Frances and George are still in Paris when they are asked by an old friend to investigate the background of a protective husband for their daughter. This leads them to delve into the secrets of backstage Parisian theatre and even includes the famous Sarah Bernhardt as a character.

This was not my favourite of the series so far. I felt that the plot was overcomplicated and events moved very slowly. It was still an okay read with a twisty mystery and a surprise ending.

Frances and George Hazelton get sucked into a new mystery that is 9 months cold. They are still in Paris and Cadieux asks for their help when Sarah Bernhardt is implicated in a murder via a blackmail note.
This is a twisty tale to work out and there may be some trickery involved in catching those involved.
Frances’ mother is in town and helps in the investigation. Lily is struggling with caring for baby Amelia and that must be worked out too.
I learned that the Olympics were held during the world fair in Paris in 1900. One of the characters participates in the golf competition.
I enjoyed this glimpse into another time. The mystery was an interesting one. If you like historical mysteries I think you’ll like this one. It has a healthy portion of familial relationships to go along with murder.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this book.

Frances and George are still in Paris enjoying the last of their honeymoon and anticipating a visit from her mother. She appears to be a changed woman after her time in Egypt with her husband. George gets caught up in a cold case and Frances is ready to help. It takes plenty of cunning to figure out a murder, a blackmail plot and a faked death. George and Frances are on the case! A fun story with interesting twists and surprises. Mothers and murder make for interesting relationships for all involved. Well plotted and a good story overall make for a good read. Can't wait for the next adventure!
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review. #dianefreeman
#kensingtonbooks

Thank you NetGalley for ARC
Unfortunately, I will not be continuing as it just wasn’t for me. I found myself feeling quite detached from both the plot and the characters, which made it difficult to stay engaged. While the premise had potential, I personally couldn’t connect with the story in a meaningful way.

That said, I still recommend giving it a try and what didn’t work for me might resonate with others, especially readers who enjoy lighthearted plots and history.

I simple adore Frances and George and the situations they find themselves in.

This is book 8 in the series, and they are only getting more interesting with greater plot twists. And while Frances enjoys being right, so do I and I was pretty proud that I had this one figured out. There were quite a few twists and turns throughout our time in Paris with the Hazeltons.

Alicia Stoke-Whitney is back - this time to ask Frances to investigate a man her daughter is courting. What Frances finds is a mystery around his house being robed and his wife being found dead on the street...and Sarah Bernhardt, who is quite a character in her own right. George has also been pulled into the investigation by the Paris police and of course our married couple works together along with (of all people) Frances's mother. Her time in Egypt seems to have mellowed her a bit, and honestly her scenes with Lily & Amelia were quite funny.

Definitely looking forward to what's next for Frances & George.

If you love cozy mysteries this book is right up your alley. Personally, for me the plot line was a bit slow, and it was hard for me to invest in the investigation. I do love cozy mysteries. This one just didn’t grab me at the start. I also wasn’t a fan of all the infidelity occurring throughout the book. The ending has a lovely twist, but I am not sure it made up for some of the other issues I had with this book.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

There are quite a few dynamic shifts in this one, which the title eludes to. (Mothers, daughters, daughters-in-law etc.) There's also quite a few interesting plot twists to keep the reader interested throughout. An enjoyable cozy mystery and yet, somehow, this one just didn't quite sit as well as some of the others for me.

I think perhaps it's time to return home, it seems just a little too long since we had the balance to the story that some of those characters have brought to the story. I think I'm missing them!

I highly recommend this cosy, murder mystery series. Each one is able to stand alone, yet at the same time builds towards the next one.

It's four out of five on the enjoyment scale.

With thanks to #NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author for my free copy to review, the views expressed are entirely my own.

My Rating 3..7 out of 5 Stars

George and Frances Hazelton are back in Paris to enjoy their interrupted honeymoon and to refresh themselves after solving a murder in Deauville. Goodness, a lot is going on in Paris – the Exposition that we thoroughly explored in the last book, and the Olympics that we learn a bit about in this book. So many people – so many potential victims. 😊

As Frances and George enjoy their time together, Frances is approached by a frenemy, Alicia Stoke-Whitey, who seeks Frances’s assistance in investigating Carlson Deaver, who is trying to court her daughter. At the same time, George is approached by Inspector Daniel Cadieux, from the Sûreté, to assist them in following up on new leads in an old murder case. Are the cases related – you bet! 😊 The new clue is to the year-old murder of Isabelle Deaver, wife of Carlson Deaver – and the person who provided the clue is none other than the famous actress, Sarah Bernhardt.

The mystery is excellently done with twists, turns, and red herrings galore. While we are all down a rabbit hole with several clues, another murder happens. Can that one be related to the first murder? More suspects, more clues, and Frances and George have to unravel it all – and they do it with a surprising ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the supporting characters in the book, especially the close friends and family of George and Frances. Frances’s mother was particularly enjoyable in this book and quite different from previous books. What I did not enjoy was the amount of infidelity in the book. It almost seemed as if every male character was unfaithful. It got to the point where I read a new male character's name and started looking for where it would be mentioned that he was unfaithful. It was too much! I was waiting for George to be accused of being unfaithful. I didn’t enjoy all the infidelity, and hope it isn’t a trend. One unfaithful character (male or female) is enough for any book.

If you enjoy an excellent mystery with a set of clues that twist and turn, then set it all upside down, you will enjoy this book.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Frances and George Hazelton are enjoying some well-deserved leisure time in Paris when an old acquaintance from London, Alicia Stoke-Whitney, seeks Frances’s help to investigate a personal matter. Alicia’s daughter is being courted by Carlson Deaver, a wealthy American shadowed by a very suspicious tragedy. Less than a year ago, Carlson’s wife, a former actress, was murdered, her body discovered in one of the more dubious quartiers in Paris. Though authorities guess it was a robbery gone wrong, no one was ever brought to justice. Until Daniel Cadieux, Inspector for the Sûreté, follows a startling new lead. None other Sarah Bernhardt, legendary icon of the Paris stage, receives a piece of jewelry stolen from the victim, along with an incriminating note: I know what you did. Now it’s up to Francis and George to infiltrate the most elite social circles of Paris, and find a culprit before another victim faces their final act.
The eighth book in the series & another entertaining murder mystery. I love both George & Frances, they work so well together as well as being a lovely couple. The case has twists & turns & I found myself reading well into the night to finish it. One of my favourites of the series so far
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I'm a fan of this lively Victorian cozy series about Frances and her husband George. Each installment is fine as a standalone because although some plot lines have threaded through multiple installments, Freeman does a great job of bringing new readers in and reminding fans of what's happened in the past. This time out Frances and George are in Paris (still) and they've agreed to look into the suitor of the daughter of an acquaintance. This seems like an easy one but it takes them into the theater (Sarah Bernhardt!) as well. It's the relationship between Frances and George that makes this a standout although the mystery here, as always, is pretty good too. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

Dianne Freeman never disappoints! I am obsessed with this series and this new addition is excellent. It is no surprise I enjoyed it. If you haven't read any in this series yet, get on it now! Frances and George are the perfect pair and continue to prove they are the best mystery hunters around.

"A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder" by Dianne Freeman is such a fun murder mystery! It is book eight in the “Countess of Harleigh Mystery” series. This book is a cozy mystery set during the Victorian era and takes place in Paris. Ms. Freeman gives a good recap of what the reader needs to know from previous books. You need not have read the previous books, but there are some continuing storylines. This book transports readers to Paris where both the Olympics and the Exposition are occurring. It was interesting reading about and learning more about those events. As the spouses-turned-sleuths team up to solve yet another murder, the reader is taken along with them as they investigate on the Seine, at the theater, at the opera, at a picnic, and even while golfing! Frances, her husband, and even her mother team up to try and help another mother and daughter. I love that there are a lot of family relationships and dynamics, especially mother-daughter relationships. During the course of the book, Frances is also helping her sister as she’s navigating new motherhood, helping a friend investigate a man her daughter is interested in, and working other cases as well, all while trying to solve two murders. Ms. Freeman writes such great mysteries, and I was not able to figure it out until everything was revealed at the end. This is such a fun series and cozy mystery lovers will want to get their hands on this newest installment!

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: mention of alcohol, gambling and smoking; lots of mentions of people having affairs and “kept” women although it is never condoned; a man was drunk; the word “da*n” is used; children are born out of wedlock; a man slapped a servant; talk of losing a baby.
TW: domestic physical abuse.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

“A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder” is the 8th book in the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries. It could be read as a standalone, but the characters’ personalities and interactions make more sense if you’ve read the whole series.

In this book, Frances and her husband, George, are taking care of some family business in France and decide to stay in Paris for a bit, enjoying their newlywed status. Soon they are recruited by their friend, Inspector Cadieux, to help investigate a cold case from a year ago…one with a surprising, and very famous, new suspect. Frances is also approached by an old friend about vetting a potential suitor of the friend’s daughter. Soon, both tasks converge.

This is a twisty mystery with a more serious message: women, historically, have had few options to escape domestic abuse. I enjoy the regular characters who have quirky personalities and Frances’ tendency to accept people as they are, flaws and all.

This story is great for fans of historical mysteries and the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Kensington Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Frances and George are enjoying some well-deserved leisure time in Paris when an old acquaintance from London, Alicia Stoke-Whitney, seeks Frances’s help to investigate a personal matter. Alicia’s daughter is being courted by Carlson Deaver, a wealthy American shadowed by a very suspicious tragedy.

This book is the 8th book in the Countess of Harleigh series and just like the others, this one is amazing. If you love cozy mysteries then this series is for you.

Another solid story in this fun historical mystery series. Frances and George are still in Paris and end up investigating Sarah Bernhardt,and her theater and employees while checking out a potential suitor for an old acquaintances daughter.

A solid entry into this fun, historical series! Contains lots of twists to keep readers guessing and a Paris setting with the Olympics in the background! Series readers will be happy with the return of several secondary characters and theater lovers will adore the cameo of a very famous historical actress.

I enjoyed this historical mystery in 1900 France. The author really sets the atmosphere really well. I hadn’t known much about Sarah Bernhardt, so the novel set me on a rabbit trail to read about her biography. Wow! She really had a fascinating life that seems set for more historical novels rather than having her at the latter part of her life. The mystery was entertaining although I did find some of the solutions rather obvious to figure out. But then I enjoy being able to figure things out while I’m reading so that isn’t a criticism.

There were a lot of characters introduced in the beginning and I had to reread the first scene a couple of times to remember who was who. That’s the problem of having a first scene that includes so many characters. Once I got them straight in my mind I enjoyed the novel so much more.

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.

This is an entertaining historical mystery series with this entry taking place in Paris in 1900. Lady Frances and husband George, newly married, are on an extended honeymoon when murder intrudes. The French police are horrified when national treasure actress Sarah Bernhardt is implicated in the death of a young actress.

There are multiple extra-marital entanglements and societal quandaries that George and Frances and their Surete friend navigate. The presence of Frances' challenging mother and her exhausted sister (who has a newborn) add to the action. Clever plotting and lots of banter and family maneuvering make this a great read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

These novels are always so delightfully written and you can see the research that Dianne Freeman puts into them. I always learn so much as I read while still enjoying the mystery! Frances and George are just back to Paris from a short honeymoon (which also included murder) when asked by a friend to help with a matter of the heart. Of course, things aren't so simple and they are thrust once again into intrigue and murder. I loved the last few of these that take place in Paris for a change of pace, but looking forward to a return to England!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Book 8 in A Countess of Harleigh Mystery series is my fav yet! The Paris vacation of Frances and George is disrupted when the married pair is drawn into an investigation involving famed actress Sarah Bernhardt. Histfic cozy mysteries fans will love the City of Light setting during the Victorian era, as well as the behind-the-scenes look at Parisian theater. Can be read solo but will make you want to start at Book 1 and devour the whole series. C'est magnifique!