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A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder #1
A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder
Scandal and slaughter among Regency London's elite
The bloody murder of Sir Henry Claybourne leaves Regency London shaken and horror-struck. But for genteel spinster Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, the crime slices far too close to home. Just hours before the knight's death she held a dagger to him, threatening him to stay silent as she rescued a scullery maid he had procured for his pleasure.
Did the man—or woman—who murdered the knight know of her visit? Her secret identity at risk, her reputation and life in jeopardy, Emmeline must solve the crime or face scandalous exposure and ruination, or worse—the hangman's noose—for a crime she did not commit.
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First published February 8, 2019
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About the author
Victoria Hamilton
43 books1,043 followersVictoria Hamilton is the bestselling author of several mystery series including the national bestselling Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries. She does, indeed, collect vintage kitchenware and bake muffins. She drinks tea and coffee on writing days, and wine other times. It doesn’t do to confuse days. A solitary being, she can be coaxed out of her writing cave for brownies and cat videos.
She started her writing life as Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of Regency Romances, paranormal historicals and historical mysteries, and still has a soft spot for the Regency period.
In fact her latest writing adventure is the new Regency-set historical mystery series - to be published by Midnight Ink - beginning in February 2019 with A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder, featuring Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, a young lady who dares to defy society. She will fight for her right to live her own life, despite the dangers that presents. She has a dagger, and she's not afraid to use it.
If you Google ‘Victoria Hamilton’, you will find listed first a famous actress who starred as the Queen Mother in the Crown and as Charlotte Brontë in ‘In Search of the Brontës’. That’s not the Victoria who writes mysteries.
No, really, it’s not!
You can find her buried in a good book, (entombed in a good tome?) or online at:
Website: http://www.VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com (Sign up for her annoyingly infrequent newsletter for all the latest!)
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictor...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MysteryVictoria
She started her writing life as Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of Regency Romances, paranormal historicals and historical mysteries, and still has a soft spot for the Regency period.
In fact her latest writing adventure is the new Regency-set historical mystery series - to be published by Midnight Ink - beginning in February 2019 with A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder, featuring Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, a young lady who dares to defy society. She will fight for her right to live her own life, despite the dangers that presents. She has a dagger, and she's not afraid to use it.
If you Google ‘Victoria Hamilton’, you will find listed first a famous actress who starred as the Queen Mother in the Crown and as Charlotte Brontë in ‘In Search of the Brontës’. That’s not the Victoria who writes mysteries.
No, really, it’s not!
You can find her buried in a good book, (entombed in a good tome?) or online at:
Website: http://www.VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com (Sign up for her annoyingly infrequent newsletter for all the latest!)
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictor...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MysteryVictoria
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
October 2, 2019
Series: A Gentlewoman’s Guide To Murder #1
Publication Date: 2/8/19
Number of Pages: 360
** 1.5 stars rounded up **
I love this author’s Vintage Kitchen Mysteries series so I couldn’t wait for this new series to start. The book blurb sounded great – just the new historical mystery series for which I’d been looking. Sadly, it turned into the longest three-hundred-sixty pages I’ve ever read. At several points, I almost marked it as DNF, but I did slog on through to the end.
Historical mysteries are my very favorite sub-genre – but I always want a romantic relationship in them. In this book, I can’t imagine there ever being a romantic relationship because I’ve never read a more unlovable or unlikable heroine in my life. I’ve liked some villains more than I liked this heroine. Emmeline St. Germaine is absolutely eaten up with rage and hate – she hates men (yes, hates is the correct word – unless you know a stronger one), she detests the monarchy, she doesn’t believe in God, she is bitter and she is a first-class shrew.
According to this tale, every female in England has been preyed upon, sexually abused and exploited – and – every male in England is a sexual deviant who abuses females – women and children. To me, Emmeline has some really sick reasoning – for instance – at the beginning of the book – she’s going to rescue a young scullery maid – she wants to time it so she catches the perpetrator in the act, but before any real damage has been done. Say what!!! It is okay if the little girl is abused, assaulted, and scared to death as long as the penetration hasn’t actually taken place.
While the book was supposedly set in the Regency period, the only indications of that were mentions of the king’s madness and the profligate prince regent. Nobody obeyed any of the social norms and the group of women who were so downtrodden and under the thumbs of the male population certainly seemed to do whatever they wanted when they wanted.
The only person I even remotely liked in the book was Dr. Woodforde. I am sure he is supposed to be the love interest, but given the way Emmeline speaks to him and treats him, I fail to see how he could possibly love her. If he does, he is definitely a masochist because she speaks to him worse than a dog.
The set-up for the next book puts the setting in an insane asylum. Frankly, I think that might be a good place for Emmaline.
I’m sorry to say that I cannot recommend this book.
