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Regency Murder & Marriage #1
A Death, A Duke, and Miss Mifford: Regency Murder and Marriage, Book 1
After an unsuccessful season in London, Miss Mary Mifford has returned to the village of Plumpton, determined to be the most upstanding spinster the Cotswolds have ever seen.
Not even the arrival of the elusive Duke of Northcott can distract Mary from her plan; until the local rector is found bludgeoned to death and Mary is named as the prime suspect. When Northcott offers to assist Mary in finding the culprit, she does not think for a second that his motives have anything to do with marriage—but as the list of suspects grows longer, Mary and the duke grow closer and closer, and she begins to wonder if she is not such a determined spinster after all.
Henry William Lockheart, Sixth Duke of Northcott, has returned to his ducal seat, determined to attend to the estate he has neglected since his father's death. Nothing shall distract him from his plan, he thinks, until something—or rather someone- does.
Miss Mary Mifford is hardly the ideal candidate to be his duchess—given her lack of wealth and connections, along with the bothersome fact that she is the prime suspect in a murder—but Henry is smitten. Determined to help the young lady, Henry throws himself into investigating the death of the rector, Mr Parsims, hoping to clear her name.
With a long list of suspects, Henry suspects that the task might be difficult; though it might prove easier to solve a murder than to convince an earnest spinster that she should be his bride...
A Death, A Duke, and Miss Mifford is the first book in the Regency Murder and Marriage Series, by Claudia Stone. A light, witty, and fun read this story is sure to delight fans of Regency Romance and Cozy Mysteries alike.
Not even the arrival of the elusive Duke of Northcott can distract Mary from her plan; until the local rector is found bludgeoned to death and Mary is named as the prime suspect. When Northcott offers to assist Mary in finding the culprit, she does not think for a second that his motives have anything to do with marriage—but as the list of suspects grows longer, Mary and the duke grow closer and closer, and she begins to wonder if she is not such a determined spinster after all.
Henry William Lockheart, Sixth Duke of Northcott, has returned to his ducal seat, determined to attend to the estate he has neglected since his father's death. Nothing shall distract him from his plan, he thinks, until something—or rather someone- does.
Miss Mary Mifford is hardly the ideal candidate to be his duchess—given her lack of wealth and connections, along with the bothersome fact that she is the prime suspect in a murder—but Henry is smitten. Determined to help the young lady, Henry throws himself into investigating the death of the rector, Mr Parsims, hoping to clear her name.
With a long list of suspects, Henry suspects that the task might be difficult; though it might prove easier to solve a murder than to convince an earnest spinster that she should be his bride...
A Death, A Duke, and Miss Mifford is the first book in the Regency Murder and Marriage Series, by Claudia Stone. A light, witty, and fun read this story is sure to delight fans of Regency Romance and Cozy Mysteries alike.
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Published April 10, 2025
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About the author
Claudia Stone
34 books142 followersClaudia Stone was born in South Africa but moved to Plymouth as a young girl. Having trained as an actress at RADA, she moved to New York to pursue her dream of acting on Broadway in 1988. She never did see her name in lights, but she did meet a wonderful Irishman called Conal who whisked her away to the wilds of Kerry, where she has lived ever since.
Claudia and Conal have three children, a dairy farm and a boisterous, black lab called Buddy. When she has any time left over, Claudia enjoys reading Regency as well as writing it.
You can also connect with Claudia on Facebook:
fb.me/ClaudiaStoneAuthor
Claudia and Conal have three children, a dairy farm and a boisterous, black lab called Buddy. When she has any time left over, Claudia enjoys reading Regency as well as writing it.
You can also connect with Claudia on Facebook:
fb.me/ClaudiaStoneAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
March 28, 2025
4.2 stars
A delightful discovery! This book was a very enjoyable, light read and such hilarious wit! I was rotflol in many places 🤣
The romance element was real cute and zany at times. There was such an all round feel good factor in their story. My favourite quote:
A mad urge came over Henry; the urge to barge upstairs to Mr and Mrs Mifford's bedchamber and inform them that he was taking their eldest daughter for his bride. They could ride to London overnight; secure a special license from the Archbishop, and be married by noon, he thought wildly. Mr Mifford might put up some sort of protest, but his wife would probably pack dry biscuits for their journey and wave them on their way.
Even if I had to suspend disbelief at the candid confessions of some characters and at the laxed chaperonage, it was all written with such fun that it was easy to go along with it. There was also a cosy investigation in this novella, and I was quite impressed by the quality of the puzzle and its resolution. The culprit was evident early on but I enjoyed that I did not foresee some twists nor guessed the full motive.
A series and author to follow!
P.S. Guillaume Canet? Either the author is a fan of the actor and wanted to add him as an Easter egg, or it was a real coincidence. I wonder which it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2021
Very cute. I’m unsure of the actual time period of this story, but the interactions between the duke and the heroine felt a little too loose to be accurate. However, I didn’t really mind as it read like a charming, kind of historical cozy. I’ll definitely continue on with this series.
August 9, 2021
A Duke, A Death and Miss Mifford by Claudia Stone was an entertaining historical cozy mystery. The setting was a small village with the usual number of both likable and unlikable residents. Mary was warm and a little dramatic but she was also smart and capable. Duke Northcott was much more personable than when he had first appeared in the story. I laughed each time he became tongue-tied around Mary which made him much more appealing to me. A murder mystery and a romance made this an enjoyable read.
November 22, 2021
Miss Mary Mifford has had two unsuccessful seasons in London, much to the dismay of her mother. She's returned to Plumpton, her Cotswolds village, determined to be the best, most helpful spinster around. On her way to perform an errands of mercy for the cranky Mrs. Canards, Mary spies a would-be thief peering in the windows of of the rectory. Sure Mr. Parsims is not the most saintly of rectors but he doesn't deserve to have his house broken into in broad daylight! Mary grabs a stone and throws it at the would-be intruder, hitting him on the head. Belatedly she realizes she has made a huge mistake. The so-called intruder is none other than the Duke of Northcott, come home at last! He's very young and handsome but no-he is not for the likes of her and she's a spinster after all, firmly on the shelf. Henry William Pryse Lockhart, Sixth Duke of Northcott, is bowled over by the attractive spinster who hit him square on the back of the head. She intrigues him and he's determined to get to know her better. He's come home on business, that's all, as a conscientious landlord he'll do his duty and then... what? He just can't get Mary out of his mind. When Mr. Parsims is murdered after a village assembly, the whole village assumes Mary did it since she was heard threatening him. Even her great-uncle, Lord Crabb, the magistrate, believes she's guilty but doesn't much care since Mr. Parsims was not his rector and such a nasty person. Henry believes Mary is too lovely to be guilty and he's determined to stand by her. Mary wants to see justice done and prove her innocence even if it means ruining her reputation by spending too much time with the Duke. She doesn't REALLY mind... as long as it's all in the name of investigating, right?!
I didn't have high hopes for this because I love a few other Regency mystery series. This one was about as expected, a little better. The writing style is too modern for me. I noted a number of anachronisms in language usage combined with Jane Austen's way of writing things like a week "se'en night". The best way to describe this is very Marion Chesney light. It's light, fluffy and sweet. The tone is ironic and funny like Chesney's regencies.
The romance didn't appeal to me. It's insipid. I prefer a slow burn while the characters work together to solve mysteries over the course of a series or a wicked rake and feisty spinster exchanging witty banter. It makes for a more appealing story, in my opinion. Each book in this series will be about the Mifford sisters. The mystery was tight. There were any number of people in the village who might have wanted Mr. Parsims dead. A second body turns up to throw a wrench in the investigation. I had no idea who the murderer was even when Mary remembered the vital clue. I remembered what she did much earlier, I just didn't know how to fit that clue into the mystery. I liked the puzzle of the mystery better than the romance. The mystery also lightly touches on the issue of women's rights in the early 19th-century. It ended up slightly darker than the fluffy tone of the writing implied.
Mary is funny but not someone who intends to be. Her impressions of spinsters and bluestockings are wrong but she's on the right track eschewing men. Who needs them? Well, she does because she doesn't have brothers. Like the Bennet sisters, she could be turned out of her home on the whim of a man. Her great-uncle is the landowner and his heir is a distant second cousin no one has ever met. What will happen to the Miffords when Lord Crabb dies? Mary doesn't really consider it. She just thinks she'll be an upstanding spinster and help her younger sisters find husbands so they'll be taken care of. Mary is kind of an insipid heroine. She's too GOOD- or determined to be so all the time. Even when she's accused of murder and the villagers shun her, she doesn't get mad. Her temper is very even and amiable, as Jane Austen would say. Blah. Boring. Not my type of heroine. I do appreciate what a good sister she is though. Mary and her younger sisters sometimes squabble over petty things but they love each other and stand by each other. She also has a good relationship with her father, who is wise and kind. Mrs. Mifford (born of the ton) has nerves to the point of drinking bottles of port wine. She has the same problem as Mrs. Bennet but I still don't feel sorry for her. Her husband seems sensible, she has family money enough to give the girls a season in London to find husbands outside the village.
Jane, the eldest of Mary's sister's, feels close to Mary and doesn't like it when Mary keeps secrets. Jane feels it's her duty to protect her older sister. I like Jane better than Mary because she shows more spunk. She teases Mary and makes Mary show cracks in her perfect façade. Jane is wild and untidy where Mary is controlled. I like wild and untidy heroines. Emily and Eudora are the younger sisters, left out of their elder sisters' confidences. Eudora longs to be grown-up and have money enough for new ball gowns and dance at Almack's. She's young and a little silly. Her sisters give her a hard time about trying to be their equal but they're not mean spirited sisters and try to help her out. Emily is kind and sympathetic. She's the peacemaker. I like her because she doesn't wish to be suitably matched to anyone.
