Ready for summer reading?
May 23, 2019
What are you looking forward to reading this summer? There are so many great books coming out. Here in the Boston area alone, we’ll be celebrating Hallie Ephron’s Careful What You Wish For, (Aug. 6), Hank Phillippi Ryan’s The Murder List(Aug. 20), Julia Henry‘s Tilling the Truth and Edwin Hill‘s The Missing Ones (both Aug. 27). On the cozy side, former Sisters in Crime president Leslie Budewitz has her Chai Another Day coming out June 11, and many others are due soon too. But recently I was asked by an editor to compile a list of summer mysteries and in my desperate attempt to pull together books that weren’t by friends or that haven’t been recently profiled on my own blog, I came up with the following. (Then I found out I had misread the assignment – he wanted books that were already out! Oops!). Anyway, here’s a small sampling of what I’m looking forward to, with an eye to every taste. Please let me know what you’re looking forward to – we’ve got time, at last, to indulge!
1. “One Small Sacrifice,” Hilary Davidson (out June 1)
Author of the Anthony award-winning Lily Moore series launches a new police procedural series with NYPD detective Sheryn Sterling unraveling a complicated possible murder.
2. “Conviction,” Denise Mina, (June 18)
Newly single Anna McDonald tunes into a true-crime podcast for distraction only to realize that she knows what really happened – and she’s involved – in the latest grim psychological suspense from a Scottish master of the genre.
3. “Big Sky, ” Kate Atkinson (June 25)

After an eight-year hiatus, Yorkshire ex-cop turned private investigator Jackson Brodie (with dog) surfaces in a quiet seaside village where a routine domestic case turns into something darker.
4. “Paranoid,” Lisa Jackson, (June 25)
Decades after Rachel Gatson accidentally killed her half-brother, her high school reunion – and a string of new murders – make her doubt her sanity in this bestseller’s latest psychological suspense.

5. “A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder,” Dianne Freeman (June 26) The follow-up to the series’ multiple award-winning debut, this frothy, fun historical cozy once again has the American-born Countess of Harleigh solving a murder in Victorian London’s high society.
6. “The Paper Bark Tree Mystery,” Ovidia Yu (June 27)
The steamy Singaporean summer of 1937 smolders when private detective Su Lin’s ex-boss is murdered in a case involving diamonds, race, and political unrest in this third evocative Crown Colony mystery.
7. “The Whisper Man,” Alex North (June 27)
A widowed father and his young son move into a strange house in a town haunted by the memory of a serial killer in this truly creepy debut thriller.
8. “The Chain,” Adrian McKinty (July 9)
To ransom her kidnapped daughter, a mother must kidnap another child, whose parents must then do the same, in this fast-paced, nightmarish thriller from the award-winning suspense author.
9. “Lady in the Lake,” Laura Lippman (July 23)
Having bolted from a stale marriage in 1966 Baltimore, Maddie Schwarz has transitioned from housewife to crusading journalist, heedlessly seeking the truth about a missing woman in this New York Times-bestselling author’s latest standalone.
10. “The Hounds of Justice,” Claire O’Dell (July 30)
In O’Dell’s second strikingly engaging dystopian Sherlock Holmes pastiche, Dr. Janet Watson once again joins covert agent (and fellow queer black woman) Sara Holmes in infiltrating an extremist group.
11. “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead,” Olga Tokarczuk, (Aug. 13)
This Man Booker International Award finalist veers from straight mystery into fantasy as Janina, the local crank in a Polish resort town, takes a break from astrology to investigate a murder.
12. “The Swallows,” Lisa Lutz, (Aug. 13)
Best known for the humorous Spellman Files books, Lutz follows up her thriller “The Passenger” by going very dark with this tale of revenge and secrets at a New England prep school.
13. “Play With Fire,” William Shaw (Aug. 13)
In his fourth series outing, Detective Sergeant Cathal Breen can’t get into the swing of 1969 London, but with his pregnant partner Helen Tozer’s help he tackles the murder of a high-society call girl.
14. “Thirteen,” Steve Cavanaugh (Aug. 13)
Conman-turned-defense attorney Eddie Flynn uses the crooked system against itself, but he’s out manipulated when he’s brought into a Hollywood star’s murder trial in this legal thriller.
15. “The Long Call, ” Anne Cleeves (Sept. 3) With her usual stunningly deft prose, Scottish master Cleeves (“Vera” and “Shetland”) debuts Detective Matthew Venn, who returns to the North Devon evangelical community he once fled when a body washes up on the beach.

