Emma Andrews, a reporter and distant relative to the Vanderbilts, can’t resist when her friend Bessie Lehr, a member of Newport society’s elite Four Hundred, pleads for her help. Bessie believes her husband Harry is trying to kill her. She’s escaped several attempts on her life, thanks to her maid’s fortuitous assistance. Unable to refuse a friend, Emma gets on the case along with her husband, Derrick. A bit of digging reveals that Harry has some shady friends. And as Emma gets closer to solving the case, she risks making herself the next target. A puzzling plot, distinctive characters and a unique setting blend into a suspenseful tale that will keep you guessing until the end. I had no idea whodunit until the final reveal.

Murder at Arleigh is the thirteenth book in the Gilded Newport Mystery series. I love this series and I really enjoyed this newest book. I believe Ms. Maxwell does an incredible amount of research into the Newport area and the many rich and famous residents of turn of the century Newport and it really shows. Not only can I imagine the people and places many of them I can look up and learn more about because they really existed. Many of the people and places in this book are based on real locations and people and her notes at the end of the book are not to be missed as she gives even more detail than what is in the book. The mystery concerning the Arleigh mansion was very complicated and fun to try to figure out and I will admit I was stumped until the very end! I also loved reading about our heroine Emma, her husband Derrick and their family. It feels like visiting old friends. It’s so nice to read about a character who’s motivation isn’t to show up the police or just be nosy, but to really help women who often didn’t have a lot of help in those days, even well to do women. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Newport and for Emma and Derrick.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

Always a good read. Alyssa Maxwell is great at setting the scene. You really feel like you are in Gilded Age Newport. The mystery itself is always well done with good pacing. The solution is never too obvious. The characters are well developed. Overall a fun and engaging read.

Murder at Arleigh blends Gilded Age glamour with dark secrets, bringing reporter-sleuth Emma Cross back into action—this time amid society weddings, whispered threats, and dangerous pranks that might not be so innocent.

Set in 1903 Newport, this installment dives into the opulent world of the Vanderbilts and the scandal-tinged lives of the elite. I loved the historical details, the atmospheric setting at the Bellevue Mansion, and the way the mystery unfolds quietly at first before escalating into genuine suspense.

Emma is a grounded, observant narrator, and the storyline around Bessie Lehr’s suspicions felt emotionally charged and believable. While the pacing lags in a few spots, the central question—accidents or attempted murder?—kept me invested. The blend of high society drama and real danger was handled well.

Perfect for fans of historical mysteries with a Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie vibe. Elegant, layered, and just dark enough to keep things interesting.

This fabulous arc is set to release in one month's time by author Alyssa Maxwell. This is actually my first book that I have read by her and I must say that it was a very interesting first time experience. It is just amazing how many historical novels are out there that feature a woman as a amateur sleuth. I think I may have found my favorite new trope.The main character Emma is such a delight to read about and she seem to really know her stuff. I look forward to reading more books in this series in the near future.

I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Book 13 in this series wasn’t what I had hoped for. I haven’t read any of the others. I love historical fiction and this had the element of mystery added in. It’s set in Newport with the rich and famous, along with the horse and carriage and the newly sought after automobiles. The female protagonist is a newspaper reporter and amateur sleuth, which was frowned upon in that time period. I was given a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.

It was so fun to have baby Annamarie in this book and get to see Emma & Derrick as parents. I'm glad that Emma has found a way to balance her work with her family life and doesn't have to give up either, and that Derrick is always incredibly supportive of her. The mystery was well plotted and had enough suspects to keep me guessing throughout the book. Emma does a good job at living in many different worlds of wealth and/or middle-class with little effort, and builds friendships with all. It was good to have the reminders about the class divide during that time period to understand the mystery. I look forward to the next book and hope it includes Emma finally moving closer to having a school.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy.

