First, I want to thank Swoon and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

This book is set in Welford Mills, 1833.

It's starts off with Walter Ellerby and young Henry Thompson acting like young boys as they ran a carriage off the road. In the carriage, a young woman by the name of "Beth" hits her head and suffers from complete amnesia. Lord James Ellerby scolds his younger brother Walter and Henry for acting so juvenile. James calls Dr. Brant to attend to the young woman, "Beth." Carolyn Ellerby, the older sister, helps James attend to "Beth's" needs.

During the night, "Beth" screams and has horrific nightmares about a hummingbird with blood on its beak. A maid is killed and there are several attempts on "Beth's" life. James whisks "Beth" away during the night to London to keep the assassins from killing "Beth," and to help restore her memory.

The nightmares increase and with the help of Dr. Fotherby, some of her memories return. But unfortunately, something happens to Dr. Fotherby. Once again, "Beth" is kidnapped along with Carolyn Ellerby. I'm not going to say who Beth really is, but Beth isn't her name.

To me, there are a lot of technical issues. This is why I'm not a fan of third person, omniscient. It jumps from character to character so if you don't like head-hopping, this novel isn't for you.

"Bobbed a curtsy" continued throughout the novel. It started to annoy me. Lots of adverbs used, redundancy, and the word "very." I also received a constant reminder of "his father's estate" pertaining to James.

In Chapter 15, I don't know if it's a character issue or a missed word, but it goes like this...
"Some that think I can," the cooper added with bouncing eyebrows. Shouldn't it be, "Some think I can," the cooper added. No need for bouncing eyebrows.

Overall, would I recommend it?
Only if you don't mind repetition, confusing sentences, confusing scenes, head-hopping, and telling instead of showing. Another problem I noticed is the book contains ninety percent narrative and little dialogue or action between characters.

An entertaining read with a nice plot that became better and better as the book went on, though the beginning was a little slow.

The only standout character, however, was the younger brother, Walter. The rest of the main characters were just average and bland. They didn’t have any unique characteristics or mannerisms, leaving an underdeveloped feeling to them. Any quirks of speech or appearance all went to the secondary characters.

The mysteries were compelling, though, and kept me reading and interested. Overall, it was a quick and fun diversion that I enjoyed.

When I saw this book described as Regency literature for YA with mystery, mistaken identity, and an MC in grave danger who has lost her memory, I was all in.

The new Lord James Ellerby is stunned to witness his young brother Walter racing carelessly into the path of an oncoming carriage near Hardwick Manor.  The carriage accident leaves a young woman injured.

Lord Ellerby finds the situation curious and instead of leaving the lady to continue on her journey, he brings her to his manor to be seen by the local physician.

Upon waking, the woman finds she has no memory of who she is or why she was traveling by carriage.  She suffers the same terrifying nightmare each night, about a dagger shaped like a hummingbird dripping in blood.

Lord Ellerby's sister Caroline believes the unidentified woman to be a lady and that her family will soon come to find her.

"'Her people will inquire after her, James.' Caroline said, as if reading his mind. 'I think we will be surprised by her circumstances. Her voice and manner seem educated. She might even be a gentleman's daughter.' 
No bonnet or gloves, a torn gown and filthy hands,  traveling alone. This did not sound like any lady James knew.  Still, he did find her direct gaze intriguing; it was almost a challenge. Yes, there something about her, something...interesting." *

While waiting for her memories to return, the Ellerby family calls the young lady Beth and she becomes Caroline's companion for the time being.

Beth's identity becomes more confusing when a man arrives in town claiming that he is her brother.  It is thanks to the kindness and protection of the Ellerbys that she isn't sent away with the man, who quickly disappears.

"Beth was almost certain that her past was painful---the circumstances of her arrival shouted of danger, disaster, and ruin. Her nightmares reinforced that foreboding. Yes, something had happened. Were her injuries all a result of the carriage accident or something else?" *

With the death of a young maid in the manor, a failed attempt to grab Beth and Caroline on horseback, and eventually an attempt on her life, Beth realizes the intent is not to recapture her but to kill her.

