Fantastic Victorian mystery, featuring a cast of brilliant characters with big personalities. When suspicious accidents begin happening during a charming wedding at a big shmancy estate, it becomes a whodunit. But who is being targeted and why? Enjoyed this mystery novel very much! I hadn't read any of the previous installments in the series but I am now determined to get my hands on both. Reminds me a bit of the Lady Georgiana series by Rhys Bowen.

Frances, Dowager Countess of Harleigh, could use a vacation, between planning her sisters impending nuptials, preparing for the arrival of her domineering mother, and being in a clandestine engagement with the devilishly handsome George Hazelton. However, particular... circumstances... have necessitated pushing up Lily and Leo's wedding date, putting Frances in a lurch to find a place for them to be wed quickly without scandal. George, however, presents a brilliant solution: he is heading to his brother's country home for a few weeks, to be in charge of the estate while his brother's family is traveling and host a shooting party. Why not bring the entire wedding party to the country so that Lily and Leo can tie the knot there? However, once they arrive, strange accidents begin occurring--with one ending in death. And they all seem to be happening around the presence of the groom... Can Frances and George put an end to the mischief, before "till death do we part" comes before the honeymoon?

The third fantastic Countess of Harleigh mystery returns readers to Victorian England, where everyone's favorite American-heiress-turned-noble-turned-widow-turned-detective once again finds herself involved in a case. Blending these wonderful, cozy, almost Austen-esque pastoral scenes of the life of upper-class Victorians with a brilliant 'who-done-it?' and a fantastic line up of characters (and suspects), Freeman's third novel in the series continues to dazzle and confound readers. Let's just say this: I should have stayed up later to finish the last four chapters of the book, because I went to bed running the suspects over in my head only to wake up, read said last four chapters, and was totally thrown for a loop with who actually did it. Did not see it coming at all...

Also, in addition to brilliantly plotted mysteries and expertly planted red herrings, Freeman's recurring characters continue to be a draw to the series. Frances and George's relationship, in particular, has readers swooning and eager to see what this investigating power couple will find themselves involved in next. But Freeman doesn't hesitate to address the real concerns that both Frances and George have in their relationship, especially the more they discuss marriage. Frances, a widow from a marriage that met her mother's lofty goals but left lots to be desired, fears being lonely in marriage once again and that she will lose the freedoms that came with being a widow as well as be relegated as an investigator. But they address these concerns together, so that they both know for certain the other's heart and desires for their future. They truly are partners in every sense of the word. (Seriously, does one have to be a Victorian-era cozy mystery protagonist to find a George Hazelton?)

Eagerly anticipating what mystery will land in Frances' lap and capable hands next!

Loved the book. Wonderful details of clothes from that time in history.

This is a mystery with accidents and a murder. Lady Harleigh's sister Lily wants to get married sooner so Lady Harleigh's fiance offers his family's country house as the wedding site.

After the wedding party arrives at the country house, mysterious accidents start to happen. There is NO graphic violence, which I appreciate.

Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, married the man of her mother's dreams and she is determined that her sister will not do so. While Frances' husband was dashing and handsome, he was also feckless and a philanderer. When Lily insists that the wedding to Leo must happen sooner rather than later, Frances needs a venue far away from prying eyes. Risings, George Hazleton’s family estate in Hampshire, is a perfect choice, and soon Frances, her beloved George, and other guests have gathered to enjoy the estate and get to know each other. When a series of accidents occur, Frances is thrown into the role of sleuth and left wondering if someone is conspiring to stop the wedding. Mr. Treadwell, Leo's best man, seems to have his eye on Lily and has his own reasons for staying so close. Throw in the mother of the bride who is disappointed in the choice of groom and chaos ensues.

This lighthearted mystery filled with danger and romance is delightful! This is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the other two. Dianne Freeman has captured England in the late 1800s. A time when wealthy American mothers were marrying off their daughters to impoverished, but titled British aristocracy. The upstairs - downstairs descriptions were reminiscent of Downton Abbey complete with snobbery and humor. The mother of the bride tries right up to the wedding day to convince her daughter to marry better than Leo. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy the strong female characters of Frances and Aunt Hetty.

Another sleuth story for a Lady and her neighbor, who are waiting to announce their engagement until the Lady marries off her sister Lily at a house party. There are many "accidents" that lead the Lady and George to investigate, along with the local police. But, there are surprises too...

This is the third book in the Lady’s Guide series. The story, set in late Victorian England, follows Lady Frances Harleigh, a widowed American countess. Along with her neighbor, George Hazelton, Frances indulges her sense of adventure by investigating mysteries that come under her notice. This installment takes place on a large estate at a house party in the English countryside. A wedding is to take place, but a series of accidents leads Lady Harleigh to believe there is a villain at work who is trying to end the happy occasion by taking the life of one of the guests. But who is the target? And who is the villain?

I can’t go into much more detail or I would spoil the series for someone who hasn’t discovered it yet.

I enjoyed this book, and the previous two, immensely. It had the perfect blend of mystery, romance, and comedy. The historical setting is well done as is the mystery aspect of the book. But the best part are the characters. They have full and unique personalities and have excellent dialogue. Any one of the supporting characters could be the subject of a book all on their own, but the best of them all is certainly a Lady Harleigh. She is independent, witty, sardonic, and whip smart.

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys light historical mysteries. It was a fast read and I will definitely read any subsequent books by this author.

A very entertaining cozy mystery! I was not familiar with this series, but I was able to jump in with this title, which is book #3. I'm looking forward to going back to the beginning with these very appealing characters. I look forward to recommending this to readers who enjoy historical mysteries with a little bit of romance. Great book!

This 3rd installment in the series picks up shortly after the end of #2. If you haven't read the other books in the series, you could pick this one up and enjoy the mystery but there are some things you would miss. I recommend reading this series from the start. If you enjoy cozy period mysteries, this series is for you. I look forward to each installment! Frances is preparing to throw a big society wedding when Lily and her fiance throw a wrench into the works which means a quiet wedding in the country will be best. George offers his brother's country estate as a venue along with his planned house party. Unfortunately, a series of accidents begin to occur. Once accident is unfortunate, 3 is suspicious. Especially as one of the accidents ends with a death. Who is the target and what is the motive? Frances and George are on the case as the murderer keeps trying. With family causing all kinds of problems in the house and out, they have their work cut out for them. II don't love all of the characters but I love the way they interact. I was lucky to be granted an arc copy from Kensington books and Netgalley. All of my opinions are unbiased.

This series is always one I suggest to my patrons. This book is a great addition to the series. I enjoy the characters, the historical setting and the mystery. I liked meeting Frances's mother & brother. The other character's were interesting as well.

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

I have not read the previous two novels in this series but can say I didn't have any problems at all in finding myself comfortably reading along and understanding the relationships between all the characters. Francis, Countess of Harleigh, is a young widow ( approximately 28 years old), the mother of an eight year old daughter and an American. Married for her dowry, Francis was not attached to her husband but she was able to bring an entrance into the British aristocracy which was much sought by her mother. Francis is helping with the planning of her sister Lily's wedding when it becomes necessary to move the date of the wedding forward. Luckily for Francis (as well as Lily and Leo) her very good friend George Hazelton can offer the ancestral home of his brother as a suitable, and quiet, location for the wedding. Of course, nothing could be simple with so many characters running through the pages so the wedding has to be planned among all sorts of excitements, even murder.

As a cozy mystery set among the rich of 1899 England this was an entertaining, light-weight read for me. I liked some of the characters more than others but that's not so very unusual. There are two previous novels in this series which I might decide to read eventually. Not going to be in a rush, but I never know what a rainy afternoon might put me in the mood to read.

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

A fantastic addition to the Countess of Harleigh series. Dianne Freeman masterfully balances the comfort of a series with the unexpectedness of a standalone. No cookie-cutter mysteries here.

This is a delightful series in the cozy, historical mystery genre. This third story provides fans with more of the intriguing Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh. Frances is enjoying her freedom as a widow, still ensconced in the British aristocracy but able to maintain her American sense of self and her indefatigable curiosity. Frances is getting a reputation as a problem-solver, and she is ramping up her new found independence within her own family. Frances is asked to help her sister Lily plan a fast-tracked wedding. Aside from the difficulties in doing this without scandal, Frances find herself in a country mansion with guests falling victim to a series of fatal accidents. A very well written series with all the elements of appealing characters, charming, lush settings, and puzzling plots to satisfy readers who enjoy Victorian era mysteries. Thoroughly enjoyable!

This is the first book by this author that I have read. I found it a little slow in the beginning as she set the scene for the mystery but once the scene was set I found it very hard to put down. It was a lovely change from the usual historical romances I read. It is the third book in the series and although there wasn’t a lot of romance in this book, there was enough to keep it light-hearted. The romance of the main characters has happened in the previous books but not reading the past books doesn’t affect the storyline in this book. I felt the characters were well developed and the storyline had you guessing until the end although there are a few hints along the way. The story line was not confusing as some mysteries are. There was no sex in this book, which for reviewer was great. It was a very enjoyable read and I know I will be reading more. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and freely give my review.

