A Counterfeit Suitor

Rosalind Thorne Mysteries #5

by Darcie Wilde, Pearl Hewitt (Reading)

It is every mama's dearest wish that her daughter marries well. But how to ensure that a seemingly earnest suitor is not merely a fortune hunter? Rosalind is involved in just such a case, discreetly investigating a client's prospective son-in-law, when she is drawn into another predicament shockingly close to home. Rosalind's estranged father, Sir Reginald Thorne--a drunkard and forger--has fallen into the hands of the vicious scoundrel Russell Fullerton. Angered by her interference in his blackmail schemes, Fullerton intends to unleash Sir Reginald on society and ruin Rosalind. Before Rosalind's enemy can act, Sir Reginald is found murdered--and Fullerton is arrested for the crime. He protests his innocence, and Rosalind reluctantly agrees to uncover the truth, suspecting that this mystery may be linked to her other, ongoing cases. Aided by her sister, Charlotte, and sundry friends and associates--including handsome Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness--Rosalind sets to work. But with political espionage and Napoleon loyalists in the mix, there may be more sinister motives, and far higher stakes, than she ever imagined . . .

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Audiobook, Fiction, Romance

Audio CD

First published November 30, 2021

About the author

Darcie Wilde is a pseudonym for Sarah Zettel, author of mysteries, science fiction, romance and Young Adult fiction, including the New York Times Notable Book Fool’s War and the bestselling Rosalind Thorne mysteries A Useful Woman. She also writes under the names Delia James, Sarah Zettel, Jennifer Hawkins C. L. Anderson and Marissa Day.

Darcie writes her classically styled (not to mention stylish) mysteries as well as adventurous romances from a university town in a certain northern-midwestern state that has been known to bear some passing resemblance to a mitten. When not writing, she’s reading, cooking, hiking, swimming, climbing things, embroidering other things, raising her rapidly growing son and trying to convince her cat — Buffy the Vermin Slayer — not to do any further damage to the furniture.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review A Counterfeit Suitor. All opinions and comments are my own.

The latest Rosalind Thorne historical mystery has our heroine engaged to look into the background of a young man who is a potential suitor for a young lady with a considerable dowry; fortune hunters not wanted, of course. Seems easy enough, but Rosalind has other things on his mind; her dissolute father has escaped from his “house imprisonment” in Bath, where Rosalind’s courtesan sister has been keeping him. Sister Charlotte says she is soon to be married, and with Father running around, ready to blame them for his troubles, he can destroy them in the eyes of society. Which, as anyone knows from reading books set in this historical period in particular (Georgian), is a Fate Worse Than Death.

“A Counterfeit Suitor” moves pretty quickly from the get-go, and you won’t be surprised to eventually find these two stories intertwined, including a murder that strikes close to home. And our lesson in the history of the times involves those in England who conspired and plotted to restore Bonaparte to the throne. Our author, Darcie Wilde is adept at plots that embrace the real with the fictional, letting us see how society regarded the worth of women, or more accurately, perhaps, the little worth that women had, to some. It drives all the women in this book, some that reclaim a life, as do Rosalind and Charlotte, for instance, and another that attempts to make a life, to their detriment and with tragic results.

An author’s note explains the detailed research that went into this particular story, especially the plans to rescue the ex-Emperor of France. Aside from numerous spelling errors (a good editor would have helped), A Counterfeit Suitor should satisfy Rosalind Thorne fans once again, especially those who are rooting for her and Runner Adam Harkness.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

Rosalind Thorne is busier than ever, accepting invitations to help plan social events for wealthy society matrons. Her latest project for Mrs. Walford involves planning a charity event to launch the new-moneyed family into the upper ten-thousand. However, it seems Mrs. Walford has an ulterior motive for hiring Rosalind. Mrs. Walford's daughter, Augustina, has been keeping questionable company with a Mr. Salter. Mrs. Walford wants Rosalind to determine whether he's a fortune hunter and if the couple plan to elope. Rosalind sees no sign of a permament attachment but she has heard rumors about Salter and has a plan in mind. Her plan nearly backfires, outing her family skeletons. For years Rosalind's father and sister have lived on the edges of Society in exile and have only recently returned to England where Charlotte keeps their father under guard in a hired house in Bath. While Rosalind knows Charlotte is in London, she never expects her sister to arrive on her doorstep with the news their father has escaped! The sisters are naturally worried about their father and Rosalind plans to enlist her Bow Street Runner friend Adam Harkness to find Sir Reginald. Before Adam even has a chance to ask questions, Sir Reginald turns up in the most unlikely place causing trouble for Rosalind. It seems he's fallen into the clutches of Mr. Russell Fullerton, an nasty blackmailer determined to bring down Rosalind. How did Sir Reginald come to know Mr. Fullerton and what's their plan? Then the call comes to Bow Street to investigate a murder in Fullerton's house but Adam recognizes the victim as Rosalind's father! How is he going to break the news that a)her father was murdered and b)found with a suspicious compromising letter that would ruin Charlotte and Rosalind? Fullerton is arrested for the crime but proclaims his innocence. He asks Rosalind to investigate and find the real perpetrator. She's reluctant but can't send an innocent man to hang even if he is the nastiest man she's ever met. Next, Fullerton's man servant is killed in the same manner as Sir Reginald, likely proving Fullerton's innocence, unles he hired an asassin to do the deed for him. Meanwhile, Rosalind soon begins to realize she underestimated the Walfords and worries she's missing something. When she finally realizes what's been happening under her nose, she's horrified and determined to stop it. Enlisting the aid of her friends and of course, Bow Street, hopefully they can stop it before it's too late. Can they arrest someone before anyone else is killed? Is there a connection between the two crimes?

