ANASTASIA HASTINGS
Of Manners and Murder: A Dear Miss Hermione Mystery

In the debut of what I’m sure will be a successful series, a new intrepid heroine is introduced. Miss Violet Manville, who describes herself as level-headed, commonsensical and well-ordered of habit and mind, has been put in charge of a magazine advice column previously written by her aunt Adelia, who is off to the continent for a bit of romance. One of the letter writers Violet, in her role as Miss Hermione, is tasked with helping, states she fears someone wants to murder her. Then Violet learns the woman is dead, supposedly in an accident.

What a premise for a mystery, and author Anastasia Hastings delivers. A convoluted plot takes the reader from the streets of London to a country house in an English village. We meet the usual suspects, vicars, doctors, men about town. Lady This and Mrs. That and of course, the village flirt who is a maid in the great house. The bereaved widower is in action here, and also an intriguing fellow who may be either a rogue or a hero. There are plenty of red herrings and potential suspects in the cast of characters.

Hastings has created a spunkier heroine than most in the Victorian era. Smart, too, and forbearing as she has to contend with some rather unsympathetic characters. I think you’ll like the set up, the method of solving the mystery, and the characters. If I had a problem with some of the probing questions Violet is compelled to ask, perhaps it’s my own reticence, but I did wonder a time or two what happened to Victorian manners.

"Like it or not, I told myself, this must be the way to have Thoughts, and thus convinced, I pulled in a breath and let it out slowly." - Sephora meditating for the first time (and honestly, me too)

Of Manners and Murder takes place in Victorian London and begins with Violet being hastily thrown into her aunt's business of writing an advice column, Dear Miss Hermione, as said aunt sets off for the continent with her new beau. Through the column, Violet decides to follow up with a woman who has submitted to the column only to find her dead, and then rushes headlong into an investigation of this woman's suspicious death. And of course, she is accompanied by her younger half-sister Sephora, who has a misadventure of her own, and their housekeeper, Bunty.

I enjoyed this quirky and cozy mystery and loved following the investigation to see how all the pieces fit together. The supporting characters were interesting - I think Bunty the housekeeper will definitely become a fan favorite character with her steadfast loyalty and wisdom. The plot was fun and humorous - the scene where everyone keeps asking Violet after Sephora had me laughing and I thought the floriography was a nice touch - and I hope we see a certain Eli Marsh again.

I call it cozy due to the ease of reading the book as well as a lack of any real urgency throughout the story; quirky due some liberties taken with the time period and the relationship between the sisters. Victorian London and the English countryside are treated more as backdrops than serious setting. Our main character (and therefore our main point of view), Violet, establishes from the very beginning that she is very much not like other women of society - she's far too worldly, intelligent, and independent to enjoy society the way her female peers do and is therefore more of a solitary 'spinster' by choice (and her more humble means). The secondary point of view from Sephora, Violet's half-sister heiress, leaves much to be desired. While I'm sure her character is meant to be presented as a foil to Violet's more rational and mature temperament, she comes off as vain and vapid throughout the story, and oftentimes her point of view doesn't seem to add much significance to the story except to push the plot along. And to say the relationship between the two is strained is an understatement. The sisters blatantly misunderstand each other every possible interaction and are at odds so often that it leads to a dynamic between the two that comes of as confusing instead of intriguing or humorous - I think some of this is due to Sephora's flatter and more stereotyped characterization that hopefully be given the space it needs in further installments to fully develop and round itself out.

All that being said, I do see myself keeping an eye out for future installments of this series, since I found the read to be enjoyable and believe the series is full of potential. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a Victorian English backdrop, light Sherlock Holmes or Enola Holmes vibes, and a female lead, definitely give this one a read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for an e-arc copy in return for an honest review.

This was such a fun little regency romp with a who-dun-it feel! I found this book to be the cozy little mystery you should curl up by your window and read with a storm raging outside.

While much of the story felt pretty predictable, it was still rather enjoyable! It was definitely an easy read for me and one that I found myself laughing at as well as constantly trying to figure out the culprit!

The only thing I could have done without was the sister, Sephora. Her character really seemed to take away from the story and just provide unnecessary drama that didn’t enrich the plot. Had she not been such a prominent part of the book, I think it would have really been a hit for me.

This was such a FUN read, if stretching the bounds of believability quite a bit. I enjoyed Violet immensely, was suitably exasperated with her fluff-head sister, and was surprised but delighted in the abrupt appearance of the seemingly heavy-handed love interest. This is definitely more for those who enjoy a spirited mystery rather than by-the-letter-accurate historical novel. I look forward to more in this series.

A cozy mystery about a woman who helps others that write to "Dear Hermione", including Ivy who writes that someone is trying to kill her. The woman travels to see Ivy but arrives in time for her funeral. This must be investigated.

Based on the summary, setting, and genre, I thought this would be a book I'd really enjoy. Sadly, that wasn't the case. The prose was overdone, in general, and that made it hard to stay engaged. I never really connected with the characters, and some of them felt a bit unnecessary. It felt a bit dry with nothing that will stick with me now that I've turned the last page.

As usual, I have to suspend disbelief that any of the actions COULD have taken place in that time period. Having done so, I did enjoy Of Manners and Murder, and hope it is the first of a series. The characters are engaging, and, setting aside the unlikeliness of the situations, it was a fast, fun read.

My thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read Of Manner and Murder in return for an honest review.

An intriguing historical cozy mystery. Violet gets to take over her aunt’s position answering letters and gets embroiled in a murder mystery. The story is told from the voice of her and her younger sister as they navigate life alone with no parents. With multiple suspects who have motive the author creates a interesting and page turning plot. The reader will be entertained as they pick apart the clues and try to solve the crime before all is revealed.

THANK YOU, St. Martin's and Minotaur, for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

SYNOPSIS - it's 1885, London. Violet Manville's Aunt Adelia runs and writes London's premier advice column, "Miss Hermione." Adelia leaves the country suddenly with her newest love interest, leaving the Miss Hermione column in Violet's hands. Violet begrudgingly accepts the task... and in one of her FIRST letters, a young woman, Ivy Armstrong, writes to Miss Hermione pleading for help because she fears for her life. Violet, immediately intrigued and concerned, visits the town from whence Ivy's later came... only to find that Ivy is already dead. Violet becomes an amateur sleuth in addition to continuing to write her column as Miss Hermione, seeking justice for Ivy.

REVIEW - As I was reading this book, my mind immediately jumped to Enola Holmes (I think this book and that movie go perfectly together... exact same vibe). This book is perfect for fans of adventurous sleuthing and characters like Sherlock Holmes, Enola Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Benoit Blanc. It was relatively fast-paced, dialogue- and character-driven, with an ensemble cast of Clue-like characters and red herrings. I enjoyed Violet as a narrator, and I loved the dual POVs switching between her and Sephora (great contrast in characters there... it speaks to the talent of the author for creating character voice!). There are a LOT of characters to keep up with in this book so I'm glad I hunkered down and finished it in a few days.

Some things I loved:
- Violet shooting a gun better than most men
- the whole "William Shakespeare" thing
- Bunty
- the Miss Hermione letters sprinkled throughout the novel
- that scene where literally everyone and their mother tries to court Sephora
- Violet refusing to be a damsel in distress, completely ignoring the advice of Eli and doing her own thing (you go girl)

It's a fun and twisty mystery. Good for something a bit lighter than most of the suspense/mystery novels in the market today. AND it looks like it's going to be a series... I'll keep my eyes out for the next!

I was at something of a loss how jump into this review, though I’ve been thinking about it as I read. It strikes me that one way to look at it is “Margery Allingham meets Murder She Wrote meets Hallmark Mysteries and Murder.

The setting for this first entry into the Dear Miss Hermione series, for surely it will be, is 1885 Victorian London. Two unmarried (half)sisters live together in a house belonging to an aunt. One is practical and perceptive. The other is flighty and easily fooled.

The aunt has left for the south of France with her latest paramour, leaving the older sister, Violet, to become the new Miss Hermione. The younger sister is trying to hide a suitor about whom she know nothing but his first name.

Perhaps I am being to constructionist but I can’t help wondering if these two young women of good breeding would really be as free to move about as this story requires. But I think my husband would tell me to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the plot’s development.

I have to admit, the author penned an intriguing enough novel to keep me reading (it is a relatively quick read). I quite enjoyed it. There are lots of people who are not who they seem to be. There is travel and detection, allies and betrayers. And I admit, I did not solve it myself until close to the end. So I think it is altogether a satisfying period mystery. I will be looking for number two in the series.

I really liked this Victorian era cozy mystery. Violet is an intriguing character. She was raised as an Englishwoman, but grew up abroad in places like India and Hong Kong. Moreover, her mother and father encouraged skills and pursuits not often cultivated in women of that time. Now that Violet is living in London, she does her best to respect and follow English societal norms, but she often finds them trite or frivolous. Meanwhile, her sister Sephora embraces Society with open arms. The contrast makes for a tense sibling relationship.
The mystery itself was interesting and complex. It had faint Jane Eyre vibes. I also liked how it encompassed people and events in both Willingdale and London.

This is the first book in the Dear Miss Hermione series. I’m looking forward to reading Violet’s next adventure! Especially if a certain American happens to return.

3.75

A Victorian era cozy mystery? Please. A Victorian era cozy mystery that’s the first of a new series??? Pleeeeeeese! As much as I love a hardboiled mystery sometimes nothing but a cozy will do.

Violet and her younger sister live with their aunt, whose secret identity is that of Miss Hermione, a most popular advice columnist/agony aunt. This comes to light when the aunt decides last minute to take a vacation with her love, and leaves her column in Violet’s hands, assuring her that she had no idea what she was doing when she first started, and that Violet is most capable and will have the guidance of her assistant, as needed. Violet’s first letter is that of a young woman, recently married, who fears that someone is conspiring to kill her. Violet decides to travel to the woman’s village to speak with her further about this, but she arrives to learn that the young woman is deceased. Unable to keep her original plans, Violet investigates in this smartly written and very enjoyable series start. Violet is likeable, the series is quick paced, I found the sister to be annoying, but I will hope for future character growth. All in all, I really enjoyed this one and will read the next.

I think this will be excellent in audiobook form. Recommended.

Violet Manville is a twenty-something spinster in Victorian London. She and her half-sister Sephora live with their aunt. The aunt departs for a trip with her paramour and reveals to Violet that she is the author of an advice column for women, and leaves it in Violet's capable hands. Violet receives a letter from a woman named Ivy who suspects someone is trying to kill her. Violet takes it upon herself to travel to Ivy's village to speak to her, but ooops, too late, she arrives on the day of Ivy's funeral. She takes it upon herself to investigate and is a plucky, likeable heroine. There is an annoying side plot with her sister Sephora, who is rich thanks to an inheritance on her mother's side and is vulnerable to unscrupulous suitors. The sister is infuriating but I guess she's a good foil to highlight how level-headed Violet is. I would read the next in this series.

3.75 stars

Presumably this is a series debut, featuring a very sharp (both in tongue and in intelligence) young woman who has secretly taken over her aunt's advice column in London in the 1880s. Violet is no-nonsense and dishes out honesty. Violet lives with her Aunt Adelia and her half sister Sephora. Sephora is everything Violet isn't - beautiful, a bit vapid, and wildly romantic.

Two problems arise. The first is from a letter writer who writes that she believes someone is trying to kill her. Violet feels honor bound to investigate and is ingenious in trying to track down the truth. The second problem is Sephora. She has gotten herself entangled with an unworthy man, and the exasperated Violet has to try and rescue her.

A thoroughly delightful cozy mystery centered around a writer to the lovelorn in England (maybe during the Regency, it’s unclear). It took me awhile to be invested in this but by the half way point I really began to like the spunk of the main character and how she handles her profession, the solving of the mystery and her daily dealings with her flighty half-sister. Also it seems that this will be part of a series that I would definitely be interested in reading to see what happens to ‘Miss Hermoine’. I thank #netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of #ofmannersandmurder for me to read and review, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"Of Manners & Murder" by Anastasia Hastings was an original & interesting start to the new Dear Miss Hermione Victorian era cozy mystery series.
The story was well executed & entertaining with great characters.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

What a delightful Victorian era cozy-mystery!!

Violet is thrust into action almost immediately, once with taking over her aunt's advice column and then once again when one of the letters indicates a woman, Ivy, fearing for her life. Violet travels to the city the letters were posted from but when she arrives, Ivy is dead. Violet of course needs to investigate and unravel the murder.

I could have done without Violet's sister, Sephora. Or maybe it was her name, I kept getting distracted, thinking about the makeup store.

This is the first book in the Miss Hermione series and I look forward to reading the second one!

Violet and Sephora are half sisters who are living in London with their aunt, Adelia. Sephora is beautiful and very wealthy. Violet makes herself look plain and is very intelligent Adelia has informed Violet that she has been writing the very popular column, Dear Hermione. The column provides advice to people who need direction in order to solve a personal problem. In short, this is an early version of Dear Abby. Now, that Adelia will be away with one of her lovers, she has appointed Violet to become the author of the column.

There are no worries, Adelia has files. And of course Violet is intelligent enough to take over and do a terrific job. Whether she wants to or not.
After a moment of thought, Violet recognizes the challenge. She jumps in with both feet.

One of her first letters is from a young woman, Ivy, who believes someone is trying to murder her. Naturally, Violet decides to go to the village where Ivy lives in order to investigate. Violet arrives just in time to attend Ivy’s funeral.

This is a fun story. Violet has the guts of a burglar. She puts herself in dangerous places, asks rude questions and observes more than any well bred young lady should observe.

Sephora, on the other hand, is a lovely girl, who lives in a fairy tale world. She has no idea what is really happening around her. Violet points out that a man who wants to keep his identity secret from everyone is not to be trusted. Sephora believes Violet is simply jealous of Sephora.

There are several murder suspects and Violet looks into each of them. In reality, the mystery is rather easy to solve, but the journey is everything a reader wants in a cozy mystery.

Ms Hastings has created a plot which is well developed and holds the reader’s interest. The descriptions of the time and place are well done.

The characters are complete and fully formed human beings Violet is a formidable sleuth. She is persistent and she has tunnel vision. Most of all, she is smart about people.

This is the first book in a series, and I look forward to the next book in this series.

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

Set in 1885 Victorian England, this book, the first in a series, is somewhat reminiscent of other intrigue/romances set in this period involving young ladies who defy expectations for women, and are independent, intelligent, and not afraid to investigate murder.

Violet Manville, in her early twenties, and her half sister Sephora, 16, live with their Aunt Adelia in London, their parents having died. As the story begins, Violet finds out her aunt is actually the famous Miss Hermione, “the most celebrated Agony Aunt in all the Empire.” (Agony aunts are what the British call female advice columnists.). Aunt Adelia is going off on a trip, however, and insists Violet take over the column in her absence.

The first letter Violet tackles is from a woman named Ivy in Willingdale, forty miles outside of London, who believes someone is trying to kill her. Violet decides to take the train and go talk to Ivy, arriving just as a big funeral is going on - that of Ivy herself. Ivy had sent Miss Hermione a list of suspects, and Violet tries to interview them, feeling she owes it to Ivy to ferret out the truth.

In a side plot, Sephora has been sneaking out to see a man with whom she is smitten, but about whom she knows little. Violet feels a parental responsibility for Sephora, and simultaneously tries to take Sephora in hand.

The plot threads come together in an atmosphere of mortal danger as well as romance.

Evaluation: While the idea behind the series is not altogether original, the story is well executed and entertaining.

3.5 rounded up.
This was a fun historical mystery! I liked Violet's chapters a bit more than Sephora's but i'm interested to see where the series goes from here (especially with the introduction of a few characters!)