Amazing new historical mystery series! Lady Helena is a sudden widow when her "older" husband dies in a tragic accident. - or was it? Her large family wants to manage her life as the baby of the family, but she wants more independence. With a overbearing brother, a mother with dementia, too many sisters to count, and a French doctor, there are plenty of characters to keep this series going for a while.

The mystery gets solved 2/3 of the way though the book...and then I wondered what was going to happen for the rest of those pages. Good news - there is bonus mystery and complications galore that promise the next book should be one to look forward to!

Historical fiction seems to be my preferred genre this year and Lady Helena Investigates certainly continued that trend.

A very nice costume drama on the page. Too much of everyday detail, not much investigation. 

The first installment feels just like that - one part of a larger picture. The nartration is interesting but un-hurried There is plenty of time for all sorts of detail and flashbacks. 

A story of young aristocratic widow who was widowed in time for ne law to come in action - not to lose her inheritance to any husband-to-be. Lady Helena is free, young and wealthy. She needs to learn how to manage it all including her vast estate and numerous and nosy relatives.

What is there to investigate? As it turns out, a lot. English country estates ith their green hills and herds of sheep hide nasty surprises and secrets around every turn and corner. In this story, Lady Helena simply stirs the murky waters. She stumbles on secrets by accident and uncovers crime and guilty parties through her kindnes and her lady-like and not so lady-like activities, rather than sleuthing.

Everything gets wrapped up with a bow or under the carpet (as it is supposed to with English aristocracy) in the end. 

Would I read on? A very slight chance. This book is more period drama than crime novel. It is a bit much and does little to satisfy crime lover's thirst for order and process and suspense.

I do enjoy historical mysteries and this was an engaging story and introduction to Lady Helena.

The story felt to struggle to me at times to decide on what period it was set in, the language and behaviours sometimes felt very modern.

It was good to see the lead character grow and develop through the book - I got the feeling that maybe her late husband was more of a father figure than a husband. It also rather grated on my nerves Helena being called “Baby” by her family - as a pet name as a child maybe this is ok, but as a grown adult?

I look forward to reading more about Lady Helena.

Thank you Aspidistra Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this book. This is my unpaid, unbiased reviewed.

A new mystery series that I will pick up again. The only problem I had with the book it reminded me of Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn.

Great read, looking forward too this series.Characters are well defined and story is engaging. Need to know what is next!

I am a sucker for a good historical mystery series and I think I have found another one although only the first book has been written yet.

Lady Helena Investigates takes place in Regency England and the author handles the attitudes and the way of life at that time really well. The Lady Helena of the title is young and recently widowed and much of the story deals with how she struggles to remain independent from her big and busy family.

The mystery is the death of her husband and she is ably assisted in the search for his murderer by a charming French doctor who may not be all he seems. It will be interesting to see where their relationship leads and what crimes they will set out to solve in the future

4.5 ⭐️
Loved this beginning of a seven book series featuring a young, widowed aristocrat in 1881 Sussex. Lady Helena, who has been sheltered her entire life, begins to stand on her own and up for herself within her family of 6 siblings. As she navigates widowhood, she must confront the possibility of her husband’s murder as well as uncovering startling buried family secrets. A bit long, but well-written mystery with a teaser of romance. Will definitely read more from this author!

Ms. Steen writes under her own publishing imprint, and in viewing her website, obviously writes from a great love for and interest in historical fiction....it definitely shows.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #AspidistraPress for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

Unfortunately Lady Helena Investigates fell quite short for me, I'm a huge fan of historical novels especially when they include a dash of mystery and romance. However, I did not feel that this brought anything new to the table for this genre despite an intriguing blurb and premise. I do see where the appeal lies and people new to the genre would really enjoy this book, hence, I would still recommend it to others if it sounds like something they would enjoy reading, but unfortunately for me, the whole idea just dragged on and I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped I would.

Sussex, 1881. Lady Helena Whitcombe’s world is about to be turned on its head. Following the tragic death of her husband, Lady Helena must contend with her condescending older sisters and her controlling little brother who is eager to assert his role as “Head of the family.” If this wasn't enough, she must also face the doubts raised by the mysterious Frenchman, Dr. Fortier. Was her husband's death an accident or was it murder? Over the course of her year of mourning, Lady Helena must find her place in her family and in society. Along the way she will discover life isn't always what it appears.

I found Lady Helena Investigates to be an engaging novel, though the mystery fell a bit flat for me. As the first book in a series, much time is necessarily spent introducing the cast of characters who are each unique and well written. The mystery plays itself out in the background allowing the interpersonal family dynamics, vital to the story itself, to really shine. As a younger sibling myself, I can relate to Lady Helena’s difficulties with her sisters. I especially enjoyed the interactions between Lady Helena and Dr. Fortier and I look forward to seeing their relationship grow in future books.

I only have a couple of complaints. I enjoy novels from this time period and while at times this felt like it could have been written in the late 1800s, there were several references to modern issues and attitudes which served as a constant reminder that this is a modern book. That being said, however, the descriptions of health issues we are now familiar with are done in a very time period appropriate manner. My other complaint is the motive, once revealed, felt unexplained leaving me still somewhat confused as to why what happened, happened.

All in all, I enjoyed Lady Helena Investigates and I look forward to future Scott de'Quincy mysteries.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader copy.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction mystery. Lady Helena finds herself a young, but wealthy widow struggling to prove to those around her, particularly her brother and older sisters, that she is capable of being independent and does not need to be married off again posthaste.
Through contact with the very handsome, but mysterious French physician Armand Fortier questions are raised as to whether her husbands sudden death was accidental or perhaps something more sinister. Helena finds her self discovering some ugly facts about her tenants and own family. Is the Frenchman to be believed? Is he attracted to her wealth or just a Frenchmen intent on seducing young women?
This book is a lovely exploration of a time when women were considered commodities and a lady of the aristocracy not to be exposed to vulgarities. It is Downtown Abbey meets Nancy Drew, as the lovely yet very naive Helena starts to become more worldly and wise to the needs of others. As well as finding a voice to stand up to her own family and take control of her life.
I am really looking forward to reading more in this series.
Thank you to Aspidistra Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Really enjoyed this book. A great story and interesting characters. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Steen's works

I am a big lover of Historical Mysteries and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I love the main character and how she solved her husband's death and how she interacted with her family. Hope this book will be published in Audiobook form soon.

This was a promising historical mystery. The writing was well-written and engaging. The characters were very complex. This did not mean that the novel did not have its flaws. It was a very long novel with some scenes that slowed the pacing. The novel was mostly focused on the romance than the mystery. Still, it was a fun read! It has potential to be a great series! I highly recommend it to fans of Deanna Raybourne, Victoria Thompson, and Tessa Arlen.

Lady Helena Investigates – what, exactly? Firstly, I’d like to make it clear that I enjoyed this book, but I would classify it as a romance, not a mystery. A perfectly pleasant romance, but I felt short-changed on the mystery aspect.

Lady Helena lost her husband a few days before the opening scene. The passages that touch upon grieving are sensitive and well-written. However, a local doctor casts doubt upon whether Justin’s death was an accident. I don’t feel that Helena “investigates” this – or her father’s death many years earlier – so much as has facts pushed to her notice.

I was also confused by the style. The language and behaviour seem to suggest the setting is the Regency period. However, there are then references to Queen Victoria’s withdrawal after the death of Prince Albert. It becomes apparent in the closing chapter that the novel is set in 1870 when it refers to the passing of the Married Women’s Property Act a few days earlier. This is significant because it means that Lady Helena will retain ownership of her land, income and investments if she should marry again. (And will thus discourage potential fortune-hunters.) I guess it was my ignorance rather than any action by the part of the author that led me to think it was set earlier than it was. Upon reflection, it has made me realise that outmoded laws constraining women were still in force far later than I realised – which was probably what the author intended. Top marks to Jane Steen for that.

