"An Extravagant Duplicity" by Lynn Messina is a delightful Regency mystery that continues the adventures of the former Beatrice Hyde-Clare, now Duchess of Kesgrave. With a blend of humor, intrigue, and a touch of the scandalous, Messina weaves a compelling narrative that keeps readers entertained from beginning to end.

The novel opens with the Duchess of Kesgrave finding herself in an unexpected and interesting condition—pregnant. Despite settling comfortably into marriage, Beatrice is taken aback by the prospect of motherhood. This personal development takes a backseat when she becomes embroiled in a murder mystery involving the supposed death of Roger Dugmore, overlooked due to her preoccupation with impending motherhood.

Messina's writing style is witty and engaging, capturing the essence of Regency-era London with its societal intricacies and vibrant characters. The author's ability to infuse humor into the narrative adds a delightful touch, making the story enjoyable and entertaining. The dialogue is sharp and clever, enhancing the overall charm of the book.

The character of Beatrice, now the Duchess of Kesgrave, continues to be a strong and compelling protagonist. Her intelligence, resourcefulness, and wit make her an endearing character that readers can root for. The supporting cast, including the preening viscount and Mr. Twaddle-Thum, adds layers of intrigue and humor to the plot.

The mystery itself is well-crafted, with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing. Beatrice's involvement in solving the crime is both entertaining and clever, showcasing her keen observational skills and sharp mind. The pacing of the novel is well-maintained, ensuring a steady flow of events that hold the reader's interest.

While the humor and mystery are strong elements of the novel, there are moments when the plot feels a tad convoluted, and some readers may find it challenging to keep track of the various characters and their motivations. Additionally, a more in-depth exploration of the emotional aspects of Beatrice's impending motherhood could have added another layer to the story.

In conclusion, "An Extravagant Duplicity" is a four-star Regency mystery that combines humor, intrigue, and a strong protagonist in the form of the Duchess of Kesgrave. Lynn Messina delivers an entertaining tale that transports readers to the Regency era, complete with societal conventions, clever dialogue, and a compelling mystery to unravel. Fans of historical mysteries with a touch of humor will find this book to be a delightful addition to their reading list.

Oh my goodness that family was a disaster. So much screaming and awful behavior. Had me in stitches. Made me think of old slapstick movies. Everyone blaming someone else. But grandpa was a domineering old man while trying to fill his coffers at the cost of his family's happiness. So who killed him? A good mystery for Bea to figure out. I enjoyed the story.

I love it! I absolutely love it when a book can make me laugh and have such a good time reading it. After reading it I thought to myself, you know, my family is not that crazy at all. Oh my gosh Kesgrave was literally thinking, what did he marry himself into. Who has a two hour discussion about nothing when they were called to a meeting for a very important conversation. This was hilarious. The writing is genius. The characters. The storyline and the entertainment was outstanding. I look forward to reading the next book. I give this book two snaps and a, Dawson pack your bags, don’t say anything to the family and take a much needed vacation. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on! I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
#AnExtravagantDuplicity #LynnMessina #Netgally #Goodreads #Bookbub

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

I read this book, unaware that it was part of the series "Beatrice Hyde-Clare" and found that this could not be read as a stand-alone, as there were references to past books. However, I can see those who have read previous books enjoying this, so it is hard for me to form an opinion as I've only read one book in the series

Overall, I would call this book a slow cozy mystery. But I would recommend new readers to read the previous books to better enjoy this.

I really have enjoyed this series and this installment was excellent. The characters are delightful and I enjoy the situations they get themselves into. The mystery was great.
Many thanks to The Book Whisperer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was not for me.

This book is late in a series and does not stand alone. It kept referring to things that happened in the past.

When I read the information about the book, I thought I would really like it. For me, the book moves really slow. It was also hard to understand the characters since they were not well introduced.

I would call this book a slow cozy mystery. Maybe if you started with the first book it would be a lot better.

