A Death by Any Other Name

Lady Montfort Mystery #3

by Tessa Arlen

A Death by Any Other Name is a delightful Edwardian mystery set in the English countryside. Building on the success of her last two mysteries in the same series, Tessa Arlen returns us to the same universe full of secrets, intrigue, and, this time, roses.

The elegant Lady Montfort and her redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Jackson's services are called upon after a cook is framed and dismissed for poisoning a guest of the Hyde Rose Society. Promising to help her regain her job and her dignity, the pair trek out to the countryside to investigate a murder of concealed passions and secret desires. There, they are to discover a villain of audacious cunning among a group of mild-mannered, amateur rose-breeders. While they investigate, the rumor mill fills with talk about a conflict over in Prussia where someone quite important was shot. There is talk of war and they must race the clock to solve the mystery as the idyllic English summer days count down to the start of WWI.

Brimming with intrigue, Tessa Arlen's latest does not disappoint.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Cozy Mystery, British Literature

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2017

About the author

TESSA ARLEN is the USA TODAY bestselling author of IN ROYAL SERVICE TO THE QUEEN, a novel of Marion Crawford the first royal servant to kiss and tell. Tessa writes historical fiction when she is not gardening.

For more information about Tessa and her books please visit her website. http://www.tessaarlen.com/

Reviews

[Magdalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a big fan of historical mystery books have I been curious about the Lady Montfort Mystery series. So, when I got the chance to read the third book in the series, A DEATH BY ANY OTHER NAME, was I thrilled to finally see if this series would appeal to me. What intrigued me about this book was the idea of a lady and a housekeeper investigating murders. In the beginning of the 20th-century is the idea of two so different women working together in that way remarkable since they come from different social classes. But, it works very well I think, mostly because Lady Montfort feels like a well- grounded person and not a snob.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always on the look out for new murder mysteries, preferably with a female lead ‘detectives’ and set in England. While this isn’t my first novel by this author, it felt new to me. I read Tessa Arlen’s first book in this series, DEATH OF A DISHONORABLE GENTLEMAN, back in early 2015 and though I wasn’t completely hooked at the beginning, I was invested enough to finish it and was rewarded for my tenacity.

I didn’t read the second book in this series for some reason, but when the third book came up for review it sounded rather good so I decided to give her books another go. I wish now that I had read the second book before this one, but over all, the third book read find as a ‘stand alone’.

One thing that stood out to me about this book was the development of plot and writing compared to the first book. It’s hard for me to not compared this book with the first. In the first, I felt like the writing and plot structure needed some work and polish, feedback that I see reflected and ratified here. I noticed that this book has much more polish about it and I loved reading it! There were numerous plot twists and the beginning hooked me quite fast.

What really stood out in my mind with this book was the beautiful descriptions of the gardens! I literally felt like I was sitting in an English garden enjoying the summer sun…..it was so vivid that when I put the book down to ‘return to reality’ I was sad about the pouring rain and wind that I saw from my bedroom window! Honestly I am not really in to horticulture or roses and this book had a lot of info in those subject areas but they way in which she described the roses and such made me want to learn more. I found myself Googling some of the roses just so I could get a clearer picture of them in my head! Her descriptions and historical detail were second to none. I loved reading this book simply for this reason! Wonderful hand for story telling!

This book is more of a cozy than a detective novel and while a cozy is fun once in a while, it’s not my primary review genre but I still enjoyed it just the same. It was a welcome break from some of the books I’ve been reading lately and I loved the growth in this book compared to her first novel! Well done!

See my full review here

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another satisfying and evocative entry in what is becoming one of my favorite historical mystery series. I await the next book to see how Arlen handles the effects of World War One on Lady Montfort and family.

In this mystery, Arlen beautifully captures the tense period between Archduke Ferdinand's murder and the seemingly unstoppable moves toward a European war that the reader knows will destroy the idyllic way of life enjoyed by the middle and upper classes of Edwardian England; here, an amateur rose breeding society, typical of the many hobbies pursued by the idle wealthy, has possibly spawned a murder. A member was apparently poisoned at nearby Hyde Castle several months previously, and the cook was blamed for food poisoning and dismissed without reference. Her life in ruins, Mrs. Armitage the cook has been referred to Lady Monfort's housekeeper and partner in solving crime, Mrs. Jackson, for help in solving the murder at Hyde Castle and clearing her name.

