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The Lord Julian Mysteries #12
A Gentleman of Modest Ambitions
Lord Julian Caldicott is battling a severe case of winter doldrums as well as a serious bout of pre-wedding jitters. He longs to summon—invite, rather—his intended, Miss Hyperia West to Caldicott Hall, but she seems to be having a fine time shopping for her trousseau in London. Julian’s growing pile of miseries is only increased when a neighbor, Sir Clive Arbuthnot, reports that his titled cousin has gone missing.
Sir Clive entreats Julian to find the errant earl before creditors, importuning relations, and disgruntled tenants descend on Sir Clive, who was merely hosting his cousin for a visit when the disappearance occurred. Julian longs to hibernate at the Hall, but the missing peer might well be the victim of foul play, and Julian's mother holds Sir Clive in particular esteem. Julian must face lies, scandals, maternal disapproval, his own worst fears, and deadly peril if he’s not to leave Hyperia waiting in vain at the altar!
Sir Clive entreats Julian to find the errant earl before creditors, importuning relations, and disgruntled tenants descend on Sir Clive, who was merely hosting his cousin for a visit when the disappearance occurred. Julian longs to hibernate at the Hall, but the missing peer might well be the victim of foul play, and Julian's mother holds Sir Clive in particular esteem. Julian must face lies, scandals, maternal disapproval, his own worst fears, and deadly peril if he’s not to leave Hyperia waiting in vain at the altar!
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2026
About the author
Grace Burrowes
195 books2,943 followersGrace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 30, 2026
Regency at it's finest
I enjoy Lord Julian's continued adventures. The plot is a good one with many twists. I continue to want more stories of his family. Is Harry really dead ? If so, will Julian ever find out what happened to him? How long will Arthur stay away ? How will Julian and Perry settle into married life ? What of his little nephew ? Will he and the Duchess become closer ?
And what other interesting investigations are to come?
I have enjoyed all of Grace Burrowes series, and how she connects characters. I just wish she could write more quickly !!
Don't miss the audio books either as James Langdon does a wonderful job enacting the stories rather than just reading them.
I like this Regency period setting, and Ms. Burrowes manages to bring in unusual but very believable characters and situations.
If you like Regency romances and/or mysteries but have never read one of her books or listened to one of her audio books, do yourself a favor and pick one up. Like potato chips I don't think you will be able to stop with just one !
I enjoy Lord Julian's continued adventures. The plot is a good one with many twists. I continue to want more stories of his family. Is Harry really dead ? If so, will Julian ever find out what happened to him? How long will Arthur stay away ? How will Julian and Perry settle into married life ? What of his little nephew ? Will he and the Duchess become closer ?
And what other interesting investigations are to come?
I have enjoyed all of Grace Burrowes series, and how she connects characters. I just wish she could write more quickly !!
Don't miss the audio books either as James Langdon does a wonderful job enacting the stories rather than just reading them.
I like this Regency period setting, and Ms. Burrowes manages to bring in unusual but very believable characters and situations.
If you like Regency romances and/or mysteries but have never read one of her books or listened to one of her audio books, do yourself a favor and pick one up. Like potato chips I don't think you will be able to stop with just one !
June 1, 2026
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this story. Unlike many other installments of this series, here the reasons for the culprit's dastardly deed are primarily political, intertwined with money, of course. Money seem to be the perpetual seed of all the ills in Lord Julian's world: treachery, deceit, murder, thievery, etc. In this case, as in all the others, Lord Julian rises to the occasion and solves the foul mystery with his usual flare and determination. And lots of courage, too. It made me happy that he was rewarded for his bravery with his marriage to Hyperia. Finally. I wonder what is next for this charming sleuthing couple.
