#TheBodyInTheGarden#NetGalley#
Review By: ILoveToRead/Librarian
I received this book in return for an honest review.
The Body In The Garden is a delightful historical mystery featuring amateur sleuths. Lily, a recent young widow, returns to London to begin her life anew. A bit unorthodox in her thinking for her day and time period, she must mask her true thoughts to fit comfortably among her peers, London's royalty and wealthy aristocrats. At a ball, while striving to appear as inconspicuous as possible, she unfortunately overhears two men arguing. The gist of this argument, blackmail. The argument turns ugly. A stranger is shot in the garden, his unidentified body a puzzle to everyone.
When Lily learns the authorities have accepted a bribe to overlook the murder, she takes matters into her own hands to see justice done. With the aid of Jack, a dashing Navel officer, she sets out to nab the killer.
This is not a simple task. The twosome discover a diabolical plot, putting their lives in danger. Eventually, they learn the identity of the killer who has killed again and are able to see this person pay for the terrible crimes.
I highly recommend this very entertaining book.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for sharing this ARC in exchange for my review.

I do enjoy a good mystery and this one works quite well. Lily Adler is a widow of two years who has returned to London to start getting on with her life. A murder takes place at a party given by her close friend Serena and it seems it is up to her to solve the mystery. She gets help from a couple new friends along the way.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters are well developed and there's a good plot to enjoy throughout. I was quite interested in the Bow Street runners part of the story. I'd vaguely heard of them but didn't know much about them until I read the historical information at the end. So I learned a bit of history while being entertained too. There's also a bit of a multi-cultural cast included which livens things up a bit. It's also pleasing to see two of the main female characters who are quite capable of more than the average woman of the time.

I rate this book somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. I can't quite decide. Review to be posted publicly a week ahead of publication.

This was such a fantastic read! I absolutely love anything historical mystery that's well written and original but Regency mysteries are what I really enjoy to read when I get a good one and this certainly didn't disappoint! Lily was a wonderful protagonist and the secondary characters made this book even better! The historical details were realistic and atmospheric and the relationships and interactions between characters were wonderful. The humor added makes it perfect. I agree with those who have said it reminds them of Anna Lee Huber's books and Sherry Thomas's series. Definitely a must read if you enjoy multi dimensional characters, historical mysteries and just an overall fun book to read.

This is a detailed and steadily paced murder investigation read, with a strong female lead. The plot is well-thought out and there’re enough fleshed out characters to hold interest.
I did find the pace a bit too steady, I’d have like more speed and drama personally to build the intensity.
The historical detail works well to build a believable period world for the reader. Mrs Adler, our widowed protagonist makes a great female ‘Sherlock’ and her sidekicks add dimension and interest. I did want more from Jack though, more roguish behaviour and spark with Mrs Adler. However, as this is a series there’s plenty of scope for this relationship to develop.
Overall a detailed, fun murder mystery historical read.

The feisty widow at the center of this mystery is Lily Adler.She witnesses a murder and throws herself into solving it.Witty repartee,Victorian intrigue,flirty back and forths.... this book has it all.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC

This book was a really fantastic read! I'd mostly compare it to the Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourne, with a widow who starts investigating crimes, as well as the Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas. Oh, and more recently, the Lady Darby Mystery series by Anna Lee Huber, but that just means this book has joined some pretty awesome books!

Lily was a fantastic character! She had to wait a long time to marry her sweetheart-and then now he's died so shortly into their marriage that they fought for and wanted so badly. So it's been rough, and then she's thrown into this investigation, and this was a great use of her energy!

I really enjoyed all the interactions these characters had, especially between Jack and Lily, and Jack and Ofelia. He's stuck between two very smart, very stubborn ladies, and yeah, they have some verbal sparring, and that was so great to read!

Really enjoyed the mystery, it was logical and made sense, and I really was rooting for them! They had narrowed it down right away, but oh, man, were there some complications! I enjoyed how deftly she dealt with them, both the confrontational and the emotional!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to see where this series goes from here!

It takes a skillful story-teller to lure the reader in to total suspension of disbelief in any novel, and perhaps it is even more challenging in an historical novel. Ms. Schellma's THE BODY IN THE GARDEN places the reader in the sophisticated London society of the early 1800's.

We meet a young widow, still in mourning, yet anxious to re-establish herself in "polite society." It is beyond a stretch that this woman, surrounded by acquaintances who are interested only in "bonnets and lace" will be an adept markswoman, a strategic thinker, and a fearless foe (to the evil-doers) and yet we do accept her as such.. And, YES, she is just that capable of achieving all kinds of amazing feats, AND convincing us that it is almost natural for her to do so.

THE BODY IN THE GARDEN is both great fun and a great read. In years past, I studied the literature of that period, so I understood the social conventions and a woman's role--and yet, I rolled over like a puppy and accepted the unconventional behavior of our heroine. And loved every minute.

Katharine Schellman has created a protagonist that we enjoy spending time with and I look forward to the possibility of meeting her again in subsequent novels.

NETGALLEY provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

'The Body in the Garden' by Katharine Schellman was absolutely spectacular! It had everything I could love in a book - a Regency setting, incredible tension and intrigue wrapped up in expert mystery, relationship growth and a little humor. I am hoping that this first in the series is one of many more. I know I will be richly rewarded.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, in return for an honest review. I LOVED this book! Lily, Lady Adler, returns to London, still in mourning for the death of her husband of two years. Her best friend insists that she attend a ball to start back into society. During the ball, she overhears a quarrel and later discovers a body. Added by her husband’s best friend, Jack, and a unique debutant, Miss Oswald, Lily sets out to solve the mystery after she discovers the local magistrate decides not to allow the Bow Street constables to investigate. The heroine is a strong woman who deals with her new life by seeking purpose beyond finding a new husband. All of the characters in this book are well written and true to their characters. The author navigates the Regency norms to allow the characters to act within the time period. If you like mysteries and the Regency era, I highly recommend this one.

I really enjoyed this book. It had some lovely elements of a Jane Austen or a Bronte sister novel, I loved the aspects of London society. I loved the writing style - the author really brought the characters and the setting to life in a fun and engaging way. I also really enjoyed the mystery aspect. Overall, a fun and enjoyable read!

An interesting and atmospheric read that satisfied my graving for a good, quaint and aristocratic mystery.

The Body in the Garden is a fun and interesting read.
While firmly grounded in the society of the day, it doesn't labour points, as some authors might do, but rather absorbs everything as part of the space the characters are occupying.
I'm currently watching the TV adaptation of Sanditon and The Body in the Garden easily feels as though it follows many of the conventions well known from a Jane Austen book. If there is too much emphasis on the purchase of gloves and hats, then that was only what well-bred ladies would have been worried about!
The mystery is well put together, and there are any number of potential suspects along the way, which makes the story move along at a fine old pace, and not without some peril for the main character.
A thoroughly enjoyable read. I hope there are more mysteries for Lady Adler, and her 'roguish' captain to solve.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

Oh I just love me some historical lady sleuths!
This book has it all - romance, intrigue, a strong and capable female lead. Kept me engaged right until the very end - highly recommend.

The Body in the Garden was an interesting read. #NetGalley-thanks for the advanced copy. #TheBodyInTheGarden was an interesting murder mystery.

Set in 1815 London, the sometimes comical, sometimes flirtatious banter between the characters, the secrets, scandals, and gossip in this book that is full of murder, bribes and blackmail .gave a very Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes feeling. We quickly learn that the main character, Lily Adler, is very clever and her actions are more modern than most of the ladies and gentlemen of the time appreciate.

Lily witnesses a murder in a garden and is appalled to discover that the police close the investigation without finding the murderer. She employs the help of her friend Jack and acquaintance Miss Oswald to bring justice for the victim. The many twists and turns in this story, along with the witty chatter between the characters make this book difficult to put down!

I enjoyed every minute of this story! The cover is lovely and would definitely draw my attention from a shelf.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was received as an ARC from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is what I call a vintage murder scene. The body in the garden focused on Lily Adler and independent, self-sufficient woman that tries to make it on her own even when society frowns unmarried women. Determined to make it without a husband, she is very close with her friend Lady Walter who stays up to date on the town gossip and little to their dismay, they find a dead body in Lady Walter's garden. Both of them are more than willing to leave the job to the authorities until Lily overhears Lord Walter attempt to bribe the officers to drop the case and now Lily has the key to solve this murder. Lily is more determined than ever with the help of a Navy Officer and his wife to solve this murder before she becomes the next victim and find out what this blackmail scandal is all about. This book reminded me why I am a mystery lover and how they are so exhilarating and thrilling.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction/Mystery collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.