Lady Montfort gets an invite to Hyde Castle for herself and houseguest and garden expert Gertrude Jekyll and "companion" Mrs. Jackson so she can investigate the murder scene and suspects, but the specter of war soon casts a melancholy pall over the house party.

Very exciting and well done mystery, and powerfully evocative portrayal of life among, and conflicts between, the wealthy classes before the war. Highly recommended.

[Christine PNW · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Death By Any Other Name is an engaging mystery that strongly echoes some of the themes and atmosphere of Downton Abbey. If you imagine Cora and Mrs. Hughes, or possibly Anna Bates, solving mysteries together, you've about got the size of it. There is a lot to like here, although the mystery has some weaknesses and the story drags a bit in the middle. The book comes to a climax with a seance and a confession as Germany declares war on France in the earliest days of WWI.

I read a lot of historical mystery. I would put this one in my second tier of mysteries - somewhere below Sebastian St. Cyr, anything by Deanna Raybourn, and Mary Russell, but still better than a lot of the weaker series. I'd put it on the same level with Maggie Hope.

I received a review copy from the publisher courtesy of Netgalley.

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, I made a lot of notes and highlights on this book – over 100. As I say all the time, this is either a sign of a good book or a terrible one.

They always warn not to quote from an ARC without checking against the published work – so I did. I was horrified by the comma abuse in the book, so I checked. And unfortunately, it's still there. "Clementine smiled at the thought of her grandsons, it had been nearly six months since she had last seen them." Run-on sentences, comma splices, all the usual things that make my eyes burn – it all appears to be unchanged from the Netgalley proof. It's a little shocking that no one at what I thought was a pretty solid publisher got a handle on this nonsense. It ranges from the annoying ("he ate an entire dish of lampreys or what we would call eels" or "Good afternoon, I am Mrs. Jackson, you asked for me?") to the unreadable ("Clementine blessed her husband's unruffled and farsighted view, and his ability to put a firm foot down where Althea's gadding-about was concerned and only prayed that her cousin Clarendon had the strength of character not to be persuaded otherwise by their strong-minded daughter." Wut?)

A good editor taking some time to make this more readable would have rebuilt sentences like "Etienne is a generous man about how much time his wife spends with us." Or, oh Lord, like "She relaxed, he was onboard then, but there would be a stipulation, of this she was quite sure." Or "Clementine was not only too happy to answer his every question but with as much detail as she could provide." Or "She felt quite uncomfortable by this outward expression of emotion." (Felt uncomfortable by - ?) Or " I know the kedgeree was not spoiled it could not possibly have been…" Or … so many more. The writing was demanding only in that it took some unraveling now and then to figure out not what was being said but what the author was trying – and failing to say.

When it didn't border on gibberish, it could be awfully laborious. In one paragraph, someone was startled by a man's sudden appearance, and jumped. Done well, this moment could be as startling to the reader as to the character – but not the way this was written, where it took three sentences.

It feels very broken-record-ish to add that there are also moments where the language felt wrong for this period mystery. "I don’t want you to get steamed-up" – why is there a hyphen, and why not find a solidly non-anachronistic way of saying "don't get angry" (like "don't get angry")?

"…Rum cove."
"I have never quite understood what that meant," she said.
"It means that he is a bit of a rogue…"
- No, it doesn't.

I wonder how one is supposed to pronounce the name of the home of Lady Montfort, Iyntwood. It's so awkward in print – it made for a stutter every time I hit the word in my reading.

Unsurprisingly, there are other problems. There are two main characters, "Lady Montfort and her redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Jackson", and the author thinks nothing of head-hopping between them. Actually, one note I made was on what I called a head LEAP. Reading good writers, I never had a problem with this habit so many writing guides warn against; a good writer can, will, and does give you enough information to know whose thoughts you're supposed to be reading at any given time. Tessa Arlen does not have that skill, and I lost count of how many times I had to reread a paragraph or a page because the point of view switched without warning from Lady to housekeeper. (This might - might - be at least partly down to Kindle formatting issues – but I don't think so.) Even within the same point of view there were inconsistencies that were annoying – one moment it was "Lady Montfort", and then in the next paragraph she was referred to as "Clementine" (it took me some time to figure out who the hell Clementine was the first couple of times it happened). This might have been a good way to differentiate the points of view – when it was with her, she could be called by name, in the housekeeper's POV sections called by her title – but no.

