When Lettice Marigold arrives at Lady Marigold’s opulent country estate eager for a chance to impress London’s foremost publisher, she should have known there was an ulterior motive. After all, batty Aunt Hattie has never missed an opportunity to marry Lettice off. And this time she may have succeeded.
Pit against five other contenders, Lettice must complete Aunt Hattie’s increasingly extravagant challenges, in order to win her heart’s desire.
But when Lady Marigold dies, in front of the gathered audience, Lettice needs to prove she didn’t kill her aunt in order to inherit her fortune. And to do so she’ll have to join forces with the dashing Mr Gilbert Lewis–whom she may have been tricked into marrying.
Batty Aunt Hattie may have had music, mayhem and matrimony on her mind, but someone else had murder...
Music, Mayhem and Matrimony is book 1 in the Not Another Cozy Mystery Romance series. A cozy mystery with a closed-door, clean romance, set in an opulent English country estate during the mid-1930’s inter-war period.
Author, Librarian, Autism Mom Julie Anne Grasso works in public libraries in Victoria, Australia, delivering story times to hundreds of families each week. By night she writes cozy mysteries and tickle your funny bone picture books
What a great read! I really enjoyed this cozy mystery romance. The characters were great and the old time names were a lovely throw back to the 1930s when this book was set. Lettice (FMC) was a perfect writer, librarian and part time inspector throughout the story. Mr Gilbert Lewis, what a man! Sweet, honorable and so very debonair. I have never read a cozy mystery before but when asked if I would like to ARC read for Julie Anne Grasso I was instantly intrigued by the genre, the book cover and Ms Grasso’s vibrancy & colourful cheer. This book gave me so much more than a mystery, it gave clean closed door romance, it gave solid friendships and it gave emotion.
If you're a fan of closed-door, romantic mysteries, quirky family ensembles, and Agatha Christie with a lighter, more whimsical touch, you'll have a great time with this book.
Not my usual read, but when author/podcaster/middle-grade-librarian/maven asked me if I was interested, I couldn’t resist.
Having never encountered ‘closed-door, clean romance’ before (frankly, as an adult reader, this is what I look forward to), this was a new experience for me.
There's witty banter, period atmosphere, and zero explicit content, making it an adult breezy read. The prose has a classic, slightly wordy elegance that leans into the 1930s setting.
Fast paced, the story ratchets along from page one - no wasted passages of detailed descriptions, backstories or finite details. In fact, I read this in two sittings.
The setup is original: protagonist, Lettice Marigold arrives at the family’s palatial pile, hoping to impress a publisher (who is a guest), only to get ambushed by her "batty" Aunt Hattie into a series of absurd inheritance challenges—culminating, naturally, in Aunt Hattie herself dropping dead right in front of everyone.
A book for romance whodunnit fans aged 9-999 years old. But, this better be the first book in a very prolific and accessible series, because I have already passed this copy on to a young (voracious) reader who will want more, soon!
This was a cute little cosy mystery/romance read. It is a fast paced story and you hit the ground running. There was a large cast of characters, some you loved and some you despised (for good reason). The murder culprit was worked out pretty early on, so the story was more about proving the hypothesis and lining up the evidence. The love story was insta-love but it was cute and I like the two of them as a couple - those fake wedding vows were fantastic!
I've just finished reading Music, Mayhem & Matrimony by Julie Anne Grasso, and I loved it!
This is the perfect lighthearted read, with lots of fun characters and an intriguing mystery at its heart. The 1930s setting brings wonderful nostalgia for times gone by, and there's a charming country estate to explore.
This book is marketed as a clean, closed-door romance, and it delivers on that completely. It's an ideal book to share with friends and family who want a quality, fun read that keeps them hooked.
The romance plot is a whirlwind but heartfelt and sweet, and as the story evolves you discover there is far more heart to it than you'd expect.
I particularly loved the large cast of interesting and entertaining characters. There was so much to learn about them, so many nuances to each one, and all the little secrets you uncover along the way. The story also starts at a rapid pace and doesn't let up, giving you plenty to explore from Chapter 1 all the way to the end.
Julie Anne Grasso's writing style is magnificent. She has a way with words that shows she is passionate about writing, and her descriptions of characters, scenes and settings are vivid. There was never a dull moment, and never a word out of place!
Congratulations to Julie Anne Grasso on this funny, heartfelt and thoroughly entertaining read.