Henry is about as interesting as Mary. He's a very modern hero. He is a country man at heart, willing to pitch in and help on the farm doing the dirty work. He knows his duty to his tenants and wants to help those impoverished by the Corn Laws. He's motivated by wanting to prevent another French Revolution but he also has a big and caring heart. Henry is carrying around a secret in his heavy heart. He feels he has failed his duty and wrongfully hurt his father before his father's untimely death. Now he's come home at last, after five years, and wants to make amends to the tenants. He has so many admirable qualities I love! Henry is kind, caring and looks at the world with rose-colored glasses. He isn't very accurate for a Duke. This is a hero designed for modern readers. The very qualities I admire about him make him a very boring hero though. He's not even a great sleuth. He believes in Mary without question and goes around asking everyone he meets questions without really getting anywhere.
Lord Crabb is a two-dimensional landowner as well. Where Henry is light, Lord Crabb is dark. He's aptly named and won't lift a finger to do anything at all. He's lazy and doesn't care what happens around him. Or at least it seems that way but his private conservations reveal he is a man of family feeling and knows his duty towards his nieces. He also informs Henry of the unpopularity of the rector, gloating that HE wasn't the one who hired the man.
Mr. Parsims, the rector, is horrid. While it wasn't required for one to be saintly or even believe in God to be a clergyman, Mr. Parsims goes beyond the pale with his behavior. He's a nasty, scheming, selfish, sexist man. He preys on his parishioners taking advantage of them at every turn. Mr. P is responsible for marital problems because he can't help making comments laced with innuendo around women. He relationship with men isn't much better. He constantly makes snarky comments that go above their heads. He's disgusting and no one is sorry the man was murdered.
So who killed Mr. Parsims? It surely wasn't Mary who is too saintly. It wasn't Henry because he is also too saintly and he's a DUKE so no one would dare accuse him. Mr. Fairweather, the farmer, is known to have a hair-trigger hot temper. He has a pretty wife and is insanely jealous of any man who looks at her. Mr. Fairweather is suspected of being violent as well. He's my chief suspect. Mr. Parsims was hitting on Mrs. Fairweather and Mr. Fairweather was angry and killed Mr. Parsims! However... why use a rock when the farmer must be a larger man than the rector? Mr. Fairweather has no problems losing his temper in public so I would expect him not to sneak around if he was going to murder someone. He would just thrash that person to death -accidentally. A more likely suspect is Mr. Hargreaves or Mrs. Hargreaves of Abingdon where Mr. P previously worked. Mr. H seems to recognize someone he doesn't like and who else is from Abingdon? Could he have tracked down Mr. P after all this time and come to take care of the scoundrel? Guillaume Canet, the temperamental French chef at the coaching inn was overheard arguing with someone. Could it have been Mr. P? The chef has some big secrets and that gives him a good motive but he's a chef so why not poison someone to death? This was a crime of passion and the chef is passionate but did he have means and opportunity?
Longshots are two widows. Mrs. Walker, a young widow, was being harassed by Mr. P. Unlike Mrs. Fairweather, she doesn't have a husband to protect her. She has a young son to think about and so her reputation must be spotless. She may have been a really BAD judge of character in the past but she seems to know what Mr. P implies. How horrid! Did she do what she had to do to protect herself? I would think if she did, there would have been a struggle and a thump on his head in front not in back. Maybe she got fed up and lost it and got back at him when he was vulnerable the way he continually bothers her when she's most vulnerable. Maybe he threatened her son somehow. She seems nice and she's young enough to be a friend to Mary. She doesn't seem to suspect Mary did the deed but she doesn't care. I think she's lying about some things though. No one can be that naïve, not after what happened to her in the past. Mrs. Wickling, Mrs. Canard's best friend. The two of them are like peas in a pod and Mrs. Wickling won't do anything without Mrs. Canards' say so. If one is guilty than the other is too.
The other villagers are not all that appealing. Mrs. Canards, a devoted member of the Plumpton Parish Ladies' Society, is devoted because she can pick up all the juicy gossip. She loves to spread gossip and be nasty to everyone. I have her on my suspect list because she's just not a nice person. No one would even think of her being a killer. I hate nosy, gossippy old ladies who are quick to judge others. Mr. Marrowbone, the constable, is downright lazy and stupid. He insists because his job is volunteer and he didn't actually volunteer, he doesn't actually have to do any work. He doesn't even do the minimum. I'm not sure why he didn't send for a Runner from London to do the job for him. I would think the murder of a clergyman would be a huge deal.
