Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

I love this author, and I absolutely love her series. This is a great book to start a new series with and I can’t wait to read more. This is definitely a series. I will be looking out for.

I was so excited to read this one, the synopsis sounded right up my street and I eagerly dove in but I ultimately had to DNF it as I just couldn’t get through it. I found myself struggling to pick it back up and struggling to focus on it when I was reading it as my attention tended to wander.

This book presents a murder mystery set in Regency London that delves into the secrets and scandals of the city's elite. Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, a genteel spinster, finds herself at the center of a shocking crime after holding a dagger to the recently deceased Sir Henry Claybourne just before his murder. As her secret identity is threatened and her life hangs in the balance, Emmeline must unravel the truth behind the crime to clear her name.

Hamilton's novel captures the essence of Regency London, showcasing the hypocritical society where women are limited in their choices and freedoms. The exploration of societal expectations and the struggles faced by women, regardless of their social status, adds depth to the story and highlights the challenges of the era.

The book maintains a steady pace, with the murder investigation driving the narrative forward. Hamilton expertly weaves together the elements of detection and the societal backdrop, creating a compelling atmosphere that keeps readers engaged. The twists and turns throughout the story add intrigue and suspense, making it an enjoyable read for fans of Regency mysteries. However, the novel falls short in terms of character development. While Miss Emmeline St. Germaine is an intriguing protagonist with a secret past, some readers may find it difficult to fully connect with her. The supporting characters, though serving their roles in the plot, lack depth and fail to leave a lasting impression.

The murder of Sir Henry Claybourne leaves Regency London shaken. Emmeline must solve the crime or face scandalous exposure, ruination, and maybe the noose, for a crime she did not commit. Throughout the story, the reader is reminded that this is a man's world, a society where women rarely get to make their own decisions or have any control over their lives or even their money. This is no cozy lighthearted read. This is a good start for a new historical mystery series and I enjoyed it even if deals with quite disturbing facts.This is a good start for a new historical mystery series and I enjoyed it even if deals with quite disturbing facts. I look forward to reading more!

I usually like Victoria Hamilton’s mysteries. However, I was disappointed in this book. I did not like the main character. She was very distant. She was very prejudiced. Therefore, I did not care for this new mystery series.

Emmeline St. Germaine is embarking on a dangerous mission as a woman of gentle birth in 1810 London. She is unmarried, so she's at the financial mercy of her older brother Leopold, who thankfully lives out in the country. Still, he employs the butler Birk, who no doubt reports any potentially scandalous activities Emmie might get up to. Emmie lives with her widowed cousin Fidelity, whose husband was murdered as they escaped the French Revolution. Emmie has joined a social circle of like-minded women who have one goal: to rescue young children who are employed as servants and being abused by their supposed benefactors. Once word reaches the group of a child in need of saving, Emmeline dons her disguise as the Avengeress and heads out to rescue the children. When she gets back home, she writes a newspaper gossip column as the Rogue, hinting strongly at the scandals of the rich and titled going on in London. In her latest mission, she catches the loathsome Sir Henry Claybourne in the act of attempting to molest a young girl. Emmie is able to rescue the child and flee. The next day, she is horrified to discover that soon after she left, Sir Henry was murdered. Since word of the visit by the Avengeress has hit the newspapers, everyone assumes that this time the meddlesome female has killed the homeowner. Emmie must set out to interview people who might be witnesses, including household staff and neighbors, in order to determine who might be the true killer. At the same time, she and her loyal maid Gillies have to avoid the scrutiny of Birk and the possibility of meeting the hangman if the true identity of the Avengeress is discovered.

I enjoyed the story of the woman who was constrained by society and the law, but yet found a way to do her best to right the wrongs that most preferred to overlook. The plight of women, who had no rights and were basically the property of male relatives, is painfully detailed. Children, especially those who were orphans or even just very poor, were treated with no kindness or compassion. I enjoyed reading the story of how a small group of women worked behind the scenes to fight against the accepted system. The story ended with a quick set-up for the next novel featuring Emmeline, so I look forward to reading that one soon!

Emmeline St. Germaine is not your average woman in Regency England. Determined to be more than just a pretty face, Emmeline, along with the “Crones”, a group of society ladies determined to make a real difference in the world, try to help young children in service who fall prey to society men who see them as play things. But when one of these society men is found murdered the same night Emmeline rescued a young maid from his household, Emmeline must work quickly to find a murderer before she is unmasked as a vigilante and her reputation is ruined.
This is a darker cozy dealing with issues such as child abuse and women being treated as possessions and not as humans. While things are not graphic in nature, reader who may have experienced the trauma of abuse in the past may find this book triggering. Emmeline fights to be seen and treated as an equal participant in life and seeks for women to treated as people and not property. While many mysteries tend to gloss over the fact that women had very few rights in the early 1800s, this book shows what society was like, warts and all.
It is a good start to a new series and sets up the next adventure that Emmeline faces down: the Regency era asylums where women were sent when they became ‘hysterical’ and investigates why women go for treatment and don’t leave alive.

Emmeline St. Germaine Is part of a group of women who aren’t interested in ballrooms and gowns but instead wants to keep wealthy men from preying on defenseless women. However, in her rescue of a child, Emmeline ends up becoming a suspect in the murder of that child’s would-be rapist. Not only wanting to save herself, but also wanting to keep her group’s missions secret, Emmeline wants to solve this murder mystery as quickly as she can.

I had read this book when it was first published. I couldn’t remember much of the plot, but I do remember being underwhelmed and uninterested in reading any potential follow up books. The story this time around seems a bit tighter with less aimless plot points but I still thought Emmeline was a bit too self-righteous even if her intentions were good. So the book certainly kept my attention better on this second read and I did like that it was a Regency era mystery that wasn’t fluffy, it dealt with real situations that are ugly. I didn’t love it, but I would like to read the next book in the series now because I’m wondering if past dislike of the book kept me from enjoying it as much as I would have otherwise.

The murder of Sir Henry Claybourne leaves Regency London shaken. But for spinster Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, the crime slices far too close to home. Just hours before his death she held a dagger to him, threatening him as she rescued a scullery maid he had procured for his pleasure. Did the person who murdered Sir Henry know of her visit? Emmeline must solve the crime or face scandalous exposure and ruination, and maybe the noose, for a crime she did not commit.
This was an interesting historical cozy mystery that showed the underbelly of Regency England. Emmeline seemed to be the perfect sleuth, although I felt that she was ahead of her time because her views and deeds were not popular for that time period. The plot was intriguing and contained many red herrings that kept me guessing until the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

A shocking murder leaves Regency London shaken and looking for a suspect. A group of genteel women secretly rescuing children is now looking at each other suspiciously. Miss Emmeline St. Germaine held a dagger to him just hours earlier and now he's dead; she must find the killer or face exposure.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment to find out who actually committed this crime.

A group of ladies in Regency England have decided to gather together and stop the abuse of young women by upper class "gentlemen" for their entertainment. Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, masked and hooded enters the house of Sir Henry Claybourne and catches him just as he is about to rape the scullery maid. Holding a knife to his throat, he makes him release the girl and together they escape. However, Sir Henry is found dead, knifed to death, the next morning, and all of London wants the killer, the masked woman, found and charged. Emmeline is forced to solve the murder, undercover, and what she finds is terribly disturbing.

This book dragged, too much repetition in conversations and descriptions. Hopefully, the next in the series is better.

Refusing to stand by while the wealthy men of London prey on their powerless scullery maids and other young women, Miss Emmeline St. Germaine has made it her mission to rescue the victims and threaten the men at dagger-point to cease their depravities. But mere hours after she pays just such a visit to a prominent knight, he’s found murdered and all of London is aghast.

Did the man—or woman—who murdered the knight know of her visit? Facing scandal and the ruination of her family, Emmeline must solve the crime before she and her work are exposed. But there are powerful forces at work to silence her—or worse, lead her to the hangman’s noose for a crime she did not commit . . .

Four stars

I keep trying to get into it. I haven't managed yet. I'll update if I do. I do have a library copy now, attempting again.

Love the atmosphere in this novel. Hope there will be more in the series.this is another hit for this unhorsed.

I expected to love this book, but sad to say, I found the so-called heroine to be self-righteous, implacable, judgemental, and an out-and-out man-hater! Emmeline lives a double life; she pursues a righteous cause, something I agree with, saving abused children; in this rant, where all the men are abusers except two, her employer and the young doctor who loves her, buddy do I feel sorry for him, I cannot name one nice thing about this self-serving woman! Emmeline doesn't want anyone, especially men, to tell her anything, yet she controls everyone around her! She is a hypocrite; she needs a male driver to deliver her and guard her while she kidnaps little girls from horrendous conditions; she uses the doctor when she needs help, and she decides who lives or dies in a murder case? The book is too anti-male for me; her self-righteous attitude about who lives or dies destroys the rule of law and makes this book nothing more than a feminist diatribe against all men! Fortunately, I am married to a good man, and my brother-in-law is a good man; good friends and husbands are good fathers and great husbands! If there had been some balance, I could have stomached the story, but as it is written, no, I don't want left-wing politics in the stories that I read to escape the world we live in.
Thank you, #Netgalley
carolintallahassee

Emmaline was part of a group of ladies who were determined that justice should be achieved for women. This was at a time when women’s rights weren’t considered by many. Emmaline takes on the avenger’s role but gets involved in a murder. This was quite a complex murder mystery which involved a number of characters. Due to a past experience Emmaline has quite a prejudice against men but hopefully she will come to realise that she has a good companion in the doctor and that not all men are the same. This was an engaging read and leaves the reader with a taste of what is to come in the next book. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Historical mysteries have become my favorite genre and I simply cannot get enough! So I was interested to read the start of a new series, no knowing what to expect..

A new heroine enters the scene...Miss Emmaline St. Germaine is determined to save women from the depravity of men and begins with saving a scullery maid from abuse. Unfortunately the man ends up dead the next day!

Delving into the social problems of this time period, with rights of women almost non existent, this proves to be an interesting series that I look forward to reading more!

A strong beginning for a new Regency mystery series that is not centered in the sparkling ballrooms but deals with the uglier sides of society. Emmeline St. Germaine is determined to try to save working women from sexual predation in the splendid houses of the elite but her crusade is threatened when the man she threatened hours earlier while rescuing a scullery maid is found murdered and her secret identity, The Avengeress, becomes the prime suspect. Emmeline will need her friends to bring the real murderer to justice or she might end up at the end of a noose and so many people left unaided...

This is a strong mystery. What it does even better is show how frustrating it is to be a woman living in a society that is filled with hypocrisy, denies a woman a brain, constricts her ability to determine her own future and even common choices, gives her fewer choices about how to live, and yet does not protect her from predation. I still love the Regency period but living the life of an aristocrat woman would not be easy if you had a brain and/or some sensibilities. But it would probably even be worse to be a poor woman and try to make your way. Some parts are a little bit unrealistic with what Emmeline is able to get away with without being discovered but most is realistic, particularly the intellectual and emotional responses of the women in this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stories of masked avengers sweeping to the rescue of the unfortunate bring to mind swashbuckling heroes and adventure as they take down dastardly fiends. A genteel young woman in London circa 1810, as such, makes the premise all the more intriguing.

Victoria Hamilton’s A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder delivers adventure amid the most treacherous of characters.

Our protagonist, Miss Emmeline St. Germaine and a like-minded group of women set out to rescue young scullery maids from the hands of their lecherous employers, at a time when women had little voice or power in Regency society.

After a masked Emmeline rescues one such child just as her employer - a well known knight - is about to rape the youngster, she becomes an unnamed suspect in the man’s murder.

Emmeline’s investigation into finding the real murderer(s) are paramount before she and her mission are exposed. The investigation and subsequent discovery will change her life forever.

This is no cozy lighthearted read. It’s sad and at times difficult to read not just because of the subject matter but also the pace, which can drag on at times. The first in a new series from Hamilton, AKA national bestselling author Donna Lea Simpson, I’m hopeful the next installment isn’t quite so heavy.

I received a free egalley of A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder courtesy of Beyond the Page Publishing, through NetGalley. This review is fair and impartial.