother herself is not up to the rounds of balls and dinners and late nights.

There's hints of a connection to a death at a ball some 4 years before and she has a relatively unusual relationship with her senior servants based on a history dating back to when she was just the daughter of a wealthy merchant and not yet a Marchioness. Her young charge is a bit scandalized by some of her behavior -- but she can get away with things, given her status in society and her wealth. And she's mostly past caring what people think, though mindful that her activities may also reflect on her children.

The mystery was fairly basic: the host is found dead in his study and a small dinner -- only a handful of guests were present. Lady Darling quickly realizes, as an aficionado of Sherlock Holmes and, perhaps, an acquaintance of Conan Doyle that the killer must be among the guests. Further, it must be one of the men as she knows that all the ladies were accounted for during the time of the act. The police are barely competent and as Lady Darling is admired and trusted by servants throughout the town, she is able to learn things through her own staff that the police can never discover.

The second book is due out this fall; it should be in KU as this one was, so I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it.

[Amalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four reasons I'm giving Four Stars to Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason:

1. The time and place - The book takes us to the elevated circles of high-society London, where - amidst a whirlwind of drawing room teas, visits to the theater and elegant balls - a seemingly ordinary gentleman is murdered. During a dinner party. In his own home.

2. The Protagonist - Lady Darling is a most unusual heroine (and she will take good care to constantly remind you of it). Beside being a devoted mother, an animal lover, the owner of creaky knees and a small pistols, she is the (self-proclaimed) smartest and most capable person in the room. She does have a big heart to go with the big ego.

3. The elementary angle - Lady Darling is an aficionado of Sherlock Holmes (and friend of Arthur Conan Doyle) and channels his methods of observation throughout the book. But she is not averse to a little action when needed, hence the little gun.

4. The fun factor - This is a fun romp through Victorian London, a light and amusing read with an eccentric heroine, and there is even a little something that could add a romantic interest to future books. A promising start to a new series.

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[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have Lady Irene, the most Honorable Marchioness of Darlington is a widow! She has a son and 3 beautiful daughters! She loves her girls and are closest to them! They are wed to love matches so she has agreed to sponsor a ward for the season and find her a husband! Miss Priscilla Bedwith a daughter of a dear friend who is an invalid need her help!
Miss Priscilla is determined to marry someone of rank (a peer). She has set her cap at a Duke who already has a love interest and his mother’s approval!
The first event she takes her to a man is murdered in his own home! There is an inspector and clues but none like ones found by Lady Irene! When clues add up but seem to Lady Irene and her best friend/housekeeper in different directions she must wade not only thru the suspects but two abductions!
When finally an end is in sight her ward is taken hostage! Can Lady Irene stop a killer who has killed more than once? Also marry off her ward at the same time!? If anyone can it is she! Bravo the first I hope of many!.

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

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thank NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for an advance reader copy of Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer. All opinions and comments are my own.

The dowager Marchioness of Darling is definitely the person you’d want to have around you in a crisis. Thus, when a murder occurs at a party that’s the talk of the season, since she’s the self-proclaimed “most intelligent person she knows,” why shouldn’t she identify the killer -- and in the meantime, see that the course of true love runs smooth?

An enjoyable historical mystery set in Victorian times with a romantic under-story, Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer is an entertaining introduction to the titled lady sleuth. She’s quite the character, with her references to Sherlock Holmes (and a certain famous lady friend of his), and her exploits include a dogged pursuit of the truth. And in the meantime, if there’s an opportunity for the sharing of old secrets and the renewal of deep-rooted friendships, so much the better. Lady Darling has got quite a knack for this detecting business, and it will stand her in good stead in future books.

[Charmaine Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed! Colleen Gleason is a new author for me, and I am so glad I decided to read this new book, Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer.

Lady Darling, Irene Colchester, the Dowager Marchioness of Darling is a woman of independent means and having married off her children to love marriages of their own (she and her husband, Edward were very happily married till nine years ago when he died), she was looking to have some much needed R&R for herself only to be pulled back to the social scene at the request of a dear friend looking to introduce her daughter to society. The first ball they attend is the Enfield ball where a murder takes place. It has been four years since this ball was last hosted so there is a crush of people eager to attend only to have the host’s husband murdered during the party.

Irene Darling takes it upon herself to step in and solve this mystery, which is entertaining, humorous, and delightful! I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward with eager expectation to the next book. My thanks to Booksprout and Oliver Heber Books for the ARC and submit my honest review voluntarily.

[Mark Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Lady Darling, a rich widow of a certain age, enjoys her life in the country, she agrees to spend the season in London to be chaperone for a friend’s daughter. But when their host turns up dead at the first dinner party they attend, Lady Darling decides to investigate. Can she find the killer?

