The Riddle of the Roses

Silver and Grey #8

by Mary Lancaster

Who left flowers for the dead?

When the mysterious Sebastian Kellar asks Constance and Solomon to investigate the tragic death of brilliant young opera singer, Caterina di Ripoli, they can find nothing untoward at the scene – except the presence of red roses that had not been there the night before she died. What they find more suspicious is Kellar’s insistence that they keep looking.

As Caterina’s tangled personal life becomes clearer, Constance and Solomon are drawn deeper into the mystery. If there truly was a murder, then they have three suspects, Caterina’s husband, her lover, and Kellar himself, whose past has touched not only Caterina, but Constance’s disreputable and maddening mother, Juliet.

All Constance’s protective instincts are aroused. But each of the three men have motive and opportunity, and making a mistake could be deadly…

Tropes You Victorian era mysteryAmateur sleuth duoRomantic partners solving crimeProtective heroineDangerous secrets from the pastFamily scandalMorally gray suspectSlow-burn romanceMurder among high society
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Silver and Grey Series
Book 1 - Murder in Moonlight
Book 2 - Evidence of Evil
Book 3 - Ghost in the Garden
Book 4 - The Trick of the Treasure
Book 5 - Word of the Wicked
Book 6 – Vengeance in Venice
Book 7 – Death on the Doorstep
Book 8 – The Riddle of the Roses
Book 9 – Corpse in the Canal

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2026

About the author

Mary Lancaster is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. She lives in Scotland with her husband, one of three grown-up kids, and a small dog with a big personality.

Her first literary love was historical fiction, a genre which she relishes mixing up with romance and adventure in her own writing. Several of her novels feature actual historical characters as diverse as Hungarian revolutionaries, medieval English outlaws, and a family of eternally rebellious royal Scots. To say nothing of Vlad the Impaler.
Her most recent books are light fun Regency romances, with occasional forays into Victorian mystery.

Connect with Mary on-line:
Website: http://www.MaryLancaster.com
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Reviews

[Margaret]

Constance Silver and Solomon Grey have taken a case they do not want. A friend of the young deceased opera singer, doesn't believe she died in her sleep. As Constance and Solomon start asking questions, they end up with three suspects, including the gentleman who hired them. Just when they are close to solving the case, more information leads them into another direction. Sol and Constance have a very close and loving relationship. Working together to catch a killer is their forte. One of my favorite mystery romance couples. Partially closed bedroom door.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of the book from Netgalley.

[Petula]

This is more a serial than a series, as it follows the same two main characters. Because of that i think the books should be read in order. Although any one of them would be fun on its own.
Our favourite Investigators have been brought another case, or is it even a case?
That is the mystery they have to solve. Has there been a crime?
Who is the villain?
We get lost of suspects but no evidence. We also get a surprisingly wonderful ending.
I love the characters in this series, even the secondary ones. They are unusual and from different classes of the population.
Great fun.

[Lyn D Rose]

This eighth book in The Silver and Grey series was an interesting and well written historical murder mystery historical romance. The intrigue, suspense, and complex interesting characters with mind-boggling twists of who done it were very engaging. I enjoyed having the mother a part of this exciting and satisfying story. I highly recommend reading!

[Winnifred D.]

Tropes: MC's team up to solve a mystery; class/racial difference
Steam level: 1-2 (mild sexual situations)
Part of a series, and I do recommend that you read previous books first.

3.75 stars rounded up. I've enjoyed each of the books in this series, which can be best described as cozy historical mystery with a touch of romance. Constance and Solomon's chemistry continues to be strong here, although, as always, intimate scenes are not described graphically. The man from the past who knew Con's mom Juliet comes back into the picture, and their scenes together are sweet. The subplot involving Con and Sol's social differences is believable, and while there's a happy ending of course, I liked how they worked it out. There is nothing necessarily confusing that's brought up from any of the characters' pasts, but in order to appreciate the relationships it does help if you've read the previous books.

I also thought the pacing was fast. There is nothing that bogs down the central mystery, that of a young, beautiful singer who died of presumably natural causes. The man who had been Juliet's lover was also a part of this young lady's past, and he hires Con and Sol to investigate. My attention stayed strongly focused for the first 70%.

Toward the end, however, I felt that too many coincidences between two of the suspects' backgrounds popped up and the trail of deaths/crimes was hard to swallow. POSSIBLE SPOILERS........................................The baddie is simply unhinged, and it's hard to believe that this person could have committed murder in such a stealthy fashion (it never really is explained why there were no signs of struggle). There were a couple other characters who I thought could have been better baddies if given more backstory. I was hoping there would be further delving into the world of opera, but that was a brief portion of the storyline. Also, there's a red herring in a last-minute POV switch that makes a suspect look darker than the reader is apparently supposed to think the person is once the dust is settled.

Bottom line: Con and Sol are always an engaging couple. The mystery ends up feeling like a bit of a MacGuffin.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my honest, voluntary review. Thanks to the author, Dragonblade, and Net Galley for this opportunity.

[Elle]

4/5! Really liked it, but I had some complaints.

I found the mystery really well written; you didn't figure out who it was like 15% into the book. I thought reasonable suspicion and clues were put on all of the suspects. However, around maybe 70% (? Not too sure, and too lazy to check, but definitely around there), I started losing interest. It was also around there that I figured out who the murderer was, purely because the author emphasized the suspicion of the non-murderer way too much. Still, I really enjoyed being able to solve the mystery, and there not being an absurd twist at the end.

Thought both MCs were pretty fun too. I haven't read the previous books in the series, so I'm not sure how these two came to be together and their backgrounds, but it didn't really hinder my enjoyment of this book. I really didn't care about the mom (Juliet?), though. Her romance or whatever with the dude felt like it was thrown in there, and I'm unsure why it's there or why I should care. I just thought she was a big ol' mess.

My main complaint, though, is that I really hated their methods of sleuthing. Like some of the things they were doing seemed downright illegal. What do you mean you're breaking and entering? I get that they didn't have our laws back then, but still... there's a reason police need warrants and stuff. And that illegally obtained evidence is thrown out in court. Like, going around talking to neighbors and stuff is one thing, but picking locks???

Also, frankly, I didn't care much about the victim. Obviously I'm not condoning murder, but like... by the time this book opened, the victim was already dead, and the only things we knew about her was that she was a singer who cheated on her husband. And truthfully, the fact that everyone around her kept saying that she loved her husband or whatever just kind of made me hate her more. Sure, the mystery was fun, but like. Yeah, idc either way.

Overall, I liked it fine though! Pretty fun. Not sure I'd read the other books in the series though.

Thank you to NG, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!

[Anne]

The Riddle of the Roses by Mary Lancaster is a Silver and Grey investigation. Sebastian Kellar, the man who had helped them on their honeymoon has arrived back to England and has made contact with them to investigate the murder of his young friend, Catarina, who was a talented opera singer. She had heart difficulties and so everyone, but Kellar, believed she had died of natural causes, in her sleep. Mrs. Silver warned him they were expensive and there did not appear to be a crime, but he insisted. They spoke to the husband and the servants and it seemed the death was, indeed, natural causes, but there were a few unanswered questions. Meanwhile in a sub-plot, Constance’s (Silver) mother, who had known Kellar many years earlier, was possibly in danger from this man they didn’t trust. The investigations carried on.

Silver and Grey are amazing characters: Constance Silver is a madam at a very expensive brothel. She hires women who need help and helps them, including leaving the life if that is what they desire. Solomon Grey is a Jamaican with black ancestry. A very wealthy and influential man, having been successful in business and was respected by other wealthy men. It was now his mission to see his wife accepted as well. It turns out it was murder and although they were distracted by the wrong suspect for awhile, they figured it out in the end. It was a good old-fashioned murder investigation, solved primarily by looking at the evidence. Quite a decent book..

I was invited to read the Riddle of the Roses by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #MaryLancaster #TheRiddleOfTheRoses

[Anonymous 5]

This was such an entertaining Victorian mystery with just the right amount of drama, romance, and suspense. I went into it expecting a simple murder mystery, but the story turned out to be much more layered, especially once Caterina’s complicated relationships started coming to light.
Constance and Solomon were easily my favorite part of the book. Their partnership felt natural, and I loved the slow-burn tension between them while they worked through the case together. Constance especially stood out to me because of how protective and determined she was, even when things became dangerous. Their dynamic gave the story warmth in between all the darker moments.
The mystery itself kept me guessing for most of the book. Every suspect had believable motives, and Sebastian Kellar was especially intriguing because it felt impossible to know whether he was helping or hiding something. The red roses left behind added such a creepy, emotional touch to the story and made the whole mystery feel more haunting.
Overall, this was an atmospheric and engaging mystery with strong characters, emotional secrets, and a romance that quietly grew in the background. Perfect if you enjoy amateur sleuths, historical mysteries, morally gray suspects, and a little romantic tension mixed with murder.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review. 

[Janet]

When the mysterious Sebastian Kellar asks Constance and Solomon to investigate the tragic death of brilliant young opera singer, Caterina di Ripoli, they can find nothing untoward at the scene – except the presence of red roses that had not been there the night before she died. As Caterina’s tangled personal life becomes clearer, Constance and Solomon are drawn deeper into the mystery. If there truly was a murder, then they have three suspects, Caterina’s husband, her lover, and Kellar himself.
The eighth outing for Solomon & Constance & another engrossing mystery. Three suspects who all have secrets & as the couple dig into their pasts the finger points at each suspect. I was kept guessing. I also loved how close Solomon & Constance have become, their relationship both professional & personal has grown & deepened throughout the series. There was also an interesting development with Constance’s mother Juliet – I look forward to seeing how it develops
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Bridget Love to read Lewis]

We have Sebastian Kellar who does not believe that a woman he felt more like a daughter for died of natural causes!
He hires Constance & Sol but they initially feel there is no real mystery? That she died from natural causes!
But there is a tangled web of Sebastian who only tells half truths, the husband and the lover! The clues are adding up my sending them in separate directions!
There is a sort of redemption in this story for Constance’s mother Juliet may soon have her own HEA. I love the fact that he accepts her past and all her mistakes! He doesn’t want her to be a secret!
With three suspects and several dead ends will Constance finally get a break on the case! Sol has his hands full convincing Constance of much the same to be his wife, his hostess his everything!
But they have a murderer to catch first! Bravo
I received an ARC copy from Netgalley!

[Mary Hart]

5 stars

Lovely story. Constance and Solomon are asked by a diplomat, that we met in a Venice, to investigate the death of an opera singer.
They are dubious about the whole thing but notice some red roses and wonder who put them in the room, when and why. The mystery deepens and Constance feels protective of her Mom as the diplomat, Kellar appears to want to reconnect with Juliet. With Constances other business she knows many people and is able to research the main protaganists.

What's great is that we have the continued delight of Sol & Constance's relationship as well as the other characters. I heartly recommend. :)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Erin Snow]

I have never heard of Mary Lancaster or her books before NetGalley.

This is the 8th book in the series and it is listed as historical romance. I would lean more towards murder mystery than that but I am not disappointed at all!

There was a struggle for me in the beginning to follow since characters from previous books were mentioned. However following the plot was my priority and I was able to do that well. Mary Lancaster writes very interesting and likable characters. Every time there was a new clue I was trying to figure out who it incriminated. My head was spinning in the best way.

I have nothing negative to say about this book it was a good easy read, very enjoyable! She has many other books and series and I will be looking into them!

[Anne-Mammy]

This series at first was very promising and the early books, establishing the loving connection between Solomon and Constance were great, but I found this latest instalment rather disappointing. The story seemed to be going in circles, not really moving forward and the connection between Constance's mother Juliet and Kellar, was not really clear or convinçing. Throughout, the enquiry was plagued by lack of concrete evidence and when it finally came, I thought it was rather far fetched. There are hints that further mysteries will involve inspector Harris or David, Solomon's brother; that might help breathe new life in an otherwise tired series.
Although each story is a stand alone, it is better to read them in order to fully understand the development of the main characters.

[Peggy]

Silver and Grey have another confounding mystery. Sebastian Kellar, whom Solomon and Constance met in Venice, has come to them to investigate the death of Caterina di Ripoli, a young opera singer. They can find no definitive proof that she was murdered, and nothing out of ordinary in her room except a vase of red roses that, according to her maid, was not there the night before. Who left the roses? When some secrets of Caterina’s past come to light, Constance and Solomon are drawn to the mystery. Three people present suspicious pasts and connections to Caterina. Did one of them kill her? This is another captivating episode in this entertaining series, well-written, with danger, suspense, interesting characters, and some lovely surprises.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Cri]

Enjoyable and mysterious story as I got used to throughout the series, I love reading how Constance and Solomon are growing both as a couple and as persons.

The return of Kellar and the insight into Constance's mother past provide a nice background to the narration.

Until the very end I was unsure about the culprit and that kept me guessing and devise several different theories.

I will wait for the next book with bated breath!

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

[Pamela Blatter]

Constance and Solomon are a joy to read about as they cement their business and personal relationship.
They fight the prejudices of others both personally and in their marriage to each other.
A murder and a mystery finds them investigating clues again.
They determine three possible suspects but it is hard to discern the exact motive.
Their sweet sensual encounters are beautiful and private.
Her mother is an enigma and figures into the storyline.
The series is well worth the time but could be read as a standalone.
I received an ARC but the honest opinion is my own.

[Cassandra]

This is my favorite mystery series by DragonBlade currently and it did not disappoint again. We are back with Silver and Grey and company on another mystery adventure. I love all the side characters, I want Janey to have HEA in this series. We learn more about her mother as well and her past. The mystery wasn't my favorite, but these two are a dynamic duo bouncing ideas and questions off of one another. I love our couple, they are so absolutely good together. I think the next book is the last and I am going to be very sad.

[CG]

Another HEA

I have loved this series since book one. Mary Lancaster had created a seemingly mismatched couple who solve mysteries together while navigating their true feelings for each other amid the confines of society. And this book delivers. There are so many red herrings that it's hard to tell who is the killer until almost the very end. And the ending? A HEA not only for Constance and Solomon but also family. If you're new to the series, start with book one as this delightful relationship builds and surprises you.

[Carol]

Another case for Constance and Solomon this one is as suspicious death they are asked to investigate but an acquaintance they met during their honeymoon. As always the investigation involves drama and suspense with a little bit of romance.
I really enjoyed the book as I do with all of Mary Lancaster books and thoroughly recommend it to anybody
Thanks to Netgalley and Dragonblade publishing for my arc copy

[Mindy B (reader_of_the_lost_arcs)]

The way Mary Lancaster had me thinking everyone in this book was guilty! I had no idea who it was going to be. This has been the best book so far in the Silver and Grey series. Constance and Solomon belong together and are a great couple. Can we also talk about how hot this book is, and yet it's closed door?? And how Sol is always walking around sans clothes?? Good job, great series!

Thank you to Dragonblade for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

[Amy]

Sebastian and Constance are asked to look into the death of a young woman. Someone suspects foul play, was it the husband, the lover or perhaps the person who is asking the question? Great story, I can't wait for the next in the series. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

[Lesley]

Three suspects but which one murdered opera singer Caterina? The husband? The lover? The diplomat? Another page turner in the Silver and Grey series. I like that I feel fully invested in the lives of Solomon and Constance and what happens to their family and friends.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kathy]

A lovely mystery with a touch of romance. While this is book 8 in the series, I was able to pick up the threads of the characters and world fairly quickly. The mystery is pleasantly twisty, making it hard to guess the killer, and the writing is fast paced and fun. This book was good enough that I'm going to go back and start book 1. I can't wait to get introduced to Constance and Soloman again!

[Shirley Hamlod]

Another good book in this series. I like how Solomon and Constance work together to solve the crimes. This time, it doesn’t appear that a crime has actually been committed but our duo plod on until they find the murderer of the talented opera singer. There are 3 main suspects but no evidence to pin the murder on any of them. An interesting and complex plot.

[Layne]

Oh This Was Marvelous!!

I just knew I had figured this one out! I finally figured out the twists and turns in Ms. Lancaster's mind!! Oh yeah? No I hadn't 't. Not even close! But the ending?? Had me in tears. Of all the Silver and Grey series, this will be my very favorite!

[Jill Bayley]

Brilliant, as usual

Brilliant, as usual. All the anticipated twists and turns in the plot and the wonderfully observed characters - as usual, all the suspects continue to be truly viable potential perpetrators until the very end.

[Susan]

They are back! Another compelling mystery for Silver and Grey to solve! See my review at Reading World

[Faye Ottaway]

The Riddle of the Roses

Another wonderful instalment of the writing ability of Mary Lancaster she writes a truly wonderful story each one is proof of her expertise. I think I have read every book she has written and I still can’t get enough. Well done again.

[Stephanie Lambert]

A bouncing Ball off Rocks ! ?

I have nothing to dislike , I'm sure that anyone who thinks they have everything figured out, what happens next , are amazed at which way the Ball has bounced.

[Micky Pepper]

Kept me guessing!

A lovely addition to a lovely series!

Just as I had an “Aha!” moment the story moved on, providing a credible alternative theory - which again, didn’t take long to be challenged!

I do hope there’s a #9 in the creative pipeline…

[Alicia Marsland]

A very puzzling puzzle! Although, the middle of the mystery dragged a little.

Although, the middle of the mystery dragged a little. The two main characters went hither, thither and yon and seemed to get nowhere for quite awhile, but there was a good payoff at the end.