"A proper lady was not hounded; a sensible woman did not travel alone. She might regain her memories and wish to God that she hadn't.  The longer she had no name, the longer she endangered the family." *

James and Caroline will not give up on finding Beth's real identity and who and why someone wants her dead.  They soon find that someone is willing to risk everything for a vote in the House of Lords and Beth may not be the only lady in danger.

The Hummingbird Dagger is heavy on mystery but light on action.  Most of the story is simply conversations about discoveries made by the characters, who never fully develop.

This will be a fun book for readers who enjoy Regency, mystery, and/or historical fiction.  It's listed as YA but it doesn't quite fit in the genre in my opinion.

Thanks to Swoon Reads and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.  The Hummingbird Dagger is scheduled for release on April 16, 2019.

*Quotes included are from a digital advance reader copy and are subject to change upon final publication.

One day, James witnesses near fatal carriage accident. He brings home a woman who was wounded from the accident. However, she does not remember who is. James and his sister seek to find the woman’s true identity.
The novel had an interesting premise and it makes the reader wonder about Beth’s true identity. However, it seems to be more of a love story than a mystery. Thus, the pacing of the story dragged. Still, I recommend this for fans of Melanie Dickerson, Tess Dare, and Mary Balough.

Title: The Hummingbird Dagger

Author: Cindy And try

Genre: teen/YA

Pages 353

Date

Netgalley



From the author of Suitors and Sabotage comes a suspenseful and enthralling new Regency novel, perfect for readers who like their Jane Austen classics with a side of mystery and murder.

1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of Hardwick Manor and into the care of young Lord James Ellerby. But when she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from.

Beth, as she calls herself, has no identity; the only clue to her circumstances is a recurring nightmare of a hummingbird, blood dripping from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth tries to solve the mystery of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door. But nothing could prepare her for the escalating dangers that threaten her and the Ellerby clan. From the hazardous cliffs of Dorset to the hostile streets of London, Beth will fight to reclaim her past, hunted by a secretive foe with murderous intentions.



My thoughts

Rating: 5

Would I recommend it? Yes

Will I read anything else by her? yes

Dark , unknown secrets that can't be remembered , a romance that is just started out, a young lord who is just starting to come in to his title, and a young woman who has no idea who she is, with trouble around every corner the mystery deeps, from nightmares that seem to be more then nightmares , a murder , and a kidnapping , and a near -fatal carriage accident non thing is what it seems to be to Beth , no even her name ,the only thing she knows is that she can trust James and his family in to helping her find out who she is , and what really happened and why. So set back and enjoy a story about secrets, family , young love , friends , family and danger. With that said I want to think Netgalley for letting me read and review it exchange for my honest opinion

What a fun, entertaining read! Spooky of course, and different from the author’s other books. I am such a sucker for mysteries, anything remotely English or resembling a Jane Austen novel. And really, that’s what this book felt like: a blend of Jane Austen, Jack the Ripper, and your favorite cozy mystery. While the cast is large, everyone felt realized and full drawn, and I enjoyed the different POV shifts.

The romance was lovely, and sweet and a perfect subplot to the darker tones of murder, mystery and mayhem. Highly recommend!

"From the author of Suitors and Sabotage comes a suspenseful and enthralling new Regency novel, perfect for readers who like their Jane Austen classics with a side of mystery and murder.

1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of Hardwick Manor and into the care of young Lord James Ellerby. But when she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from.

Beth, as she calls herself, has no identity; the only clue to her circumstances is a recurring nightmare of a hummingbird, blood dripping from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth tries to solve the mystery of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door. But nothing could prepare her for the escalating dangers that threaten her and the Ellerby clan. From the hazardous cliffs of Dorset to the hostile streets of London, Beth will fight to reclaim her past, hunted by a secretive foe with murderous intentions.

Fans of Cindy Anstey's previous novels won't want to miss The Hummingbird Dagger, a dark and twisty new offering that blends romance, danger and mystery."

I like my Regency any which way, but yes please to murder and suspense!

Loved the suspense and mystery in this novel and the fact that the ending was not predictable from the beginning! The characters were well-developed and the events intertwined with each other so that the story was believable. I quite enjoyed this and would definitely encourage my middle schoolers to pick this book up! I also really liked that it was a stand alone because I think everyone is so focused on series nowadays, but having a book on its own is just as important.

The story begins with two coaches crashing. One is being driven recklessly by fourteen-year-old Walter who is the younger brother of the new Lord Ellerby. The other is a lot more mysterious.

In the wreckage of the mysterious coach is a bruised and battered young woman. Lord Ellerby is determined to take her to his home to take care of her despite the objections of the others in the coach. When the young woman awakes it is to a world she doesn't remember. She has total amnesia and is lots of danger.

The only thing she remembers is the name Beth, but she doesn't think it is her name. She is also plagued with vicious nightmares in which a hummingbird turns into a dagger with a bloody tip. The Ellerbys and their neighbor Dr. Brant are determined to try to find out who she is and what danger is chasing her.

The story is filled with suspicious characters who claim acquaintance with the young woman who is now called Beth. The danger edges closer when a young maid from the Ellerby home is murdered. The Ellerbys decide to travel to London, both to elude the villains and for Beth to see a doctor who might be able help her regain her missing memories. But London presents dangers of its own.

This was an entertaining mystery/romance as James, Lord Ellerby, and Beth begin to fall in love. I liked all the characters including the melodramatic Walter. Although I had a good idea who the villain was, it was still fun to follow along as James, his sister Caroline, his brother Walter, and Beth figure out who wants her dead.

When his younger brother takes the carriage and careens out onto the roadway at high speed, James shouts at him to slow down but he doesn't hear him. When Walter hits the bridge, he also hits another carriage and both fly off the bridge. James races down on his horse and sees his brother and his friend have not been injured. The other carriage had a young woman in it and she's been injured. The driver and his companion are recovering but she's not moving. James demands that she be relinquished to him so he can take her home and have the doctor see her. The men try not to give her up but he takes her anyway. He doesn't know how much trouble he's just brought upon himself...

Macmillon Children's Publishing Group and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published April 16th.

When she wakes up, she doesn't know her name or anything about herself. She also doesn't remember what happened to her. As they try to help her remember the past, they find themselves meeting some shady characters. They must have been used in the kidnapping or why would they be interested in her?

There are lots of characters, some good and some bad. James and the young woman are falling love. But they are trying to kill her now and he has to find somewhere to hide her. He tries but she's found anyway.

When her identity is revealed, she's still not remembering them. It's only when she visits a warehouse that part of it is coming back to her.

I was totally surprised to find who the mastermind of the plot was. It ties it together and solves the mystery but it's not happy ever after for all.

The story reads like an old classic mystery novel and I enjoyed it. Just watch out for that dagger...

This book features a motley cast of characters and a good mystery plot at its heart. I felt a little bounced around by all the people being constantly thrown at the reader. The romance felt forced, but maybe it just needed more focus.

An honest review given in exchange for an advance copy of the story.

I really wanted to like The Hummingbird Dagger. But my main emotion the entire book was "meh." I couldn't connect with any of the characters or care about the plot. I think part of that comes down to the faux-Austen writing that tries too hard to sound meaningful and partly down to uninteresting characters. It wasn't a bad story. Just not the best.

In Cindy Anstey's prior books, I got to know her tongue-in-cheek writing style which used the speech of the time but wasn't convoluted or rolled over the reader's head.
I was disappointed that this book didn't use that sort of style, and the result left me confused and sadly, a bit bored. I couldn't get through the story, mostly because I couldn't get a grasp of what was going on no matter how much I read.

Another winner from Cindy Anstey!

When his younger brother causes a carriage accident, Lord James immediately takes responsibility for the unconscious woman to nurse her back to health. Little does he know, bringing her into his household will bring both joy and danger. Beth, as she takes to calling herself, cannot remember anything about her life before the accident. Every night, she wakes, screaming in terror as a dagger shaped like a hummingbird haunts her sleep. Soon, it is clear that there is much more about Beth's lack of memories and her circumstances than meets the eye, sending James, Beth, and their friends searching for answers... before it is too late.

The Hummingbird Dagger is a brilliant novel from Ms. Anstey, and I'd say perhaps her best to-date. The villain is nastier, the stakes are higher, the twists are twistier... and, of course, the romance is absolute perfection. Not only does this novel have all of the atmospheric elements of being present in the story, it also gives off a vibe of having been written in or around the time period in which the story is set. As always, I am eagerly anticipating the next novel to come from the pen of Cindy Anstey and cannot wait to see what other plots and mayhem will follow.

This book reminds me a bit of the gothic suspense romances I used to read in high school. Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Phyllis Whitney. They are the greats!
While this author is not quite in their league, this was an enjoyable read. I liked the characters. I liked the setting. I liked the story. The suspense was not as shadowy or gripping as some I have read. The elements were fairly predictable. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. Now, I have to say that I read an arc provided by Netgalley. As such, the copy needed some editing and clean up. I feel sure that by the time you read it, those will be cleared up. I will recommend this to my teen patrons who like a good historical romantic suspense. Many of my teen and middle school patrons at the library love regency romance. This book is one I can feel comfortable recommending. I know many who will enjoy reading it. Keep the regency mysteries coming!

Fans of Jane Austen will be captivated with the light and enjoyable mystery, The Hummingbird Dagger. A carriage containing a young woman whose bearing, speech and tattered clothing mark her a woman of quality crashes near a country estate. The lord of the manor is greatly disturbed to discover that his impetuous young brother has caused the crash with his driving hijinks and orders that the obviously injured young woman be brought back to his estate for care. Unfortunately, the accident and subsequent head injury caused the young woman to lose her memory. Who is she and why was she dressed in a filthy, torn dress? Pour yourself a cup of tea, curl up next to the fire and find out!

A delightful Victorian mystery/romance. Set in the early 1830s our young unaccompanied woman is rescued by the young and dashing Lord James Ellerby. What’s more our young heroine suffers from amnesia and can provide her rescuers no information about herself or where she came from. All she knows are the horrific nightmares of a hummingbird with blood dripping from it’s beak! The Ellerby family takes her in and together they will piece together the clues to solve the mystery of who she is and why someone seems to want her dead. Mayhem, murder and of course romance abound from start to finish.

This book was suggested to me by NetGalley and lord what a bore. No real action. No real mystery. Was I supposed to be scared by the repetition of the "dream scene?" The characters were flat. We were supposed to see James as smart and wise, but only knew that because we were told. There was no proof to that in his actions or words. That man couldn't do math but yet he was a genius?! Cindy Antsey doesn't hold a candle to likes of C.S. Harris, Georgette Heyer, or Anna Lee Huber. If you want historical fiction, read the masters and leave this on the shelf.

The premise is what drew me in, but the delivery was flat for me. The first act was incredibly strong to me and was definitely a page-turner. However, as we shifted into the second act and beyond, the thrill and tension winded down. I was still intrigued. The plot twists kept me on my toes at times and I did care for the characters. However, the overall delivery lacked a particular punch I was hoping for. I would still recommend it for fans who love a good mystery.

Cindy Anstey has a winning formula down for her series of Regency rom coms - sweetly bland hero or heroine gets mixed up in some kind of hi-jinks socializing, spying or adventuring in London or the countryside and meets their match along the way. These books are popular in the Teen area of my library, but they're wearing on me slightly - everyone is a little too clean, a little too white, a little too gullible. The plotlines tend to be as complex as a Beginner's Connect-the-Dots pattern, the amount of historical detail is scarce, to the point where it could be happening in a Disneyfied 18th century amusement park,. Why do I keep recommending these titles to patrons? Because they are a good entry for those readers who might not be ready yet for Austen or Heyer, or even the current crop of adult Regency mysteries. I make sure to mention those titles as future reads, and to also recommend Mackenzi Lee's books. A little more grit, drama and atmosphere would be welcome in Anstey's future books, but as Swoon Reads, her imprint, has just announced they'll be developing television deals, perhaps we'll get some with the inevitable adaptation of one of her books.