Having enjoyed some other books this author has written, I was looking forward to this one. I felt the book was over written, which is often the case with the author, but it was a bit more than some of her others. The story took a little time to get going, but once it did, I enjoyed it and was along until we reached the logical end, although it did feel like there was a leap or two. Lady Darling is lots of fun and I did enjoy getting to know the rest of the cast. My biggest issue was something in Lady Darling’s backstory. I can understand the justification for it, but it still didn’t sit right with me. Plenty of people are enjoying this book, so if the time and place appeal, give it a chance and see what you think for yourself.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colleen Gleason is filling a gaping hole in the intrepid heroines of historical mysteries with “Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer.” Lady Darling is a widow of 50 with grown children, money in the bank, and time on her hands. She prides herself in her eccentricity (if there had been a “We Do Not Care Club” in the 1800s, she might have started it). She has a menagerie of pets. She experiences hot flashes. She is clever and knows how to search out clues.

When Lady Darling discovers a body at a dinner party she jumps into action. This is just the type of mental stimulation she has been looking for. Not that she’s been looking for a body, but rather a challenge of the type that is beyond the usual social calls a lady is supposed to make. As this is the first time she’s tried to solve a murder she is careful to sift through the clues even though some are red herrings.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy historical mysteries and have been looking for an older intrepid heroine. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Oliver Heber Books, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Zoé · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect mix of lighthearted 19th century gossip and a cozy murder mystery. The standout for me was the main character: an aristocratic widow who is stubborn, grumpy and bossy but somehow still endearing. She storms through scenes with sharp opinions and cutting remarks, but you can tell she genuinely wants the best for the people around her.

I liked the witty dialogue and funny situations, like during the theatre scene where the play itself is irrelevant: what matters is the audience, gossiping, judging outfits, and whispering about the latest murders.

At first, I thought I’d made a mistake and picked up book two in a series, because a past event kept being mentioned. Turns out, that’s just part of the story. I guess this book will be the start of a series though.

If you like Bridgerton-style balls, debutantes hunting for husbands, and a murder or two in fancy London homes, this book will be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me total Phyllida Bright vibes with a sprinkle of Bridgerton drama—but with its own twist. Instead of “the help” (Phyllida Bright), we’re in the head of a proper lady (Lady Darling), and instead of channeling Poirot, it’s got that Sherlock Holmes flavor.

All the cozy mystery boxes are checked ✅: amateur sleuthing, an off-page murder, a charming little town, and yes—adorable animals (two dogs + a bird who screams “INTRUDER!” had me cracking up).

That said… I never really cared about the murder itself. It happened super early to a character we didn’t know, so I was way more into the side stories—the rekindled friendships, a young lady being sponsored in society, and all the courtship drama—than the actual whodunit. Lady Darling basically glanced at the scenes, asked a few questions, and was like, “Yup, here’s your murderer.” End of story.

But honestly? I adored Lady Darling. She’s witty, fed up with society’s nonsense, and fully living by “I’ll do what I want, thank you very much” energy. 👑

Fingers crossed this turns into a series, because I need more Lady Darling—and maybe a little something with the Wall of Man (IYKYK 😉).

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a great blend of mystery and humor and I already want more. Lady Darling is an intriguing character who does not conform to society's expectations of her and is proud of it. She has some mysteries in her past connecting her to Arthur Conan Doyle that are never fully explained and that I hope are revisited in future books. She is not afraid to jump right into solving a murder and teaches the police a thing or two, whether they want her help or not. I love her devotion to her friends and we get to see it play out across the book as we piece together what may have happened (or not) 4 years ago at a party which ended in a death. I am partial to strong female main characters who live their lives on their terms and Lady Darling does not disappoint. I can't wait to see what she gets into next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy.

[Pat Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story revolves around a middle aged lady who keeps have “heat attacks”. Very reminiscent of Angela Lansbury’s Murder She Wrote. The mystery, itself was very well plotted and I tried very hard to keep up with the clues to solve it, but could not. Truly enjoyed that part. I did feel that some of the story dragged a bit and the VERY descriptive writing got rather old after a while. Some descriptions were very well written, such as the scene entering the Enfield Ball, but most were just rooms someone entered that didn’t need all that described-in my opinion. But then, I am more of an action reader and not focused on a lot of detail- so it could just be me. The characters were well written and the reader is left with a bit of a mystery at the end concerning a certain “Wall of Man” that will probably be expounded on in future stories. A good story, with an interesting and witty woman.

I received this story for free and these are my own views.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite authors, no matter what name she is writing under have done it again with Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer (Lady Darling Mysteries Book 1). I was thrilled to be able to read this Victorian era woman sleuth story by Colleen Gleason. This is a type of cozy mystery that has been drawing attention lately and I certainly have enjoyed several, but I loved this one. Lady Darling s a widow with grown children so she has freedom that many younger women would not have. I like her references to Sherlock Holmes stories as well as her tactful, honest and clever way of dealing with those of upper society. Then her humble and respect way of dealing with all the ones society considers less than themselves.

When faced with murder, Lady Darling is at work along with friends/workers to solve the case. Colleen Gleason’s storytelling kept me hooked from start to finish. I can't wait to dive into the next book in this series.