Publication Date: 2/8/19
Number of Pages: 360
** 1.5 stars rounded up **
I love this author’s Vintage Kitchen Mysteries series so I couldn’t wait for this new series to start. The book blurb sounded great – just the new historical mystery series for which I’d been looking. Sadly, it turned into the longest three-hundred-sixty pages I’ve ever read. At several points, I almost marked it as DNF, but I did slog on through to the end.
Historical mysteries are my very favorite sub-genre – but I always want a romantic relationship in them. In this book, I can’t imagine there ever being a romantic relationship because I’ve never read a more unlovable or unlikable heroine in my life. I’ve liked some villains more than I liked this heroine. Emmeline St. Germaine is absolutely eaten up with rage and hate – she hates men (yes, hates is the correct word – unless you know a stronger one), she detests the monarchy, she doesn’t believe in God, she is bitter and she is a first-class shrew.
According to this tale, every female in England has been preyed upon, sexually abused and exploited – and – every male in England is a sexual deviant who abuses females – women and children. To me, Emmeline has some really sick reasoning – for instance – at the beginning of the book – she’s going to rescue a young scullery maid – she wants to time it so she catches the perpetrator in the act, but before any real damage has been done. Say what!!! It is okay if the little girl is abused, assaulted, and scared to death as long as the penetration hasn’t actually taken place.
While the book was supposedly set in the Regency period, the only indications of that were mentions of the king’s madness and the profligate prince regent. Nobody obeyed any of the social norms and the group of women who were so downtrodden and under the thumbs of the male population certainly seemed to do whatever they wanted when they wanted.
The only person I even remotely liked in the book was Dr. Woodforde. I am sure he is supposed to be the love interest, but given the way Emmeline speaks to him and treats him, I fail to see how he could possibly love her. If he does, he is definitely a masochist because she speaks to him worse than a dog.
The set-up for the next book puts the setting in an insane asylum. Frankly, I think that might be a good place for Emmaline.
I’m sorry to say that I cannot recommend this book.
February 19, 2019
This was so delicious, I savored every word. If you like historical mystery, pick this up right now!
Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 starts
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 starts
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
September 27, 2022
I had so much trouble with this title. I felt little sympathy on the personal level with Emmeline St. Germaine.
Oh, I’m completely fine with her aims, her chasing down paedophiles and others of this ilk but it just wasn’t credible. Her actions lost so much in the execution. Convoluted to the point I could barely finish reading.
I admire Victoria Hamilton and her writings, but I failed with connect to this work.
A Beyond the Page ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Oh, I’m completely fine with her aims, her chasing down paedophiles and others of this ilk but it just wasn’t credible. Her actions lost so much in the execution. Convoluted to the point I could barely finish reading.
I admire Victoria Hamilton and her writings, but I failed with connect to this work.
A Beyond the Page ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
April 2, 2019
This book and I got off on the wrong foot right from the start because it turns out that light, cosy-style prose doesn't mix well with the subject of pedophilia.
When Emmeline's POV mentioned (in the opening pages, so this isn't a spoiler) that she thought it helped make her point to catch abusers in the act, but before any real harm had been done, I wanted to throw the damn book against the wall. Intentionally timing a rescue so that a child gets a little bit assaulted but not quite raped is easily the most disgustingly off-putting introduction I've ever had to a supposed heroine. That kind of pragmatism might not leave me bailing on a gritty antihero, but the tonal mismatch makes me worry that I can't trust the author to show any more sensitivity during other intense scenes.
I forced myself through the first fifty pages to see if anything could overcome that initial revulsion, but nah. No dice. The Regency details are slim and awkwardly inserted, and some passages read so much like series recaps that I had to double check that this was actually the first book.
When Emmeline's POV mentioned (in the opening pages, so this isn't a spoiler) that she thought it helped make her point to catch abusers in the act, but before any real harm had been done, I wanted to throw the damn book against the wall. Intentionally timing a rescue so that a child gets a little bit assaulted but not quite raped is easily the most disgustingly off-putting introduction I've ever had to a supposed heroine. That kind of pragmatism might not leave me bailing on a gritty antihero, but the tonal mismatch makes me worry that I can't trust the author to show any more sensitivity during other intense scenes.
I forced myself through the first fifty pages to see if anything could overcome that initial revulsion, but nah. No dice. The Regency details are slim and awkwardly inserted, and some passages read so much like series recaps that I had to double check that this was actually the first book.
April 28, 2020
3.5 out of 5 Stars
This book fell into my lap at the perfect time. My reading material has been a lot of strong women going against the social norm, and this novel was no different! So, after I got my thoughts in order on completion of the novel, I admit to peeking at other reviews to see what others may have thought of it… wow! There was a little bit of hate on for this book! I want to tell everyone now, if you have read other novels by Victoria Hamilton, please don’t expect to go into this one for more of the same. Should she have written it under a different pen name?? Possibly. It may be very misleading to go from her cozy mysteries to this one, as it is ANYTHING but cozy.
