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The Missing Wife: A 19th century Parisian mystery
A young aspiring writer finds romance and mystery in Paris! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne Du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.
A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…?
1814, London
It isn’t easy being the daughter of the great Mary Wollstonecraft, harder still to navigate life without her. 16-year-old Mary Godwin is desperate for excitement and trapped in a family she feels stifled in, under the watchful, disapproving glare of her stepmother Mary, she is constantly battling for her father’s attention and approval.
So when the young Romantic poet, Percy Shelley, comes blazing into her life, she falls quickly and deeply in love with him. But Percy has plenty of demons. He is already married with a second child on the way, and he turns up to the Godwin family home with a bottle of laudanum, declaring he will end his life if he cannot be with Mary.
William Godwin forbids contact between them, but Mary’s heart aches for the man she believes to be her soulmate. And so she agrees to elope to Paris.
The excitement of the journey soon wears off and they arrive in the city weary, travel-sick and penniless, though luck finally seems to be on their side when they meet a man who offers them money to find his missing wife.
But with Mary becoming increasingly homesick and concerned for her future, will her love affair with Percy be all she had hoped for? Could the search for the missing wife set her on a new course of self-discovery?
Or will her first daring adventure prove to be her downfall…?
THE MISSING WIFE is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigation thrilling Gothic murder mysteries with a tenacious literary heroine working as a female sleuth.
THE MARY SHELLEY INVESTIGATIONS
Book The Missing Wife
Book The Lost Girls
A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…?
1814, London
It isn’t easy being the daughter of the great Mary Wollstonecraft, harder still to navigate life without her. 16-year-old Mary Godwin is desperate for excitement and trapped in a family she feels stifled in, under the watchful, disapproving glare of her stepmother Mary, she is constantly battling for her father’s attention and approval.
So when the young Romantic poet, Percy Shelley, comes blazing into her life, she falls quickly and deeply in love with him. But Percy has plenty of demons. He is already married with a second child on the way, and he turns up to the Godwin family home with a bottle of laudanum, declaring he will end his life if he cannot be with Mary.
William Godwin forbids contact between them, but Mary’s heart aches for the man she believes to be her soulmate. And so she agrees to elope to Paris.
The excitement of the journey soon wears off and they arrive in the city weary, travel-sick and penniless, though luck finally seems to be on their side when they meet a man who offers them money to find his missing wife.
But with Mary becoming increasingly homesick and concerned for her future, will her love affair with Percy be all she had hoped for? Could the search for the missing wife set her on a new course of self-discovery?
Or will her first daring adventure prove to be her downfall…?
THE MISSING WIFE is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigation thrilling Gothic murder mysteries with a tenacious literary heroine working as a female sleuth.
THE MARY SHELLEY INVESTIGATIONS
Book The Missing Wife
Book The Lost Girls
235 pages, Paperback
Published May 22, 2025
6 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 19, 2026
Mary’s life in 19th-century England is bound by societies rules. She desires the excitement her mother had in her life. Then she falls madly in love with Percy. He is a married man with two children. They decide to run away together and elope. Mary’s sister Jane joins them, making things even more complicated.
The three head to Paris, but Percy quickly runs out of money. While in a tavern, they meet a man who offers to pay them to find his missing wife. Madame Lamont could be anywhere, so the investigation begins. What starts as a way to survive turns into an exciting journey across Europe. This will test Mary and Percy’s relationship, especially with Jane always tagging along.
Mary is the standout character. She is smart, adventurous, and determined to solve the mystery. Percy supports her and helps fund the search and find transportation.
The twists, turns, and locations were so much fun. You’ll never expect what happens in the end.
The three head to Paris, but Percy quickly runs out of money. While in a tavern, they meet a man who offers to pay them to find his missing wife. Madame Lamont could be anywhere, so the investigation begins. What starts as a way to survive turns into an exciting journey across Europe. This will test Mary and Percy’s relationship, especially with Jane always tagging along.
Mary is the standout character. She is smart, adventurous, and determined to solve the mystery. Percy supports her and helps fund the search and find transportation.
The twists, turns, and locations were so much fun. You’ll never expect what happens in the end.
January 21, 2026
I really enjoyed reading this novel, I was gripped right from the start until the very end. I really liked the character of Mary she was strong in her own sense and I liked how she took charge when given the opportunity to solve the mystery of Madame Lamont's disappearance.
I really liked the ease of this novel the writing created a world that was easy to follow and I liked the progression of the storyline and the development of the characters. I felt that Jane was an odd character I couldn't place my finger on her motives, was she there with an hidden agenda or just to get away from her mother? I'm not sure but it gave a new aspect to the dynamics of Percy and Mary.
I really enjoyed the outcome of the novel and I can't wait to read more.
I really liked the ease of this novel the writing created a world that was easy to follow and I liked the progression of the storyline and the development of the characters. I felt that Jane was an odd character I couldn't place my finger on her motives, was she there with an hidden agenda or just to get away from her mother? I'm not sure but it gave a new aspect to the dynamics of Percy and Mary.
I really enjoyed the outcome of the novel and I can't wait to read more.
