While I enjoyed Manda Collins’ A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, what she refers to as a combination of historical suspense and romance, I have to agree with Anne, a reader who commented earlier. I’m not going to blame the author, but someone at the publishing house seems to have been disingenuous. The title and cover art does resemble Dianne Freeman’s Countess of Harleigh mysteries. The first in Freeman’s series, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, was published two years before this one.
Saying that, the characters and plot are totally different, although both female leads are widows. Lady Katherine Bascomb is the owner of The London Gazette. In 1865, a killer referred to as the Commandments Killer is frightening London. The killer has murdered two men and two women, leaving notes about the commandments on the bodies. When Lady Katherine meets and befriends Caroline Hardcastle, an author, they join forces to write a column, “A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem”. Their first column contains their interview with a witness never interviewed by Scotland Yard.
Thanks to that column, Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham is taken off the case. He’s furious. The Home Secretary applied pressure on his boss, and a man was arrested, but Eversham believes the man is innocent. In an encounter at the press conference, when Eversham runs into Lady Katherine, he lets her know he blames her for his demotion and the false arrest.
Lady Katherine never thought about the consequences of those actions, and she heads to the lake country to visit an old friend, Lord Valentine Thorn, hoping he can pressure Scotland Yard to continue the investigation. Even there, though, she can’t escape. She’s the one who finds a man’s body, one that appears to be the latest victim of the Commandment Killer. And, Eversham is sent to investigate, not knowing who discovered the victim.
Even though Eversham resents Lady Katherine’s interference, he prizes the truth, and he’s determined to find the killer. She’s determined to investigate as well. Sparks fly, but, as in so many romances, sparks lead to more between the two characters. Despite the sexual attraction and romance, the major emphasis in this story is still on the mystery itself. The last third of the book is surprising, and the resolution is a little weak, but it’s still enjoyable.
I did like both Lady Katherine and Eversham. I appreciated her opinions about women, their status at the time, and their roles. Eversham is an honest, committed police detective who learns to value Lady Katherine’s opinion. And, Caroline Hardcastle adds humor and wit to the story.
There will be another book in this series, but Eversham and Lady Katherine will not be the lead characters. Lord Valentine Thorn and Caroline will be featured in the next historical mystery/romance. Collins’ first in the series was enjoyable, and I’ll pick up the next one, due for release in the fall. Now, “enquiring minds want to know”…. I wonder if Collins’ publisher did her a favor or not with that cover art and title.
Manda Collins’ website is https://www.mandacollins.com/
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins. Forever, 2020. ISBN 9781538736135 (paperback), 338p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
Yes, the title and cover are very confusing. I almost didn’t even read your review because I thought it was for a book I had already read.
I think you’ll like it, Christie. And, IcewineAnne is the one who caught it. I just did a little digging to find out when Freeman’s first book came out. I can see why you almost skipped it. And, since it was a library book, it did come out last year. I just now got around to it. (Every time I write “around to it”, I think of those rubber openers Mom had that said, “A round tuit” on them.)
I too thought it was one I have read…maybe I will try it.
You should, Gram. I think you’ll like this one.
The only reason I can think of that the author and publisher agreed to a title so close to Dianne Freeman’s A Lady’s Guide to MIschief and Mayhem is that they are hoping readers will think it’s part of that series. Dirty pool (as we say in our family)!
If it came out the same year, Margie, I’d think it was an accident. This doesn’t feel like it was an accident. I agree with you.