Review – A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder

From the publisher of A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder

Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, returns in Dianne Freeman’s charming, lighthearted mystery series set in Victorian England, and finds her wedding day overshadowed by murder . . .

On the eve of her marriage to George Hazelton, Frances has a great deal more on her mind than flowers and seating arrangements. The Connors and the Bainbridges, two families of American robber barons, have taken up residence in London, and their bitter rivalry is spilling over into the highest social circles. At the request of her brother, Alonzo, who is quite taken with Miss Madeline Connor, Frances has invited the Connor family to her wedding. Meanwhile, Frances’s mother has invited Mr. Bainbridge, and Frances fears the wedding may end up being newspaper-worthy for all the wrong reasons.

On the day itself, Frances is relieved to note that Madeline’s father is not among the guests assembled at the church. The reason for his absence, however, turns out to be most unfortunate: Mr. Connor is found murdered in his home. More shocking still, Alonzo is caught at the scene, holding the murder weapon.

Powerful and ruthless, Connor appears to have amassed a wealth of enemies alongside his fortune. Frances and George agree to put their wedding trip on hold to try and clear Alonzo’s name. But there are secrets to sift through, not just in the Bainbridge and Connor families, but also in their own. And with a killer determined to evade discovery at any cost—even if it means taking another life—Frances’s first days as a newlywed will be perilous indeed . . .

My review

Where to begin? I loved this delightful historical cozy. The protagonist, Lady Harleigh, is the perfect blend of insight and innocence. She’s wise to the world because of circumstances beyond her control, yet maintains a self-deprecating attitude that makes following her adventure a treat. 

If I might slip into writer-geek mode for a moment, from setting to character dynamics, the ofttimes formal writing to the patterns of speech, everything just clicked. A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder felt thoughtfully planned and executed. I’m definitely a new fan of this series.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

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