February 5, 2026
Although I usually love a mystery, this one wasn’t for me. I think the historical aspect of the writing and language of the characters made it hard for me to enjoy the mystery itself. The actual mystery and murder was also just added to the story, it didn’t seem like the main focus. I also did not find myself loving the characters; I tend to not like it when female characters are written to be “weak and meager”. I think this book, although not to my taste, would be enjoyed by someone who likes historical fiction and characters written for the 19th century. That being said, I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️s.
February 4, 2026
“A young aspiring writer finds romance and mystery in Paris! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.
A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…?”
This was such a fun read, I read it so quickly as I really wanted to find out what happened next and trying to guess how it would all unfold.
I loved how the story intertwined real life characters with fiction, it was such an interesting premise.
The story really had me guessing right until the end and I loved how it all came together.
Mary was such a strong character and I can’t wait to see what she will do in future books.
A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…?”
This was such a fun read, I read it so quickly as I really wanted to find out what happened next and trying to guess how it would all unfold.
I loved how the story intertwined real life characters with fiction, it was such an interesting premise.
The story really had me guessing right until the end and I loved how it all came together.
Mary was such a strong character and I can’t wait to see what she will do in future books.
February 3, 2026
For a book that isn’t a genre I’d usually go, I really enjoyed this!
The Missing Wife follows 16 year old Mary Godwin as she runs away to elope with married poet Percy Shelley with her sister Jane in tow.
Now living as Mary Shelley, she, Percy and Jane travel to Paris, following in the footsteps of Mary’s late mother who had an adventurous spirit and explored the world.
Along with their trusty Donkey Napoleon, the trio are called upon to investigate the disappearance of a well to do French woman by her husband. The investigation takes them on a hunt across Europe but will they uncover the truth about what happened to Claudine Lamont?
Facing money issues, jealousy, homesickness and guilt about leaving her family behind, Mary has to face the realities of falling in love with a married man… hopefully it’ll be worth it!
I really enjoyed how Donna Gowland uses real people and elements of their real life to craft a wonderful story. I’ve read Frankenstein and it was interesting to find out more about its author (even if the mystery storyline is fictional) and see where the origins of the Frankenstein story came from.
I really liked Mary - she is so strong for her age! Percy was a dreamer who has followed his heart even though he has hurt people in the process. He’s what I would think of as a typic poet with his head in the clouds. I found Jane a struggle at times like Mary did, especially when she wouldn’t back off Percy but she did grow on me.
Although historical romance is not a genre I would typically select, the premise of this book intrigued me and I’m glad I decided to give it a go! I loved the mystery element and it was such an easy read, I sped through it.
This is book one in a series and I’d happily carry on with it as I’d love to know what happens next in Mary’s life!
The Missing Wife follows 16 year old Mary Godwin as she runs away to elope with married poet Percy Shelley with her sister Jane in tow.
Now living as Mary Shelley, she, Percy and Jane travel to Paris, following in the footsteps of Mary’s late mother who had an adventurous spirit and explored the world.
Along with their trusty Donkey Napoleon, the trio are called upon to investigate the disappearance of a well to do French woman by her husband. The investigation takes them on a hunt across Europe but will they uncover the truth about what happened to Claudine Lamont?
Facing money issues, jealousy, homesickness and guilt about leaving her family behind, Mary has to face the realities of falling in love with a married man… hopefully it’ll be worth it!
I really enjoyed how Donna Gowland uses real people and elements of their real life to craft a wonderful story. I’ve read Frankenstein and it was interesting to find out more about its author (even if the mystery storyline is fictional) and see where the origins of the Frankenstein story came from.
I really liked Mary - she is so strong for her age! Percy was a dreamer who has followed his heart even though he has hurt people in the process. He’s what I would think of as a typic poet with his head in the clouds. I found Jane a struggle at times like Mary did, especially when she wouldn’t back off Percy but she did grow on me.
Although historical romance is not a genre I would typically select, the premise of this book intrigued me and I’m glad I decided to give it a go! I loved the mystery element and it was such an easy read, I sped through it.
This is book one in a series and I’d happily carry on with it as I’d love to know what happens next in Mary’s life!
January 25, 2026
This book combines two of my favourite genres - historical fiction and thrillers - so when I saw this was up for a book tour I jumped at the chance to read it. Set predominantly in France, this is the first of three books in the Mary Shelley Investigations with her as an amateur sleuth.
I really enjoyed the writing style; it felt very appropriate for the historical period. Having watched the brilliant Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein recently, it was great to learn more about Mary Shelley. Snippets of her life are revealed throughout the book including her elopement with Percy Shelley and her annoyance at her sister Jane coming along ‘for the ride’. Mary Shelley’s portrayal appears very realistic - an intelligent, feisty and determined young woman but one that is troubled. There is much mention of her ‘monster’ - her guilt at running away with a man who left behind a pregnant wife and child. A word chosen presumably as a nod to the monster she created - Frankenstein.
The mystery itself, a search for Madame Lamont ‘The Missing Wife’ of the title is a gripping one and full of intrigue, and one that will keep you on your toes. Mary is determined to solve it, coupled with an endearing sidekick of a donkey, Napoleon. I have to admit he was my favourite character. I wasn’t really a fan of Percy and felt Mary deserved better. Still she was young and impressionable I guess.
