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Ladies Most Scandalous #1
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
Of all the crime scenes in all the world, she walks into his. Twice.
England, 1865: Notorious newspaper columnist Lady Katherine Bascomb is determined to educate the ladies of London on the nefarious criminals who are praying on the fairer sex. But when her reporting leads to the arrest of an infamous killer, Katherine flees to a country house party to escape her doubts about the case - only to become witness to a murder herself! When the lead detective accuses Katherine of inflaming - rather than informing - the public with her column, she vows to prove him wrong.
Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham's refusal to compromise his investigations nearly cost him his career, and he blames Katherine. When he discovers she's the key witness in a new crime, he's determined to prevent the beautiful widow from once again wreaking havoc on his case. Yet as Katherine proves surprisingly insightful and Andrew impresses Katherine with his lethal competency, both are forced to admit the fire between them is more flirtatious than furious. But to explore the passion between them, they'll need to catch a killer . . .
England, 1865: Notorious newspaper columnist Lady Katherine Bascomb is determined to educate the ladies of London on the nefarious criminals who are praying on the fairer sex. But when her reporting leads to the arrest of an infamous killer, Katherine flees to a country house party to escape her doubts about the case - only to become witness to a murder herself! When the lead detective accuses Katherine of inflaming - rather than informing - the public with her column, she vows to prove him wrong.
Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham's refusal to compromise his investigations nearly cost him his career, and he blames Katherine. When he discovers she's the key witness in a new crime, he's determined to prevent the beautiful widow from once again wreaking havoc on his case. Yet as Katherine proves surprisingly insightful and Andrew impresses Katherine with his lethal competency, both are forced to admit the fire between them is more flirtatious than furious. But to explore the passion between them, they'll need to catch a killer . . .
316 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 10, 2020
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29351 people want to read
About the author
Manda Collins
33 books1,590 followersManda Collins grew up on a combination of Nancy Drew books and Jane Austen novels, and her own brand of Regency romantic suspense is the result. A former academic librarian, she holds advanced degrees in English Lit and Librarianship. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Entertainment Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, Bookpage, and USA Today. A native of Alabama, she lives on the Gulf Coast with a very stubborn cat and more books than are strictly necessary.
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November 1, 2020Accidentally gave myself two stars. Couldn't undo and go back to no rating so gave up and gave myself five stars because to quote RuPaul "if you can't love your self how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?" Or something...
May 17, 2022
Yesss, this was what I need and what I wholeheartedly enjoy! Murder mystery meets romcom might be my dreamy blend that I never get bored from! A sharp witted, smart lady columnist teams up with charming detective who blames her for nearly ending his career to catch a serial killer who murders the people violate the rules of Ten Commandments!
And guess what! After taking from the case, our charming as hell detective Andrew Eversham is assigned for the murder case in countryside village which has quite similarities with the murders of the serial killer they presumedly caught. What if they put the wrong man behind the bars, misguided by fiery columnist Lady Bascomb’s article?
And guess who is also the key witness of Eversham’s new case? Of course you know who she is! The very same Katherine Bascomb!!! Their paths are unfortunately crossed again. And Eversham has second thoughts for misjudging Lady Bascomb who is apologizing him for causing the obstruction of the justice with her article, pointing at the wrong man and putting a key witness’ life in danger.
Sudden Eversham’s change of heart, his undeniable attraction to this witty and beautiful lady could jeopardize his position as a honorable inspector but he barely holds himself for nor falling for her hard and dear lady Bascomb also has worries after being married with a controlling asshole for a long time, she wants to be with a man showing the respect she deserves, accepting equal partnership.
The identity of the serial killer (at least some part of it ) was predictable but we get our logical answers! The interrogation and investigation process at countryside were intriguing and kept my attention intact!
It was entertaining, riveting murder mystery with feminism vibes and criticizing realistic approach of class differences.
Katherine’s writing partner Caro Hardcastle and her restless cat were so adorable! I cannot wait to read her and Lord Valentine Thorn’s book! Both of them are fiery, smart characters!
Overall: another fastest reads of mine! I’m giving my mysterious, 19th century British, glamorous, enjoyable, clever and well earned four stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing/ Forever for sharing this very impressive digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
And guess what! After taking from the case, our charming as hell detective Andrew Eversham is assigned for the murder case in countryside village which has quite similarities with the murders of the serial killer they presumedly caught. What if they put the wrong man behind the bars, misguided by fiery columnist Lady Bascomb’s article?
And guess who is also the key witness of Eversham’s new case? Of course you know who she is! The very same Katherine Bascomb!!! Their paths are unfortunately crossed again. And Eversham has second thoughts for misjudging Lady Bascomb who is apologizing him for causing the obstruction of the justice with her article, pointing at the wrong man and putting a key witness’ life in danger.
Sudden Eversham’s change of heart, his undeniable attraction to this witty and beautiful lady could jeopardize his position as a honorable inspector but he barely holds himself for nor falling for her hard and dear lady Bascomb also has worries after being married with a controlling asshole for a long time, she wants to be with a man showing the respect she deserves, accepting equal partnership.
The identity of the serial killer (at least some part of it ) was predictable but we get our logical answers! The interrogation and investigation process at countryside were intriguing and kept my attention intact!
It was entertaining, riveting murder mystery with feminism vibes and criticizing realistic approach of class differences.
Katherine’s writing partner Caro Hardcastle and her restless cat were so adorable! I cannot wait to read her and Lord Valentine Thorn’s book! Both of them are fiery, smart characters!
Overall: another fastest reads of mine! I’m giving my mysterious, 19th century British, glamorous, enjoyable, clever and well earned four stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing/ Forever for sharing this very impressive digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
November 5, 2020
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In a nutshell: I yawned my way through this book 🥱
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem is not the worst book I've ever read, but it's also not a very engaging or exciting book. Lady Katherine Bascomb is a widow who now runs her late husband's newspaper company and she has begun a new column detailing her own investigation into the Commandments serial killings. But when her article leads to the arrest of the killer, it almost ruins Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham's career in the process. And it just so happens that a person is killed at the house party that Katherine is attending, thus requiring the presence of Andrew as the lead investigator. So that's twice now that Katherine is involved in a murder investigation.
Conceptually-speaking, this book does not have the worst storyline ever; in fact, there are some pretty great tropes at play here. But the writing style leads to a bland and unexciting excecution. The blurb would lead you to believe that this is an intense enemies to lovers romance, but it actually isn't the case. Yes, the hero and heroine don't start off on the right foot. But they are actually pretty mature. After their first terrible encounter, they actually talk to each other and quickly understand each other's side of the story. And I actually liked that Katherine and Andrew talked to each other and came to an understanding. That being said, there is absolutely no chemistry between them. The build up of tension is as bland as the writing style.
