An Impertinent Heiress: An Historical Mystery

Isabella Hartwell Society Mysteries #1

by Sarah F. Noel

From the author of the Tabitha & Wolf Historical Mysteries

An impertinent heiress. An invitation to a marquess’s house party. A death that turns every eye towards her.

London, 1899. American heiress Isabella Hartwell has crossed the Atlantic for reasons that have nothing to do with a titled husband. Society may assume she has come to buy herself a coronet, yet Isabella wants something far more dangerous than a husband. She wants adventure.

Her beauty and fortune make her quite the prize, and eligible aristocrats line up to offer her their names, estates, and very little excitement. Isabella entertains their courtship with a sharp smile and a sharper tongue, and manages to avoid any entanglements. Until one persistent young lord collapses at a house party on a country estate, moments after a heated quarrel with her, and never rises again. Immediately, tongues begin to wag, and suspicion falls squarely on Isabella.

Refusing to be packed off to New York in disgrace, Isabella decides to investigate the death herself. With the eager assistance of her septuagenarian friend, the Dowager Countess of Pembroke, she begins to unravel a web of lies and rivalries that lead the pair in a most unexpected direction.

Sparkling, sly and full of intrigue, An Impertinent Heiress introduces Isabella Hartwell, a heroine who has no intention of letting polite society dictate her fate in this new historical mystery.

Genres: Historical Fiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2026

Reviews

[Pamela]

Not a Storyline I usually read..

Let me first say how much I really love the Tabatha and Wolfe series. Exceptional characters and a storyline of mystery, romance and places where you laugh. I have not read the Melody Chesterton series. This new one leaves me sort of empty. I believe the lead characters are developing well, but I honestly miss the handsome gentleman present in a variety of relationships. My rating was given based on the very slow development of the storyline, and no real romantic part of the story. I feel the story is way too long and could be told in fewer chapters. I’m back to Tabatha and Wolfe.

[John]

An Impertinent Heiress by Sarah F. Noel is the first book in a new series featuring characters from the author's long-running Tabitha and Wolf Mysteries. Isabella Hartwell is a young American heiress from the Gilded Age who has come to England seeking independence and adventure, although her Aunt Caro thinks she should be seeking a titled husband. She has been involved in the last few Tabitha and Wolf books and in a prequel short story. Julia Chesterton, elderly Dowager Countess of Pembroke, has been a major supporting character throughout that series. Both are strong, independent women who don't much care what others may think of them.

Isabella has been invited to a house party by the Marquess of Banbury, apparently at the behest of Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough (nee Vanderbilt). The dowager accompanies her. Early on she has a discussion with Lord Ravensthorpe who warns her that Lord Banbury has financial problems and may approach her as a potential investor or financial savior. Ravensthorpe is soon murdered. Isabella is the first suspect, but quickly cleared. She then begins her own investigation, partially in conjunction with the detective investigating the murder. Along the way both Isabella's maid and the dowager provide some assistance as Isabella looks at various suspects and unravels connections and possible motivations.

This book can be read as a standalone, or just as the beginning of a new series, but the character and behavior of the Dowager Countess will be best appreciated by readers of the Tabitha and Wolf series.

[Linda]

I'm a fan of the author, Sarah F Noel, so was grateful when given the opportunity to read her 1st book of a new series she's writing centering around a relatively minor character from her Tabitha & Wolf series. Being a fan of that series was eager to see what she was going to do with Isabella Hartwell, especially as she was making the Dowager her side kick, tho the Dowager would protest that label. Not a big fan of the Dowager in the other series but, at least in this 1st book, she's less of an arrogant irritant.

The story takes place at a house party to which Isobella suspects she's invited as potential bride to someone there. She quickly learns that it's more of a possible investment she's being sought. It's not long in the story before someone gets murdered. Some suspicion is initially thrown onto Isabella but she is able to investigate her way out of that. Since all the houseguests are forced to stay while she murder investigation is ongoing, of course Isabella & the Dowager to a lesser extent, undertake their own. I was hooked almost from page one & neglected my chores so I could get to the end. I did have a problem with Isabella rather under explained change of opinion of one of the characters but that's a minor quibble. This was a great read & look forward to the next book.

This opinion is my own independent thoughts & in no way influenced by receiving an advance copy.
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[Colleen]

I loved this book, clever building of the main character whilst not dwelling too much on the character of the dowager who we know already. That’s if you’ve been following this authors Tabitha and Wolf series.
Plenty of red herrings and suspense along the way although I do confess to working the villain out 3/4 of the way through but that did not detract from the book in the slightest. The details the author includes really do build the picture of surroundings and one could almost imagine being there. Small things that make us picture what is happening in the story, this all adds realistic fabric to the overall story.
Very interesting to watch the various British classes against our American heroine and her take on the various British customs, as the backgrounds of both the British aristocracy and a wealthy American is markedly different. This all adds significant body to the main story.
What I really like about Sarah’s books is the very high standard of literature and her knowledge of events and customs of that period. She always brings in interesting topics.
Looking forward to more of these !!

[Cri]

When I was offered the chance to read the ARC to a new series with beloved characters from the "Tabitha and Wolf" mystery series I could not believe my luck!

Sarah F. Noel is one of my favorite authors and I was sure that this series starring Isabella would amaze me.

The addition of the Dowager is an added bonus as she is by far the character I like the most in the Tabitha and Wolf series, rapier sharp wit indeed!

An usual, the plot is well tought out, the story beautifully written and the characters multidimensional.

I cannot wait to read more about Isabella's adventures!

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

[Delores Johnson]

I really like this book. I've read other book series by this author and she doesn't disappoint with this series either. The main character is a strong independent woman who stands her ground in a man's world in this historical setting AND there's no animosity between her and the detective as they interact to solve the crime and he respects her efforts in finding evidence that he didn't previously have. And there's no underlying attraction between the two of them, which is a nice change. They have a mutual respect between them.

[Patricia]

A great afternoon escape! I enjoyed meeting Isabella Hartwell in the Tabitha and Wolfe series and getting to know her better in the prequel, An Inconvenient Heiress. This book did not disappoint. Isabella and the Dowager Countless find themselves confronting another murder and work together to solve who committed the crime. Lots of red herrings that keep you guessing until the end.

[Catherine Chappell]

I loved the first book in this new series from Sarah Noel. For those of you who know the Dowager Countess of Pembroke, she is in this book too as a friend to the main character.

I may have enjoyed this book more than the TABITHA AND WOLF SERIES.

Sarah Noel is one of my favourite authors. I can highly recommend recommend this book

[Kathy Houser]

Just what I was looking for…..

I was searching for a good 18th century murder mystery. There are millions….but I need certain standards met. I want a strong heroine, not one oppressed and afraid. I like rich settings with beautiful, old, and preferably British settings. I think I have found a new favorite author….

[Gayle G]

This mystery is engaging, a page turner to the end-Noel’s characters are delightfully and well written development of banter dialog that at times is humorous to which the author gives the reader a clear picture to envision the scene (Dowager). A truly delightful mystery that left me begging for more of the Isabella Hartwell and her heroine adventures.

[Marie Elena]

Kept me on the edge of my seat!
While I enjoyed the mystery as it was unraveling, I did sometimes struggle with some verbiage that seemed out of place. However, I will look forward to future endeavors of Miss Isabella Hartwell and the dowager countess extraordinaire!

[O'lita Nahooikaika]

I have read all of the Tabitha and Wolf books, enjoying each one. This is a well written book, and leaves many questions unanswered! It will make you wonder “what comes next in the adventure?” Enjoy!

[Sara]

Isabella Hartwell Book 1

I enjoyed this book. A nice offshoot from the other series. And, I don't have switch to a different time. That gets a little confusing to some of us older readers.

[Jo]

So many suspects

Isabelle has enough brains and curiosity to be an amateur detective what the dowager, but the old lady did add spark and amusement at times. It got a little slow but sped up quickly.

[Anna Granen]

If you love series that have strong, intelligent women, you'll love this series! I'm so happy Isabella got her own series!

[Leafy Baker]

As someone who reads a lot of mysteries, I was on the edge of my seat with suspense. This is a great start to another spin off! Can't wait until the next one.

[Julie Burnett]

A great start to a new series, can't wit for the next one.

[Shalini M]

This was okay, not much of a mystery as such. 2.5 stars.

[Lady Penny]

DNF