A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder is dark and deals with some touchy subject matter. It is a woman’s fight to help women who find themselves in horrible positions due to class and circumstance. Barely viewed as human beings, these women are in need of a vigilante or an “avengeress”. When someone is murdered in just such a rescue, the fingers start pointing, and it’s up to Emmeline to figure out where that finger belongs.
Emmeline is a strong and independent woman trying to get out from under the thumb of her older brother to live her own life,
“No man on earth knows what it is like for a woman, how it feels to be chastened, reprimanded, to always bite our tongue and mind our manners, curbing ourselves, changing every natural mannerism in case it offends the men who have us in their thrall. Even men who must obey a master… At least in their own home they exert their will and have the final say.”
Her character could get a little over the top. While I enjoyed the fact that she had that female rebellion in her, she didn’t have to automatically condemn EVERY man. Especially those trying to help her. Obviously she has her reasons after being taken advantage of in the past. So, it’s hard to be TOO judgmental. But, I enjoyed Gillies, the faithful servant. She was just the right amount of loyalty, rebellion, pain and motherly instinct…. plus, she was Scottish. Always a plus in my books.
I feel that if you can get passed the sensitive subject matter, it’s a very well written mystery with some twists and well written characters!
This book fell into my lap at the perfect time. My reading material has been a lot of strong women going against the social norm, and this novel was no different! So, after I got my thoughts in order on completion of the novel, I admit to peeking at other reviews to see what others may have thought of it… wow! There was a little bit of hate on for this book! I want to tell everyone now, if you have read other novels by Victoria Hamilton, please don’t expect to go into this one for more of the same. Should she have written it under a different pen name?? Possibly. It may be very misleading to go from her cozy mysteries to this one, as it is ANYTHING but cozy.
A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder is dark and deals with some touchy subject matter. It is a woman’s fight to help women who find themselves in horrible positions due to class and circumstance. Barely viewed as human beings, these women are in need of a vigilante or an “avengeress”. When someone is murdered in just such a rescue, the fingers start pointing, and it’s up to Emmeline to figure out where that finger belongs.
Emmeline is a strong and independent woman trying to get out from under the thumb of her older brother to live her own life,
“No man on earth knows what it is like for a woman, how it feels to be chastened, reprimanded, to always bite our tongue and mind our manners, curbing ourselves, changing every natural mannerism in case it offends the men who have us in their thrall. Even men who must obey a master… At least in their own home they exert their will and have the final say.”
Her character could get a little over the top. While I enjoyed the fact that she had that female rebellion in her, she didn’t have to automatically condemn EVERY man. Especially those trying to help her. Obviously she has her reasons after being taken advantage of in the past. So, it’s hard to be TOO judgmental. But, I enjoyed Gillies, the faithful servant. She was just the right amount of loyalty, rebellion, pain and motherly instinct…. plus, she was Scottish. Always a plus in my books.
I feel that if you can get passed the sensitive subject matter, it’s a very well written mystery with some twists and well written characters!
September 26, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder. All opinions and comments are my own.
First off, a disclaimer; I need to include a trigger warning here: the story line involves pedophilia. That is what our heroine, Emmeline St. Germaine discovers as she conducts her “Robin Hood” campaign for the poor and downtrodden of London, especially the young women she is trying to help. Masked, she removes these girls from the mansions she enters and spirits them away. Only this time, the master of the house is murdered soon after, and “The Masked Avengeress” is accused of the crime. What’s a young gentlewoman to do? Solve the murder, of course, so that she can continue to save these young girls from a horrible life.
It's not easy going. Emmeline has to maintain her real identity as a member of the gentry, keeping her family from wondering what she’s doing with her days. And then there’s that other side gig as the gossip columnist The Rogue to cover up, too. If she’s discovered, it will be her ruin in society. This is one busy lady, and author Victoria Hamilton involves a lot of scenes and a lot of people (including a male doctor who would like to be more than a friend to Emmeline, but she’s not buying it). The pacing could have been better in the middle, and we do get a lot of editorializing about the plight of women. Remember that subject matter I mentioned.
The quest to bring justice and resolve a whole bunch of wrongs beyond the one murder becomes very personal for Emmeline. It comes at a cost, but she does accomplish what she set out to do, and that is all to the good. And sets up readers for another book.
This is not a happy story, not with this plot line. It’s not something you’d want to read as a happy go lucky pick-me-up for a few hours. It will make you angry. The author may have intended that. If so, she accomplished her purpose. Just be prepared for some graphic explanations of a sordid subject.
First off, a disclaimer; I need to include a trigger warning here: the story line involves pedophilia. That is what our heroine, Emmeline St. Germaine discovers as she conducts her “Robin Hood” campaign for the poor and downtrodden of London, especially the young women she is trying to help. Masked, she removes these girls from the mansions she enters and spirits them away. Only this time, the master of the house is murdered soon after, and “The Masked Avengeress” is accused of the crime. What’s a young gentlewoman to do? Solve the murder, of course, so that she can continue to save these young girls from a horrible life.