This was a thoroughly entertaining read and a solid 4 stars for me. I look forward to seeing what Mary Shelley investigates next. Thank you so much to Love Book Tours for having me on the tour. Book gifted in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the writing style; it felt very appropriate for the historical period. Having watched the brilliant Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein recently, it was great to learn more about Mary Shelley. Snippets of her life are revealed throughout the book including her elopement with Percy Shelley and her annoyance at her sister Jane coming along ‘for the ride’. Mary Shelley’s portrayal appears very realistic - an intelligent, feisty and determined young woman but one that is troubled. There is much mention of her ‘monster’ - her guilt at running away with a man who left behind a pregnant wife and child. A word chosen presumably as a nod to the monster she created - Frankenstein.
The mystery itself, a search for Madame Lamont ‘The Missing Wife’ of the title is a gripping one and full of intrigue, and one that will keep you on your toes. Mary is determined to solve it, coupled with an endearing sidekick of a donkey, Napoleon. I have to admit he was my favourite character. I wasn’t really a fan of Percy and felt Mary deserved better. Still she was young and impressionable I guess.
This was a thoroughly entertaining read and a solid 4 stars for me. I look forward to seeing what Mary Shelley investigates next. Thank you so much to Love Book Tours for having me on the tour. Book gifted in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2026
Because this book is based on real life characters, I did quite a lot of reading around the subject. While I knew a bit about Mary Shelley and her mother, the great writer and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft, I never knew that Mary Shelley was only 16 years old when she ran away with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, the same age as I was when I read her Gothic novel Frankenstein. But in spite of Percy being five years older than Mary, he appears very spoilt and childish – in fact Mary seems far more mature. I found him very silly at times, even though he was a talented writer and poet. He also had a wife, a child and another on the way.
When Mary and Percy elope, Mary’s half-sister (from her father’s second marriage after Wollstonecraft died eleven days after giving birth to Mary) travels with them. The trio keep running out of money, staying in less salubrious hotels as they progress to Paris. They do however manage to afford to buy a donkey called Napoleon.
But then their luck changes, or so it appears. They are hired by a grieving husband, who wants them to find his missing wife. He will pay well – half now, the rest when they find her – so off they go, travelling across France to a place called Troyes, their luggage being carried by Napoleon. It must have been a strange sight.
Things don’t quite go to plan though, and they soon become embroiled in a dangerous situation. Should they continue with their quest, or give it up and return to England, accompanied by shame and disgrace? We shall have to see, but suffice to say that the story got more complicated towards the end, and far more exciting and entertaining.
Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of #TheMissingWife blog tour.
When Mary and Percy elope, Mary’s half-sister (from her father’s second marriage after Wollstonecraft died eleven days after giving birth to Mary) travels with them. The trio keep running out of money, staying in less salubrious hotels as they progress to Paris. They do however manage to afford to buy a donkey called Napoleon.
But then their luck changes, or so it appears. They are hired by a grieving husband, who wants them to find his missing wife. He will pay well – half now, the rest when they find her – so off they go, travelling across France to a place called Troyes, their luggage being carried by Napoleon. It must have been a strange sight.
Things don’t quite go to plan though, and they soon become embroiled in a dangerous situation. Should they continue with their quest, or give it up and return to England, accompanied by shame and disgrace? We shall have to see, but suffice to say that the story got more complicated towards the end, and far more exciting and entertaining.
Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of #TheMissingWife blog tour.
February 5, 2026
This is another brand new author to me and despite having no clue what to expect - I just knew that I had to read this book!
I absolutely love all the detailing on the front cover and it reminded me of those gorgeous penguin clothbound classics books and even moreso when I spotted that this is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigation series - I was completely intrigued.
Now, although I'm not a huge reader of historical fiction, we all have this connection to Mary Shelley and so I knew that I'd love this setting and the fact that this was going to be a mixed genre with the thriller investigations too - I couldn't wait to dive in.
The story begins in 19th century London where we get some background into our characters - although I have some knowledge of Mary's life from years ago, it was great to see this documented here - and to see the connections and references to the wonderful Frankenstein.
The story continues into France where our investigation takes place.
The writing style was perfect for the era and I was instantly transported there by the descriptive passages - following our characters as they piece together all the clues to solve the mystery.
This was well plotted and kept me invested throughout.
I have to mention Napoleon - maybe not the one you're expecting! - definitely a more pleasing sidekick than Percy himself made, but there's not much we can do about him.
A pretty quick read that I devoured in a couple of sittings and the best news ever - I'm awaiting delivery of book 2 any day now and cannot wait to continue this series asap
I absolutely love all the detailing on the front cover and it reminded me of those gorgeous penguin clothbound classics books and even moreso when I spotted that this is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigation series - I was completely intrigued.
Now, although I'm not a huge reader of historical fiction, we all have this connection to Mary Shelley and so I knew that I'd love this setting and the fact that this was going to be a mixed genre with the thriller investigations too - I couldn't wait to dive in.
The story begins in 19th century London where we get some background into our characters - although I have some knowledge of Mary's life from years ago, it was great to see this documented here - and to see the connections and references to the wonderful Frankenstein.
The story continues into France where our investigation takes place.
The writing style was perfect for the era and I was instantly transported there by the descriptive passages - following our characters as they piece together all the clues to solve the mystery.
