A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

Dianne Freeman

Jun 2019 · A Countess of Harleigh Mystery Book 2 · Kensington Books

About this eBook

The adventurous Countess Harleigh finds out just how far some will go to safeguard a secret in Dianne Freeman’s latest witty and delightful historical mystery . . .
 
Though American by birth, Frances Wynn, the now-widowed Countess of Harleigh, has adapted admirably to the quirks and traditions of the British aristocracy. On August twelfth, otherwise known as the Glorious Twelfth, most members of the upper class retire to their country estates for grouse-shooting season. Frances has little interest in hunting—for birds or a second husband—and is expecting to spend a quiet few months in London with her almost-engaged sister, Lily, until the throng returns.

Instead, she’s immersed in a shocking mystery when a friend, Mary Archer, is found murdered. Frances had hoped Mary might make a suitable bride for her cousin, Charles, but their courtship recently fizzled out. Unfortunately, this puts Charles in the spotlight—along with dozens of others. It seems Mary had countless notes hidden in her home, detailing the private indiscretions of society’s elite. Frances can hardly believe that the genteel and genial Mary was a blackmailer, yet why else would she horde such juicy tidbits?
 
Aided by her gallant friend and neighbor, George Hazelton, Frances begins assisting the police in this highly sensitive case, learning more about her peers than she ever wished to know. Too many suspects may be worse than none at all—but even more worrying is that the number of victims is increasing too. And unless Frances takes care, she’ll soon find herself among them . . .

“Engrossing . . . Freeman takes a witty look at Victorian polite society. Historical mystery fans will be delighted.”
—Publishers Weekly
 

Ratings and reviews

Though American by birth, Frances Wynn, the now-widowed Countess of Harleigh, has adapted admirably to the quirks and traditions of the British aristocracy. She is expecting to spend a quiet few months in London with her almost-engaged sister, Lily, until the throng returns. Instead, she’s immersed in a shocking mystery when a friend, Mary Archer, is found murdered. Frances had hoped Mary might make a suitable bride for her cousin, Charles, but their courtship recently fizzled out. It seems that the genteel and genial Mary was a blackmailer or was she? Aided by her gallant friend and neighbour, George Hazelton, Frances begins assisting the police in this highly sensitive case with plenty of suspects but even more worrying is that the number of victims is increasing too. And unless Frances takes care, she’ll soon find herself among them . This is the second book in the series, I haven’t read the first book but will now be doing so. A cozy mystery, that kept my interest all the way through. Well portrayed characters, I liked Frances & George. The book is well paced & very well written, there are plenty of red herrings thrown into the mix so you’re kept guessing most of the way through. If you’re looking for a fun cozy mystery then I’d recommend this book to while away a few hours My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Amazing!

About the author

Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, won both an Agatha Award and a Lefty Award and was nominated for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America. She spent thirty years working in corporate accounting and finance and now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband split their time between Michigan and Arizona. Visit her at www.DiFreeman.com.