I also feel like Katherine and Andrew did not truly know each other. Everything that we know about Katherine, we find out directly through her best friend, Val. Katherine herself never talks about her past or her family in detail. She barely even thinks about them, aside from constantly mentioning that she loves her freedom as a widow. Val is the one who tells the hero and the reader all about Katherine's past, which feels disingenuous because why should I get to know the heroine through stories that her best friend is telling me? As the reader, I should be connecting to the heroine on an emotional level, but the heroine distances herself from even the reader. As for Andrew, I feel like I know him a tiny bit better than I know Katherine. But even in his case, we are finding out important information about his past at the 85% mark, which is just ridiculous. That's poor characterization.
Furthermore, we are told that Caro and Katherine have only known each other for over a month, and yet, they are best friends who know every single thing about each other. It was so strange; it almost felt as if Caro was a childhood friend instead. And speaking of Caro, she and Val had much better chemistry than Katherine and Andrew. I also, for the life of me, could not understand why Katherine was pissed at Andrew when she is the one who kept compromising his investigation? I understand that she does not like it when he orders her around, but why does she think she is entitled to take over his official police investigation? Make it make sense.
As for the murder plot, it is quite dull even though the mystery takes place at a house party. In theory, the concept of this book sounds exciting, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. To be quite frank, I think it's the writing style that didn't do it for me. Manda Collins is a good writer, but I just don't think that her writing style lends itself to the kind of story she was trying to tell here. Of course, I could be completely wrong in my interpretation, given that this is the first book I've read by this author. Who knows? But the execution of this book just didn't work for me, unfortunately.
In a nutshell: I yawned my way through this book 🥱
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem is not the worst book I've ever read, but it's also not a very engaging or exciting book. Lady Katherine Bascomb is a widow who now runs her late husband's newspaper company and she has begun a new column detailing her own investigation into the Commandments serial killings. But when her article leads to the arrest of the killer, it almost ruins Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham's career in the process. And it just so happens that a person is killed at the house party that Katherine is attending, thus requiring the presence of Andrew as the lead investigator. So that's twice now that Katherine is involved in a murder investigation.
Conceptually-speaking, this book does not have the worst storyline ever; in fact, there are some pretty great tropes at play here. But the writing style leads to a bland and unexciting excecution. The blurb would lead you to believe that this is an intense enemies to lovers romance, but it actually isn't the case. Yes, the hero and heroine don't start off on the right foot. But they are actually pretty mature. After their first terrible encounter, they actually talk to each other and quickly understand each other's side of the story. And I actually liked that Katherine and Andrew talked to each other and came to an understanding. That being said, there is absolutely no chemistry between them. The build up of tension is as bland as the writing style.
I also feel like Katherine and Andrew did not truly know each other. Everything that we know about Katherine, we find out directly through her best friend, Val. Katherine herself never talks about her past or her family in detail. She barely even thinks about them, aside from constantly mentioning that she loves her freedom as a widow. Val is the one who tells the hero and the reader all about Katherine's past, which feels disingenuous because why should I get to know the heroine through stories that her best friend is telling me? As the reader, I should be connecting to the heroine on an emotional level, but the heroine distances herself from even the reader. As for Andrew, I feel like I know him a tiny bit better than I know Katherine. But even in his case, we are finding out important information about his past at the 85% mark, which is just ridiculous. That's poor characterization.
Furthermore, we are told that Caro and Katherine have only known each other for over a month, and yet, they are best friends who know every single thing about each other. It was so strange; it almost felt as if Caro was a childhood friend instead. And speaking of Caro, she and Val had much better chemistry than Katherine and Andrew. I also, for the life of me, could not understand why Katherine was pissed at Andrew when she is the one who kept compromising his investigation? I understand that she does not like it when he orders her around, but why does she think she is entitled to take over his official police investigation? Make it make sense.
As for the murder plot, it is quite dull even though the mystery takes place at a house party. In theory, the concept of this book sounds exciting, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. To be quite frank, I think it's the writing style that didn't do it for me. Manda Collins is a good writer, but I just don't think that her writing style lends itself to the kind of story she was trying to tell here. Of course, I could be completely wrong in my interpretation, given that this is the first book I've read by this author. Who knows? But the execution of this book just didn't work for me, unfortunately.
March 16, 2023
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins
Historical police and amateur detective / reporter mystery. With a side of romance. 1st in the series.
Lady Katherine Bascomb has a nose for news reporting and she feels the women of London deserve to know the truth behind the current “commandment” killings. Her news article has unintended consequences and she’s the one to find the next dead body.
Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham thinks Katherine has put herself in the middle of trouble but he will work with her, and protect her while he investigates.
A bit of teaching on both sides, police and aristocracy as they work through clues, suspects and secrets. A couple of times, I found myself zoning out from the “telling” rather than action. Katherine and Andrew start a bit of a romance on a superficial level apropos of the times and their stations in life. There is going to be a bit of a learning curve if there is to be a future to the romance as well as their partnership in investigations.
A nice twist on a historical romance outside of the standard ballroom and debutant.
Historical police and amateur detective / reporter mystery. With a side of romance. 1st in the series.
Lady Katherine Bascomb has a nose for news reporting and she feels the women of London deserve to know the truth behind the current “commandment” killings. Her news article has unintended consequences and she’s the one to find the next dead body.
Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham thinks Katherine has put herself in the middle of trouble but he will work with her, and protect her while he investigates.
A bit of teaching on both sides, police and aristocracy as they work through clues, suspects and secrets. A couple of times, I found myself zoning out from the “telling” rather than action. Katherine and Andrew start a bit of a romance on a superficial level apropos of the times and their stations in life. There is going to be a bit of a learning curve if there is to be a future to the romance as well as their partnership in investigations.
A nice twist on a historical romance outside of the standard ballroom and debutant.
August 17, 2020
Collins is a delight! I read A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem waaay past my bedtime, absorbed by its spot-on period detail, the well-crafted characters, and of course the intriguing mystery. Brava!
August 11, 2023
This was pleasant enough but not amazing.
Historical cozy mysteries with a romance subplot are some of my favorite things in the world. A story of a journalist widow trying to solve a murder mystery and falling for a Scotland Yard agent in the process sounds perfect but I didn’t love it as much as the Countess of Harleigh series.
The characters were bland and the way relationships developed in this book was not credible. There was barely any chemistry between Katherine and Andrew in the first half of the book but then their romance progressed too quickly. Katherine and her bestie Caro weren’t any better. They first met in the first chapter but they were acting as if they had been friends for years. It all felt forced and slightly cringey.
The murder mystery was entertaining though. I guessed the murderer right after he was introduced, I’m better than Kate and her boyfriend 💅
I may still give the next book a try, not sure yet.
Historical cozy mysteries with a romance subplot are some of my favorite things in the world. A story of a journalist widow trying to solve a murder mystery and falling for a Scotland Yard agent in the process sounds perfect but I didn’t love it as much as the Countess of Harleigh series.