This was well plotted and kept me invested throughout.
I have to mention Napoleon - maybe not the one you're expecting! - definitely a more pleasing sidekick than Percy himself made, but there's not much we can do about him.
A pretty quick read that I devoured in a couple of sittings and the best news ever - I'm awaiting delivery of book 2 any day now and cannot wait to continue this series asap
January 24, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. It’s a short, very readable mystery that pulls you in straight away, and I loved the idea of Mary Shelley — before she was Mary Shelley — being thrown into the middle of an investigation. It gives her this spark and curiosity that feels completely believable, even though the story is fictional.
I really liked Mary Shelley as a character. She’s young, a bit stubborn, a bit dramatic, and absolutely determined to get to the bottom of things. It makes her feel really human, not like some perfect detective. And the whole “running off to Paris and immediately getting roped into a mystery” vibe is actually quite funny in a chaotic way.
The mystery itself is straightforward but interesting enough to keep you guessing. Nothing overly twisty, just a solid “something’s not right here” story that unfolds at a good pace. And because it’s short, it never drags — you’re always moving on to the next bit.
Overall, it’s just a really enjoyable, quick read. Light, atmospheric, a bit gothic, and perfect if you want something you can finish in an afternoon without feeling mentally drained. I’d happily read the next Mary Shelley investigation.
Thank you to LBT for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
I really liked Mary Shelley as a character. She’s young, a bit stubborn, a bit dramatic, and absolutely determined to get to the bottom of things. It makes her feel really human, not like some perfect detective. And the whole “running off to Paris and immediately getting roped into a mystery” vibe is actually quite funny in a chaotic way.
The mystery itself is straightforward but interesting enough to keep you guessing. Nothing overly twisty, just a solid “something’s not right here” story that unfolds at a good pace. And because it’s short, it never drags — you’re always moving on to the next bit.
Overall, it’s just a really enjoyable, quick read. Light, atmospheric, a bit gothic, and perfect if you want something you can finish in an afternoon without feeling mentally drained. I’d happily read the next Mary Shelley investigation.
Thank you to LBT for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
January 25, 2026
Mary Shelley solving mysteries? Yes, please. I am a fan of Mary Shelley for both her wetting and her general contribution to feminist literature so I was excited to see how she would be portrayed. There were so many historical references in the book as well which was such a treat for a history nerd like me. The story is based on the scandalous event in Mary's life when she ran away with Percy Shelley to elope in Paris, intertwined with a mystery story about.... The book depicts the couple's passionate but ultimately tragic romance and helps to humanise a story we have heard many times before, highlighting what hardships they would have faced as a young couple cut off from their families financial support and ostracised by society- something which I am also keen to see addressed in the next books of the series.
The mystery investigation helps to darken the storyline in line with the disillusionment of their initially romantic entanglement as the harsh reality sets in.
Great world building, great use of historical characters and I thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone who loves a mystery. I always love to see a strong, independent female lead and it is all the more enjoyable when it gives life to a well known and well loved historical figure.
The mystery investigation helps to darken the storyline in line with the disillusionment of their initially romantic entanglement as the harsh reality sets in.
Great world building, great use of historical characters and I thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone who loves a mystery. I always love to see a strong, independent female lead and it is all the more enjoyable when it gives life to a well known and well loved historical figure.
January 31, 2026
Mary Shelley: Philosopher. Writer. Sleuth?
In 1814, 16 year old Mary Godwin escapes London to be with the love of her life, Percy Bysshe Shelley, with her step sister Jane tagging along for the adventure. They head to France, following in the footsteps of Mary’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, but it doesn’t take long for the reality to set in.
Far from home, struggling for funds, and jealous of her step sister’s demands for Shelley’s attention, the realities of life soon set in. Struggling to make ends meet, Mary and Percy are approached in a tavern to discreetly assist a banker in locating his missing with, Claudine Lamont. Mary jumps at the chance to assist, not only for the well needed cash injection but also the intellectual challenge.
It’s easy to forget how young Mary is at the time of her elopement, but Donna Gowland portrays her as both youthful, fanciful and romantic, yet fiercely intelligent and grounded. As the younger of the trio travelling, Mary is often the one with the most common sense.
‘Where has he gone?’ ‘Chasing perfection.’ Mary sighed
The locations are described so vividly, in intricate detail, you can almost smell the streets of Paris, and the spectre of the work Mary Shelley would become famous for looms large over the text of the novel.
Mary Shelley, with her curiosity and intellect makes for a wonderful sleuth, and while the novel focuses a lot on the relationships between Mary, Jane and Percy, imagining what could have happened during their travels, the mystery keeps the work flowing at pace to a satisfying conclusion. It was so much fun to read, and I can’t wait to follow their adventures onwards!
In 1814, 16 year old Mary Godwin escapes London to be with the love of her life, Percy Bysshe Shelley, with her step sister Jane tagging along for the adventure. They head to France, following in the footsteps of Mary’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, but it doesn’t take long for the reality to set in.
Far from home, struggling for funds, and jealous of her step sister’s demands for Shelley’s attention, the realities of life soon set in. Struggling to make ends meet, Mary and Percy are approached in a tavern to discreetly assist a banker in locating his missing with, Claudine Lamont. Mary jumps at the chance to assist, not only for the well needed cash injection but also the intellectual challenge.