And of course it was repetitious. When someone was attacked midway through, the story was told over and over, ad nauseam. I think I know why – there was a detail that the intrepid sleuths, and the determined reader, was supposed to pick up on. In fact, I did pick up on the detail – but I thought it was yet another poor choice of words by the author. Another aspect of this was over-use of words; "lovely" was used thirty-two times, usually in the same context.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to like Clementine/Lady M or not. I think I am. But I don't. She's a bully. "Did [Mrs. Jackson] mind being involved in her inquiries? She had fleetingly pondered this before." Only fleetingly, of course – what possible difference would it make if Mrs. Jackson objected? She was the help.

Since the book was largely about the breeding of roses, I would have rather expected to come away with a bit more knowledge about the subject than I had going in. This didn't happen.

I'm genuinely surprised I didn't rage-quit when I came across "a small flair of anger". (I just checked – it's in the final text.)

Or when the outbreak of WWI was referred to as "what a tempest in a teapot".

Or when "chaffing" dishes were mentioned. (That's still in as well.)

All this complaining accounts for maybe half my notes – and makes me wonder why on earth I gave this thing two stars. Reading over the run-on sentences I saved has been awful – how on earth did I finish this thing, and why? I'm knocking a star off, and will be avoiding this author like the plaguiest plague.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson a few years ago in Tessa Arlen's first novel, Death of a Dishonerable Gentleman. They seemed to be the perfect duo to solve mysteries. Right up there with Holmes and Watson. Lady Montfort has a keen mind and feels a duty to right certain wrongs. Mrs. Jackson takes pleasure in working for an illustrious family. Though she thinks Lady Montfort shouldn't really get involved in other people's affairs, she'd do anything to help her. And, of course, Mrs. Jackson's acute attention to detail makes her a valuable asset to Lady Montfort.

A Death By Any Other Name begins with a distraught, dismissed cook coming to Lady Montfort's home. The cook was dismissed after a guest died from food poisoning. She enlists the help of Lady Montfort who could turn her away. With the help of Mrs. Jackson, the two women visit the cook's previous residence to help clear her name with the guise of being rose enthusiasts. Once there, they soon discover that many of the guests have motives to want the gentleman, who may have died from food poisoning, dead. Not only is there a delicious murder to solve, the novel takes place on the cusp of the first world war.

Even though this is the third book in the Lady Montfort Mystery series, you could absolutely read this as a standalone. Though, I will warn you, once you read this book you won't rest until you've read them all. I had no sooner finished A Death By Any Other Name before I was checking to see when the fourth book would be available. So you see, it's clearly addictive. There are so many reasons I love this series: great characters, great plot, the time period, and, of course, there's nothing like a good whodunit. I can't wait to see what Arlen has in store for her characters in the fourth book.

Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2017...

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!! Tessa Arlen sucks you into the story and doesn't turn you loose until you've finished the book! So be prepared for a late night. Her writing is smooth and the characters are well developed - and she leaves you wondering where some of the recurring characters are heading, thus making you anxious for the next book.

One thing I loved about the story, aside from the mystery, is the descriptions of English gardens - especially in the 'magic hour' just before sunset. With Arlen's vivid descriptions, you can see the flow of colors and smell the enchanting scents of the garden.

Another thing I thought was really well done was the feeling, the air of apprehension in the lead-up to the beginning of the first world war. There are men of power who are hoping for the war because they will enrich themselves and there are others who only picture the horrors war will bring to their own loved ones and their country as the nation's young men march tThemselves off to fight.

As I was reading, I was thinking about the relationship between Lady Montfort and her husband. I think that is the sort of relationship to which we should all aspire. I read a lot of romance novels and sigh over the macho heroes just like everybody else. But, then I wonder if, in real life, I'd really want a relationship with that person long term. I really admire that the Earl of Montfort loves his wife unconditionally and accepts her totally -- just as she is. They've been married a long time (they have grandchildren) and you can still feel the love and affection they have for each other.

The one thing I wish had been different is that two of the leading male characters in the book are wife abusers and not only did they not have any punishment for it, they weren't even publicly mentioned as doing it. Everybody knew and could see it, but nobody mentioned it. I know that those were less confrontational times and that men ruled the roost, but I really would have liked to see them smacked down in some way!

"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

[Daniele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DEATH BY ANY OTHER NAME is the delightful third book in the Lady Montfort mystery series featuring an older aristocrat and her younger housekeeper as amateur sleuths. With its lavish descriptions of English gardens, an engaging locked room style murder mystery, and a varied group of suspects, it provides readers with hours of cozy entertainment.