It's not easy going. Emmeline has to maintain her real identity as a member of the gentry, keeping her family from wondering what she’s doing with her days. And then there’s that other side gig as the gossip columnist The Rogue to cover up, too. If she’s discovered, it will be her ruin in society. This is one busy lady, and author Victoria Hamilton involves a lot of scenes and a lot of people (including a male doctor who would like to be more than a friend to Emmeline, but she’s not buying it). The pacing could have been better in the middle, and we do get a lot of editorializing about the plight of women. Remember that subject matter I mentioned.
The quest to bring justice and resolve a whole bunch of wrongs beyond the one murder becomes very personal for Emmeline. It comes at a cost, but she does accomplish what she set out to do, and that is all to the good. And sets up readers for another book.
This is not a happy story, not with this plot line. It’s not something you’d want to read as a happy go lucky pick-me-up for a few hours. It will make you angry. The author may have intended that. If so, she accomplished her purpose. Just be prepared for some graphic explanations of a sordid subject.
December 31, 2019
DNF at 60%, and not for lack of trying.
The Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder had a slow start, not for a lack of interesting things happening. But because I didn't feel like we got to really know the main character very much I wasn't interested or invested in what was happening to her and the things that were concerning her.
This book focuses on men of the upper classes using their power and money to abuse those vulnerable to them. Mostly pedophilic men raping the young women in their employ. This is a very dark subject matter and it was jarring to find this to be focus of a cozy mystery. It didn't seem fitting for the genre. Plus they are fighting for this horrible cause and all the characters are so casual about it.
I was so disappointed by this book for a few reasons. Partially because it didn't seem very in keeping with the time period and partially because it was so dreary and slow-paced without even an enjoyable main character to make the reading worth it. But mainly because I have read the 3-part mystery series from when she was writing under the name 'Donna Lee SImpson,' The Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, which she recently republished under Victoria Hamilton. I loved that series, so when I found she had started a new mystery series I was looking forward to starting this book. But this new book doesn't hold any resemblence to her past writing. I didn't find the characters engaging or intruiging and although the premise was good, I wasn't invested. In all honesty I found the main characer to be distinctly unlikeable.
I have tried several times to get into this book, but I simply can't. The author again and again summarizes what you've already read so that you know where the mystery stands, but it was just so repetitive and I was bored. I did not feel a connection for any of the characters, I didn't like Emmeline. She was very modern for a woman of her time and she had a very dim view on life. Choosing to fight the battles she does, her outlook is understandable. But... I'm not here for it.
I will not be finishing this book and am upset that I purchased it. This is the first of a series, but I will not be continuing with the series and I do not recommend it to others.
The Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder had a slow start, not for a lack of interesting things happening. But because I didn't feel like we got to really know the main character very much I wasn't interested or invested in what was happening to her and the things that were concerning her.
This book focuses on men of the upper classes using their power and money to abuse those vulnerable to them. Mostly pedophilic men raping the young women in their employ. This is a very dark subject matter and it was jarring to find this to be focus of a cozy mystery. It didn't seem fitting for the genre. Plus they are fighting for this horrible cause and all the characters are so casual about it.
I was so disappointed by this book for a few reasons. Partially because it didn't seem very in keeping with the time period and partially because it was so dreary and slow-paced without even an enjoyable main character to make the reading worth it. But mainly because I have read the 3-part mystery series from when she was writing under the name 'Donna Lee SImpson,' The Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, which she recently republished under Victoria Hamilton. I loved that series, so when I found she had started a new mystery series I was looking forward to starting this book. But this new book doesn't hold any resemblence to her past writing. I didn't find the characters engaging or intruiging and although the premise was good, I wasn't invested. In all honesty I found the main characer to be distinctly unlikeable.
I have tried several times to get into this book, but I simply can't. The author again and again summarizes what you've already read so that you know where the mystery stands, but it was just so repetitive and I was bored. I did not feel a connection for any of the characters, I didn't like Emmeline. She was very modern for a woman of her time and she had a very dim view on life. Choosing to fight the battles she does, her outlook is understandable. But... I'm not here for it.
I will not be finishing this book and am upset that I purchased it. This is the first of a series, but I will not be continuing with the series and I do not recommend it to others.
April 13, 2019
The characters did not act like characters of that time would have acted.
April 14, 2020
So giant trigger warning: this is about stopping a pedophile ring. Think of it like holding Jeffree Epstein and Prince Andrew accountable for the filth that they are but a century or two ago.
also, Epstein did not kill himself
I really liked the main character. She refuses to let things go and is very evidence-based no matter what the evidence suggests to her. I will definitely keep following the series because I want to see the main chatacter's brother especially get his just desserts.
also, Epstein did not kill himself
I really liked the main character. She refuses to let things go and is very evidence-based no matter what the evidence suggests to her. I will definitely keep following the series because I want to see the main chatacter's brother especially get his just desserts.