It’s easy to forget how young Mary is at the time of her elopement, but Donna Gowland portrays her as both youthful, fanciful and romantic, yet fiercely intelligent and grounded. As the younger of the trio travelling, Mary is often the one with the most common sense.
‘Where has he gone?’ ‘Chasing perfection.’ Mary sighed
The locations are described so vividly, in intricate detail, you can almost smell the streets of Paris, and the spectre of the work Mary Shelley would become famous for looms large over the text of the novel.
Mary Shelley, with her curiosity and intellect makes for a wonderful sleuth, and while the novel focuses a lot on the relationships between Mary, Jane and Percy, imagining what could have happened during their travels, the mystery keeps the work flowing at pace to a satisfying conclusion. It was so much fun to read, and I can’t wait to follow their adventures onwards!
May 24, 2025
The Missing Wife is such an enjoyable and engaging book that I made myself read slower just to make it last longer. What a clever concept to use the intriguing personalities and scandalous relationship of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and Percy Shelley when they ran away to Paris as the basis for a mystery. It's a delicious read if you are an English literature fan, but if not, it's an appropriately twisty mystery of a missing Parisian wife. Clues as to what led to Mary Shelley's writing of Frankenstein are dropped like breadcrumbs as their search for the missing woman unfolds. The highbrow banter between Mary and Percy was hysterical since he was ever the poet and she a writer, although she was the more practical of the two.
Donna Gowland has quite a way with words, particularly her imagery. In describing a Paris arrondissement, "The buildings huddled together as if whispering conspiratorially to each other." Another favorite is, "France is a bit like Hamlet now, haunted by a ghost of its past." A perfect description of France in 1814, after the fall of Napoleon. I loved everything about this book, and I look forward to the release of the next book in the series.
Donna Gowland has quite a way with words, particularly her imagery. In describing a Paris arrondissement, "The buildings huddled together as if whispering conspiratorially to each other." Another favorite is, "France is a bit like Hamlet now, haunted by a ghost of its past." A perfect description of France in 1814, after the fall of Napoleon. I loved everything about this book, and I look forward to the release of the next book in the series.
January 21, 2026
This book is a cleverly written tale intertwining both fact and fiction. It tells the story of Mary and Percy Shelley, a young couple very much in love, rejected by their families due to scandal. They elope to Paris along with Mary's sister Jane (later to become the author Claire Clairborn), to seek out a Utopian lifestyle. Upon arriving in Paris and finding themselves almost penniless, they embark on an adventure searching for the missing wife of a Parisian gentleman. Their escapades take them from Paris to Switzerland and Germany. I really enjoyed the mystery element of this story alongside learning about Mary and Percy. The story comes to a climax at none other than Castle Frankenstein, paving the way for Mary's celebrated novel. I loved Mary's character, she was indeed a formidable woman full of determination and courage and no doubt something of an innovator in her time. It is clear that the author has a passion for Shelley and she tried wherever possible to be as accurate as she could. This is book one of The Mary Shelley Investigations and I can't wait for the next installment!
February 5, 2026
It’s 1814 and Mary Godwin and Percy Shelley have eloped to Paris. But quickly they find themselves involved in a missing persons case. Can they find out what happened to Claudine Lamont.
I've been a big fan of Mary Shelley ever since I read Frankenstein and her life has always fascinated me. I was really intrigued to read this fictional version of Mary’s early life. Essentially in this book Mary’s life is given a slight twist and she becomes a detective. I really enjoyed this book. The storyline include mystery, intrigue and a missing person.
Mary leaves behind her life in London for a new life in Paris with Percy. She believes that she has left the scandal of their relationship behind but it follows them to Paris and its not the life she had envisioned. They have little money and so take up the case of a missing woman. They are also not alone as Mary’s sister Jane is with them. In some ways Jane acts like a third wheel and her presence does cause issues in Mary and Percy’s relationship. Mary was a brilliant character. She is smart and very independent. What struck me when I was reading was that despite Mary being 16 years old that she is more mature and level headed than Percy. She is forward thinking, asks a lot of questions and tries to solve the case in a logical way.
I really loved the nods to Frankenstein in the story especially when Mary starts to dream of a creature and its story. It was like her subconscious was telling her that this was a story she would be writing in her future.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I've been a big fan of Mary Shelley ever since I read Frankenstein and her life has always fascinated me. I was really intrigued to read this fictional version of Mary’s early life. Essentially in this book Mary’s life is given a slight twist and she becomes a detective. I really enjoyed this book. The storyline include mystery, intrigue and a missing person.
Mary leaves behind her life in London for a new life in Paris with Percy. She believes that she has left the scandal of their relationship behind but it follows them to Paris and its not the life she had envisioned. They have little money and so take up the case of a missing woman. They are also not alone as Mary’s sister Jane is with them. In some ways Jane acts like a third wheel and her presence does cause issues in Mary and Percy’s relationship. Mary was a brilliant character. She is smart and very independent. What struck me when I was reading was that despite Mary being 16 years old that she is more mature and level headed than Percy. She is forward thinking, asks a lot of questions and tries to solve the case in a logical way.