I admit it – I am an Anglophile and particularly enjoy historical mysteries so I find this series is quite appealing. It takes place in the days leading up to the declaration of World War I in the summer of 1914. The tension of the pending war is a fine backdrop for the mystery centered on Rupert Bartholomew’s death and his fellow Hyde Rose Society members. Lady Montfort (Clementine) insinuates herself into the group, with housekeeper Edith Jackson posing as her companion, after Hyde Castle’s displaced cook comes to Clementine for aid in clearing her name. Mrs. Armitage knows that her cooking had nothing to do with Rupert’s untimely death. The death took place months ago, but this does not deter the sleuths, and it had me guessing as to how they would solve the case with so little physical evidence.

A DEATH BY ANY OTHER NAME relies on the protagonists’ cerebral abilities and their intuition to sift through the suspects and their motives. The rose society is a competitive and jealous group though they all claim to be friends. Rupert’s wife, an aggressive and unrefined host and his timid wife, an effusive flirt and her older stodgy husband, and an elderly hypochondriac with vast botanical knowledge are just some of the viable suspects. They each have motive and secrets they wish to keep. They are not entirely likable but still quite fun to read about.

I enjoy the different perspectives Clementine and Edith bring to the investigation. Even though Edith sees Clementine’s involvement in their investigations as “plain old interfering” and is a reluctant detective herself, they make a solid investigating team. Edith’s ability to put two and two together and think outside the box makes her especially engaging. Clementine uses her position in society to her best advantage and is quite likable. I also appreciate the maturity, both physical and emotional, that they bring to the story, especially since it seems most of the protagonists in other books I read are much younger than Clementine.

Tessa Arlen descriptive style is period appropriate and I felt like I was right there solving the puzzle along with Clementine and Edith. While I did suspect the perpetrator early on in the story, figuring out the hows and whys kept me reading. A DEATH BY ANY OTHER NAME is a compelling, interesting step back in time, and I recommend it to fans of historical mysteries and fiction and to any reader who appreciates well developed characters and whodunits.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher and voluntarily expressed my opinions here.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book is better than the last! I liked this series during books 1+2. Now I love it. This third installment was so fun, but also as charming with its subtle humor and sweet relationship moments.

In this installment, Ernest Stafford, former garden designer at the Montfort country home, calls on his [possible sweetheart] Edith Jackson and Lady Clementine Montfort to solve a murder at the estate where he’s now working. An amateur rose breeding society that takes itself quite seriously meets at this estate and one of their members died after eating his breakfast one morning. The owner of the house blamed the cook and fired her. Edith and Clementine want to vindicate the cook and get to the bottom of the murder.

Even though all action takes place on one property, this is a fun caper. The characters are interesting and quirky. At the same time, we get to see Edith and Ernest growing just a touch closer.

While this is all going on, England is on the brink of declaring war on Germany and Clementine is worrying about her children.

The mystery is interesting, the characters entertaining, and the character development left me very satisfied.


The next book jumps forward in time and I’m so worried about where that will leave Edith and Ernest! Thank goodness I have the final book in the series on hand already.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beautiful summer of 1914, few people in England believe there will be a European war. So Lady Montfort is free to pursue her hobby (snooping, her housekeeper calls it) and look into a murder at a neighboring estate, bringing the housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, along with her as her companion. It's easy for a countess to wangle an invitation to stay with an aspiring middle class hostess, of course, and the hostess is an aspiring rosarian who is impressed by Lady Montfort's gardening expertise. But there are various suspects in the amateur rose growers society that regularly meets at Hyde Castle, and Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson each has a favorite--or at least someone each lady finds so obnoxious as to be a clear choice as murderer. The gentlemanly garden planner who has a soft spot for Mrs. Jackson also reappears.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Death by Any Other Name is the third in this series by Tessa Arlen. Somehow, I missed the second in this series, but perhaps the library will have a copy.

from the description: The elegant Lady Montfort and her redoubtable housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, investigate a murder among a group of amateur rose-breeders while the idyllic English summer days count down to the start of the First World War.

The cook from Hyde Castle has been dismissed from her position when a guest dies after eating one of her dishes. Although the inquest determined the death was a result of tainted fish, the cook had eaten of the same fish with no ill effects. In hopes of restoring her reputation, the cook approaches Lady Montfort and her housekeeper Edith Jackson clear her name.