The characters were bland and the way relationships developed in this book was not credible. There was barely any chemistry between Katherine and Andrew in the first half of the book but then their romance progressed too quickly. Katherine and her bestie Caro weren’t any better. They first met in the first chapter but they were acting as if they had been friends for years. It all felt forced and slightly cringey.
The murder mystery was entertaining though. I guessed the murderer right after he was introduced, I’m better than Kate and her boyfriend 💅
I may still give the next book a try, not sure yet.
April 19, 2022
Gosh, this was fun! With both murder mystery and delightfully tension-filled side-eyes, I found myself loving these characters and loving the way Manda Collins was able to weave this story together.
March 17, 2021
I was totally intrigued by A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem after I saw the lower Goodreads score but had many friends personally tell me that they loved this book. I obviously had to weigh in!
I've gotta be honest, y'all: I was really on the struggle bus with this one. I don't think it was a bad book by any means. The steamy scenes between Kate and Andrew were good, and I enjoyed the murder mystery aspect. That was a fun ride.
I'm still trying to put my finger on it, but I think the plot dragged for a lot of the first two-thirds of the book, and Kate and Andrew's relationship didn't even really get going in a meaningful way (as in, them talking to a each other a bunch) until 40% of the way through, maybe later. Also, there were just waaaaaaaaay too many characters throughout the book, to the point where some big reveals weren't as interesting because I had to keep asking, "Wait, who?"
I am, however, very intrigued by the relationship between Caroline and Val, so I'm definitely going to tune in for that. I think this one's around 2.5 stars for me?
Content warning: Murder, kidnapping, fighting, discussions of previous abuse
I've gotta be honest, y'all: I was really on the struggle bus with this one. I don't think it was a bad book by any means. The steamy scenes between Kate and Andrew were good, and I enjoyed the murder mystery aspect. That was a fun ride.
I'm still trying to put my finger on it, but I think the plot dragged for a lot of the first two-thirds of the book, and Kate and Andrew's relationship didn't even really get going in a meaningful way (as in, them talking to a each other a bunch) until 40% of the way through, maybe later. Also, there were just waaaaaaaaay too many characters throughout the book, to the point where some big reveals weren't as interesting because I had to keep asking, "Wait, who?"
I am, however, very intrigued by the relationship between Caroline and Val, so I'm definitely going to tune in for that. I think this one's around 2.5 stars for me?
Content warning: Murder, kidnapping, fighting, discussions of previous abuse
January 20, 2021
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem is a cozy little mystery-cum-romance. Kate (that's Lady Katherine Bascomb to you!) owns and writes for her own newspaper. When she engages in a little investigative journalism, she inadvertently stunts the career of Andrew Eversham, Detective Investigator with Scotland Yard, and implicates an innocent man as a serial killer. When there's another murder that fits the profile of the others, our MCs are thrown together - Kate discovers the body, and Andrew is sent to investigate.
We felt that this was slightly more mystery than romance, making it a perfect fall read. It also follows the lead of some recent historical romance releases in that it has a decidedly feminist slant. Kate's newspaper publishes articles for all classes of society, but her columns - written for women - focus on those subjects that are considered too crass for women's eyes.
We also enjoy reading romances where both the hero and heroine have to bend a little for each other. Kate has to face the fact that her impetuous journalism, while factual, had negative consequences for at least two men, and that her preconceived notions about Andrew were incorrect. Andrew, for his part, has to deal with his realization that not only is his employer not as impartial as it appears, but also that his whole concept of society needs to be reassessed. (We are suckers for the man-of-law on the straight-and-narrow who has a hard time grasping that other people are not as honorable as he is.)
And for anyone wondering, yes, the book is steamy - but not too steamy!
48-Word Summaries:
Meg: What to do when you inadvertently ruin the standing of a decent (and hot) Scotland Yard investigator with your well-researched journalism? Rehabilitate his reputation, help him solve a murder, and raise his consciousness so you can destroy the patriarchy together. Also make sure to evaluate his bedroom skills.
Laine: Widowed newspaper owner takes the investigation of a serial killer rampaging London into her own hands, which results in exposing the incompetence of Scotland Yard. As a result, the police investigator in charge is fired and the resulting sparks he feels for her aren't just those of anger.
*Note: This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the book.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
We felt that this was slightly more mystery than romance, making it a perfect fall read. It also follows the lead of some recent historical romance releases in that it has a decidedly feminist slant. Kate's newspaper publishes articles for all classes of society, but her columns - written for women - focus on those subjects that are considered too crass for women's eyes.
We also enjoy reading romances where both the hero and heroine have to bend a little for each other. Kate has to face the fact that her impetuous journalism, while factual, had negative consequences for at least two men, and that her preconceived notions about Andrew were incorrect. Andrew, for his part, has to deal with his realization that not only is his employer not as impartial as it appears, but also that his whole concept of society needs to be reassessed. (We are suckers for the man-of-law on the straight-and-narrow who has a hard time grasping that other people are not as honorable as he is.)
And for anyone wondering, yes, the book is steamy - but not too steamy!
48-Word Summaries:
Meg: What to do when you inadvertently ruin the standing of a decent (and hot) Scotland Yard investigator with your well-researched journalism? Rehabilitate his reputation, help him solve a murder, and raise his consciousness so you can destroy the patriarchy together. Also make sure to evaluate his bedroom skills.
Laine: Widowed newspaper owner takes the investigation of a serial killer rampaging London into her own hands, which results in exposing the incompetence of Scotland Yard. As a result, the police investigator in charge is fired and the resulting sparks he feels for her aren't just those of anger.
*Note: This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the book.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
February 10, 2021
2.5/5
Meh.
The romance felt too rushed, and I felt like the killers’ motive wasn’t good enough but it was enjoyable enough.
Meh.
The romance felt too rushed, and I felt like the killers’ motive wasn’t good enough but it was enjoyable enough.
April 6, 2022
Bridgerton meets Se7en, but make it boring
April 24, 2022
2.5-3 stars: I think the chemistry between our leads fell a little flat, but the serial killer angle added some additional interest. Perfectly enjoyable but not memorable
February 9, 2021
DNF
When I stumbled into A lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, I though this book maybe what I need to read since I was broading my romance genre into historical romance. I had so much fun r
listening to Bringing Down the Duke.
Sadly instead of liking this book, I have to shelved it under DNF.
Miss Collins had a good idea mixing the romance and the rom com. But the execution is done poorly. I can not help yawning and losing interest listening to the audiobook. Instead of falling asleep on my work desk, I quickly shelved this under DNF.
2 stars
When I stumbled into A lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, I though this book maybe what I need to read since I was broading my romance genre into historical romance. I had so much fun r
listening to Bringing Down the Duke.
Sadly instead of liking this book, I have to shelved it under DNF.