I really loved the nods to Frankenstein in the story especially when Mary starts to dream of a creature and its story. It was like her subconscious was telling her that this was a story she would be writing in her future.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 23, 2026
A cosy mystery that takes you on an interesting journey. You don't have to be a fan of Mary Shelley's to read but it does add an interesting dynamic if you are a fan of Frankenstein and don't know much of Shelley's life and relationships.
There's a mix of fact and fiction which is explained by the author at the end. It does show Shelley's own journey in terms of her identity and work towards her own book.
The mystery part is quite fun and adds suspense as we initially followed Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley as part of their elopement. The characters they meet along the way are quirky and questionable in terms of their motives.
Mary Shelley makes a good character although I felt sad for her at times- Percy and Jane were difficult people to get along with and I felt Mary deserved better although Percy did seem to love her, he just needed to do better at reassuring her and shutting things down when he should have known it's put his relationship at risk.
I did find this a good read. Intrigued as to what the next mystery might be about.
There's a mix of fact and fiction which is explained by the author at the end. It does show Shelley's own journey in terms of her identity and work towards her own book.
The mystery part is quite fun and adds suspense as we initially followed Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley as part of their elopement. The characters they meet along the way are quirky and questionable in terms of their motives.
Mary Shelley makes a good character although I felt sad for her at times- Percy and Jane were difficult people to get along with and I felt Mary deserved better although Percy did seem to love her, he just needed to do better at reassuring her and shutting things down when he should have known it's put his relationship at risk.
I did find this a good read. Intrigued as to what the next mystery might be about.
January 31, 2026
On the small size of books, but she's a good adventure. It's set in England following two sisters, Mary and Jane, and a poet called Percy . Mary and Percy are in love, and they are starting out again. Percy is living with his wife and children, but Mary and Jane want a new life in Paris. This new life runs into trouble pretty much straight away; the money issues start, and they find themselves having to look for ways to earn. Is it the life they thought it was going to be ? We have a donkey called Napoleon ! They find themselves with a Murder mystery to solve. This book had an easy follow; you found yourself thinking about who did it and why. I do love Paris and feel like this book I could really visualise the streets and buildings; I felt like I was with them the entire way, heading into the next town, the next village, changing country ! But after all that, home is England. I found with this book I just needed that escapism, and it hit that spot perfectly.
What’s book 2 going to bring? Stick with me and find out in Feb...
What’s book 2 going to bring? Stick with me and find out in Feb...
January 31, 2026
Having read Frankenstein a few years ago, I jumped at the chance to read The Missing Wife - book 1 in the Mary Shelley Investigation series.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! It has a little bit of everything - scandal, romance, humor, murder, and of course mystery.
The story draws you in and makes you feel what the characters are feeling. The descriptions of Paris and all the areas they had adventures through were wonderful as well!
The author's writing style was poetic as well, with such quotes as, "My love for you is the very rhythm of my life." and "Your name runs through my veins."
Not only was this a good murder/mystery book, but being historical fiction, there are actual events that occurred in this book. While I didn't know much about Mary Shelley, the real person, aside from her being the author of Frankenstein, this book helped me to get to know her a little better, and even led to me doing my own research about her.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
*Thank you to Love Book Tours, the publisher, and the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! It has a little bit of everything - scandal, romance, humor, murder, and of course mystery.
The story draws you in and makes you feel what the characters are feeling. The descriptions of Paris and all the areas they had adventures through were wonderful as well!
The author's writing style was poetic as well, with such quotes as, "My love for you is the very rhythm of my life." and "Your name runs through my veins."
Not only was this a good murder/mystery book, but being historical fiction, there are actual events that occurred in this book. While I didn't know much about Mary Shelley, the real person, aside from her being the author of Frankenstein, this book helped me to get to know her a little better, and even led to me doing my own research about her.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
*Thank you to Love Book Tours, the publisher, and the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
January 28, 2026
This is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigation trilogy. I was attracted to the cover of this book and hoped that the inside was as good as the outside. It was. Set in the early 19th century, 16 year old Mary Godwin, daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, seeks adventure and freedom by eloping with poet Percy Shelley. Percy is married and his wife is pregnant but he, Mary and her step sister Jane head to Paris with trusty donkey Napoleon. Money is tight and the journey difficult. They meet Monsieur Lamont who offers to pay them to find his wife Claudine who is missing after not arriving at a theatre performance she was due to attend. The story and fate of Claudine takes many twists and turns which kept me compelled to read on. I enjoy historical books and I enjoyed this one. I liked the writing style and the characters, particularly Napoleon, a character in his own right! I would definitely look forward to reading the other two books in the series.
January 31, 2026
Thank you to @lovebookstours for having me on this book tour.
i really enjoyed this book and how descriptive it was of the local towns in france it made you feel like you were walking the route with mary, percy and jane and little napoleon the donkey.
mary jane is madly in love with percy who is a poet and also married and with his wife expecting a second child this is not an ideal situation. They decide to elope to france but it is not an easy situation when her sister jane also ends up with them and she alsi seems to have feelings for percy which at times can cause great jealousy. After realising they have very little money they get asked by a banker to look for his missing wife madame lamont but will this turn out to be an easy task as they think it will be ??