This book is LONG! I was curious about what would happen to Rosalind after her big decision in the previous book and the departure of Mrs. Kendrick. The story touches on Rosalind's own fears a little but is mostly about the mystery. The history is front and center in the mystery. Sometimes it's a little too much info dump and recapping past events. Interwoven into the mystery itself though is the role women played in this time and place. Rosalind makes connections between her mother, Alice's mother, Charlotte and now Augustina. The reappearance of Sir Reginald also causes problems for Rosalind's income as legally she is his dependant. (yoohoo solution? Marry Adam! His mother would love to have you as an extra daughter!) Those issues plus the two investigations really give the story a somber tone. Darcie Wilde insists her mysteries are not cozies but Kensington lists them as such so be aware that this series is more traditional than your average cozy. It took me awhile to put the pieces together and my half-asleep brain remembered something Darcie Wilde mentioned in her interview with Murder By the Book. Even so, I couldn't quite put all the pieces together. I didn't guess who the murderer was at all (I was half right actually) or why. I did wonder though if that was the case. I was surprised by the action at the end and nearly freaked out when I thought the book would end of a cliffhanger.

I didn't like how the point-of-view suddenly shifted between characters. Some is Rosalind, some Adam, a bit of Alice and two chapters from the Walfords' point-of-view. I didn't care for all that switching, especially the Walfords. Their POV allowed me to put clues together to figure out what they were about. I would like more of a conclusion to learn what happens to the rest of the characters and a bit more explanation of the laws like Are the following crimes? Conspiracy to commit murder? Fraud? Covering up a suspected murder?

On the plus side, the romance is progressing nicely! Rosalind has matured a lot thanks to her circumstances. She now knows her own mind but is she brave enough to speak it? With the backing of such august personages as the patronesses of Almack's, her social position will be relatively safe but if she takes the bold step to towards a relationship with Adam, will Lady Jersey, Countess Lieven, et.al. turn their backs on her? Rosalind is creeping closer to giving up all the expectations and rules that have been drummed into her forever. She's already started to forge a relationship with her sister and at the end, she seems to come to terms with her father's actions, although that scene broke my heart and nearly made me cry. Rosalind's shy, slow burn romance with Adam appeals to me and is accuracte for the time. He's beneath her socially but is a much better man than any of her suitors or any of the so-called gentlemen of the ton. His boss is an @$$. A social climber who expects Adam to feel the same way, John Townsend nearly pushes Adam to walk away from the job he loves. Adam is one in a million. He's honest, trustworthy and wants to see justice done. Townsend would be stupid to force Adam to leave. Adam is a sweetheart. He recognizes Rosalind's feelings without openly acknowledge them. He understands she needs space and time to come to terms with her feelings about giving up all that was expected of her. Yet, he's not immune and agrees to her shy, sweet request to spend more time together once all this is over. Adam is a dogged officer of the law and has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues. They also admire Rosalind's intelligence and all she's done to see justice served. I like Captain Gauthier, Adam's friend, who knows Adam well enough to lightly tease about Rosalind but accepts Rosalind for who she is. I love that about the Runners in this book. While Heyer and copycats portray the Runners as brainless brawn and comical figures, here they are intelligent, emotional champions of justice. (Aside from that @$$ Townsend who isn't really BAD, he's just a man of his time).

Charlotte is a complex character. She's intelligent like Rosalind but uses her wits for a different purpose. I was glad to hear her side of her story. She lacked choices but had agency to act on those lack of choices. She took control of her own story again and again to give herself the desired outcome. I don't think she's as selfish as her father but she can be. To be fair, she's in a difficult spot and I don't blame her for not wanting to do the thing Rosalind tells her is necessary. I think the sisters are more alike than they realize and I hope Charlotte's journey brings them to a full reconciliation, even if Charlotte enabled their father thus bringing him to this point. Sir Reginald is the worst father and a poor excuse for a human being. He surpasses Sir Walter Eliot in Persuasion for the least caring, most selfish father in Regency fiction. I understand gambling and alcoholism are addictions and he didn't have any way of knowing that or getting help but he could have made better choices. He manipulated Charlotte and forced her to make unthinkable choices then blamed her when he didn't get his own way. I was hoping he'd drop dead of natural causes from overindulgence and not murder. That was pretty shocking and upsetting.

