I loved this book. I eagerly await more. I was hoping it was later in the series so that I had more to go back and read. It did read as a first book, but I was hoping! I enjoyed the characters, and of course the London setting.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. - I look forward to many more and getting these in my library.

Well - 3 1/2 stars but it sounds nicer to round up! LOL I would suggest this if you are looking for a bit of a different type of mystery (historical) Although a bit tedious at times I still though this was well written and witty. At times I didn't care for the main character Lily but that was perfectly okay because sometimes that's boring! LOL While I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters, many there were just a few too many. I liked this series kick off book enough to read on.

4 solid stars!

The blend between mystery and historical (romance) worked well on me. There was no topic outweigh the other and I'm loving Lily so much. I can see that it is a set up for the upcoming sequel and I might be waiting for it.

Lily Adler is a widow who has just returned to London to become more involved in the world after the loss of her husband.

The first night back in town, at a ball, she is walking in the garden when she hears a conversation between a young man and an older man. As she is walking away, she hears a shot. The young man is dead.

Lily attempts to provide information to the Bow Street runners, but there is no interest in what a woman has to say. She is not considered a witness who will be able to provide anything of importance.

Lily begins to investigate on her own along with, Jack, a good friend of her late husband and a young lady, Miss Oswald, who knew the young man who had been killed.

Slowly, the three of them begin to put things together.

Lily is very good at puzzles. Jack is able to physically look into things. Ms Oswald is intelligent and able to see things from a new perspective.

They make a good team.

The mystery is interesting and the historical setting is well defined.

I did feel that Lily was not always a character I liked very much. Her anger became very frequent. She seemed to have tunnel vision at times. Investigating with tunnel vision is good. Tunnel vision in relationships is not quite so good.

The reader gets to know each character quite well. As the investigation progresses, it is clear who each possible suspect is as well as their possible motives.

I felt there were times when things were slow moving. But, because this is first in a series, the extra details were probably there to allow the reader to understand the scene.

Ms Schellman is a talented author who has created this first story in a mystery series. I have no doubt that the series will be quite successful.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

When newly widowed Lily Adler discovers a body, she becomes an amateur detective to solve the case. This is a historical mystery set in 1815 London. The period details are superb. The author has a gift for dialect, and tells an engaging cozy mystery. Recommended!

I confess it was the gorgeous cover that first lured me in, but as soon as I read the blurb I was completely convinced I had to add The Body In The Garden to my wishlist. I love a good historical mystery and between the 1815 London setting and the hint at a newly widowed main character investigating a murder I was fully intrigued. This debut is the first of a new historical (cozy) mystery series and while it failed to blow me away personally, I do believe cozy mystery fans will be in for a treat.

I think that part of the problem The Body In The Garden didn't work all that well for me was the fact that this story might simply not have been a right fit. While I love historical fiction in general and I do love a good mystery, I tend to prefer mysteries with a slightly faster pace and less frivolous characters and high society talk a lot better. This is of course my own fault as I should have read the blurb more thoroughly, but it is what it is I guess. That said, there is no denying that the pace of this first Lily Alder Mystery book is considerably slow. True, the murder itself happens quickly enough, but the aftermath tends to focus more on society events and interactions rather than the murder investigation itself. For someone who always enjoys the investigation part of a murder mystery the most, this was a bit of a let down... The more suspenseful parts were a bit too far apart for me and I struggled to stay focused on the story as it was. That said, I do have to say that the final twist was brilliant developed and a pleasant surprise to end this story with.

The historical setting in The Body In The Garden was well developed, and I could really appreciate how the author incorporated race problematics into the story with the help of two mixed-race characters (Ofelia and Jack). It was interesting to see 19th century society react to both characters. Talking about the characters, we can see quite a big cast of main and secundary characters in this story, which will definitely keep you on your toes if you want to keep up with who is who. Jack is easy to like as a character, and his rogue charm comes of the pages beautifully. That said, I can't say that I was a fan of Lily. While I appreciate her stubbornness and fierce belief in what is right and wrong, it soon started to get a bit old that she was always right and that she didn't want anyone helping her. The whole constant remembering of her deceased husband was really getting annoying as well; I know her being a widow is fundamental for the plot as she wouldn't be able to move so freely otherwise, but that doesn't mean we have to be reminded of it every few pages... Also, her behavior seemed to be a bit too modern for the time period she lived in.