The nicest villager is Mary's best friend, Sarah Hughes. She's lovely. Sarah is a spinster by choice, helping her father raise her younger brothers. She stands by Mary and openly proclaims a friendship with Mary even when the villagers think Mary is guilty of murder. She's also more wise to the ways of the world than Mary is.
I'm not too interested in reading about the other sisters right now but I probably will because I have 2 weeks left of my Kindle Unlimited subscription trial.
content warning
The romance is perfectly G rated but this is a murder mystery. It's cozy but has some blood. The story brings up the issue of women's rights. There was no such thing as free love and one married, divorce was all but impossible. There are mentions of domestic violence and hints of sexual harassment.
If you like this but want a bit more accuracy and more of a slow burn romance try
A Brazen Curiosity
A Useful Woman
or just more accuracy and less romance
Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mysteries
I didn't have high hopes for this because I love a few other Regency mystery series. This one was about as expected, a little better. The writing style is too modern for me. I noted a number of anachronisms in language usage combined with Jane Austen's way of writing things like a week "se'en night". The best way to describe this is very Marion Chesney light. It's light, fluffy and sweet. The tone is ironic and funny like Chesney's regencies.
The romance didn't appeal to me. It's insipid. I prefer a slow burn while the characters work together to solve mysteries over the course of a series or a wicked rake and feisty spinster exchanging witty banter. It makes for a more appealing story, in my opinion. Each book in this series will be about the Mifford sisters. The mystery was tight. There were any number of people in the village who might have wanted Mr. Parsims dead. A second body turns up to throw a wrench in the investigation. I had no idea who the murderer was even when Mary remembered the vital clue. I remembered what she did much earlier, I just didn't know how to fit that clue into the mystery. I liked the puzzle of the mystery better than the romance. The mystery also lightly touches on the issue of women's rights in the early 19th-century. It ended up slightly darker than the fluffy tone of the writing implied.
Mary is funny but not someone who intends to be. Her impressions of spinsters and bluestockings are wrong but she's on the right track eschewing men. Who needs them? Well, she does because she doesn't have brothers. Like the Bennet sisters, she could be turned out of her home on the whim of a man. Her great-uncle is the landowner and his heir is a distant second cousin no one has ever met. What will happen to the Miffords when Lord Crabb dies? Mary doesn't really consider it. She just thinks she'll be an upstanding spinster and help her younger sisters find husbands so they'll be taken care of. Mary is kind of an insipid heroine. She's too GOOD- or determined to be so all the time. Even when she's accused of murder and the villagers shun her, she doesn't get mad. Her temper is very even and amiable, as Jane Austen would say. Blah. Boring. Not my type of heroine. I do appreciate what a good sister she is though. Mary and her younger sisters sometimes squabble over petty things but they love each other and stand by each other. She also has a good relationship with her father, who is wise and kind. Mrs. Mifford (born of the ton) has nerves to the point of drinking bottles of port wine. She has the same problem as Mrs. Bennet but I still don't feel sorry for her. Her husband seems sensible, she has family money enough to give the girls a season in London to find husbands outside the village.
Jane, the eldest of Mary's sister's, feels close to Mary and doesn't like it when Mary keeps secrets. Jane feels it's her duty to protect her older sister. I like Jane better than Mary because she shows more spunk. She teases Mary and makes Mary show cracks in her perfect façade. Jane is wild and untidy where Mary is controlled. I like wild and untidy heroines. Emily and Eudora are the younger sisters, left out of their elder sisters' confidences. Eudora longs to be grown-up and have money enough for new ball gowns and dance at Almack's. She's young and a little silly. Her sisters give her a hard time about trying to be their equal but they're not mean spirited sisters and try to help her out. Emily is kind and sympathetic. She's the peacemaker. I like her because she doesn't wish to be suitably matched to anyone.
Henry is about as interesting as Mary. He's a very modern hero. He is a country man at heart, willing to pitch in and help on the farm doing the dirty work. He knows his duty to his tenants and wants to help those impoverished by the Corn Laws. He's motivated by wanting to prevent another French Revolution but he also has a big and caring heart. Henry is carrying around a secret in his heavy heart. He feels he has failed his duty and wrongfully hurt his father before his father's untimely death. Now he's come home at last, after five years, and wants to make amends to the tenants. He has so many admirable qualities I love! Henry is kind, caring and looks at the world with rose-colored glasses. He isn't very accurate for a Duke. This is a hero designed for modern readers. The very qualities I admire about him make him a very boring hero though. He's not even a great sleuth. He believes in Mary without question and goes around asking everyone he meets questions without really getting anywhere.