This story will have you wanting to keep flicking the pages until the end i think mary discovers a lot about herself along the journey too.
Its a very enjoyable read set in 1814.
i really enjoyed this book and how descriptive it was of the local towns in france it made you feel like you were walking the route with mary, percy and jane and little napoleon the donkey.
mary jane is madly in love with percy who is a poet and also married and with his wife expecting a second child this is not an ideal situation. They decide to elope to france but it is not an easy situation when her sister jane also ends up with them and she alsi seems to have feelings for percy which at times can cause great jealousy. After realising they have very little money they get asked by a banker to look for his missing wife madame lamont but will this turn out to be an easy task as they think it will be ??
This story will have you wanting to keep flicking the pages until the end i think mary discovers a lot about herself along the journey too.
Its a very enjoyable read set in 1814.
February 2, 2026
THE MISSING WIFE is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigation series: thrilling Gothic murder mysteries with a tenacious literary heroine working as a female sleuth.
A young aspiring writer finds romance and mystery in Paris!
A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…?
1814, London
From the very beginning I was completely immersed in the time and place.
The character development in the first half of the novel is excellent, it hooked me in! I absolutely loved witnessing Mary & Percy’s elopement and seeing the dynamic between the pair develop. As a long-time Mary Shelley fan I LOVE the version Donna Gowland has created. She is fierce, thoughtful, witty and strong - everything I always imagined she would be.
And all of this happens before the real adventure & mystery begins with the case of The Missing Wife, that kept me hooked to the very end. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The postman delivered book 2 yesterday and I cannot wait to catch back up with Mary.
A young aspiring writer finds romance and mystery in Paris!
A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…?
1814, London
From the very beginning I was completely immersed in the time and place.
The character development in the first half of the novel is excellent, it hooked me in! I absolutely loved witnessing Mary & Percy’s elopement and seeing the dynamic between the pair develop. As a long-time Mary Shelley fan I LOVE the version Donna Gowland has created. She is fierce, thoughtful, witty and strong - everything I always imagined she would be.
And all of this happens before the real adventure & mystery begins with the case of The Missing Wife, that kept me hooked to the very end. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The postman delivered book 2 yesterday and I cannot wait to catch back up with Mary.
July 2, 2025
The Missing Wife works on two levels. Firstly, it is a brilliant depiction of young and naive love. The callow Percy Shelley arrives at the Godwin family home threatening suicide unless the daughter Mary runs away with him. This leads to our second storyline - the mystery of the missing wife, an investigation Mary and Percy pick up in Paris for some extra cash, when their passion for each is already dimming. Donna Gowland weaves both of these storylines brilliantly. You can get a tangible sense of the literary life, complicated by young love, and the investigation goes from being a sidenote to a gripping mystery which places our young couple in mortal peril. But make no mistake, Mary is the dominant one in this pair, and as this is the first novel in a new series of 'Mary Shelley Investigations' then I cannot wait for her to return.
January 25, 2026
Set in 1814, A young Mary struggles to gain favour with her father and stepmother. Her life changes dramatically upon the meeting of a poet whom she falls head over heels for.
This story captivated me straight away. I cannot say I have read anything quite like this before, but the way the characters are crafted and the way their relationships with one another change really kept me coming back for more. The ups and downs of connection and attachment shone throughout.
Each character is crafted in depth, flaws and all. I thoroughly loved reading The Missing Wife, which is full of mystery and surprising twists and turns.
Do not miss this one. It is a carefully written story and well worth reading.
Thank you to Donna Gowland and Love Book Tours for my copy of the book.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
This story captivated me straight away. I cannot say I have read anything quite like this before, but the way the characters are crafted and the way their relationships with one another change really kept me coming back for more. The ups and downs of connection and attachment shone throughout.
Each character is crafted in depth, flaws and all. I thoroughly loved reading The Missing Wife, which is full of mystery and surprising twists and turns.
Do not miss this one. It is a carefully written story and well worth reading.
Thank you to Donna Gowland and Love Book Tours for my copy of the book.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
February 1, 2026
This is my first time reading a book of this genre, and it didn't disappoint! I absolutely loved the mystery (I definitely need to read more books like this).
I read the book in one sitting, there were so many twists and turns which kept me hooked. The writing was so descriptive and beautifully written that I felt like I was in the early 19th century, living through each moment and that I personally knew each character (I need Napoleon in my life).
If I’m honest, I hadn’t heard much about Mary Shelley (I must be living under a rock lol), so I’m intrigued to learn more about her after reading this book.
The book is short, so definitely a good read if you're looking to get out of a reading slump.
Thank you LBT & Donna Gowland for the gifted copy! I look forward to the next book in the series, and will be for sure picking up more books of this genre.
My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
I read the book in one sitting, there were so many twists and turns which kept me hooked. The writing was so descriptive and beautifully written that I felt like I was in the early 19th century, living through each moment and that I personally knew each character (I need Napoleon in my life).
If I’m honest, I hadn’t heard much about Mary Shelley (I must be living under a rock lol), so I’m intrigued to learn more about her after reading this book.
The book is short, so definitely a good read if you're looking to get out of a reading slump.
Thank you LBT & Donna Gowland for the gifted copy! I look forward to the next book in the series, and will be for sure picking up more books of this genre.