Lady Montfort, eager for another chance to use her skills of detection, elicits an invitation from the Haldane's to visit the rose-breeders and investigate the incident. Her name and position alone would gain her admittance, but as the famed Gertrude Jekyll, renowned horticulturist and designer of gardens for Britain's elite, is Lady Montfort's current guest, there is no doubt that her visit will be considered a coup for the Haldane's.

Clementine Montfort and Edith Jackson are welcomed to Hyde Castle and find themselves among a diverse--and not entirely likable--group of rose-breeders whose friendships are rife with gossip and competition. There are a number of red herrings (not all of which are satisfactorily explained) and undercurrents are plentiful.

Set in the summer of 1914, the events that signal the outbreak of the first World War are daily being reported, increasing the tension for some of the guests, not least Clementine Montfort.

I enjoyed this mystery, but found that some incidents and situations were not adequately explained. A Death by Any Other Name did not feel as smooth and polished as the first book, but I do like the Shakespeare allusion in the title, and to quote another Gertrude, "a rose is a rose, is a rose."

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press

Historic Mystery. March 14, 2017. Print length: 336 pages.

[Louisa Treger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first two novels in Tessa Arlen’s Edwardian Murder Mystery series. Her third, which is based around a murder among a group of amateur rose breeders, certainly doesn’t disappoint. Like its predecessors, A DEATH BY ANY OTHER NAME has a tight, twisty plot that keeps you turning pages. The writing is gorgeous – I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the gardens - and Arlen’s evocation of the Edwardian era is pitch perfect. She has obviously done a lot of research - there is much lovely period detail and a thorough knowledge of the many rules and snobberies of Edwardian England, but she blends it seamlessly into the narrative, so it never feels clunky. The story is told from the dual perspectives of amateur detectives Lady Montfort and her tactful, yet formidable housekeeper Mrs Jackson. Both characters are extremely well drawn: they are intelligent, observant, and empathetic. The different narrative strands are layered one on the other, so that every action impacts another and adds to our knowledge. It all comes together wonderfully well at the end, with a final twist I didn’t see coming.
This time around, the action takes place on the cusp of World War One: while Lady Montfort and Mrs Jackson investigate the murder, the headlines bring news of the conflict in Prussia following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. I liked the way this increases the tension and darkness, particularly as the reader knows better than the characters the horror that is about to engulf Europe.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next book in the series.

[Courtney Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Clementine Talbot, Countess of Monfort and her brilliant, but somewhat reluctant house keeper Mrs Edith Jackson have set out solving yet another mystery in A Death By Any Other Name. Delightful in its telling of the thirteen days before the declaration of war for World War One in Great Britain, this is a wonderful 'whodunit' set in the early 1900's.

In this story we read about Hyde Rose Society, made up loosely of a group of friends who's goal in life is to breed the perfect hybrid rose. Within this group of people lies a poisoner of one Mr Rupert Bartholomew, who died five months earlier, where the unlucky cook of the house is blamed and is now fighting to clear her name so that she can go back in service to survive financially. Clementine and Mrs Jackson come to stay at Hyde Castle under the pretence of wanting to join the society, when in reality, they are there to solve the mysterious death and clear the name of the cook. There is a mix of ladies and gentlemen who have several reasonable motives for killing Mr Bartholomew. With red herrings thrown in to muddy the water, this lively story reaches its climax satisfyingly with a confession tricked out of the murderer.

Normally picking up a book in the middle of a series can be hit or miss. Often you can make neither head nor tails of the story because you are missing so much back information found in previous books. Pleasantly this is not the case with A Death By Any Other Name. It is easily picked up with minimal confusion or lack of understanding of the main characters.

Fun, entertaining and well written, this is a book to curl up with when you want a comfort read. Its not going to satisfy people who love reading mysteries, but for the dabbler it is a great read.

Really enjoyable.

