A Daughter's guide to Mothers and Murder is a fun read featuring Frances, the Countess of Harleigh and her husband George. Frances and George are wrapping up a trip to Paris and of course find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery. Frances is asked by a friend to investigate a fellow American named Carson Deaver who's wife was murder less than a year prior after being kidnapped from their home while he was gone. She wants to be assured that he didn't have anything to do with the death; George is asked by a French inspector to consult on a case when a new lead related to Mrs. Deavers death comes in. There are quite a few fun twists and turns to the mystery on who killed Mrs. Deavers with plenty of suspects. Along with the mystery, Frances is dealing with her mother in town (they have had a tense relationship in the past) and a sister struggling with new motherhood. I enjoy this series and the relationship between George and Frances has developed to be one of equals where he appreciates everything she brings to her investigation. I hope to see many more titles in this series.

Miracle of miracles! Frances's mother, Daisy, arrives in Paris to visit her daughters and is happy, helpful, and not judgmental . She is still on speaking terms with her husband after six months of travel together and life is grand. Life is grand for Frances and George too, and even grander when their police friend with the Surete' asks for their help with an unsolved murder case. Sarah Bernhardt may be involved so the utmost discretion is required. She is a national treasure! Frances is already checking out one of the suspects as to his suitability to court a friend's daughter. Daisy offers her help in the investigations and shows a genuine knack for it. The trail to the truth is wild and winding but worth every moment in the story!

Once again Frances and George (an ideal couple in my opinion) are involved in a crime that sees them again in Paris and for once cooperating with the police. Once again many of the secondary characters we have already met are present, especially those who are part of Frances's family, so much so that at times I was a bit confused as to who was who and who was cheating on someone else with whom. This time, in fact, the betrayals between the couples start to become a significant number. Paris again plays a rather pivotal role this time with the Olympics in the background.

Anche stavolta Frances e George (coppia ideale secondo me) sono coinvolti in un crimine che li vede ancora a Parigi e per una volta collaborare con la polizia. Anche stavolta sono presenti molti dei personaggi secondari che abbiamo giá incontrato, specialmente quelli che fano parte della famiglia di Frances, tanto che a volte ero un po' confusa su chi fosse chi e con chi tradisse qualcun altro. Stavolta infatti i tradimenti tra le coppie cominciano a diventare un numero significativo. Anche stavolta Parigi gioca un ruolo piuttosto fondamentale con le olimpiadi sullo sfondo.

I received a digital advanced review copy in exchange for a honest review.

Francis and George are couple goals. Francis is brilliant as always and the mystery is solid and twisty. I suspected the twist early on based on one line, but it was a lot of fun to see how and why we got there. Love the layers of women supporting women in this one even if the ending was a little dramatic.

I was a little confused because this book didn’t quite pick up after the last book ended. I later saw there was a novella in between, so that was annoying, but at least it explained it. This mystery still stands alone and new readers and old fans can easily jump in.

As always, whenever I finish one Countess of Harleigh book, I’m eager for the next one!

I really enjoyed this as a eighth entry in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series, it had that mystery element that I enjoyed from the previous books. The characters were written perfectly for this type of book and from the other books I read from Dianne Freeman. It had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and was hooked from the first page until the end. It had that historical element that I wanted and was glad it worked well overall.

Frances and George are back to solve another mystery together. I always enjoy the dynamic between this charming married couple as they piece together the clues. This novel can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the series in order to better appreciate the character development and dynamics.

My one wish for this book is that infidelity wasn’t so central to the plot and so frequently referenced. To be honest, it became redundant how many characters had mistresses and how many different affairs were discovered. It made for such a complicated web of unfortunate behaviors and just left me feeling icky which is not something I enjoy with a cozy mystery.

Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary e-ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

As usual, another enjoyable installment in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series (though I think we should just call this series "Francis and George Get Into Trouble Again!") Set in France once again, Francis and George set out to discover information about a suitor for a friend, but it doesn't stop there. An unsolved murder has shaken the theater community and has put the Great Sarah Bernhardt in the crosshairs. Could the infamous actress be guilty of murder? It's a race against time and bubbling anger to find the culprit.

This installment in the series is sweet, funny, and well researched. You can tell the author has a passion for the era and includes interesting bits, even if it's not central to the story - like the Olympics being in Paris that year. The characters are likeable and well rounded. Well done!

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington publishers, Penguin Random House, and author Dianne Freeman for the eARC of this novel.

I quite enjoyed “A Daughter's Guide to Mother's and Murder” by Diane Freeman. It is the 8th novel in the series, and I waited to read it until after April 1st so I could read the novella, “George and Frances Roll the Dice,” that came out between books 7 and 8. It is my personality that I need to read books in order. I do recommend that for this series, even though it is a very satisfying mystery, regardless of whether you recognize the characters from previous stories. However, there is significant arching of the characters from book 1 to book 8.

From here on, there are mild spoilers if you haven’t already read any of the books in the series.

Frances Hazelton is the Countess of Harleigh and is married to George Hazelton. They are currently in Paris visiting Frances’s sister Lily, who has a daughter. Their mother also arrives from Egypt. Lily’s in-laws are there, as are some older acquaintances. Francis is asked to look into Carlson Deaver by Alicia Stoke-Whitney to find out if he murdered his wife. Carlson has shown some interest in Alicia’s daughter, Harriet, and she wants to make sure it is a safe match. Turns out the French inspector has also asked George, Frances's husband, to look into the murder of Carlson’s wife as well, because a beloved actress had received a blackmailer's note suggesting she had something to do with the murder and the police did not want to touch the case.

We follow along as George and Francis interview possible suspects and others who might know something that could lead to solving the case. During their investigation, we also learned that Lilly finds raising a child to be incredibly tiring, and Lily's sister-in-law is playing in the Olympic golf tournament that's happening in Paris at the time.

I really enjoy the interplay between Frances and George and how they work together as a loving couple and as equals. It was also great to see them working with the police instead of having to work around the police as they investigate. I would say that I solved the mystery, at least I wasn't surprised.

This series of mysteries is considered a cozy mystery. Aside from the victims, no one's in grave danger or gets harmed, and the murders tend to happen off stage, meaning you are not with the character as they are killed. In fact, there are moments of lightheartedness and things to giggle at.

It was a satisfying mystery, and I enjoyed it.

I was given advanced access to the book via Netgalley and the publisher, Kensington Publishing Corp., in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing installment in Dianne Freeman's electric series. I adore the Countess of Harleigh and George (what a sweetiepie). She settles into another mystery with zest and humor once more.

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder is a fun mystery set in Paris around the turn of the 20th century — cars are a new innovation, the second-ever modern Olympiad is taking place to little fanfare because the Paris exposition (a World’s Fair) is also going on, the actress Sarah Bernhardt is building her status as the first big modern celebrity … It was an exciting time, and author Dianne Freeman takes full advantage of all Paris has going on.

Frances (the former Countess of Harleigh) and George Hazelton (her new husband) are returning to England through Paris. They become increasingly involved in searching out the solution to a murder and other crimes, and we are pulled into their large circle of friends and acquaintances as they diver deeper into the mystery.

There are a lot of characters with complex relationships, and it might be confusing for readers who are new to the series — but stick with it. The denouement is unexpected and powerful.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

8.5 books in and I am completely addicted to the Countess of Harleigh series. Dianne Freeman has created a universe that is fully of brilliant characters, stories, history and mysteries. Every time I begin to read one of the Countess Harleigh books, I am hard pressed to stop. A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder was no different, I was completely locked into this book!!

Paris 1900 - in the middle of not only the Exposition, but the Olympics. Frances and George Hazelton’s long-delayed Parisian holiday has been less than idyllic, what with the murders, but they manage it all with their natural aplomb. While the honeymoon is winding down, the murders are not. We are pulled as Frances and George are recruited to help solve a cold case that has started to thaw.

I adored so many elements of this book, starting with the historical, for which I am a sucker! Adding the great actress Sarah Bernhardt as a supporting character in this book was divine. Ms. Freeman brought her to life in a way that new generations will get to know and appreciate.

I can’t wait to enjoy the next installment!


Thanks to the publisher for sharing an advanced copy of this book.

What a rollercoaster of a read! From the very beginning, I was drawn into the world the author created, even though the start was a bit slow. It took some time to get to know the key characters and to fully immerse myself in the setting, but it was well worth the patience. The careful buildup helped establish the stakes, and once the action picked up, the story truly took off.

As the twists and turns began to unfold, I was absolutely hooked. Each unexpected revelation left me eagerly turning the pages, desperate to see where the story would go next. The pacing picked up considerably, and before I knew it, I couldn’t put the book down. The suspense was palpable, and the author did an excellent job of keeping me on the edge of my seat.

The ending, though, that was something else. It completely blew my mind and left me thinking long after I had finished reading. There were so many layers to it, and the ambiguity of it had me scratching my head in the best way possible. It’s one of those conclusions that makes you want to dive back into the story, looking for clues you might have missed the first time around.

I can’t wait for the next installment! The way this book ended has set the stage for what promises to be an even more thrilling continuation, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next one as soon as it’s released

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book 8 of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series continues with Frances and George back in Paris when an acquaintance, Alicia Stoke-Whitney, asks Frances to investigate Alicia’s current love interest, Carlson Deaver, a wealthy American whose wife was murdered less than a year earlier. The couple are working together with Daniel Cadieux, Inspector for the Sûreté, on a startling new lead on the case. Frances manages to co-opt her mother into helping with the detective work. The lead suspect is the divine Sarah Bernhardt, but she has received an earring she recognizes as belonging to Deaver’s wife.

Author Freeman has reached a new peak in handling multiple suspects and theories, leading to delightfully unexpected twists and turns. I also enjoy that Frances is liberated woman who becomes more liberated with time. Here she learns to drive and to play golf.

This book was an excellent continuation of the series. Frances lives up to expectations as an amateur sleuth, and the other characters do not disappoint. I was unable to guess who did it, and was surprised during the reveal.

I have loved the series from the start! I always love seeing Frances and George and all the hijinks they get up to. I also enjoyed the addition of Frances’s mother as an intriguing side character in this book. My only complaint is that this one seemed slower and it didn’t seem to move as quickly as the others in this series. I can’t wait to see where this Frances and George head to next!

Thanks for NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my review!

You’re not reading this book if you didn’t already love the previous books in the series.
The mystery was fun and I very much enjoy the dynamic between the main couple.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Lots of fun, surprises, and red herrings in this latest installment of the Lady Harleigh Mysteries. Lots of female empowerment. It felt a little like The First Wives Club, but in 1900 in Paris. Thanks to Kensington for the ARC.

I love this series! Being back in Paris is so much fun! The wonderful characters always take the stories to the next level! This book is a fast and fun read! I recommend for everyone!

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder is the eighth installment in the Frances Hazelton mystery series, the second of which to take place in Paris around the 1900 World's Fair and Olympics. Rival-turned-friend Alicia Stoke-Whitney asks Frances to investigate whether widower Carlson Deaver would make a good husband for her daughter. George returns home to reveal he's been discussing the still-open murder investigation of Deaver's first wife. Before long, the divine Sarah Bernhardt has been roped in as a potential suspect, and Frances and George are as focused as ever in cracking the case.

I did not crack the case this time. As a big mystery reader, to me, this is a signal that Dianne Freeman is truly bringing new ideas to the table - I highly recommend A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder to anyone looking for a relatively cozy murder mystery that will keep you on your toes!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The eighth book in the Countess of Harleigh series. Francis and George are at the height of their crime-solving powers as they navigate Paris society looking for clues. This time, Sarah Bernhardt might be involved in the crime, if only in a peripheral way, and they have to tread carefully. The dialogue is witty, the plotting is complex and of course, the Paris setting is a delight. Can't wait for the next installment and hope this series goes on forever.