One man’s unacknowledgement leads to a trail of plotted vengeance!

Rosalind Thorne accepts a position to guide her friend Bethany Douglas’s sister-in-law Penelope, an heiress, through the season. That’s not all! A valuable heirloom, a three string rope of black pearls have gone missing and Rosalind is called on to “advise” Bethany about the investigation. The main suspect is her friend’s sister Nora who has returned to the household, destitute and compromised, three years after running away with Douglas’s best friend Bryan Cantrell. Bethany wants Rosalind to get to the bottom of the problem.
Unfortunately Nora’s other sister Mariah has just seen Cantrell alive and well, strolling through a gallery with a young woman on his arm! Something is brewing, but what?
Throw into the mix Bethany’s uncertain and volatile mother, her embarrassing father, her sister Leonora, and the possibility of a spy in the household.
Gerald Douglas is the latest heir to Sir Jasper Douglas. A man who wields the heirdom like a weapon to bring Gerald to heel. As he’s done to others before Gerald.
As things spin out of control Rosalind Thorne is hard put to make sense of things. Some of the results leave her (and me) speechless!
On her home front Bow street Runner Adam Harkness has gone to Manchester. For how long is not known. A blow not spoken of, except to say a wistful goodbye. Adam and Rosalind have an unvoiced understanding.
An intriguing Regency mystery.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

I have read all the books in the series and have loved them all this one is no exception. Rosalind an interesting and clever character. An unusual heroine who knows how to relate to the Ton and solve problems for them in a discreet manner. This is another well plotted and solid mystery that kept me guessing and was entertaining and gripping with lots of threads. Recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Darcie Wilde for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Secret of the Lost Pearls coming out December 27, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Rosalind Thorne doesn’t possess a fortune of her own, but she has virtues just as valued by the haut ton: discretion. Her interconnections enable her to discover about anything about anyone. Rosalind helps society ladies in need—for a price, of course—and her clientele is steadily growing.
 
Mrs. Gerald Douglas, née Bethany Hodgeson, presents Rosalind with a delicate problem. A priceless pearl necklace has gone missing. Bethany’s husband accuses Nora as the thief, Bethany’s disgraced sister. Nora had made a scandalous elopement when she was sixteen. Three years later, she has returned, telling the family that her husband is dead.
 
Under the cover of helping the daughters prepare for their first London season, Rosalind begins her investigations. She soon realizes that the family has even more secrets than scandals. Fraud, forgery, blackmail, and soon, murder add to the list of scandals. Rosalind, aided by a charming Bow Street officer Adam Harkness will be left to untangle the shocking truth. Will they be able to find out who is the thief and who is the killer in time?

I have this whole series, but this is actually the first book in the series that I’ve finished. I may have missed a little of the backstory. So I definitely need to go back and read the other books, but I love regency mysteries!

Overall, I loved this book! I think the first half was a little long for me. It took some time getting into the story, but things really picked up in the second half. I enjoyed the characters, especially Rosalind and Adam. I do love the Bow Street officers involved in regency mysteries. I loved their relationship and the fact that they solve crimes together. I also loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, especially the Jane Austen quotes.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys regency mysteries featuring a strong heroine.

This is one of my favorite historical mystery series. Rosalind Thorn is a well developed character and the puzzle is excellent. Given that, I think I'd be fine with a less than stellar mystery, being happy to become lost in her world, the Ton and Jane Austen. Rosalind has made a new life for herself as she helps ladies of the Ton deal with delicate matters like stolen heirloom pearls and a murder.
One of the pleasures of this series is escaping into the many levels of Rosalind's world. The plots are intricate and always keep me engaged. The developing romance of the series is also well done and believable. For that reason I would say read the series in order. If you can't line them up and binge read them, by all means read this one as a stand alone and catch up later. You'll be glad either way.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

i think that Sarah Zettel aka Darcie Wilde aka Delia James can write good novels regardless of the genre and era.
I always enjoyed them and this book confirmed my opinion.
Rosalind is well developed, interesting and clever character. An unusual heroine who knows how to relate to the Ton and discover the culprits.
This was another well plotted and solid mystery that kept me guessing. Entertaining and gripping.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I have to give this book credit where credit is due: Wilde spins a mystery that takes many turns in a realistic and engaging fashion. I appreciate how we cycle through so much of the family, and yet it is never contrived when someone is considered as a potential thief (or later, killer).

I am reading this series coming in blind from the other books before it, but enough was explained early on that I knew what was going on. I didn’t really appreciate the info-dump, but it was short enough that it didn’t distract too much from the story later on. I find it interesting that Adam and Rosalind are going pretty steady, but she’s still super against marriage (which is not discussed in this book at all, so it’s confusing).

Rosalind’s character is interesting in regards to the plot. She is good at reading people and very composed, to the point where she has to check her reactions thanks to her “good breeding/training” beforehand. Whenever she sees Adam, she always says that she wants to let go of all pretentiousness, but she holds herself back. I haven’t really followed along with the other books before, so I don’t know if they’ve really had many close moments before where they’ve developed their relationship, so this feel unearned in my eyes. In essence, all this does is it makes it hard to really relate to Rosalind, as interesting as a character as she may be. Speaking of characters, there was a moment from Amelia’s perspective where it was hinted that she had romantic feelings for Alice. This was completely out of left-field and somewhat irrelevant, so it felt more gratuitous than really engaging.

The writing itself was great. Wilde knows how to control the beats of dialogue and she writes many characters so as to not entirely clear themselves of suspicion. At times, it could be a bit obvious, but many times it was well orchestrated. The descriptions of clothes, locations, and everything else really set the story in its setting, which is a welcome touch. That being said, there was little to actually anchor the reader in a given house or location. I felt like you couldn’t differentiate between the houses, so if you skipped over a scene transition, you may not know that they had changed location.

All in all, a good read for the mystery. I will definitely pick up another Darcie Wilde book to see how she does with future installments or other series.

4.5 Stars
Rosalind Thorne is known as a “most useful woman” she may not have a grand but she possesses discretion, and a web of connections that enable her to discover just about anything about anyone. Rosalind helps society ladies in need—for a modest fee, of course—and her client roster is steadily increasing. Mrs. Gerald Douglas, née Bethany Hodgeson, presents Rosalind with a particularly delicate predicament. A valuable pearl necklace has gone missing, and Bethany’s husband believes the thief is Nora, Bethany’s disgraced sister. But as Rosalind begins her investigations, under cover of helping the daughters of the house prepare for their first London season, she realizes that the family harbours even more secrets than scandals.
The sixth outing for Rosalind & another well written, engrossing read. I recommend not only this book but the whole series. The characters are very well portrayed with lovely depth, I loved Rosalind & I also love her beau Bow Street Runner Adam Harkness & I love how their relationship is developing & slowly progressing. The book is well plotted & once started I found it hard to put down, I loved the characters & I loved the mystery as well as the slow burning romance
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Secret of the Lost Pearls by Darcie
I enjoyed this addition to a long running Regency mystery series. This story was slightly different in that it involved an entire family rather than primarily just a specific woman as the person with a problem. It was an interesting change. The solution was satisfying and the mild romance continues.
As always, I look forward to the next book in this series.

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio book and loved it. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning the pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “The Secret of the Lost Pearls.” All opinions and comments are my own.

There’s a lot more than missing pearls to contend with in Darcie Wilde’s latest Rosalind Throne historical mystery, set in 1820 London. Worries about losing an inheritance due to scandal, threats of making a poor marriage, or no marriage at all -- for some, a fate worse than death in the society of the time. And since Rosalind’s “job” is to assist society ladies with their “troubles,” Rosalind agrees to help an old friend with the missing pearl necklace, and at the same time figure out what else is up with the woman’s family. Because there are a LOT of problems there. Rosalind wonders immediately -- good for our purposes -- what secrets are being hidden? Settle in, gentle readers! Darcie Wilde never disappoints; “The Secret of the Lost Pearls” is a fine example of clever plotting, complex characters and a look at a post-Regency world that is stiff and unyielding when it comes to social situations.

The friend’s sisters and sister-in-law are all part and parcel here, and their stories weave in and out of the narrative (there’s a bit of multiple viewpoint-telling to keep the story moving along). Rosalind, of course, ties it all together. Which takes some doing. This is a study in complex relationships, definitely; There are some very unsavory characters in this book. Not something you curl up with in a big, comfy chair with a cup of cocoa and a cat purring contentedly alongside. It will engage your attention and make your think.

Oh, and there are the side stories -- Adam Harkness, Bow Street Runner, is still here, still working on his relationship with Rosalind. And Alice Littlefield, friend, novelist and gossip writer, thinks they need a bigger house to share.

Rosalind must save everyone, it seems. She’s definitely up to the challenge. Reading about the ins and outs of society is always fascinating, at least to me. The author lays it out very well for us, how easily it could be to be ruined by lies, by innuendo -- by just the “possibility” of scandal.

If all this wasn’t enough, someone at the heart of the troubles is murdered. Pretty much everybody’s a suspect. Rosalind figures this one out, too, in her usual estimable fashion. Readers will have a very complex scheme to delve into in “The Secret of the Lost Pearls,” as Rosalind herself will tell us. Settle in and be prepared for a wild ride - in a refined and proper fashion, of course.

This excellently plotted Regency mystery series delivers some interesting reading. Rosalind Thorne is the respectable but impoverished former heiress whose family's dysfunction and outrageous behavior has reduced her to a quite different role than what she was brought up to.

Ladies of quality with pesky problems like blackmail or scandal seek the discreet Rosalind out to quietly solve their dilemmas without creating a stir. Rosalind is intelligent, competent, forthright and non-judgmental. So when an old acquaintance asks her to find out who is behind the theft and disappearance of some old family jewelry, even if the culprit is a family member, Rosalind agrees.

But when she arrives at the home, she finds out the theft is just the tip of an iceberg of problems. She finds three sisters who are hiding something, their over the top belligerently eccentric parents, the scandalous elopement of one of the sisters, and an enormous inheritance hinging on keeping the secrets hidden.

The plot is quite clever and the jousting between the intelligent but devious sisters and Rosalind is a challenge. It isn't long before she has a murder to solve as well. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well, this took me a little bit to get into it, reading how the story was written in UK English. It is VERY reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice with the Ton and everything that goes along. It was a heck of a mystery though, with a stolen item, and murder, and mystery and most definitely intrigue! I was shocked by the time I got to the end of the story and found myself shaking my head in disbelief. Wow. I have to say I enjoyed the book, even if it was a little harder to get into. I enjoyed reading at nights after work when I had the time. Enjoy the book.

I am a big fan of Darcie Wilde’s series about Rosalind Thorne, a single woman trying to make it on her own in Regency England by doing “favors” for the wealthy and solving mysteries while she’s doing it. I’m not sure how realistic the idea is, but it’s still intriguing. She’s on the edge of society and has money worries, but she also has interesting friends who help her figure things out. And she also has the lovely Bow Street Runner, Adam Harkness with whom she has developed a growing love and partnership investigating crimes.

This book is another great entry in this series. There were several threads to the mystery and Darcie is smart enough to sense that they all belong together even if she has trouble seeing how they fit. The family whom she is helping has likable characters who are distinct in their personalities and motivations plus a couple of irritating members who make you just want to smack them though, of course, one can’t do that in civilized society.

Once I got into the book, I couldn’t put it down and I ended up finishing it and wishing immediately that there was another one I could pick up. I hope Ms. Wilde doesn’t take too long to write the next one!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Set in Georgian England, The Secret of the Lost Pearls is the sixth in the wonderful Rosalind Thorne Mysteries series. The story is jam packed with secrets, mysteries, theft, snippets of romance, drama and murder.

Rosalind Thorne is extraordinary for her era. Not only is she smart and courageous but also discreet which is exactly what society ladies require when they seek engage her to solve cases without any fuss or damage to their reputations. Acquaintance Bethany Hodgeson asks her to find missing pearls but there is far more bubbling below the surface. Bethany's husband, her sisters and her husband's family all want the resolution...or do they? At the age of sixteen, Bethany's sister Nora eloped with handsome but conniving Cantrell. Her return home is met with many obstacles. Sister Mariah's brain is quick and she knows more than others think. Bow Street officer Adam Harkness and maid Amelia use their complementary skillsets to aid Rosalind and chip away at the mystery which grows from indiscretions to crimes. All the while, the ton is desperate to keep things quiet.

Those who are hankering after a cracking good Georgian era Historical Fiction Mystery series, look no further After the first two instalments, this is my favourite. Though the mysteries themselves are absorbing, the quirky characters, beautifully-researched historical details, wit and bright writing with proper Georgian vernacular captivate me most. It's almost like several bonuses stuffed into a gorgeous package.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this brilliantly-written book! The series brings me much joy.

Were this set today, Rosalind would be termed a fixer because that's what she does- discreetly solves problems for member of the Ton in Regency England. Her friend Bethany contacts her for help in finding a stolen pearl necklace and in getting her relatives into London society. There's more to it than that, though, as Rosalind quickly discovers that this family has secrets. Luckily, she's got the help of her friend (and house mate) Alice and romantic interest Adam, a member of the Bow Street runners. It's an unusual Regency novel, to be sure, as it's more about the mystery than it is the romance. I've only read one of the preceding books in the series and felt entirely at ease with this one because Wilde catches you up on the relationships. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

This is the sixth Rosalind Thorne mystery. Miss Thorne has excellent breeding, a wide circle of useful acquaintances, and very little money. She makes her living as a "useful woman" who can be hired discreetly to solve problems in the haut ton.

When she is contacted by old school friend Bethany, who is now Mrs. Geral Douglas, to find a very valuable pearl necklace which his gone missing, Rosalind doesn't seem to think this will be a diffucult job. But when she moves into the house and discovers the Bethany also lives with her hypochondriac mother, her lazy and drunken father, her sister Nora who has returned after a scandalous elopement with an unsuitable man, her sister Mariah, and her sister-in-law Penelope, Rosalind finds that the pool of suspects and secrets in the household both multiply.

When Nora's supposedly death "husband" Bryan Cantrell resurfaces and wants something from Nora, things get even more complicated. And the complications aren't resolved when someone murders him.

Rosalind has taken on her toughest challenge in this episode. I enjoyed the setting of this story. I also liked the way Rosalind was taking control of her own life. I liked her relationship with Adam Harkness and her maid Amelia.

This was an engaging and entertaining story which makes me want to read earlier episodes in the series.

I have read a lot of historical mysteries and I would say this is one of the best I have read in a long time. I have not read any of this author’s books before so it was a very pleasant surprise. There was so much going on, but it was so well written that you do not get confused. The characters were wonderful and very likable. The story followed well and kept you turning the page. I found it very hard to put down trying to work out the answers to the mysteries. I love stories where you can say “I didn’t see that coming” and this is one of those. There is a lovely romance continuing from past books and I will enjoy seeing it develop more in future books. This series will definitely be going on my to-be-read list. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

Rosalind Thorne is making her way as a single woman in 1820s London by offering her services as a detective to ladies who need a bit of discretion. She lives with her friend Alice, a gossip columnist, in a cramped flat. Rosalind has been contacted by an old friend who wants to her investigate the disappearance of a pearl necklace. She goes to stay with the family under the pretense of helping a young lady in the house, Penelope, who is getting ready for her "coming out" season (in hopes of finding a rich husband). The household where Rosalind finds herself is somewhat crowded. Her friend Bethany Hodgeson lives with not only her husband and two small children, but with her husband's sister, Penelope, as well as her own parents and two sisters, Nora and Mariah. Nora has recently returned to the family home in disgrace, having run off with Mr. Hodgeson's friend Bryan Cantrell. She stated that he had died and left her destitute. Into this tumult, Rosalind is thrust. She no sooner begins her investigation than, while attending a society party to introduce the young ladies, the supposedly dead Mr. Cantrell shows up. Rosalind notices he seems to be hanging around the house, too. Could he really, as he claims, want Nora back, or is he more interested in the fortune that her brother-in-law is set to inherit?

Nineteenth century British mysteries are my favorite genre and this book doesn't disappoint! Rosalind is certainly a modern woman, in terms of making her own way and standing up for those who are "disgraced." Each chapter begins with a quote from another book, mostly Jane Austen novels, that is appropriate for the upcoming action. As with a lot of mysteries, the ending was somewhat rushed and the explanations a bit convoluted, but I still enjoyed this romp through Georgian London!

The latest Rosalind Thorne mystery, #TheSecretoftheLostPearls, is a wonderfully complex puzzle with a large cast of fully realized characters.

Rosalind is initially engaged by an old friend, Bethany Douglas, to help determine what happened to a valuable and unusual necklace of black and white pearls that has been stolen. To provide her a reason to stay at Bethany’s house, Rosalind also agrees to help the younger women in the house prepare to participate in the upcoming London Season. This includes Penelope, Bethany’s sister-in-law, and possibly Bethany’s two sisters, Mariah and Nora.

Raised in the country, Bethany isn’t familiar or comfortable with the ways of the London ton. Bethany’s husband, Gerald, is an engineer who has recently and unexpectedly become the heir of a rich distant uncle, so the family’s prospects are looking up, financially. Nora has recently returned to England after scandalously eloping with a friend of Gerald’s—Bryan Cantrell. Nora shows up at her sister’s house, announcing that Cantrell has died, leaving her nowhere else to turn. The Douglas household also includes Bethany’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hodgeson.

It turns out that Cantrell is alive and after trying to force Nora to return to him, continues to cause problems for the family. Soon Rosalind finds herself trying to unravel a multi-layered mystery, complicated by the fact that everyone in the Douglas household is hiding something. Blackmail, fraud, forgery and murder all come into play before the truth is revealed.

Rosalind is again ably assisted in her investigations by Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, as well as her friends Alice Littlefield, George Littlefield and Sanderson Faulks.

Set during the Regency period, the story is, as always, well researched, accurately reflecting the social conventions and restrictions of the time. A great addition to a charming series…can’t wait to see what the future holds for Rosalind and friends.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for the advance copy

Wilde makes a point of developing her characters thoroughly and in completely believable ways in The Secret of the Lost Pearls. The story is imaginative and… complete. The details tie up nicely, providing the reader with a very satisfying arm-chair-sleuth experience as well as a convincing ride through Regency England.

As this is the sixth in a series, it is refreshing to see the characters stay true to their original design, while growing and changing in response to the events and decisions of their lives.

Wilde’s writing is engaging and enveloping. One does not just read the story, but steps into the pages, following Miss Thorne around as she conducts her inquiries.
Nicely done.