February 19, 2019
A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder is the first book in a new historical mystery series by Victoria Hamilton. Previous books that I read by Victoria Hamilton were all cozy mysteries (some of the Vintage Kitchen mysteries and the Merry Muffin mystery series) and I really enjoyed those books so I thought I would give her new historical mystery series a shot. I am a big fan of historical mysteries usually, with Victoria Thompson and Rhys Bowen as two of my favorite authors, so I thought I would probably enjoy A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder. I did enjoy the book but not as well as I expected I would.
The book starts off strong with Emmeline donning her Avengeress role and rescuing a scullery maid that is about to be raped by the Head of the Household Sir Henry Claybourne. After threatening Sir Henry, Emmeline takes the scullery maid and leaves with the knight very much still alive. Shockingly, Sir Henry is found murdered the next morning and the press quickly latches on to the idea that the Avengeress was the one that killed him. In order to save herself from being found guilty of a murder she did not commit, Emmeline begins investigating.
The premise behind the story was fascinating and I got really invested in the story very quickly. However, I felt that the plot really slowed down midway through the book and it made for some difficult reading at times. It also grew tiring to hear repeatedly about the main character's anti monarchist sentiments, her fury at having to hide her true thoughts and feelings when she is polite company, and her seeming distrust of any male that came into contact with her. I understand that the author wanted to stress how women were treated during the Regency period in London and how different her main character was from most other noble women of that time period, but it grew a bit tiring to be reminded continually of this throughout the story. I thought the mystery overall was well done and I was happy with the way the author resolved the mystery and the niggling doubts that both Emmeline and her maid Gillies had about the resolution. I am interested to see where the author takes this series in the next book. I recommend this book if you enjoy a good historical mystery.
A note of warning that this book is not a cozy mystery in that it deals with violence, rape, and prostitution of children. The mature themes did not bother me but I would not advise reading the book if you think you would be bothered by these themes.
The book starts off strong with Emmeline donning her Avengeress role and rescuing a scullery maid that is about to be raped by the Head of the Household Sir Henry Claybourne. After threatening Sir Henry, Emmeline takes the scullery maid and leaves with the knight very much still alive. Shockingly, Sir Henry is found murdered the next morning and the press quickly latches on to the idea that the Avengeress was the one that killed him. In order to save herself from being found guilty of a murder she did not commit, Emmeline begins investigating.
The premise behind the story was fascinating and I got really invested in the story very quickly. However, I felt that the plot really slowed down midway through the book and it made for some difficult reading at times. It also grew tiring to hear repeatedly about the main character's anti monarchist sentiments, her fury at having to hide her true thoughts and feelings when she is polite company, and her seeming distrust of any male that came into contact with her. I understand that the author wanted to stress how women were treated during the Regency period in London and how different her main character was from most other noble women of that time period, but it grew a bit tiring to be reminded continually of this throughout the story. I thought the mystery overall was well done and I was happy with the way the author resolved the mystery and the niggling doubts that both Emmeline and her maid Gillies had about the resolution. I am interested to see where the author takes this series in the next book. I recommend this book if you enjoy a good historical mystery.
A note of warning that this book is not a cozy mystery in that it deals with violence, rape, and prostitution of children. The mature themes did not bother me but I would not advise reading the book if you think you would be bothered by these themes.
August 31, 2019
The writing was clunky and disjointed, the dialogue felt like something written for a high school creative writing class, and the plot was both distasteful and nonsensical. It did not feel at all related to the time it was set in. The women did not behave like women of the time, but rather how a modern woman might behave if transported back two hundred years. This was a rare DNF for me.
March 30, 2019
This mystery takes place in 1810 and centers around the sexual abuse of young girls. It also deals with the subjugation of women (which I suspect will continue to be a central topic if the heroine, Emmeline St. Germaine, blazes her way through more stories in the series).
She’s incredibly fiery and brave and determined, and she keeps on fighting abuse and injustice through the many twists and turns of the story, as more and more ghastly stuff is revealed. Not an easy read but definitely a worthwhile one.
She’s incredibly fiery and brave and determined, and she keeps on fighting abuse and injustice through the many twists and turns of the story, as more and more ghastly stuff is revealed. Not an easy read but definitely a worthwhile one.
March 11, 2019
This pleasing mystery transports readers to London in 1810. While gentle in tone throughout, there is nevertheless a timeless disturbing crime against women at its core, i.e., human trafficking.
Emmeline is part of a secret group of society women who are determined to defend girls as young as 10 who are being removed from orphanages under the guise of being given work as scullery maids. After a successful rescue, the master of the house is found murdered. Thus begins an urgent ever-widening search for the murderer.