I enjoyed this story. Unlike many other installments of this series, here the reasons for the culprit's dastardly deed are primarily political, intertwined with money, of course. Money seem to be the perpetual seed of all the ills in Lord Julian's world: treachery, deceit, murder, thievery, etc. In this case, as in all the others, Lord Julian rises to the occasion and solves the foul mystery with his usual flare and determination. And lots of courage, too. It made me happy that he was rewarded for his bravery with his marriage to Hyperia. Finally. I wonder what is next for this charming sleuthing couple.
June 5, 2026
Regency romance/mystery, latest in the series. Was very happy with it as there was progress in the romance and this one had a better than usual mystery IMO. So, a pleasant and fast read; free ebook from the library.
June 2, 2026
Enjoyable as usual!
May 29, 2026
TITLE: Another compelling read from this author!
Setting:
Lord Julian Caldicott is asked by a venerable knight (who just happens to be extremely close to Julian’s mother!) to search for a missing cousin who is his heir apparent and an Earl in his own right. It seems the Earl has made enemies all around of his associates in the House of Lords for his reformist views, as well as his wealthier neighbors for opposing enclosures. With so many possible culprits, it takes the addition of his betrothed, Hyperia, and his mother to come to his aid in putting all the pieces together. He needs to find the Earl before irreparable harm comes to him AND to effectuate his release. It turns out that, as diificult as finding was, it is the easier of the 2 tasks.
Critique:
Once again, Ms. Burrowes has carefully constructed a mystery that the reader cannot easily solve without finishing the book—it is complicated! I am happy to see love story of Hyperia and Julian is FINALLY reaching the point where a wedding is in view “in the spring” (or perhaps sooner!). As always, my vocabulary is enlarged by a few words I needed to look up—a delightful experience for this reader!
The new characters introduced are well drawn—I can picture Sir Clive clearly in my mind. (I would have loved to see him as a younger man engaged in the adventures that forged him into the admirable character he is in his old age. And how did Julian’s mother come to be so highly placed in his regard??? Perhaps, some day, we will learn of these things). The climax of the story is nail-bitingly exciting!
I received an ARC from the author and bought the book on her website. My review is voluntary. The opinions expressed are my own.
Setting:
Lord Julian Caldicott is asked by a venerable knight (who just happens to be extremely close to Julian’s mother!) to search for a missing cousin who is his heir apparent and an Earl in his own right. It seems the Earl has made enemies all around of his associates in the House of Lords for his reformist views, as well as his wealthier neighbors for opposing enclosures. With so many possible culprits, it takes the addition of his betrothed, Hyperia, and his mother to come to his aid in putting all the pieces together. He needs to find the Earl before irreparable harm comes to him AND to effectuate his release. It turns out that, as diificult as finding was, it is the easier of the 2 tasks.
Critique:
Once again, Ms. Burrowes has carefully constructed a mystery that the reader cannot easily solve without finishing the book—it is complicated! I am happy to see love story of Hyperia and Julian is FINALLY reaching the point where a wedding is in view “in the spring” (or perhaps sooner!). As always, my vocabulary is enlarged by a few words I needed to look up—a delightful experience for this reader!
The new characters introduced are well drawn—I can picture Sir Clive clearly in my mind. (I would have loved to see him as a younger man engaged in the adventures that forged him into the admirable character he is in his old age. And how did Julian’s mother come to be so highly placed in his regard??? Perhaps, some day, we will learn of these things). The climax of the story is nail-bitingly exciting!
I received an ARC from the author and bought the book on her website. My review is voluntary. The opinions expressed are my own.
May 29, 2026
Lord Julian Caldicott, investigator extraordinaire, is called upon by his neighbor, Sir Clive Arbuthnot, to investigate the disappearance of his cousin, an earl who holds vastly unpopular views on social issues. Said cousin seemingly disappeared without a trace, and it takes all of Julian’s sleuthing skills to determine what happened. Aided by his mother and his beloved, Hyperia, Julian uncovers a dastardly plot to silence the young man. Along the way, Julian must confront his own demons, his physical frailties and his own insecurities about his relationship with the woman he longs to make his. As always with Ms. Burrowes tales, the intrigue thickens with clues scattered about, only to coalesce into a brilliant denouement at the end. She has a wonderful writing style which immerses the reader in the language, time and place of the story, as well as immediately grabbing the reader’s attention. I definitely recommend this latest installment of “The Lord Julian Mysteries” as well as the entire series. This book was provided by the author without any requirement for a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own.
June 2, 2026
From the outset of the series I liked Lord Julian coming to terms with civilian life, rekindling his love for Hyperia and looking after Atticus who by now is his tiger. But unfortunately in this episode there was very little interaction between the main characters. One minor episode of memory loss and a few hugs from Hyperia with Atticus almost totally absent from the scene. Instead we had a not very interesting convoluted mystery. The tempo increases at the very end when Julian finds and frees the missing person, but that is not enough for making it an exciting book.
What I want to read is news of Harry and his big brother Arthur; the return of Julian "manly humours" as he finally enjoys wedded bliss; Atticus making full use of his perspicacious intellect and so on.
I always enjoy the front covers as they often give a hint of the important elements of the story, but even then, there was not much to see.
Nevertheless I will continue to auto buy the Lord Julian mysteries, in the hope that Ms Burrowes listens to its readers comments. I really like her allusive style and use of abstruse words!!!
What I want to read is news of Harry and his big brother Arthur; the return of Julian "manly humours" as he finally enjoys wedded bliss; Atticus making full use of his perspicacious intellect and so on.
I always enjoy the front covers as they often give a hint of the important elements of the story, but even then, there was not much to see.
Nevertheless I will continue to auto buy the Lord Julian mysteries, in the hope that Ms Burrowes listens to its readers comments. I really like her allusive style and use of abstruse words!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cherished reader, there are SPOILERS here.
The non-spoiler version: It's always a pleasure to drop in on Lord Julian, where the landscape is starkly beautiful no one is ever hungry but some comestibles would not necessarily go amiss. I read this one in two sittings and enjoyed it, but then I realized...
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
Dantry is an idiot. If, instead of hanging his heirloom spurs on a fencepost (or wherever it was), he had left an explanatory note for Sir Clive labeled "To be opened on [date], in my absence," he would have saved a lot of people a lot of trouble and worry. For some reason, this doesn't seem to occur to anyone. The book should have ended with his family and friends taking turns kicking his ass.
Anyway, on an unrelated topic it's past time for Burrowes to give Hyperia an inner life. I think the next book should be told entirely from her perspective!
The non-spoiler version: It's always a pleasure to drop in on Lord Julian, where the landscape is starkly beautiful no one is ever hungry but some comestibles would not necessarily go amiss. I read this one in two sittings and enjoyed it, but then I realized...
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
Dantry is an idiot. If, instead of hanging his heirloom spurs on a fencepost (or wherever it was), he had left an explanatory note for Sir Clive labeled "To be opened on [date], in my absence," he would have saved a lot of people a lot of trouble and worry. For some reason, this doesn't seem to occur to anyone. The book should have ended with his family and friends taking turns kicking his ass.
Anyway, on an unrelated topic it's past time for Burrowes to give Hyperia an inner life. I think the next book should be told entirely from her perspective!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Our intrepid Lord Julian is asked by his neighbor Sir Clive to help him locate his nephew, Lord Dantry. Although not enthusiastic, he hopes it will help him fight his melancholia after spending the holidays alone. Along the way he faces challenges from every angle including from himself. Fortunately for all of us dear Hyperia, as well as Her Grace, join him to tackle the mystery. I love all of Grace Burrowes' books and Lord Julian's series particularly. As soon as I finish one mystery I'm counting the days until I can spend time with him again. If you haven't read this series, I urge you not to wait any longer!
I received an advance copy of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I received an advance copy of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
May 30, 2026
Wonderful
I always enjoy these mysteries. Lord Julian Caldicott is a terrific character. His relationship with Hyperia West had been slowly coming along and I am still waiting for the wedding. I really like how these mysteries are only solved with the help of the women in Lord Caldicott's life. I recommend starting from the first book and reading them all. The character progression is worth it.
