Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder: A Riveting Victorian Mystery

Catherine Lloyd

May 2022 · A Miss Morton Mystery Book 1 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey in this beguiling new Regency set series, as drastic circumstances compel Lady Caroline Morton, the penniless daughter of a deceased earl, to join the “downstairs” working class as a lady’s companion… whose duties soon involve solving a murder!

Following the suspicious death of her father, the Earl of Morton, and the discovery that she and her much younger sister have been left without income or home, Lady Caroline takes a post as a lady’s companion to wealthy widow Mrs. Matilda (Matty) Frogerton.

Eager to introduce herself and her rather wild daughter to the ton, Mrs. Frogerton is pleased when they are invited by Caroline’s aunt, Lady Eleanor Greenwood, to a house party in the countryside. For her part, Caroline is eager to see her little sister, who now lives with their aunt. But all is not well at the Greenwood estate . . .

For one thing, Lady Caroline’s former fiancé, Lord Francis Chatham, is a guest and refuses to speak to her. Worse, after a series of troubling harassments of the staff, an elderly family member is found fatally stabbed by a knitting needle. . . . As Caroline and an unexpected ally—Mrs. Frogerton—attempt to solve the chilling crime, they discover bizarre clues in the nursery as to who will be next. But they must make haste, for this heartless killer is engaged in anything but child’s play . . .

Ratings and reviews

1837. Due to being left penniless after the suspicious death of her father, the Earl of Morton, Lady Caroline Morton has taken employment as a companion to business woman Mrs Frogerton and her daughter Dorothy. All three are invited to her cousin Lady Mabel's seventeenth Birthday Ball at Caroline's old home of Greenwood Hall in Norfolk. But soon a death occurs, and unpleasant incidents start to happen. With the help of Mrs Frogerton Caroline investigates even though most people refuse to believe that it is a murder. An entertaining and well-written cozy Victorian mystery, with its likeable main characters. A good start to this new series.

This was an interesting story. I loved how clues were being left. Caroline and her employer, Mrs. Frogerton, worked well together. They made a cute solving duo. The case kept me guessing who the killer was. I felt the story was strengthened with Caroline's history and those around her, and the ending was worth the read. I received an ARC of this story, and this is my unsolicited review.

The first book in the A Miss Morton Mystery series. Lady Caroline Morton's story of suspense, drama, murder, danger, twists, turns, villains, and a mystery. The story is well written and kept me turning pages. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

About the author

Catherine Lloyd is the acclaimed author of Regency-set historical mysteries, including the Kurland St. Mary Mystery series and the Miss Morton Mysteries. Born just outside London, England into a large family of dreamers, artists, and history lovers, she holds a master’s degree in history from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. She currently lives with her family in the UK and can be found online at Catherine-Lloyd.com.