Some minor changes would have helped strengthen the story a bit. The author keeps summarizing what the reader knows at each stop in the puzzle. Emmeline will talk to one friend and summarize the facts and then talk to another friend and do it all again. Perhaps each character needed to be brought up to speed, but the reader frankly did not.
There were times when it really felt like this was a contemporary novel about human trafficking and then the author remembered the voice and setting are 1810. Author points out the restrictions on women's day-to-day freedoms but Emmeline goes her own way a lot without discovery and arrives at places quite quickly which just would not have been the case back then.
Finally, it would seem that just about every man is an abuser, and every woman had been abused. A stretch? One great value of this book is highlighting how far women have come in terms of gaining the rights to manage their own finances, choosing who to wed or not marrying at all, using their own name to publicly write, and more.
This is more Sherlock Holmes-like rather than leaning toward suspense or thriller. The conclusion clearly leads to another book in the series, so fans will enjoy.
Emmeline is part of a secret group of society women who are determined to defend girls as young as 10 who are being removed from orphanages under the guise of being given work as scullery maids. After a successful rescue, the master of the house is found murdered. Thus begins an urgent ever-widening search for the murderer.
Some minor changes would have helped strengthen the story a bit. The author keeps summarizing what the reader knows at each stop in the puzzle. Emmeline will talk to one friend and summarize the facts and then talk to another friend and do it all again. Perhaps each character needed to be brought up to speed, but the reader frankly did not.
There were times when it really felt like this was a contemporary novel about human trafficking and then the author remembered the voice and setting are 1810. Author points out the restrictions on women's day-to-day freedoms but Emmeline goes her own way a lot without discovery and arrives at places quite quickly which just would not have been the case back then.
Finally, it would seem that just about every man is an abuser, and every woman had been abused. A stretch? One great value of this book is highlighting how far women have come in terms of gaining the rights to manage their own finances, choosing who to wed or not marrying at all, using their own name to publicly write, and more.
This is more Sherlock Holmes-like rather than leaning toward suspense or thriller. The conclusion clearly leads to another book in the series, so fans will enjoy.
July 26, 2020
really didn't like this one. The Heroine was TSTL. I'm sure there were women who were abused, and pedophiles in Regency England, but everybody?
October 1, 2022
A strong beginning for a new Regency mystery series that is not centered in the sparkling ballrooms but deals with the uglier sides of society. Emmeline St. Germaine is determined to try to save working women from sexual predation in the splendid houses of the elite but her crusade is threatened when the man she threatened hours earlier while rescuing a scullery maid is found murdered and her secret identity, The Avengeress, becomes the prime suspect. Emmeline will need her friends to bring the real murderer to justice or she might end up at the end of a noose and so many people left unaided...
This is a strong mystery. What it does even better is show how frustrating it is to be a woman living in a society that is filled with hypocrisy, denies a woman a brain, constricts her ability to determine her own future and even common choices, gives her fewer choices about how to live, and yet does not protect her from predation. I still love the Regency period but living the life of an aristocrat woman would not be easy if you had a brain and/or some sensibilities. But it would probably even be worse to be a poor woman and try to make your way. Some parts are a little bit unrealistic with what Emmeline is able to get away with without being discovered but most is realistic, particularly the intellectual and emotional responses of the women in this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a strong mystery. What it does even better is show how frustrating it is to be a woman living in a society that is filled with hypocrisy, denies a woman a brain, constricts her ability to determine her own future and even common choices, gives her fewer choices about how to live, and yet does not protect her from predation. I still love the Regency period but living the life of an aristocrat woman would not be easy if you had a brain and/or some sensibilities. But it would probably even be worse to be a poor woman and try to make your way. Some parts are a little bit unrealistic with what Emmeline is able to get away with without being discovered but most is realistic, particularly the intellectual and emotional responses of the women in this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2019
This is the first non-cozy mystery that I’ve read by this author, and I was not disappointed. I love her cozy mysteries; this is written with the same care and fine eye for details that Victoria Hamilton’s other novels share. It took a few minutes to become accustomed to the narrator, and there were times I wasn’t sure who the speaker was. Overall, however, it was clear and easily.
Emmeline is one of a group of ladies who work together to rescue young girls who are working in homes where the man of the house makes unreasonable demands. We get to watch her rescue a girl from Sir Henry Claybourne’s home and catches him a breath away from harming the girl. Emmeline then delivered the girl to where she would have a better, safer position, then went home.
The next morning brought the news that some crazed woman entered the Claybourne home, grabbed the young girl, then disappeared with her and the silver. It is also thought that the woman is responsible for the bloody death of Sir Henry later that night. Emmeline and her friends are horrified at the murder, and she is equally horrified that she could be discovered as the woman who made the first trip but didn’t steal the silver. Nor did she return and murder Sir Henry. She began to investigate on her own to protect herself and learned just how heinous the current conditions for working-class women were.
