A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder

by Victoria Hamilton

Overview

"[An] outstanding series launch. ... Hamilton expertly balances the page-turning detection with the story of a hypocritical society where women, whether they are scullery maids or orphans, rarely get to make their own decisions."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Scandal and slayings among Regency London's elite

The shocking murder of Sir Henry Claybourne leaves Regency London shaken and horror-struck. But for genteel spinster Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, the crime slices far too close to home. Just hours before the knight's death she held a dagger to him, threatening him to stay silent as she rescued a scullery maid he had procured for his pleasure.

Did the man—or woman—who murdered the knight know of her visit? Her secret identity at risk, her reputation and life in jeopardy, Emmeline must solve the crime or face scandalous exposure and ruination, or worse—the hangman's noose—for a crime she did not commit.

"Hamilton's novel will appeal to fans of Anne Perry's Charlotte and Pitt mysteries."—Booklist

"A simply riveting and compulsive page-turner of a read from cover to cover. A deftly scripted mystery with more twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster."—Midwest Book Review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738758046
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	02/08/2019
Series:	A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder , #1
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Victoria Hamilton is the nationally bestselling author of the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, the Merry Muffin Mysteries, and the Teapot Collector Mysteries. In addition to her mysteries, she has written twenty regency romance novels as Amanda Cooper and Donna Lea Simpson.

 

Editorial Reviews

★ 12/10/2018

Set in Regency London, this outstanding series launch from Hamilton (the Vintage Kitchen mysteries) introduces Emmeline St. Germaine, an intelligent woman who craves independence and has no wish to marry. Outwardly she conforms to society’s expectations of a genteel spinster, but Emmeline, in disguise, plunges into action by carrying out rescues of young female servants who are being molested by their male employers. Her rescue of a maid from the Clerkenwell home of Sir Henry Claybourne goes badly wrong when, that same night, Sir Henry is murdered. As public outrage blames the as yet unknown Masked Avengeress, Emmeline is desperate to find the real killer. Her furtive investigation leads her to some memorable London scenes, such as a night at the opera and a “nut crack” party. Hamilton expertly balances the page-turning detection with the story of a hypocritical society where women, whether they are scullery maids or orphans, rarely get to make their own decisions. Readers will look forward to Emmeline’s further adventures. Agent: Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"[An] outstanding series launch. ... Hamilton expertly balances the page-turning detection with the story of a hypocritical society where women, whether they are scullery maids or orphans, rarely get to make their own decisions."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Hamilton's novel will appeal to fans of Anne Perry's Charlotte and Pitt mysteries."—Booklist

"A simply riveting and compulsive page-turner of a read from cover to cover. A deftly scripted mystery with more twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster."—Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

2018-11-13

An upper-class Regency lady with a finely honed sense of social responsibility must solve a murder or find herself accused.

Miss Emmeline St. Germaine lives in London at the pleasure of her brother, who keeps his town house open to her as long as she behaves. Little does he know that his sister, secretly known as the Avengeress, works with a like-minded group of friends to rescue children who are being sexually exploited by their employers and, under the sobriquet of the Rogue, writes a scandalous gossip column for radical newspaper The Prattler. Emmeline's latest escapade involves the rescue of a very young maid just as she's about to be raped by her employer, Sir Henry Claybourne. Unfortunately, after Emmeline escapes with the child, Sir Henry is murdered, the family silver stolen, and the unknown Avengeress blamed by the press. Emmeline, keenly aware of the danger she faces in such a male-dominated culture, reluctantly decides that only solving the murder can protect her identity. With the help of her maid, her coachman, her friends, and the owner of The Prattler, she digs into Sir Henry's background and learns more about how the unfortunate children are delivered into the hands of their rapists. Nor can she relax among the social circle of her uncle, wealthy jurist Sir Jacob Pauling, for it includes Dr. Giles Woodforde, who's known Emmeline since childhood and is in love with her even though she doesn't acknowledge his devotion or trust him with her dark secrets. Nevertheless, his medical knowledge proves helpful as she scours pitiful orphanages and elite drawing rooms in her search for the truth. Her shocking discoveries will change her life forever.

Hamilton, who writes everything from kitchen cozies (No Grater Danger, 2018, etc.) to Regency romances, combines aspects of both in a much grittier new series that explores the second-class status of women, which continues to this day.

Kirkus Reviews

Heather Wilds delivers an intense narration that never slows down. Emmeline St. Germaine, in the guise of the “Avengeress,” sneaks through nighttime London of 1810 to rescue a 13-year-old scullery maid from being raped at knifepoint by her master, Sir Henry Claybourne. The next morning Emmeline awakens to the news that Sir Henry has been murdered—with the Avengeress as the chief suspect. Wilds deftly navigates the unique voices and accents of people from many regions of England and stations in society as Emmeline questions those of all backgrounds in her search for the murderer and those behind an organized pedophile ring. The story is gripping, and with Wilds’s performance, the audiobook becomes all the more exciting. V.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2019 - AudioFile

Heather Wilds delivers an intense narration that never slows down. Emmeline St. Germaine, in the guise of the “Avengeress,” sneaks through nighttime London of 1810 to rescue a 13-year-old scullery maid from being raped at knifepoint by her master, Sir Henry Claybourne. The next morning Emmeline awakens to the news that Sir Henry has been murdered—with the Avengeress as the chief suspect. Wilds deftly navigates the unique voices and accents of people from many regions of England and stations in society as Emmeline questions those of all backgrounds in her search for the murderer and those behind an organized pedophile ring. The story is gripping, and with Wilds’s performance, the audiobook becomes all the more exciting. V.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2019 - AudioFile