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A Marquess, a Miss and a Mystery
A staged seduction…
…to solve a murder mystery!
After one disastrous season, Miss Horatia Carmichael avoids the ton —her mind and tongue are too unfashionably opinionated to land a husband. But to find her brother’s killer, she must join forces with incorrigible rake Lord Devizes and allow the marquess to pretend to seduce her for all to see! Horatia knows it’s not real—she’s a plain spinster after all—but as danger grows, so does their desire…
…to solve a murder mystery!
After one disastrous season, Miss Horatia Carmichael avoids the ton —her mind and tongue are too unfashionably opinionated to land a husband. But to find her brother’s killer, she must join forces with incorrigible rake Lord Devizes and allow the marquess to pretend to seduce her for all to see! Horatia knows it’s not real—she’s a plain spinster after all—but as danger grows, so does their desire…
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published July 16, 2019
25 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Annie Burrows
184 books310 followersI've been published by Mills & Boon since 2007..but I'd been making up stories in my head for as long as I can remember. It was a long walk home from school, and there were no ipods in those days to keep you amused! When I wasn't daydreaming, I had my nose stuck in a book. My parents used to take me to the library every Saturday, until I was old enough to get there on my own, and my house was always full of books.
During school holidays, the whole family loved to visit stately homes and castles. As soon as we got home, my older sister and I would either dress up as lords and ladies, and romp around the garden, or, if it was raining, retreat to our bedroom where we would draw intricately detailed plans of our very own imaginary stately home, complete with secret tunnels, dungeons, and usually, a maze in the extensive grounds.
When I was old enough to go to university, I studied English literature, with Philosophy. I was not sure what I wanted to do after that, but meeting a handsome student of maths, who was the owner of a very powerful motorbike helped me make up my mind. Reader, I married him.
For many years I felt it was important to stay at home to raise our two children, but one day, when the youngest had gone to senior school, I began to wonder if all those stories I made up to occupy my mind whilst attending to mundane chores, would interest anyone else.
I started to write some of them down, and eventually decided that one of them was "deep" enough to merit attention from publishers. It took me almost two years to complete, mainly because I kept tearing it up and starting all over again. And having to keep going out to work to help pay for school fees, then university tuition, slowed progress down as well.
Needless to say, this masterpiece was rejected by every single publisher I sent it to, but by this time, writing had become an addiction.
Four more stories got rejected, before Mills & Boon bought "His Cinderella Bride", a regency romance.
I do have some other interests, besides writing! I love spending time pottering in my garden. And recently I've taken up ballroom dancing as a way to try and keep fit (and keep the romance alive in my marriage!)
During school holidays, the whole family loved to visit stately homes and castles. As soon as we got home, my older sister and I would either dress up as lords and ladies, and romp around the garden, or, if it was raining, retreat to our bedroom where we would draw intricately detailed plans of our very own imaginary stately home, complete with secret tunnels, dungeons, and usually, a maze in the extensive grounds.
When I was old enough to go to university, I studied English literature, with Philosophy. I was not sure what I wanted to do after that, but meeting a handsome student of maths, who was the owner of a very powerful motorbike helped me make up my mind. Reader, I married him.
For many years I felt it was important to stay at home to raise our two children, but one day, when the youngest had gone to senior school, I began to wonder if all those stories I made up to occupy my mind whilst attending to mundane chores, would interest anyone else.
I started to write some of them down, and eventually decided that one of them was "deep" enough to merit attention from publishers. It took me almost two years to complete, mainly because I kept tearing it up and starting all over again. And having to keep going out to work to help pay for school fees, then university tuition, slowed progress down as well.
Needless to say, this masterpiece was rejected by every single publisher I sent it to, but by this time, writing had become an addiction.
Four more stories got rejected, before Mills & Boon bought "His Cinderella Bride", a regency romance.
I do have some other interests, besides writing! I love spending time pottering in my garden. And recently I've taken up ballroom dancing as a way to try and keep fit (and keep the romance alive in my marriage!)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 8, 2025
Read: 2/8/25
2 stars!
This one wasn't for me! If it wasn't Feb BOTM read, I wouldn't have finished. The pacing to the book is slow, and we are given no clues to the mystery. What was in the coded letter that convinced Horatia that her brother's killer was at this party? We never know until near the end. It's 67% into the book before she asks Lord Devizes what they are actually looking for in the houseguests' belongings. Maybe they should have figured that out long ago. The whole mystery was boring and not well thought out. I felt like the author didn't know where the plot was going and just threw something together at the end.
It's a bad mystery plot with one-dimensional characters. The romance was a bust, too. I can't think of many things I liked about the book. Sorry, It's just not for me!
2 stars!
This one wasn't for me! If it wasn't Feb BOTM read, I wouldn't have finished. The pacing to the book is slow, and we are given no clues to the mystery. What was in the coded letter that convinced Horatia that her brother's killer was at this party? We never know until near the end. It's 67% into the book before she asks Lord Devizes what they are actually looking for in the houseguests' belongings. Maybe they should have figured that out long ago. The whole mystery was boring and not well thought out. I felt like the author didn't know where the plot was going and just threw something together at the end.
It's a bad mystery plot with one-dimensional characters. The romance was a bust, too. I can't think of many things I liked about the book. Sorry, It's just not for me!
February 7, 2025
The Marquess and his friend’s sister. Investigate his friend’s murder. At the wedding of his brother .
Not bad.
Not bad.
July 27, 2020
This has the trappings of a good story, and Burrows is a good writer, but this is the wallpaperiest of Wallpaper Historicals and it couldn't be redeemed. In A Marquess, a Miss and a Mystery a socially awkward bluestocking accidentally falls in with a very Pimpernel-esque spy masquerading as a bored nobleman at a country house party. Supposedly, the book is about them uncovering the identities of whomever murdered her brother, but mostly the book meanders and has a lot of pointless filler. Like I said: well-written, but very little depth or movement to speak of.
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📌 . Blog | Review Database | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
August 1, 2019
From the beginning it was a riveting read. I was unable to put it down, why I was late at all my today’s rendezvous .
It is my first read by Mrs Annie Burrows and beginning with an historical sleuth romance was definitively entertaining.
Horatia and Nick are very flawed characters.
While Horatia is a nice and clever woman aware of her own faults, at time I was upset at her for with all her cleverness, she at time is unable to get a coherent thought. When at the beginning her swiftness of spirit is tested, she became quite bland. Then as the plot line unraveled she grew up a spine and found her voice.
I can say I was not fond at first of Nick, jealousy and bitterness drive him and he will relinquish to anything if he can find a way to wrong his half-brother, even using his late friend’s sister as insignificant she is as a tool to gain what he is seeking for. Why at time, I wondered if he was only not only acting for his benefit, not really on the hunt to unmask conspirators.
Then as the story progressed, even if the rift between his brother and him will be difficult to mend, he came to comprehend his own brother had no-say in their father’s decisions.
He is not the shallow scoundrel the ton thinks he is, hiding his uncertainties behind a mask of joviality and cynicism. For once someone praises his investigation skill and his “ressourceness “.
It was a fun and sweet tale with a hint of a sleuth narrative.
4.5 stars
It is my first read by Mrs Annie Burrows and beginning with an historical sleuth romance was definitively entertaining.
Horatia and Nick are very flawed characters.
While Horatia is a nice and clever woman aware of her own faults, at time I was upset at her for with all her cleverness, she at time is unable to get a coherent thought. When at the beginning her swiftness of spirit is tested, she became quite bland. Then as the plot line unraveled she grew up a spine and found her voice.
I can say I was not fond at first of Nick, jealousy and bitterness drive him and he will relinquish to anything if he can find a way to wrong his half-brother, even using his late friend’s sister as insignificant she is as a tool to gain what he is seeking for. Why at time, I wondered if he was only not only acting for his benefit, not really on the hunt to unmask conspirators.
Then as the story progressed, even if the rift between his brother and him will be difficult to mend, he came to comprehend his own brother had no-say in their father’s decisions.
He is not the shallow scoundrel the ton thinks he is, hiding his uncertainties behind a mask of joviality and cynicism. For once someone praises his investigation skill and his “ressourceness “.
It was a fun and sweet tale with a hint of a sleuth narrative.
4.5 stars
August 5, 2023
Great story
Danger and romance - what a heady combination. Plain Horatia and shallow Nick, at least according to society. They have each met their match in so many ways, peeling away layer after layer as the hint for the traitor who murdered her brother.
The path their romance follows is funny, frustrating, and clever, fraught with danger, but worth it all in the end.
Absolutely loved it.
Highly recommended.
Danger and romance - what a heady combination. Plain Horatia and shallow Nick, at least according to society. They have each met their match in so many ways, peeling away layer after layer as the hint for the traitor who murdered her brother.
The path their romance follows is funny, frustrating, and clever, fraught with danger, but worth it all in the end.
Absolutely loved it.
Highly recommended.
August 25, 2020
A plain-ish, somewhat insecure heroine and dashing rake, and a mystery to boot! I enjoyed this one 3.5 stars)
February 7, 2025
The man took a little getting used to, but it was a good story. Horatia and Lord Devizes team up to find out who murdered her brother.
June 19, 2020
This was my first book by Annie Burrows, but it won't be my last. Good mystery, gentle romance, interesting characters. The writing style was a little jumpy, but after awhile I was invested in Nick & Horatia , and didn't really notice. At first they seemed total opposites; in truth they had a lot in common, including a HEA. It would have been lovely to have an epilogue for both them and the Duke and Duchess, even Elizabeth and Mr Brown. And a more timely end to the mystery.
Good story, I recommend it.
Good story, I recommend it.
August 19, 2021
Horatia Carmichael wants to find out who killed her brother, she knows he was up to some investigative work with a friend, she deciphered the codes for him. Now she's trying to get that friend to help her discover who did it, or ordered it done, but Lord Devizes has a reputation and hers is going to be changed by association. Pretending to work together and to be a couple helps but can they keep from getting involved.
I enjoyed this story with characters who sparked well off each other. She's quite smart and doesn't let him forget it, even if she is hiding somewhat. She has more patience than me, I'd be more annoyed if someone removed my glasses!
I enjoyed this story with characters who sparked well off each other. She's quite smart and doesn't let him forget it, even if she is hiding somewhat. She has more patience than me, I'd be more annoyed if someone removed my glasses!
August 18, 2019
I couldn't warm up to the marquess at all, for most of the book he seemed quite cruel and opportunistic. He got a little better by the end, but he was so manipulative and shady that I wanted to tell Horatia to run and run fast. She was a sweet girl, super smart but very green.
My biggest issue with the writing was that so many of the characters couldn't or wouldn't finish their sentences.
My biggest issue with the writing was that so many of the characters couldn't or wouldn't finish their sentences.
May 21, 2020
3.5 stars
It started out very interesting. I liked the premise that the heroine was much cleverer than the hero but it meandered in the middle and then suddenly the baddies were found and it just ended with the heroine agreeing to marry the hero...but were they going to continue sleuthing, was Nick relationship with the Duke improved...was this actually part of a series?
It started out very interesting. I liked the premise that the heroine was much cleverer than the hero but it meandered in the middle and then suddenly the baddies were found and it just ended with the heroine agreeing to marry the hero...but were they going to continue sleuthing, was Nick relationship with the Duke improved...was this actually part of a series?
May 14, 2022
3.5 Perché non è il classico harmony che sfornano di questi tempi, in questo c'è una bella storia e una buona trama conduttrice, peccato per il finale e qualche particolare lasciato perdere un po' per la via, ma un piacevole storico, con anche un alone di mistero. Su quel piano mi è piaciuto molto.
August 2, 2019
I liked it, only the end was a little vague. Two people that wear a mask, one shining the other shabby united to solve a mystery.
September 28, 2019
DNF. Sickly sweet.
December 18, 2019
Enjoyable story. Not my favourite by this author. 3.5☆
March 10, 2021
boring...
April 10, 2022
Loetav sopakas
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews