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Lillie Mead #1
An Unfortunate End
A poisoned aristocrat. A fledgling reporter. A scandal to die for.
New York City, 1919. Lillie Mead mourns the love she lost in the war. But when a wealthy British friend offers her a reporting job across the pond, she hopes accepting will help her rebuild her life. She barely has time to unpack before she’s assigned the scoop of a poisoned socialite’s death…
As the clues take a turn for the scandalous, Lillie unearths shocking skeletons in the victim’s closet. But she never expected the threads of the beloved woman’s life to weave with hers. Can Lillie expose the truth before her own death makes the front page?
An Unfortunate End is the first book in the Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series. If you like captivating settings, cozy whodunits, and vivid glimpses into the past, then you’ll love Lisa Zumpano’s charming novel.
New York City, 1919. Lillie Mead mourns the love she lost in the war. But when a wealthy British friend offers her a reporting job across the pond, she hopes accepting will help her rebuild her life. She barely has time to unpack before she’s assigned the scoop of a poisoned socialite’s death…
As the clues take a turn for the scandalous, Lillie unearths shocking skeletons in the victim’s closet. But she never expected the threads of the beloved woman’s life to weave with hers. Can Lillie expose the truth before her own death makes the front page?
An Unfortunate End is the first book in the Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series. If you like captivating settings, cozy whodunits, and vivid glimpses into the past, then you’ll love Lisa Zumpano’s charming novel.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2019
287 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 13, 2022
Lillie Mead was living in New York City with her sister, Penny and brother-in-law Floyd where she’d escaped to after the end of the war. Her fiancé, Jack had been declared dead on the battlefields of France and Lillie couldn’t remain in Oxford, with all its memories, any longer. But when her old friend Harry wrote, begging her to return to England, as a wealthy socialite had died under mysterious circumstances, and incompetent police had closed the case, Lillie, although reluctant, couldn’t resist. Her reinstated position on the local Oxfordshire paper as a crime reporter, meant she would be able to dig into the death.
But the closer Lillie and Harry came to finding answers, the more dangerous it became. Lillie was sure she was being followed but couldn’t spot anyone – until she did. As links in the case spanned from England to New York and back again, danger escalated. Would they discover the answers before it was too late?
An Unfortunate End is the 1st in the Lillie Mead series by Lisa Zumpano, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Harry was a delightful character, while Lillie – a little blasé about her safety – was a character to admire. Highly recommended.
But the closer Lillie and Harry came to finding answers, the more dangerous it became. Lillie was sure she was being followed but couldn’t spot anyone – until she did. As links in the case spanned from England to New York and back again, danger escalated. Would they discover the answers before it was too late?
An Unfortunate End is the 1st in the Lillie Mead series by Lisa Zumpano, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Harry was a delightful character, while Lillie – a little blasé about her safety – was a character to admire. Highly recommended.
June 12, 2019
An Unfortunate End is an incredibly addictive, fast-paced historical cozy mystery.
To describe it as charming is merely touching the tip of the iceberg. Zumpano treats her readers to fabulous glimpses into the life of past-century New York and England (Oxfordshire and London, to be exact). Her vividly descriptive writing transported me to the ostentatious parties in the elegantly decorated ballrooms as well as to the stately manors situated in the quiet countryside.
The murder mystery was a tough nut to crack and was brilliantly executed. The identity of the killer was indeed an unexpected revelation and so was the murder weapon. Hats off to Lillie Mead and her accomplices for deducing the mystery. Although there are tinges of romance in the novel, they don’t dampen its thrilling pace by any means. Rather they provide welcome relief to our protagonist from a grueling day at work.
Lisa Zumpano has crafted believable characters from Lillie (our protagonist) to Rumple, the butler. Lillie’s transformation from a spiritless person to an inspired woman determined to apprehend the killer was well-written. The supporting characters manifest themselves in the form of a motley crew of friends who help Lillie in every way possible to crack the case.
“ARTHUR STUART HADN’T WANTED to be a footman for a number of reasons.”
With an attention-grabbing opening line, An Unfortunate End starts with a bang and rapidly transforms from a cozy mystery to a danger-riddled, grab-the-edge-of-the-seat thriller culminating into a satisfying denouément with all the loose ends neatly tied up.
An Unfortunate End is a stellar beginning to the Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series. Highly recommended. Mystery and thriller fans – Don’t miss it.
I received an eARC from Reedsy Discovery. I opted to provide an honest review. The same review is also posted on Reedsy Discovery's site.