Emma and Derek have been invited to her cousin Reggie's wedding at Arleigh. Backnote-Arleigh was destroyed by a fire and is no longer standing. The storyline follows Bessie's allegations that her husband, Harry is trying to kill her. She hires Emma to prove this, which sends the characters down a long and twisting tale. The storyline about the Lehr's does follow some of the historical facts which I have read about, as Ms Maxwell always does do her "homework". Attempts on Bessie's life, her maids untimely death from multiple bee stings, and a few suspects. As usual, Emma figures it out and saves the day. Exciting news at the end of the story pertaining to the ongoing hopes of building a school. Many thanks to NetGalley, Ms Maxwell, and Kensington Publishing for another wonderful Newport mansions cozy mystery given as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read this author before, but found her story to be quite entertaining . As this was part of a series, I thought I might have become confused , not having read any of the previous books, but the author does an excellent job of introducing the characters. Emma has insatiable curiosity ,which suits her well as a journalist. I adored this mystery story as it felt like an old fashioned murder mystery from the 1050’s. Though the story dragged through the first third of the book, it picked up the pace quickly . The villain is well hidden among all those who could have been, I picked up on who it was about the same time as Emma. Having real people intertwined in the story was rather fun, and seeing Bessie’s life as it was, was rather sad. The whole story made me want to go to Newport and look around , she described it so well. All the characters were well written and I enjoyed the story a lot. No crass language, and very clean. Good read.

I received this story for free and these are my own opinions.

A really great mystery with interesting characters! The setting was inviting and the mystery intriguing.

Emma Andrews is enjoying her life as a new mother when popular socialite Elizabeth “Bessie” Lehr requests her help in investigating her husband. Bessie believes that her husband, Harry, is trying to kill her to escape their loveless marriage and inherit her fortune. Harry is the toast of Four Hundred and Emma finds it hard to believe that he’s trying to murder his wife—especially when the “attempts” appears to be accidents. The railing around Bessie’s balcony broke as she was leaning against it. The carpet runner was loose on the stairs and could have caused her to fall. And her automobile’s brakes malfunctioned, causing her chauffeur to die when the automobile crashed. Even though she thinks Bessie is twisting mere accidents into murder attempts, Emma agrees to quietly investigate Harry. After Bessie’s lady’s maid dies in a tragic accident, Emma realizes that Neddie was the real victim all along. With help from her husband, Derrick, Emma reveals Neddie’s past and investigates who would want the young woman dead.

While still a good story, the plot of MURDER AT ARLEIGH dragged during the first half of the novel. Yes, Bessie’s chauffeur is already dead prior to the open scene, but it is chalked up to an accident when the automobile’s brakes failed. It takes a long time before the maid dies due to anaphylactic shock following hundreds of beestings. Death by beestings was a unique method of murder—one that could be mistaken for a tragic accident until it was discovered that the bees were purposely agitated into attacking. Until Neddie’s death, Bessie comes across as a paranoid woman who is twisting accidents into murder attempts.

It was interesting to learn that Harry and Bessie Lehr were real people, and they did have a sham of a marriage. Harry was probably gay, and he married Bessie simply because she was part of the Four Hundred and had quite a large inheritance. It is totally believable that Harry might have wanted to do away with his wife so that he could inherit her money. I thoroughly enjoyed how Alyssa Maxwell took these facts and used them to create a story where Bessie believes her life is in danger when it’s really her maid who is being targeted.

"A dazzling wedding at the Bellevue Mansion, Arleigh, loses its shine when reporter, sleuth, and new mother Emma Cross Andrews is called to investigate the groom, an infamous Gilded Age prankster.

April 1903: Emma and Derrick Andrews have been invited to the wedding of her cousin Reggie Vanderbilt and heiress Cathleen Neilson at the Bellevue Mansion, Arleigh. Their hosts are a popular young couple who are leasing the home for the summer - Harry and Elizabeth "Bessie" Lehr. Known for his practical jokes, Harry is the toast of parties, earning a reputation as the court jester of the Gilded Age. However, as Emma soon learns, behind closed doors he is dead serious.

Following the wedding, Bessie comes to Emma for help, insisting that her husband is cruel to her in private, telling her outright he married her only for her money and finds her repulsive. Divorce is unthinkable. Now she believes he is plotting to murder her and make it look like an accident: a broken balcony railing she might have leaned on, a loose stair runner that could have sent her tumbling down a staircase, faulty brakes in the car she uses...

Some would say being trapped in a loveless marriage is a fate worse than death. Not Bessie - she wants to live! Unsure if these situations are mere coincidences or add up to premeditated sabotage, Emma agrees to investigate and determine if Newport's merry prankster is engaged in a cold-blooded game of life or death..."

Because we're all suffering from withdrawal with The Gilded Age's season being over. Thankfully this is the cure.

Emma now has a baby, Anna. However, she still has time to work with her husband at their newpaper as well as sleuthing. She and Derrick go to Reggie Vanderbilt's wedding at Arleigh, and meet the couple living in the house, Bessie and Harry Lehr. Bessie later contacts Emma and tells her that her husband is trying to kill her. Bessie agrees to help. Emma thinks that Bessie's lady's maid might be the problem, but Bessie will hear nothing bad about her. It turns out that Bessie is fairly rich, and Harry does not have much money. Emma overhears a conversation where Harry is demanding money from Bessie. Meanwhile a man is killed when the car brakes were probably tampered with. Later in the book the lady's maid is killed by bees who have had pepper dumped in their hive. Emma is attacked in her barn, and a fried of Harry Lehr is killed in the house he rents. Emma and Derrick must find out who is causing all these catastrophes. The book takes place during the golden age of New Port, home of the rich and famous.

I thank Netgalley and Kensington books for the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

Harry and Elizabet "Bessie" Lehr are hosting the wedding of Emma's cousin Reggie Vanderbilt. After
the wedding, Bessie seeks Emma's help - she is convinced her husband is trying to murder her. While
the Lehrs present themselves as a devoted couple, it is far from the truth. As Emma investigates
recent mishaps Bessie has experienced and the people around her, more questions arise. Enjoy
reading more about the Newport mansions and appreciate the research that the author shares.
#MurderatArleigh #Kensington #NetGalley

After attending the wedding of her cousin, Emma is drawn into the marital troubles of a new friend with the possibility of an attempted murder. Absolutely wonderful from the beginning to the revealing of the unexpected villain.

Murder at Arleigh by Alyssa Maxwell
Leave reading about thee earlier times on the island. I live in southern portion and it's amazing how much I still learn about the whole island with every book I read.
This one starts out with Emma and she's been to the wedding of Reggie and hears all about his escapades. Bessie Lehr is upset, her husband she fears wants her dead so he can take over her inheritance. He has no money of his own and doesn't want to work.
Love the scene on the beach with boys being fished out. Love caves and tunnels where, in Portsmouth there were rum runners during the time frame.
Such scary situations Bessie finds herself in.
There are so many episodes of harm and even death to others that were meant for Bessie, or were they?
Love how Emma and Derek are able to gather clues and find out who's at fault. Jessie their friend also helps out as the police had finally been summoned. Love learning about how certain events are still ongoing today in Newport that generated from the early 1900's.
Love hearing more about the stables in Portsmouth and at the end what is at the location of this house now. Know friends who work there. Amazing how the author makes a full circle to the story. Easy to keep the characters straight and all scenes are described so you can picture yourself in them. Glad baby was introduced to us, what a cutie!
Received this review copy from Kensington Publishing | Kensington via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

MurderatArleigh #NetGalley

Book number 13, and the mystery felt as fresh and complex as the first. Lots of red herrings that kept me as confused as Emma and crew. And for long time readers, the small moments, slices of life, in and around Emma’s immediate circle are everything one could hope for. Thanks to Kensington for the ARC.

Murder at Arleigh is a richly woven historical mystery that transports readers straight into the opulence and secrets of the Gilded Age, where high society’s sparkling surface hides a darker undercurrent of manipulation, desperation, and danger. April 1903 finds Emma and Derrick Andrews drawn into a web of suspicion at the luxurious Bellevue Mansion, where a lavish wedding quickly gives way to a far more sinister affair.

The historical detail is impeccable, bringing to life the grandeur of Newport’s elite with lush descriptions and real-life figures like the Vanderbilts seamlessly interwoven into the fictional narrative. You can almost hear the rustle of silk gowns and the click of crystal glasses, even as you anticipate the creak of a faulty stair or the snap of a balcony rail.

Murder at Arleigh is more than a whodunit—it’s a chilling exploration of control, isolation, and the quiet terror of not being believed. A standout addition to the historical mystery genre, this book is a page-turner with heart, substance, and a heroine you’ll want to follow wherever danger—and deception—may lurk. A must-read for fans of Downton Abbey, Deanna Raybourn, and mysteries with a perfect blend of glamour and grit.

Set on the east coast around the early 1900s. With the new rich and old rich circles. As her friend asks for help, when she thinks her husband is trying to kill her, there are many clues and red herrings before the real killer is found. Enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it.

Another sumptuous Gilded Newport Mystery, with an ending I never saw coming. I’ve always been fascinated by the Gilded Age and know quite a bit about, but Maxwell’s wonderful series always sends me down the search engine rabbit hole to learn more. I love how protagonist Emma Cross Andrews manages a career, family, and sleuthing, abetted by a supportive husband. I never miss a book in this series and eagerly await the release of each.