What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
8 days and 10:12:30
100 copies available
U.S. only
Death by Misadventure
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
8 days and 10:12:30
100 copies available
U.S. only
April 29, 1585. Coroner John Derrick is summoned to the cozy village of Bramley to investigate a naked dead man found beneath a waterwheel. An unfortunate drowning, by all indications. But upon closer inspection, the case takes a macabre The deceased is missing a certain piece of his anatomy.
Impelled by the grisly discovery to uncover the culprit, John must contend with bumbling villagers in his quest for the truth. Only sixteen-year-old maid Rebecca Laurence seems to offer any help.
In Elizabethan England, servants rarely get a second glance. Rebecca prefers it that way, moving quietly through her world, picking up secrets like dirty clothing. Knowledge is power at a time when women are afforded little, and she deftly wields hers to protect her own clandestine affairs.
As John wades through the evidence, Rebecca treads into dangerous waters. And if she’s not careful, she could find herself in over her head.
Impelled by the grisly discovery to uncover the culprit, John must contend with bumbling villagers in his quest for the truth. Only sixteen-year-old maid Rebecca Laurence seems to offer any help.
In Elizabethan England, servants rarely get a second glance. Rebecca prefers it that way, moving quietly through her world, picking up secrets like dirty clothing. Knowledge is power at a time when women are afforded little, and she deftly wields hers to protect her own clandestine affairs.
As John wades through the evidence, Rebecca treads into dangerous waters. And if she’s not careful, she could find herself in over her head.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2026
About the author
Jane Bitomsky
2 books32 followersJane has a PhD in early modern English history, a BA (Hons) and an LLB (Hons). She’s an award-winning author of historical fiction. Her stories interweave history, crime and humour.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
July 16, 2026
This wasn’t a groundbreaking read, but it was a solid historical mystery. The murder itself isn’t particularly complex, and the story never felt especially memorable, but the book makes up for it with an interesting structure and good historical research.
Set in late 16th century England, the story follows two timelines. Before the murder, we see events through the eyes of Rebecca, a maid, and after the murder, the investigation unfolds from the perspective of John, the coroner. The plot isn’t especially shocking or intricate, but the dual timeline kept things engaging. Even though I figured out the killer fairly early on, I was still curious to see how everything would play out.
The author has clearly done her research, bringing the setting and period to life while using language that’s accessible to modern readers without losing the feel of the era. While I appreciated the historical detail and the way the story was put together, I never felt particularly invested in the mystery itself. Overall, it was an enjoyable and easy read, but not one that’s likely to stick with me for long.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Set in late 16th century England, the story follows two timelines. Before the murder, we see events through the eyes of Rebecca, a maid, and after the murder, the investigation unfolds from the perspective of John, the coroner. The plot isn’t especially shocking or intricate, but the dual timeline kept things engaging. Even though I figured out the killer fairly early on, I was still curious to see how everything would play out.
The author has clearly done her research, bringing the setting and period to life while using language that’s accessible to modern readers without losing the feel of the era. While I appreciated the historical detail and the way the story was put together, I never felt particularly invested in the mystery itself. Overall, it was an enjoyable and easy read, but not one that’s likely to stick with me for long.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy
“Death by Misadventure” is a murder mystery set in late 16th Century England—a wonderful Elizabethan whodunnit. In some ways reminiscent of a cozy mystery, it’s also an earthy, bawdy tale that does not shy away from course bodily functions as well as sex scenes, heterosexual and otherwise.
An extremely talented world-builder, author Jane Bitomsky employs a tremendous eye for detail in portraying the small village of Bramley in 1585. She so adeptly describes the customs, mores, and language—not to mention the sights, sounds, and smells—of the time that I felt immersed in that time and place. Her characters are well-drawn and very engaging. The foibles of some are quite humorous. The mystery itself—i.e., the plot—kept me turning the pages.
And Ms. Bitomsky certainly knows how to turn an original phrase. Lines like “Alas, I fear a gossip’s eye for news is as discerning as a leech’s nose for blood” (Kindle ed., pg. 96) appear regularly throughout the novel.
Readers who enjoy period mysteries and/or novels about England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603, sometimes referred to as England’s Golden Age or the English Renaissance) should strongly consider giving “Death by Misadventure” a try.
An extremely talented world-builder, author Jane Bitomsky employs a tremendous eye for detail in portraying the small village of Bramley in 1585. She so adeptly describes the customs, mores, and language—not to mention the sights, sounds, and smells—of the time that I felt immersed in that time and place. Her characters are well-drawn and very engaging. The foibles of some are quite humorous. The mystery itself—i.e., the plot—kept me turning the pages.
And Ms. Bitomsky certainly knows how to turn an original phrase. Lines like “Alas, I fear a gossip’s eye for news is as discerning as a leech’s nose for blood” (Kindle ed., pg. 96) appear regularly throughout the novel.
Readers who enjoy period mysteries and/or novels about England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603, sometimes referred to as England’s Golden Age or the English Renaissance) should strongly consider giving “Death by Misadventure” a try.
October 7, 2026
A bawdy (if relatively straightforward) historical whodunnit with themes of power, manipulation, and fear. Those themes sound scary, but they’re presented here with a light, humorous touch, employing an eccentric cast of characters both clever and thick-skulled.
Fans of early modern history will enjoy plenty of details that bring the era to life. I wouldn’t call this a “spicy” read but it’s definitely not for the reader who avoids sexual content.
Fans of early modern history will enjoy plenty of details that bring the era to life. I wouldn’t call this a “spicy” read but it’s definitely not for the reader who avoids sexual content.
September 11, 2026
Intriguing Misadventures, yet slightly disappointing
I read Death by Misadventure based on the summary of the story being set in England during the 1500s, and was a “who-done-it” mystery. While the novel itself was a quick read and the mystery parts compelled me to keep going, unfortunately, the story’s plot twist was unsurprising and left me slightly disappointed. I also was highly put off by the constant sexual behaviors or undertones from any/all main characters, which seemed unnecessary to the mystery—and if you are going to make the main character highly promiscuous (which I have no problem with!), then I think one should make the judgment that they are all adults. Of course, one could argue that it is set in the 1500s and the author wished to be accurate to the era…to that I say, yes, but you are choosing to write a fictional story, where you have already made many choices to deviate from the real people you based the story on. Having the girl be 18 instead of 16 doesn’t take away anything substantial from the novel and would make readers like me feel less icky so the fun elements of your storytelling could actually be enjoyed.
I read Death by Misadventure based on the summary of the story being set in England during the 1500s, and was a “who-done-it” mystery. While the novel itself was a quick read and the mystery parts compelled me to keep going, unfortunately, the story’s plot twist was unsurprising and left me slightly disappointed. I also was highly put off by the constant sexual behaviors or undertones from any/all main characters, which seemed unnecessary to the mystery—and if you are going to make the main character highly promiscuous (which I have no problem with!), then I think one should make the judgment that they are all adults. Of course, one could argue that it is set in the 1500s and the author wished to be accurate to the era…to that I say, yes, but you are choosing to write a fictional story, where you have already made many choices to deviate from the real people you based the story on. Having the girl be 18 instead of 16 doesn’t take away anything substantial from the novel and would make readers like me feel less icky so the fun elements of your storytelling could actually be enjoyed.
Review of advance copy
I thought this clever novel was a hoot! It’s a bit of a bawdy romance mystery and I found it delightful. It made me chuckle throughout. In a quiet English village in 1585, Rebecca and Elizabeth are young ladies who are maids to Master and Mistress Evans. When the Evanses are called away, the Master’s young, good-looking, unmarried cousin, Mr. Wright, comes to look after the house and crops (and maids) during their absence. Before the week is out, a body is found stuck on the waterwheel at the mill. Coroner John Derrick is called to identify the body and discover the cause of death. The story was entertaining and well-written. I liked the young ladies, but wasn’t crazy about Mr. Wright. I thought he was a real yard (read the book and you’ll find out what I mean).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📖 Title: Death By Misadventure
🖋️ Author: Jane Bitomsky
📅 Pub Day: October 1, 2026
💌 Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9781662540578
⏱️ Length: 261 pages
📌 Genre(s): Mystery, Historical Fiction, Dark Comedy
⭐ Star Rating: 4
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Death by Misadventure was a delightfully odd and very fun(?) historical mystery. I don't usually enjoy older or period style language, but I actually loved how much this felt like its time period. Some of the wording was so wonderfully old fashioned, and then I came across "hairy cowcumber" and had to stop and look that one up. The fact that I was apparently reading about a hairy penis made me laugh, but honestly, this kind of language made the whole thing so much easier for me to sink into, and the Elizabethan setting felt much more believable because of it.
The mystery itself had me so curious the whole time. A man is found dead beneath a waterwheel with his... well, his most important piece of anatomy missing, and figuring out what happened to him was genuinely enthralling. There were plenty of strange little details along the way that kept me guessing.
I also really liked the dual POV. We get John Derrick, the coroner investigating the murder, alongside Rebecca, a young maid who knows a lot more than she probably should. Their two sides of the story worked really well together, especially as Rebecca's own secrets start becoming more complicated.
Overall, I had a really good time with this one. The mystery was weird, the characters were entertaining, and the historical setting worked much better for me than I expected.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ Elizabethan murder mysteries
✔️ Sapphic
✔️ Bizarre murder victims
✔️ Dual POV mysteries
✔️ Dark humor
✔️ Period accurate language
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Bitomsky, and Lake Union Publishing for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
🖋️ Author: Jane Bitomsky
📅 Pub Day: October 1, 2026
💌 Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9781662540578
⏱️ Length: 261 pages
📌 Genre(s): Mystery, Historical Fiction, Dark Comedy
⭐ Star Rating: 4
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Death by Misadventure was a delightfully odd and very fun(?) historical mystery. I don't usually enjoy older or period style language, but I actually loved how much this felt like its time period. Some of the wording was so wonderfully old fashioned, and then I came across "hairy cowcumber" and had to stop and look that one up. The fact that I was apparently reading about a hairy penis made me laugh, but honestly, this kind of language made the whole thing so much easier for me to sink into, and the Elizabethan setting felt much more believable because of it.