Miss Collins had a good idea mixing the romance and the rom com. But the execution is done poorly. I can not help yawning and losing interest listening to the audiobook. Instead of falling asleep on my work desk, I quickly shelved this under DNF.
2 stars
May 1, 2022
Historical romance with a side of serial murder mystery! While this book isn't a standout, I had a good time reading it. It's a somewhat slower paced story following a widow who owns a newspaper and writes a true crime column, and a police inspector assigned to a serial murder case. The two bump heads a bit, but ultimately end up working together to solve the crime.
The mystery was fine, the two of them are a little dumb and don't put two and two together very easily, but it was fun. I enjoyed their slow burn romance and how our heroine is glad to be out of an abusive marriage and determined not to marry and let a man control her or her finances again. (I do wish she had stuck to her guns instead of so easily deciding she DID want to marry the hero after all, though at least he agreed to sign a prenup!)
This came at a time where the vibe was exactly what I needed, but this book isn't particularly memorable. Liked, but didn't love.
The mystery was fine, the two of them are a little dumb and don't put two and two together very easily, but it was fun. I enjoyed their slow burn romance and how our heroine is glad to be out of an abusive marriage and determined not to marry and let a man control her or her finances again. (I do wish she had stuck to her guns instead of so easily deciding she DID want to marry the hero after all, though at least he agreed to sign a prenup!)
This came at a time where the vibe was exactly what I needed, but this book isn't particularly memorable. Liked, but didn't love.
November 11, 2020
On my blog.
CWs: gore, murder, past domestic abuse
Galley provided by publisher
If there’s one intersection of genres that I love, it’s historical romance mysteries. Firstly, the historical setting provides the perfect amount of yearning (because of the social norms of the time), and secondly, mystery seems to me a perfect vehicle for advancing a romance. Two individuals having to work together to solve a problem? Falling in love along the way? Nothing can compare.
In A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, London is being terrorised by the Commandments Killer, an individual who is going around killing those who have broken one of the Ten Commandments. When Katherine, a crime reporter, realises that the police have failed to interview a key witness, she takes it upon herself to do so, while criticising the lead detective for not doing it. When he is taken off the case, and an innocent man is subsequently arrested, Katherine decides to leave London for the Lakes, in the hopes of finding some way to help him, since it was her information that got him imprisoned (which, you know, seems a bit privileged. Oh, oops, you’re arrested, I’m heading north. But alright). However, the murders follow her and, when another body is found, this time in the grounds of the house she is staying at, she is forced to work with the detective she got demoted to find the killer.
I’m going to split this review into two sections: the romance and the mystery. Mainly because I had...wildly different feelings about the both of them, let’s say. First, the romance. Despite occasionally feeling that the pacing was a little off for it (namely, how fast they fell in love), it was a romance I was rooting for throughout. I wanted to see Andrew and Katherine work things out, although, like I said, it all happened quite fast. Sort of parallel to the romance was the potential for romance between Caro and Val, which makes me very excited for what the second book may bring. Overall, then, the romance and characters are what made me enjoy this book as much as I did. And, really, were the reason I wanted to read it, the mystery was just a bonus.
Speaking of the mystery — and I don’t know if this is a product of my having read/watched way too many — but the culprit was blindingly obvious. The first scene following the discovery of the body, where everyone was properly introduced as characters, I picked out who did it. In part, it was that obviousness, but there was also, assuming the culprit to be one of the cast, no one else it could conceivably have been. I’m not saying this is bad writing or whatever, because clearly I wasn’t here for the mystery, but it did make said mystery lose any tension.
And then the reasons behind the murders? I didn’t quite get the leap of logic that lead to murder, and I’m not the biggest fan of the trope. And why the murders started in London when the real location was centered on where they ended up in the Lakes was lost on me. Because they could? I don’t know, all I’m saying is that the whole mystery felt a bit loosely plotted.
But, as I said, I didn’t really come for the mystery, I came for the romance. And as a romance book, it has a couple you can root for and it’s a whole lot of fun to read.
CWs: gore, murder, past domestic abuse
Galley provided by publisher
If there’s one intersection of genres that I love, it’s historical romance mysteries. Firstly, the historical setting provides the perfect amount of yearning (because of the social norms of the time), and secondly, mystery seems to me a perfect vehicle for advancing a romance. Two individuals having to work together to solve a problem? Falling in love along the way? Nothing can compare.
In A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, London is being terrorised by the Commandments Killer, an individual who is going around killing those who have broken one of the Ten Commandments. When Katherine, a crime reporter, realises that the police have failed to interview a key witness, she takes it upon herself to do so, while criticising the lead detective for not doing it. When he is taken off the case, and an innocent man is subsequently arrested, Katherine decides to leave London for the Lakes, in the hopes of finding some way to help him, since it was her information that got him imprisoned (which, you know, seems a bit privileged. Oh, oops, you’re arrested, I’m heading north. But alright). However, the murders follow her and, when another body is found, this time in the grounds of the house she is staying at, she is forced to work with the detective she got demoted to find the killer.
I’m going to split this review into two sections: the romance and the mystery. Mainly because I had...wildly different feelings about the both of them, let’s say. First, the romance. Despite occasionally feeling that the pacing was a little off for it (namely, how fast they fell in love), it was a romance I was rooting for throughout. I wanted to see Andrew and Katherine work things out, although, like I said, it all happened quite fast. Sort of parallel to the romance was the potential for romance between Caro and Val, which makes me very excited for what the second book may bring. Overall, then, the romance and characters are what made me enjoy this book as much as I did. And, really, were the reason I wanted to read it, the mystery was just a bonus.
Speaking of the mystery — and I don’t know if this is a product of my having read/watched way too many — but the culprit was blindingly obvious. The first scene following the discovery of the body, where everyone was properly introduced as characters, I picked out who did it. In part, it was that obviousness, but there was also, assuming the culprit to be one of the cast, no one else it could conceivably have been. I’m not saying this is bad writing or whatever, because clearly I wasn’t here for the mystery, but it did make said mystery lose any tension.
And then the reasons behind the murders? I didn’t quite get the leap of logic that lead to murder, and I’m not the biggest fan of the trope. And why the murders started in London when the real location was centered on where they ended up in the Lakes was lost on me. Because they could? I don’t know, all I’m saying is that the whole mystery felt a bit loosely plotted.
But, as I said, I didn’t really come for the mystery, I came for the romance. And as a romance book, it has a couple you can root for and it’s a whole lot of fun to read.
March 7, 2021
A new Victorian mystery series. 😲
More romance than mystery.
The female character (Lady Katherine Bascomb, widow and owner of a newspaper and by the way this is England, 1865) begins by antagonizing the male character (DI Andrew Eversham) by writing an article in her newspaper causing him to be demoted.
No sooner have they met again they are kissing and falling in love.
There is nothing special or different about this book. None of the characters are especially memorable.
I won’t be looking for book #2.
More romance than mystery.
The female character (Lady Katherine Bascomb, widow and owner of a newspaper and by the way this is England, 1865) begins by antagonizing the male character (DI Andrew Eversham) by writing an article in her newspaper causing him to be demoted.
No sooner have they met again they are kissing and falling in love.
There is nothing special or different about this book. None of the characters are especially memorable.
I won’t be looking for book #2.
July 26, 2023
I only want murder mysteries that come in Victorian era and feature romance 🤌🏻
October 27, 2020
Series: A Lady’s Guide #1
Publication Date: 11/10/20
Number of Pages: 368
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, but I think I need to tell you that the focus of the book is the mystery rather than the romance. Yes, there is a romance and a bit of a HEA, but the mystery is the central point. For me personally, that is just the way I like it – I love a good historical mystery, but I do need a bit of romance to be included. That is exactly what I got in this book. Like other reviewers have said, I didn’t exactly buy the instant chemistry between the main characters. However, I think that is more because the focus wasn’t on the romance and so it wasn’t developed as much as it would have been in a strictly romance book – or a book where the mystery was secondary and the romance was primary. I loved the secondary characters, Val and Caro, who will be featured in the next book – and it sounds like there might be more of a romance there because these two already have a history.
Victorian London, 1865, finds itself with a serial murderer and they have dubbed him/her as the Commandments Killer. So far, four victims have been murdered – all viciously stabbed and one of the Ten Commandments left nearby. There are no clues and the victims are not related in any way. Inspector Eversham of Scotland Yard has been the one in charge of the case and has made no progress. Not from lack of trying – he’s worked exceedingly hard on the case – there just haven’t been any clues to turn up. The public, the Home Office, The Chief Inspector, and the politicians are all demanding an arrest. Actually, they just want an arrest and don’t really seem to care if there is proof or not. Since Eversham doesn’t work that way, he’s removed from the case in disgrace when The London Gazette published an interview with a witness who had a description of the killer.
The new glory-hound of an inspector who is assigned to the case immediately makes an arrest – even though the man arrested doesn’t actually fit the description as published. The inspector doesn’t care, the Home Office doesn’t care, Eversham’s boss doesn’t care – the only one who does care is Eversham, and he can’t do anything about it. He’s really bitter at the journalist who published that interview without even bringing the information to Scotland Yard. They cost him his career and will likely be the cause of an innocent man being hung. He definitely is NOT kindly disposed toward Lady Katherine Bascomb!
“It was hard to believe that before this incident, he’d been celebrated for his ability to solve cases that left other investigators scratching their heads in confusion.”
Lady Katherine and her friend Caro were so proud of themselves and were so happy to hear that the incompetent Inspector Eversham had been removed from the case. Because of them and their article, the killer had been caught. However, after a tense, bitter, and uncomfortable confrontation with Inspector Eversham, Kate begins to wonder if they’d really done the right thing. Eversham tells her – among many other things – “The man Dolph Wargrove has locked up barely matched Lizzie’s description. Not to mention that there’s no evidence tying him to the other three murders. But he’s close enough to make the Home Secretary happy. And I suppose that’s all that matters.”
When another death occurs, in the same manner as the first four, Eversham is sent to investigate because it happened well outside London. It turns out that Kate and Eversham are thrown into proximity again and have to work together to solve the murder(s). As they work together, the attraction between them grows.
I thought the book was well-written, well-plotted, well-paced, and I liked the characters very well. Who and where the villain is will keep you wondering until the very end. So, if you want an interesting whodunit, this is an excellent choice.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 11/10/20
Number of Pages: 368
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, but I think I need to tell you that the focus of the book is the mystery rather than the romance. Yes, there is a romance and a bit of a HEA, but the mystery is the central point. For me personally, that is just the way I like it – I love a good historical mystery, but I do need a bit of romance to be included. That is exactly what I got in this book. Like other reviewers have said, I didn’t exactly buy the instant chemistry between the main characters. However, I think that is more because the focus wasn’t on the romance and so it wasn’t developed as much as it would have been in a strictly romance book – or a book where the mystery was secondary and the romance was primary. I loved the secondary characters, Val and Caro, who will be featured in the next book – and it sounds like there might be more of a romance there because these two already have a history.
Victorian London, 1865, finds itself with a serial murderer and they have dubbed him/her as the Commandments Killer. So far, four victims have been murdered – all viciously stabbed and one of the Ten Commandments left nearby. There are no clues and the victims are not related in any way. Inspector Eversham of Scotland Yard has been the one in charge of the case and has made no progress. Not from lack of trying – he’s worked exceedingly hard on the case – there just haven’t been any clues to turn up. The public, the Home Office, The Chief Inspector, and the politicians are all demanding an arrest. Actually, they just want an arrest and don’t really seem to care if there is proof or not. Since Eversham doesn’t work that way, he’s removed from the case in disgrace when The London Gazette published an interview with a witness who had a description of the killer.
The new glory-hound of an inspector who is assigned to the case immediately makes an arrest – even though the man arrested doesn’t actually fit the description as published. The inspector doesn’t care, the Home Office doesn’t care, Eversham’s boss doesn’t care – the only one who does care is Eversham, and he can’t do anything about it. He’s really bitter at the journalist who published that interview without even bringing the information to Scotland Yard. They cost him his career and will likely be the cause of an innocent man being hung. He definitely is NOT kindly disposed toward Lady Katherine Bascomb!
“It was hard to believe that before this incident, he’d been celebrated for his ability to solve cases that left other investigators scratching their heads in confusion.”
Lady Katherine and her friend Caro were so proud of themselves and were so happy to hear that the incompetent Inspector Eversham had been removed from the case. Because of them and their article, the killer had been caught. However, after a tense, bitter, and uncomfortable confrontation with Inspector Eversham, Kate begins to wonder if they’d really done the right thing. Eversham tells her – among many other things – “The man Dolph Wargrove has locked up barely matched Lizzie’s description. Not to mention that there’s no evidence tying him to the other three murders. But he’s close enough to make the Home Secretary happy. And I suppose that’s all that matters.”
When another death occurs, in the same manner as the first four, Eversham is sent to investigate because it happened well outside London. It turns out that Kate and Eversham are thrown into proximity again and have to work together to solve the murder(s). As they work together, the attraction between them grows.
I thought the book was well-written, well-plotted, well-paced, and I liked the characters very well. Who and where the villain is will keep you wondering until the very end. So, if you want an interesting whodunit, this is an excellent choice.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 6, 2020
2.5 stars
I love that cover and the synopsis sounds like everything I could have ever wanted...sadly, I was disappointed.
I liked Katherine and Andrew. They’re both smart and maybe a bit sassy. I enjoyed their open communication and honesty. Caro was hands down the best part of the book. She’s absolutely delightful and I can’t wait to get more from her.
Plot wise, it was a bit dull. The murder mystery wasn’t a mystery to me and so I focused on the romance part. And yet, that wasn’t enough for me. Even though I liked the two MCs, I wasn’t really invested. As for the “mystery”, it’s a slow build up with a two page conflict/resolution combo.
Overall, I felt like I was already supposed to know these characters and that definitely took away from the enjoyment. If there really is another book with Caro, I’ll be reading it.
**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**
I love that cover and the synopsis sounds like everything I could have ever wanted...sadly, I was disappointed.
I liked Katherine and Andrew. They’re both smart and maybe a bit sassy. I enjoyed their open communication and honesty. Caro was hands down the best part of the book. She’s absolutely delightful and I can’t wait to get more from her.
Plot wise, it was a bit dull. The murder mystery wasn’t a mystery to me and so I focused on the romance part. And yet, that wasn’t enough for me. Even though I liked the two MCs, I wasn’t really invested. As for the “mystery”, it’s a slow build up with a two page conflict/resolution combo.
Overall, I felt like I was already supposed to know these characters and that definitely took away from the enjoyment. If there really is another book with Caro, I’ll be reading it.
**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**
December 7, 2020
INTO IT! The mystery and the romance were realllly well balanced, which I think I usually don't find it to be the case? Also all of the female characters were SO GREAT and I basically want to stories for everyone . . . starting of course with Caro. WHAT A SEQUEL BAIT.
November 2, 2020
Since her husband’s death Lady Katherine Bascomb has turned his newspaper into a success and become quite infamous as a columnist. She’s tired of ladies being kept in the dark and decides to begin a new segment informing London’s female population about a killer preying on the city’s inhabitants and harming women. But when her writing leads to the arrest of a man Katherine is being wrongfully accused, she escapes to a friend’s country house party to avoid the media circus and determine how to right the wrong she inadvertently caused. Far from relaxing, she stumbles upon a murder scene on her first day in the country. When the lead detective arrives from London and denounces Katherine’s ill-fated attempt at an informative column, she determines to aid him in his investigation and undo the damage.
Thanks to Katherine’s column Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham’s stellar career is threatened. He refuses to go along with his superior’s railroading of an innocent man and so finds himself demoted and relegated to the country to investigate what his superintendent believes to be a copycat of the serial killer plaguing London. Eversham doesn’t believe in coincidences and is suspicious when Katherine winds up being a key witness in the new murder. He tries his best to keep her from ruining yet another case but is surprised to find her outlook to be a bit helpful. Katherine is equally surprised by Andrew’s skill and the anger between them rapidly becomes a completely different sort of heat. But before they can determine where a relationship between them might lead, they must stop a killer before he strikes again.
I’ve got some mixed feelings about this one just because it frustrated me so much. The heroine was the cause of much of this pique because most of her behavior and dialogues seemed more like they belonged to a recalcitrant child than to a strong, independent lady. Her constant harping about how women should be allowed to do more wasn’t wrong of course, but her actions repeatedly worsened the problem, making herself, and by extension women, look bad. Kate put herself and others in danger with her over-estimation of her own abilities. She knew nothing about police work, showed very little care for Eversham and the damage she’d already done him, and even after admitting her mistakes, she still repeated them, always thinking she knew better than anyone else. This just smacked of abject arrogance to me. I did appreciate her awareness and ability to admit to being wrong, but when she then repeated this behavior anyway, those admissions were cheapened for me. Besides that, I did enjoy the storyline and the mystery aspect here, although it definitely took precedent over the romance. There was only really one gratuitous scene between Andrew and Kate and despite their working together, a lot of which was mostly Kate trying to undermine him and do her own thing, I didn’t really see them as a couple. They had the enemies to lovers spark, but it never felt like it progressed much beyond that to me and their relationship seemed a bit cobbled together. Overall, I adored the mystery here and found the whodunit aspect to be well done, I just didn’t click with this heroine and I wanted more romance. I also think the ending felt rather abrupt and an epilogue would’ve made it seem less slapdash, but things may be more wrapped up in the next installment of the series. Valentine was an interesting enough side character for me to want to continue in hopes his story is next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to Katherine’s column Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham’s stellar career is threatened. He refuses to go along with his superior’s railroading of an innocent man and so finds himself demoted and relegated to the country to investigate what his superintendent believes to be a copycat of the serial killer plaguing London. Eversham doesn’t believe in coincidences and is suspicious when Katherine winds up being a key witness in the new murder. He tries his best to keep her from ruining yet another case but is surprised to find her outlook to be a bit helpful. Katherine is equally surprised by Andrew’s skill and the anger between them rapidly becomes a completely different sort of heat. But before they can determine where a relationship between them might lead, they must stop a killer before he strikes again.
I’ve got some mixed feelings about this one just because it frustrated me so much. The heroine was the cause of much of this pique because most of her behavior and dialogues seemed more like they belonged to a recalcitrant child than to a strong, independent lady. Her constant harping about how women should be allowed to do more wasn’t wrong of course, but her actions repeatedly worsened the problem, making herself, and by extension women, look bad. Kate put herself and others in danger with her over-estimation of her own abilities. She knew nothing about police work, showed very little care for Eversham and the damage she’d already done him, and even after admitting her mistakes, she still repeated them, always thinking she knew better than anyone else. This just smacked of abject arrogance to me. I did appreciate her awareness and ability to admit to being wrong, but when she then repeated this behavior anyway, those admissions were cheapened for me. Besides that, I did enjoy the storyline and the mystery aspect here, although it definitely took precedent over the romance. There was only really one gratuitous scene between Andrew and Kate and despite their working together, a lot of which was mostly Kate trying to undermine him and do her own thing, I didn’t really see them as a couple. They had the enemies to lovers spark, but it never felt like it progressed much beyond that to me and their relationship seemed a bit cobbled together. Overall, I adored the mystery here and found the whodunit aspect to be well done, I just didn’t click with this heroine and I wanted more romance. I also think the ending felt rather abrupt and an epilogue would’ve made it seem less slapdash, but things may be more wrapped up in the next installment of the series. Valentine was an interesting enough side character for me to want to continue in hopes his story is next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 21, 2022
This was actually better than I thought! Review to come!
did-not-finish
April 3, 2021DNF at 9%
This felt like “My Favorite Murder” fan fiction. 😐
This felt like “My Favorite Murder” fan fiction. 😐
January 20, 2021
I almost wonder if I read the wrong book. I can't remember where I heard about this book or how it got on my to-read list and since there are SO MANY books with titles like this these days, it's very possible that the book I meant to read was not this one.
Which makes me feel better about saying that I didn't really like THIS book, the one I ended up reading! I actually went and checked TWICE to make sure this was the first book in the series, not the second, since there were only sudden, vague references to seemingly substantial backstories that were complete news to me. It was just BAM there are two ladies who...run a newspaper? and an investigator who...has a long (and ultimately irrelevant) rivalry with a coworker? and there is a guy who...inherited a big country house and named it Thornfield and Has A Past with one of the newspaper ladies? I guess?
The newspaper thing in particular seemed like it would be relevant, given that the column they start writing together is literally titled "A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem." But we never get to read any of that column, and there's not any kind of conceit like "the book itself is the column." They exist next to each other but never interact. It's weird.
And this is kind of a "country house mystery" but it doesn't even matter because the book forgets to talk about the characters who are guests at the house. They're just there. So when the crime is solved and all is revealed, it feels like a random roll of the dice because it could literally have been ANYONE.
Finally - and I am absolutely not here to yuck anyone's yum, but - the romance in this book is so cringe-y. Again, this could be because I wasn't aware I was even reading a romance until two characters randomly started kissing each other but it reminded me of when Diana Barry inserts inapt Rolling's Reliable Baking Powder references into Anne Shirley's short story. There was this country house mystery going on...and then every once in a while people made out with each other. If you want to read a mystery series with serious swoon, I recommend the A Study in Scarlet Women series.
Which makes me feel better about saying that I didn't really like THIS book, the one I ended up reading! I actually went and checked TWICE to make sure this was the first book in the series, not the second, since there were only sudden, vague references to seemingly substantial backstories that were complete news to me. It was just BAM there are two ladies who...run a newspaper? and an investigator who...has a long (and ultimately irrelevant) rivalry with a coworker? and there is a guy who...inherited a big country house and named it Thornfield and Has A Past with one of the newspaper ladies? I guess?
The newspaper thing in particular seemed like it would be relevant, given that the column they start writing together is literally titled "A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem." But we never get to read any of that column, and there's not any kind of conceit like "the book itself is the column." They exist next to each other but never interact. It's weird.
And this is kind of a "country house mystery" but it doesn't even matter because the book forgets to talk about the characters who are guests at the house. They're just there. So when the crime is solved and all is revealed, it feels like a random roll of the dice because it could literally have been ANYONE.
Finally - and I am absolutely not here to yuck anyone's yum, but - the romance in this book is so cringe-y. Again, this could be because I wasn't aware I was even reading a romance until two characters randomly started kissing each other but it reminded me of when Diana Barry inserts inapt Rolling's Reliable Baking Powder references into Anne Shirley's short story. There was this country house mystery going on...and then every once in a while people made out with each other. If you want to read a mystery series with serious swoon, I recommend the A Study in Scarlet Women series.
June 25, 2024
I enjoy romantic cozy mysteries on audio, as it turns out. Wish the "enemies" part of enemies-to-lovers and courtship period had been a bit longer (he goes from hating her to being smitten really quickly), and the mystery is light.
But I don't mind, because I like them both, I like the writing, I like how seamlessly the heroine is feminist within a historical context, and the audio version narrated by Mary Jane Wells is just lovely.
3.5 stars
But I don't mind, because I like them both, I like the writing, I like how seamlessly the heroine is feminist within a historical context, and the audio version narrated by Mary Jane Wells is just lovely.
3.5 stars
November 4, 2020
As the owner of the Gazette, widow Lady Katherine Bascomb is sick of men deciding what knowledge is appropriate for women to know. When yet another man tells her she is too delicate to hear about the murders being done by someone the papers are calling the “Commandments Killer” Kate decides to use her position and her paper to educate the women of London. She recruits Caroline Hardcastle and they set out to get some questions about the murders answered. They interview a witness that the police never spoke to and get a lead to the killer – it is a huge break in the case that shakes up Scotland Yard.
Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham has been working on the Commandments case for months and is angry that the reporter from the Gazette released information about the killer without telling the police and that the man he assigned to interview witnesses, missed the chophouse serving girl. His superiors pull him off the case and his replacement – the man who was supposed to interview witnesses – makes an arrest of a man named John Clark. Andrew doesn’t believe they have the right man, but has no recourse. When he meets Katherine at a press conference and helps her navigate the crowd, he takes the opportunity to chastise her for her recklessness and says the wrong man is going to hang because of her. They part ways and neither expects to see the other again.
But fate and the killer are not done with these two, appalled that she may be responsible for sending an innocent man to jail, she attends a house party of her dear friend Lord Valentine Thorn, hoping to have him appeal to his father the Duke of Thornfield to intercede and have John Clark released. But while at the party the killer strikes again and Andrew is sent to investigate. He and Kate come to an agreement, they will work together to find the killer and clear John Clark. But nothing can prepare them for the twists and turns in the or for the attraction between them they can’t ignore. Will they be able to solve the murders and have their own HEA or will the Commandments Killer claim another victim.
I thought this was a well written, intriguing story with a really well-done mystery – but as a romance, it was a little lacking. Andrew and Kate don’t really begin to interact until well into the book and even then, the romance seems to take a backseat to the mystery. If this was billed as an historical mystery, I would give it 4.5 – the proof I received was marked as an UNCORRECTED copy, so I will assume that the typos, title errors and inconsistencies – including the mention of Oscar Wilde in a book set in 1865 – will be addressed prior to publication. As a romance it is more of a 3.5 star book, so I decided to split the difference. It is an excellent mystery with some romance, some steamyish love scenes, more than one twist, a couple of eye-popping revelations, great secondary characters, witty banter, a strong heroine and a great hero. I enjoyed the book and will happily recommend this title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that I requested and was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.*
Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham has been working on the Commandments case for months and is angry that the reporter from the Gazette released information about the killer without telling the police and that the man he assigned to interview witnesses, missed the chophouse serving girl. His superiors pull him off the case and his replacement – the man who was supposed to interview witnesses – makes an arrest of a man named John Clark. Andrew doesn’t believe they have the right man, but has no recourse. When he meets Katherine at a press conference and helps her navigate the crowd, he takes the opportunity to chastise her for her recklessness and says the wrong man is going to hang because of her. They part ways and neither expects to see the other again.
But fate and the killer are not done with these two, appalled that she may be responsible for sending an innocent man to jail, she attends a house party of her dear friend Lord Valentine Thorn, hoping to have him appeal to his father the Duke of Thornfield to intercede and have John Clark released. But while at the party the killer strikes again and Andrew is sent to investigate. He and Kate come to an agreement, they will work together to find the killer and clear John Clark. But nothing can prepare them for the twists and turns in the or for the attraction between them they can’t ignore. Will they be able to solve the murders and have their own HEA or will the Commandments Killer claim another victim.
I thought this was a well written, intriguing story with a really well-done mystery – but as a romance, it was a little lacking. Andrew and Kate don’t really begin to interact until well into the book and even then, the romance seems to take a backseat to the mystery. If this was billed as an historical mystery, I would give it 4.5 – the proof I received was marked as an UNCORRECTED copy, so I will assume that the typos, title errors and inconsistencies – including the mention of Oscar Wilde in a book set in 1865 – will be addressed prior to publication. As a romance it is more of a 3.5 star book, so I decided to split the difference. It is an excellent mystery with some romance, some steamyish love scenes, more than one twist, a couple of eye-popping revelations, great secondary characters, witty banter, a strong heroine and a great hero. I enjoyed the book and will happily recommend this title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that I requested and was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.*
January 24, 2021
Loved this book! It was the perfect blend of mystery and romance. Highly recommend!
January 26, 2021
This was a fun read and a nice change of pace after some of the darker reads I've finished lately. Normally the level of romance isn't my thing but it worked here.
The only problem I had with this book was the character development. Everyone goes from just meeting to suddenly being old friends in a matter of pages. I felt like I missed a huge chunk of something. Like if you only watch the first season of Grey's Anatomy and then try to pick it back up in season 10.
I will absolutely be keeping my eye for future releases.
The only problem I had with this book was the character development. Everyone goes from just meeting to suddenly being old friends in a matter of pages. I felt like I missed a huge chunk of something. Like if you only watch the first season of Grey's Anatomy and then try to pick it back up in season 10.
I will absolutely be keeping my eye for future releases.
May 4, 2022
Porque é que certas coisas são apenas para os homens? Porque é que as mulheres não podem falar ou opininar sobre certos assuntos? Por serem consideradas o sexo fraco?... Ora isso não é verdade agora e nem nunca foi, mesmo que a sociedade de época goste de idolatrar os homens e subjugar as mulheres.
Este livro é a prova de que as mulheres têm muito a dar à sociedade e que não se deve de todo julgar um livro pela capa, ou, neste caso, uma pessoa pelo seu estatuto social.
Não é o típico romance de época, na verdade é mais uma investigação policial do que um romance - tem pitadas de romance, umas picardias muito interessantes e consegue ser bastante divertido, mas...no geral é uma investigação policial em pleno século XIX com um detetive renegado da Scotland Yard e uma lady viúva dona de um jornal. O resultado...um espetacular manual de caos e desordem para jovens senhoras 💗
Adorei todo o mistério que a autora conseguiu construir, a intriga está incrível e não é fácil descobrir a verdadeira identidade do assassino... As capacidades dedutivas da Kate e do Andrew são postas à prova, tais como as dos leitores e é um corropio de teorias. A escrita é muito agradável e cativa desde a primeira página, é um ótimo livro para iniciar na escrita da autora ✨
O romance é muito bom, claro que não é o clássico romance dos romances de época (devido ao background dos protagonistas), mas é isso que o torna tão fascinante 💗 adorei a relação destes dois, quer a relação amorosa quer a parceria para a investigação - são de facto o complemento perfeito um do outro.
Existem ainda uns pequenos pormenores que levam a crer quem serão os próximos protagonistas, o que me deixa extremamente curiosa porque estes dois são super peculiares e têm imensos segredos por revelar 🤭
Adorei e não poderia recomendar mais!!! Por favor que os próximos volumes não demorem muito a ser traduzidos.
Este livro é a prova de que as mulheres têm muito a dar à sociedade e que não se deve de todo julgar um livro pela capa, ou, neste caso, uma pessoa pelo seu estatuto social.
Não é o típico romance de época, na verdade é mais uma investigação policial do que um romance - tem pitadas de romance, umas picardias muito interessantes e consegue ser bastante divertido, mas...no geral é uma investigação policial em pleno século XIX com um detetive renegado da Scotland Yard e uma lady viúva dona de um jornal. O resultado...um espetacular manual de caos e desordem para jovens senhoras 💗
Adorei todo o mistério que a autora conseguiu construir, a intriga está incrível e não é fácil descobrir a verdadeira identidade do assassino... As capacidades dedutivas da Kate e do Andrew são postas à prova, tais como as dos leitores e é um corropio de teorias. A escrita é muito agradável e cativa desde a primeira página, é um ótimo livro para iniciar na escrita da autora ✨
O romance é muito bom, claro que não é o clássico romance dos romances de época (devido ao background dos protagonistas), mas é isso que o torna tão fascinante 💗 adorei a relação destes dois, quer a relação amorosa quer a parceria para a investigação - são de facto o complemento perfeito um do outro.
Existem ainda uns pequenos pormenores que levam a crer quem serão os próximos protagonistas, o que me deixa extremamente curiosa porque estes dois são super peculiares e têm imensos segredos por revelar 🤭
Adorei e não poderia recomendar mais!!! Por favor que os próximos volumes não demorem muito a ser traduzidos.
October 23, 2020
"I think you are a gifted detective but have little understanding of what life is like for the female population. You aren't the first man to suffer from this failing and you won't be the last. I simply ask that you consider my words the next time you think to dismiss some act by a lady as improper. Consider how much of what we've designated as proper and improper is less about manners and more about keeping ladies in their place. Where they won't get in the way of the men."
This book had so many aspects within it that made me think I would enjoy it. Kate is a widow and owner of a newspaper; she's outspoken and confident; she takes lovers; she has a strong female friendship with another writer. But a lot of about this book just didn't click for me.
SUMMARY
Kate and her new friend Caro decide to write a column for the newspaper Kate owns called A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem because of the lack of information on a new serial killer. In the first article they interview a barmaid who provides a clue the police didn't catch, and after publishing it Andrew Evesham (the detective on the serial killer case) is removed and replaced.
After Kate retreats to a country house party, she stumbles on a dead body... and Evesham is called to help investigate.
Sparks fly as the two pair to solve the mystery.
THOUGHTS
Like I said, there were certain things about this book that just didn't work for me. For one, I didn't buy the romance at all. I think it could have been interesting had they been hooking up throughout the book or before the book... a sort of antagonistic relationship where he's the "crime solver" and she's the "crime reporter" and the two are constantly at odds. But how it was, it was this weird sort of instant attraction but I didn't buy into the chemistry at all. And the leap to love was just too far for me.
I don't feel that I knew either character. We learn about Kate's past mainly through other people, like her friend Val recounting the marriage her parents arranged with a controlling man twenty years her senior. She never talks about it or even really thinks about it, or her past - except for I think one passage where she notes that even as the daughter of a marquess she was never raised wealthy. Andrew, on the other hand, we know is the grandson of a baronet (though he cut off Andrew's father), and his father is a vicar. But his past? His personality? Lost to me.
Finally, the mystery. I don't love romance mysteries, so they have to be well done or entertaining. This one missed the mark for me. I wasn't invested or interested in it, and the "reveal" was done in a spewing monologue immediately before everything is righted. And then the story wraps up - truly - two pages later.
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I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I know the ARC is an uncorrected proof but I hope they change the formatting of speech because it was distracting. Ex:
"This is one character talking," character said. "They are still talking."
"Ok the same character from above is still talking. They should have left the end quotation mark off after 'talking' above to imply the next line was the same character."
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