Lord Crabb is a two-dimensional landowner as well. Where Henry is light, Lord Crabb is dark. He's aptly named and won't lift a finger to do anything at all. He's lazy and doesn't care what happens around him. Or at least it seems that way but his private conservations reveal he is a man of family feeling and knows his duty towards his nieces. He also informs Henry of the unpopularity of the rector, gloating that HE wasn't the one who hired the man.
Mr. Parsims, the rector, is horrid. While it wasn't required for one to be saintly or even believe in God to be a clergyman, Mr. Parsims goes beyond the pale with his behavior. He's a nasty, scheming, selfish, sexist man. He preys on his parishioners taking advantage of them at every turn. Mr. P is responsible for marital problems because he can't help making comments laced with innuendo around women. He relationship with men isn't much better. He constantly makes snarky comments that go above their heads. He's disgusting and no one is sorry the man was murdered.
So who killed Mr. Parsims? It surely wasn't Mary who is too saintly. It wasn't Henry because he is also too saintly and he's a DUKE so no one would dare accuse him. Mr. Fairweather, the farmer, is known to have a hair-trigger hot temper. He has a pretty wife and is insanely jealous of any man who looks at her. Mr. Fairweather is suspected of being violent as well. He's my chief suspect. Mr. Parsims was hitting on Mrs. Fairweather and Mr. Fairweather was angry and killed Mr. Parsims! However... why use a rock when the farmer must be a larger man than the rector? Mr. Fairweather has no problems losing his temper in public so I would expect him not to sneak around if he was going to murder someone. He would just thrash that person to death -accidentally. A more likely suspect is Mr. Hargreaves or Mrs. Hargreaves of Abingdon where Mr. P previously worked. Mr. H seems to recognize someone he doesn't like and who else is from Abingdon? Could he have tracked down Mr. P after all this time and come to take care of the scoundrel? Guillaume Canet, the temperamental French chef at the coaching inn was overheard arguing with someone. Could it have been Mr. P? The chef has some big secrets and that gives him a good motive but he's a chef so why not poison someone to death? This was a crime of passion and the chef is passionate but did he have means and opportunity?
Longshots are two widows. Mrs. Walker, a young widow, was being harassed by Mr. P. Unlike Mrs. Fairweather, she doesn't have a husband to protect her. She has a young son to think about and so her reputation must be spotless. She may have been a really BAD judge of character in the past but she seems to know what Mr. P implies. How horrid! Did she do what she had to do to protect herself? I would think if she did, there would have been a struggle and a thump on his head in front not in back. Maybe she got fed up and lost it and got back at him when he was vulnerable the way he continually bothers her when she's most vulnerable. Maybe he threatened her son somehow. She seems nice and she's young enough to be a friend to Mary. She doesn't seem to suspect Mary did the deed but she doesn't care. I think she's lying about some things though. No one can be that naïve, not after what happened to her in the past. Mrs. Wickling, Mrs. Canard's best friend. The two of them are like peas in a pod and Mrs. Wickling won't do anything without Mrs. Canards' say so. If one is guilty than the other is too.
The other villagers are not all that appealing. Mrs. Canards, a devoted member of the Plumpton Parish Ladies' Society, is devoted because she can pick up all the juicy gossip. She loves to spread gossip and be nasty to everyone. I have her on my suspect list because she's just not a nice person. No one would even think of her being a killer. I hate nosy, gossippy old ladies who are quick to judge others. Mr. Marrowbone, the constable, is downright lazy and stupid. He insists because his job is volunteer and he didn't actually volunteer, he doesn't actually have to do any work. He doesn't even do the minimum. I'm not sure why he didn't send for a Runner from London to do the job for him. I would think the murder of a clergyman would be a huge deal.
The nicest villager is Mary's best friend, Sarah Hughes. She's lovely. Sarah is a spinster by choice, helping her father raise her younger brothers. She stands by Mary and openly proclaims a friendship with Mary even when the villagers think Mary is guilty of murder. She's also more wise to the ways of the world than Mary is.
I'm not too interested in reading about the other sisters right now but I probably will because I have 2 weeks left of my Kindle Unlimited subscription trial.
content warning
The romance is perfectly G rated but this is a murder mystery. It's cozy but has some blood. The story brings up the issue of women's rights. There was no such thing as free love and one married, divorce was all but impossible. There are mentions of domestic violence and hints of sexual harassment.
If you like this but want a bit more accuracy and more of a slow burn romance try
A Brazen Curiosity
A Useful Woman
or just more accuracy and less romance
Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mysteries
December 28, 2020
Simply ok
It was great from the beginning til the middle.. The ending was just not there.. It lacked the enthusiasm that the rest of the book did.. Hopefully book 2 is better..
It was great from the beginning til the middle.. The ending was just not there.. It lacked the enthusiasm that the rest of the book did.. Hopefully book 2 is better..
November 15, 2025
DNF’d was OK, but there were many typos and errors in the writing and I just couldn’t get past it
December 28, 2021
I thought it was a nice little cosy mystery with some funny little bits in it. I liked the main character, Mary - she was quite nice and I loved her dramatic nature - The other characters were more like caricatures of cosy mystery suspects, but I think it worked well in this context.
The mystery itself was quite strong. It was seeded well with lots of little hints throughout that the reader could come to the conclusion on their own - I was able to keep on flicking back and remembering little hints. That part of the story was composed well.
However, I found the Duke, Henry, a little on the bland side. He just wasn’t very interesting and as a result their romance, whilst sweet, wasn’t very exciting either. I didn’t feel much chemistry between the two of them.
Also - I know that it’s the convention of the time it’s set in that they couldn’t spend too much time alone together, but I think the story suffered a little bit from them investigating mostly separately and then feeding back to each other. I think even a couple scenes of them investigating together would have made things more interesting.
I also thought the story suffered from maybe too many characters and too many suspects . Some of these characters were just unpleasant
Also, I think it needed a good edit. A lot of the writing is quite nice and she had some good turns of phrase, but some of it is a bit clumsy - some dialogue, for example, felt awkward
I think this was a good cosy mystery with an engaging mystery and some nice scenes, but it needed a good edit to make things scan better and to make the story less confusing at some parts.
I would recommend it if you want a simple, sweet historical romance with a cosy mystery element.
Content Warnings:
The mystery itself was quite strong. It was seeded well with lots of little hints throughout that the reader could come to the conclusion on their own - I was able to keep on flicking back and remembering little hints. That part of the story was composed well.
However, I found the Duke, Henry, a little on the bland side. He just wasn’t very interesting and as a result their romance, whilst sweet, wasn’t very exciting either. I didn’t feel much chemistry between the two of them.
Also - I know that it’s the convention of the time it’s set in that they couldn’t spend too much time alone together, but I think the story suffered a little bit from them investigating mostly separately and then feeding back to each other. I think even a couple scenes of them investigating together would have made things more interesting.
I also thought the story suffered from maybe too many characters and too many suspects . Some of these characters were just unpleasant
Also, I think it needed a good edit. A lot of the writing is quite nice and she had some good turns of phrase, but some of it is a bit clumsy - some dialogue, for example, felt awkward
I think this was a good cosy mystery with an engaging mystery and some nice scenes, but it needed a good edit to make things scan better and to make the story less confusing at some parts.
I would recommend it if you want a simple, sweet historical romance with a cosy mystery element.
Content Warnings:
March 27, 2021
A nice start to a new series
This is the first book I’ve read by Claudia Stone and I enjoyed it very much. This story mixes my two favorite genres, romance and cozy mystery, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The story is written with a dual POV, from Henry, our hero and Mary, our heroine. I appreciated that Henry was portrayed, not as a perfect duke, but as a man with imperfections, regrets and dreams. He knows he is blessed by his birthright, yet he sometimes forgets just how lucky he is. Mary is delightful. One failed season in London and she is determined! to be the best spinster there ever was. Until she meets Henry, and then her goal becomes much harder to achieve. One cannot be a spinster, if one does not abhor men and The Duke of Northcott is making that pursuit quite difficult.
After a dubious (and hilarious) meet-cute, Mary finds herself the lead suspect in a murder. Henry, equally smitten with Mary, vows to help her find the true murderer. The mystery is quaint, with several suspects that lead to dead ends but of course, Mary and Henry eventually get their man. A sweet romance between the two, plays out under the guise of romantic thoughts, tender what-ifs and longing.
I’m looking forward to sister Jane’s story. Highly recommend to readers who enjoy sweet regency romances with a side of mystery.
This is the first book I’ve read by Claudia Stone and I enjoyed it very much. This story mixes my two favorite genres, romance and cozy mystery, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The story is written with a dual POV, from Henry, our hero and Mary, our heroine. I appreciated that Henry was portrayed, not as a perfect duke, but as a man with imperfections, regrets and dreams. He knows he is blessed by his birthright, yet he sometimes forgets just how lucky he is. Mary is delightful. One failed season in London and she is determined! to be the best spinster there ever was. Until she meets Henry, and then her goal becomes much harder to achieve. One cannot be a spinster, if one does not abhor men and The Duke of Northcott is making that pursuit quite difficult.
After a dubious (and hilarious) meet-cute, Mary finds herself the lead suspect in a murder. Henry, equally smitten with Mary, vows to help her find the true murderer. The mystery is quaint, with several suspects that lead to dead ends but of course, Mary and Henry eventually get their man. A sweet romance between the two, plays out under the guise of romantic thoughts, tender what-ifs and longing.
I’m looking forward to sister Jane’s story. Highly recommend to readers who enjoy sweet regency romances with a side of mystery.
March 28, 2021
A Fun, But Serious Regency Murder
Since she's 22 years old, and has not made a match in three seasons, Mary Mifford is determined to be a spinster. Henry, Duke of Northcott is determined to help Mary escape the charge of murder. Together they work to find out who murdered the rector who is hated by so many people. Author Stone has written a charming Regency novel. Well written.
Since she's 22 years old, and has not made a match in three seasons, Mary Mifford is determined to be a spinster. Henry, Duke of Northcott is determined to help Mary escape the charge of murder. Together they work to find out who murdered the rector who is hated by so many people. Author Stone has written a charming Regency novel. Well written.
January 23, 2022
Miss Mary Mifford having returned to Plumpton after an unsuccessful season has decided to be a spinster. But then the local rector is found dead with Mary as the prime suspect. Henry William Lockheart, Sixth Duke of Northcott having returned to his seat has decided his estate needs his attention, until he meets Mary, and and offers to help her find the guilty party.
An enjoyable historical cozy mystery with its likeable main characters.
An enjoyable historical cozy mystery with its likeable main characters.
April 13, 2021
This was a darling murder mystery romance that made me chuckle throughout. I loved the twists and the silly thoughts of our protagonists and their budding but very very British romance. What a fun read!
June 5, 2021
too much romance
the mystery was well done. but the instant love gets annoying. and all the holding of hands. and the female lead foolishly confronting the killer. can’t it just be a great mystery?
the mystery was well done. but the instant love gets annoying. and all the holding of hands. and the female lead foolishly confronting the killer. can’t it just be a great mystery?
December 28, 2020
This is interesting, romantic and full of intrigue. Henry, Duke of Northcott, has not spent much of his time at his primary seat, but when he needed a little space from his mother, that's where he went. Mary, eldest daughter of the local vicar, has put herself firmly on the shelf after her season did not result in a marriage. While on her way to deliver a remedy to an older woman in the neighboring parish, Mary spots a man trying to break into the home of the rector, and proceeds to hit him in the head with a rock to get his attention. It turns out that it was Henry, he had been checking on the rector after hearing an argument. There was something about Henry that made Mary's stomach flip, and she constantly had to remind herself that she was a spinster. They suddenly find themselves trying to solve the murder of a man Mary has been accused of killing. The more time they spend together, the more Henry finds to admire about Mary. Mary's drawn to Henry because he's dedicated, friendly and he trusts her. The mystery of the murder has a few twists, and the storyline itself is full of surprises
December 8, 2020
This story had a fascicle quality at times with Mary Mifford acting like a pious spinster while shouting at the weaselly lecherous rector Mr. Parsims that she hoped he was murdered when he insulted her at the village assembly. Mr. Parsims is murdered later that night and Mary is the primary suspect. The Duke of Northcott, who Mary threw at rock when she thought he was breaking into Mr. Parsims' home is intrigued by Mary and is determined to help her find the real murderer. The rector was an extortionist, plenty of people say they wished him dead, and the list of potential suspects grows. This was a crazy, funny, Regency murder mystery romance.
December 23, 2020
Entertaining Read
Another enjoyable story and start of a new series from Claudia Stone.The book cover is different and eye catching, the plot is interesting and engaging and I suppose some readers may have guessed the 'baddie' immediately but the story held my attention to the end. Henry (Northcott) and Mary were made for one another, their meeting was a 'laugh out loud moment for me' and the couple's banter was a delight. I can only imagine what a sight Mary looked in her spinster's mob cap!!, apparently according to Jane her sister, Mary takes everything to the extreme! The characters in the book evened one another out, for every not so nice person there was an even nicer person, so the story jogged along nicely.
I do like Claudia's books , everyone has been different, with an interesting plot, and this one is no different. I look forward to the next in the series and would thoroughly recommend it.
Another enjoyable story and start of a new series from Claudia Stone.The book cover is different and eye catching, the plot is interesting and engaging and I suppose some readers may have guessed the 'baddie' immediately but the story held my attention to the end. Henry (Northcott) and Mary were made for one another, their meeting was a 'laugh out loud moment for me' and the couple's banter was a delight. I can only imagine what a sight Mary looked in her spinster's mob cap!!, apparently according to Jane her sister, Mary takes everything to the extreme! The characters in the book evened one another out, for every not so nice person there was an even nicer person, so the story jogged along nicely.
I do like Claudia's books , everyone has been different, with an interesting plot, and this one is no different. I look forward to the next in the series and would thoroughly recommend it.
December 7, 2020
A gossipy little village I must say!
Miss Mifford is home again from her London season without a ring but that is going to be the least of her problems for it appears she is a suspect in the murder of the local rector. Now she will need to find the true murder. That is when Henry steps in. Will he be able to help her? Will he be able to convince her that she would make a grand duchess – his duchess? The action is right up to the very end and such fun to read. I hope you check it out. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Miss Mifford is home again from her London season without a ring but that is going to be the least of her problems for it appears she is a suspect in the murder of the local rector. Now she will need to find the true murder. That is when Henry steps in. Will he be able to help her? Will he be able to convince her that she would make a grand duchess – his duchess? The action is right up to the very end and such fun to read. I hope you check it out. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
January 12, 2021
A very enjoyable, quick read.
This was such a fun story to read. The heroine, Mary, who at 22 has committed herself to fully embracing spinsterhood, is a wonderful main character. Henry, our hero, is completely smitten and determined to prove Mary’s innocence. The story is full of engaging characters and many humourous moments. Add to that an intriguing mystery and you have all the elements for a very entertaining read. There are a few times when the wrong character is mentioned in conversation but, aside from a small number of editorial errors, this is definitely a very enjoyable book.
This was such a fun story to read. The heroine, Mary, who at 22 has committed herself to fully embracing spinsterhood, is a wonderful main character. Henry, our hero, is completely smitten and determined to prove Mary’s innocence. The story is full of engaging characters and many humourous moments. Add to that an intriguing mystery and you have all the elements for a very entertaining read. There are a few times when the wrong character is mentioned in conversation but, aside from a small number of editorial errors, this is definitely a very enjoyable book.
November 11, 2025
I picked this one up because it was on an Audible sale and I’m glad I did! This is a really fun Historical Romance Cozy Mystery that takes place in a small village and centers around a country vicar’s four marriage age daughters. This one involves the eldest daughter Mary and the Duke of Northcott and the murder of the unliked Rector. Unfortunately, Mary threatened the unlikable man and is now the prime suspect. I really enjoyed the whole story and thought the mystery was really well done as I was surprised who the murderer was but the explanation completely makes sense.
December 13, 2020
Fun cozy-like historical romance / mystery
This book is a fun combination of historical romance and mystery. The first in a new series, it follows Mary, Miss Mifford, and Henry, the Duke, as they work together to solve a series of mysteries including murder. Romance and mystery - my favourite combination. This is a cozy like book that combines enough humour and well detailed characters to make a very enjoyable and quick read.
This book is a fun combination of historical romance and mystery. The first in a new series, it follows Mary, Miss Mifford, and Henry, the Duke, as they work together to solve a series of mysteries including murder. Romance and mystery - my favourite combination. This is a cozy like book that combines enough humour and well detailed characters to make a very enjoyable and quick read.
December 15, 2020
A Very Enjoyable Read
ISmall spoiler includedI
I liked this book very much. It moved quickly and had a great deal of humor, as well as likable characters and enough red herrings to keep you in some suspense. One thing that distracted me was the use of the term bribery where I would have said blackmail was appropriate. Perhaps it' s a US/UK difference but bribery would have meant paying out rather than receiving money in my understanding.
ISmall spoiler includedI
I liked this book very much. It moved quickly and had a great deal of humor, as well as likable characters and enough red herrings to keep you in some suspense. One thing that distracted me was the use of the term bribery where I would have said blackmail was appropriate. Perhaps it' s a US/UK difference but bribery would have meant paying out rather than receiving money in my understanding.
December 9, 2020
Very charming
There were parts that I laughed out loud
All in all worthwhile for sure
There were parts that I laughed out loud
All in all worthwhile for sure
December 22, 2020
Perfect banter, memorable characters, and more add up to a wonderful story.
January 1, 2021
This was a decent clean book, and while it didn't have any stand out moments, it was much better than most insta love types, and the little mystery in it was nicely done.
January 12, 2021
I'm glad I stumbled across this title. I found it very engaging, and the pacing of both romance and mystery was admirable. The author gives enough hints to the mystery along the way for the reader to harbor informed suspicions that have to change along the way to make room for new information. All in all, a quick and enjoyable read. I shall watch for other titles from this author in the future.
October 10, 2021
Investigating Together Leads To Love
This is an exciting book where a Duke and a young maiden seek to investigate a murder that she is accused of. Good vs. evil is portrayed in this book whereby good wins as well as love!
This is an exciting book where a Duke and a young maiden seek to investigate a murder that she is accused of. Good vs. evil is portrayed in this book whereby good wins as well as love!
September 23, 2025
A fun light little romp.
October 7, 2025
Clean Regency romance with a bit of mystery. Escape reading.
December 6, 2025
4.25 stars
October 9, 2021
A delightful book
A sweet enjoyable read. Some mystery and excitement. Love the characters. Very likeable and fun to learn about their sweet ....well not always sweet town.
A sweet enjoyable read. Some mystery and excitement. Love the characters. Very likeable and fun to learn about their sweet ....well not always sweet town.
January 21, 2021
Worth reading. But not worth remembering. It is a "who done it " story with some romance and humor. A bit too long and I felt my interest waning by around second half of the book.
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