I always enjoy these mysteries. Lord Julian Caldicott is a terrific character. His relationship with Hyperia West had been slowly coming along and I am still waiting for the wedding. I really like how these mysteries are only solved with the help of the women in Lord Caldicott's life. I recommend starting from the first book and reading them all. The character progression is worth it.
June 3, 2026
I loved this book! I actually love the entire series! The characters are complex with deep backstories and complicated relationships! They are written with intelligence and deep emotions! The storylines flow through the entire series, either twists and turns and memories from previous events influencing response/teactions! Please do yourself a favor and start from volume 1. You won’t regret it!
June 19, 2026
This series is so fantastic! Grace Burrowes is one of my favorite authors and she did it again. It’s a great mystery, but more than that the characters and their development over the entire series is fantastic. I really feel like I know them and am rooting for them as they navigate the difficulties of their lives. Each book can be read alone, but I recommend starting the series at the beginning.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lord Julian discovers there is more to his affable next-door neighbor, Lord Clive, than he ever knew. Clive asks for his help locating his missing nephew, Dantry. He just vanished. There are a number of suspects, as his politics are unpopular with the aristocracy. Time is running out; the winter is bitter and Lord Julian just wants to be done and see his love, Hyperia.
June 4, 2026
I have just finished this book 12 in the Lord Julian series. I have lovingly read every book. Enjoyed every mystery. I can say that the twists and turns and red herrings are there to try to follow, but it is Lord Julian who puts all the pieces together. I have only solved one of these mysteries and that is why I love them.
June 5, 2026
rousing closure
Julian is tenacious looking for a missing Earl and of course Perry and Her Grace are along to help. I so love the side characters Grace Burrowes puts in her stories. The villains are charming and nasty and the lovers are wrong headed and sweet. Go back to the beginning with Lord Julian, you won’t be disappointed.
Julian is tenacious looking for a missing Earl and of course Perry and Her Grace are along to help. I so love the side characters Grace Burrowes puts in her stories. The villains are charming and nasty and the lovers are wrong headed and sweet. Go back to the beginning with Lord Julian, you won’t be disappointed.
June 7, 2026
While I still enjoy this series, I don't think this was the strongest book. Other than Lord Julian solving yet another mystery (and, frankly, not a very interesting one) the story itself does not disclose anything new for our characters or move the story along. I don't know the point of this one. Read it, sure if you're in the series, but don't hold out for much.
May 31, 2026
another captivating Lord Julian mystery
Can’t get enough of this series. The characters are so relatable, genuinely humorous, intelligent and endearing.
A peak into a past period of history.
Can’t get enough of this series. The characters are so relatable, genuinely humorous, intelligent and endearing.
A peak into a past period of history.
May 31, 2026
The Deceptive Ton
Interesting characters with secrets galore. Who to believe while trying to find a missing earl? Finally the troops, in the way of Jule's mother and bride to be help with the investigation.
Interesting characters with secrets galore. Who to believe while trying to find a missing earl? Finally the troops, in the way of Jule's mother and bride to be help with the investigation.
June 5, 2026
a bit tired
A lovely story, bit of excitement at the end, fairly well plotted mystery but I am so tired of the dithering lord Julian. I swear I will not buy another installment. And these stories are really not stand Aline’s at this point
A lovely story, bit of excitement at the end, fairly well plotted mystery but I am so tired of the dithering lord Julian. I swear I will not buy another installment. And these stories are really not stand Aline’s at this point
June 4, 2026
Love this book!
I have loved each of the books in this series. I do hope there are more to come. I highly recommend this book!
I have loved each of the books in this series. I do hope there are more to come. I highly recommend this book!
June 15, 2026
I really enjoyed this series and the characters. Good writer and the story kept me interested to the end.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews