What do you think?
Rate this book
Victorian Book Club Mystery #1
A Study in Murder
A mystery author is charged with murder--and the plot thickens faster than anyone can turn the pages--in USA Today bestselling author Callie Hutton's new series debut, perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ellery Adams.
Bath, England, 1890. Mystery author Lady Amy Lovell receives an anonymous letter containing shocking news: her fiancé, Mr. Ronald St. Vincent, has been dabbling in something illegal, which causes her to promptly break their engagement.
Two evenings later, as Lady Lovell awaits a visit from Lord William Wethington, fellow member of the Bath Mystery Book Club, her former fiancé makes an unexpected and most unwelcome appearance at her house. She promptly sends him to the library to cool his heels but later discovers the room seemingly empty--until she stumbles upon a dead Mr. St. Vincent with a knife in his chest.
Lord Wethington arrives to find Lady Amy screaming and sends for the police, but the Bobbies immediately assume that she is the killer. Desperate to clear her name, Lady Amy and Lord Wethington launch their own investigation--and stir up a hornet's nest of suspects, from the gardener who served time in prison for murder to a vengeful woman who was spurned by St. Vincent before he proposed to Lady Amy.
Can they close the book on the case before the real killer gets away with murder?
Bath, England, 1890. Mystery author Lady Amy Lovell receives an anonymous letter containing shocking news: her fiancé, Mr. Ronald St. Vincent, has been dabbling in something illegal, which causes her to promptly break their engagement.
Two evenings later, as Lady Lovell awaits a visit from Lord William Wethington, fellow member of the Bath Mystery Book Club, her former fiancé makes an unexpected and most unwelcome appearance at her house. She promptly sends him to the library to cool his heels but later discovers the room seemingly empty--until she stumbles upon a dead Mr. St. Vincent with a knife in his chest.
Lord Wethington arrives to find Lady Amy screaming and sends for the police, but the Bobbies immediately assume that she is the killer. Desperate to clear her name, Lady Amy and Lord Wethington launch their own investigation--and stir up a hornet's nest of suspects, from the gardener who served time in prison for murder to a vengeful woman who was spurned by St. Vincent before he proposed to Lady Amy.
Can they close the book on the case before the real killer gets away with murder?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2020
144 people are currently reading
1231 people want to read
About the author
Callie Hutton
144 books1,441 followershttp://calliehutton.com/newsletter/ (receive a free book for signing up and be up to date on new releases and sales)
Hi Romance Fans,
My historical romances are full of heat, humor, and quirky characters. I’ve always loved history, which was my college major. Things of the past fascinate me. Not those boring history classes in high school, but the history of people. How they lived their lives, what they ate, what they wore, the challenges they faced, what they worried about.
I have recently delved into Historical Cozy Mysteries. My very first one, For the Love of the Baron, a Historical Romantic Suspense novella, spurred me to try a full length, non-romance focused cozy mystery. A Study in Murder released last year from Crooked Lane Publishing, and the reviews have been excellent. The second book, The Sign of Death, released this year and the next book, The Mystery of Albert E. Finch will release in January of 2022.
I've also been busy keeping up with my Regency/Victorian romances. Check out my latest series, The Rose Room Rogues. Four brothers who own a gambling club and find themselves caught in the net of love.
Watch for my new Highlander series, The Sutherlands of Dornoch. The first book in that series, To Deceive a Highlander, will release March 30th.
Take a look around my website and check out some of the books I write, and their lovely covers. www.calliehutton.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
April 6, 2021
I completely failed to read the series title and was expecting a current day cosy so imagine the shock I felt when I found myself in 1890's Bath, England. I love historical mysteries though so I was actually delighted.
This is the first in a new series and I will definitely be following it up. The main character, Lady Amy Lovell, is unusual for the times in that she is still unmarried at 26 and is the secret author of a number of published murder/mystery novels. When a real murder occurs in her own house she is determined to investigate it herself with the aid of her friend Lord William. Things get dangerous for the pair and as they get closer to solving the mystery romance blossoms as well.
It was all very enjoyable and I am looking forward to the next book. I also discovered that Callie Hutton has written loads of books already and I have not come across one of them before. Time to fix that!
My thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is the first in a new series and I will definitely be following it up. The main character, Lady Amy Lovell, is unusual for the times in that she is still unmarried at 26 and is the secret author of a number of published murder/mystery novels. When a real murder occurs in her own house she is determined to investigate it herself with the aid of her friend Lord William. Things get dangerous for the pair and as they get closer to solving the mystery romance blossoms as well.
It was all very enjoyable and I am looking forward to the next book. I also discovered that Callie Hutton has written loads of books already and I have not come across one of them before. Time to fix that!
My thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 27, 2019
A Study in Murder is a murder mystery set in 1890 and it is the first book in the A Victorian Book Club Mystery series by Callie Hutton. The main character, Lady Amy Lovell, is an author of mystery novels and her father, who disapproves of this, gets her to agree to write under a pseudonym. She is also the prime suspect in the murder of her ex-fiancé because the police jump to conclusions faster than The Flash can run.
The story is fast-paced and at times, engrossing. That being said, I did roll my eyes at the narrative of the police being inefficient. To quote, "(The police) are conducting this investigation with horse blinders on. They refuse to see anyone except you.” At the start, the police seem hell-bent to indict Amy which is frustrating. It gives Amy all the motivation she needs and she decides to look into the murder and find the killer herself. So begins Amy's investigation with the help of Lord William Wethington, a fellow book club member. They dig into her ex-fiancé's life and come up with a list of suspects with possible motives.
I have to admit that as the suspect list grew, the story got increasingly interesting and I started to enjoy it more than I expected to. The uncovering of clues and surprising revelations kept me hooked towards the end.
Another thing I liked about this book was Amy's steadfastness when it came to women's rights and the principle that women and men are equal. The author offers a glimpse into the patriarchy of the 19th century that Amy, fortunately, has no patience for.
The epilogue ends with a cliffhanger which I assume is laying the foundation for the next novel. Even though I enjoyed parts of this one, I can't say that I look forward to the books that will follow in the series.
[I'd like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author, Callie Hutton, for this ARC. Expected Publication date: 12 May 2020]
The story is fast-paced and at times, engrossing. That being said, I did roll my eyes at the narrative of the police being inefficient. To quote, "(The police) are conducting this investigation with horse blinders on. They refuse to see anyone except you.” At the start, the police seem hell-bent to indict Amy which is frustrating. It gives Amy all the motivation she needs and she decides to look into the murder and find the killer herself. So begins Amy's investigation with the help of Lord William Wethington, a fellow book club member. They dig into her ex-fiancé's life and come up with a list of suspects with possible motives.
I have to admit that as the suspect list grew, the story got increasingly interesting and I started to enjoy it more than I expected to. The uncovering of clues and surprising revelations kept me hooked towards the end.
Another thing I liked about this book was Amy's steadfastness when it came to women's rights and the principle that women and men are equal. The author offers a glimpse into the patriarchy of the 19th century that Amy, fortunately, has no patience for.
The epilogue ends with a cliffhanger which I assume is laying the foundation for the next novel. Even though I enjoyed parts of this one, I can't say that I look forward to the books that will follow in the series.
[I'd like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author, Callie Hutton, for this ARC. Expected Publication date: 12 May 2020]
January 14, 2020
The start of a new mystery series is always quite fun. This one has interesting characters and intriguing story lines. I can't wait till the next book!
July 5, 2020
While this book provided a pleasant enough read and an interesting mystery and in the normal course of things I would give it three stars, there were several things that I found somewhat questionable if not outright unbelievable, as well as some complete inconsistencies. (I'm not normally hypervigilant on the inconsistencies, but once I start seeing them I start keeping an eye out and double-checking things that don't seem to make sense.)
1) It’s 1890. Mentioning the fact that his finances are good, “She’d heard from her brother, Michael, that William had gotten involved in railroads at a time when most gentlemen were skeptical of the new mode of transport. Being clever himself, Michael had convinced Papa to join in the venture…” But according to Wikipedia, the complete network had been laid down by 1850 - forty years before the book takes place, so what was this “venture” and by what definition is something that’s been around for forty years “new”?
2) I found it unbelievable that the police would fasten on Amy as the main suspect, despite the victim being killed at her house, with such a paltry and silly “motive” as the fact that she had broken her engagement with him, and especially given his illegal activities and the fact that he was killed outdoors, meaning that anyone could easily have been following him and attacked him when he went into the garden. They also never seem to wonder where she would have gotten the knife or why she would have been carrying it with her when going down to meet him on his unexpected arrival at the house. If anything, even if they had had far better reasons to suspect her, it would seem that they would have been bending over backward to avoid the headaches that would have come with arresting the daughter of a peer.
3) If she has been doing research for her novels with the police (unless possibly she has been doing it in London, although she seems pretty settled in Bath), why does she seem completely unfamiliar with any of them or the way that they work? (Presumably she would have been “undercover,” so it doesn't bother me that they are unfamiliar with her.)
4) In Chapter 2, when Amy is ending her engagement over the fact that Mr. St. Vincent deals in opium, she says “You are selling dangerous drugs to ladies and gentlemen who would never enter an opium den even if there were any such horrible place in our fair city.” Yet, in Chapter 22, when William says to her, “Amy, surely you must know that the use of opium is not restricted to the unfortunate members of society. It is well known to be a plague among all ranks of citizens,” she says “No, I did not know that.”
5) In Chapter 1 it says: “Aunt Margaret had only been Amy’s present age, five and twenty, when her role as surrogate mother began.” In Chapter 26, it says that her brother, Michael, is seven years older and later: “Although Michael was a nice-looking man of thirty…” which means that she has magically now become twenty-three.
6) For someone who has “no tender sensibilities” and revels in gruesome murder and mayhem, Amy seems easily distressed and faints twice in the course of the book.
7) The maid at Miss Hemphill's, who had “never seen a dead body” before. Given that most people died at home, most Victorians saw dead bodies at some point in their lives, and that particular one showed no sign of violence, so it’s hard to imagine why it would have upset her so much.
8)
9) Not an inconsistency or something that's unbelievable - I know it's generally the case in this type of mystery, but while she's supposed to be smart, the stupidity and/or stubbornness she displays in refusing to work with or confide in anyone (except William) and putting both their lives in danger is incredibly annoying.
1) It’s 1890. Mentioning the fact that his finances are good, “She’d heard from her brother, Michael, that William had gotten involved in railroads at a time when most gentlemen were skeptical of the new mode of transport. Being clever himself, Michael had convinced Papa to join in the venture…” But according to Wikipedia, the complete network had been laid down by 1850 - forty years before the book takes place, so what was this “venture” and by what definition is something that’s been around for forty years “new”?
2) I found it unbelievable that the police would fasten on Amy as the main suspect, despite the victim being killed at her house, with such a paltry and silly “motive” as the fact that she had broken her engagement with him, and especially given his illegal activities and the fact that he was killed outdoors, meaning that anyone could easily have been following him and attacked him when he went into the garden. They also never seem to wonder where she would have gotten the knife or why she would have been carrying it with her when going down to meet him on his unexpected arrival at the house. If anything, even if they had had far better reasons to suspect her, it would seem that they would have been bending over backward to avoid the headaches that would have come with arresting the daughter of a peer.
3) If she has been doing research for her novels with the police (unless possibly she has been doing it in London, although she seems pretty settled in Bath), why does she seem completely unfamiliar with any of them or the way that they work? (Presumably she would have been “undercover,” so it doesn't bother me that they are unfamiliar with her.)
4) In Chapter 2, when Amy is ending her engagement over the fact that Mr. St. Vincent deals in opium, she says “You are selling dangerous drugs to ladies and gentlemen who would never enter an opium den even if there were any such horrible place in our fair city.” Yet, in Chapter 22, when William says to her, “Amy, surely you must know that the use of opium is not restricted to the unfortunate members of society. It is well known to be a plague among all ranks of citizens,” she says “No, I did not know that.”
5) In Chapter 1 it says: “Aunt Margaret had only been Amy’s present age, five and twenty, when her role as surrogate mother began.” In Chapter 26, it says that her brother, Michael, is seven years older and later: “Although Michael was a nice-looking man of thirty…” which means that she has magically now become twenty-three.
6) For someone who has “no tender sensibilities” and revels in gruesome murder and mayhem, Amy seems easily distressed and faints twice in the course of the book.
7) The maid at Miss Hemphill's, who had “never seen a dead body” before. Given that most people died at home, most Victorians saw dead bodies at some point in their lives, and that particular one showed no sign of violence, so it’s hard to imagine why it would have upset her so much.
8)
9) Not an inconsistency or something that's unbelievable - I know it's generally the case in this type of mystery, but while she's supposed to be smart, the stupidity and/or stubbornness she displays in refusing to work with or confide in anyone (except William) and putting both their lives in danger is incredibly annoying.
May 24, 2020
I always love discovering a new-to-me author, especially when they write cozy mysteries! I enjoy cozies....relaxing, cute, fun reads with an edge of danger. Just a bit of murder. Not drippy, screamy, gore-filled murder....cozy murder. Very little blood....cute pets....interesting, fun background fluff. :) These books are my escape when work, life, other rough adult fiction get my mind in a state. With cozies, I return to calm, cool and collected.
I jumped at the chance to read this start to the Victorian Book Club mysteries because the basic plot synopsis appealed to me. Lady Amy Lovell lives in Bath. She's an author...but has to hide it because she is a woman. In 1890, writing about murder (or anything really) was just not something a lady should do. First she receives a letter revealing dark facts about her fiance. Then there is a murder....in her own house, and she is the main suspect. She teams up with a family friend to sleuth out the truth before it's too late.
I enjoyed this book! The characters are awesome! Amy and William are perfect sleuthing partners! I thought the end was perfect. The mystery moves along at a nice pace, with plenty of investigation, suspects and a few surprises. I wasn't that surprised at the reveal, but there were plenty of interesting tidbits at the end to leave me completely satisfied at the conclusion.
Great start to a new cozy series! Relaxing day of reading....and I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next book in this new series!
**I voluntarily read a review copy from Crooked Lane. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I jumped at the chance to read this start to the Victorian Book Club mysteries because the basic plot synopsis appealed to me. Lady Amy Lovell lives in Bath. She's an author...but has to hide it because she is a woman. In 1890, writing about murder (or anything really) was just not something a lady should do. First she receives a letter revealing dark facts about her fiance. Then there is a murder....in her own house, and she is the main suspect. She teams up with a family friend to sleuth out the truth before it's too late.
I enjoyed this book! The characters are awesome! Amy and William are perfect sleuthing partners! I thought the end was perfect. The mystery moves along at a nice pace, with plenty of investigation, suspects and a few surprises. I wasn't that surprised at the reveal, but there were plenty of interesting tidbits at the end to leave me completely satisfied at the conclusion.
Great start to a new cozy series! Relaxing day of reading....and I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next book in this new series!
**I voluntarily read a review copy from Crooked Lane. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
November 11, 2019
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
A good, enjoyable cozy mystery. Set in 1890, mystery writer Lady Amy Lowell loves reading and writing mysteries, she even has a book club for it. But when her “ex” fiance is murdered in her library, she tries to solve it before the police. She gets help from William, who is a member of the same book club. It’s a good mystery, I guessed the killer towards the end. I liked the concept and characters. I’d like to read the next one, espicially want to read about the affair between the hero and the heroine.
A good, enjoyable cozy mystery. Set in 1890, mystery writer Lady Amy Lowell loves reading and writing mysteries, she even has a book club for it. But when her “ex” fiance is murdered in her library, she tries to solve it before the police. She gets help from William, who is a member of the same book club. It’s a good mystery, I guessed the killer towards the end. I liked the concept and characters. I’d like to read the next one, espicially want to read about the affair between the hero and the heroine.
April 6, 2021
A Study in Murder: A Victorian Book Club Mystery
A Victorian Mystery Series #1
Callie Hutton
https://www.facebook.com/calliehutton...
Release date 05/12/2020
Publisher Crooked Lane Books
Blurb :
Bath, England, 1890. Mystery author Lady Amy Lovell receives an anonymous letter containing shocking news: her fiancé, Mr. Ronald St. Vincent, has been dabbling in something illegal, which causes her to promptly break their engagement.
Two evenings later, as Lady Amy awaits a visit from Lord William Wethington, fellow member of the Bath Mystery Book Club, her former fiancé makes an unexpected and most unwelcome appearance at her house. She promptly sends him to the library to cool his heels but later discovers the room seemingly empty--until she stumbles upon a dead Mr. St. Vincent with a knife in his chest.
Lord Wethington arrives to find Lady Amy screaming and sends for the police, but the Bobbies immediately assume that she is the killer. Desperate to clear her name, Lady Amy and Lord Wethington launch their own investigation--and stir up a hornet's nest of suspects, from the gardener who served time in prison for murder to a vengeful woman who was spurned by St. Vincent before he proposed to Lady Amy.
Can they close the book on the case before the real killer gets away with murder?
My review :
When a lady becomes prime suspect in a murder case, she must take the lead to find the real perpetrator...
« How dare St. Vincent come here uninvited and then land on the floor in her library with a knife in his chest? »
I do think this one quote reflects the spirit of this book. While I enjoyed the investigation, I savored as much the banters and witty retorts between the protagonists.
I know Mrs Callie Hutton for her historical romances, so what a pleasure to have an historical mystery to add to my reading list, after historical romance, they are my favorite, even more when there is a burgeoning romance building up along the pages and books as it will be a series.
So the story is from one point of view, Lady Amy, the Marquess of Winchester’s daughter, and under some pen name, the author of gruesome mystery novels. Yet she will soon discover than writing and investigating murders are far different business, even more when she is the main suspect.
It was a very fun read with many possible culprits, dead ends and the limitation of the time period, as no DNA, fingerprints nor blood test were available. So it is only by slowly assembling what looked like clues one with another that the duet of amateur sleuths follows one way before an other. While in the same time, they must respect society’s conventions, and realize they are only human with their own flaws and limitations.
Lady Amy is no Wonder Woman, thus she acts like most in her situation she screams, fears, falters when troubles but she also considers and ponders when on the hunt.
She is a woman a bit ahead of her time, wanting more for the womankind, still she lives under some strict rules and while she thwarts them as much as she can, she is still a woman and viewed as inferior.
Her association with Lord Wethington is charming, he recognizes she has a brain and know how to use it, he also allays her impulsiveness. When she would run, he talks her to rethink her actions. Still he is always there, her second in her every decision.
It is no modern mystery, things take time like during this area, one can’t run and jump to conclusions, they need to collect witnesses informations and physical clues.
Now I am very eager to read the second in this series.
5 stars for this first foray by Mrs Callie Hutton in the sleuthing world.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Crooked Lane Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
A Victorian Mystery Series #1
Callie Hutton
https://www.facebook.com/calliehutton...
Release date 05/12/2020
Publisher Crooked Lane Books
Blurb :
Bath, England, 1890. Mystery author Lady Amy Lovell receives an anonymous letter containing shocking news: her fiancé, Mr. Ronald St. Vincent, has been dabbling in something illegal, which causes her to promptly break their engagement.
Two evenings later, as Lady Amy awaits a visit from Lord William Wethington, fellow member of the Bath Mystery Book Club, her former fiancé makes an unexpected and most unwelcome appearance at her house. She promptly sends him to the library to cool his heels but later discovers the room seemingly empty--until she stumbles upon a dead Mr. St. Vincent with a knife in his chest.
Lord Wethington arrives to find Lady Amy screaming and sends for the police, but the Bobbies immediately assume that she is the killer. Desperate to clear her name, Lady Amy and Lord Wethington launch their own investigation--and stir up a hornet's nest of suspects, from the gardener who served time in prison for murder to a vengeful woman who was spurned by St. Vincent before he proposed to Lady Amy.
Can they close the book on the case before the real killer gets away with murder?
My review :
When a lady becomes prime suspect in a murder case, she must take the lead to find the real perpetrator...
« How dare St. Vincent come here uninvited and then land on the floor in her library with a knife in his chest? »
I do think this one quote reflects the spirit of this book. While I enjoyed the investigation, I savored as much the banters and witty retorts between the protagonists.
I know Mrs Callie Hutton for her historical romances, so what a pleasure to have an historical mystery to add to my reading list, after historical romance, they are my favorite, even more when there is a burgeoning romance building up along the pages and books as it will be a series.
So the story is from one point of view, Lady Amy, the Marquess of Winchester’s daughter, and under some pen name, the author of gruesome mystery novels. Yet she will soon discover than writing and investigating murders are far different business, even more when she is the main suspect.
It was a very fun read with many possible culprits, dead ends and the limitation of the time period, as no DNA, fingerprints nor blood test were available. So it is only by slowly assembling what looked like clues one with another that the duet of amateur sleuths follows one way before an other. While in the same time, they must respect society’s conventions, and realize they are only human with their own flaws and limitations.
Lady Amy is no Wonder Woman, thus she acts like most in her situation she screams, fears, falters when troubles but she also considers and ponders when on the hunt.
She is a woman a bit ahead of her time, wanting more for the womankind, still she lives under some strict rules and while she thwarts them as much as she can, she is still a woman and viewed as inferior.
Her association with Lord Wethington is charming, he recognizes she has a brain and know how to use it, he also allays her impulsiveness. When she would run, he talks her to rethink her actions. Still he is always there, her second in her every decision.
It is no modern mystery, things take time like during this area, one can’t run and jump to conclusions, they need to collect witnesses informations and physical clues.
Now I am very eager to read the second in this series.
5 stars for this first foray by Mrs Callie Hutton in the sleuthing world.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Crooked Lane Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
May 19, 2020
Really well-written and plotted, I love the sense of humor and the budding relationship with Amy and William. They made the best sleuthing buddies, and with the little hint of some things yet to come in the next book, I'm definitely going to have to check it out. The killer was a total surprise to me with a quick but efficient showdown where both Amy and William were able to shine.
I loved the idea of Lady Amy being a mystery writer who was incognito and going to book clubs where they were discussing her book that everyone thought was written by a man, because in 1890 women weren't considered much of anything let alone writers. Amy was a a nice strong personality for that era and more than one time I was cheering her on or sharing eye rolls with her when someone would make a snarky comment. I liked Margaret a lot too. She was more like an older sister than an aunt, because mainly in those days some aunts were stuffy and no fun, lol. Just as the running joke of someone saying "your fiance" followed with Amy saying, "...my EX-fiance" was wearing a little thin, the author did the funniest thing with it toward the end. Just read it, you'll know when you see it and hopefully laugh as much as I did. I definitely liked this book a lot better than I thought I would when I first started it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
I loved the idea of Lady Amy being a mystery writer who was incognito and going to book clubs where they were discussing her book that everyone thought was written by a man, because in 1890 women weren't considered much of anything let alone writers. Amy was a a nice strong personality for that era and more than one time I was cheering her on or sharing eye rolls with her when someone would make a snarky comment. I liked Margaret a lot too. She was more like an older sister than an aunt, because mainly in those days some aunts were stuffy and no fun, lol. Just as the running joke of someone saying "your fiance" followed with Amy saying, "...my EX-fiance" was wearing a little thin, the author did the funniest thing with it toward the end. Just read it, you'll know when you see it and hopefully laugh as much as I did. I definitely liked this book a lot better than I thought I would when I first started it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
February 19, 2022
2022 Review: 3.5 STARS
I reread this one as I wanted to continue the series. I liked it a bit more this time, because I knew what was coming this time, character-wise. It is a cute mystery and I am glad I will continue the series.
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2020; Crooked Lane Books
A Study in Murder is the first novel in the Victorian Book Club Mystery series. The novel takes place in Bath, England in 1890. Lady Amy Lovell is a mystery novelist, although no one knows it. She also attends a mystery book club with a few others in the peerage. One day Amy receives an anonymous letter revealing that her fiancé is involved in the opium trade. Amy decides to call the marriage off, but her EX fiancé comes to see her in her home. She makes him wait to show how little she cares for him, but when she goes to talk to him, he's found dead. Amy is the main suspect, so she decides to investigate that case to find the real murderer and why he came to see her.
It is a cute fun cozy mystery, but did have some dragging bits and a bit cheesy humour. It is a first in a series, and has a lot of promise. I am looking forward to the next novel!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
I reread this one as I wanted to continue the series. I liked it a bit more this time, because I knew what was coming this time, character-wise. It is a cute mystery and I am glad I will continue the series.
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2020; Crooked Lane Books
A Study in Murder is the first novel in the Victorian Book Club Mystery series. The novel takes place in Bath, England in 1890. Lady Amy Lovell is a mystery novelist, although no one knows it. She also attends a mystery book club with a few others in the peerage. One day Amy receives an anonymous letter revealing that her fiancé is involved in the opium trade. Amy decides to call the marriage off, but her EX fiancé comes to see her in her home. She makes him wait to show how little she cares for him, but when she goes to talk to him, he's found dead. Amy is the main suspect, so she decides to investigate that case to find the real murderer and why he came to see her.
It is a cute fun cozy mystery, but did have some dragging bits and a bit cheesy humour. It is a first in a series, and has a lot of promise. I am looking forward to the next novel!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
October 28, 2019
A Study In Murder has everything I love in a mystery - an independent, smart and colorful main character, supporting characters who are interesting and well-written and touch of romance that enhances rather than overwhelms the storyline.
Lady Amy, the main character, is unique in that along with all of her social obligations as an upper class young woman of the time, she is also the famous mystery writer, E.D. Burton. Due to her father's wishes, she has kept this secret from all but a very few. When she is accused of murdering her ex-fiance, the investigative skills she's learned, through research for her novels, is put to practical use to keep her out of jail and to solve the crime. The characters are wonderfully written and the Victorian era setting, in the town of Bath, is charming.
The relationship between her rebellious Aunt Margaret and the developing friendship with her crime solving partner Lord Wethington adds to the book.
I wasn't sure if I would like a Victorian "period" mystery but this book has me wanting more! I am impatiently waiting for the next book!
I received an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review of this book.
Lady Amy, the main character, is unique in that along with all of her social obligations as an upper class young woman of the time, she is also the famous mystery writer, E.D. Burton. Due to her father's wishes, she has kept this secret from all but a very few. When she is accused of murdering her ex-fiance, the investigative skills she's learned, through research for her novels, is put to practical use to keep her out of jail and to solve the crime. The characters are wonderfully written and the Victorian era setting, in the town of Bath, is charming.
The relationship between her rebellious Aunt Margaret and the developing friendship with her crime solving partner Lord Wethington adds to the book.
I wasn't sure if I would like a Victorian "period" mystery but this book has me wanting more! I am impatiently waiting for the next book!
I received an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review of this book.
November 23, 2019
A Study in Murder is a cozy mystery set in Bath, England in 1890. Lady Amy Lovell is the author of murder mysteries who writes under a pseudonym. When her ex-fiancé is murdered in the library of her home she becomes the main suspect. Amy and her friend William set out to find out who the murderer is. There were many turns and twists to the story and it kept me guessing about who the villain was until the end. This is a good and solid cozy mystery that won’t disappoint.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 14, 2021
Sto pensando se aggiungere mezza stella o meno... Il libro si fa leggere con piacere, come dimostra il fatto che lo abbia letto quasi tutto oggi, il colpevole è stato una sorpresa, ma c'è qualcosa che non mi ha convinta del tutto. Confesso che ho avuto un po' di difficoltà con alcune parole a me sconosciute forse perché antiquate ed ogni tanto non ero molto convinta dell'agire della protagonista, un po' troppo indipendente per quei tempi, ma non so se sia questo il problema o se la storia manchi in qualche punto di credibilità. Boh, comunque leggerò anche il libro successivo prima o poi.
May 4, 2020
Series: A Victorian Book Club Mystery #1
Publication Date: 5/12/20
Number of Pages: 320
This is the first book in a new series by Callie Hutton, and I believe it is also her first cozy mystery. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it because historical mysteries are my favorite sub-genre and she is one of my favorite authors. It sounds like a marriage made in heaven doesn’t it? The mystery is interesting, well-plotted, and well-executed while the characters are very believable and relatable. The story was a bit slower moving and less exciting than I normally like, but it was still an excellent read. The groundwork was laid for a future relationship between the two main characters and possibly the set-up for the next murder to solve. I believe I have read that the series is set to be limited to just a few books (maybe 3 or so), but I enjoyed the characters so much I would like to see many more books in the series – à la Stephanie Plum.
Lady Amy Lovell is an independent thinking suffragette and mystery writer, much to her father’s chagrin. Amy’s father, the Marquess of Winchester, won’t stop her from writing her books, but he insists she write under a pseudonym – and not tell ANYONE she is the actual writer. He had despaired of ever getting his daughter wed, but when Mr. Ronald St. Vincent travels to London and offers for Amy, her father sees his chance to get his daughter ‘settled’. He cajoles and persuades until finally, Amy agrees. Of course, she immediately has second thoughts about it but lets the betrothal continue – until – she gets word of some underhanded dealings of St. Vincent –then she immediately summons him to her home and breaks the betrothal. When St. Vincent is found dead just a few days later, in the library of Amy’s home, she is immediately the main suspect of Detectives Edwin Marsh and Ralph Carson. The detectives don’t seem inclined to look for any other suspects, so it will be up to Amy to solve the murder.
Viscount William Wethington has known Amy for many years and they have had a distant friendship. Not close, but cordial. They are both members of the Mystery Book Club of Bath and they have danced a few times at assemblies. When he arrives at her home to drop off a book she had asked to borrow, he heard her screaming and rushed into the library to find her, covered in blood, with a dead body at her feet.
Amy is the driving force behind their investigation and William is more the unwilling partner who keeps trying to get her to let someone else handle it. However, he goes along with whatever she asks and assists in the investigation. They are thrown together more and more and begin to have respect and regard for each other that hasn’t been there before, but it doesn’t develop into a real romance.
Just when you think you know who the culprit is – the investigation shifts and you think – Well maybe not. It is fun to figure out who is connected to who and how they are connected – and to finally learn who the real villain is.
I enjoyed the read and I’m looking forward to the next one. I did, however, think things moved a bit slowly. Perhaps we could leave out how many times they wiped their mouths after eating or how Amy was tired and took naps, etc. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy those things – they just seemed extraneous and didn’t move the plot along. I would also have enjoyed more of the romance to develop in this book rather than seeing just the hint of it – that it could go either way. I’m sure the romance will get there, but, for this reader, I like heavy doses of romance along with my mysteries.
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the read and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 5/12/20
Number of Pages: 320
This is the first book in a new series by Callie Hutton, and I believe it is also her first cozy mystery. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it because historical mysteries are my favorite sub-genre and she is one of my favorite authors. It sounds like a marriage made in heaven doesn’t it? The mystery is interesting, well-plotted, and well-executed while the characters are very believable and relatable. The story was a bit slower moving and less exciting than I normally like, but it was still an excellent read. The groundwork was laid for a future relationship between the two main characters and possibly the set-up for the next murder to solve. I believe I have read that the series is set to be limited to just a few books (maybe 3 or so), but I enjoyed the characters so much I would like to see many more books in the series – à la Stephanie Plum.
Lady Amy Lovell is an independent thinking suffragette and mystery writer, much to her father’s chagrin. Amy’s father, the Marquess of Winchester, won’t stop her from writing her books, but he insists she write under a pseudonym – and not tell ANYONE she is the actual writer. He had despaired of ever getting his daughter wed, but when Mr. Ronald St. Vincent travels to London and offers for Amy, her father sees his chance to get his daughter ‘settled’. He cajoles and persuades until finally, Amy agrees. Of course, she immediately has second thoughts about it but lets the betrothal continue – until – she gets word of some underhanded dealings of St. Vincent –then she immediately summons him to her home and breaks the betrothal. When St. Vincent is found dead just a few days later, in the library of Amy’s home, she is immediately the main suspect of Detectives Edwin Marsh and Ralph Carson. The detectives don’t seem inclined to look for any other suspects, so it will be up to Amy to solve the murder.
Viscount William Wethington has known Amy for many years and they have had a distant friendship. Not close, but cordial. They are both members of the Mystery Book Club of Bath and they have danced a few times at assemblies. When he arrives at her home to drop off a book she had asked to borrow, he heard her screaming and rushed into the library to find her, covered in blood, with a dead body at her feet.
Amy is the driving force behind their investigation and William is more the unwilling partner who keeps trying to get her to let someone else handle it. However, he goes along with whatever she asks and assists in the investigation. They are thrown together more and more and begin to have respect and regard for each other that hasn’t been there before, but it doesn’t develop into a real romance.
Just when you think you know who the culprit is – the investigation shifts and you think – Well maybe not. It is fun to figure out who is connected to who and how they are connected – and to finally learn who the real villain is.
I enjoyed the read and I’m looking forward to the next one. I did, however, think things moved a bit slowly. Perhaps we could leave out how many times they wiped their mouths after eating or how Amy was tired and took naps, etc. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy those things – they just seemed extraneous and didn’t move the plot along. I would also have enjoyed more of the romance to develop in this book rather than seeing just the hint of it – that it could go either way. I’m sure the romance will get there, but, for this reader, I like heavy doses of romance along with my mysteries.
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the read and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 31, 2019
Let me first thank NetGalley for a free advance copy of this book i exchange for an honest review. I had never heard of this author until I got this book, a book that is completely different from her prior works, and for me a much more enjoyable genre and style of writing. We follow the exploits of Lady Amy Lovell (who is secretly a murder mystery writer) and Lord William Wethington, her friend. The writing is a good blend of both dialogue and prose, and characters are well developed both on the lead character and minor character level. Lady Amy is under suspicion of the murder of her fiance (ex-fiance) who she found in her library with a knife in his chest! She decides to try and find out the killer because the police are sort of convinced she us the murderess. All of this takes place in the town of Bath, England, which also gets very good descriptive development both in terms of the town and high society. We have a dead shipping magnate, opium addicts, a feminist Lady Amy, a charming relationship between Lady Amy and Lord William. Why not 5 stars? Well, sometimes the dialogue got a bit preachy about feminism and the plight of women (more so Lady Amy than women in general), and while it did not distract from the book I felt it continued much longer than necessary - the author made her point very well early in the book. The plot was great, and the murderer a real surprise. A very good effort and he books is nicely set up for Book 2 in the Epilogue.
November 14, 2019
A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton is a historical cozy mystery that was an entertaining story set in Bath, England in 1890.
Ms. Hutton's description of Bath at that time made the town come alive as I read. Lady Amy and Lord William are friends who belong to a mystery book club in Bath. When Amy's ex-finace is murdered in her home, Amy vows to find the culprit since she is the police's number one suspect. Amy is very intelligent and logical and William seems to admire her and joins in the hunt. A smoothly paced plot with a few twists, several suspects and red herrings keep the plot moving forward. Fans of historical cozy mysteries will enjoy this new addition to the genre.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Ms. Hutton's description of Bath at that time made the town come alive as I read. Lady Amy and Lord William are friends who belong to a mystery book club in Bath. When Amy's ex-finace is murdered in her home, Amy vows to find the culprit since she is the police's number one suspect. Amy is very intelligent and logical and William seems to admire her and joins in the hunt. A smoothly paced plot with a few twists, several suspects and red herrings keep the plot moving forward. Fans of historical cozy mysteries will enjoy this new addition to the genre.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
November 12, 2019
When Lady Amy finds her former fiance dead in the library, she has no idea why he was even present, much less who could have done away with him. And when the police show up, they don't help matters when they immediately identify Lady Amy as the one and only suspect. Seeing that they have absolutely no interest in pursuing other explanations, Lady Amy decides to investigate on her own, with the aid of her friend (just a friend, as she protests too much) William.
This was a decent cozy mystery and I enjoyed the interaction between Amy and William, but I think the writing would have been more at home in a contemporary setting. Some of it doesn't read quite right for being placed in the Victorian era.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this digital review copy.
This was a decent cozy mystery and I enjoyed the interaction between Amy and William, but I think the writing would have been more at home in a contemporary setting. Some of it doesn't read quite right for being placed in the Victorian era.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this digital review copy.
May 14, 2020
A Study in Murder: A Victorian Book Club Mystery
A Victorian Mystery Series #1
Callie Hutton
https://www.facebook.com/calliehutton...
Release date 05/12/2020
Publisher Crooked Lane Books
Blurb :
Bath, England, 1890. Mystery author Lady Amy Lovell receives an anonymous letter containing shocking news: her fiancé, Mr. Ronald St. Vincent, has been dabbling in something illegal, which causes her to promptly break their engagement.
Two evenings later, as Lady Amy awaits a visit from Lord William Wethington, fellow member of the Bath Mystery Book Club, her former fiancé makes an unexpected and most unwelcome appearance at her house. She promptly sends him to the library to cool his heels but later discovers the room seemingly empty--until she stumbles upon a dead Mr. St. Vincent with a knife in his chest.
Lord Wethington arrives to find Lady Amy screaming and sends for the police, but the Bobbies immediately assume that she is the killer. Desperate to clear her name, Lady Amy and Lord Wethington launch their own investigation--and stir up a hornet's nest of suspects, from the gardener who served time in prison for murder to a vengeful woman who was spurned by St. Vincent before he proposed to Lady Amy.
Can they close the book on the case before the real killer gets away with murder?
My review :
When a lady becomes prime suspect in a murder case, she must take the lead to find the real perpetrator...
« How dare St. Vincent come here uninvited and then land on the floor in her library with a knife in his chest? »
I do think this one quote reflects the spirit of this book. While I enjoyed the investigation, I savored as much the banters and witty retorts between the protagonists.
I know Mrs Callie Hutton for her historical romances, so what a pleasure to have an historical mystery to add to my reading list, after historical romance, they are my favorite, even more when there is a burgeoning romance building up along the pages and books as it will be a series.
So the story is from one point of view, Lady Amy, the Marquess of Winchester’s daughter, and under some pen name, the author of gruesome mystery novels. Yet she will soon discover than writing and investigating murders are far different business, even more when she is the main suspect.
It was a very fun read with many possible culprits, dead ends and the limitation of the time period, as no DNA, fingerprints nor blood test were available. So it is only by slowly assembling what looked like clues one with another that the duet of amateur sleuths follows one way before an other. While in the same time, they must respect society’s conventions, and realize they are only human with their own flaws and limitations.
Lady Amy is no Wonder Woman, thus she acts like most in her situation she screams, fears, falters when troubles but she also considers and ponders when on the hunt.
She is a woman a bit ahead of her time, wanting more for the womankind, still she lives under some strict rules and while she thwarts them as much as she can, she is still a woman and viewed as inferior.
Her association with Lord Wethington is charming, he recognizes she has a brain and know how to use it, he also allays her impulsiveness. When she would run, he talks her to rethink her actions. Still he is always there, her second in her every decision.
It is no modern mystery, things take time like during this area, one can’t run and jump to conclusions, they need to collect witnesses informations and physical clues.
Now I am very eager to read the second in this series.
5 stars for this first foray by Mrs Callie Hutton in the sleuthing world.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Crooked Lane Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
A Victorian Mystery Series #1
Callie Hutton
https://www.facebook.com/calliehutton...
Release date 05/12/2020
Publisher Crooked Lane Books
Blurb :
Bath, England, 1890. Mystery author Lady Amy Lovell receives an anonymous letter containing shocking news: her fiancé, Mr. Ronald St. Vincent, has been dabbling in something illegal, which causes her to promptly break their engagement.
Two evenings later, as Lady Amy awaits a visit from Lord William Wethington, fellow member of the Bath Mystery Book Club, her former fiancé makes an unexpected and most unwelcome appearance at her house. She promptly sends him to the library to cool his heels but later discovers the room seemingly empty--until she stumbles upon a dead Mr. St. Vincent with a knife in his chest.
Lord Wethington arrives to find Lady Amy screaming and sends for the police, but the Bobbies immediately assume that she is the killer. Desperate to clear her name, Lady Amy and Lord Wethington launch their own investigation--and stir up a hornet's nest of suspects, from the gardener who served time in prison for murder to a vengeful woman who was spurned by St. Vincent before he proposed to Lady Amy.
Can they close the book on the case before the real killer gets away with murder?
My review :
When a lady becomes prime suspect in a murder case, she must take the lead to find the real perpetrator...
« How dare St. Vincent come here uninvited and then land on the floor in her library with a knife in his chest? »
I do think this one quote reflects the spirit of this book. While I enjoyed the investigation, I savored as much the banters and witty retorts between the protagonists.
I know Mrs Callie Hutton for her historical romances, so what a pleasure to have an historical mystery to add to my reading list, after historical romance, they are my favorite, even more when there is a burgeoning romance building up along the pages and books as it will be a series.
So the story is from one point of view, Lady Amy, the Marquess of Winchester’s daughter, and under some pen name, the author of gruesome mystery novels. Yet she will soon discover than writing and investigating murders are far different business, even more when she is the main suspect.
It was a very fun read with many possible culprits, dead ends and the limitation of the time period, as no DNA, fingerprints nor blood test were available. So it is only by slowly assembling what looked like clues one with another that the duet of amateur sleuths follows one way before an other. While in the same time, they must respect society’s conventions, and realize they are only human with their own flaws and limitations.
Lady Amy is no Wonder Woman, thus she acts like most in her situation she screams, fears, falters when troubles but she also considers and ponders when on the hunt.
She is a woman a bit ahead of her time, wanting more for the womankind, still she lives under some strict rules and while she thwarts them as much as she can, she is still a woman and viewed as inferior.
Her association with Lord Wethington is charming, he recognizes she has a brain and know how to use it, he also allays her impulsiveness. When she would run, he talks her to rethink her actions. Still he is always there, her second in her every decision.
It is no modern mystery, things take time like during this area, one can’t run and jump to conclusions, they need to collect witnesses informations and physical clues.
Now I am very eager to read the second in this series.
5 stars for this first foray by Mrs Callie Hutton in the sleuthing world.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Crooked Lane Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
August 27, 2020
I don't think I have ever read a historical cozy or even a historical mystery! I've always shied away from them thinking the would not be interesting. Boy, was I wrong! I couldn't stop reading this book. It was so interesting and the characters and the story just perfect for me! The characters were dynamic and challenged my view of the Regency era. I loved Lady Amy. She was intelligent and a little different from her peers in the story.
All in all this novel is a book I'd highly recommend to cozy readers in particular particularly, like me, if you have avoided historicals! Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
All in all this novel is a book I'd highly recommend to cozy readers in particular particularly, like me, if you have avoided historicals! Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
November 13, 2021
This was a nice way to spend a couple of afternoons. The pacing was a little on the slower side, but the adorable interactions between the MCs and fun characterization of the cast more than made up for it. I like how the author made the heroine a woman ahead of her time and yet also had her feel so much fear she would swoon. Too often I find that author feel the need to make someone strong, strong, strong with nary a a weakness in sight. Lady Amy was surely a contradiction at times which made her read like a real person. Now I'm off to read the second book.
July 4, 2022
Must say, that was a surprise ending. Bravo!
This was enjoyable, albeit annoying only in its misogynistic era.. but that hardly stops our main characters from sleuthing out who really did the deed Lady Amy is being charged with.
First in the series, leaving us with a cliffhanger, I may have to follow this along with all the others.
Pleasant diversions from reality
This was enjoyable, albeit annoying only in its misogynistic era.. but that hardly stops our main characters from sleuthing out who really did the deed Lady Amy is being charged with.
First in the series, leaving us with a cliffhanger, I may have to follow this along with all the others.
Pleasant diversions from reality
April 15, 2023
Lady Amy Lovell and Lord William Wethington make an exquisite team of amateur sleuths when a murder occurs in Bath, of Lady Amy’s (ex) fiancé, at Lady Amy’s townhouse!
I love that Amy and William are members of a book club and their friendship slowly blossoms to more as they gather clues to the murder.
I adored Amy’s adorable fluffy, tailless Pomeranian, Persephone. Obtuse detectives Carson and Marsh are rather more slow and disdainful than bumbling but I grudgingly liked the pair.
Especially nice are the historical tidbits sprinkled throughout the story. A Victorian Book Club Mystery is a wonderful series to savor and be transported to another era.
I love that Amy and William are members of a book club and their friendship slowly blossoms to more as they gather clues to the murder.
I adored Amy’s adorable fluffy, tailless Pomeranian, Persephone. Obtuse detectives Carson and Marsh are rather more slow and disdainful than bumbling but I grudgingly liked the pair.
Especially nice are the historical tidbits sprinkled throughout the story. A Victorian Book Club Mystery is a wonderful series to savor and be transported to another era.
June 27, 2022
“A Study in Murder” by Callie Hutton is the first instalment in the " Victorian Book Club Mystery" series. A great start to a new series by a new to me author! I was enjoying the story so much I read in one sitting. I found myself becoming invested in what happened to Lady Amy, as she was super likeable, smart and independent for Victorian times. I also liked her relationship with William.
The setting of Bath, England was also a nice place to visit. The mystery was well plotted, entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.
I can’t wait for the next instalment, definitely a author I will be following in the future.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
The setting of Bath, England was also a nice place to visit. The mystery was well plotted, entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.
I can’t wait for the next instalment, definitely a author I will be following in the future.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
May 5, 2020
This was tedious, ridiculous, and if you are looking for a good historical mystery, there are MUCH better books out there than this one. The characters are very one dimensional [if she had said "ex-fiance" one more time, I might have lost my mind], you can see the "romance" coming a mile away and by the time the reveal happens, you'd have to be a dunderdunce or a newbie to the "crime novel" to not have seen who the "baddie" was. And the reveal was the most tepid, meh experience ever.
Truly, look elsewhere for a better historical mystery. There are many out there. You will not find a good mystery here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Truly, look elsewhere for a better historical mystery. There are many out there. You will not find a good mystery here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2020
Shortly after breaking off her engagement in arranged marriage contract, Lady Amy Lovell of Bath, England, decides to allow her former fiancé to visit. When she reluctantly goes to receive him, she trips over his murdered body. She and Lord Wethington, who is also in the home, are questioned by the police and Lady Amy is their prime suspect. They belong to a mystery book club and decide to do their own investigation before she finds herself imprisoned for the rest of her life.
While the book started a bit slowly for me and I was tempted to put it down, I am so glad I didn't. The story picked up and the pace continued nicely, along with a plot filled with twists and turns. Lady Amy seems surprised that opium addiction has affected the upper classes-her own peers, something that we are currently experiencing today. Lord Wethington gently tells her that addiction affects all types of people, no matter their status.
Lady Amy's character is intriguing and complex--a great start for a new series. She defies the norm of her time in some ways but still enjoys the privilege her family wealth and title affords. Her alter-ego, the prominent mystery writer E.D. Burton, provides for future plot and character development as well as her changing relationship with Lord Wethingon. I'll be looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC. My review is voluntary.
While the book started a bit slowly for me and I was tempted to put it down, I am so glad I didn't. The story picked up and the pace continued nicely, along with a plot filled with twists and turns. Lady Amy seems surprised that opium addiction has affected the upper classes-her own peers, something that we are currently experiencing today. Lord Wethington gently tells her that addiction affects all types of people, no matter their status.
Lady Amy's character is intriguing and complex--a great start for a new series. She defies the norm of her time in some ways but still enjoys the privilege her family wealth and title affords. Her alter-ego, the prominent mystery writer E.D. Burton, provides for future plot and character development as well as her changing relationship with Lord Wethingon. I'll be looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC. My review is voluntary.
September 26, 2020
In a case of art intimating life Lady Amy Lovell, secret mystery author and lover of books finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of her ex-fiancé. Finding the detectives on the case unhelpful and too focused on her for the crime she decides to put her skills to work to clear her name. Along with her, quite reluctantly, for the investigation is her friend William, Lord Wethington. They are part of a murder mystery book club and poor William had only been dropping by to lend Amy a book when he was drawn into the mess. His desire to keep Amy safe and out of jail has him assisting her.
Days before the murder Amy broke off her engagement after recurring some anonymous information about what he was up to. As she hadn’t exactly wanted to marry Mr. St. Vincent in the first place she’s happy to have an excuse to end things. Why he showed up at her home only to be murdered she has no idea about. So together with William they dig into the life of a man she was supposed to marry but didn’t really know at all. Were his illegal and immoral activities to blame for his death? Or was it the nephew that would inherit upon his death? Or many the woman who believed they would marry only to find that he was engaged to another? The lost of suspects grows and the body count increases and it’s pretty clear someone knows Amy and William are investigating.
Stubborn Amy can’t trust her fate to others and is determined to see this thing through to the end. But real life isn’t like one of her stories and in the real world consequences can prove rather fatal. And not everybody is who they seem to be. And in the end the murderer is the last person she expected it to be...
I liked Amy and appreciated that unlike a lot of these types of character she wasn’t the type to sneak off somewhere alone to get herself killed. Yeah she was stubborn and refused to tell the police everything but to be fair they didn’t seem like they were doing much though obviously they were doing way more than she thought/knew. I only sort of guessed who the killer is I had assumed that person was involved but not that they were the one that did it. It was a good story an interesting mystery and the only bad part was the way it ended. I NEED to know what trouble Amy and William might get up to next and I’m assuming their story continues from the way it left off. Also the two of them are rather adorable together, even if they aren’t exact together. I like them together and I couldn’t help but to like Aunt Margret and Eloise and even the rather eccentric Persephone.
Once I started reading this book I couldn’t put it down not even to sleep that’s how good it was to me.
Days before the murder Amy broke off her engagement after recurring some anonymous information about what he was up to. As she hadn’t exactly wanted to marry Mr. St. Vincent in the first place she’s happy to have an excuse to end things. Why he showed up at her home only to be murdered she has no idea about. So together with William they dig into the life of a man she was supposed to marry but didn’t really know at all. Were his illegal and immoral activities to blame for his death? Or was it the nephew that would inherit upon his death? Or many the woman who believed they would marry only to find that he was engaged to another? The lost of suspects grows and the body count increases and it’s pretty clear someone knows Amy and William are investigating.
Stubborn Amy can’t trust her fate to others and is determined to see this thing through to the end. But real life isn’t like one of her stories and in the real world consequences can prove rather fatal. And not everybody is who they seem to be. And in the end the murderer is the last person she expected it to be...
I liked Amy and appreciated that unlike a lot of these types of character she wasn’t the type to sneak off somewhere alone to get herself killed. Yeah she was stubborn and refused to tell the police everything but to be fair they didn’t seem like they were doing much though obviously they were doing way more than she thought/knew. I only sort of guessed who the killer is I had assumed that person was involved but not that they were the one that did it. It was a good story an interesting mystery and the only bad part was the way it ended. I NEED to know what trouble Amy and William might get up to next and I’m assuming their story continues from the way it left off. Also the two of them are rather adorable together, even if they aren’t exact together. I like them together and I couldn’t help but to like Aunt Margret and Eloise and even the rather eccentric Persephone.
Once I started reading this book I couldn’t put it down not even to sleep that’s how good it was to me.
May 7, 2020
A Study In Murder is the first book in the A Victorian Book Club Mystery series.
Bath, England – 1890. Lady Amy Lovell is active in a mystery book club and also a published mystery author although no one knows. Her father feels that if she is married she will have to give up her writing and finds a young man, Ronald St. Vincent, whose proposal of marriage, Lady Amy accepts. After a while, Amy comes to the conclusion that she likes her life the way it is and decides to break her engagement with St. Vincent. Shortly before telling St. Vincent, Amy receives a note telling her the St. Vincent is dealing in opium. She breaks the engagement, but a couple of days later he makes an unannounced visit. Just before St. Vincent’s arrival Lord William Wen, an acquaintance and fellow book club member of Amy arrived to lend Amy a book on unsolved murders. So, when St. Vincent arrives, Amy has her maid put him the library to “cool his heels”. When she goes to the library to find what he wants he doesn’t seem to be there. She notices that the french doors to the garden are open and she goes out to see if he might be in the garden. When she returns she trips over his dead body. Hearing her screams William goes to see what the trouble might be. They then send for the police. Detective Marsh and Carson don’t seem to be too interested in looking to others that Amy for the stabbing of St. Vincent. With the help of Lord William and some of his contacts, they set off to clear Amy’s name.
They will soon find out that St. Vincent was on the brink of bankruptcy, the gardener has gone missing and there was a young lady who thought he was on the brink of proposing to her. What with the police seemingly concentrating on proving Amy guilty, they need to continue searching for the killer before Amy is charged with murder.
This a wonderful start to an interesting and exciting new series. The book is well-written and quite accurately describes the time period. The characters are well-developed, likable, and believable.
I will be watching for the next book in the series to see what adventures are in store for Amy and Lord William and if there might be the beginning of some romance for them.
Bath, England – 1890. Lady Amy Lovell is active in a mystery book club and also a published mystery author although no one knows. Her father feels that if she is married she will have to give up her writing and finds a young man, Ronald St. Vincent, whose proposal of marriage, Lady Amy accepts. After a while, Amy comes to the conclusion that she likes her life the way it is and decides to break her engagement with St. Vincent. Shortly before telling St. Vincent, Amy receives a note telling her the St. Vincent is dealing in opium. She breaks the engagement, but a couple of days later he makes an unannounced visit. Just before St. Vincent’s arrival Lord William Wen, an acquaintance and fellow book club member of Amy arrived to lend Amy a book on unsolved murders. So, when St. Vincent arrives, Amy has her maid put him the library to “cool his heels”. When she goes to the library to find what he wants he doesn’t seem to be there. She notices that the french doors to the garden are open and she goes out to see if he might be in the garden. When she returns she trips over his dead body. Hearing her screams William goes to see what the trouble might be. They then send for the police. Detective Marsh and Carson don’t seem to be too interested in looking to others that Amy for the stabbing of St. Vincent. With the help of Lord William and some of his contacts, they set off to clear Amy’s name.
They will soon find out that St. Vincent was on the brink of bankruptcy, the gardener has gone missing and there was a young lady who thought he was on the brink of proposing to her. What with the police seemingly concentrating on proving Amy guilty, they need to continue searching for the killer before Amy is charged with murder.
This a wonderful start to an interesting and exciting new series. The book is well-written and quite accurately describes the time period. The characters are well-developed, likable, and believable.
I will be watching for the next book in the series to see what adventures are in store for Amy and Lord William and if there might be the beginning of some romance for them.
May 26, 2020
I can’t tell you the number of times my mind began to wander when I was reading this dry and overwritten book. A book that attempts to shock the sensibilities of the aristocrats of 1890 Bath, England, when Lady Amy Lovell descends her grand staircase to greet her ex-fiancé only to discover his body in the library with a knife. Yes, we are playing a drawn-out version of the game of Clue. Only this time there was a letter spelling out the evil doings of Ronald St. Vincent and how opium has taken over the upper classes. Add in the usual players used to distract the reader and the striking Lord Wethington, who just so happens to show up when needed, and you have a book that falls short.
By the time I reached the end, I was disappointed in the fact that there was no humor. This book attempted to bridge the gap between stoic historical mysteries and the cozy mystery genre which the cover touts. I think I was expecting something along the lines of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell, since both books take place in the same time frame, and with the same types of characters, but then again, there will only be one Veronica and Stoker no matter how hard the author is trying to duplicate them.
By the time I reached the end, I was disappointed in the fact that there was no humor. This book attempted to bridge the gap between stoic historical mysteries and the cozy mystery genre which the cover touts. I think I was expecting something along the lines of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell, since both books take place in the same time frame, and with the same types of characters, but then again, there will only be one Veronica and Stoker no matter how hard the author is trying to duplicate them.
July 29, 2022
Either I'm having the worst luck with books, or I've suddenly lost the patience to deal with nonsense such as this. In this case, Lady Amy is the worst sort of entitled brat who thinks that she's more qualified than the police to solve a murder because she's a writer of mysteries and she's "seen" more murders than the cops have. She makes atrocious decisions, and the atrocious decisions are masked as something cute or quirky, and that annoyed me even more. This lady fiercely argues that women are equal in intelligence to men, and she turns out to be this kind of example. It's almost delicious to come to the end and find out this professional has got things entirely wrong, but then I remember I sat through the previous 300 pages.
November 4, 2019
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this without reading too much of the synopsis. I knew I wanted a cosy murder mystery and you can easily pick those by the covers. This novel was such a delight! It was like reading a Poirot or Murder, She Wrote. Everything wrapped up so nice and neat at the end, and throughout the novel there were really lovely, slightly romantic and humourous instances. I think I'd easily continue on with this series.
I went into this without reading too much of the synopsis. I knew I wanted a cosy murder mystery and you can easily pick those by the covers. This novel was such a delight! It was like reading a Poirot or Murder, She Wrote. Everything wrapped up so nice and neat at the end, and throughout the novel there were really lovely, slightly romantic and humourous instances. I think I'd easily continue on with this series.
April 13, 2025
Just a quick review for now, maybe more later.
This story was supposed to be set in 1890 but everything felt off. The police procedural didn't work AT ALL for the 19th century. There's no way the police would ever suspect a lady of murder, let alone the daughter of a peer. I've been listening to Lucy Worsley's Lady Killers podcast and ALL the women come from impoverished backgrounds with the exception of Lizzie Borden and no one believed she was a killer at the time. Amy's father, even from London, could have had those police removed from the investigation and fired in a heartbeat for badgering his only daughter. There was no evidence Amy did it. The police were prejudiced against "toffs". If they were, no Victorian policeman who wanted to keep his job would ever speak those thoughts out loud TO the toffs. These policemen sounded more post-WWI socialist to me. It's usually the other way around when the toffs won't even let the police in the front door. Amy reads and writes mystery novels and somehow has contacts in the underworld? How? How has she not been murdered yet? The opium plot sounded plausible but that was about it. I figured out a bunch of the plot twists well ahead of Amy and even William. Around 62% in the story takes a dark turn and I found THAT implausible too- unless I did NOT however, figure out whodunit. I was rather surprised and I think, maybe the killer was perhaps not all there.
The Bath setting seems forced but I like it because I have a map of Victorian era Bath!
Amy is pretty silly and stupid. She misses important clues and thinks she's so worldly and grown up but knows nothing at all about anything. She takes delight in reading and dissecting mystery novels with her book club, especially her own, without owning authorship. I'm not quite sure how she has contacts to fill her in on the things she needs to know and yet is still so naive. I'm not crazy about William, Lord Werthington. He's a man of his time regarding gender rolls and doesn't understand Amy's bond with her dog, Persephone. Of course she knows when Persephone is mad at her and won't speak to her. If he can't accept Persephone then he isn't right for Amy. Yet, William is progressive in his attitudes towards class. He believes in paying his bills on time because he understands those who do the work have families to feed and need the money.
Amy was right to dump her fiancé and for the reasons she did but bluffing and saying her father knew and they already had a lawyer could have been a mistake. The story doesn't get into the reasons her father wanted her to marry Sir Vincent. I suspected there might have been business or financial reasons for that and her father might have tried to coerce her into marriage. It sounds like her father is just lazy and sexist and doesn't want her to be a spinster like his sister. She should marry and let another man take care of her. Her brother is indifferent towards her as well and would prefer she marry rather than have to support her himself. Amy's aunt is a nominal chaperone and Amy may complain about being ruined by being stuck in a jail alone with two policemen, she doesn't have problems riding in closed carriages and running around Bath with William!
Amy's suspect list grows and grows. First we have the nephew and heir. Obviously he wants to inherit from his uncle and wants to get his hands on the money NOW rather than later. He's slimy and creepy. Then there's Miss Hemphill, a young lady who was previously engaged to Sir Vincent before he met Amy. I guessed her secret right away and that does NOT give her a motive for murder. She seems too timid and traditional to lash out in anger anyway. Who else, Amy? Her gardener? She's remarkably sympathetic towards him and astute in her observations. He provides valuable information though. She doesn't have any other suspects until late in the novel and the police think SHE did it in spite of lack of evidence. I like the old lady who seems a bit senile. She seems to like Amy but she's very nosy and sometimes rude. I think that's just because she's losing her faculties. She dotes on her son and he seems to be a dutiful son taking her to book club meetings. Then she reveals some creepy information that shot him to the top of MY suspect list. Then there's the wife of a soon-to-be- ambassador to France. I know her secret and why she would have killed because of it I don't know but she does seem likely to try to thwart Amy and William's investigation.
I didn't appreciate how the ending of this book leads into the mystery of the next. I'm not at all interested in reading more of this series. The audio book was a pleasant way to pass the time at work but the narrator pronounced some of the words wrong/incorrectly for the period.
This story was supposed to be set in 1890 but everything felt off. The police procedural didn't work AT ALL for the 19th century. There's no way the police would ever suspect a lady of murder, let alone the daughter of a peer. I've been listening to Lucy Worsley's Lady Killers podcast and ALL the women come from impoverished backgrounds with the exception of Lizzie Borden and no one believed she was a killer at the time. Amy's father, even from London, could have had those police removed from the investigation and fired in a heartbeat for badgering his only daughter. There was no evidence Amy did it. The police were prejudiced against "toffs". If they were, no Victorian policeman who wanted to keep his job would ever speak those thoughts out loud TO the toffs. These policemen sounded more post-WWI socialist to me. It's usually the other way around when the toffs won't even let the police in the front door. Amy reads and writes mystery novels and somehow has contacts in the underworld? How? How has she not been murdered yet? The opium plot sounded plausible but that was about it. I figured out a bunch of the plot twists well ahead of Amy and even William. Around 62% in the story takes a dark turn and I found THAT implausible too- unless I did NOT however, figure out whodunit. I was rather surprised and I think, maybe the killer was perhaps not all there.
The Bath setting seems forced but I like it because I have a map of Victorian era Bath!
Amy is pretty silly and stupid. She misses important clues and thinks she's so worldly and grown up but knows nothing at all about anything. She takes delight in reading and dissecting mystery novels with her book club, especially her own, without owning authorship. I'm not quite sure how she has contacts to fill her in on the things she needs to know and yet is still so naive. I'm not crazy about William, Lord Werthington. He's a man of his time regarding gender rolls and doesn't understand Amy's bond with her dog, Persephone. Of course she knows when Persephone is mad at her and won't speak to her. If he can't accept Persephone then he isn't right for Amy. Yet, William is progressive in his attitudes towards class. He believes in paying his bills on time because he understands those who do the work have families to feed and need the money.
Amy was right to dump her fiancé and for the reasons she did but bluffing and saying her father knew and they already had a lawyer could have been a mistake. The story doesn't get into the reasons her father wanted her to marry Sir Vincent. I suspected there might have been business or financial reasons for that and her father might have tried to coerce her into marriage. It sounds like her father is just lazy and sexist and doesn't want her to be a spinster like his sister. She should marry and let another man take care of her. Her brother is indifferent towards her as well and would prefer she marry rather than have to support her himself. Amy's aunt is a nominal chaperone and Amy may complain about being ruined by being stuck in a jail alone with two policemen, she doesn't have problems riding in closed carriages and running around Bath with William!
Amy's suspect list grows and grows. First we have the nephew and heir. Obviously he wants to inherit from his uncle and wants to get his hands on the money NOW rather than later. He's slimy and creepy. Then there's Miss Hemphill, a young lady who was previously engaged to Sir Vincent before he met Amy. I guessed her secret right away and that does NOT give her a motive for murder. She seems too timid and traditional to lash out in anger anyway. Who else, Amy? Her gardener? She's remarkably sympathetic towards him and astute in her observations. He provides valuable information though. She doesn't have any other suspects until late in the novel and the police think SHE did it in spite of lack of evidence. I like the old lady who seems a bit senile. She seems to like Amy but she's very nosy and sometimes rude. I think that's just because she's losing her faculties. She dotes on her son and he seems to be a dutiful son taking her to book club meetings. Then she reveals some creepy information that shot him to the top of MY suspect list. Then there's the wife of a soon-to-be- ambassador to France. I know her secret and why she would have killed because of it I don't know but she does seem likely to try to thwart Amy and William's investigation.
I didn't appreciate how the ending of this book leads into the mystery of the next. I'm not at all interested in reading more of this series. The audio book was a pleasant way to pass the time at work but the narrator pronounced some of the words wrong/incorrectly for the period.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews