At the time I wrote this (in March), there was no cover art available for the book, so the formatting for Katharine Schellman’s A Scandal in Mayfair may be a little off. The London season is just beginning in the fifth in the Lily Adler mystery series, set in Regency England.
Lily Adler is a well-to-do young widow who currently has Amelia Hartley under her wing. That doesn’t make it easy to hide her correspondence from her charge. When Lily receives a note addressed to “A Lady of Quality”, a young woman expresses concern that her uncle and guardian might be stealing her inheritance from her. There’s something off about the letter, so Lily challenges the writer, asking her to meet in a public park. Lily is right to worry. Although the young woman is upset about her circumstances, and wants help, the man who accompanies her knows Lily and her history, and threatens to blackmail Lily and her friends if Lily doesn’t assist them. They want Lily to search the uncle’s house for a possible missing will.
Now that Amelia is staying with her, retired Navy Captain Jack Hartley has a reason to visit frequently, checking on his sister. But, he and Lily are both aware of their growing attraction. When Lily tells Jack about her plans to attend a ball, and search for the will, he’s willing to accompany her. During a ball, it’s a little easier for the couple to disappear than for one woman, although Lily and Jack soon find themselves under suspicion.
The next day, Lily is called back to the same house to meet with Bow Street investigator Simon Page. It seems her client’s uncle was murdered during the night, and a suspect found in the closet. That suspect begs Page to send for Lily Adler.
Katharine Schellman throws a number of red herrings in her readers’ path, but she also manages to throw us a few bones as well. It’s time Jack and Lily admitted their feelings for each other, and she handles it well. Lily is as straightforward as readers would expect with her character. And, the mysteries always benefit from the appearance of Lily’s diverse collection of friends. This time, though, she’s forced to acknowledge that her actions could disgrace her friends, not just her.
Schellman is also the author of the Nightingale mysteries. I hope she continues to find time and energy for the yearly Lily Adler ones.
Katharine Schellman’s website is http://www.katharineschellman.com
A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman. Crooked Lane Books, 2024. ISBN 9781639108411 (hardcover), 320p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley through NetGalley in order to review the book for a journal.