[Martine Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Tessa Arlen’s third outing to Edwardian England and I found it just as delightful as her first two titles. When a cook complains of her unfair dismissal to Mrs Jackson she triggers a series of events that take the housekeeper and her sleuthing mistress on a visit to a neighbouring estate. From their first arrival at a ‘remodelled’ castle, the reader knows all is not well. A gentleman has allegedly been poisoned by his breakfast kedgeree and Lady Montfort investigates with Jackson at her side, purporting to be her companion. Strange goings on abound, to the charming backdrop of a club of rosarions competing for honours from no less than real-life gardener Gertrude Jekyll. Pleasures include the contrast between the two ladies, the very proper housekeeper and more impulsive mistress, and a ‘budding’ romance between Jackson and former gardener Stafford. This is light and indulgent story-telling, setting a twisty mystery in a fascinating era. As well as lots of interesting information about roses, themes include spiritualism, medicines, and of course murder! On a more serious note, the build-up to the outbreak of war is dexterously handled and adds the piquant sense that the world is about to change forever.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I had hoped for more of a scandalous or shocking reveal (like the secret romance that blossoms between the upstairs and downstairs!!) I found that, by the end, I wasn't disappointed. I was captivated the entire time and I loved how, as the story progressed, the war loomed ever closer. By the end, it's announced that England is definitely going to enter, while Germany marches into France (Lady Montfort's daughter and her family live in Paris). I imagine the next book will be even more gloom and doom - and I'll be first in line to read all about it!

For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Death by Any Other Name by Tessa Arlen is the third book in the Lady Montfort Mystery series. Mrs. Edith Jackson has just returned to Iyntwood (the house where she is the housekeeper) after a ten-day vacation. Mrs. Jackson loves her job except for Lady Montfort’s new habit of involving herself in other’s problems (and she always manages to drag Mrs. Jackson in with her). Mrs. Jackson is told there is a woman at the backdoor requesting to speak with her. It is Beryl Armitage, the sister of Walter, the dairyman on the estate. Beryl needs Lady Montfort assistance with a problem. Five months prior Beryl had been let go from her position as cook at Hyde Castle. A guest, Mr. Bartholomew, had died unexpectedly, and it was blamed on tainted dish of kedgeree. Beryl knows the dish was fine when she sent it up to the dining room. She had sampled the dish herself. Beryl would like Lady Montfort to look into the case and clear her name. She has been unable to get a job since she was fired because she has no reference. Mrs. Jackson feels compelled to take the case to Lady Montfort. Clementine (Lady Montfort) wants to help Mrs. Armitage and quickly arranges a visit to Hyde Castle. She has the perfect reason to visit with renowned flower expert, Miss Jekyll. Mrs. Maud Haldane has created the Hyde Rose Society and the members are currently staying at Hyde Castle. The group welcomes a chance to speak with the renowned Miss Jekyll. Clementine, Miss Jekyll, and Mrs. Jackson head off to Hyde Castle. Lady Montfort hopes to get the bottom of Mr. Bartholomew’s death with the help of Mrs. Jackson. Can this duo clear Beryl Armitage’s name and bring Mr. Bartholomew’s killer to justice?

A Death by Any Other Name is the third book in the series, but can easily be read alone. The author provides readers with the necessary details to understand and read the story. Lady Montfort is a delightful character. I like her spirit, intelligence, and desire to help others. It is wonderful that her husband endorses her pursuits. The story is set in August of 1914 just as war is about to break out in Europe. A time of great change for England. I appreciated the setting and time period. The author did a good job at capturing the history and how people behaved in the big houses of England. I give A Death by Any Other Name 3 out of 5 stars. I did feel that the pace of the novel was lethargic and the novel was too long in length (it really needed to be shortened). I found information about the case to be repeated throughout the story as well as a few other details. The mystery was complex and the author provides several suspects (any one of them could have done the deed). I liked the method of murder and how the killer achieved it. The writing style was a little formal which made the book hard to get into and enjoy. I believe the idea and characters have potential. The book just needs a less stilted/stuffy writing style.

[Merrilee Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Tessa Arlen mystery I have reviewed that features Lady Montford and her housekeeper Mrs. Jackson, having read and reviewed the previous book, Death Sits Down to Dinner, in March 2016. Written in the style of my favorite Golden Age mysteries, Arlen’s books are richly told tales set in an important historical background.

The book starts with a list of the Dramatis Personae--a feature I have always enjoyed as it gives one a small preview and also can serve as a handy reference for the reader as the plot thickens.

The relationship between Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson is, officially, noble lady and capable housekeeper. Unofficially, they are comrades-in-arms as they pursue the mysteries that they encounter. Arlen manages this role-juggling act for our two leading characters very convincingly.

Tessa Arlen has chosen as the time line for this book the momentous days as the world teeters on the edge of the dangerous precipice that will become known as World War 1. This serves to heighten the drama for the reader, as we are in possession of of a historical perspective that Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson have not yet acquired.

