The Body in the Garden by Katherine Schellman is the first book in Lily Mystery series.

Lily is a widow, who has removed herself from London society but it trying to continue with her life. She is stll devastated by her loss and feelsl her pain deeply.
Her best friend, Lady Walter has invited her to a ball where she encounters her late husband's best friend, Captain Hartley but also overhears two man arguing and one of them being blackmailed. Then she finds a body in the garden.
She has no choice but to keep investigating herself, with the help of other friends as her best friend's husband has bribed police to close the case.

First of all, Lily was quite a different characters than usual amateur sleuths but also a woman ahead of her time. Incredibly smart, observant and no nonsense she is not always very likable, but is definitely very relatable and believable.
Protagonists were expertly portrayed and it was a real treat getting to know them.
I also liked that there was a trio solving this puzzle with the help of several other people. The setting was London, 1800's which also added to the charm.
I did find the story a bit slow at times, eventhough there is never a dull moment.
I feel that this will turn into a very successful series.

I am a fan of both mysteries and books set in the Regency period of England. I found this book to be a fun read and the mystery was unusual and compelling.

Sometimes, the characters were out of step with the courtesies and manners of the period and were more in line with today. Even so, I enjoyed the book and look forward to more in the series.

The sleuth is Lily Adler, a young widow who, several years after her husband’s death, has returned to London to get on with her life. She overhears a murder while at a party at her best friend’s home and decides to investigate as no one else is taking it seriously.

There are other characters who step in to help and those that she knows who want to throw up roadblocks. Navigating the investigation suddenly becomes dangerous and so, she doubles down and is determined to find the murderer and bring him or her to justice.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
A great start to a series for fans of Deanna Raybourne.

There were a few things that had me picking up the book even before I read the plot or looked up the author. The cover and the fact that it is the first of a new cozy historical mystery series. I expected to like it, but by the time I set it aside, having read it in two sittings straight, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it all. There are very few situations where the speed of narration as well as the movement of the plot is slow while also keeping me hostage.

This is a slow book, I am repeating it again because it is almost an attractive characteristic, and I could actually appreciate the beauty of the writing. Lily Adler is a widow. She is a strong-willed woman who had plans for her future but is now so bereft at the loss of her husband, she continuously brings him into many of the events that transpire as if he is a complete other character or participant. Lily is sharp and observant and just happens to hear more than anyone else before a gun goes off at a party. She starts to investigate with unlikely support from two others. Although I guessed the ultimate villain, the author had me doubting my confidence in the solution sometimes. My favourite part has to be the characters themselves. There are so many variations in the personalities, especially since this is probably the first time I saw so many mixed-race people in 1800s England as crucial players in a storyline. There are so many grey shades to even initially exuberantly loving people, and that line of thought is maintained to the very end. The variations in behaviour add an interesting side note to the story, where we can discuss the whys of people’s reactions. The mystery is solid and only mildly complicated.

More than all of this, we have a very tantalising set up at the end which had me reaching out for a non-existent sequel already.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This was a fabulous debut and start to this series. I love books set in regency London and this was a fantastic example of that time period. The author did a fantastic job with the setting, clearly having done plenty of research. The writing was lovely and the plot was well thought out. I really enjoyed trying to guess the bad guy! I knocked off a star for the slow beginning and because the main character was a little bit irritating at parts. Overall though I really enjoyed the story and look forward to book two.

This was a really fun and engaging historical murder mystery!

Lily, our main character, is very interesting and likeable! She is a smart, intelligent, independent woman in a time when women weren't openly appreciated for those traits. I was happy to find that she wasn't the only female character with these traits as the story evolved. Despite their differences, the women portrayed in this novel are all given distinct characteristics, some more obviously rebellious, others preferring to use their strengths in more subtle ways - all of them so valid and, I think, realistic! I really appreciated how there was true female friendship, how they had their differences and quarrels, but talked about it and accepted each other's views and differences. Lily never puts down other women, on the contrary, and I find that invigorating!

We are also given a wide range of male characters beyond the misogynistic, dominant and controlling kind. We are given man that at first may be shocked with unusual behaviour from women at the time, but don't go on to trying to "put women in their place", they assimilate and accept those behaviours, coming to appreciate and value the exact traits that are considered unwanted by others. This is even more pleasant when one of the men is a military and another from the police - who are more often portrayed as stuck up and close minded people.

There is a representation of races and ethnicities that seem truthful to the times, which is always something of value and importance- I was delighted with the author's note about it, it shows how much care went into portraying it as accurately as possible.

The portrayal of grief is also present and well done in my opinion. Lily is going through a big loss and you can actually see her dealing with it and processing it, instead of just appearing when it's convenient to the story.

