In the beginning it is quite tedious having to meet all characters and backgrounds, but after some pages I wanted to read it like crazy. I also loved the time setting of the story. A good cozy mystery, with a beautiful setting totally recommended to the fans of the genre.

Still trying to win over Lady Atherly, Stella Kendrick has jumped through all the protocol hoops, but Lady A. still does not approve of her engagement to Lyndy, her son. She has her sights set on Lady Phillipa, unfortunately married to Lord Fairbrother. Lady A.'s disapproval doesn't stop Lyndy and Stella from enjoying their time together. Stella knows the Atherly family needs the infusion of her American millionaire father's money to keep the estate going. One morning when Lyndy is teaching Stella to fish, instead of fish, they shockingly find a body in the river. .The dead man had many enemies and it's up to Stella and Lyndy to find the murderer. The second in this delightfully charming series.

Murder at Blackwater Bend by Clara McKenna a Mystery set in the early 1900‘s. An American equestrian from Kentucky with her fiancé who is a British Viscount investigate a murder. An Entertaining story with plenty of action, mysterious murders and romance throughout. The characters are original, snarky and fun. This is the second in the series and can be read as a stand alone but both books are excellent so why not read both.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

If you can wade through the cavalcade of names and backgrounds thrown at you during the beginning of this book, it ends up being a decent read, even though the whirling mass of characters continues throughout the book. Even having read the first book didn't help untangle the crowd very much. The best part of this book is getting to see the relationship between Stella and Lyndy starting to unfold (and a little comeuppance for Lyndy's mother.)
Stella Kendrick and Viscount "Lyndy" Lyndhurst started with an arranged marriage but found that they actually might like each other very much. As they are starting to get to know each other, one of the things they do is go fly fishing. And it's on the river that Stella discovers the body of Lord Fairbrother. Fairbrother is your typical mystery victim; people want him dead for a wide variety of reasons. His wife, a former flame of Lyndy's, didn't especially like the man. His neighbors knew that he accepted bribes for any number of votes on various community issues. His pony won the local best in breed seven years in a row though it was patently obvious that it was not an exemplar of the breed. So, all in all a bad sort who nobody misses.

Three stars
This book comes out June 30th
Follows Murder at Morrington Hall
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

I enjoyed the fact that the leading couple in this novel truly care about each other, a different dynamic to so many others I have read from this period.

Some of the other characters were more than a little stereotypical which detracted a little from the story as a whole. The American heiress (with her loud and abrasive father) is engaged to the English aristocratic lord (and his snobbish, overbearing and stick-in-the-mud mother) and while the initial arrangement revolved around finance, its evident that this is no longer the case. (Very Downtown Abby). The end didn't quite do it for me, but overall this was a lovely historical, cozy murder mystery novel.

I understand this is part of a series, I haven't read any other and found it stood alone very well.

With thanks to #Netgalley, Kensington and the author for my Advanced Reader Copy. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

New Forest 1905 - American heiress Stella and fiance Lyndy (Lord Lyndhurst) are fly fishing at Blackwater Bend when Stella discovers the body of Lord Fairbrother.

Murder at Blackwater Bend is the second book in the Stella & Lyndy mystery series and I loved it! There are two main reasons why I really enjoyed this historical mystery:
1. Setting and Time Period - the setting (New Forest) and the time period (1905 - the Edwardian era) are both key to the story. The New Forest is in Hampshire on the south coast of England and despite it's name is ancient. The history and traditions of the New Forest play an important role in the plot. For example, Harvey the snakecatcher lives in a hut on land he doesn't own. He has been squatting there for 30 years. He was allowed rights of estovers and turbary (the right to collect firewood and harvest turf) because his hut incorporated the old hearth of the Norley Cottage, to which the rights were attached. Therefore, when his home is burned down and the fireplace chimney destroyed, his rights were forfeit. Lord Fairbrother was the official verderer. The Verderer's Court is the governing body charged as guardians of the New Forest, it's landscape, and it's inhabitants. The time period is also key to the story playing out the way it does. The aristocracy has land and social position, but no money, whereas Americans have money and land, but desire social position. This is the era of the American Heiress. So much of this story is about class, social position, resentment, reputation, expectations, and behavior.
2. Traditional mystery plot - I love historical mysteries and read a lot of them. I know exactly what I like in a mystery and this book delivered! It has a complicated plot with lots of suspects, lots of side plots, suspicions, clues, and red herrings. It is exactly the kind of mystery I like.

I highly recommend Clara McKenna's "Murder at Blackwater Bend."

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending me an advanced copy to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an e-galley of this novel.

1905 in England and Lady Atherly is unimpressed with her future daughter-in-law. Granted Stella Kendrick's father has loads of money but the family had no social standing in America and they seem to imbody all that is not acceptable in British upper echelons of society. If Lyndy just didn't have to marry for money to keep the estate afloat.

This is the second installment in this series and differs from many novels featuring the title-for-money issues in England during this time period because the engaged couple seem to actually be fond of each other. That was a nice touch. The question of who the murder victim would be was much too easy to pick up on and solving the mystery didn't take any effort either. This series will probably be enjoyed by fans of historical romance more than crime solvers.

I should have read the first book as I didn’t realise this was the second book in the series. There were a lot of names and relationships to get to know in the first few chapters and I very nearly gave up. But I’m glad I persevered. It’s an easy, fun read, nothing to taxing. The whodunnit kept me guessing right to the end.
The story revolves around rich American heiress Stella promised in marriage to financially troubled but well-connected British aristocrat Lyndy. When they discover the body of Lord Fairbrother, they help the local police in their investigation.
Some of the characters were a bit one dimensional. The main character of Stella was somewhat unbelievable at times, for example running out of a dinner party, hugging the local snake catcher etc, when she was trying to make a good impression on her snobbish future mother-in-law.
Having said all that, I enjoyed the story once it got going and I got to know the characters. Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy it and I might even go back and read the first in the series.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoy this series. I love the historical setting, the characters and the mystery is always keeps me guessing. One domineering parent for each, so they at least have that in common. Rich American girl, Titled poor Englishman, but will they ever get to the alter with Mom not wanting it?

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. - Looking forward to more.

Murder at Blackwater Bend is the fantastic second novel in the Stella and Lyndy Mystery Series. The opening of this book takes us to just a few days after the ending of the first. Stella, an American, and Lyndy, an English aristocrat, are engaged to be married. It is a marriage of convenience, she gets a title (which her father cares greatly about) and his family gets her money (which will save his family home). While on an outing together, Stella finds a dead body of a fellow land owner/neighbor. Add in a couple more murders, some mysteries and maybe an imposter and this book has it all.

The plot of this book was very interesting. There were a lot of moving parts and just when I thought things would start winding down, more happens and the mystery deepens. I enjoyed how the author wrote from several point of views. It made the book unique. This could be very confusing but she does a very good job of setting the scene and making it clear whom is talking about whom. There are so many great descriptions of manors and small town establishments that you can truly feel like you are walking into the pub or sitting room.

I enjoyed getting to know Stella and Lyndy more. Watching their relationship develops is just as interesting as all the dead bodies and mysteries. I enjoy the stark contrast between American new money and English old money. This contrast brings another layer to the mystery and the character development.

Overall, great read of a classic cozy mystery. I'll definitely be watching for the 3rd novel!

4.5 stars ⭐️! This book is witty, action-filled, mysterious, heartfelt, and fun! Whenever I picked up “Murder at Blackwater Bend”, I was whisked back in time to the Edwardian Era, and the story came to life before my eyes.

This is the second book in Ms. McKenna’s “A Stella and Lyndy Mystery Series”, but the first I have read. While I think the book can absolutely work as a stand-alone, I think reading the first book might have helped to deepen my understanding of the characters’ history with one another. However, even with that said, Ms. McKenna writes her characters in a way that they jump right off of the page, and their relationships are vividly clear. You feel the love between certain people, tension between others, and so forth.
All of the characters are brilliantly written to push the story forward in one way or another.

Stella is such a fun, strong, and passionate character who goes after what is right. Lyndy is such a kind and caring man. Watching these two work together with others to solve crime was so intriguing. They really bring out the best in one another, and are truly able to support each other in many ways. I also love the relationship between Stella and her horse, Tully. I so hope these characters’ stories, along with others (particularly Lady Alice!) , are continued in this series as well.

