Hallie Reads: A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder

ABOUT THE BOOK

In Dianne Freeman’s charming Victorian-era mystery series, Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, finds her sister’s wedding threatened by a vow of vengeance.

London is known for its bustle and intrigues, but the sedate English countryside can host—or hide—any number of secrets. Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, needs a venue for her sister Lily’s imminent wedding, away from prying eyes. Risings, George Hazleton’s family estate in Hampshire, is a perfect choice, and soon Frances, her beloved George, and other guests have gathered to enjoy the usual country pursuits—shooting, horse riding, and romantic interludes in secluded gardens.

But the bucolic setting harbors a menace, and it’s not simply the arrival of Frances’s socially ambitious mother. Above and below stairs, mysterious accidents befall guests and staff alike. Before long, Frances suspects these “accidents” are deliberate, and fears that the intended victim is Lily’s fiancé, Leo. Frances’s mother is unimpressed by Lily’s groom-to-be and would much prefer that Lily find an aristocratic husband, just as Frances did. But now that Frances has found happiness with George—a man who loves her for much more than her dowry—she heartily approves of Lily’s choice. If she can just keep the couple safe from villains and meddling mamas.

As Frances and George search for the culprit among the assembled family, friends, and servants, more victims fall prey to the mayhem. Mishaps become full-blooded murder, and it seems that no one is safe. And unless Frances can quickly flush out the culprit, the peal of wedding bells may give way to another funeral toll…

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: July 28, 2020

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OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder

A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

MY REVIEW

An English countryside estate makes for a perfect wedding location—unless a lurking danger puts guests and staff at risk. To help her sister safely pull off her imminent wedding, Frances—along with George—determines to find the culprit behind the mischief and murder (as the title suggests, of course).

Discovering the truth proves to be entertaining, and I can easily say I enjoyed the mystery of Dianne Freeman’s A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder. Taking a trip to the historical English countryside in its pages, too, entertained me, and the characters make for fabulous hosts—in fact, while I have not yet read the previous books in series, I now have every intention of doing so in order to become better acquainted with these characters.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, definitely check out the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries.

★★★★

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dianne Freeman is a life-long book lover who left the world of corporate finance to pursue her passion for writing. After co-authoring the non-fiction book, Haunted Highway, The Spirits of Route 66, she realized her true love was fiction, historical mystery in particular. She also realized she didn’t like winter very much so now she and her husband pursue the endless summer by splitting their time between Michigan and Arizona. She’s been nominated for an Agatha and the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and won the 2019 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery.

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GIVEAWAY

During this blog tour, we are giving away a copy of A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder + a $10 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 21st. You must be 18 or older to enter.

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