The mystery itself had me so curious the whole time. A man is found dead beneath a waterwheel with his... well, his most important piece of anatomy missing, and figuring out what happened to him was genuinely enthralling. There were plenty of strange little details along the way that kept me guessing.
I also really liked the dual POV. We get John Derrick, the coroner investigating the murder, alongside Rebecca, a young maid who knows a lot more than she probably should. Their two sides of the story worked really well together, especially as Rebecca's own secrets start becoming more complicated.
Overall, I had a really good time with this one. The mystery was weird, the characters were entertaining, and the historical setting worked much better for me than I expected.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ Elizabethan murder mysteries
✔️ Sapphic
✔️ Bizarre murder victims
✔️ Dual POV mysteries
✔️ Dark humor
✔️ Period accurate language
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Bitomsky, and Lake Union Publishing for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
October 19, 2026
This book was a fascinating window on sixteenth century life in England, and especially on the state of criminal investigation, which was appalling. The author scrupulously researched her topic and the level of detail was impressive. The mystery itself maintained my attention throughout, and the twists at the end were satisfying. Miss Rebecca stole the show, proof that even in those ghastly, misogynistic times a clever girl can carry the day.
Review of advance copy
A 16th-century murder mystery is definitely a different take for me, and it took me a little while to settle into the story and become invested. The comedic elements, though, were a welcome addition and gave the story a lighter touch.
A dead man is discovered minus one rather important body part, and Coroner John’s most unlikely ally turns out to be 16-year-old maid Rebecca. She makes a habit of collecting secrets to protect her own clandestine affairs, but helping John uncover the truth could put her in far more danger than she bargained for.
I had both the audiobook and the written book for this one, and I ended up doing a bit of a combination of the two. The audio definitely helped keep me engaged, with the narrators doing a great job and bringing a lot to the listening experience but unfortunately this ended up being a case of a book that sounded more like my kind of read than it actually was.
Many thanks to Terrace PR for the early copy of this cozy mystery with a definite edge, plenty of humor and more than its fair share of sexual innuendo. A light, entertaining read that was a nice way to spend a few hours.
A dead man is discovered minus one rather important body part, and Coroner John’s most unlikely ally turns out to be 16-year-old maid Rebecca. She makes a habit of collecting secrets to protect her own clandestine affairs, but helping John uncover the truth could put her in far more danger than she bargained for.
I had both the audiobook and the written book for this one, and I ended up doing a bit of a combination of the two. The audio definitely helped keep me engaged, with the narrators doing a great job and bringing a lot to the listening experience but unfortunately this ended up being a case of a book that sounded more like my kind of read than it actually was.
Many thanks to Terrace PR for the early copy of this cozy mystery with a definite edge, plenty of humor and more than its fair share of sexual innuendo. A light, entertaining read that was a nice way to spend a few hours.
Review of advance copy
i received a free copy of this book through amazon first reads.
men are so dumb and annoying. 4/5 stars
potential triggers: murder, implied domestic violence, explicit on-page sex, implied sex between underaged characters, "consensual" sex between a minor and adult, 16th century misogyny, violence, gore
was it entertaining?
a historical fiction murder mystery that all but tells you whodunit, but keeps you turning the pages anyway.
when coroner john derrick is pulled from his warm bed to investigate a dead body in the english countryside, he's hopeful that it will be just another drunken fool who met his end by misadventure. he arrives, however, to find a man no one knows, missing his clothing, and... his manhood. with few leads, derrick sets out into surrounding villages to begin his investigation. with only one cooperating witness — a 16 year old maid, with less than respectable family connections — a seemingly simple case unravels far more secrets than any one village should contain. 4/5 stars
was it enjoyable?
i have to be honest, i figured out the ending ~5 chapters in. this is neither subtle, nor complex. that's not a bad thing, it just is. i was still happy to finish reading the entire book, which — i think — is a testament to the author’s world-building and storytelling. bramley is a small village, not a small town, and all the occupants play a role in the story. it’s a difficult task to make all of these characters, and the occupants of villages some mile plus away, compelling enough to care about, without bloating the story. this book wouldn’t feel out of place as titillating gossip around a pub hearth. it just works. it’s also incredibly well researched, without feeling like a textbook.
that being said, i feel like it’s poor editorial judgement to not warn readers that the secondary lead, a 16 year old girl, repeatedly has on-page sex with adult characters throughout the story. i majored in history in undergrad, with a concentration in classical civilizations, and i have more than a passing interest in tudor england. i am fully aware of the norms and standards for sex and the age of majority at the time. i am not at all surprised to find a teenaged character with a contemporary attitude towards “age gaps.” however, it feels a little irresponsible to assume the entire readership for this book will have a similar understanding or pre-existing knowledge. even the author’s note, at the rear, says nothing of this. if this is something that would ruin your enjoyment of the story, i would caution against going in unaware. 3/5 stars
was it well-written?
no notes. 5/5 stars
men are so dumb and annoying. 4/5 stars
potential triggers: murder, implied domestic violence, explicit on-page sex, implied sex between underaged characters, "consensual" sex between a minor and adult, 16th century misogyny, violence, gore
was it entertaining?
a historical fiction murder mystery that all but tells you whodunit, but keeps you turning the pages anyway.
when coroner john derrick is pulled from his warm bed to investigate a dead body in the english countryside, he's hopeful that it will be just another drunken fool who met his end by misadventure. he arrives, however, to find a man no one knows, missing his clothing, and... his manhood. with few leads, derrick sets out into surrounding villages to begin his investigation. with only one cooperating witness — a 16 year old maid, with less than respectable family connections — a seemingly simple case unravels far more secrets than any one village should contain. 4/5 stars
was it enjoyable?
i have to be honest, i figured out the ending ~5 chapters in. this is neither subtle, nor complex. that's not a bad thing, it just is. i was still happy to finish reading the entire book, which — i think — is a testament to the author’s world-building and storytelling. bramley is a small village, not a small town, and all the occupants play a role in the story. it’s a difficult task to make all of these characters, and the occupants of villages some mile plus away, compelling enough to care about, without bloating the story. this book wouldn’t feel out of place as titillating gossip around a pub hearth. it just works. it’s also incredibly well researched, without feeling like a textbook.
that being said, i feel like it’s poor editorial judgement to not warn readers that the secondary lead, a 16 year old girl, repeatedly has on-page sex with adult characters throughout the story. i majored in history in undergrad, with a concentration in classical civilizations, and i have more than a passing interest in tudor england. i am fully aware of the norms and standards for sex and the age of majority at the time. i am not at all surprised to find a teenaged character with a contemporary attitude towards “age gaps.” however, it feels a little irresponsible to assume the entire readership for this book will have a similar understanding or pre-existing knowledge. even the author’s note, at the rear, says nothing of this. if this is something that would ruin your enjoyment of the story, i would caution against going in unaware. 3/5 stars
was it well-written?
no notes. 5/5 stars
September 21, 2026
I can’t believe this wasn’t written by a man
October 18, 2026
Oh this was a fun one, but like as in fun mystery but like death is involved so maybe not fun for everyone.
John Derrick is a coroner and has to investigate a bizarre death in a small little village, people don't just show up dead and named around there.
Everyone seems to be just absolutely no help but not maliciously, they just seem unconcerned really.
But Rebecca is different, she watches and pays attention to everything continuing to be a servant no one remembers or pays attention too.
Loved this little historical fiction murder mystery, it wasn't suprising but was so well done I enjoyed the read, going back and forth between John and Rebecca's POV from totally different stations in life.
Amazing job. Thanks Union for the read!
John Derrick is a coroner and has to investigate a bizarre death in a small little village, people don't just show up dead and named around there.
Everyone seems to be just absolutely no help but not maliciously, they just seem unconcerned really.
But Rebecca is different, she watches and pays attention to everything continuing to be a servant no one remembers or pays attention too.
Loved this little historical fiction murder mystery, it wasn't suprising but was so well done I enjoyed the read, going back and forth between John and Rebecca's POV from totally different stations in life.
Amazing job. Thanks Union for the read!
October 1, 2026
Death by Misadventure is the best historical mystery I've read so far this year. Although it had some awkward bits, (relatively few considering this is a debut novel), I enjoyed the lively narrative voice and the excellent sense of time and place. The author did an admirable job contrasting the POVs of John and Rebecca, who offered very different perspectives on the unfolding events. The plot was clever, sprinkled with sly humor and memorable characters. Be warned, the novel is quite graphic, but well worth your time if such things don't bother you. It's refreshing to read a mystery set in a less commonly chosen time period, especially by an author who really knows her history.
September 8, 2026
This book was perfect for my mood. I needed something highly distracting and not too heavy. Some might argue that a book about murder and the mystery of who the culprit is not exactly light-hearted, but it’s what I needed for sure. This book suffers from the “Tiffany problem”; that is that a lot of things in the book SEEM wrong for 1583 and inauthentic but upon further investigation, they are in fact accurate. The “twist” was clear from the beginning, but I don’t think it was meant to be a surprise.
September 23, 2026
I would give this book 6 stars if I could
Everything I want is here! History, mystery, romance not overdone, and the Most awesome ending. Actually finished reading it days ago, but had to go back to review and savor the ending. Thank you for a Very Good Read. Even my husband liked it - Wow.
Everything I want is here! History, mystery, romance not overdone, and the Most awesome ending. Actually finished reading it days ago, but had to go back to review and savor the ending. Thank you for a Very Good Read. Even my husband liked it - Wow.
September 23, 2026
This book is hard to rate. It’s not what I expected in that you have a bisexual promiscuous maid. The murder mystery is pretty solid and historically felt accurate (except for worrying about fingerprints). It was fascinating to see a jury just picked to handle things and you can really feel how many crimes were not handled accurately at all during this time period. It was weird to read about a detective who you wanted to scream at because he was a bloody judgey douche.
September 10, 2026
A breath of fresh air
Death by Misadventure is a book that reminds you how much fun it is to be a reader. It is a joy from start to finish. The cast of colorful characters make this a charming and entertaining read. The most pleasant literary surprise of 2026!
Death by Misadventure is a book that reminds you how much fun it is to be a reader. It is a joy from start to finish. The cast of colorful characters make this a charming and entertaining read. The most pleasant literary surprise of 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A fun, quick little mystery read! I enjoyed this one and it made me laugh quite a bit. This will not be for everyone and while it was a very predictable plot line, I still enjoyed it overall.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book - it was incredibly difficult to put down! The converging timelines had me questioning what I thought I knew the entire time.
Review of advance copy received from Book of the Month
If you are expecting women equality, just don't pick this up. It's set in the 1500's, with the 1500's mindset, and even then, the author was extremely generous while still keeping the idea. I enjoyed the read! This made me grateful for the forensic sciences of today. People really were just stumbling about making educated guesses. I was a fan of the ending. Go women taking care of women! Even if a bit erroneously!
October 7, 2026
A Hairy Cowcumber?
This work is a murder mystery with a touch of humor mixed in along the way. Time based in 16th century England with the story being told in first person alternately between the town coroner and a household maid. A man's naked body is discovered in a mill pond underneath a water wheel and the search is on to find the killer. Many other interesting characters are introduced during the inquest, several suspects questioned with twists and turns making this an enjoyable whodunit. Without vulgar language but not suitable for younger readers due to sexual situations.
This work is a murder mystery with a touch of humor mixed in along the way. Time based in 16th century England with the story being told in first person alternately between the town coroner and a household maid. A man's naked body is discovered in a mill pond underneath a water wheel and the search is on to find the killer. Many other interesting characters are introduced during the inquest, several suspects questioned with twists and turns making this an enjoyable whodunit. Without vulgar language but not suitable for younger readers due to sexual situations.
October 9, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this book kept me on my toes I couldn’t put it down. So so much fun so well written LOVED!!!
September 21, 2026
Too much sex.
Review of advance copy
This is a humorous historical mystery. It takes place in Bramley outside of Guildford in Elizabethan England. There are two protagonists, John Derrick the coroner and Rebecca a maid in the village. The story is told in two parts, that of John investigating the death of a man found in the mill pond missing his "yard" and Rebecca's life in the village.
September 29, 2026
thoroughly entertaining romp
Tremendously clever with a satisfying ending. The humor is creative and the pace is perfect. Hope your write more like this one!
Tremendously clever with a satisfying ending. The humor is creative and the pace is perfect. Hope your write more like this one!
May 31, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
As a big fan of a good period piece, along with this ASTONISHING cover, I couldn’t help but making myself curious to this book and request it.
Here we accompany John and Rebecca unveiling the story of a murder (or was it misadventure?) They’re both very well made characters and made me eager to know more about their own stories. I do love so very much how devoted of a husband John is, I wouldn’t settle down for less.
For the murder, honestly I had it figured out by 20% of the book, which took much from the fun of the mastery by the characters were so fun I had to keep knowing more of them, not much to get to understand what happened to that body in the river, but to get to know them better and hear their stories.
The story is told in a very nice way, the writer style is very unique and portraits a beautiful piece of the side characters too, so I hope to hear more of her.
In general, as a mystery is not much my cup of tea, but as a novel I had some good fun with it.
As a big fan of a good period piece, along with this ASTONISHING cover, I couldn’t help but making myself curious to this book and request it.
Here we accompany John and Rebecca unveiling the story of a murder (or was it misadventure?) They’re both very well made characters and made me eager to know more about their own stories. I do love so very much how devoted of a husband John is, I wouldn’t settle down for less.
For the murder, honestly I had it figured out by 20% of the book, which took much from the fun of the mastery by the characters were so fun I had to keep knowing more of them, not much to get to understand what happened to that body in the river, but to get to know them better and hear their stories.
The story is told in a very nice way, the writer style is very unique and portraits a beautiful piece of the side characters too, so I hope to hear more of her.
In general, as a mystery is not much my cup of tea, but as a novel I had some good fun with it.
June 6, 2026
I enjoyed the mystery part of the story, and the investigation kept me interested in uncovering the case. The romantic subplot wasn’t something I personally connected with, but it didn’t prevent me from enjoying the overall story.
The book has a comedic tone, but after a while some of the jokes felt repetitive and started to lose their humor. At times it felt like every villager in this town had a one track mind.
Once the mystery was solved, a few chapters felt as though they dragged on longer than necessary. This seems to be the author’s debut novel, and I would be interested in reading more of her work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be published on September 29, 2026.
The book has a comedic tone, but after a while some of the jokes felt repetitive and started to lose their humor. At times it felt like every villager in this town had a one track mind.
Once the mystery was solved, a few chapters felt as though they dragged on longer than necessary. This seems to be the author’s debut novel, and I would be interested in reading more of her work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be published on September 29, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost: I received a copy of this novel for review through NetGalley. Thank you so much!
In this novel, we follow the investigations of Coroner John Derrick as he tries to figure how a man ended up dead, naked, and penis-less in a river in 16th century England. There are many potential perpetrators, including a lord and an apothecary, but the only person who appears able to lead John in the right direction is a young woman by the name Rebecca Lawrence. Together, they attempt to figure out not only what happened to this man (and why), but also who he is in the first place.
First are foremost, I liked the structure of this novel a lot, and how the author chose to tell the story. It alternates POV's, first starting with John Derrick in the 'present day', as he investigates the death of this mysterious man and tires to navigate small village politics; the following chapter would be told from the perspective of Rebecca, beginning a week prior to the murder and slowly counting down the days leading up to it.
This sort of structure really keeps me interested, especially in a mystery novel. I spent much of my time trying to figure out how Rebecca's flashback chapters related to John's present day ones, asking myself whether the next character to be introduced would be the victim, or indeed the perpetrator. It added a certain level of intrigue which I really enjoyed.
I did however feel as though I'd been starting reading in the middle of a series, if that makes sense? We got into the thick of the mystery quite quickly, and there weren't that many 'character moments'; I did check and see if this book was like book #2 or #3 in a series, but it wasn't. I think then this novel would've benefitted from a bit of a slower beginning, because even by the end I feel as though I didn't get to know John that well.
Which leads into one other gripe of mine: John, I found, wasn't all that interesting as a protagonist. All I picked up on from him was that he was a coroner and he loves his wife; he just came across a little bit flat, like his purpose was to only be a vessel for progression, rather than being a fully-fleshed out character in his own right. I found myself longing for Rebecca's chapters whenever there was a 'John' chapter.
Rebecca was a much more interesting character and I found her story much more interesting. She is a young maid in a household, in a relationship with her fellow maid Elizabeth, when her master's cousin, Thomas Wright, arrives to watch the house as they attend a funeral. As you can probably imagine, a complex web of deceit, relationships and secrecy weaves itself until the truth of the murder reveals itself. She was an incredibly interesting character to follow, and I was pleasantly surprised by the sapphic relationship. At the risk of revealing a spoiler, I also was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the sapphic couple survives the novel; in novels like this, I fear they usually don't.
All in all, I did really enjoy this novel, despite the oddly speedy beginning and the unexplored potential of John as a character. I would keep an eye out for this author's other works in the future.
In this novel, we follow the investigations of Coroner John Derrick as he tries to figure how a man ended up dead, naked, and penis-less in a river in 16th century England. There are many potential perpetrators, including a lord and an apothecary, but the only person who appears able to lead John in the right direction is a young woman by the name Rebecca Lawrence. Together, they attempt to figure out not only what happened to this man (and why), but also who he is in the first place.
First are foremost, I liked the structure of this novel a lot, and how the author chose to tell the story. It alternates POV's, first starting with John Derrick in the 'present day', as he investigates the death of this mysterious man and tires to navigate small village politics; the following chapter would be told from the perspective of Rebecca, beginning a week prior to the murder and slowly counting down the days leading up to it.
This sort of structure really keeps me interested, especially in a mystery novel. I spent much of my time trying to figure out how Rebecca's flashback chapters related to John's present day ones, asking myself whether the next character to be introduced would be the victim, or indeed the perpetrator. It added a certain level of intrigue which I really enjoyed.
I did however feel as though I'd been starting reading in the middle of a series, if that makes sense? We got into the thick of the mystery quite quickly, and there weren't that many 'character moments'; I did check and see if this book was like book #2 or #3 in a series, but it wasn't. I think then this novel would've benefitted from a bit of a slower beginning, because even by the end I feel as though I didn't get to know John that well.
Which leads into one other gripe of mine: John, I found, wasn't all that interesting as a protagonist. All I picked up on from him was that he was a coroner and he loves his wife; he just came across a little bit flat, like his purpose was to only be a vessel for progression, rather than being a fully-fleshed out character in his own right. I found myself longing for Rebecca's chapters whenever there was a 'John' chapter.
Rebecca was a much more interesting character and I found her story much more interesting. She is a young maid in a household, in a relationship with her fellow maid Elizabeth, when her master's cousin, Thomas Wright, arrives to watch the house as they attend a funeral. As you can probably imagine, a complex web of deceit, relationships and secrecy weaves itself until the truth of the murder reveals itself. She was an incredibly interesting character to follow, and I was pleasantly surprised by the sapphic relationship. At the risk of revealing a spoiler, I also was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the sapphic couple survives the novel; in novels like this, I fear they usually don't.
All in all, I did really enjoy this novel, despite the oddly speedy beginning and the unexplored potential of John as a character. I would keep an eye out for this author's other works in the future.
October 11, 2026
It’s refreshing to read a historical mystery that takes place in 1585 since they’re usually set a few centuries later. Alternating between the first-person narratives of the coroner and a serving maid, Death by Misadventure opens when a knock on the door pulls John Derrick out of his bed (and his wife) as he’s called to examine a dead body. What appears to be a simple case of a drunk man accidently fallen into the wheel in the millpond is complicated by the fact that not only is he stark naked, but his “yard” has been cut off. Derrick appoints twelve jurors to help him discover what happened, but he also must quell their terror that a witch has come to the village to rob them of their manhood. Meanwhile, jealousy and opportunity have motivated Rebecca Laurence, a maidservant on a farm, to explore the pleasures of love with her master’s cousin, after she learns that her bedfellow and longtime lover Lizzie engages in carnal relations with her brother-in-law when she’s away tending to her sister’s confinement. Jane Bitomsky’s novel is humorous and amorous by turns as it follows first, the self-aggrandizing coroner’s attempt to control his bumbling jurors and discover whether the dead man died by malice or misadventure, and second, Becca’s entanglements with her philandering father, her disillusioned stepmother, her new and old lovers, and the other amusing characters who comprise the village of Bramley.
Beneath the bawdy fun that’s characteristic of a good Elizabethan drama, Bitomsky reveals the razor’s edge of sexism on which women lived during that period in English history. Ranging from the coroner’s benign underestimation of women to sexual double standards to domestic abuse and the threat of sexual violence, the backdrop against which her characters move belie the novel’s good-humored veneer. But the story remains light and amusing, especially because Bitomsky also shows how women used sexism to their advantage as best they could. At no time does the novel give away the ending, but the revelation of the culprit doesn’t come as an implausible surprise. My only frustration was that the abrupt ending left one subplot unresolved.
Joshua Griffin (John Derrick) and Frankie Porter (Rebecca Laurence) are both excellent narrators. The coroner takes himself and his abilities way too seriously, and Griffin captures that perfectly while simultaneously maintaining the novel’s comic overtone. Porter’s portrayal of Rebecca’s exploration of sex, love, and dysfunctional family dynamics projects the character’s sense of curiosity and surprise as she navigates new emotional territory. Even when Rebecca’s feelings get hurt, Porter keeps it light.
I enjoyed this book because it’s fun, appropriately bawdy, and generically unique. That is, I read a lot of historical mysteries and this one, happily, doesn’t fit the mold.
Thank you to NetGalley; Lake Union Publishing; and Brilliance Audio for an advance listener copy.
Beneath the bawdy fun that’s characteristic of a good Elizabethan drama, Bitomsky reveals the razor’s edge of sexism on which women lived during that period in English history. Ranging from the coroner’s benign underestimation of women to sexual double standards to domestic abuse and the threat of sexual violence, the backdrop against which her characters move belie the novel’s good-humored veneer. But the story remains light and amusing, especially because Bitomsky also shows how women used sexism to their advantage as best they could. At no time does the novel give away the ending, but the revelation of the culprit doesn’t come as an implausible surprise. My only frustration was that the abrupt ending left one subplot unresolved.
Joshua Griffin (John Derrick) and Frankie Porter (Rebecca Laurence) are both excellent narrators. The coroner takes himself and his abilities way too seriously, and Griffin captures that perfectly while simultaneously maintaining the novel’s comic overtone. Porter’s portrayal of Rebecca’s exploration of sex, love, and dysfunctional family dynamics projects the character’s sense of curiosity and surprise as she navigates new emotional territory. Even when Rebecca’s feelings get hurt, Porter keeps it light.
I enjoyed this book because it’s fun, appropriately bawdy, and generically unique. That is, I read a lot of historical mysteries and this one, happily, doesn’t fit the mold.
Thank you to NetGalley; Lake Union Publishing; and Brilliance Audio for an advance listener copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.4/5 Stars
A male corpse was found, wedged under a waterwheel, its genitalia missing. John Derrick, a 1500s coroner, is tasked with finding out the identity of the corpse and what exactly caused his death.
This book is a murder mystery that does a great job at subverting your expectations through its thematic use of prejudice and misogyny. There are many suspects littered throughout this story and depicts them all equal candidates up to the near end. If you’re someone who likes to try to figure out the end before it is actually revealed, this is a fun one.
The prose, although aptly relaying the language and vibe of the 1500s, can be hard to get into at first. The story lulls a bit at midway point as Derrick attempts to solve a secondary murder that was seemingly unrelated to the first. Despite this, the humor written is quite entertaining; especially when it is about 1500s villager superstitions. E.g. Dont swim near the waterwheel lest the eel bite off your penis! Dont touch the witch lest she magically chops off your stick (I think the penis ones are funny).
Misogyny and prejudice is a big theme in this book; women are often depicted as the lesser of the two genders and are widely accepted to be as such but are also the ones shown to outsmart the men. The women themselves are not necessarily fighting how society perceives them but in their own private ways, take agency against their own struggles, whether or not this is recognised by the men in their lives.
By the end, the book subverts your own perceptions and expectations of each character; ones that appeared one way are revealed to actually be another. This further highlights the running theme of misjudgement based on assumed presumptions.
Overall, quite an entertaining read for those in the mood for a lighthearted murder mystery and who doesn’t mind one set in the distant past. Be forewarned of the writing style as I expect this may turn some people off who were initially drawn to the premise.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC! This book comes out October 2026.
A male corpse was found, wedged under a waterwheel, its genitalia missing. John Derrick, a 1500s coroner, is tasked with finding out the identity of the corpse and what exactly caused his death.
This book is a murder mystery that does a great job at subverting your expectations through its thematic use of prejudice and misogyny. There are many suspects littered throughout this story and depicts them all equal candidates up to the near end. If you’re someone who likes to try to figure out the end before it is actually revealed, this is a fun one.
The prose, although aptly relaying the language and vibe of the 1500s, can be hard to get into at first. The story lulls a bit at midway point as Derrick attempts to solve a secondary murder that was seemingly unrelated to the first. Despite this, the humor written is quite entertaining; especially when it is about 1500s villager superstitions. E.g. Dont swim near the waterwheel lest the eel bite off your penis! Dont touch the witch lest she magically chops off your stick (I think the penis ones are funny).
Misogyny and prejudice is a big theme in this book; women are often depicted as the lesser of the two genders and are widely accepted to be as such but are also the ones shown to outsmart the men. The women themselves are not necessarily fighting how society perceives them but in their own private ways, take agency against their own struggles, whether or not this is recognised by the men in their lives.
By the end, the book subverts your own perceptions and expectations of each character; ones that appeared one way are revealed to actually be another. This further highlights the running theme of misjudgement based on assumed presumptions.
Overall, quite an entertaining read for those in the mood for a lighthearted murder mystery and who doesn’t mind one set in the distant past. Be forewarned of the writing style as I expect this may turn some people off who were initially drawn to the premise.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC! This book comes out October 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay babes…First let me thank Claire at Terrace Public Relations for sending me both the ARC and the finished copy of Death by Misadventure. I genuinely don’t know how she knew I needed a spontaneous little detour from my usual reads but apparently I did because this was such a refreshing change of pace!
Set in Elizabethan England in 1585 we’re dropped into the village of Bramley where a man is found dead beneath a waterwheel… naked… and missing a VERY important piece of anatomy.🫣😂 And yes you read that correctly babes.
Enter Coroner John Derrick, who has to figure out exactly what happened, who this mysterious man was, and who is responsible. But while John is working through the evidence, sixteen year old maid Rebecca Laurence is quietly collecting secrets of her own.
We get the investigation from John’s side while Rebecca’s chapters take us back through the events leading up to the murder. Watching those two timelines connect kept me curious about how everything was going to come together.
There are secrets, suspicious characters, questionable motives and enough twists to keep you guessing. I had suspicions about where things were going but the journey there was what kept me entertained.
There’s misogyny, prejudice, assumptions, and the ways women navigate a society that constantly underestimates them.
It’s quirky. It’s darkly funny. It’s weird as hell. 😂 And that combination WORKED.
If you're looking for something completely different from the typical murder mystery, Death by Misadventure might be your kind of strange little adventure.
A bizarre body.
A suspicious village.
A coroner looking for answers.
A young maid who knows more than she should.
Secrets everywhere.
And a mystery that absolutely refuses to be normal.
Thank you again to Claire at Terrace Public Relations for the ARC AND finished copy! 🫶🏾
Set in Elizabethan England in 1585 we’re dropped into the village of Bramley where a man is found dead beneath a waterwheel… naked… and missing a VERY important piece of anatomy.🫣😂 And yes you read that correctly babes.
Enter Coroner John Derrick, who has to figure out exactly what happened, who this mysterious man was, and who is responsible. But while John is working through the evidence, sixteen year old maid Rebecca Laurence is quietly collecting secrets of her own.
We get the investigation from John’s side while Rebecca’s chapters take us back through the events leading up to the murder. Watching those two timelines connect kept me curious about how everything was going to come together.
There are secrets, suspicious characters, questionable motives and enough twists to keep you guessing. I had suspicions about where things were going but the journey there was what kept me entertained.
There’s misogyny, prejudice, assumptions, and the ways women navigate a society that constantly underestimates them.
It’s quirky. It’s darkly funny. It’s weird as hell. 😂 And that combination WORKED.
If you're looking for something completely different from the typical murder mystery, Death by Misadventure might be your kind of strange little adventure.
A bizarre body.
A suspicious village.
A coroner looking for answers.
A young maid who knows more than she should.
Secrets everywhere.
And a mystery that absolutely refuses to be normal.
Thank you again to Claire at Terrace Public Relations for the ARC AND finished copy! 🫶🏾
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews