A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery #3)

by Dianne Freeman

Overview

In Agatha and Lefty Award-winning author Dianne Freeman's third Countess of Harleigh Mystery set in Victorian England, the widowed, American-born aristocrat Frances Wynn 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' 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' 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781496716941
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	06/29/2021
Series:	Countess of Harleigh Series , #3
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	100,757
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. She is an Agatha Award and Lefty Award winner, as well as a nominee for the Macavity Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award and the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America. A member of Sisters in Crime and Historical Novel Society, she spent thirty years working in corporate accounting and finance and now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband now split their time between Michigan and Arizona. Visit her at DiFreeman.com.

Editorial Reviews

06/08/2020

In Agatha Award–winner Freeman’s uneven third mystery set in late Victorian England (after 2019’s A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder), George Hazelton, the secret fiancé of widowed Frances Wynn, the Countess of Harleigh, agrees to host a discreet wedding for Frances’s pregnant sister, Lily, at his family’s country estate, Risings, in an effort to avoid scandal. Trouble arises at Risings after a footman dies from what looks like accidental arsenic poisoning, a family friend is wounded by an arrow, and Lily’s fiancé, Leo Kendrick, takes a bullet in the shoulder. Guessing that Leo is the real target, Frances and George probe various suspects, including Leo’s brother-in-law, who resents not making partner in the Kendrick family business. Meanwhile, Frances copes with her combative social-climbing mother and a new fear: what if George too is also in danger? The introduction of a host of secondary characters slows the opening, and the footman’s is the only death. Once the investigation gets going, however, the action builds to a strong denouement. Hopefully, Freeman will return to form next time. Agent: Melissa Edwards, Stonesong Literary. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR
A LADY’S GUIDE TO GOSSIP AND MURDER
 
“Lovers of acrostics and word-puzzles will find much to enjoy in A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder and will undoubtedly look forward to Lady Frances’s next Lady’s Guide adventure.”
—Criminal Element
 
“A perfect summer read whether on the beach or poolside accompanied by a glass of frosty lemonade.”
—New York Journal of Books
 
“Engrossing . . . Freeman takes a witty look at Victorian polite society. Historical mystery fans will be delighted.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
“Includes some clever surprises.”
—Mystery Scene
 
“Diane Freeman handles class disparity with care and has created a world that readers will want to explore in more depth as the series continues.”
—BookPage
 
AND PRAISE FOR
A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER
 
“Dazzling. . . . Fans of witty, lighthearted Victorian mysteries will be enthralled.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
 
“This lighthearted debut tale of mystery, love, and a delightful sleuth will leave you wanting more—which is presumably just what Freeman had in mind.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“This debut is engaging to the end.”
—Booklist

From the Publisher