Frances Wynn, the Countess Harleigh, has been occupied introducing her friends to those searching for love. When one acquaintance is murdered, this lady is determined to solve it. With George Hazelton at her side, she follows clues contained in gossip to learn the truth.

Having read the first book in the series, I was delighted to see what Lady Harleigh would do next. She has her younger sister's engagement to be concerned with and her daughter’s interest in jumping fences too young to be concerned with. Her cousin didn’t take to the widow as she expected, and now the widow is dead and her cousin is a suspect. She has her hands full but manages to find time to manage it all with grace and intelligence.

The pace was paced well enough that I was interested from start to finish. Though we stay with Frances through the story, the rest of the cast was enjoyable as well. Particularly Mr. Hazelton, who may or may not work for the government. He lets Frances be involved with his work, despite his concern for her safety, all because he wants her to know how important she is to him.

I would recommend this to readers of historical mysteries, who enjoy a smidge of romance with their mystery.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.

A great book! Something fascinating to curl up with on a rainy evening, holding a cup of tea... The characters are believable and realistic. Kudos to the writer!

The Lady's Guide to Gossp and Murder is the second installment of the Lady Harleigh series. This book starts with Lady Harleigh hoping to establish a match between her cousin, Charles and her friend, the widowed Mary Archer. But when Mary is found killed in her own home, Lady Harleigh is determined to help find the culprit, especially as all clues point to Charles. Beginning the investigation, they find notes hidden in Mary's home detailing the myriad of indiscretions and betrayals of the upper class. Finding themselves with more questions than answers, Lady Harleigh and George enlist the help of those around them.

I love, love, love this series. Although hoping for a quiet summer with her sister before she gets married, Lady Harleigh can't seem to keep her name from becoming involved in murder investigations and I love it. This time however she is not a suspect, but her cousin is. Whether her assistance is always wanted or not, she works to help George solve this new msytery and he must admit that she has quite the talent for it.

This one is not as fast paced and is a bit less exciting than the first book because the stakes aren't as high this time around nor is the sense of danger. But it is still a very well paced and planned mystery, that although I had my suspicions "who done it," I wasn't sure until very near the reveal.

I was so glad that Aunt Hetty was back for this book and her sister too. I especially loved getting to meet Lottie. She was endearingly quirky and clutzy in good measure, plus she was a great asset to Lady Harleigh during the investigation. I really hope we'll see her again in the next book.

I think George and Frances are great together and I look forward to seeing how things progress between them in upcoming books. I'm really looking forward to third in the series, whenever that will be, and will be waiting patiently to see what will come next for this series.

I suspose you could read this book as a stand alone, you wouldn't be lost if you did so, but everything would make a lot more sense and it would be much more enjoyable to start with the first in the series. I recommend this book, and the series, to any fan of historical mysteries with a splash of romance.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review.

If you are a fan of the Royal Spyness series (Rhys Bowen), you will love this new series, of which this is the third installment. Full of fun, Victorian etiquette, and of course, mysterious murders and goings-on, I hope Ms. Freeman writes many more books in this series for years to come!

Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is the 2nd book in the series of A Lady's Guide and Lady Harleigh. I love this series. It is enjoyable, light and the mysteries are well written and planned out. What is better than a historical mystery and budding romance.

Lady Harleigh, and George Hazelton are once again investigating a murder. This time, it's Mary Archer, a widow that Lady Harleigh was matching up with her cousin Charles . Mary Archer, turns out had some secrets and it's up to Lady Harleigh and George, with the help of Aunt Hetty and Lottie to figure out what they were and if they got her killed. As Lady Harleigh and Mr. Hazelton figure out the pieces to this mystery, they also develop their own relationship - as only a delightful cozy mystery can do.

I enjoyed this book so much and the ending left me with a gratifying smile. This is def. a book to read and relax with.

Frances Wynn was hoping to enjoy a few quiet, summer months spent with her family, but, instead, she finds herself caught up in another murder investigation. After Mary Archer is found strangled in her home, Frances’s cousin jumps to the top of the police’s suspect list because he had recently been courting the victim. Frances – along with her dashing neighbor George Hazelton – help the police with the murder investigation by digging deeper into Mary’s life and her vast collection of gossip concerning England’s upper class. Frances learns more about her peers’ private lives than she had ever wanted to know. The question is which one of them was willing to kill two people to protect his or her secret?
I absolutely loved A LADY'S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER, and I was equally delighted by A LADY'S GUIDE TO GOSSIP AND MURDER. Freeman brings Victorian-era London to life. And France Wynn remains my current favorite historical, amateur sleuth. She is witty, intelligent, and independent. And the secondary characters are intriguing and likable as well. George Hazelton remains the perfect partner and love interest for Frances. As a Victoria-era lady, Frances is limited by society in what she can do and how far she can go with her investigation. George is able to step in where Frances cannot, and his unclear link to the government allows him to get involved in police investigations more than the average man. I expect great things from France’s and George’s relationship/partnership. I was also happy to see that Frances’s sister and aunt were back in the second novel. And the klutzy Lottie is a wonderful addition to the cast of characters.
A LADY'S GUIDE TO GOSSIP AND MURDER is full of suspense, humor, and romance. The murder investigation was unique, and the suspect and the motive kept me guessing until the end. Unlike some historical amateur sleuths, Frances – a countess and member of England’s upper class – has valid reasons for getting involved in the murder investigation. The victim was a friend, and her cousin is the leading suspect. Also, the majority of her investigation remained reasonably within an English’s lady’s limited lifestyle. Frances’s investigation involved speaking with her peers and reading over the victim’s notes about the salacious actions of her peers.
I am a huge fan of Frances Wynn, and I look forward to the next novel in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC.

Loved this book. It was as good as if not better than the first novel in this series. The author’s writing style flows nicely from chapter to chapter. You just wanted to keep reading this novel. The plot was entertaining and fun. I highly recommend both this author and book!

Dianne Freeman’s debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, is a witty romp of a Victorian mystery. The second in the series, A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder, is just as delightful. Frances (Lady Harleigh), the heroine, has progressed in her emotions as a newly-widowed lady. The independence she fought so hard to gain in book one, is pleasing to her, but she finds that her next-door neighbor is looking better all the time. There is an understated, though smoldering, chemistry between the two that is about to burst into flame. Frances is surprisingly perspicacious, and her struggles with propriety and her journey to independence are gratifying. The mystery is well-plotted and full of twists concerning the death of a friend and the suspicion that she was blackmailing the aristocracy. Freeman does an excellent job of capturing London in the heyday of the late nineteenth century with its culturally ingrained social mores.

Set in Victorian England, this mysterious romp was a delightful read. Frances Wynn becomes involved as a means to help vindicate her cousin Charles. Before long she is joined by another two ladies in trying to solve the murder and to find out who was being blackmailed and why. Mary Archer was murdered,...so now finding a trove of gossip in her home,that some would rather kept secret, it is hoped a clue will be found that will lead not only to the murderer but the blackmailer as well. Was it the parlor maid, the butler, the cook? Ah, you have to wait until the end of this mystery to find out, of course unless you too are a sleuth!

This was a delectable mystery, charming and delightful. It was humorous, the writing was witty, the characters quirky and overall the book was entertaining. I have never read a book by Ms. Freeman, but it won't be my last. As this is the second book of the series, I will go back to find book #1.

My thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an excellent sequel that I had really been looking forward to reading. The mystery was well plotted and the characters and relationships, both between Frances and George and the friendships between characters was well written. Frances is a great character in a time when women were supposed to not have their own opinions. The writing style flowed and was an enjoyable read. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Perfect for fans of "Miss Fisher", "Downton Abbey", and Dorothy L. Sayer's "Lord Peter" mysteries, "A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder" is a thrilling adventure full of gossip, intrigue, and high-society.

Dowager Countess of Harleigh, Frances Wynn, thought that she had put all of her mystery solving days behind her months ago, now ready to fully settle into a life of calm domesticity as she initially intended. She now oversees the proceedings of her sister Lily's engagement and the education of her daughter Rose, as well as works to find a match for her cousin-by-marriage, Charles, and her newest American house guest, Lottie. However, her quiet life is once more disturbed when she learns that her friend and fellow widow, Mary Archer, has been murdered.

Frances is shocked, as she had introduced Cousin Charles to Mrs. Archer, hoping that they would be a suitable match for each other. Worse, Charles had just told her that he was no longer inclined to seek a courtship with Mrs. Archer, landing him with a target on his back as the police's prime suspect. However, nothing shocks Frances more when she and her handsome neighbor, George Hazelton, learn that Mrs. Archer was collecting secrets and gossip about the upper-class citizens of England. Was she murdered as a result of a blackmailing attempt gone awry? Or is there something larger, more sinister, lurking behind idle gossip?

Humorous, romantic, suspenseful, and full of many cunning, brilliant characters--each with their own unique skill sets to bring into the casework--the "Lady's Guide" series presents many surprises and unexpected, unforeseen developments that will keep the pages turning until the very end. This second book in the series is as equally delightful as book one, and readers will keep coming back for more of Lady Frances Harleigh's adventures in high society London, her wit, the fantastic cast of supporting characters... and especially for the brilliant partnership between Frances and Mr. George Hazelton. Ah, but what exactly does 'partnership' mean for these two? That, my dear friends, is the other mystery Lady Harleigh must solve.

A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder by Dianne Freeman is a fabulously intricate murder/mystery, Victorian historical novel that sets place in London 1898. It leaves off from the first installment of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series ended. (I have to say it could be a stand alone novel and would not need to be read in order.)
This novel is hilarious, quick-witted, charming, classy, and entertaining down to the last page.

I loved the layers of complexity when it came to the mystery. I loved all of the characters and their wonderfully witty banter and interactions. Their conversations and one-liners made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions.

I love Frances and the chemistry she has with George.
I love Lottie (she is hilarious) and her chemistry with Charles.
The other supporting characters continue to add additional material that leaves the reader wanting more.

I truly cannot wait until the third installment.

5/5 stars. Glowing review. A must read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC and in return I am submitting my voluntary and unbiased review.

If you like Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series, you will love Dianne Freeman’s A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder.

The developing relationship between Frances, Lady Harleigh, and her neighbor George Hazelton is the background story, while the murder of a widow who may have been anonymously spilling secrets through a gossip column is the intriguing mystery in the foreground.

George trusts Frances and readily includes her in his investigation, appreciating her insights and instincts. Freeman surrounds these two with fully realized supporting characters who enhance the story like Aunt Hetty, cousin Charles, and sister Lily.

This is the second book in the series, but it could be read as a stand-alone book.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC

3.5 stars

This is an amiable and clever enough historical mystery, and Lady Harleigh and her next-door neighbor and sort of love interest George are interesting. The novel is marred though, by its total laxness when it comes to the 19th century setting. The dialogue and relationships are much more modern than they are supposed to be. For those who want the period detail to be absolutely correct, this might not be the best choice.

A friend of Lady Harleigh's has been murdered, and when certain notes about society secrets are found in the victim's house, the question of blackmail is raised. The real purpose of the notes proves to be much more interesting.

The two sleuths joust back and forth and spend their time trying to glean information from their society friends. This series is pleasant, but not compelling. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.