My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
January 24, 2026
I found this book very enjoyable and I loved the historical aspects mixed in with this twisty mystery.i loved the author’s use of notorious figures from English literature ad the main characters who are thrust into solving the mystery of the missing Parisian wife. When Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and Percy Shelley flee to Paris creating a scandal, they find themselves embroiled in the mystery. I really liked how the author portrayed the couple’s different personalities, really bringing them to life, as well as dropping little easter eggs about the reason Mary wrote Frankenstein.The descriptions of
Paris of long ago were absolutely stunning, creating the most vivid of images.This was a great historical fiction read.
Paris of long ago were absolutely stunning, creating the most vivid of images.This was a great historical fiction read.
January 28, 2026
I was happily surprised to love this book. The authors way of bringing you back to 1814 was incredible, the language and descriptions the author used, I felt like I was travelling with Mary. This was such a fun mystery that at first I kept asking myself when the investigation was going to start, and then BOOM… it took me on a roller coaster of Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
There is mention of infidelity, if that is not your thing, but other than that. You forgot how young the MFC is, you also forget what time period it is because you are trying to stay on top of the mystery behind it.
Donna Gowland has two more books in this series coming out and I cannot wait.
Thank you Love Book Tour and Donna Gowland for the physical copy!
There is mention of infidelity, if that is not your thing, but other than that. You forgot how young the MFC is, you also forget what time period it is because you are trying to stay on top of the mystery behind it.
Donna Gowland has two more books in this series coming out and I cannot wait.
Thank you Love Book Tour and Donna Gowland for the physical copy!
January 31, 2026
The Missing Wife was a really enjoyable read and a true cosy mystery with a clever literary twist. Inspired by the lives of Mary and Percy Shelley, the story is rich with atmosphere, especially for readers who love the classics. I particularly loved the gradual build-up of Mary’s character—her development is perfect.
As a big fan of Frankenstein, this book captured the classics while still delivering an engaging mystery of its own. Frankensteins castle forming part of the plot was great. The plot has twists and turns, but it’s a slow burn, one to savour rather than rush.
And of course, Napoleon the donkey deserves a special mention. I absolutely loved him 🫏💕
Thanks to the author for the gifted version of this book and lovebooktours for including me in their tour.
As a big fan of Frankenstein, this book captured the classics while still delivering an engaging mystery of its own. Frankensteins castle forming part of the plot was great. The plot has twists and turns, but it’s a slow burn, one to savour rather than rush.
And of course, Napoleon the donkey deserves a special mention. I absolutely loved him 🫏💕
Thanks to the author for the gifted version of this book and lovebooktours for including me in their tour.
July 20, 2025
This first investigative book has left me wanting more of the romantic adventures driven by a strong female heroine, Mary Shelly. The pace of the book and characters that take part in an epic adventure provided the lighter moments in the book. I found myself smiling at the historical references which contextualise and enrich the reading of it. The language used is periodically perfect adding to the rich landscape and the forms of travel our characters take enthralling. Poetic in itself the books obvious love of romantic poetry and mystery help to render this book a truly enjoyable read, I can’t wait for the next edition.
January 30, 2026
Being a huge historical fiction fan, and the 19th century being one of my favourite periods of history, this stood out to me immediately and let me tell you, it certainly lived up to my high expectations.
The writing is vivid and descriptive, you really can see the sights, hear the sounds and smell the smells of the early 1800's. This is a must for me when reading, I need to be able to form everything clearly in my mind, and this novels does that for me wonderfully.
With a deliciously dark, gothic feel, it's as thriller mystery that will have you turning the pages eagerly long after you should have gone to sleep.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
The writing is vivid and descriptive, you really can see the sights, hear the sounds and smell the smells of the early 1800's. This is a must for me when reading, I need to be able to form everything clearly in my mind, and this novels does that for me wonderfully.
With a deliciously dark, gothic feel, it's as thriller mystery that will have you turning the pages eagerly long after you should have gone to sleep.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
February 3, 2026
I've never read a book like this before it was an interesting short read that had you guessing throughout.
My goodness though there is something about Jane that's not right but I can't put my finger on it!
The way it's written really puts you back into the 1814 which was such an intriguing premises, with the way the characters talk to the beautiful descriptions.
Mary is such a strong, character who is ready for adventure and will fight to get justice.
Also who doesn't love Napoleon the Donkey
My goodness though there is something about Jane that's not right but I can't put my finger on it!
The way it's written really puts you back into the 1814 which was such an intriguing premises, with the way the characters talk to the beautiful descriptions.
Mary is such a strong, character who is ready for adventure and will fight to get justice.
Also who doesn't love Napoleon the Donkey
February 3, 2026
This is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigations Series and it’s a great book, I loved Mary’s character and although young she has a very wise head on her shoulders.
What starts as Mary and Percy eloping to Paris develops into a page turning adventure on the mysterious disappearance of Madame Lamont.
Full of twists and turns and beautiful locations I couldn’t put this book down. A great start to what looks like a really good series.
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview
What starts as Mary and Percy eloping to Paris develops into a page turning adventure on the mysterious disappearance of Madame Lamont.
Full of twists and turns and beautiful locations I couldn’t put this book down. A great start to what looks like a really good series.
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview
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