I was stunned when I realized – and it was confirmed – who one of the bad guys was and how deeply rooted the effects and betrayal were and just how he minimized his behavior. The end was stunning, and even though I rarely like cliffhangers, it leads skillfully into the next novel. The author deals with very sensitive subjects in a manner giving dignity to those effected by the crimes. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy Regency-era mysteries set in England.
From a thankful heart: I won an audiobook of this novel from the author; a review was not required.
Emmeline is one of a group of ladies who work together to rescue young girls who are working in homes where the man of the house makes unreasonable demands. We get to watch her rescue a girl from Sir Henry Claybourne’s home and catches him a breath away from harming the girl. Emmeline then delivered the girl to where she would have a better, safer position, then went home.
The next morning brought the news that some crazed woman entered the Claybourne home, grabbed the young girl, then disappeared with her and the silver. It is also thought that the woman is responsible for the bloody death of Sir Henry later that night. Emmeline and her friends are horrified at the murder, and she is equally horrified that she could be discovered as the woman who made the first trip but didn’t steal the silver. Nor did she return and murder Sir Henry. She began to investigate on her own to protect herself and learned just how heinous the current conditions for working-class women were.
I was stunned when I realized – and it was confirmed – who one of the bad guys was and how deeply rooted the effects and betrayal were and just how he minimized his behavior. The end was stunning, and even though I rarely like cliffhangers, it leads skillfully into the next novel. The author deals with very sensitive subjects in a manner giving dignity to those effected by the crimes. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy Regency-era mysteries set in England.
From a thankful heart: I won an audiobook of this novel from the author; a review was not required.
June 6, 2019
This is a period mystery with a female protagonist, Emmeline, set in Regency England. Based on this premise this book should be perfect for me. Sadly, I found this book to be really difficult to read and didn't care for most of the characters.
Emmie spends much of the book speaking of how the rules of society bound her and give control over her life to the men in her family. She is passionately concerned about rights for women of all classes. She is part of a group of women, all of whom have suffered at the hands of men, who work to rescue young girls in service who are being abused.
I did not like Emmie. We do not find out what her backstory is until about halfway into the book. This made me confused as to why she was doing what she was doing. She is very bitter and whines throughout the book. She does take action but often in doing so she is rude or mean to someone who would help her just because they are a man. The clues as to who the major perpetrators were are dropped rather obviously and the ending isn't a surprise given what we have been told of her family and the precarious line she walks in order to live in London. I didn't like the main character or any of the secondary characters so it was very difficult to finish the book. I rarely DNF a book so I did make it to the end but find myself unexcited about the next book.
Emmie spends much of the book speaking of how the rules of society bound her and give control over her life to the men in her family. She is passionately concerned about rights for women of all classes. She is part of a group of women, all of whom have suffered at the hands of men, who work to rescue young girls in service who are being abused.
I did not like Emmie. We do not find out what her backstory is until about halfway into the book. This made me confused as to why she was doing what she was doing. She is very bitter and whines throughout the book. She does take action but often in doing so she is rude or mean to someone who would help her just because they are a man. The clues as to who the major perpetrators were are dropped rather obviously and the ending isn't a surprise given what we have been told of her family and the precarious line she walks in order to live in London. I didn't like the main character or any of the secondary characters so it was very difficult to finish the book. I rarely DNF a book so I did make it to the end but find myself unexcited about the next book.
August 13, 2019
A historical mystery where a young woman dresses up as a vigilante and saves young helpless servant girls from getting attacked by the man of the house. A good girl should not be parading around attacking gentleman in their homes so she can't tell anyone that she is the one doing it. One night when she saves a young girl the Sir Henry Claybourne is murdered and now everyone thinks it's the vigilante but of course Emmeline knows better, so she has to try and figure out whodunit before someone finds out who she really is!
So it's been a while since I listened to this so this is going to be short! I remember liking it and I can remember the premise but then it gets a bit fuzzy! I liked Emmeline, she is a genteel spinster who sees it as her job to rescue young girls being abused and I really liked that! It has a really good mystery and I don't think I guessed who the culprit was but I do know I enjoyed listening to this book.
If you like historical mysteries give it a try!
So it's been a while since I listened to this so this is going to be short! I remember liking it and I can remember the premise but then it gets a bit fuzzy! I liked Emmeline, she is a genteel spinster who sees it as her job to rescue young girls being abused and I really liked that! It has a really good mystery and I don't think I guessed who the culprit was but I do know I enjoyed listening to this book.
If you like historical mysteries give it a try!
March 1, 2019
I didn't like the subject matter of this book, but got too far before I realized how much the orphan girls being set-up to work for the wealthy, but for wealthy homes that had wealthy men who wanted to rape them. I finished it, but maybe I shouldn't have.
As a historical, one could tell that it was set in the past, but there was not enough information (for me) to establish it as Regency, or even post Regency.
