I love this series, a perfect readalike for Charles Finch's Charles Lenox Mysteries. At times I feel like the atmosphere is more Victorian times than Regency, but it is not enough to remove me from enjoying the writing. I like the characters, and the mystery was challenging but not impossible.

Bonus: Atlas Catesby is a very attractive, likable hero. Highly Recommended.

This is an Awesome New Mystery Series! Or Detective! This is the second novel, and what a great twist, and turns it has! I love Atlas Catesby, whose father, was England's greatest poet, and gifted a Barony. As a younger son, he travels extensively, he has returned to England to visit friends, and his beautiful sister Thea. While home, Lady Rosalyn, whom he met under the most difficult situation of her life, in the first book. She needs his help, once again, her lady's maid's brother has died of arsenic poisoning, she wants the killer found. Who better to help, than Atlas, she trust him, knows that he is the one person, to catch such a dangerous killer, or will he be killed first! This is my number one book of 2018.
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee!👒

The second Atlas Catesby historical mystery begins when the woman he's been trying to forget asks him to solve the mystery of the death of her maid's brother. Atlas is very good at puzzles and is intrigued by this mystery. He is also the fourth son of a newly minted baron - aristocratic but on the lowest end of the scale. Lady Roslyn Sterling is the sister of a duke and way above him in wealth and the ranking of society. Atlas feels that he can not have any sort of relationship with her despite the fact the he loves her. She is not convinced and is determined to show them how well they would suit, in her subtle and ladylike way.

As Atlas investigates Gordon Davis he uncovers more and more people who would have wanted him dead. Davis was an attractive and charming man from the lower class who wanted to raise his social status by marrying up. He carried on affairs with and aristocratic lady and a wealthy businessman's daughter. While he was a footman, he also accompanied two young aristocratic ladies on their shopping expedition for "naughty" books which gave him blackmail material to use with their fathers. One of the fathers is the wealthy peer who is courting Lady Roslyn and who asks that Atlas back off to allow him to court her.

Davis was poisoned with arsenic which was a relatively common chemical of the day. It was used in industry including the dye factory where Davis worked after losing his position as a footman. It was also sometimes used medicinally for clearing complexions and to increase vigor. Atlas and is new valet Jamie need to check the poison books of the pharmacies near the suspects to find out who bought the arsenic and who poisoned Davis.

I enjoyed the setting of this story. I also enjoyed Atlas Catesby who is an honorable man and a great puzzle solver. I have hopes for the relationship of Lilliana and Atlas and look forward to more books in the series to see how it progresses.

I had so much fun with this book. This is a well written murder mystery set in regency London with compelling characters and a slowburning romance. That is a lot of my boxes ticked.

I found both Atlas Catesby and Lady Lilliana very likeable and I enjoyed all the other characters that appeared involved in the murder case. I also loved Lord Charlton and Atlas’ sister Thea and their interactions.

Although I have not yet read the first book Murder in Mayfair, after reading this one I fully intend to. Murder in Bloomsbury does work as a standalone, even if background information, such as the history between Catesby and Lilliana, is only hinted at. It only served to make me more curious to read the first book.

The resolution of the murder case may not have been surprising, but I thought it was very well done. The writing kept me interested at all times and I would love to read more by this author, who brought the time period alive so vividly.

If you like historical fiction and murder mysteries, do yourself a favour and pick this book up.

On a sidenote, I am not that fond of the front cover

#MurderinBloomsbury
13 February 18
#NetGalley

This is a cute little “mystery.” The reason for the cute and little is because this is not much of a mystery. Yes someone dies and somebody figures out who done it but besides that this is mostly a romance book with a little bit of mystery involved. It is not a bad book but I do believe it should have been marketed as a mystery because by those standards it leaves a lot to love desired. I normally never read romance books and from that standpoint it was quite a refreshing book. It kind of took you back to Downton Abbey with lords and ladies and then of course the downstairs staff. It was very well written and I enjoyed reading it though I would never buy/read something like this again. I received this book from #NetGalley for my unbiased review.

Thanks Crooked Lane Books and netgalley for this ARC.

D.M. Quincy does it again with this second novel. I love this series more with each book. This mystery series stays true to the time period, grows the characters more each time, and stays fresh and interesting.

3 Stars

Adventurer Atlas Catesby is, in his own words, barely a gentleman. The year before this story takes place he was involved in solving a murder and the lady he assisted then, Lady Lilliana, has once again requested his help. The brother of Lady Lilliana's maid has been poisoned and although the authorities have declared it to be an accidental death, the dead man's sister is convinced he was murdered. Atlas doesn't really want to get involved, but he's madly in love with Lady Lilliana and the chance to spend time with her again is too tempting.

The late Georgina/Regency period of British history is my favorite and this book is smack dab in the middle of it. The thwarted romance between Atlas and Lilliana adds interest to this mystery, which, to be honest, was easy to figure out well before the book was over. I've read dozens and dozens of Regency romances and historical fiction novels and this one stands out because the quality of the writing. The author knows how to construct a sentence and set a scene, making reading a pleasure. For me, the characters and writing are what keep me coming back to a mystery series and D.M. Quincy does a great job with both.

Atlas Catesby is busy planning his next adventure in hopes to escape to the far reaches of the globe to help him get Lady Lilliana Roslyn out of his mind and his heart. Before he can leave he is summoned to the home of the lady’s brother. Dreading a confrontation with the gentleman, he is surprised to discover it is Lilliana who wishes to speak to him. The brother of her beloved lady’s maid has died from arsenic poisoning and the maid believes he has been murdered. Thus, Atlas is pulled back into Lilliana’s company which delights him and worries him as they work together to get to the truth of the young man’s death.

One of the best perks of reading is the knowledge and tidbits you can discover from reading. Not just non-fiction but within the pages of a nice cozy mystery. In the second offering in this series, Quincy’s research into the common practices of arsenic usage is jaw dropping. I personally had no idea how much it was used in day to day practices. It was so interesting I found myself reading further about the poison.

Quincy surrounds his murder with the ins and outs of the titled and the very real dilemma Atlas faces as his feelings for Lilliana continue to grow though he is not of her social status and considered to be beneath her. This storyline is as pivotal to the plot as is the murder. Lilliana is a woman who thinks for herself. This series is highly enjoyable, and I eagerly await to see who Lilliana and Atlas chafe against in their next adventure.

I enjoyed the first book in the series and this one didn't disappoint. The characters are interesting and I like the historic London setting. Will Lady Lilliana and Atlas figure out what happened to her maid's brother? Will they ever get together? This is a very good mystery.

Murder in Bloomsbury
by D.M. Quincy (Goodreads Author)
108416
Nancy Cunningham's review Nov 05, 2017 · edit
really liked it
bookshelves: netgalley

Years ago I read dozens and dozens of Georgette Heyer's Regency romances and light mysteries; D.M. Quincy has combined the two forms to bring us a dashing hero and intelligent heroine in a Regency Mystery. (that is my characterization--there is no specific historical marker in the book that defines the period other than the clothing and lifestyle).

Prelude aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent in Quincy's very mannered society and the author has created two headstrong protagonists who are as bright as they are engaging. I don't know how quickly this author works, but this book definitely left me eager to encounter the characters in many more books---and many new adventures.

In addition to the strong characters, the book presents a really credible sense of place and the reader immediately starts to feel like they are moving through polite society in a very different time. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you net galley. I am enjoying the Catesby series. I think this one is better than the first. I like the way the characters are developing and their back stories. I read this at one go. Just could not put it down!

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Murder in Bloomsbury was a 4 1/4 star read for me. The second title in DM Quincy's Atlas Catesby series, it can be read as a stand alone, but since the first one is so good, go out and read it first so you can enjoy this one even more. This book takes place approximately nine months after the events of Murder in Mayfair; Atlas is recently back from a visit to Jamaica and finds himself summoned by Lady Lilliana, sister to the Duke of Somerville. Curious despite his attempts to forget her, Atlas obeys the summons and discovers Lilliana needs his help with determining what happened to her maid's brother. Although his death was ruled suicide by overdosing with Arsenic, his sister is sure he wouldn't have killed himself. Unable to refuse Lilliana's request, Atlas quickly discovers that the victim, Gordon Davis, was not as innocent as his sister believed and there is no shortage of suspects. Former lovers, fiances, outraged relatives, and jealous spouses all had reason to want David dead. The mystery in the book was well done with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until about 3/4 of the way through the book when I was able to put all the clues together. There are interesting developments in secondary stories featuring Atlas's friend the Earl of Charlton, his sister, and of course his relationship with Lilliana. Like many historical mysteries featuring a romance, developments between the main characters continue to develop from book to book and that holds true here; I can't wait to see what happens next with Atlas and Lilliana.