I didn't realise I hadn't read the series before, but I was able to jump right in without much confusion. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but thought it took accidents and coincidences a bit too far. Also, I could never shake my slight annoyance at the heroine. I'd recommend this to some friends, but I'm not sure that I care to read the previous books, not would I want to continue with the series.

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder is such a catchy title! I don't usually read mystery, but I could not stop myself from requesting this one on NetGalley.

The book is part of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery Series but can be read as a standalone.

My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.

Lady Harleigh, neé Frances Price, is a wealthy widow raising an eight years old daughter. She is secretly engaged to the lovely George Hazelton and about to marry her young sister Lily to a respectable and honorable man.

Things start to get complicated when her sister's wedding plans suddenly change, and people start to get hurt and even killed.

Throw an ambitious mother, a jealous best man, some bickering siblings, and a mysterious new neighbor to the mix, and the result is a fun, light, and engrossing story.

I especially liked how Frances' relationship with her mother changed as her views of life expanded. It is certainly not easy to confront a dominant parent.

The mystery is well woven. I had no clue about what was really going on until the very end.

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder is a very entertaining read. I intend to read the other books in the series.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 07/28/2020*

I enjoyed this book so much! I was drawn to it because of the late Victorian time period, with aristocracy and mystery at a house party held at a country estate. It reminded me a little of Agatha Christie's mysteries, except instead of Hercule Poirot twirling his mustache, we have Frances, Lady Harleigh, a widowed American countess who is extremely observant. Her love interest is George, the brother of the man who is hosting the house party. George and Frances have investigated other mysteries together in the first two books of the series.

Soon after everyone arrives, a series of dangerous accidents begins, affecting both staff and guests. Frances and George are watching everyone and everything as the injuries mount. Other than that, Frances also has to deal with her difficult mother, who has come for the wedding of Lily, her youngest daughter, which will happen sooner than was planned.

Although this is the third book in the series and the first I've read, it was fine as a standalone. I am planning on reading the first two books, and any others in this series. It was a comfortable, entertaining read with some genuine suspense and humor. I loved the ending - it left me smiling.

Another hit in Dianne Freeman's series following the Countess of Harleigh. We get to see our favorite characters (and some new faces) in the third installment of this mystery series. I enjoy that the author did not sacrifice the development of Lady Harleigh's character in favor of a cliche ending (without giving any spoilers.) Overall, this book will not disappoint new fans to the series or those that have followed the characters since day 1. I would recommend reading them in order.

I love everything about Lady Hartleigh. The character is fun and clever. The plot isn't clear enough to give away the ending but I appreciated that you never got too close to the wrong character either. I sure hope the series will continue.

This is the third book is Dianne Freeman's Countess of Harleigh Mystery series focusing on the adventures of Frances Wynn and George Hazelton. This fun historical couple encounter crime everywhere they go and work together as sleuths to solve murders in Victorian era London.

In a Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder, Frances needs to find a venue for her sister Lily's upcoming wedding. Her secret fiance George offers his brother's estate for the wedding. As the wedding party and guest make their way to the countryside mayhem ensues. Frances and George's banter, quick wit and delightful way of working together makes solving these mysteries fun and engaging.

This is a delightful book that is as much fun to read as Freeman's previous two editions in the series. Frances and George are great characters as are their families and friends. Each book returns with the same main characters and adds new ones along the way. This book is a delight and gives the reader a taste of Victorian era London through the eyes of recently widowed and mother Frances. This is a great series and I can't wait for installment #4!

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder is the first book I have read by, Dianne Freeman. I requested an ARC because cozy mysteries, especially those set in the Victorian Era, appeal to me. This one has a light, airy tone, and quite a bit of humor.


In spite of this, I had some difficulty getting into it. I had not read Books 1 and 2 of the series, and there were so many characters that had been introduced in those books, that I often got confused and needed to look back and reread to remember who they were. I also wanted to know more about Frances and George, and how they got together, and what was George's background in investigation. This is a dilemma for any author writing a series: How much background and recapping of previous books should be provided for new readers?
Another issue was that, at first, I didn't like the main character, Frances. She seemed to spend a lot of time observing and criticizing many of her friends and acquaintances. I did like George very much.

Finally, the author seemed to take a long time in setting up the series of accidents that comprised the majority of the book. It dragged, until Frances's mother, Daisy, came into the picture. Her appearance seemed to change the atmosphere and the book became more interesting. I enjoyed her character very much.

I think the book would have been much better (for me) if I had started from the beginning of the series, which I now will do.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #ALadysGuidetoMischiefandMurder #NetGalley