Also top marks (and a few more!) for having a peer of the realm who cannot read or write (but is intelligent) and is possibly just on the autistic spectrum as well as dyslexic. I thought that was a very unusual and thoughtful touch. That lack of facility with the written word is emphatically not shown as a handicap at all – it’s just a fact that is mentioned.

I will look out for Book 2 of the series. I accept that Book 1 has to perform an amount of scene-setting and it provides the back-story for characters as the series progresses. However, I probably wouldn’t spend as much on it as the publishers would like. Based upon Book 1, I’d try Book 2 as a 99p Kindle offer or look for a second-hand paper copy in a charity (thrift) shop. If Book 2 has more real investigating then I will continue to buy the rest of the series. If not, my comment about 99p / second-hand copies will persist for the rest of the series.

Lady Helena Whitcombe finds herself investigating her family after the death of her beloved husband. She has her brother trying to control her life. Dr. Fortier has told her he thinks Justin was murdered but everyone else thinks it was an accident. Who to believe? She has the journals her mother kept over the years and learns many things she never knew about her family. Lady Helena would like a nice quiet life in her home with family in and out to visit. Can she find out what really happened to Justin? Can her attraction to Dr. Fortier go anywhere or will she just ignore it?

I enjoyed this introductory book to the forthcoming Lady Helena series. The characters were entertaining and I look forward to following them in future installments.
Lady Helena is newly widowed and surrounded by a multitude of older siblings (it's a bit difficult to keep track of them all at first), who all have advice for her. I liked that although she somewhat resents their influence at times, she mostly maintains warm family ties with them and communicates with them in a way that increases their respect for her. The story is at its best when it is focusing on her interactions with her family...and with Dr. Fortier.
Who is Dr. Fortier? A French physician with a certain air of mystery, rather disliked by the town, but intent on winning Lady Helena's trust. He comes to tell her of his suspicions about her late husband's death, and the two of them continue to cross paths throughout the novel.
Although Lady Helena is somewhat forward-thinking, she is not overly anachronistic or modern in her attitudes. Her personality hit the right balance for me, as being appropriate to a historical setting with modern readers.
The mystery and the scandal in the book felt very undeveloped to me. As they were revealed, I continued to find myself very puzzled by motive. I also could have done without the sordid aspect of the scandal. It got rather icky but, again, the motive for the actions didn't seem fully explained.
I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lady Helena is the youngest daughter of a large family. Her sisters are all much older than her and still call her 'baby'. So when her loving husband unexpectedly dies, Lady Helena is not overly surprised that most of her family think they can once again tell her how to live her life. Soon after the inquest, her husband's doctor informs her that the death may not have been an accident. These facts set the stage for the next several months of Lady Helena's life as she struggles with her grief and the interfering of her family, while slowly confronting the secrets of those around her.

The writing and character development of this book is really well done. The author did a good job making even the large family of Lady Helena feel like distinct individuals with varying personalities and views. The language and attitudes in the book never felt anachronistic to me. At the same time the author didn't make the mistake of trying too hard to make her book sound 'Victorian'.

What kept it from passing three stars for me was the mystery itself. The resolution was somewhat of a letdown after what seemed like a breadcrumb trail hinting at possible connections and motives. Despite that, I would definitely read another installment in the series as soon as it was available.

This is a historical mystery I loved, but the most fascinating part of the story was the family relationships and the very slow-burn romance.

Its not the usual sort of book that I read, I thought there'd be more mystery and sleuthing but I'd class it more as historical fiction than a mystery.

Lady Helena's husband has died in unusual circumstances but only the French doctor Armand believes that he was murdered. There's a possible romance between the two of them but he appears to be a man of many secrets.

There is family drama, secrets, an unmarried pregnant servant and the mystery of her husbands death. Lady Helena does solve the riddle of her husbands death but more by accident than design.

Its an easy read for fans of historical fiction.