Set against this looming event, the story takes the two ladies to a earnest effort in aid of a cook erroneously considered responsible for the poisoning death of a visitor to her employer’s household. With her professional reputation shattered, her expectations for a successful life are in jeopardy.

Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson find themselves drawn into the world of the Hyde Rose Society, which is about to entertain an important guest persuaded somewhat reluctantly into a judging of tea roses. There is no shortage of intrigue and interesting characters in this story. Once again Ms. Arlen shows herself adept at sprinkling the scene with a tasty selection of best-quality red herrings. In the midst of the drama of the little rose society, and with a world war in the wings, we are thoroughly entertained by this well-drawn story.

As the title suggests, we find, as do our two leading ladies, that a rose by any other name . . .well, you know the rest. The solution is inventive and suprising.

As in Death Sits Down to Dinner, we are furnished with an afterword providing a wealth of historical background for the fictional account we have just enjoyed.

[Chaitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry in this series, A Death by Any Other Name forgoes the rich and the titled to focus on the coarse world of the nouveau riche. Worse still, these are not very talented, but very competitive rosarians. Lady Montfort is intrigued when she hears of a cook's tale of wrongful termination. A guest was poisoned at a neighboring estate, and the inquest placed the blame on the hapless cook who served the guest a haddock. She maintains that the haddock wasn't tainted, because she herself had tasted it with no ill effects, and that the guest must have been murdered. Lady Montfort contrives to get herself and Mrs. Jackson invited to the castle, and she might have bitten off more than she can chew.

It's hilarious, this book. It shows the changing nature of Britain, with more people getting rich off trade than ever before. The book is set during the thirteen days of uncertainty that began when the Archduke of Austria was killed in Serbia up until Britain's counter-declaration of war on Germany. There's an added urgency to the solving of the mystery before then, because war could change everything. At the very least, it would cause the two main private eyes to return to their own home. It will be interesting to see how the series will continue, and what will wartime do to Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson. Good series, good book, one that I will certainly continue.

[Nancy Pascoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Death by Any Other Name is another sparkling addition to the Lady Montford and Mrs. Jackson series! Using the traditional English house party setting, Tessa Arlen has again deftly interwoven social commentary and historical detail of pre-WWI England whilst delivering a delightfully thorny mystery. House guests include some very prickly and hilarious characters engaging in finely crafted dialogue. The relationship between the two amateur, and sometimes reluctant, sleuths is finely developed and thoroughly believable. As before, the author has done her research on all aspects of the time which adds greatly to the experience of the mystery and the readers understanding of Edwardian England. Looking forward to Book Four!

[Jane Shibilski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good read from Tessa Arlen. I appreciated that real world events were woven into the story giving the characters a chance to react to what we know was a devastating time in history. The mystery was a bit of a non-mystery, too easy to figure out who did the evil deed. You do get to know the main characters better as their life stories were advanced nicely. What I especially appreciate about this author is her ability to draw me completely into the time period. I feel immersed in pre-WWI English life and it is a very captivating feeling to close out modern day worries and cares and simply enjoy a well told story in a quiet English village.

[Bebe (Sarah) Brechner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book of the series keeps the high standards achieved by the earlier ones. Arlen is able to portray two female perspectives in this series -- a titled aristocratic wife and her housekeeper - bringing a complexity that lacks in other similar stories. Lovely atmosphere, period charm with just the right amount of social commentary (eve of WWI), authentic characterizations, and puzzling mysteries all keep the reader entertained and engaged. I loved this third story and eagerly await the next installment. Highly recommend!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series, as Lady Montfort and her smart housekeeper Mrs Jackson pool their sources of information to solve murders in the great homes of England in the early twentieth century. This time they figure out who caused the death of a member of a group of rose enthusiasts meeting at Hyde Castle -- as the news of the start of WWI makes its way through the tea and crumpets to darken the future of all. Very entertaining.

[Knewmyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. It was a little too plodding. I had to expend some effort to care about what happened. I do like the chemistry between the main characters.

[nikkia neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this ARC.

Love this duo! Always a great mystery with quirky characters, unique plot and great storytelling

[Chloe Nichol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa Arlen's third book in her series is a story told just as elegantly, vividly, and humorously told as the first two books in her series. Using the tension of the time - just before WWI - Ms. Arlen pairs her murder and sleuthing with vivid and beautifully written descriptions of gardens and the English countryside. A wonderful surprise: fans will be pleased to learn Ms. Jackson's love interest returns in A Death by Any Other Name. I enjoyed every minute of this read and recommend it to Ms. Arlen's fans and to those who are new to the series.

[Deneen Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

This was my favorite book of the three. Wonderful characters and plot twists. I can't wait for the saga to continue.

[Elspeth G. Perkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A third ample helping of delicate inquiries and designs of murder most foul

These days the ugly ravages of black spot on her celebrated roses or missing The Glorious Twelfth are not the only concerns daunting Lady Montfort’s waking thoughts, she also has the unpleasant fear of impending war that can rip the comforts of family and home away forever. The year 1914 is sure to hold more than one challenge for her ladyship and country but in the meantime a much needed distraction presents itself in the form of a plea from a displaced cook who has quite the story to tell and says she has been wrongly accused of the worst kind of negligence of service. With interests piqued that the case has been considered closed for months but troubling questions still remain that no one seems willing to explore, Lady Montfort sets out with her ever observant housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson to a remodeled ancient castle that holds a society of rose enthusiasts and shadowy passageways of secrets from upstairs and downstairs that may not smell so sweet in the end.

For this reader, A Death by Any Other Name (Lady Montfort #3) channeled all the right styles of favorites. It contains echoes of Dame Christie with all of the clever simplicity of plot, solution and a grand house full of interesting suspects that all have something to conceal. Sadly this novel was not exactly unpredictable overall, the dialogue could be seen a little stiff and there were one or two confusing mentions of time that didn’t match up but the attention to other details especially toward the central focus of hybrid tea rose cultivation along with prominent grafting of always popular upstairs and downstairs with historic events (and actual figures of history) were all very impressive. I would still say, Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman (Lady Montfort #1) continues to be my choice in this cozy mystery series but A Death by Any Other Name is a close second. Maybe like Lady Montfort I needed a distraction and this novel certainly provided that, it did have its unfortunate flaws but this is one series that is a pick above the ordinary variety mystery set.

*I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy A Death by Any Other Name (Lady Montfort Mystery #3)

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would Ike to thank NetGalley for providing a copy of this book or review. For anyone who still suffers from the loss of Downton Abbey, Tessa Arlen has the perfect solution, a mystery featuring Lady Montfort and her housekeeper Edith Jackson. In her latest,A Death By Any Other Name, they are asked to clear the name of of the cook at Hyde Castle, who was fired for negligence. A guest was supposedly poisoned by spoiled fish that was served at breakfast. The cook had also tasted the fish with no ill effect, but the inquest found her responsible.

Lady Montfort pursues an invitation to Hyde Castle, using her celebrated garden designer to impress the owner who is currently hosting the Hyde Rose Society. Posing as Lady Montfort's companion, Edith is provided to the guests as well as the staff of the estate, giving a peek at the divisions in society in the early 1900s. As their investigation progresses, they also monitor news from France and Germany as tensions mount leading to WWI.

Arlen populates her story with some interesting characters. Roger Haldane, owner of Hyde Castle, made his fortune in tinned stew and sees money to be made if war is declared. Findlay Urquhart, an older mild-mannered guest, demonstrates a knowledge of poisons. Albertine, wife of the victim, is there as a friend of the Rose Society and to submit her husband's hybrid rose to their annual competition. These and the remaining guests and staff give Edith and Lady Montfort a number of mixed signals that they must sort out if they are to find a killer. This is a delightful read that should keep the reader guessing right to the very end.

[Katie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentleman dies after overindulging in kedgeree, and the official verdict is food poisoning due to a careless cook. The cook, who is convinced the kedgeree was poisoned after it left her kitchen and that murder has been done, comes to Lady Clementine Montfort and Mrs. Edith Jackson to beg them to investigate and clear her name. Clementine and Edith head into a world of devoted amateur rose breeders, in the first investigation they've undertaken without being suspects/witnesses -- will they be in time to avert a second murder?

Another excellent novel in this "historical cozy" series. The research continues to be a cut above what I would expect, and the characterizations are a strength. Edith's slow-burn romance is delightful, and so is Clementine and Edith's partnership. Just a lovely read.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one the most in the series so far. Maybe because I am getting to know the characters better, maybe because the relationship between Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson is evolving, maybe because there didn't seem to be quite so many side characters to keep track of this time. But I really enjoyed this one. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the lovely English countryside. Although it did make me sad to think of all the changes that would happen in their lives and in the country once the war started.