I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel as I hadn't read anything by this author. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, despite some minor misgivings in the first chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Netherleigh.

With a neurodivergent protagonist, a very atmospheric setting, and some peculiar occurrences, there is a lot here to hold a reader's interest. Jo Jones, the protagonist was an American who recently lost her mother - her last remaining family member. Now alone, she travels to England, to the family ancestral 'pile' to claim her inheritance. What she expected, and what she finds couldn't be more different. The manor is a virtual ruin as it had been abandoned for almost a century. Nature has encroached on the house via a gaping hole in the roof. The once stunning gardens were frightfully overgrown and had been left to unruly abandon. The contents of the house reeked of damp and mildew and to top all that off, there were thousands of pounds in back taxes owing... Jo with nowhere else to go, attempts to take possession of the accompanying cottage, only to find a dead body in her front room.

Enter the policeman, divorced, forty-five year old DCI MacAdams. I really took to his character and enjoyed the evolving mystery surrounding the murder case and the theft of a painting from the big house. The visiting policeman from York, DCI Fleet, was a stiff, formal fellow, that acted as foil to MacAdams' less stringent methods of policing.

The author's love of words and classic literature is evident throughout the novel. She pays homage to many classical novelists as well as mystery writers Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Despite some serious themes like corruption, extortion, and the like, there was a lot of subtle humour which I really enjoyed. "MacAdams had finally turned his eye on Green. He could tell by the pursed line of her mouth that the contents were under pressure."

In addition to the present day murder and theft, a cold case enters the mix with one of Jo Jones' relatives having gone missing a century before.

It is my belief that this novel will be enjoyed by many mystery lovers for various different reasons. I know I'll be eager to read another novel in this series, and I look forward to my next visit to Netherleigh.

Less a cozy (although there is a murder) than an interesting tale of a neurodivergent woman looking for information about her past. Jo was surprised to inherit the estate and even more surprised when she found out about the tax bill. A murder on the property brings DI McAdams, who is a treat. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This has potential for future installments.

Jo Jones has had a very fraught couple of years. Her much-older husband sold their publishing company out from under her for a pittance and then divorced her. Right as that was happening her mother died. On the Monday before this book starts, she finds out that she's inherited an estate in England from her mother and the book opens with her arriving there with her solicitor, Rupert Selkirk. It's just unfortunate that the next person she meets, Sid Randles, the caretaker of her livable cottage, is such an unpleasant jerk. He even leaves a lawn mower running and seems to be the obvious suspect when a painting goes missing from a previously locked room.
It is the painting that Jo focuses on during this story even though Sid turns up dead in her cottage. And it's very refreshing to see an amateur sleuth sort of staying in her own lane.
This was a really nice read about an autistic main character. The author didn't avoid the dread love (interest) triangle but I think this is going to be the start of a series with characters I really enjoy.

Four stars
This book comes out February 13, 2024
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Title: The Framed Women of Ardemore House
Author: Brandy Schillace
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5

Jo Jones has always had a little trouble fitting in. As a neurodivergent, hyperlexic book editor and divorced New Yorker transplanted into the English countryside, Jo doesn’t know what stands out more: her Americanisms or her autism.

After losing her job, her mother, and her marriage all in one year, she couldn’t be happier to take possession of a possibly haunted (and clearly unwanted) family estate in North Yorkshire. But when the body of the moody town groundskeeper turns up on her rug with three bullets in his back, Jo finds herself in potential danger—and she’s also a potential suspect. At the same time, a peculiar family portrait vanishes from a secret room in the manor, bearing a strange connection to both the dead body and Jo’s mysterious family history.

With the aid of a Welsh antiques dealer, the morose local detective, and the Irish innkeeper’s wife, Jo embarks on a mission to clear herself of blame and find the missing painting, unearthing a slew of secrets about the town—and herself—along the way. And she’ll have to do it all before the killer strikes again…

I liked Jo from the beginning. The author handled Jo’s differences very well and made them believable and relatable. I loved how she randomly decided to run away to Scotland for the day on an impulse—that made me a teensy bit jealous. I loved the secondary characters in this, especially the innkeeper’s wife. I ended up binge-reading this in a singe session.

Brandy Schillace is an author and historian. The Framed Women of Ardemore House is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Omg, I'm preparing this review and unexpectedly watching Schillace on the "Strange Experiments" episode of The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd (History Channel). How funny is that?

Much thanks to Brandy Schillace, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Kali Luckhee for inviting me to join the blog tour.

Possible spoilers

I liked this book, but the writing wasn't the best. It felt amateurish, lacking in finesse. It's hard to describe the vibe I got from it. The prose was.... straightforward, perhaps? Lacking a certain rhythm to carry the reader smoothly from one word to the next. Flow, I believe it's called. A line editor was badly needed.

I also felt the mystery was a little convoluted. Jo and her paintings were only connected in the most tangential way, which made her feel like a secondary character instead of a protagonist. Personally, I'd have focused on her story (aka her mysterious family history) in this first book, with intermittent problems with Sid, then he could have died in the second and this mystery could have been centered there.

Because I did not appreciate being left with questions regarding Jo, especially since there is no evidence of this book being first in a series, aside from those questions.

I was completely surprised to find that DCI MacAdams is a co-protagonist. He was only vaguely mentioned in the blurb. When I got over the shock of discovering this book would be at least 50% police procedural, which neither the cover nor the blurb so much as hinted at, I realized the book was suffering an identity crisis because of the problem I described above; Schillace was trying to tell two different stories, and the marketing dept had to pick one or the other: mysterious, atmospheric old manor hiding centuries of heartbreaking secrets..... or modern blackmail scheme.

Their decision was understandable.

I loved Jo as a character. She was likeable, she was sympathetic, she was relatable. (Her aversion to calling people---ME TOO! EXACTLY!) She got all the best lines---some solutions were shaped like hammers, the old dishes had murder on them, her one superpower, and my favorite, sweating down her ass crack. I loved her encyclopedic mind, I loved how she used words to focus and calm down, I loved how much she cared about a woman who died a hundred years ago. I loved Jo, which is why it chaps my ass that she wasn't treated like a true protagonist.

I liked Green and Rachel, I liked Gwilym, I liked Roberta, I liked Tula and Ben. The characters were awesome; Schillace definitely has talent in characterization.

I liked MacAdams, too, but he needed an arc. Also, he didn't seem like a very good detective. He's allowed to make mistakes, of course, but he made enough to come off as incompetent. There's making a character relatable, then there's making the reader lose faith in them. I, for one, seriously doubt MacAdams handled the case as well as he should have. It seemed to take forever for him to do basic sleuthing; it was obvious that Schillace was deliberately withholding breakthroughs in the case for the sake of pacing. Which isn't a bad thing, in fact it's necessary. What's bad is that it was so obvious, and led to me feeling frustration. E.g., Elsie felt important very early, simply because they couldn't get a hold of her. Then she made an entrance at the funeral. Yet it took them FOREVER to track her down and have a proper conversation.

And come to think of it, he never did interview Ricky.

This matter I saved for last because many would consider it irrelevant, but it bothered me so much I can't not mention it. I hope the galley I received was a pretty early version of the script, because holy crap, it was a mess. Typos everywhere, multiple names weren't spelled consistently, I think the timeline was wrong at least twice, and the mix of American vs. UK terms (e.g., "dollars" on one page, "pounds" on the next) made my brain itch. Galleys are supposed to be unpolished, but usually it's a matter of a few typos and weird spacing. This felt like reading a script rough enough that changes to the story could still be made. Please god let the published version be much better.

Overall, I liked this book, but it was not well executed. Great characters, even if the protags were shorted one way or another, and the plot involving the Ardemores is super intriguing---if only it would have been the focus.

This was an intelligent read — I was attracted to this book as not many books have main characters that are neurodivergent (specifically on the autism spectrum) — I could really relate to this character and her feelings and behaviors. This is probably the first time I’ve read a book where I saw a main character that resembled myself to an extreme extent .
American divorcee Jo Jones — comes to England when she unexpectedly inherits property. The estate is in disrepair and she has to deal with many issues including workers — she discovers an old mysterious painting which opens up a old mystery —when it goes missing she fires the worker she believes stole the painting — who later turns up dead and the plot thickens . These two mysteries are investigated by Jo and Detective MacAdams at the same time but separately .

Jo being neurodivergent brought more complexity to the character and help me be more invested in the character — the writing was really good and cozy , intellectual, fast paced read - the ending of the story wasn’t as satisfying as I was hoping but it was open enough that there might be a series with these characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin trade publishing / Hanover square press for this ARC . This is my honest review .

An American woman moves to England after her mother dies and she inherits a run down estate. Jo has nothing to lose by moving to England, her mother is gone, and her marriage ended she is planning on starting over in the estate that she inherited from her mother. The estate however is falling down, the gardens over grown, a hole in the roof that has ruined priceless books and a strange painting found stashed in a upper room that goes missing in the first few hours she is there. The woman in the painting is unknown and looks sad. Jo first wants to find out who took the painting but later starts to focus on who is in the painting and what happened to her. Mixed in with this mystery is the mystery of the dead body Jo literally stumbles on in the cottage she intends to occupy on the property while she fixes up the estate.

Lots of great characters, not a fast paced book but there are a lot of moving pieces. I love that the main character is neurodivergent and on the autism spectrum leaving her interactions with people refreshing and awkward. Her observations are also fascinating and more astute than if she didn't think differently. Although she doesn't think she fits in she makes an impression on several of the locals and quickly finds herself with friends who are willing to stand with her.

The ending makes me think this may be the first of a series or at the very least a duology which I would welcome. I could definitely revisit these characters again.

Thanks to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I don't know what drew me to read this more, the neurodivergent main character, a murder mystery, or it taking place in England. This was as fun read, and my first intentional one with a neurodivergent main. This was a refreshing read, because I was worried that the author would be very trope-heavy with the autistic stuff, but NOT the case. I really enjoyed this, and wouldn't mind a series with this character!

This was a fun, quick read (perhaps quick because I couldn’t put it down). I really connected with Jo, the main character, and a current murder mystery aligning with a historical mystery kept me on my toes. I appreciated that some questions were left unanswered, and it gives me hope for a sequel/series.

This book is a great fit for fans of The Maid! Similar protagonist style that a lot already love in that series, will find a familiar style here. I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure I would pick it up again to re-read or continue reading this series. While it kept me hooked until the end, the protagonist did get a little on my nerves and I'm not sure I would voluntarily stick in this world.

Cozy-ish Mystery told in dual POV and set in England in which an autistic American editor and a DCI investigate three cases, a theft, a murder and a cold case, that seem connected.

5/5 stars: This is the first entry in Schillace's Netherleigh Mystery series which is a Cozy-ish Mystery told in dual POV, takes place in England and features an American neurodivergent, hyperlexic book editor who inherits a crumbling estate and a local detective. With plenty of twists and turns, Schillace has crafted not one but three crimes (a theft, a new murder and a cold case) and deftly weaves them together into a mystery that balances the suspects, clues and red herrings perfectly and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Schillace's characters are complex and yet incredibly likable. Jo's constantly having to navigate not only dealing with people but the world in general. I appreciate Schillace's portrayal of Jo's autism with such sensitivity. MacAdams is very much a flat foot of old but oh so very human. I can't wait to see where Schillace takes these characters! This book touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. I really loved this book and can't wait to read more sleuthing adventures featuring Jo and MacAdams. A MUST read!


I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

The Framed Women of Ardemore House is a charming cozy mystery mixed with police procedural. It follows Jo Jones, a recently divorced neurodivergent American who inherited a dilapidated English Manor. However, Jo’s move to Yorkshire does not go as planned when the body of the caretaker is found in her cottage. As well, a family portrait of a mysterious woman goes missing from the manor, and Jo is determined to find out where it went and the identity of the woman. As she navigates her new life and investigates this mystery she unearths town secrets and lies while facing danger.

What I liked:
-realistic representation of autism and neurodiversity, I also liked Jo’s hyperlexia
-the North Yorkshire countryside with the dilapidated manor and small town
-the red herrings and twists
-the historical mystery of the painting
-well developed cast of characters, I particularly like Tula’s developing friendship with Jo

What I didn’t like:
-the pacing at times was a little slow but picked up as the story unfolded

My rating 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing Hanover Square Press for this eARC that will be published February 13 2024.

A cozy, comforting, and fun mystery. The setting (a British manor) is classic and perfect for fans of British mysteries, the characters feel unique and well-developed, and the plot moves along nicely.

Thank you to the publisher for this eARC! This was a cute cozy mystery and I enjoyed the plot. However, it felt a bit disjointed at times and there were pacing issues. I also had issues feeling connected with the characters. I think if this had some of those issues worked out this would be a great cozy mystery. I think I will probably continue the series (if it does turn into a series).

This is two intertwined mysteries: one in the past that Jo Jones, the autistic woman, works on and a second in the current that MacAdams, the detective, works on. While the cover blurb makes it sound like it's all about Jo, it's actually about 50/50 between the two characters. In addition, it was good to have people on the spectrum represented; Schillace does a masterful job portraying life as an autistic person.

I have to admit that the beginning of this book lags and is a bit of a slog, but eventually it picks up speed and becomes much easier to read. Like many mystery stories, there is an overarching mystery that will presumably be solved in future books. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

One mystery or two? Are the murder of the caretaker and the disappearance of a framed painting of an ancestor related? The Framed Women of Ardemore House is an enjoyable and entertaining mystery by Brandy Schillace. Jo Jones, a recently divorced neurotypical American woman, inherits a decrepit mansion in England from distant family members that she has never seen and knew nothing about. Things take a turn when a framed picture is stolen and the caretaker turns up dead a few days after she arrives.

Lots of interesting characters who are well developed, resulting in complex twists and turns. I really like the way that Jo, who is autistic, is not portrayed in a stereotypical manner. When she gets stressed, she tends to recite words that start with the same letter. She also has some other mannerisms that she uses to calm herself down. But they are written into the story line in a very natural way and just become part of who she is. Detective Chief Inspector MacAdams recognizes that Jo is a little different, but never lets it influence how he deals with her in trying to solve the mysteries. I found the book very absorbing and couldn’t wait to find out who the culprit was and how all the characters fit together. It seems like the ending was left open, so hopefully there will be a sequel featuring Jo and DCI MacAdams.

Thank you to the Brandy Shillace, her publisher, and NetGalley for providing me the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I thought the book was well written and the plot clever. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

The Framed Women of Ardmore House is the first Brandy Schillace book that I have read. I might as well be honest right up front, I loved this novel and am thrilled that this is the first novel in a new Netherleigh mystery series. The heroine, Jo, is autistic, intuitive, clever, and incredibly interesting. She loves gothic novels and the same kind of literary fiction that I also love. Every book that Jo mentions is a book that I have read. But it is not just the heroine's love of gothic fiction that sells The Framed Women of Ardmore House. The writing is smart and enjoyable. and holds the readers' attention.

The Title of The Framed Women of Ardmore House holds two meanings, which I will leave to the reader to unpack. The characters are enjoyable and innovative and fun. The plotting is complex, with multiple layers. The solutions to the mysteries are filled with red herrings and lots of misdirection. There are so many threads connecting the various aspects of plot and character that readers need to pay attention. No way will I provide spoilers. The Framed Women of Ardmore House is too good to spoil.

A big thank you to Schillace, her publisher, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review. The Framed Women of Ardmore House is fun and clever and smart.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cozy Mystery
Sub-Genre: Slow burn romance, American in England
Language: Medium (swearing peppered through the text, though one character doesn't allow certain words)
Representation: Neurodiversity, Secondary gay character

I enjoyed Jo Jones—she's on the spectrum and sees things in a different light. The way she identifies with words and how she shuts down with too much stimulation all tracks well with a neurodiverse person. These characteristics made it so she had both advantages and disadvantages in dealing with finding a murdered person in her newly inherited home, being accused of murder, and the ongoing investigation. I also loved how she saw people as characters.

The other characters are also interesting. A cop who feels burdened and possibly burned out. A go-getter, straightlaced former RAF turned cop. A grumpy, particular museum curator. A welcoming pub owner. A Welsh historian with a man bun. And all the former wives of the deceased.

I felt like the clues were a little thin to understand the motive for the culprit—but it all comes together at the end. However, the second mystery of the painting came together for me fairly easily. There are definite red herrings. If I was being super picky, I'd drop 1/2 a star for the slightly complex scheme that could have been clarified a titch.

This book was so enjoyable. I'd definitely read another mystery by this author.

Happy reading!

Definitely heavier on the police/investigative side than I would have thought reading the synopsis, but still an enjoyable read.

I liked Jo and was charmed by her, and loved Tula and her steadfast support. I grew to love MacAdams as well, and his partner Green. If anything, I thought there should be even more of Jo!

It did take me a bit to get into this book, but once I was hooked I really enjoyed it and had to know what was happening. There were two converging mysteries, but so many side-plots and branching details. While some of the reveals fell flat, there were so many other details embedded throughout that it still made it interesting. The author did a great job of tying everything together at the end, and ultimately I was impressed by the intricacy.

🗝️ neurodivergent rep
🗝️ crime/investigation
🗝️ whodunnit
🗝️ cozy mystery
🗝️ family drama
🗝️ literary references

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Hanover Square Press, with NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Solid 4/5 for this story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Let me start off by saying that the title of this book is a bit misleading in my opinion (I'm having my own Jo Jones moment here!). The primary plot line of the book is solving a murder at it's core, but you do realize it ultimately does deeper than that. The protagonist becomes hyperfixated on discovering the origins of a single framed woman in the Ardemore House. While she does use information gleaned from the other portraits, the focus is always on the single mystery women in the portrait.

Cozy mysteries are not the types of book I normally reach for, but I am really glad I picked up this one. I mostly did so because it featured a neurodivergent protagonist (and even some neurodivergent side characters), but it was a really nice and "cozy" read. The mystery kept me guessing throughout the story and I really loved learning more about all the side characters.

As a neurodivergent person myself, I really identified with Jo and her experiences and I adore how Schillace wrote her experiences. At this point in her life, Jo is tired of masking and wants to just be her authentic self and that really shines here.