Thank you Netgalley, Lynn Messina, and publishers for gifting me a copy of your book in return for my honest opinion.

4/5 stars

Beatrice Hyde-Clair is happily married to the Duke of Kesgrave when she finds herself pregnant and it causes her to overlook obvious clues that Rodger Dugmore had been murdered in his sleep. She is summoned to the scene by his grandson and Bea assumes that he is just trying to start drama to get noticed in the gossip columns, but when the Duke sees something that she doesn't Bea starts to wonder if the baby is going to cause her to lose her detective prowess. Will Bea be able to continue investigating crimes?

I love a strong female character and Bea never disappoints! Even married and pregnant Bea I'm in love with! I love her inner monologues to herself, you get to see what she is going through at the moment and how pregnancy has changed her. I love her and Damian together they really are so well-suited for each other, between the way that they banter back and forth to their sense of humor. I also got a chuckle when they were in the carriage together and what got them excited.

Out of all the books, this one was the easiest to guess who the murderer was... but there were enough twists and turns in the book that had me second-guessing myself at points. Fiona is slowly growing on me, at the beginning of this book she was very dramatic but by the end, I didn't mind her. This was a wonderful cozy, and I can't wait for the next book to come out in the series.

I had not read previous books in this series so I felt as if I walked into the middle of a play after Act Two had started. I can see that other reviewers and readers of this series really liked it. Unfortunately, I was not able to get engaged in this novel. I usually like Regencies, but this one was not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I cant comment on the overall quality of the book because I DNF’d at 10% I may try it again later, but I don’t think I am The target audience for this story

An Extravagant Duplicity is a lovely historical mystery that follows Beatrice Hyde-Clare, a Duchess and crime solver in Regency era England. She already has a lot on her mind when she and her husband, the Duke of Kesgrave, are asked to the Dugmore home, where the patriarch of the family has recently passed, in order to determine if he died of natural causes or was murdered. Of course each member of the family has their own potential motivations for the murder. Can Beatrice solve the case, and figure out a way to tell her husband that she's expecting? Of course she can.

I've not read the others in this series, but didn't feel too disconnected or confused by the story. It was easy to pick up, and the allusions to previous events in the storyline definitely make me curious enough to search them out for a read. I adore lady detectives, and Beatrice is a perfect example of this character type. She's so confident and intelligent, but you also get to see some of her insecurities come through. Her relationship with the Duke is very sweet and loving. There are plenty of comedic situations, as well as a well plotted mystery that keeps you guessing. A delightful period piece.

Once again we are invited to take part in the fun, feisty world of Beatrice Hyde-Clare as she investigates the death of a grandfather at the request of his vain, self-absorbed, manipulative grandson, Viscount Ripley's request. Viscount Ripley is more interested in boasting about the famous Beatrice Hyde-Clare investigating his grandfather's death than he is in catching the real killer. He is not happy when Bea steps back allowing Flora to take the lead in the investigation.
This has all you have come to expect from this series, the fast pace, quirky characters, and witty dialogue that moves the story along, keeping the reader engaged throughout.
Highly recommend this and all the previous Beatrice books in the series, they are all wonderful and they never fail to deliver!
Thank you to The Book Whisperer and to Net Galley for the free Arc, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Regency/Victorian mysteries are rapidly becoming one of my favorite genres, so I am always looking for new authors. This read sounded interesting. Although I had never read any of the author's previous books featuring Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave, I peeked at some of the prior reviews. Bea sounded a bit quirky, just up my alley. She did live up to that description, certainly not your conventional duchess. However, I do wish that I had read some of the other Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries in order to learn more of her background. A snippet was given, but not enough to really know what formed her uniqueness. I love that she kept calling her baby to be "the cherub". Cute! The other characters were also interesting, not your usual society personalities. All in all it was a fairly good read. It just did not have enough intrigue, action, or actual mystery to suit me. I was able to guess the culprit early on, although the author did give a few potential ones to choose from. I will read another mystery featuring Bea, I really liked her.

Lady Kesgrave has been requested to do an investigation into the death of Roger Dugmore via her cousin Russell. Her other cousin, Flora, is in quite a to-do with her love interest and so decides to tag along and even take over the investigation. The Lady is not quite herself these days so misses some important clues when they are visiting the Dugmore house and decides the death was actually an accident.. Once her husband Damian points out what she has missed, they return and carry on (but no longer with Flora in charge.) Thus begins another enjoyable investigation from Bea and Damian.

This was just as witty and clever as previous books in the series and I loved reading it. The fact that Bea is now expecting adds a new dimension to her inner monologue as she tries to decide when and where to share the news with her husband. I like the way her cousins become less the children of their parents and more independent and decent human beings in their own right. Flora is not quite so flighty and Russell has his own plans for the future, despite the protests of his mother. There's still the shadow of Mr. Twaddle Thum over the family although there's still no way to stop the gossip writer in his tracks. Not to mention that the main reason they are even involved in the case is due to the desire of one viscount to be noticed and commented upon himself.

Overall, it was another delightful read and I look forward to finding out what happens in the next instalment of the series. I give this 3.5 stars and thank Netgalley and The Book Whisperer for the advanced reader copy. I have provided this review completely voluntarily.

Beatrice Hyde-Clare strikes again! In the delightful 11th installment of the Beatrice Hyde-Clare mysteries, Bea is invited to investigate the murder of Mr. Dugmore by Dugmore’s silly young nephew, who seeks to establish himself in London society. However, Bea is distracted by the thought that motherhood will end her career and misses a clue, which the Duke of Kesgrave delightedly points out to her.

This is an excellent addition to the series. Messina delves into women’s rights, postpartum careers, and the concept of women staying single (gasp!) Additionally, Bea explores her feelings about being orphaned at a young age and the fear that ensued. The mystery was full of twists and turns, and as always, the writing was excellent. Messina writes witty and intelligent dialog.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for an ARC!

Thamks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Everytime I read these books I remember how well-written, witty and thrilling they are and I wonder why EVERYONE doesn't know about them.

Lyn Messiba is this generation's Georgette Heyer, but with a tiny bit more spice and feminism. I dare you not to read these novels and fall in love with all their idiosyncracies.

I do love Bea and Kesgrave and their wonderful relationship. I can't wait to see how the next stage of their relationship goes. It's hard to believe that really 11 books have spanned only a number of months - so many dead bodies in that time!!

Get on this cozy mystery train. You won't regret it.

I have just finished An extravagant duplicity by Lynn Messina, book 11 in the Beatrice Hyde-Clare historical mystery series.

A couple of years ago I had Kindle unlimited for a bit and I binged my way through the first 8 books in this series over a couple of weeks. Since then I've really wanted to buy physical copies for my over stuffed bookshelves. They are available in paperback omnibus form of 3 stories her volume and one day they will be mine.

They are Regency Era cozy mysteries with excellent banter and mysteries that I at least don't easily guess.

In the first book A Brazen curiosity 26 year old orphan Beatrice Hyde-Clare is the put upon spinster relation of her family, treated more as a servant. Bea is meek and mild and hiding behind a book. While at house party hosted by friends of her (unpleasant) Aunt Bea stumbles upon the body of one of the house guests and also the very much alive, very annoying in Bea's opinion Duke of Kesgrave (he's also young, rich and good looking). At first they both think each other is the killer but eventually team up to solve the crime and then ten more books (so far) of crimes because some how Bea keeps stumbling across dead bodies even when she tries really hard to give up crime solving.

Solving crimes really brings Bea out of her shell and she gives up being a timid little mouse much to her aunt's eternal dismay.

Bea and the Duke may be my favourite fictional couple, certainly my favourite crime solving duo. I LOVE their banter.

I have also love seeing Bea grow, come out of her shell and accept herself over the series.