If you enjoy historical fiction, cozy mysteries, and a little bit of romance, I highly recommend this book! It had me gripped from the early pages, and I could not put it down! And as an archeology and history lover, I really enjoyed those aspects of this novel too! I love how the puzzle pieces of the mystery came together. This book is filled with twists and turns, and had me guessing until the very end, and I was SHOCKED!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC of this novel, I really enjoyed it! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Another delightful entry into this charming series. You will love watching Stella navigate the British aristocracy while trying to solve a murder and avoid the disastrous machinations of her future mother-in-law.

This was an easy, fun read about a “million dollar princess” (think Cora from Downton Abbey) who is in England planning her wedding to an aristocrat. She and Lundy make a great sleuthing duo, although I did feel that Lundy came across too much like an ass at times in this one.

I love the premise for this series, and the mystery element was solidly plotted. What made it 3 stars instead of 4 or 5 for me was that the characters in Stella’s family are a little too overwritten. They came across somewhat like caricatures instead of realistic, authentic characters. I also felt like Stella’s behavior and language was too anachronistic for me to fall totally in love with this series.

But, it’s a fun romp through a unique setting and premise and I enjoyed trying to figure out the “whodunnit” element! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free advanced copy.

Stella and Lindy's second adventure was even better than the first! Now that they are engaged, it was interesting to see how their relationship changed and grew as well as the characters themselves. One of the main things I look for in the first few books of a new series is whether or not the characters are evolving and I was happy to see that particularly in Lindy's case. The time period the series is set in is depicted very well and the mystery itself I felt was even more intriguing than in the first book. I was excited for Murder at Blackwater Bend but am now looking forward to third entry even more so.

I LOVED this book. Absolutely adored every word. Excellent characters excellent mystery, no loose ends. Closest to perfection in a long time

I could not put down Murder at Blackwater Bend by Clara McKenna. Ms. McKenna combined my favorite genre mystery with just the right amount of romance. Stella, the strong willed American heiress, engaged recently to Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst sets out to solve who murdered Lyndy’s neighbor, Lord Fairbank, when a local vagabond she calls a friend and whom the locals call the snake charmer is accused. As she and Lyndy work together to solve the mystery, they grow closer; resolving issues which could have thwarted their relationship to include Lyndy’s mother who has it out for Stella and the engagement. The reader couldn’t have asked for a better cast of characters from the prim lady of the manor to the limping local pub owner to the bumbling American archeologist. And the gorgeous English countryside and small town setting just adds to the charm of the book. An all around great cozy murder mystery!

This is the 2nd installment in the Stella and Lyndy mystery series. I did not read the first installment so I may have missed some nuances of the relationships but felt I was able to follow along fine. Stella is a rich American who is engaged to Lyndy (Viscount Lyndhurst) and her future Mother In Law is pushing for Stella to learn all the rules of English etiquette. She is going to balls and attending teas and meets Lady Priscilla who is Lyndy’s former betrothed Lady Priscilla and her husband Lord Fairbrother. Lyndy and Stella finds the dead body of Lord Fairbrother floating in the river and decide to sort thru the secrets and suspects. Stella is not always made to feel as if she belongs but glad to see her and Lyndy work thru it. Will have to read the first in the series. Enjoyed this.

This period mystery story has many elements of success. The story of an American heiress marrying into an aristocratic family is a familiar one, though this has a few twists to make it different. The young bride to be is a Kentuckian who loves horses; there could be love in the match, though circumstances are very pragmatic - the British family needs money and the Americans want nobility. The very unpleasant future in-laws, on both sides, however, mar the charm of the story. One wonders, indeed, how such a nice girl and nice boy have such horrid families. It's hard to get past it. The murder and the investigation are well done, and this story has plenty of promise. Readers who enjoy period mysteries may want to take a look at this one.

A good adventure, a relatable main character, and a mystery that had me guessing. If you like turn of the century books with murder, theft, imposters, and a little bit of romance Murder at Blackwater Bend is something is recommend.

This is my second foray into the magical world of the New Forest and it was a fabulous read! After the first book in this series established the characters and the on-going story of Stella and Lyndy's romance, the second book picked up two months after they met. I enjoyed the mystery and the introduction of minor characters that allowed us to see more of Stella's personality and heart. The ending was a perfect segue into the next book and I'm hoping for a Stella and Lyndy wedding soon! Kudos to Clara McKenna for creating multi-faceted characters and a setting that you don't come across much in historical mysteries. I love learning about the different horse breeds while I read!