Also complex are the Walfords. Mrs. Walford wants what she thinks is best for her children. She truly loved her late husband and wants to see all he worked for come to fruition. However, she never asks her children what they want and doesn't communicate with them well. Yes this is normal for the time period but parents were actually starting to take their children's wishes into consideration and these three children are adults! She's demanding and tough on people who work for her or are working to arrange her charity event. She's a bit selfish as well and sometimes makes stupid mistakes. Etienne, the younger son, is angsty. He has a chip on his shoulder and some unusual ideas about equality. Yes they're valid ones but in this time and place, unpopular and I suspect if he had the power to vote on laws making everyone equal, he wouldn't do it. He seems rather selfish and lazy. Louis is also lazy in a different way. It seems all he wants is to be a gentleman, an idle gentleman as befits his status as the eldest son. He's kinder to his sister. Augustina is very much like Charlotte. She's young, inexperienced in the ways of men but smart and determined to have her own way. I ended up sympathizing with her but not agreeing with her choices given what the older young ladies said about their parents.

Salter is an interesting character. He's charming and gets what he wants through charm and a bit of luck. I'm unclear if he's a selfish, dastardly fortune hunter or if he truly loves 'Stina. Maybe a bit of both? Unfortunately for her, he may be a murderer.

In the villain category is Russell Fullerton. What does he want with Rosalind's father? Fullerton is the real villain of the series. He's not an antagonist or a nemesis but an out-and-out rotter. He's selfish, manipulative, greedy and lacks a heart and finer feelings like compassion and kindness. I was hoping for a different outcome for his story. Preferably one that made him rot in jail or lose everything. We'll see if the latter is true. It would have served him right if Sir Reginald didn't comply. His manservant, Sparkes, is slimy and probably will do whatever his employer says to say and do. Fullerton never GIVES AWAY money so this Sparkes creature probably has some nasty secret he doesn't want known.

Alice is a fun character but she feels more 20th century to me even still. Alice is protective of her friend but also sometimes enjoys stirring the pot a bit. Sanderson Faulks is a good friend to Rosalind. He's kind, loyal and brave. He had choices in life like Sir Reginald and chose a different path, thankfully, making Sir Reginald seem even worse. Amelia, Rosalind's new maid, seems like the type that means well but easily loses her head. However, once Rosalind takes the time to get to know her new maid, Amelia becomes a stronger character. Something bad must have happened in her past to make her such a fierce fighter of bad men.

This mystery was good but long and complicated. It's not my favorite of the series but I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for Rosalind next.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a few installments where the details of the mystery were a little hazy, this fifth Rosalind Thorne mystery serves up total redemption. All the favorite characters are here for a mystery that is complex, but not confusing.

We’ve never really seen the politics of this time period come into play. In fact, I always thought the series was deliberately going for the generic “regency” feel. This time, we get Bonaparte supporters trying to raise money to get the little emperor off St. Helena, so we have a super specific point in time.

I love that the action took us back to Graham’s, the club where Rosalind stole some letters and first spotted Charlotte at the beginning of book 3. I love that we finally have confirmation that Alice is gay (and seeing her flirt was cute). I also loved seeing Sanderson get in on the action. He’s much more than a dandy.

There’s a particularly lovely scene where Rosalind and Adam plan to give themselves time to explore their budding relationship after they solve the murders.

The final scene makes me think the book might have been the end of the series, but there is definitely a sixth installment on the way. If it had ended here, it would have been fine. That final scene was lovely.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Excellent addition to the series.
Read the blurb--it really sets up the action.

I enjoyed everything in this book, a very satisfactory reading experience. Everything just clicked for me. The mysteries were complicated and intertwined. I appreciated that Rosalind's feelings towards her reprobate father were so mixed up. I liked that her sister Charlotte had some depth. There was a lot more to her character than mere fashionable courtesan.
Alice Littlefield, gossip columnist, and very dear friend, had a major role in this one. It was good to see her in action. Adam Harkness was his usual steadfast self, doing his job as Bow Street's finest and being a major support to Rosalind. Long time fans of this series will appreciate the advances in their relationship.
The book ends on a high note--murders solved, plots thwarted, villains vanquished. All our main characters alive and happy. I'm hoping that this isn't the end of the series, but merely a nice place to pause before the next book. I'll be waiting for it.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After turning down the offer of marriage to a duke, a woman with precarious status in society needs to prove her worth, but the appearance of her ne’er-do-well father and his subsequent murder is more than a ticklish problem that she can deftly snap her fingers at. The Rosalind Thorne stories are more than a mystery series, but the story of a woman living down unearned family reputation and making her own way in English high society. I’ve cheered her on from the beginning and love the cunning mysteries she must tackle along the way.

A Counterfeit Suitor is the fifth in the Regency era historical mystery series of books that really must be read in order to see Rosalind’s personal story and growing romance from the beginning.

Rosalind turned down her first crush and love along with his title and fortune when it only made sense to take him up on his marriage offer. A gambling father who shattered the family fortunes and left with his oldest daughter for the continent while Rosalind remained with a depressed mother who eventually passed away and left her alone to face the sneers and snubs of their former high society acquaintances. She made do by becoming society’s Useful Woman for a monetary consideration that was the sole means of keeping her from penury. All this would have been swept away if she had accepted his hand. But, too much time has passed and Rosalind has learned to appreciate being an independent woman making her own way. Not to mention her heart might be tugging in her in an entirely different direction and toward the hard-working lower class Bow Street Runner who has admired and supported plus aided her in her mystery-solving work all along.

But, now her reputation and work are in jeopardy once again when the malice of an enemy aids her father back into London society right about the time Rosalind has her hands full helping a mother determine if her daughter’s suitor is in love or merely a fortune hunter. Sir Reginald Thorne’s death has Rosalind and her courtesan sister, Charlotte, at the top of the suspect list along with another surprising candidate, her enemy Russell Fullerton. She has to get to the bottom of the murder and not just to be declared innocent. There are ties to espionage and Napoleon behind all this.

While the last book was okay and I was relieved to have the love triangle resolved, it didn’t exactly sparkle for me. A Counterfeit Suitor jumped back into all that makes this series something special. Rosalind is active and in her stride even when she is harried by all that is thrown at her. There are no wishy-washy moments and she charges right into the fray. She had to adjust when her housekeeper took off and she went in with Alice and she has to face her embarrassing and ugly past when her father is back in the picture, but Charlotte is there as is the redoubtable Adam and her small circle of friends to get her through. I loved the added suspense from the war-time espionage aspect and the mystery was well beyond me figuring it out. But, most of all, I liked seeing her acknowledge her feelings for Adam and that she was in love with a working class man and that was all right.

All in all, this one sparkled and was a cover to cover satisfactory read. Historical mystery fans who love the Regency world, a growing and strong female lead, and clever mystery plots should check out this series.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread this as part of reading entire series published thus far. Anxiously awaiting next in series to be published. Still as complex and exciting as 1st read (May 2022)

Complex Regency mystery (Nov 2021)

Rosalind Thorne , daughter of Sir Reginald Thorne, (habitual drinker, gambler and forger), is supporting herself by offering her services to those wanting the know how around running the gauntlet of polite society. Years before, Rosalind’s father, heavily in debt, had fled to Paris taking her sister Charlotte, leaving behind Rosalind and her mother. Returning to England years later, Charlotte, now a highly sought after courtesan has relocated their alcoholic father to Bath in the care of minders. He escapes with the help of one Russell Fullerton, an opportunist not above blackmailing others. Indeed he’s well known for being a blackguard. Fullerton has plans to ruin Rosalind. When Sir Reginald is found dead, other factors come into play.
Currently Rosalind is helping a Mrs Walford throw a ball for charity. In reality she’s been hired to investigate a man the daughter of the house is being pursued by, a Mr. Horatio Salter.
Rosalind has become somewhat of a private problem solver for high ranking members of the ton. She has a close affinity with a Bow Street runner Adam Harkness. She is on speaking terms with Countess Lieven, a patroness of Almanack’s.
Indeed her forays into discreet inquires for others of high society has earned Rosalind more friends than she knows.
What she doesn’t anticipate is where her investigations for the Walford's might lead, including espionage and troubled rumours of Bonaparte supporters.
A well constructed, solid and enjoyable read overlaid with surprising revelations and a quiet romance in the wings.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)

[Margaret Gaffney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rosalind Thorne is a charmingly competent regency detective, but this last installment might be the sign that Wilde should consign her characters to rest. The mystery is intriguing enough and feels like the battle royale of Rosalind versus Fullerton with long-awaited answers to the mystery behind Sir Reginald and Charlotte's disappearance all those years ago.

However, the final act of the book leaves something to be desired, and not just because it seems like Adam gets incapacitated in most of the books. Moreover, the lack of true closure on Adam and Rosalind's relationship is getting obnoxious at this point. Five books in, when on earth is Wilde going to give us a little more?

The hints about Alice and Amelia are also entirely out of place, given the historical setting and the way in which they occur. Perhaps I'm misreading this, but it doesn't seem like it. Given the suspicion Alice and Rosalind feel for the maid at the beginning of the story, it frankly makes no sense.

In short, Wilde should possibly take a break or leave her characters where they're at, because she is in danger of repeating the same tropes too many times, which at this point would be such a shame, given how good the first books of the series are.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! How does the author think of these plots? This one was especially and impressively complex. I like the political undertone. I think my favorite part of the story is Rosalind’s growing relationship with her sister and how it’s put to the test here. We get to see Charlotte a lot more and learn more of her back story. I really like her as a character. Good progress on the Adam-Rosalind front too! I love the recurring characters, from Alice to Sanderson to Adam’s Bow Street comrades like Sampson Goutier. I found the last chapter and Rosalind’s “heart-to-heart” with her father particularly moving. Rosalind is so stoic about all she has suffered that I forget sometimes the trauma she experienced because of her father’s defection and vice. I thought her reaction to her father’s death was spot on as to how emotionally complicated it was for her.

The author starts every chapter with an apt quote from a Regency-era writer. Clearly the author is well read in the literature and history of this era. The historical details are woven into the story expertly. The whole narrative flows so well, and I get so caught up in the drama. At the same, there’s a gentleness to the pace that I appreciate. Sadly this is the last book out in the series for the time being. I can’t wait for the next one!

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

Another great addition to this charming Regency mystery series.

Rosalind comes face-to-face with her father, the man responsible for ruining her earlier dreams of love and marriage, at an event while on her latest case to determine if a suitor is a fortune hunter. His drunken accusations threaten her fragile position in society and her livelihood. When he is murdered, Rosalind, with some trepidation, begins to investigate. A long list of enemies, political intrigue and a possible plan to free Napoleon from his island prison confuse the issue. Rosalind will need the help of her sister and friends to make it out of this one alive.

This series does remind me a bit of a Jane Austen novel, if that novel involved murder. Of all the Regency mysteries I have read, Rosalind comes closest to what I imagine a woman trying to make her living in the precarious and fickle world of the ton would be. She is a woman trying to live her life in an unconventional way where strict protocols are expected and any misstep could be ruinous but her attitude doesn’t scream 21st century. She is a woman the reader can identify with without seeming out of place.

Rosalind and Charlotte, her sister, work together more in this book than the previous ones. They find themselves in some humorous and suspenseful moments. The secondary characters are very well-developed. They all continue to evolve and the circumstances change.

The Counterfeit Suitor seems to me a pivotal novel in this series. The ever-looming threat of her father has ended, Rosalind has finally determined where her heart lies, and her position in society is a little bit more secure. Where things develop from here will be interesting.

While you can understand this book without reading the other books in the series, you will miss a lot of the back story and the emotional nuances that are an important part of the enjoyment to this book. A good mystery, and more important, a good story awaits. Enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Milena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Counterfeit Suitor is the fifth book in the Rosalind Thorne mystery series by Darcy Wilde. I have enjoyed every book in the series, and the latest installment is no exception. The main heroine, Rosalind Thorne, helps ladies to solve trouble discreetly and without scandal. She has become a useful woman to the rich and noble families of Regency London.

In this book the trouble strikes closer to home, and Rosalind has to solve the murder of her own estranged father, who abandoned her and her mother when she was a young girl. To solve the murder she will need the help of her friends, her sister, and of course the dashing Bow Street runner Adam Harkness. A Counterfeit Suitor is a well written, absorbing historical murder mystery and it's a great edition to the series. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this series, and am very fond of the character of Rosalind Thorne, but this installment wasn't my favourite of the series.

I like Rosalind best when she is doing her work assisting the women of the ton with their sensitive issues as "a very useful woman". This book brought Rosalind's own family dramas into the story and that interested me somewhat less.

I felt bad for Rosalind with her rotten father and the trouble he created for both Rosalind and her sister, but it just wasn't as interesting for me as the machinations of the ton and Rosalind's ability to navigate, manage and handle them effortlessly. That's the sweet spot of this series for me.

I definitely plan to continue with this series, as I assume that now that the family issues have been resolved that the stories will go back to Rosalind's work for the aristocratic women of London and I very much enjoy those stories.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining! A complicated mystery with a touch of romance. I enjoy the characters & regency setting.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Counterfeit Suitor earns 5/5 Conspiracies…Don’t Miss Page-Turner!

Brilliantly engaging drama by Darcie Wilde set in the early nineteenth century with a delightful young woman who turned poverty into prosperity. In a society with very few opportunities for women, Rosalind Thorne carved out a lucrative niche for herself as a “Useful Woman” helping a certain class of woman avoid scandal or navigate a way forward and finding rewards for her confidentiality. Her newest “client,” Mrs. Walford, asks for a background check, of sorts, pitting her against a suspicious, yet very clever, suitor. But, her estranged father, Sir Reginald Throne, has returned with his own dangerous entanglements leading to his murder. Surprisingly, the man arrested for the crime, one who had threatened Rosalind for her destructive interference, seeks her help. Rosalind is no pushover, she is leery of the man’s innocence, but she needs to find out who murdered her father and why. Darcie Wilde did well creating fascinating circumstances including political intrigue, conspiracies, and secret Bonapartists along with investigation methods sans technology or data bases, and more constraining, sans the freedom for women to be so publicly nosy. I love the chapter titles and quotes like mini “what connection” puzzles along with the varied personalities, the interaction and dynamic between sisters, the complexity of twist and turns, and a shocking final reveal making this all an excellent experience. Clever. Well-plotted. Entertaining. What more could one ask for…nothing!

Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosalind Thorne's quiet investigations into the bona fides of society hangers-on has led to the enmity of blackmailer Fullerton, who plans to use Rosalind's drunken forger of a father to ruin her reputation. But when her father is found dead and Fullerton accused of his murder, he begs Rosalind for her help. Rosalind's sister Charlotte, a courtesan known as Cynthia, sees a chance for happiness and even a degree of respectability, but Rosalind fears that she cannot trust Charlotte. Rosalind must turn to her friends, including a Bow Street Runner who would like to be more than a friend, to help her determine who is her father's killer.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time Rosalind is grappling with a mystery that may really be too big for her. Luckily she can always count on Alice and Adam and also on Charlotte this time. The plans on which the intrigue develops are really multiple and it was a read that kept me hooked on the book.

Questa volta Rosalind é alle prese con un mistero che potrebbe davvero essere troppo grande per lei. Per fortuna puó sempre contare su Alice e su Adam e inoltre anche su Charlotte anche stavolta. I piani su cui si sviluppa l'intrigo sono davvero molteplici ed é stata una lettura che mi ha tenuta attaccata al libro.

[*The Angry Reader* · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed the story immensely and felt we made a lot of progress on multiple important fronts.

i’ve taken away an entire star for typos - enough of them to rip me right out of story more than once.

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all of it ❤️

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pangram! Two words. Hint: swim. N K L E U V I C

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A return to form for the Rosalind Thorne series! I was a bit disappointed in the previous installment, as it felt mostly like an exercise in wrapping up some loose ends and confirming Rosalind's path. However, this one takes the character and plot development from the previous book and charges ahead.

In A Counterfeit Suitor, Rosalind is fully committing to a life as 'a useful woman', rooming with Alice, and learning to get along with Mrs. Kendricks. She is currently engaged assisting a matron whose wealth comes from trade in hosting a charity ball - and also trying to discover if her daughter's suitor is only after her money. However, Rosalind has a nagging feeling that all is not what it seems with the family. Into this morass comes the news that her disgraced father has escaped her sister's care and is currently in the company of Rosalind's nemesis, Russell Fullerton. As Rosalind tries to untangle increasing politically and emotionally complex threads, she's assisted by Alice and the loyal Adam Harkness.

I really liked the character development in this installment and how much time was spent on action, rather than endless ruminations. While the central mystery obviously moved forward, I also appreciated that Rosalind is living with the consequences - good and bad - of her choices in a real way. I've noticed a trend in some mystery series lately where there is a lot of anxiety and wheel-spinning about "what if X happens if I do Y", but then nothing actually happens. I like that Rosalind's life is moving forward and she is actively participating in making that happen.

I did feel the mystery was a bit convoluted, but I enjoyed all the action happening around it so much that it didn't bother me too much. Looking forward to the next book! Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to a wonderful series, accurately reflecting the customs and behaviors of the Regency period! The Counterfeit Suitor weaves together various threads of a complex mystery with the deepening relationship between Rosalind Thorne, a gentlewoman fallen on hard times, and Adam Harkness, one of Bow Street’s finest.

This book features the reappearance of Rosalind’s father, Sir Reginald Thorne, a gambler, alcoholic and forger, and her sister Charlotte, a courtesan. The father and sister had deserted Rosalind and her mother some years earlier and fled to France when his gambling debts got out of control. After her mother died, Rosalind was left on her own to figure out how to survive and has carved out a niche for herself on the fringes of society by being a “useful woman.”

Rosalind’s peace of mind and livelihood are threatened when her father escapes from a house in Bath where Charlotte has been keeping him, and confronts Rosalind in public. The confrontation between father and daughter has been engineered by Russell Fullerton, a scoundrel whose plans were thwarted by Rosalind in the past. Soon Sir Reginald is found murdered in Fullerton’s house and Fullerton is charged with the crime. While trying to determine if Fullerton is the actual murderer, Rosalind and Adam also uncover a plot to free Napoleon, and must figure out how it is connected to her father’s murder.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a free copy of the book.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt long yet didn't skim. Rosalind is working for Mrs Walford, planning a ball and investigating her daughter's questionable suitor. Meanwhile, someone liberates and kidnaps Ros and Charlotte's father, who Charlotte was housing/imprisoning in Bath. Rosalind investigates all with Alice(now her roommate), Amelia (new maid who has a flirtation with Alice), Faulks and Adam Harkness. Blackmailer Mr Fullerton has her father and brings him to the opera to shame Ros. Countess Lieven steps in to draw attention from Ros. Later, Ros looks for her dad and finds Fullerton who demands she stop investigating him or he will ruin her. Days later, someone murders Sir Reginald (Ros' dad). Harkness arrests Fullerton but he and Ros continue investigating. Turns out the ball is a front for moving Bonapartiste money out of London. Mrs. Walford's sons and daughter are conspiring with her suitor to steal the funds and run away, but the suitor also engaged Fullerton so he would have extra power over the family. Ros and friends convince Bow Street to send backup and the plot is thwarted. The daughter had killed Sir Reg thinking she killed Fullerton. When Fullerton is released from jail Ros tells him to leave her alone or she will ruin him (she also shared Bonapartiste papers from his rooms with Bow Street). She and Adam share feelings and agree to deepen their relationship. Charlotte is pregnant and her sugar daddy plans to marry her.

[mikaela (spinebreaker) · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread sept 2022 //

i am so unbelievably soft for these books. what an absolute masterpiece. i can't even believe how much i love these characters.

original review

All the things I wanted to happen did what they needed to do. The mysteries keep getting more exciting, the stakes get higher, and Adam Harkness claims more of my heart with each installment. I can't believe I have to wait a year for another one.

Full review on Spinebreaker

[Myarn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde (Rosalind Thorne Mystery #5) 4.5 stars

A sequel to last years "A Lady Compromised", we see Rosalind Thorne going about her daily business since she made the decision to refuse to marry her ex-suitor. But she has received unwelcome news, her estranged father, Sir Reginald Thorne has escaped his caretakers with the assistance of Russell Fullerton. Mr. Fullerton is determined to ruin Rosalind in retaliation for interfering in his blackmail schemes. Bringing a drunk Sir Reginald into the public view would be disastrous to Rosalind's livelihood. But is there something more sinister than mere revenge in play; before Rosalind can find out, Sir Reginald is killed and Fullerton is arrested for the crime. Rosalind reluctantly agrees to investigate because she wants to find the real killer.

This is the fifth Rosalind Thorne mystery and they keep getting better. She is a cross between a fixer and a private investigator for the aristocracy. She has made herself "useful" in order to live and survive. This book had so many threads to pull and weave into a coherent picture. I found myself confused at times at the various plots throughout the book. The book delivers an emotional punch; we get to see the anger and sadness and grief that made Rosalind into the person she is. One scene that stands out is the scene where she shows Adam her "insurance policy" against her father and there is an impassioned speech about the inequities of the law and customs of the time. In regards to her relationship with Adam, I think there will be a slow and steady progression in future books. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

[Winterstar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters are back for another adventure. More of the minor characters are delved into and it's nice to see them taking active roles with Rosalind. It was also interesting to see Rosalind interacting and dealing with her father's return as well as her new living arrangement and new maid.

The plot moves along smoothly, and the setting and description works overall. There's one point at the end where it's rather odd that the perpetrator comes out and confesses with no apparent motivation other than, why keep it hidden. It wasn't anything that Rosalind discovered either, but it does tie up a small loose end in a way. However, it seems rather odd for the person to just come out with it as it's not really any benefit to the person.

The story flows well and the reader is able to follow Rosalind's line of thinking, and it's interesting how sometimes they give away too much information that almost allows the 'bad guys' to escape. That was a nice little twist into it.

The ending has improved somewhat. There's not a lot of what happened after, but there's enough to give a pretty good sense of closure- an improvement from the first two books. The writing at the end did seem a little rushed as there were numerous editing errors- at one point the narrative slips from 3rd person into 1st person, at another point one person does an action to himself but was obviously supposed to be referring to another character and there were a few other typographical errors coming close together that made it rather obvious.

Overall though the story is interesting, the ending while short did seem to have some closure and the reader got a chance to see more of the minor characters and understand Rosalind's situation a little more.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalind is brought in undercover to determine if a determined suitor of a young heiress is honorable or if he is a fortune hunter. While making this determination her estranged father shows up in London in the hands of a man who has threatened Rosalind in the past. She and Russell Thorne have crossed paths many times, and her sleuthing efforts have cost him money. What is her doing with her father? Does this have anything to do with her client’s unsuitable suitor?

A Counterfeit Suitor had a much quicker pace than the previous novel and I have to wonder if it doesn’t have something to do with the change in scenery. Back in London, Rosalind seems to be racing from one place to the next as she follows the twists and turns of her investigation. The underlying threat that Russell Thorne represents to her life and livelihood also adds tension to an already dramatic storyline. With the addition of her love interest Investigator Adam Harkness, I found myself engaged and enthralled with this plot and eagerly turning each page.

There was really a LOT going on in this novel, which helped to capture my attention and hold it. Rosalind’s living depends upon her respectable reputation and it ran the risk of being irredeemably damaged throughout this novel. This time in history is not a favorable one to unmarried women, the details of which are fascinating and really disturbing. It also makes for some great reading.

A Counterfeit Suitor could be read without having any of the background you would know from having read the previous books but I really wouldn’t recommend it. You need to know the history behind each character’s actions, which only add to the reasons Rosalind makes certain decisions, as well as why these people stand by her side. If you are already a fan, don’t wait to pick this book up, it is one of the best in the series to date. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is every mama’s dearest wish that her daughter marries well. But how to ensure that a seemingly earnest suitor is not merely a fortune hunter? Rosalind is involved in just such a case, discreetly investigating a client’s prospective son-in-law, when she is drawn into another predicament shockingly close to home. Rosalind’s estranged father, whose a drunkard and forger has fallen into the hands of the vicious scoundrel Russell Fullerton. Angered by her interference in his blackmail schemes, Fullerton intends to unleash Sir Reginald on society and ruin Rosalind. Before Rosalind’s enemy can act, Sir Reginald is found murdered and Fullerton is arrested for the crime. He protests his innocence, and Rosalind reluctantly agrees to uncover the truth, suspecting that this mystery may be linked to her other, ongoing cases. Aided by her sister, Charlotte, and sundry friends and associates including handsome Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness Rosalind sets to work. But with political espionage and Napoleon loyalists in the mix, there may be more sinister motives, and far higher stakes, than she ever imagined
This is the fifth book in the series, it’s the first I've read & I thoroughly enjoyed it & had no difficulty with joining the series at this stage but I’ll definitely be reading the earlier books. I really like Rosalind & found her to be a strong woman who was starting to admit to herself that she was developing feelings for Adam. The characters were well portrayed & had lovely depth. The pace is very good & I read it in two sittings, finishing well after midnight. A very well written mystery, which I recommend
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Diane Rapport · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book #5 in Darcie Wilde’s Rosalind Thorne series. It’s my favorite as well. With Rosalind’s love life reasonably settled, there is more time to concentrate upon the mystery plot. Good thing, because it’s complicated! Rosalind’s home life is changing. Adam is still on scene, but neither he nor Rosalind quite know what the next step will be in their relationship. Best friend Alice has moved in with her, and a new maid, Amelia, has replaced the estimable Mrs Kendrick who retired in the last volume. She has taken on a new client, a widowed mother of three who has recently moved from the more industrialized midlands to become part of the London social scene. Rosalind is tasked with helping her gain acceptance, as well as getting background information on her daughter’s new suitor. In the midst of all of this, Rosalind’s sister, Charlotte appears out of the blue. Their father - who has been in her care - has escaped, and she needs Rosalind’s help to find him before he can inflict further damage on the family name.

The plot in this book is complicated. It twists, turns, and becomes far more than initially expected. At points, I had to go back and reread portions to clarify what was happening, which is why I rated it a 4.5. Ms Wilde has done her homework well however. Her descriptions of life for those not at the top of the social scene are vivid and realistic. Politics rears it’s often ugly head, and I learned things I never knew about The Bonapartist movement - a group decimated to restoring Bonaparte to power. All in all, I enjoyed this book immensely, and am hoping that there will be a book 6!

[Debbie Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting the Scene: "It is every mama's dearest wish that her daughter marries well. But how to ensure that a seemingly earnest suitor is not merely a fortune hunter? Rosalind is involved in just such a case, discreetly investigating a client's prospective son-in-law, when she is drawn into another predicament shockingly close to home. Rosalind's estranged father, Sir Reginald Thorne--a drunkard and forger--has fallen into the hands of the vicious scoundrel Russell Fullerton. Angered by her interference in his blackmail schemes, Fullerton intends to unleash Sir Reginald on society and ruin Rosalind. Before Rosalind's enemy can act, Sir Reginald is found murdered--and Fullerton is arrested for the crime. He protests his innocence, and Rosalind reluctantly agrees to uncover the truth, suspecting that this mystery may be linked to her other, ongoing cases. Aided by her sister, Charlotte, and sundry friends and associates--including handsome Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness--Rosalind sets to work. But with political espionage and Napoleon loyalists in the mix, there may be more sinister motives, and far higher stakes, than she ever imagined."

What I Thought: I have enjoyed each of the books in this series, to date, but it is in this one that the camaraderie among the core characters finally comes to the forefront, and they work together toward a common goal. I enjoyed getting to know Charlotte and Amelia a little better, and I hope they will be regulars going forward. The plot was just as complex, but this time we were not confronted with so many names and families. For all these reasons and more, this one earned a 5 Star rating.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalind Thorne, a "useful woman," is back in "A Counterfeit Suitor" by Darcie Wilde. Having recently rejected a duke's proposal, and having lost her housekeeper because of that choice, Rosalind is a bit adrift. Fortunately, her friend Alice is there to ground her, as she faces the greatest threat yet to her hard-won freedom.

Women of that era were rarely independent. Even if they built solid lives for themselves, it could be taken away by the courts and given to a male relative. So when Rosalind's felon father escapes from her sister's caretaking and is taken in by her enemy, she is understandably knocked for a loop. This happens at the same time as she is trying to organize a charity ball and help an anxious mother keep her daughter from possibly eloping. There are undercurrents there that threaten to sweep Rosalind away.

When Rosalind's father is murdered, suspicion falls on her family, including her courtesan sister. Complicating the investigation are Rosalind's feelings for Bow Street detective Adam Harkness, who is assigned to investigate the case.

Wilde has written a wonderful mystery within a mystery for Rosalind to unravel. Bonapartists, blackmailers, forgers, and gamblers all combine in a knotty puzzle. It's also good to see her interactions with Alice, and her childhood friend, Sebastian Faulks. Most of all, though, it's good to see her start to examine her feelings for Adam, and admit to herself, and others, that she cares for him.

4 out of 5 stars.

I received an advance copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This, and other reviews, may be found on Goodreads and my blog: redhatcatreviews.com