One of my favorite series! I just love the tension that the author is able to bring to the stories. The FMC is witty and strong and the pacing of the story is perfect. I seriously hope she keeps this series going!! The interweaving of the past books into this story is stellar and the character development is completely on point. Lily is the perfect regency heroine - perfect for fans of The Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander and both series by Deanna Raybourn.

A chilling premise that perfectly blends the historical setting and the cozy mystery genres to create an addicting plot that will hook you from page one. A charming heroine, Lily, is witty and clever. She's a protagonist that you will instantly love and enjoy solving mysteries with. Don't wait to grab this book.

Katherine Schellman involves widow Lily Adler in another regency murder in small town England, murder with gothic overtones. Lily comes on Death at the Manor when she pays a courtesy visit to Belleford Manor whose ghost who is rumored to have killed the mistress of the manor. Intrigues involve the maids and the new master. Murder of manners. Interesting.

Another fun installment in the Lily Adler Mystery Series.

Whilst not quite as good as the first two, I still got a lot of enjoyment out of this one. I liked the slight gothic feel it had, and hoping it continues in this direction. Sad that Captain Jack Hartley wasn't present, but I am not upset by Lily's new company. Mystery was well-paced and intriguing, though a little predictable. Good fun to continue revisiting this series.

3.5 rounded up to a 4 :)

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy.

Death at the Manor is the third Lily Adler historical cozy mystery by Katharine Schellman. Released 9th Aug 2022 by Crooked Lane, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in third quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a nice historical mystery set in the Regency era and featuring a well rounded cast of characters, including young widow Lily Adler, recently arrived in London from Hertfordshire and still in semi-mourning for her late husband. The mystery is written around a framework of real history which gives it some verisimilitude. The background research was inserted seamlessly and the whole is quite polished and engaging.

The writing is articulate, the narrative arc and tension are well engineered, and with a satisfying denouement. The dialogue isn't ever clunky or cringe-worthy (and for modern Regency fiction, that's saying something). There are some minor developments between the main characters which will be spoiled by having been read out of order, but nothing major. The mystery is adeptly crafted and the motives for the crimes are believable (for fiction).

Four stars. Highly recommended, especially to fans of the genre.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

I am so thankful that I was able to read this book and do continually thank Katharine Schellman, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the advanced access. Everyone loves a cozy mystery, especially when there's some historical fiction thrown in the pot.

Lily Adler is an independent young widow that seems fresh in a crowded historical cozy field. In this addition to the series, Lily faces doubts of her observational skills. Aunt Eliza and her companion Miss Clarke are new characters that I love and hope they return in future books. Captain John (Jack) Hartley is present only in the first few chapters since he is leaves to command a ship. Lily's friend Ofelia and her new husband join her to visit her aunt. And to complicate the romantic field, Matthew Spencer enters the picture in this outing.

The country setting and neighboring haunted house add a slight gothic touch which I always enjoy tremendously. The plot moves along steadily as Lily and Ofelia investigate the increasingly surprising Belleford manor residents. There is a good story twist as well with the killer reveal. The suspenseful climax had plenty of tension and danger, also a favorite.

Overall this was a great addition to the series although I really like Captain Hartley and I'm not sure about Mathew Spencer getting involved with Lily simply because I like Hartley so much. I can see the gentlemen causing fans to pick sides and root for Hartley or Spencer. The mystery was well done and spending time with Lily's aunt was delightful. I am certainly anxious for the next book and highly recommend this title.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

Third installment in Lily Adler Mysteries did not disappoint. Lily is her usual self, may just a tiny bit confused about her feelings and what she wants for her future. However, her detecting skills don't disappoint. Moreover, her love life is something to be admired in this installment of the adventures.
Caught in yet another society murder by (wait for it) ghost, Lily Adler has to be strong, tough, verging on the rude and cold-hearted even to uncover the villain and to keep her friends and loved ones safe.
Katharine Schellman series are keep going from one strength to another. Can't wait for the next installment.

I thought this was a good installment in this historical mystery series, and I would recommend to anyone who has enjoyed the previous books!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

This was a really excellent mystery set in regency England and with a side of romance. I loved traveling to the countryside with Lily Adler and the cast of friends and aunts, and the murder mystery kept me guessing right up until the very end!! I was also happy to see representation of queer people and people of color (in multiple social classes) in this regency setting!!!

Although this is part of a series, I haven’t read the other books and would say this can definitely stand alone (although I am adding them to my TBR!).

Lily goes to the country as do most of the wealthy at the end of the summer—the dances, dinners and other amusements are over in London. She goes to Devon to spend time with her aunt Miss Pierce and her companion Miss Clarke (this is the same aunt Lily’s horrible father was sneering about in book two). Ofelia and Ned, her husband (from book one), decide to join her, and by coincidence, one of her aunt’s neighbours is Matthew Spencer, the war veteran (and minor supporting character in book two) who helped Lily.

Matthew graduates to a bigger role here, casting Lily longing looks, introducing the whole company (Lily, Ofelia, aunt, aunt’s companion, Ned) to his kids. And to a story about yet another neighbour who claims to have a grey lady, a ghost, haunting their house. Of course everyone has to visit the house once Matthew mentions the owners of that house allow tours. And because this is a Lily Adler story, they don’t just get a tour, they get screaming and the dead body of the elderly woman who owns the house, in a room locked from the inside.

And is Lily, or Ofelia, going to just let the local Magistrate decide the woman died in her sleep when
-things look off about the room
-there are questions about the dead woman’s son and her daughter is an odd, wilting thing
-there’s much money up for grabs, and
-the servants dislike the family?
Of course not!

Lily and Ofelia dig into the family’s history and reputation, while Lily gets closer to Matthew (Ofelia and I are less than thrilled about this, as we’d both rather Lily look a little closer at a certain naval gentleman…) Sadly, Simon Page is otherwise occupied, though a less experienced Bow Street investigator is sent to help Lily’s efforts.

And are we surprised when Lily figures things out (after I knew who the killer was, but no matter.) I enjoyed this third instalment. Lily is, of course, unable to not investigate, and I loved seeing much more Ofelia in this book, who is not only smart, curious and charming, but is also a reminder to most readers of this series that there were people from all over the world present in England during the Regency period.

This series is proving be to quite enjoyable, and though I missed Jack rounding out the trio, Lily and Ofelia make a good team. And I liked how the author threw Lily some family surprises, shaking up her assumptions about herself and others. It served to get Lily to reevaluate her belief in her superior skills, and then refocus on her investigation.

Though I missed Jack's harrumphing in this book, I hope he returns for the next (though he's out at sea as of this book). Lily now has two men interested in her (despite Jack either not yet realizing he is, or feeling uncomfortable saying anything as Lily's deceased husband was his good friend). Both men are charming, and will no doubt cause some interesting friction during Lily's next investigation.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

A book pal put me onto this series since I adore Regency England and historical mysteries. I probably should have waited and started at the beginning, but I spotted that blurb mentioning a haunted house and locked room mystery and I had to dive in here.

Death at the Manor is third in the Lily Adler mysteries. I had no trouble diving into this one out of order, but I could see where her personal connections and background were established earlier and I might have had more of a connection to her and the others if I’d encountered them when they were introduced.

Wealthy widow, Lily Adler farewells her friend Captain Jack Hartley, when he leaves for his ship and is joined by her friends, the Carroways, for a visit in the country to her aunt in Hampshire. Their first night at her aunts has them away to the dashing Matthew Spencer’s home for a dinner party and the ghost at nearby Belleford estate is mentioned. Wanting to be entertained, Lady Ofelia Carroway gets the idea for their party to visit the Wrights, who don’t take their ghost that seriously in spite of the servant problem, and investigate the ghost.

Unfortunately, their visit is interrupted by the news that Mrs. Wright has died in the night and the family are convinced the ghost of the Grey Lady frightened her to death since she was alone in a locked room and was the only one to possess the key. Lily is unconvinced of a gothic ghostly visitation and her detecting skills are needed once again when no one except Ofelia by her side, including the local magistrate, is ready to investigate it further.

Meanwhile, Lily was oblivious to Captain Jack Hartley’s interest as more than her friend, but she is warming to the charm of Matthew Spencer.

Death at the Manor was an engaging cozy historical mystery. I liked the cast of characters led by Lily, the Regency country house backdrop was pitch perfect, and the mystery was entertaining. I had my suspicions early and how the locked room bit was achieved. I was right though, there are some good twists later on that gave me some good surprises.

There are some moments of lag, but the pace picks up before I could grow bored. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I’d been in on the series from the beginning. Ofelia was a fun partner to Lily in detection, but Lily got help from the others at times, too. I’m a little wary because I sense a love triangle as this series progresses and I find that distracting at the best of time, let alone in the background of a mystery, but, there is enough other elements to appreciate I might find it worth it. But, first, I think I’ll go back for the earlier stories.

All in all, I was glad to be introduced to this series and look forward to more. Oh, and it has a nice Jane Austen vibe for those familiar with Miss Lambe from Austen’s Sanditon. Those who enjoy historical cozy mysteries would be a great fit for this one.

Lily delights again in this third installment. I enjoy her cleverness on some issues paired with her naivete on others. I enjoyed seeing recurring characters taking more of the spotlight. The mystery itself was played out slowly with a few red herrings but some obvious clues if you're paying attention. Overall, it was another enjoyable experience.

This is the third entry in this enjoyable historical mystery series. Note that the author has now started another series as well. She is quite good at her craft. Publisher’s Weekly gave this title a starred review.

Readers will delightedly welcome back Lily. This time she travels outside of London only to find murder in the countryside. She also is told about ghosts, meets a nice widower and solves a mystery.

Readers will enjoy the expert way that the author evokes the period, along with her ability to invigorate the locked room mystery. Historical mystery fans will surely want to read all three books, all the while hoping for a fourth.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun tale. The characters were engrossing, the puzzle engaging. I did feel a little like I was missing some connections between characters, having not read earlier entries in the series. I will remedy that in the near future.

I loved the idea of a haunted mansion. It would've been fun to see a bit more of that piece of the story.

My review of the first book of the series was a lot more interesting than this one is going to be. It may be because I missed one book in between, and that has put me off the pacing of this series.
If any reader, like me, has not read this in sequence, they will still understand the situation quite well. There is a love triangle of sorts that was previously established, and in this one, our leading lady makes a kind of choice. Lily is a good woman who is inquisitive and has had luck with her 'investigations' previously. She is, however, blind to certain obvious things in her daily life. The first and foremost is the attention of a certain someone that she does not realise is romantic in nature. The second and more embarrassingly here was the lack of understanding of some more worldly things that are quite obvious to us as readers. This combination of characters makes her a more endearing sleuth than some others placed in similar situations.
Lily is visiting her aunt. She is accompanied by Lady Ophelia and her husband, who were to make a quick stop before moving on. Lady Ophelia gets to narrate alternate chapters, so we watch the investigation from two different sides. A familiar figure is present when they reach the town where her aunt resides. They are drawn into the idea of a ghost in the manor, which has been haunting everyone. As they go to witness the spectre in person, they end up finding a dead body instead.
The investigation is quite extensive, although a little faster than the first instalment.
It is a solid book with all the ingredients to enjoy this particular tale and to envision the chaos that might make its way into the next ones ( in the personal category). I liked this book, not as much as the first, but I would still recommend this to others who like this genre and want to read the next if I am able.
I received this as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and another of the author's works.

This third book in the Lily Adler series continues to entertain. A visit to the country becomes stressful when bodies start to pile up and Lily gets involved in helping to solve the mystery once again.

‘Death At The Manor’ by Katharine Schellman is a Regency era mystery set in the Hampshire countryside. Lily Adler is once again caught up in a mysterious death, and feels compelled to find a solution, if only to keep her beloved aunt and her companion safe. When there is talk of a ghost a a nearby manor, Lily and her friends are keen to see for themselves. But they did not count on an unexpected death – one that everyone seems keen to blame on the ghost.

I liked Lily, and found her methods interesting. She was strong willed and had a mind of her own. Including her friends and a certain admirer in her investigations worked well. The Regency era is a particular favourite of mine, so I was delighted to wallow in the period details. The ghostly element added a gothic touch, which was handled exceptionally well by the author. A well written and enjoyable story.

I was given this ARC to review.

I read a lot of historical mysteries and I was looking forward to reading this one. I have not read this author before but sadly I just didn’t get it finished. I found it too slow to keep me interested when I have so many others to read. I will one day come back and finish it but as I needed to do my review I have decided to put it away for now. For those who wish to read it, there are many who have enjoyed it. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

My thoughts






Narrative and Plot



Set in the regency era, the theme of Death At the Manor is quite in line with modern sensibilities. But it does not feel out of place in the story. Even though I am not familiar with the previous two Lily Adler mysteries, I was quickly able to grasp the dynamics between the recurring characters.

The plot was simple and suspenseful enough. But it never quite created an urgency to know the identity of the suspect. The book took its time to move forward. If not for the gothic nature of the story, the first half would have been too slow for a thriller. However, towards the finale, it picks up the pace and quite dramatically reaches the end.






Characters and Conflicts







Since the book is set in an era where the idea of a female detective wasn't plausible, Lily had to be a naturally inquisitive person to dig so deep into other people's lives. A simple, true crime podcast host could have solved that problem in a contemporary setup, but this is a different era. Perhaps the previous books would throw light on how she became the person she was here. But, without the context, both Lily and Ofelia's interference is a bit much.

The ensemble cast is perhaps the best feature of the book. Each one of them stayed distinct and served their purpose in moving the story forward.

As far as the ending goes, if you were paying close attention, you could see it coming. Still, the tension builds during the last half and that urgency to find out the murderer finally presents itself.






Conclusion


Overall, this was a spooky gothic thriller that you could consume in a single afternoon. For that, you need to stick to the end until the story picks up.