Murder in Matrimony by Mary Winters (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Are you addicted to a particular genre, or you do read all sort of genres?

Countess Amelia Amesbury keeps herself busy writing an anonymous column.  A blackmailer has threated to reveal her identity.  Her sister, Marge, has announced her engagement and asks to hold her wedding breakfast at Amelia’s home.  As Amelia helps to plan the wedding, she is stunned when her friend and vicar, Mr. Cross, is found murdered.  Who murdered Mr. Cross and why?  Will Amelia uncover the blackmailer?  Will Amelia’s relationship with Simon move to the next level?  With all of this going on, can she plan and host a high society wedding that involves her large family?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel was the 4^th in the Lady of Letters mystery series.  I have just read the third novel in the series, and I need to go back and read the first two.  This novel starts right where the 3^rd novel ended.  It is probably best to read this after book #3 as a major plot point is from the previous novel. 

·       I enjoyed this cozy historical mystery.  It was a perfect book to read during a stressful month.

·       Lady Amelia is a delightful character.  I loved that she is a strong woman who wants to keep her own independence.

·       There was a great romance and chemistry between Simon and Amelia.

·       This was a clean romance.

·       There was a lot going on with family drama.  I loved Lady Tabitha versus Amelia’s family.  I also loved that Lady Tabitha took on planning the wedding breakfast.

·       The mystery was intriguing and engaging.

·       I enjoyed the Lady Agony letters at the start of each chapter.

·       I loved the great ending.

·       Will there be another book in this series?  I hope so.

·       The acknowledgements section described the sad real historical event that was the inspiration for the mystery.

Overall, Murder in Matrimony by Mary Winters was a witty and engaging historical mystery with great characters.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @marywintersauthor @severnhouseimprint @austenprosefor a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. 

Murder in Season by Mary Winters (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What's a book that you wish more people knew about?

Amelia Amesbury is a young Victorian widow.  She is a countess but was not raised in high society.  She secretly writes an advice column at night.  When her sister, Madge, experiences a scandal, she comes to visit to hopefully find a husband during the season.  When a string of thefts starts occurring at balls and a murder takes place at her own home, will Amelia be able to solve the crimes?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the third book in A Lady of Letters Mystery series.  It is the first book I have read in the series, and it gives enough background to read it as a standalone.  I need to read the first two books in this series – I enjoyed Murder in Season so much!

·       The start of each chapter has a letter to Lady Agony and her response.  They are amusing and often related to the plot.  They had great advice!

·       I loved the developing love story between Amelia and Simon.  Simon was Amelia’s husband Edgar’s friend, and this fact is holding him back from having a relationship with Amelia.  Will they, or won’t they?  It was a good slow burn romance.

·       I enjoyed the characters – especially Madge and Amelia’s late husband’s Aunt Tabitha.  Madge is impetuous and says what she feels.  Aunt Tabitha is the same and keeps Amelia and the entire household in line. 

·       This cozy mystery had many twists and turns with two different mysteries – the jewel theft and the murder.  I liked the final resolutions and the path to get there.  I did not guess the ending for either mystery.

·       I enjoyed the 1860 Victorian Age England setting.

·       This cozy mystery was short in length, which is perfect for reading during a busy holiday season.

Favorite Quotes:

“Good people did bad things for the right reasons.  Who was to say she wouldn’t do the same when it came to her family members?”

“People were measured by the money, title or status they could bring to the marriage.  Love was, for the most part, for the youthful and inexperienced.  Yet Amelia held out hope that exceptions existed, such as Oliver and Kitty.  And maybe, one day, she and Simon.”

Overall, A Murder in Season by Mary Winters is a delightful cozy historical mystery with a wonderful slow burn romance and great characters.

Book Source:  Review copy from Severn House Imprint as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Join Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury as she tries to juggle a new Season and a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.

"A beautiful debutante, a wealthy widow, and a dead would-be baron. What could be more exciting?"

Countess by day, secret advice columnist by night, Amelia Amesbury has life happily balanced on a quill's edge . . . until her sister Margaret shows up in London under a blanket of scandal and Amelia is catapulted out of mourning and into the ton's unforgiving Season.

However Madge's Season debut is marred by a rather inconvenient death at the dining table as the infamous Mr Radcliffe takes ill and is later confirmed dead by poisoning. With Madge being the last person to have cross words with the soon-to-be baron, the ton's gossip mill - and the police - are looking to pin the murder on her.

Adding to the ton's troubles is a jewellery thief targeting the most lavish of Society's houses. Is the murderer and the thief one in the same? It falls to Amelia once again to uncover the secrets buried deep within the pages before her sister goes down for the crimes.

Perfect for fans of witty historical mystery and Regency romances with a similar feel to Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey

AUTHOR BIO

Mary Winters is the author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series, two cozy mystery series, and several short stories. A longtime reader of historical fiction, Mary set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip to London. Since then, she's been busily planning her next mystery - and another trip!