As a historical, one could tell that it was set in the past, but there was not enough information (for me) to establish it as Regency, or even post Regency.
November 6, 2022
TW: child abuse, human trafficking
2.5 This was not a cozy historical mystery which I assumed when I picked it up. However it is a good piece on historical social issues and bringing justice to wrongdoers. My main problem with the writing was the choppy nature of the plot and often preachy, repetitive words of the main character.
2.5 This was not a cozy historical mystery which I assumed when I picked it up. However it is a good piece on historical social issues and bringing justice to wrongdoers. My main problem with the writing was the choppy nature of the plot and often preachy, repetitive words of the main character.
March 7, 2019
Disappointing. Wasn’t much that was identifiably of the Regency period and a few things that were definitely not correct to the period.
March 22, 2019
An interesting historical mystery. Dealing with some very sensitive subjects with a gentle hand, yet giving it the strength it needs. Not for the faint of heart or too sensitive. Great new series
July 1, 2019
Meh.
The only character I liked was Gillies, the author kept trying to complicate something that wasn't complicated just to drag it out and it got supremely boring.
The only character I liked was Gillies, the author kept trying to complicate something that wasn't complicated just to drag it out and it got supremely boring.
February 3, 2020
I wanted to read this book because I love the author’s cozy mysteries. She is a wonderful writer and storyteller, however, with this book it took me a while to really get into the story. This isn’t a cozy mystery but a historical mystery which deals with some darker issues such as abuse and rape. This isn’t the reason I was slow to warm up the book. For me storyline moved slowly and it took a while to be able to find something I could relate to with the protagonist. She finally grew on me because of the way she helps others and doesn’t see herself as better than other women in lower stations. The mystery is well-written and keeps the reader guessing until the end. I can’t wait to see where this series goes.
August 25, 2022
Rich in detail, the story creates a layered mystery. I found it a little wordy in parts and despite trying I found it hard to connect with the main character, but it was overall a good read.
February 24, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up. I came across this book on Twitter at a time when I was looking for a new historical mystery author/series to try and I'm glad I read it. Overall I enjoyed it, though a few things didn't quite work for me.
What I liked:
- Emmeline had a strong motivation for investigating the murder. I've DNF'd a few books because the only reason the heroine investigated a crime was nosiness or a vague feeling of "being compelled".
- Large cast of characters from different social classes.
- Feminism!
- Though I figured out some of the plot, I didn't mind because I was very interested in how it would play out.
What I didn't like:
- Infodumping in the first few chapters, especially about many of the female characters' sad backstories.
- A couple key developments in the mystery happened "off screen" and were therefore a little anticlimatic. I think they could have been more dramatic.
- The final revelation of the murderer was kind of unsatisfying - it was messy and I think it just sort of happened to the Emmeline. She has so much agency in the rest of the book but didn't have a really strong role in actually solving the murder and bringing the villains to justice. That's what knocked the book from a 4 star to 3.5 star read to me.
Also I should mention trigger warnings for child abuse, sexual abuse, and sexual assault.
What I liked:
- Emmeline had a strong motivation for investigating the murder. I've DNF'd a few books because the only reason the heroine investigated a crime was nosiness or a vague feeling of "being compelled".
- Large cast of characters from different social classes.
- Feminism!
- Though I figured out some of the plot, I didn't mind because I was very interested in how it would play out.
What I didn't like:
- Infodumping in the first few chapters, especially about many of the female characters' sad backstories.
- A couple key developments in the mystery happened "off screen" and were therefore a little anticlimatic. I think they could have been more dramatic.
- The final revelation of the murderer was kind of unsatisfying - it was messy and I think it just sort of happened to the Emmeline. She has so much agency in the rest of the book but didn't have a really strong role in actually solving the murder and bringing the villains to justice. That's what knocked the book from a 4 star to 3.5 star read to me.
Also I should mention trigger warnings for child abuse, sexual abuse, and sexual assault.
July 21, 2019
Miss Emmeline St. Germaine has irritated her brothers by refusing to get married; they don't realize that they have maddened her by trying to control her, only too easy to do in Regency England, where women have no rights. Emmy and some friends of hers are trying to help the helpless--servant girls who are abused by their masters. But Emmy finds some secrets among people she knows well, and narrowly escapes being accused of murder. Of course, murder is wrong, but what redress do the helpless have? Emmy seems rather more modern than is credible, and a lot angrier than is good for her, unwilling to be civil to a suitor who may really love her.
December 11, 2024
Trigger warning. This book had an interesting plot and well thought out. It did however take a while to read. I never felt like there was a moment of excitement. It was a slow burn all the way to the end.
March 5, 2019
This book is nothing like the wonderful cozy mysteries this author usually writes. I found it disturbing and wish I hadn't read it. I wish I had known it wasn't a historical cozy.
Read
January 8, 2020DNF got annoyed by the anachronistic way the main character thought and behaved.
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