The mystery was interesting, compelling and complex enough. We discover things along with the characters and are given the opportunity to put the pieces together with them. Although I guessed the big reveal before it happened on the page, there were actually some twists and turns that had me thinking twice about it!

I liked the writing, it wasn't too modern nor to pretentious in style, it was a good middle ground between the time it's being written and time it writes about. I only found some issues with the pacing, I think the narrative dragged here and there, which took from the fluidity of the storytelling. But, overall, it was very much an enjoyable experience, I liked the time I spent with these characters and story. Will be definitely be keeping an eye out for the next installment!

Recommend to people who like murder mysteries focused on the more brainy part of uncovering it, as opposed to a more scientific/forensic approach, with the wonderful backdrop of 1800 London!

First in a new series of cozy mysteries set in the Regency era, The Body in the Garden follows widow Lily Adler as she settles into a new life in London, determined to make her way and find some sort of place for herself following the death of her husband at too young an age. Accompanied by Navy captain Jack Hartley and beautiful West Indian heiress Miss Ofelia Oswald, Lily determines to find justice for a young man whose murder she accidentally overhears when the magistrates choose not to have Bow Street investigate the case.

There’s an interesting examination of the role of the young widow in Regency society as Lily tries to figure out what she’s going to do with the rest of her life; not even thirty, she’s basically expected to find herself another husband as soon as possible, but she loved her husband and she’s not at all sure she wants to remarry. A clever woman - she shows flashes of Holmesian deductive ability at times - she has no intention of settling.

I wouldn’t say there’s any hint of romance here, though I did get the definite impression Jack was falling head over heels for Lily; there was also a Bow Street Runner I think rather admired her who I suspect will feature more heavily in future books in the series, but don’t go into this looking for Lily to find love again. What she does find is purpose, as she uses her wits and her resources to pursue the murderer.

Something I really enjoyed in this book was the fact that Regency London wasn’t (unrealistically) presented as being all-white; Jack is the son of an English father and an Indian mother and Ofelia is the daughter of an English father and a Black woman. Ofelia’s actually inspired by Miss Lambe of Jane Austen’s Sanditon and it’s fascinating to see the portrayal of how high society would have welcomed her wealth while secretly looking down their noses because of her mixed race. Lily has Black servants, something that would have been quite common in that day, especially among those households not quite at the echelon of the upper class, a category into which Lily fits as a gentleman’s widow.

The mystery was intriguing (and plausible) and I loved Lily and the other principal characters. This was a seriously good read and I’m really looking forward to the next in the series. Five stars.

Is this one of my new all time favourite cozy mysteries? Yes.

Do I know if it actually counts as a cozy mystery? No.

Do I care? Also no.

This was a really well written and fast paced historical mystery and I enjoyed every second of it.

The story follows our main character Lily as she returns to London after she finishes mourning the death of her husband and happens to stumble across a murder victim the night of her first night back in society. Being a total badass, she takes matters into her own hands and enlists the help of a couple new friends to solve the crime. Mystery and mayhem ensue and it’s a great time.

This was such a compelling mystery, to be fair I’ve never been the greatest at guessing who the bad guy is in mysteries, but I thought that the author gave you enough clues and scenarios to suspect about half the book. It all came together in the end in a way that made sense and I thought that it was super well done. It was so fast paced that I couldn’t put it down once I started, I had to keep going so I could figure out what happened and how all the pieces were connected. Definitely a compelling read and I hope that the rest of the series will be just as great.

I also really loved the characters! Sometimes I find in mysteries that the characters are a bit meh but Lily was such a well developed and lovely character to read, I also really loved all the different side characters that we got to meet. Jack was a clear favourite, but Miss Oswald and Lady Walter were also so much fun to read and getting to see all the different dynamics was super fun. And I mean, a mystery set in the Victorian Era where you have to follow all the fun rules of society just made everything more fun to read.

All around this was just a really great mystery! I loved every aspect of it and I can’t wait for the next installment. It’s got a little bit of everything, and I’m excited to see what happens next.

A Lady of Quality Regency mystery!_________3.5

Two delightful characters in the lead roles in this new Regency mystery add to its charm. Lily Adler is a young widow, a no nonsense woman who knows her way around the ton.
Attending her friend Lady Walter's Ball was a beginning to her new, independent life.
Unexpectedly coming across a couple of men exchanging terse and threatening comments in the garden, after having slipped out of the crowded ballroom for fresh air, Lily beats a hasty retreat. As she quietly sidles away from the scene she is frightened by a gunshot as she retreats.
That's where her dead husband's friend, Captain John Hartley—Jack, comes in handy. Stumbling back towards the ballroom she runs into him and seeks his help. Disbelieving he accompanies her, only to confirm the truth. There obviously was a gunshot because they find a dead body.
When Lord Walter has the investigation into matters surrounding the death, including the identity of the person squashed, Lily is determined to find out why, and what lies behind the murder. Jack of course is drawn into the chase and there's an interesting cast of additional characters including Jem a cheeky young messenger boy from the Dials area and Simon Page the Bow Street Constable.
Jack and Page don't get of to the best of starts but as the chase for the murderer progresses they do come to respect each other.
Lily having been dismissed as a mere woman wastes no time in changing Page's opinion. Danger treads her path and Jack is infuriated as she places herself squarely in its way. Her investigations reach to the heights of society, secrets are exposed and Lily makes not only powerful enemies but new friends, including a very independent and unusual heiress.
As we leave Lily contemplating carving out a new path for herself as a discreet investigator, I for one felt ready to pursue more of her adventures.

A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley

I'm always on the look out for a new historical mystery series. And while I love my Amelia Peabody and Veronica Speedwell mysteries, the two together can begin to feel a bit repetitive. They each are excellent on their own, but Amelia and Veronica have similar personalities and their strong women personas both play of the gruff-with-a-heart-of-gold romantic interests in very similar ways. The mysteries and settings are very different, but reading this last Veronica Speedwell book (I didn't love it in general, so that doesn't help), left me feeling a bit like the genre was starting to all feel the same. So I both excited and nervous when I saw the book description for this one. On one hand, a recently widowed heroine is definitely different than those other stories. But then you add "roguish navy captai"...and would this really be all that different? Yes, it was, and it was just the breath of fresh air I was looking for!

Only one year into mourning her beloved husband, Lily Adler decides that enough is enough: it is time to rejoin the world and what better place than London itself in the midst of a Season? With the help of her dear friend, Lady Walter, Lily is quick to fall back into society, making new friends and visiting with old acquaintances. But amid all the typical gossip and small dramas that are always to be found in society, Lily suddenly finds herself caught up in a mystery: a young man murdered in Lady Walter's own garden. A murder that no one seems to care much about but Lily and a few of her new friends. Soon enough, however, it seems that this young man's death was only one small part of a much greater scheme and one that now begins to threaten Lily herself. 

I really loved this book. And mostly this was down to the refreshing new characters that the story centers around. Lily is by no means the plucky, go-get-em leading lady that we see in Amelia Peabody or Veronica Speedwell. Instead, her strength comes in a calm, steely resolve to do what she sees right, while always maintaining a strong sense of dignity and knowledge of where her own particular strengths and weaknesses lie. She doesn't seek out this investigation out of any sense of adventure, but rather she pursues it only because of her strong sense of justice. If, by the end of it all, she finds a new direction for her life, it's not due to any intrepidness that has always persisted throughout her life. She's a much more quiet, reserved leading lady, but just as skillful in being more withdrawn. Indeed, I think some of her observations, not only about the case but about people's general behavior, were even more striking for being discussed in cool tones without much flair or fanfare.

I also really liked Jack Hartley, the aforementioned navy captain. Lily's recent loss and continuing grief over the loss of her husband is never forgotten, which leaves this book to build up a solid friendship and partnership between these two without any real vibes of romance. Whether the series goes that direction or not is yet to be determined (I'd guess yes, but I'm also fine with it staying as is). One that that really stood out for me with this character were a few brief moments when Jack's beliefs of himself as a man who greatly respects women was truly put to the test. We all to often see these historical pieces with men that "respect women" in the most obvious ways, but the story never really addresses the underlying tones that undermine this supposed respect. Lily calls Jack out on a few of these points, making him aware that as much as he does respect her, he still can fall into traps of limiting his perception of her due to her gender. These are smaller moments, but they are the kind of observations that often are left without being addressed in historical books like this. 

I also really liked the inclusion of Ofelia Oswald, a POC heiress who becomes the third partner in this little crime team (Jack Hartley is also of mixed heritage). It's rare to find historical books that include many POC characters, let alone two in prominent roles in the story. The author also included a great note at the end about her research into the challenges POC people faced in London society at this time and how she chose to position her characters in a way that was historically accurate but also put them at the forefront of the story. 

The story was a bit on the slower side, but as I enjoyed the three main characters so much, I never had a problem with this. But I do want to put it out there for those thinking to pick it up: this book is definitely meant to feel immersive and spends a lot of time putting together all the details and pieces of the mystery and the characters involved. I really enjoyed the mystery itself, too. I was able to guess the villain about halfway through, but I didn't get all of the pieces to fit together until much later in the book. The mystery was well thought out and the pieces were laid craftily throughout the story. Readers looking for a new take on historical mysteries should definitely check this one out!

Rating 9: Excellent. Lily Adler may be quieter than some other heroines in the mystery market, but she's definitely one to pay attention to!

(Link will go live May 6)

Lily Adler is a young widow, 26 years old, coming back into London society in “The Body in the Garden” by Katherine Schellman. It’s 1815.

At a party on her first night back she overhears what sounds like a confrontation between a blackmailer and his victim. The blackmailer quickly turns up dead. Mrs. Adler is soon determined to find out the why and the wherefore, because no one else is interested – the authorities have been bribed to look the other way.
It does not take too long for Mrs. Adler to figure out who the murdered man was, and what he was doing at the party. But who killed him takes a bit longer. Luckily, she has a naval officer friend of her late husband to help with the investigation, to go where she cannot, as much of the investigation takes place in places a lady of quality cannot go, and thus the gentleman is handy. Handy, that. And she makes him promise he will share whatever he finds out. That is also necessary for our story, obviously.

A heiress is involved – one of mixed race, one who has come from the West Indies to find a husband, easier to do as a heiress. There’s also the hint that stealing from the government is involved, and since things are still hot and heavy with “Boney,” that’s treason. People die for things like this, and in “The Body in the Garden,” they do.

And Mrs. Adler comes under danger. And of course, she has to give the speech about why she’s doing it and how the gentleman just has to understand that she’s going to continue to search for the killer whether he (the gentleman) likes it or not. It’s a shame this has to be got through but it does. But this is de rigueur for historical mysteries of any era – the heroine having to tell why she’s doing what she’s doing and how she’s going to continue doing it. Seems to me we could do without all this, because it should be pretty much understood that these women are doing things way out of their lane, as it were, but, there ya go.

Anyway, just when everything seems fixed, it all falls apart. Luckily Mrs. Adler gets the ear of a Bow Street Runner, one who will listen. And so, she has even more help to bring a murderer to justice. Quite a lot of wonderful help, actually.

The author does a very credible job of following the strictures of Georgian society with just enough of those plausible holes that allows Mrs. Adler her latitude of plot. It of course helps immeasurably that she is a widow, and thus has more freedom in the face of it. And in the end, she finds that she may have found herself her calling. A discreet calling, as befits a lady of quality, of course.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.

“The Body in the Garden”is a delightful historical mystery featuring a protagonist I loved from the first page.

Lily Adler is sharp, observant, witty, and compassionate. She is also a grieving widow in Regency era London who ends up solving a murder with the help of her friends; the charming rascal Captain Jack, and the bold and cunning Miss Oswald.

This was a time in which women had very little freedom. Lily, as a widow, is able to get away with more than most, but due to her social status decides to rely on Captain Jack perhaps more than she would like. Fortunately, he is up to the task and somehow manages to lead when it is needed but otherwise steps aside to let Lily shine.

This was just the cozy, historical mystery I’d been looking for. It’s written in a similar style as Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody series. It’s full of humor and witty banter; the characters are interesting and likable; and the historical details are well-researched and add to the flavor of the whole without taking over.

The mystery definitely took a backseat to the conversations between Lily, Captain Jack, and Miss Oswald. That said, it was well executed and had me baffled up to the reveal. It’s not that I didn’t like the mystery itself, it’s just that I adored the three main characters so much that I would happily read any story featuring them.

I’m thrilled that this is to be a series. Katharine Schellman is my new favorite historical mystery author. I can’t wait for book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for giving me a free galley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

<b>MAKES ME WANT TO READ ON!</b>

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give a new series - it made me want to read the next book. There were many good points to this book, which makes me excited to read even more!

<b>👍 WHAT I LIKED 👍</b>

<u>Twists</u>: Often I am unsurprised by plot twists - I can usually see them coming from a mile away. I am happy to admit, that there were definitely some twists in this story that I did <i>not</i> see coming! That is a compliment in my book.

<u>Lily</u>: The female protagonist Lily was headstrong, intelligent and had a keen sense of justice. I really admired her and liked her a great deal.

<u>Jack</u>: The male protagonist Jack was sweet, protective and intelligent. He was so supportive of Lily and had a lot of confidence in her. Their friendship was sweet and deep and I am looking forward to seeing where it will take them.

This is the first book in what I hope will be a new series. Society widow, Lily Adler, wants justice for a murder. Since the police aren’t investigating, she takes it upon herself. With the help of a few good friends, she sets about to solve the mystery. Of course there is danger and scandal and it is all quite entertaining. Will look forward to the next installment!

Looking forward to recommending this to readers who enjoy Regency-style romance/mystery with strong female main character/amateur sleuth. Lily Adler is a recent widow. She arrives in London with the hope of rebuilding her life. While most assume that means another marriage, she has other ideas. Almost immediately, she is involved in a murder mystery. I really enjoyed this book. Very appealing main character and well developed secondary characters. I hope this author continues with Lily and friends and makes this a series.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Body in the Garden
(Lily Adler Mystery #1) by Katharine Schellman from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

...Clever, complex, incredibly well-written and researched...

Set in Regency London, widow Lily Adler is returning to her old high society life as a reasonably wealthy and independent recent widow.  Without her husband or children, Lily is trying to carve a new meaningful life for herself in a society that once embraced her. Lily is not alone thanks to a strong friendship with her husband Freddy’s dear friend, Navy Captain, Jack Hartley.

While attending a friend’s high society ball she realizes that her social circle is fraught with scandal and secrets.   Lily overwhelmed with grief and the drama of the event takes a step outside for fresh air and hears an argument that ends in murder.  Shocked and overwhelmed by the events she is drawn to action when the case is swept under the rug and it appears that the victim won’t receive the justice he deserves.  Captain Hartley attempts to honour his friend's memory by watching out for Lily which proves to be a constant and difficult challenge. Faced with the period's misogyny Ms Alder boldly tackles the case with the help of Captain Harvey, and the young victim's former fiancée Miss Ofelia Oswald. I have to say I'm also impressed by the way the author handles the misogyny, race and class issues of the time with sensitivity and respect.

Clever, complex, incredibly well-written and researched, this book keeps the reader enthralled and I have to say I absolutely loved it! Ms Schellman creates interesting, dynamic and real characters who have their flaws yet are likeable despite them.  The mystery plot itself though slow to build definitely does not disappoint.  With both friends and foes as suspects as well as corruption and treason at the highest levels, this book keeps you guessing to the very satisfying end. I'm looking forward to reading future books in this series!

I'm not typically a fan of historical fiction, but this historical mystery took me by surprise and I loved it! Set in 1815, Lily Adler has returned to London after the death of her husband. While attending a party at a dear friend's house, she stumbles upon an argument in the garden. She hears a gunshot and sees the dead man on the ground, but who is the killer? Lily, with a few likeable and interesting friends, is on a quest to solve the crime.

Lily is a wonderful character and I love the way the author ended the story. I can't wait to read the next of the Lily Adler mystery series.

Good historical mystery - a great twist or two, great characters.
I loved Lily, her spunk and her stubbornness. And Captain Hartley is so dashing and charming! They make quite the pair - well-matched in both wits and wisdom. The mystery was very believable, and the characters went through all the right steps to solve the mystery (no one jumped to any baseless conclusions).
I felt like the plot moved a little slowly, but ultimately a good read.

"Perfect for fans of Tasha Alexander and Rhys Bowen, Katharine Schellman's debut novel is sure to delight.

London 1815. Though newly-widowed Lily Adler is returning to a society that frowns on independent women, she is determined to create a meaningful life for herself even without a husband. She's no stranger to the glittering world of London's upper crust. At a ball thrown by her oldest friend, Lady Walter, she expects the scandal, gossip, and secrets. What she doesn't expect is the dead body in Lady Walter's garden.

Lily overheard the man just minutes before he was shot: young, desperate, and attempting blackmail. But she's willing to leave the matter to the local constables - until Lord Walter bribes the investigating magistrate to drop the case. Stunned and confused, Lily realizes she's the only one with the key to catching the killer.

Aided by a roguish navy captain and a mysterious heiress from the West Indies, Lily sets out to discover whether her friend's husband is mixed up in blackmail and murder. The unlikely team tries to conceal their investigation behind the whirl of London's social season, but the dead man knew secrets about people with power. Secrets that they would kill to keep hidden. Now, Lily will have to uncover the truth, before she becomes the murderer's next target."

Oh, oh, I'm a fan of Tasha Alexander!

Katharine Schellman is an exciting new voice in historical mystery. Her heroine, Lily Adler, is smart and bold, but not so much that she’s ostracized from society. She understands the rules, and usually follows them, even when she doesn’t want to. And her partners in crime, Captain Hartley and Miss Oswald, provide excellent contrast even while they’re aiding and abetting. And all are willing to admit when they’re wrong! I love when characters can learn and change.

The best part of all might be the inclusion of persons of color! Genius! The characters struggle on occasion, but it’s not their entire identity or what defines them.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.