In this latest story Bea and the Duke are investigating the death of a rich old man who loved to control the lives of his adult grandchildren, threatening them with disinheritance and blackmailing them into marriages they don't want. Maybe the old man fell out of bed? or maybe he was pushed? Bea is going to find out. Everyone thought the death was an accident until his foppish, dimwitted grandson Ripley attempts to become famous by association by having it become common knowledge that Beatrice, the famous crime solving Duchess has cleared his name of a crime no one actually thought was a murder.... until now.

Now that Bea and the Duke have reviewed the circumstances of the death they are sure it is indeed murder but which grandchild is the killer? Or is it the dead man's daughter? One of the servants? Maybe the whole house is in on it? Everyone seems to have a motive and an alibi.

I do recommend reading the series in order as there is plenty of characters and family drama that carries on from one book to the next plus I enjoyed seeing Bea grow as the series progresses and watching Bea and the Duke banter their way through crime solving and life.

This is a fast-paced humourous Regency cum detective novel. Bea the duchess of Kesgrave is investigating the suspicious death of an older relative who is the head of a family.
The case takes several twists and turns till it comes to a surprising end.
There are some delightful dialogues with great re-parties. Nevertheless, there were too many persons introduced and described at length which had very little influence on the narrative. Also, some characterisations seemed very cliched to me; for example Ripley and his style of dressing or his mannerism. Overall, an easy read which is enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

I have read this series from book 1 and I have now felt that I have invested so much into the characters that my interest in the series has transcended the actual individual mysteries. Because I found the actual mystery in this story, about who killed the elderly, dictatorial, manipulative patriarch of a family of somewhat unlikeable people to be fair, but not memorable.

However I love Beatrice Hyde-Clare, now Her Grace, Lady Beatrice, the Duchess of Kesgrave, her inner insights and reflections, and her relationship with her loving, indulgent, modern thinking, pedantic duke. I also love her flawed relationship with her quirky and flawed family and am now also drawn into her cousin's romantic drama, which is playing out in this novel as well.

Beatrice finds herself in an interesting condition now, and is worried about how it will affect her ability to engage in investigations. She is drawn into meeting a family to inquire into the death of their grandfather, by her cousin Russell, and initially determines it to be an accident caused by a frail old man falling against a table in his bedroom. She then worries that her condition is causing her to miss details when her loving husband picks up on a detail that she missed, that determines it really was a murder. Then she frets about losing her freedom to investigate, period, because surely when Kesgrave finds out about the baby, he will insist on stifling her activities to keep her safe.

The joy to this series for me is the continuing relationships of the characters involved and their various quirks and foibles and how they are amusingly drawn out. Again the mystery was fair, but not outstanding for me.

3.5 stars out of 5

While the premise of this book seems really good, and is well loved (because this seems to be the 11th book in the series), I couldn't get into it. I just found it boring and I wish I could like it because there clearly is a fan base here.

In another Beatrice Hyde-Clare mystery, the new Duchess works to solve amurder, this time accompanied by her cousin Flora, her husband Kesgrave, and Mr. Holcroft. Flying in the face of society writer Mr. Twaddle-Thum, “Her Outrageousness” Bea continues to thwart propriety and all the rules as the only lady Runner in London. Messina continues to bring Bea and her circle of friends and suspects to life, creating a dramatic mystery and adding nuance to Bea’s life as a married woman and a Duchess. Messina continues to successfully write her female characters in their respective historical periods, and her writing, syntax, and language choices keep the reader on their toes as Bea’s investigation progresses. While the ideal reader should already be familiar with the other Beatrice Hyde-Clare mysteries, a reader new to the series should be able to understand the characters and setting without prior knowledge. The story flows well, and the mystery keeps the reader looking for clues throughout the story. Messina’s familiarity with Bea and her writing style propel the plot forward, engaging the reader with a litany of clever characters and the strange death of a patriarch named Roger Dugmore.