The writing itself is easy on the eye, and I still believe the idea behind this new historical (cozy) mystery series is fascinating. I loved the historical setting in 1815 London and the final twist was without doubt well played. I did have some issues with The Body In The Garden, including the pace, focus on frivolous high society events and characters, but I also think this might not have been exactly right story for me. If you enjoy character-driven and slower paced cozy mysteries with a historical setting and a hint of crime, you will be in for a treat with The Body In the Garden.

I enjoy a good, classic murder mystery from time to time, so when The Body in the Garden showed up with a lovely looking cover on Netgalley, I snatched it up. I received this book from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.

This book is different from most books I read for many reasons, on which I will elaborate in a moment.

The Body in the Garden
by Katherine Schellman
Crooked Lane Books


In 1815, the recently widowed, Mrs. Adler, just moved back to London. She is reacclimating herself to London society parties after being away for three years. At a party, while getting a breath of fresh air in the garden, she accidentally overhears two male voices arguing. She is not an eavesdropper, so she moves to another part of the garden. A gun is fired. Adler stumbles upon the body of a young man as she flees the garden.

The following day, she discovers that the case has been abruptly closed, shortly after the magistrate was given a large sum of money.

Mrs. Adler decides that she is going to solve this murder. She enlists the help of her husband’s old friend, a dashing young captain, as well as a mysterious heiress from the West Indies. Soon though, she has a murderer on hot on her heels.

How was the Story?
So how was this one different from my usual. Normally, I read faster paced novels, but I really enjoyed it. Though the pace was slow, I didn’t mind. I had to stop reading it in the middle to read and review the Brightstorm book before its deadline. I was extremely reluctant to do so. After tearing through Brightstorm, I was glad to get back to this easy pace and elegant writing.

I have a few friends that are mystery writers that I will be recommending they read this. Another reason this story is different is that the protagonist is a middle age widow. I love the subplot of rediscovering who she is and who she wants to become. She is clever a woman with confidence in herself and determination to make a difference.

What can we Learn from Schellman?
Schellman’s strength is in writing theme. Overcoming grief is one theme that runs through this. She develops a wonderful arc for Lilly Adler’s journey through her grief.

The other theme involves spoilers, so go get the book and read it before you proceed.


Secondly is the themes relating to women. Lilly is a bit odd in that in 1815 she is investigating a murder. Women back then did not often take such bold steps. I love how the author took an idea about women and their strength, their place in society, their lack of strength, and their determination to protect themselves in a world that doesn’t afford them the power to legally protect themselves. She took these ideas and used the story to examine them from all the different angles. I think the key is to not be too heavy handed in the direction in which you point the reader. Readers are intelligent and can divine right from wrong when the facts are laid out for them.

The first in a proposed new series, featuring widow Lily Adler, THE BODY IN THE GARDEN successfully combines an historical fiction with a cozy mystery. Mrs. Adler is returning to society after the first year of mourning, and has rented a house in London. She is rejoining society with the help of her good friend Serena Walter. From the beginning it is clear that Lily, while enjoying the society aspect, has no desire to be a traditional woman of the period, finding another husband and settling down again to married life.
She has just moved into her rented home in London when her friend, Serena, drops by to insist she attend a party at Serena’s home that evening. Although she protests, Lily allows herself to be persuaded by Serena. The reader is then treated to a quick peak as Lily takes a turn around the ballroom. There is just enough information to make the reader aware of the period, including costumes, people, and places; without being overloaded with information about the period.
Mrs. Adler is a delightful character who enjoys having one foot in the typical society of the day while at the same time is enough of a rebel to want to be unconventional in some of her actions. This explains her reluctance to pursue another husband as well as eventual activities that go beyond being interested in solving a murder to becoming actively involved.
The justification for Lily’s interest comes largely from a deep seated desire to see justice done and a realization that the legal authorities have agreed to suspend investigation of the murder. She is introduced as an independent woman who follows her own sense of morality, and this is consistent with her decisions regarding investigating the murder herself. She is aided by her husband’s best friend, Jack; and a young heiress Ofelia; who, along with the victim, is from the West Indies. Rounding out the primary characters is Mr Page, a Bow Street Runner, which is the term used for policemen of the day.
While there are some rigid behaviors that are consistent with what was required of society in this era, Lily and her fellow detectives are a compilation of conventional and unconventional personalities that lend additional color to the book. Lily is particularly independent, and supported in this independence by Jack, and accepted by others who come to know her. There is some indication that there may be a romantic relationship develop between Lily and Jack, and there is also some indication that the same may occur between Lily and Mr. Page. I would anticipate these relationships to be further developed later in the series.
As for the mystery, it is well plotted and Lily does a good job of combining investigative skills with activity to pursue the solution to the murder. The victim is a young man from the West Indies who has come to London in pursuit of Ofelia and Lily overhears him trying to blackmail someone in the garden. He is subsequently shot and killed and it’s up to Lily to find out the reason for the blackmail which should lead to the murderer.
The situation is complicated because there is some possibility the murderer is Serena’s husband. What will Lily do if that turns out to be the case? Ofelia is also not the typical society heiress of the time, as she is mixed race. She is extremely wealthy, which allows her to move in the highest realm of society; but who knows what is being whispered about her behind all the women’s fans. While Ofelia isn’t romantically interested in the murder victim, she does have a sense of responsibility for him. She also has a secret that Lily is determined to uncover, as it might have a bearing on the murder.
The pacing is good, the plot is believable, and the characters are enjoyable people. I look forward to reading more adventures of Mrs. Adler, hopefully along with some of these same characters who help round out the story. I recommend the book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries and who might enjoy the addition of the historical fiction aspect of the novel. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

4.5/5⭐️

It’s been awhile since I was so taken with a new mystery series, but I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel! Lily, a young grieving widow returns to London from her in-laws, restless and questioning a future that is not what she had envisioned. A murder that she almost witnesses draws on her sense of justice and her keen intelligence to be solved, and with the aid of several old and new friends, she uncovers a scheme involving government corruption and multiple villains.

Lily is a wonderfully drawn character, a rarity (as seen by society in 19th-century London) of being exceptionally intrepid, fair-minded and strong-willed. And her supporting cast are also “misfits” in one way or another and very interesting in themselves.

I found this to be a very well-written and engaging story, and I will definitely be along for the ride in Lily’s further adventures!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

The Body in the Garden is a Regency-era book with balls and routs in the background and an amateur female sleuth in the foreground. Lily Adler, a young widow, needs some air from the stifling atmosphere at the ball she's attending and the crushing grief she still feels at the loss of her beloved husband two years prior. While on the terrace she's accosted by a slimy young flop and after putting him in his place, she ventures farther into the gardens where she hears a murder. After being dismissed by the Bow Street runner assigned to the case and the case itself being suspiciously closed; she feels it's her duty to discover everything about the victim and solve his murder. She's reintroduced to her husband's best friend, Captain Jack Hartley, who feels he needs to protect Lily from her foibles. She, of course, thinks this unnecessary but they form a rocky friendship. This is a twisty story and I figured out who did it but not how or why. An easy entertaining read.

I received a electronic ARC of this book via #netgalley. I think the best word to describe this book would be charming. This is an entertaining read that kept me interested and trying to figure out who done it? Frankly, it reminded me of a classic whodunit along the lines of Agatha Christie. The characters, the setting, and just the overall skill of telling a story while making it seem like you’re in a period piece. Very enjoyable.

Ok, Lily Adler is my new favorite detective. I love a good historical mystery and this one did not disappoint! It's a nice cozy mystery but with just a little bit of creepy thrown in to keep you interested. Completely mesmerizing plot, engaging characters, wholeheartedly recommend this one.

This was a tough book for me to get into. I love a mystery, but there was a lot of set up and I felt like the plot moved slowly.

When Lily Adler, a widow, witnessed an argument, she found herself discussing the details with Captain John -Jack- Hartley, her deceased husband’s close friend. Newly acquainted, they soon learned a young man was murdered.

Frustrated with the owner of the home where the death occurred along with the magistrate in charge of the investigation, they paired up to determine what really happened. Before long, Miss Oswald, an heiress, joined their pursuit of the crime.

~~~~~
I love a good historical mystery. I expect when I read the debut in a series for the author to introduce a fair number of characters. I also need to know the heroine’s attributes -she was the story’s amateur sleuth- match the era (Regency times).

Instead, I found Lily to be abrasive at various moments. She was portrayed as a strong protagonist but sometimes I tired of her always being right. As I said before, she was a widow. I appreciated that she loved her husband but he had been deceased for three years; I was reminded of him once too often. Because of her personality, I expected to find her living in a more modern age.

Lastly, it is important for me to fit in when I read this genre but there was an over-abundance of secondary characters. Time and again I had to remember who was whom and why, if any, was their importance to the investigation and crime. Sadly, I find myself with the minority of readers but I can’t overlook the author’s good plot twist at the end.

<i>*I would like to thank Net Galley, Crooked Land Books and Ms. Shellman for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*</i>

Where do I sign up for the Lily Adler fan club? A strong, independent, progressive, woman at the center of a dynamic group of friends. And she solves mysteries with a dashing male sidekick? The men in this book are supportive of the women in their lives without ever being controlling. I'm in, 100%.

At no point did I not love reading this well researched historical novel. I savored it for as long as I could, and then hit a point where I had to stop doing everything else so I could read to the end. Katharine Schellman is a talented writer who tells an excellent story and I'm already desperate for more of Lily's adventures.

Cozy without being simple or too sweet. The kind of introductory novel that fills me with so much enthusiasm for the future of the series.

5 stars. Can I give it more?

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Netgalley, and Katharine Schellman for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.

alright this book was super creepy and i wanted to stay awake all night because i read it too close to bedtime! but i reccoment it for sure.

Lily Adler is a recently bereaved widow starting to return to London society. While attending a "crush" at a friend's mansion, she is an unwitting witness to a murder. Being female, her evidence is discounted by the Bow Street police, and as the victim is a commoner the entire situation is swept under the rug (helped by a generous donation by persons unknown). But Lily Adler is a tenacious woman who is determined to get to the bottom of the matter and seek justice for the unknown man who died in her friend's garden. Aided by her late husband's closest friend and a new-to-London heiress from the West Indies, Lily dredges the depths and pries into the uppermost sanctums of society to find the killer.

This was an excellent read. Well researched for the period, and vividly written, The Body in the Garden is a fun, fast past story that immerses the reader in Regency London. Lily Adler is a quick-witted woman easily the female equivalent to Sherlock Holmes, and the interactions between the characters were *real* and believable (if somewhat anachronistic).

I am looking forward to reading more in the series. 5 stars.

**I received an advance copy of The Body in the Garden from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review**

Lily Back In Society....
The first book in the Lily Adler mystery series. London, 1815 - Lily Adler, newly widowed, is throwing herself back into society. Despite the restraints imposed by the society of the time Lily is headstrong and determined to make an independent life for herself. A ball thrown by her best friend, however, brings a whole new set of problems when Lily discovers a dead body in the garden. When it becomes clear that the investigation is being manipulated Lily decides to catch the killer herself. Enjoyable with well drawn characters, a likeable protagonist in Lily and an entertaining plot. A delightful read and a promising start to a new series.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

London 1815. Newly widowed Lily Adler returns to a society that frowns on independent women. When visiting her friend, she finds a dead man laying in the garden and is determined to find the murderer when the police decide to close the case.

Nicely written. Good beginning to a cozy mystery series.

2.75☆

Initial thoughts
This is exactly the kind of book I like to read from time time.

Description
The year is 1815, and recently widowed Lily Adler has just moved back to London. As she tries to reacquaint herself with society life, on her very first ball she stumbles upon a dead body. At first she would be happy to let the police take care of but after she hears her friend’s husband bribe the local magistrate to drop the case, she starts her own investigation. She partners up with Captain Hartley and Miss Oswald to find the perpetrator. As they follow leads, they get into dangerous situations, find out dangerous secrets and time is running out for Lily.

Main characters
Lily Adler is very much a modern woman, she is independent, intelligent and very determined. She will not let anything or anyone hinder her.
Captain Jack Hartley is such a gentleman, he has Lily’s best interest at heart. He just hasn’t realised yet that Lily knows exactly what she wants and she will not let the good Captain take care of her. He is a charming, nice, very sympathetic guy. I loved watching their interactions, as they tiptoeing around each other. I hope they will become something more than just friends.
Miss Oswald is a mystery at first. She is only 19 years old, a young woman who is new to London Society. She and Lily become fast friends as they investigate together. She is brave, kind and loyal.

Writing style
The story flows nicely, it could keep my attention from the first word until the last. The story is well written and has just enough plot twists to keep me interested.
I liked the banter between Lily and Jack, those always made me laugh. Their relationship can and I hope will develop from here.

Ending
The story has an ending which is a good start. It’s funny and has just enough tension to want to read the next book.

I received and ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley, thank you. All opinions are my own.