My Blog
To describe it as charming is merely touching the tip of the iceberg. Zumpano treats her readers to fabulous glimpses into the life of past-century New York and England (Oxfordshire and London, to be exact). Her vividly descriptive writing transported me to the ostentatious parties in the elegantly decorated ballrooms as well as to the stately manors situated in the quiet countryside.
The murder mystery was a tough nut to crack and was brilliantly executed. The identity of the killer was indeed an unexpected revelation and so was the murder weapon. Hats off to Lillie Mead and her accomplices for deducing the mystery. Although there are tinges of romance in the novel, they don’t dampen its thrilling pace by any means. Rather they provide welcome relief to our protagonist from a grueling day at work.
Lisa Zumpano has crafted believable characters from Lillie (our protagonist) to Rumple, the butler. Lillie’s transformation from a spiritless person to an inspired woman determined to apprehend the killer was well-written. The supporting characters manifest themselves in the form of a motley crew of friends who help Lillie in every way possible to crack the case.
“ARTHUR STUART HADN’T WANTED to be a footman for a number of reasons.”
With an attention-grabbing opening line, An Unfortunate End starts with a bang and rapidly transforms from a cozy mystery to a danger-riddled, grab-the-edge-of-the-seat thriller culminating into a satisfying denouément with all the loose ends neatly tied up.
An Unfortunate End is a stellar beginning to the Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series. Highly recommended. Mystery and thriller fans – Don’t miss it.
I received an eARC from Reedsy Discovery. I opted to provide an honest review. The same review is also posted on Reedsy Discovery's site.
My Blog
October 14, 2022
I need a break from The Ancestor's Tale, my book group selection for this month. The first paragraph told me this might be just what I need. Unfortunately, it did not live up to its promise. I liked the style and the setting and the characters, who seemed likable, but the plot had so many incredible points I almost DNFed the book several times. In retrospect I wish I had. The initial no-too-credible point I was willing to allow---Harry's friend wants help figuring out how his mother died, apparently of poison, and so he decides to ask his old friend Lillie, who is living in the US, to come to England and get a job as a crime reporter so she and he can investigate. If that sounds unlikely, let me assure you it is not the most unlikely part of the book. I can't go into details on the rest because they would definitely be spoilers, although I would not recommend you waste time reading the book.
It seems to me, based on many reviews I am seeing, that readers are being much too credulous and accepting very shoddy plotting these days. It makes me wonder sometimes if this carries over to decisions in their real lives?
It seems to me, based on many reviews I am seeing, that readers are being much too credulous and accepting very shoddy plotting these days. It makes me wonder sometimes if this carries over to decisions in their real lives?
October 14, 2019
Very unbelievable
The heroine seemed like a spoiled child who had to have her own way. The story was so stilted that the plot seemed improbable.
The heroine seemed like a spoiled child who had to have her own way. The story was so stilted that the plot seemed improbable.
November 22, 2019
Good story, but missing something
I liked the story. Was interesting and a bit different. But as it is set in the roaring twenties, it lacks a lot of the 20s style and contemporary language and mood.
Also the radiation illness of the lead character is glossed over. I’m not at all sure she would have recovered from that in the twenties.
I liked the story. Was interesting and a bit different. But as it is set in the roaring twenties, it lacks a lot of the 20s style and contemporary language and mood.
Also the radiation illness of the lead character is glossed over. I’m not at all sure she would have recovered from that in the twenties.
July 4, 2024
I'm giving An Unfortunate End three stars as I enjoyed it, although I had to go with the plot and not question it too much.
The one thing I began to get annoyed with was the Americanisms. Lillie was quite a good character and I became fond of her. She was also American and if 'sidewalk' or 'walk one block' had been in her speech, I could have forgiven her. But it was in the narrative and everytime I read it, it would pull me out of the story. Strangely, the rest of the book seemed more realistic to the English way of life after WW1.
I did smile when Harry gave three poor kiddies £1 each. This was In 1919 and would have been worth £45 or $57 today. Times three would be quite a haul for the kids.
An Unfortunate End was an entertaining story and I kept reading to the end. I always consider it a good story if I do that.
The one thing I began to get annoyed with was the Americanisms. Lillie was quite a good character and I became fond of her. She was also American and if 'sidewalk' or 'walk one block' had been in her speech, I could have forgiven her. But it was in the narrative and everytime I read it, it would pull me out of the story. Strangely, the rest of the book seemed more realistic to the English way of life after WW1.
I did smile when Harry gave three poor kiddies £1 each. This was In 1919 and would have been worth £45 or $57 today. Times three would be quite a haul for the kids.
An Unfortunate End was an entertaining story and I kept reading to the end. I always consider it a good story if I do that.
July 28, 2021
Lillie Mead is a woman who is bearing the anxieties and tribulations of a post world war world in 1919. She received word that the war took the man she loved away from her and now she is left to navigate life without him. She lives her life in New York City but a friend soon entices her to move back across the pond to work as an investigative reporter for a newspaper, which she reluctantly decides to do. After arriving, she realizes that she is happy to be back among friends and begins to settle in and starts to dig into writing about an unsolved murder of a prosperous woman who she believes was poisoned. The police believe she became ill and died from the flu but Lillie and her friends think otherwise. As they begin to uncover clues, it soon becomes evident that Lillie has connections to some who are suspected of the murder and now her life is threatened.
I enjoyed the story. The author is good at painting a picture of the places that Lillie and her friends explore while in a hunt for clues and the characters are very well developed and likable. After the midway point of the story, a surprise kicked up the interest one more notch for me- taking it from a 3 star to a 4 star rating. All in all, a nice little historical whodunit from across the pond. The characters are likable and the plot will keep you engaged. I loved it.
I enjoyed the story. The author is good at painting a picture of the places that Lillie and her friends explore while in a hunt for clues and the characters are very well developed and likable. After the midway point of the story, a surprise kicked up the interest one more notch for me- taking it from a 3 star to a 4 star rating. All in all, a nice little historical whodunit from across the pond. The characters are likable and the plot will keep you engaged. I loved it.
October 23, 2019
Literate writing, an interesting plot device, but I knew the method of the poisoning immediately and the character descriptions were not particularly convincing--
January 26, 2020
Intriguing plot that offered variety to the usual selection of cozy mysteries. The focus in on solving the poisoning of an English Lady without much attention given to the 1920s time period. Readers who enjoy the era and location to be an addition character will find that lacking. The ended seemed a bit rushed to me and I was left with a few lingering questions. To be purposefully vague, why did one particular person say/do something at the beginning of the book if this other thing was true at the end. It just didn't make sense to me. Also, some medical treatments didn't seem to fit the period, based on the information I have been able to look up. If the ending hadn't left me questioning these things, I would have rated it 5 stars. I still very much enjoyed the book and have already downloaded the next one.
February 17, 2023
Wonderfully Enjoyable Read
An Unfortunate End written by Lisa Zumpano is the first book in The Lillie Mead Historical Mystery series. It is also the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. From the first page to the last this story had me wanting more. The world and character building were excellent and the storyline had a strong, intelligent female main character, interesting supporting characters, danger, adventure, mystery, plenty of twists and turns, family, friendships and love. This book uses clean language and no overly graphic violence scenes. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
An Unfortunate End written by Lisa Zumpano is the first book in The Lillie Mead Historical Mystery series. It is also the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. From the first page to the last this story had me wanting more. The world and character building were excellent and the storyline had a strong, intelligent female main character, interesting supporting characters, danger, adventure, mystery, plenty of twists and turns, family, friendships and love. This book uses clean language and no overly graphic violence scenes. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
October 8, 2021
Fast & fun read
Now, if you're horribly nitpicky about historical accuracy .... language usage matching the time period and whatnot .... you may have some issues. If you can put those aside, though, it's a fast and fun read and I dare you not to fall for Harry. Personally, I fell for Rumple and would love to know more about him but that might just be me. And his kilt. As long as they keep appearing, I'll keep reading.
Now, if you're horribly nitpicky about historical accuracy .... language usage matching the time period and whatnot .... you may have some issues. If you can put those aside, though, it's a fast and fun read and I dare you not to fall for Harry. Personally, I fell for Rumple and would love to know more about him but that might just be me. And his kilt. As long as they keep appearing, I'll keep reading.
July 30, 2025
The characters were skillfully crafted, each bringing a unique depth and complexity to the story, while the plot unfolded in a captivating manner that kept me on the edge of my seat. The author's rich and evocative language painted vivid images in my mind, immersing me in the narrative. I found myself thoroughly absorbed by the book, unable to put it down as it expertly held my attention from start to finish.
January 8, 2022
An Intriguing Tale of Murder and Mayhem
Lillie is a modern woman in postwar New York and London. She mourns her deceased love, but has a loving sister and a supportive group of friends. When she is drawn into a possible murder, as well as a job as a crime reporter, she finds that she is good at detecting. And she likes doing it!
Lillie is a modern woman in postwar New York and London. She mourns her deceased love, but has a loving sister and a supportive group of friends. When she is drawn into a possible murder, as well as a job as a crime reporter, she finds that she is good at detecting. And she likes doing it!
January 24, 2022
A wonderful read!
I loved this book, and can't wait to read more in the series! Especially enjoyed the deft characterizations, sprinkled with wonderful humor! And the mystery had some twists and definitely some very exciting action, especially for what I would term a cozy, and respectable mystery! Kudos to MS. Zumpano!
I loved this book, and can't wait to read more in the series! Especially enjoyed the deft characterizations, sprinkled with wonderful humor! And the mystery had some twists and definitely some very exciting action, especially for what I would term a cozy, and respectable mystery! Kudos to MS. Zumpano!
February 27, 2022
1919 Oxfordshire Edgar Swindon, son of deceased Lady Eleanor Swindon asks his friend Harry Green to investigate her death. But Harry believes the best person to report would be Lillie Mead, but will she come back to Britain, having left after the death of her love.
An entertaining historical mystery. a good start to a new series, only marred by the Americisms in a story based in England
(Ms, microskirts, sidewalk)
An entertaining historical mystery. a good start to a new series, only marred by the Americisms in a story based in England
(Ms, microskirts, sidewalk)
April 17, 2022
Very dynamic action sequences!
I enjoyed this story very much! My only issue was that it could have continued the story of the two main characters and that added information would have made a much more satisfying ending. I realize this is a series and hopefully the next chapters (book 2) will tell that tale.
I enjoyed this story very much! My only issue was that it could have continued the story of the two main characters and that added information would have made a much more satisfying ending. I realize this is a series and hopefully the next chapters (book 2) will tell that tale.
June 15, 2019
This was a great read! I ripped through this book in two nights! I loved Lisa Zumpano's story and her heroine Lillie Mead. The cast of characters were incredibly entertaining and the story was captivating. I can't wait for the next book in the Lillie Mead series, A Willful Grievance.
January 16, 2021
Delightful mystery set in the1920s
This is a light mystery set in London aft rd c world War I. I like the period and the characters were appealing, except the villains. This is enjoyable escape reading.
This is a light mystery set in London aft rd c world War I. I like the period and the characters were appealing, except the villains. This is enjoyable escape reading.
September 6, 2021
A Fortunate Ending
I really like this book. Lillie is a very interesting character. Her life takes such twists and turns. After numerous attempts on her life, she still hangs in there. Looking forward to the next book.
I really like this book. Lillie is a very interesting character. Her life takes such twists and turns. After numerous attempts on her life, she still hangs in there. Looking forward to the next book.
January 15, 2023
This was a fun listen, Lillie is astute making her a great investigative journalist with a small excellently efficient support network.
Great story and start to a new series for me, looking forward to more of the same, thank you Lisa Zumpano, much appreciated. :-)
Great story and start to a new series for me, looking forward to more of the same, thank you Lisa Zumpano, much appreciated. :-)
July 29, 2019
Enjoyed it!
I enjoyed this book very much. I love the characters and the story t y was interesting. I will definitely check out the next one.
I enjoyed this book very much. I love the characters and the story t y was interesting. I will definitely check out the next one.
August 28, 2019
A great beginning to a series
Like the characters very much. Lots of potential.
I'm off to get the next books right now. It's still before midnight so plenty of time! 😁
Like the characters very much. Lots of potential.
I'm off to get the next books right now. It's still before midnight so plenty of time! 😁
August 30, 2019
Loved it. I already have the second in my library. My new favorite time period.
September 21, 2019
Very interesting!
A Good plot with interesting. I was impressed how the New York and English pieces came together. I will definitely follow this author.
A Good plot with interesting. I was impressed how the New York and English pieces came together. I will definitely follow this author.
December 13, 2019
Like so many mysteries I've read lately, the ending is wrapped up far too quickly.
April 26, 2021
Well written and entertaining. Good character development and characters were likable.
September 24, 2021
An Unfortunate End: 2nd book Lillie Mead Historical
A great book of historical mystery - England and America. Kept me on my toes every turn and twist . A great series.
A great book of historical mystery - England and America. Kept me on my toes every turn and twist . A great series.
October 19, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
October 28, 2021
I usually enjoy historical mysteries, but this was so full of anachronisms, I doubt I will continue with the series. No, Ms. Zumpano, "Ms." was not used in 1919.
January 26, 2022
A good Read
Despite all the mystery, and danger, there is also hope, forgiveness, intrigue, and a little romance. What’s not to like?
Despite all the mystery, and danger, there is also hope, forgiveness, intrigue, and a little romance. What’s not to like?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews