Murder in St. James's Park

Lady Worthing Mysteries #4

by Vanessa Riley

Perfect for readers who love Bridgerton with a dark twist―a vibrant historical mystery series that embraces the true diversity of the Regency era.

Confessions from beyond the grave throw Lady Worthing into turmoil . . .

London, 1807. Lady Abigail Worthing’s marriage of convenience to James Monroe, the Lord Worthing, is over. But James is out of her life quicker than Abigail anticipated when she finds his body in St. James’s Park.

Shocked by her husband’s brutal murder, Abigail is determined to catch his killer. But when she discovers that James’s transgressions ran far deeper and darker than she thought possible, Abigail questions her own judgment. Did she make a terrible mistake when solving a past crime, and does the key to James’s death lie in the letters he was writing shortly before his demise?

With her neighbor and good friend Stapleton Henderson by her side, Abigail confronts jealousy, resentment, and stunning betrayal that will shake her to her core . . .

This sharply observed, captivating Regency mystery series featuring a smart and fearless mixed-race aristocrat heroine with a notorious family history is a must-read for historical mystery fans.

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

I'm Vanessa Riley, and I write Historical Fiction of dazzling multi-culture communities of the 1750s to 1830s, The Revolutionary Years. I write for readers who treasure and share with friends books that showcase women, power, strong sisterhoods, and love.

Web: https://vanessariley.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessarile...
FB: https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRiley...

Reviews

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever finished a book and wanted to start it again? That’s how I felt when I got the end of this book because it was so full of details that I’ve been waiting for that I think a second pass will help me soak everything up even better.

Vanessa Riley has been dripping information about Abigail Carrington Monroe‘s backstory for three books. We have known that something big led to her marriage. The return of James, the husband who has been at sea for three years, at the end of the last book was a hint that we would get more information in this installment. Well, we did not just get more information. We got the mother load! It was so satisfying to finally get the full story.

Now, how do we talk about this without spoiling it because the person murdered is kind of important. Suffice it to say Abbie’s husband is revealed and events that led up to their marriage are shocking. We also get to see Abbie’s father and sister in all their horrific glory. On Abbie’s side are her wonderful neighbor, Stapleton Henderson (a potential love interest), his sister, Abbie’s staff, her godfather, and her cousin. We also get the wonderful dogs - Abbie’s little terrier, Teacup, and Stapleton’s greyhounds, Santisma and Silvereye.

The historical details I’ve come to expect from Vanessa Riley are here. Abbie has been working in the abolitionist movement all along and news from Haiti further solidifies the setting. Some characters’ investments in plantations are revealed as well (how could you!?!).

While this could be read without prior knowledge of the series, as it almost serves as an origin story for Abbie, it’s deeply satisfying for anyone who has read the earlier books.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Vanessa Riley and although is the latest book in a series, I found it surprisingly easy to get into. I had no trouble keeping up with the characters, their relationship or the plot and I never felt like I was missing too much from the previous books.
Lady Abigail's long estranged husband has returned from the colonies, but his homecoming ends up in murder. Their marriage has been troubled for some time and it was already coming to an end, yet Abigail feels compelled to investigate his death and make sure he receives justice.
As she begins her investigation, Abigail is supported by her neighbor, her cousin and her godfather. At the same time, she finds herself remembering how she first met her husband, their courtship and their marriage. These memories gradually reveal that the man she thought she knew was not quite who she expected him to be.
The deeper Abigail digs into the circumstances surrounding his death, the more secrets she uncovers, not only about her husband but also about her own family. Secrets that might have remained buried if he had never returned from the colonies.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Abigail's relationship with her neighbor. I really enjoyed the support, trust and understanding between them, and I particularly liked the somewhat open ending to their relationship. I'm hoping this will develop further in the next books in the series.
The mystery itself is well constructed, with some clever clues placed throughout the story. The characters are complex and varied, including a few particularly unlikeable ones who make you hope they might be the culprits. I enjoyed trying to figure out who could be trusted and what secrets where still waiting to be uncovered.
The book also does a great job of immersing the reader in the regency period. Alongside the mystery, it explores some sensitive and important subjects, including mix race families, the abolition of slavery and violence within marriage. These elements add depth to the story and give the historical setting more substance.
Overall, this is a nice story. It was an engaging, page turning mystery with compelling characters, a well developed plot and plenty of secrets to uncover. Despite starting with the final book in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I will definitely be reading more of Vanessa Riley's books.


*** This was an ARC from NetGalley.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in St James’s Park is a sharply observed, richly atmospheric Regency mystery that blends social intrigue with genuine emotional weight. Lady Abigail Worthing has always been a compelling heroine — smart, fearless, and navigating a society that would prefer she stay quiet — but this instalment throws her into turmoil from the very first chapter. Her marriage of convenience to Lord Worthing is already over, yet she never expects to find his body in St James’s Park, murdered and abandoned beneath the trees.

The shock of his death is only the beginning. As Abigail begins to investigate, the portrait of her husband darkens in unsettling ways. His transgressions run deeper than she ever imagined, and the letters he was writing before his death hint at secrets capable of shaking her judgment — and her confidence in past decisions. The novel handles this emotional unraveling beautifully, letting Abigail confront not just betrayal but the possibility that she may have misread the danger around her.

Her friendship with Stapleton Henderson remains one of the series’ great strengths. Their dynamic is warm, steady, and threaded with quiet complexity, offering Abigail both support and challenge as she digs into jealousy, resentment, and long‑buried truths. The Regency setting is vibrant and refreshingly diverse, full of salons, parks, and drawing rooms where whispers travel faster than facts and reputation can be both shield and weapon.

The mystery itself is tightly constructed, full of twists that feel earned and revelations that deepen rather than simply shock. As Abigail edges closer to the truth, the stakes rise in a way that feels both personal and perilous. The past refuses to stay buried, and the cost of uncovering it is higher than she ever expected.

Elegant, clever, and captivating, Murder in St James’s Park is a standout addition to a series that continues to redefine Regency mystery. A fearless heroine, a richly drawn world, and a case that cuts close to the bone — historical mystery fans will be thoroughly absorbed.

With thanks to Vanessa Riley, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[boogleloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars: This is Riley's fourth entry in the Lady Worthing Mysteries series which is a Paranormal Historical Mystery set in England, 1807. Featuring a psychic mixed-race aristocrat lady and abolitionist as she finds herself turning sleuth, with help from her neighbor and good friend, to uncover her husband's many secrets after discovering him brutally murdered. Despite his abusive behavior and her determination to divorce him, she's set on finding who killed him. When she discovers that her husband's transgressions ran far deeper and darker than she thought possible, she questions her own judgment. Did she make a terrible mistake when solving a past crime, and does the key to his death lie in the letters he was writing shortly before his demise? She'll confront jealousy, resentment and a stunning betrayal that shakes her to her core in her race to catch the killer before she becomes the next victim.

With plenty of twists and turns, Riley has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. The paranormal elements are minimal; the MC has visions/feelings that she's learning to decipher. Told in dual POV, Riley's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced. Riley's historical research's thorough and interesting without overshadowing the mystery plot and provides a great sense of time and place.

Riley touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Murder in Westminster.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and ARC provided by Joffe Books | Severn House in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest book in the Lady Worthing Mystery series. What a page turner this book was! I could barely put it down until I finished it. Lady Worthing's estranged husband is murdered and it leads to an incredible amount of suspects and motives that takes the whole book to untangle. This book takes us back to Lady Worthing’s past and explains how she became involved with her husband and how she became estranged from most of her family. This was a truly complicated mystery and I loved every minute of trying to figure out who did it. It’s also interesting for me, as an American, to learn about slavery and the end of slavery in other countries. I learned a lot through this book and really appreciated the author’s meticulous research and notes at the end of the book. Even though this book had a truly devastating conclusion, there was also hope for the future and Abigail and Stapleton. I look forward to reading more of their adventures and can’t wait for the next book to come out. Abigail is a wonderful heroine and detective and she deserves many more adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

London, 1807. Lady Abigail Worthing’s marriage of convenience to James Monroe, the Lord Worthing, is over. But James is out of her life quicker than Abigail anticipated when she finds his body in St. James’s Park. Shocked by her husband’s brutal murder, Abigail is determined to catch his killer. But when she discovers that James’s transgressions ran far deeper and darker than she thought possible, Abigail questions her own judgment. With her neighbour and good friend Stapleton Henderson by her side, Abigail confronts jealousy, resentment, and stunning betrayal that will shake her to her core
The fourth book in the series & I thoroughly enjoyed it. Abigail has been in a unhappy marriage of convenience & her husband James has been absent much of the time but still managed to make demands. A well written book with strong characters & a well paced story. I really like Abigail & Stapleton & like the dynamics between them. There are twists, turns & surprises as Abigail investigates. I look forward to more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advanced reader copy of Murder in St. James’s Park. All opinions and comments are my own.

I enjoyed this continuation of Abigail Monroe, Lady Worthing’s story (this being the fourth book in the Regency-era, historical mystery series by Vanessa Riley), until I didn’t. Oh, the characters are well-drawn, the time period conformed to, the snippets of history interwoven into the plot cleverly used as context and motivation. And as the centerpiece, we have the murder of Lord Worthing to tie everything together. But once it became a constant reminder of ‘mea culpa’ and hand-wringing, and the plot became a confused morass of who’s guilty and who isn’t, and of what crime, by that point I just wanted the whole business over with.

There’s a rather shocking finish, and the right people get what’s coming to them. Lady Worthing is finally free to get on with her life. One can only hope. To deal with more mysteries, if the final pages are any indication. Hopefully future books can refrain from such convoluted situations, and tell a more straightforward story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 4th installment of this series. I recently read Riley's book "Fire Sword & Sea" and loved it (not part of this series, just a plug for her other book). Abigail Carrington Monroe's long-traveling husband finally returns home, creating more chaos in her life. She spends the book revisiting her meeting, courtship and marriage to James and her family's involvement. His murder makes her wonder if he was ever the man she thought he was and also what had changed him into the person she hid from in fear. With the help of her neighbor, Stapleton, his sister, her cousin and others, they try to solve the mystery and allow Abigail to stay in the house she loves. There are several unlikeable characters you hope are the culprit just to send them off to jail, but some are Abby's family. She really goes through a roller coaster of emotions in this book and is not sure who she can trust.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[claudia reads it all · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is the 4th one in the Lady Worthing series, it does include the origin story of the Worthing marriage, which I enjoyed very much.

Abigail has solved murders before, but this time - oh, this time, it's personal. You see, her husband, who just came back from the colonies, has mistreated her when he ends up dead. Despite the marriage having been over for a while and being on the receiving end of his temper, Abigail wants to figure out who killed Lord Worthing.

As Abigail delves into her husband's dealings, she finds more and more shocking details, and along with her neighbor (possible love interest? hey, she's free now!) finds more details than she ever wanted.

Vanessa Riley has the Regency world down pat, and I love her characters, Abigail is a heroine to root for, and Teacup! I love Teacup so much.

I will now go read the first three books in the series.

[Phil Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely murder mystery set in Regency London. Agatha Cristie visits Bridgerton.

 

It’s London in the early 1800s, a great playground for the wealthy, and a great scene to set this murder mystery. Vanessa Riley certainly knows how to set the scene too! This is part of a series and the back story is gradually revealed so that it’s easily read as a stand-alone.

Lady Abigail Worthing has recently been widowed after her husband was savagely murdered. It was a marriage of convenience but Abigail is still shocked and devastated and determined to discover the killer. As she delves the more she uncovers of his past.

This is a cleverly written novel set in the flamboyant regency period. The entwined lives and intrigue make this book a compelling read.

 

 

 

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, the long awaited history of how Abigail married Lord Worthing. It’s no surprise that Worthing is the murder victim here. But he was such a conflicted character, doing wrong but trying and often failing to do good. He never became the man others hoped him to be.

But this is Abigail’s story, and what a trial she faces. How she solves multiple murders over the span of a few days and with little physical evidence is beyond me, but that’s my 21st century thinking. Her word is enough for the magistrate.

As always, Vanessa Riley’s historical references are unparalleled. I always learn something from her books.

Looking forward to more! Thanks to Severn House for the arc.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth in the series but the first I have read and it works fine as a standalone. Lady Worthing investigates when her husband is killed and there seems to be no shortage of suspects. His reputation from the past shows a very shady man.

I loved the setting and how eager certain people were to point the finger at Lady Worthing. There's several red herrings and a surprising twist towards the end which totally threw me and made me question my initial suspicions. A very enjoyable read overall.

[Jasmine Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for an honest opinion. If you are a die-hard fan of Bridgerton, then this book is for you. Abigail Worthing loves to solve murders, but this one is a bit different because it is her husband. Despite the marital woes that were involved, she wanted to make sure that her husband's killer was caught. This book reveals secrets and presents twists and turns throughout the story.

[Roslyn Stillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the series. I have really been enjoying this series, but despite the murder mystery of Lady Worthing's husband, I found it a little slow. I felt there was too much “oh, was it my fault” all the time; it got a bit much. But for the mystery, it kept me turning the page. As usual, I was surprised by the ending. I am hoping there will be more mysteries to solve now that she is free. I received this as an ARC and am freely giving my review.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this book. The series has been a little up and down for me. I liked the first and third books, the second not as much. The storyline in this current book was very convoluted and while I understand Abigail’s emotional roller coaster, I grew tired of the hand wringing after a while. I’m hoping, based on the conclusion, that Abigail’s family issues are now resolved and she can move on solving mysteries and developing her relationship with Stapleton.

[Vicki Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Story

Loved the plot twists. Enjoyed the development of the Abigail and Stapleton relationship, and the relationships between siblings, staff members

[Chantel DaCosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic mystery in the Lady Worthing series.
So layered and intense.
I hope there will be a book five.