A dead host, six hopefuls, and trouble around every corner… yep, I was curious!
I’m really grateful I got an advance copy of Music, Mayhem and Matrimony by Julie Anne Grasso.
Set in an English country estate in the 1930s, the story follows Lettice, who arrives hoping to impress a famous publisher. Instead, she finds herself competing with five other people in a series of strange and sometimes funny challenges set by her aunt.
Things get serious when Lady Marigold suddenly dies. Lettice must prove she didn’t kill her while also dealing with Mr Gilbert Lewis, who she may have been tricked into marrying.
I really enjoyed the mix of mystery, humour, romance, and chaos. It kept me curious because I wanted to know what was really going on and who was behind it all.
I especially loved the parts about sewing techniques and the story time for children. Those little details really caught my attention.
It was a fun and easy mystery with a lovely, old fashioned setting. I really enjoyed this one!
Music Mayhem and Matrimony is the delightful new release of Julie Grasso. It’s a cozy closed-door romance/mystery set in 1930 England.
What a fun, quirky and witty book this was. It hits the ground running right from the first chapter, making for a fast-paced and easy to devour read.
I loved the uniqueness of the storyline with the challenges the contestants faced entertaining, but did find it just a tad confusing to keep up with in places until I settled in to the narrative.
The interesting characters and their banter were another highlight. The relationship between Lettice and Gilbert was a delightful slow-burn and the investigation side fun to follow. Lettice has a great mind for detail.
What I also enjoyed is that we know who the culprit is early on..it’s the how, why and evidence gathering journey readers are taken on. Grasso’s attention to detail and the twists and turns the investigation takes certainly keeps readers engaged!
If you are looking for a fun, cozy mystery with a little bit of clean, closed-door romance sprinkled in then I’d recommend Music, Mayhem and Matrimony. It is book 1 in the Not Another Cozy Mystery Romance series and I look forward to the next installment!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy to honestly review.
A sweet, cozy, no spice mystery romance, with no gore and plenty of intrigue!
💕I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and comments are wholly my own and are not influenced by the author in any way, shape, or form💕
🌸This is Julie Anne Grasso’s debut into the Adult fiction genre and I am sooo excited to read more from her! I finished this book in only a couple of days😂 And I just absolutely fell in love with the gem that is Gilbert from the very beginning. I loved the mystery and how although it seemed like it might be a little obvious from the beginning, the way it unfolded proved it truly wasn’t! And the romance was just positively sweet!
🔎Reader’s Notes: •Format: Paperback-Advanced Reader Copy •Format Available: Paperback(Australia, US, & UK), kindle and Kindle Unlimited •Pov: Third person Single •Genre: Mystery Romance •Series: Not Another Cozy Mystery •Romance Level: 1-2: a few non-descriptive kisses and light romantic touches •Swearing Level: none •Violence Level: mild: there is a murder(nothing gory) •Other Notes: arranged marriage/loveless marriage •Triggers: emotional manipulation, threats on a life, loss of lived ones(past), murder of a loved one(present) •Age rating: 16+
This book is a wonderfully light, positive, and cozy read—the perfect system reboot if you’ve been reading heavy or dark stories lately. While categorized as a cozy mystery, the core module here is definitely the romance and character drama.
The murder culprit becomes fairly obvious early on, so the actual mystery subplot phases out by the midpoint, shifting the focus to proving the hypothesis and lining up the evidence. The pacing runs at a steady medium, but the characters make the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable.
Lettice and Mr. Gilbert Lewis are a lovely couple to follow (the fake marriage element is great), and the eccentric Aunt Hattie is absolutely hilarious. It reads like Nancy Drew meets Bridgerton.
Overall, a really fun and solid setup, and I'm already looking forward to installing Book 2!
This was so much fun! A bit of romance, a murder and a lot of laughs. Thank you @julieannegrasso_books for sending this one to me.
Set in 1930s England, Aunt Batty Hattie has requested the presence of her niece Lettice at Marigold Estate. She’s been promised an opportunity to meet a leading London publisher. But there’s a catch. Lettice must compete in a challenge first with other unsuspecting guests, with baking, music, matrimony and a lot of mayhem. Lettice has a feeling this is going to be another of Aunt Hattie’s matchmaking spectacles, but before a winner can even be announced, poor Aunt Hattie drops dead! Could it be murder? With Lettice set to inherit a fortune, all eyes are on her. She will have to prove her innocence.
I love a closed door mystery, especially one that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Perfect for cozying up on the couch!
What a cozy, kookie, murder mystery! Thank you to Julie for sending me an early copy for an honest review. Aunt Hattie is well loved and excitable. She invites her niece Lettice back to the manor for a contest she has devised - Music, Mayhem and Matrimony - think a mix between who's got talent and married at first site. The contest itself is highly entertaining, even more so when regrettably Hattie is murdered with a poisoned biscuit. But who did it? A lowly made? One of the contestants? Her niece for her fortune?
This was a really entertaining read. I loved the elements of romance entwined with mystery. Highly recommend if you love a cozy who done it.
I’ve read Julie Anne Grasso’s children’s books and couldn’t wait to check out her new grown-up novel. I wasn’t disappointed. Julie is a beautiful, witty and entertaining writer, and I ADORED this wholesome cosy mystery – with a little murder thrown in!
It’s a fun, fast-paced story with a wonderfully quirky cast of characters. I loved the 1930s setting and the names (so good), and Julie nails the banter. A wonderful cover and title too. I hope there will be more!
I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of this book. The title and eye-catching cover immediately piqued my interest, as well as the fact it’s set in the 1930s. The story is fun, entertaining, fast-paced, somewhat quirky, light-hearted and easy to read - everything you’d want in a cozy mystery romance. I particularly loved Lettice (main female character), and found Aunt Hattie to be quite amusing!
It’s been incredibly rainy here and I’ve enjoyed reading this book under a blankie with coffee and chocolate 💚🩷 The book is a cozy mystery romance and I had a blast.
I’ve been reading a lot of heavy, dark books lately so this light-hearted,, clean, murder mystery was much needed. I had fun. I enjoyed the whole reading experience immensely with the premise totally setting up a fun and intriguing hunt for the murderer, revealing secrets that were entertaining. I loved Aunt Hattie 🤣🤣 iykyk!
Thank you to the author for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
What a delightful cosy mystery romance. Not a genre I usually read but I really enjoyed this escape from the world. Julie's story lives up to its title with this story full of Music, Mayhem and Matrimony and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
There’s a lot to like about this novel, but it just didn’t land for me. I found the details of the contest confusing even after they were explained, and the marriage taking place seems a little too unbelievable to not have been the Aunt’s intention—though it seems that’s the conclusion. The mystery is solved almost immediately, done by the most obvious suspect and the clues are obvious, with no difficulty in ascertaining them. It’s just a matter of watching the characters follow them.
All that being said, it was well written, and showed a good insight into the time period, particularly with the use of the confining will. Lettice (fmc) is likeable, as is her mmc. The supporting cast is unique and distinct. The message seems to be ‘dreams can come true’, and it’s nice to see EVERYBODY get their happily ever afters.
I rate it 3.5 stars. I really wanted to love it, but I only liked it. Absolutely no spice, might suit YA audience better.
This was an ARC copy, which did not affect the review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a fun little read. I found it entertaining and engaging. I wish it focused a bit more on the whodunit side of things, in terms of taking longer to reveal who the culprit was. But having said that, the romance entwined in the story was cute, clean fun with a lovely happy ending. A super quick and easy read, and a great palate cleanser.
This is one of those times I wish I was a better writer so I could convey just how much I love this book.
I was privileged to read a very early copy of this manuscript and I fell in love with it....now I've read the final version and I love it even more.
From Batty Aunt Hatty, to Lettice, and all the other characters in this perfect cosy mystery romance, I just want to be friends with (almost) all of them.
This story has everything that you could hope for in a cosy mystery.... a lush setting, a fun plot, wonderful characters... and a murder!
The perfect book to curl up on the couch with a cuppa and lose yourself in.
I cannot wait for more instalments in the 'not another cozy mystery romance' series.
Music, Mayhem and Matrimony by Julie Anne Grasso Some ups and downs on this one for me. I did like a lot of the characters and some aspects of the mystery. I felt the contest was a bit far-fetched. And I mainly wish the mystery hadn't been so easily solved. It was much more of a "how can we catch him" than the "whodunit" I was expecting. I did like putting together all the clues and finding things that weren't quite how they seemed (although I also figured out the second character involved pretty early on). And then the title of the series is a wee bit confusing because this is "another cozy mystery romance series". It is a cute, light read so if you're in the mood for a cozy mystery and aren't needing a dramatic reveal, I would recommend it!
no spice or language; mild violence
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.