this was a strong fourth entry in the Miss Morton Mystery series, it had that Regency romance element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book and from Catherine Lloyd. The characters had that feel that worked with the world and was engaged with what happened to them. I was invested in the romance and how it was developed and how it uses the mystery going on in this.

Mrs. Frogerton has finally seen her daughter married to a viscount. Caroline has a letter in the waiting post from her family solicitor. Mr. Potkins tells her someone has written to him claiming to be the next Earl of Morton. As the only living Morton in England he wants her to meet with the people. Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton agree to go look at Morton Hall. They realize the house is in very bad shape. Mr. Potkins shows up after they are home saying he had no idea the bank had allowed the property to fall into disrepair. She suggests they meet at Potkind office instead of Morton Hall. However, Mrs. Frogerton suggests they meet at her house. The family moves into Mrs. Frogerton's house, widowed mother Mrs Scutton, the son who is claiming the Earl position Mr. Thomas Scutton, and his married sister Mrs. Mary Brigham. The rest of the family doesn't seem to like her husband. There are a couple of murders early in the book.

Meantime we still see visits by the two men interested in Caroline, Dr. Harris and Inspector Ross whose older brother the Viscount is not in good health.

Caroline is worried that Mr. Scutton may be an even worse Earl than her father was. When he asks her to marry him, she rejects him immediately. It appears that Mrs. Scutton had been a maid and then married someone related to the Mortons. It seems that the Scutton family may not be what they are claiming.

This is a good addition to the series. I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

A possible fortune, unscrupulous relatives who may or may not have claim to a title, a love triangle, murder -- this should have been enough for a 4-star book, but Miss Morton and the Missing Heir didn't grab me like I expected. I do enjoy Mrs. Frogerton, a formidable widow and Caroline Morton's employer, who helps solve the mystery, and was relieved that Caroline's bratty sister Susan did not appear (her story really caused book 3 to bog down). The series is best read in order.

Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Miss Morton Mysteries #4
Publication Date: 9/30/25
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 272

The delightful Miss Morton (Lady Caroline) and her energetic, inquisitive employer, Mrs. Frogerton, lead us through another mystery filled with red herrings, multiple suspects, and a shocking villain. Mrs. Frogerton’s daughter, Dotty, has finally married her Viscount, and Mrs. Frogerton is suffering from the let-down after all of the excitement. So, when the lawyer shows up with information about a potential heir to Caroline’s father’s title, Mrs. Frogerton immediately offers to host them in her home.

Things quickly go awry for everyone. Both Mrs. Frogerton and Caroline suspect something might be amiss with Mr. Scutton’s claim to the title, but since the lawyers and the College of Arms were investigating the claim, they decided to leave it alone. The Scutton family proves to be a disagreeable lot, which cements Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton’s suspicions. With the death (accidental?) of the Scutton’s servant and then the murder of Mary, the potential heir’s sister, things get very tense.

I loved all of the character updates and cannot wait to see what happens in future books. I’m happy that neither Susan nor Dotty made an appearance, as I don’t care for either of them. Also, I strongly dislike love triangles, and I’m ready to see the one between Caroline, Inspector Ross, and Dr. Harris resolved – since this is the 4th book in the series, it is time for resolution. I vote for Inspector Ross with Dr. Harris relegated to friend status. I can hardly wait for the next book to see what happens!

I recommend this interesting, fun book and the entire series. The writing is excellent with a well-plotted, well-paced mystery with characters that you will either love or hate – no indifference here.

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

i really enjoyed getting to read Caroline and Ms Frogerton's goings on and their story in this book. this is a murder mystery with some regency and romance mingled in. we get all the wit, the red herrings and big villains mixed in with the friendships, tender moments and little lessons along the way.
this time its very much involving Caroline when someone comes in their lives claiming a possible heir to Caroline's father title.
but their are questions and suspicions from both our ladies. something doesn't feel right.
then there is murder and things start to feel very tricky indeed.
the moments with Dr Harris and Ross were something i love to see but also want their to be some sort of conclusion to that now. there needs to be some stability and decisions made please.
i love the pairing of Caroline and Frogerton. they make a powerful team.
i love how these woman are really fierce but still have to fit in the directions they can only lead to given the time period. they must hold themselves differently and cant do or go into certain things being female. this felt unfair at first, and i wondered why they would hold back in certain moments. and then realised how actually real that was. because these woman were fab, but there was still a role they have to have and a thread to balance its taughtnesss against given the time period. this gave more care and detail to their stories and also made it authentic feeling.
i enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery and baddies too. it felt like it was enough but never too far fetched and it was clever how it was all worked out and became plausible when we find out in the ins and outs of what going on.

LOVED IT, LOVED IT .A more extensive review will follow.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This installment is timed two years (?) after the last one- which is surprising. One might think that several matters would progress faster. Also, the different relationships between the characters in the series don’t seem to have matured or changed in those two years.
Timing aside, we get a cozy and a rather twisted mystery that is resolved almost at the very end. And a Caroline who is very frustrated with all the men in her life and rightfully so.

Can’t wait for the next installment to see how all those threads continue to evolve or are brought together.

Thanks, netgalley for the arc. Opinions are my own.

4 out of 5
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
I'm quite fond of this series about an impoverished gentlewoman who becomes a paid ladies companion (scandalous!) to the very wealthy widow of an industrialist (shocking!) who needs help navigating society while trying to marry off her somewhat annoying daughter to a duke or earl or someone like that. Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton make a delightful mystery-solving duo, and there is always a good sub-plot involving awful family members or possible romantic interests for Caroline.
This book involves complications and murder that arise from a family that claims to be the heirs to Caroline's father's title and a possible hidden fortune, but they seem suspicious from the start, and of course it turns out to be a complicated con.
The highlight of this series is the character interactions, the mysteries are generally fairly 'cosy'. It would be helpful to have read at least one previous book in this series.
It does irk me that they are consistently promoted as 'Regency' books when they take place in the 1830s...although they are 'loosely' historical, rather than firmly anchored by historical events.

"Society in England is most unforgiving of a reversal of fortune, as Miss Caroline Morton, left penniless after her father's suspicious death, knows all too well. Once a lady, now a lady's companion, she is still enmeshed in the settling of the earl's estate - and soon murder as well - in this "charming cross between a Regency romance and a well-constructed detective story" (Kirkus Reviews) for fans of Victoria Thompson, C.S. Harris, and Deanna Raybourn.

Distraught over her younger sister Susan's decision to leave for America and weary of shepherding her employer Mrs. Frogerton's daughter in her relentless pursuit of marrying a peer, Caroline is dealt another blow when her family solicitors indicate they may have found the lost heir to the Morton earldom.

Possible heir Thomas, his mother Mrs. Scutton, and her widowed daughter Mary all descend on Mrs. Frogerton's home on Half Moon Street. The air inside the house is soon thick with family tension and the near palpable presence of avarice. But things go from tense to tragic following the appearance of Mary's dead husband - very much alive and recently released from debtors' prison. Unseen by Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton, a fight breaks out upstairs, leaving Mary fatally stabbed and her mother wounded.

The manhunt is on for Mary's husband, led by Inspector Ross. But both Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton begin to suspect that all is not as it seems. The Scuttons have brought more than trouble into the home - they may be harboring secrets that could put Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton's very lives at risk..."

A murderous missing heir!?!

'Miss Morton and the :Missing Heir' is the latest in the A Miss Morton Mystery series and it is excellent. Catherine Lloyd is an excellent writer and I love her perspective of Regency England. Her mysteries are always superbly crafted and engaging. The machinations surrounding the presentation of an heir to Caroline Morton's father's earldom are brilliant and Mrs. Frogerton and Caroline's investigations are delightful as they resolve the mystery concerning the heir. There is always the light touch of romance that rounds our the story and is entirely satisfying. I can't wait for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this book from the first page till the last.
Young Lady Caroline Morton who, along with her sister, are left homeless on the death of her father the Earl Morton. The Earl had squandered their fortune and left them penniless.
Caroline finds herself expelled from high society and finds a job working for the feisty and empathetic Mrs Frogerton.

One day she receives word of a man (Mr Scutton, along with his mother and sister) who is laying claim to the earldom.
What follows is murders, theft, and intrigue while Caroline and Mrs Frogerton unravel the family secrets and truth about who the heir is and are his claims to be validated.

Mrs Frogerton is a great character. Mr Scutton you want to strangle. The story is supported by a dashing Inspector from Scotland Yard and a charming, lowly, young doctor. The later two have stories I feel will build and trickle into the next book.

I didn’t realise this was book four of a series before I started it, but you would never know and does perfectly well as a stand alone book.
Very much looking forward to the next in the series!

NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review. .

The 4th installment of Miss Morton's life and escapes was just as good as all the rest. Caroline is such an interesting character with a complex history, and it's nice to see her figuring out what she wants and is willing to stand up for herself to have it. I continue to love Mrs. Frogerton, even if she likes to bring the drama and can't say I missed sister Susan at all. Miss Morton's distant relations (the Scuttons) are the focus of the story and whether or not their claim to the Morton earlyship is genuine. Mrs. Frogerton invites them to stay as they wait for the decision to be made. None of them are likable and continually insult Caroline and/or try to control her. It was annoying but perhaps the push she needed to stand up for herself. Inspector Ross is in and out of the storyline as he is caring for his dying brother and preparing to become the new heir in his family, whether he wants it or not. The murder occurs early and has some twists and turns for Caroline & Mrs. Frogerton to investigate. An extremely enjoyable book that was hard to put down. I can't wait for the next one!

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

Lady Caroline Morton is a young woman greatly wronged by her greedy reprobate father who died leaving her and her little sister homeless, penniless and scorned by the nobility of Victorian London. Caroline has almost no choices other than living on the charity of her not great Aunt. So, Caroline decides to strike out on her own and take a paying job as a lady’s companion…nobly bred didn’t not sully themselves with work…horror of horrors! This TERRIFIC series follows Caroline’s journey as the companion of the fabulously wealthy industrialist and irascible Mrs. Frogerton who wants to marry her daughter into the nobility but doesn’t have the knowledge or connections to do it. Caroline can navigate the marriage mart and Mrs. M becomes much more than an employer. Along the way, they become tangled up in murder investigations that must be solved. Caroline has a few love interests but any romance is seriously “slow burn.” In this book, a possible heir to Morton title arrives in London with his sister and grasping, nasty mother in tow to make his claim. Intrigue, murder and secrets lead Caroline and Mrs. M.

Once again Caroline's past intrudes in her present, a claimant to the Morton Earldom shows up and Mrs. Frogerton gracefully invite him and his family to be her guests.

Soon enough, they start showing their true colors and a murder shocks the household.

Both Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton sense that something seem off and start inquiring.

As usual, the characters are well depicted and each with their very own quirks; the mystery well laid and unfolds in a very natural way, it never seems forced or rushed.

I have not yet decided if Inspector Ross or the doctor will best suit Caroline and I am eager to see what the author has in store for them.

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

Miss Morton and the Missing Heir is the latest mystery in the Miss Morton mystery series by Catherine Lloyd. I really enjoyed this book and stayed up way too late to finish it and find out the outcome of the mystery. This time Miss Morton and her employer Mrs. Frogerton are visited by some possible relatives of Miss Morton and after a murder occurs right in their home Miss Morton and Mrs. Frogerton once again set out to solve it. This series seems to get better with each book and I now eagerly look forward to each mystery and seeing what is happening to Miss Morton now. Watching her grow and develop into a strong, capable woman in a time where women had very little power has been very enjoyable and I love Mrs. Frogerton as her mentor! The mystery was fun to figure out and the motives behind it were even harder to figure out. I recommend this series to anyone who loves historical mysteries.

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

Caroline is an interesting heroine and Mrs. Frogerton (my favorite) is a great ally. Together these two women are a great force. This book is part of a series but can certainly be read alone, though a few characters may seem opaque; Susan for example. I imagine she was important in earlier books but she is just the absent sister here. The same with Mrs. Frogerton’s daughter. The characters that we did meet, Inspector Ross and Dr. Harris for example were developed enough to understand who they are and where they fit in the story in relation to Caroline. Both characters added something to the plot. The problemsome Scuttons were introduced well and I liked that the plot did not linger too long on their story. Neither did it rush to the murder. There was a fine balance. There is also a realistic depiction of what is appropriate for women to do at these times and it is not only the ‘bad’ characters that have these feelings. Caroline also fits the time which is something many miss the mark on with their heroines. She has aspirations, she speaks her mind, but she still has concerns for decorum. Also, I would like to add that the male leads are well behaved here. There is none of that ‘attracted to the rake’ or possessiveness shown as romantic. This writer has my personal approval for how she depicted relationships, including conflict of faiths. The suspect was easy for me to guess, because it just made sense. I did enjoy going along with the plot, though. Anne Harris.

I am always excited to get another installment of the Miss Morton mysteries. The author does a commendable job of writing 1840s-set mysteries that manage to provide lots of historical detail without detracting at all from compelling mystery plots. Miss Morton becomes embroiled in another murder investigation when an unpleasant family claiming to be the heirs to her father’s estate turn up in London. The usual characters offer assistance as Miss Morton tries to sort things out. As always in this series, the characters are a delight, especially-for me- Mrs Frogerton. The mystery is excellent and has plenty of twists that keep things moving quickly. My only quibble is a very slight one that does not detract from the book; namely, the very slow burn love triangle that has lingered for the last several books. Overall a hugely enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

Lady Caroline receives a message from the Morton estate solicitor about a claimant to the vacant title.She is understandably confused since it has absolutely nothing to do with her or her sister in their current circumstances. Nevertheless she agrees to meet the family at the Morton house in London. She and Mrs. Frogerton go to check on the condition of the house because the court had cleared it of its contents and left it unoccupied for many years. Dismayed at its condition the, ever ready for a change, Mrs. Frogerton suggests they meet and stay at her town house. It sounds simple but it is anything but. The claimant, Mr. Scutton, is rude, his mother, who pushed the claim, is ruder, and his sister is not the bereft widow she appears. The ensuing complications bring in both Dr. Harris and Inspector Ross.

There are no real surprises in this third outing for Miss Morton. The story is handled confidently and, while convoluted as any good mystery should be, the characters are well developed and continue to grow as new beginnings are introduced. The pacing is good and all questions are answered. I had a couple of quibbles over an uncharacteristic occurrence from Mrs. Frogerton and an incorrect relationship; but I will still look for the next book in the series.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

This is such a fun series, and I've enjoyed seeing Caroline Morton develop as a character. Of course, her employer, Mrs. Frogerton, is quite the character in her own right, and the two possible suitors for Caroline's hand are each intriguing in their own way. I look forward to the next title in this series!

I liked seeing Caroline stand up for herself and be less of a secondary character to Mrs. Frogerton’s energy, who I still love. This was a good mystery that stands alone, but I’d recommend it if you’ve read at least some of the previous books since Caroline’s family backstory is so key. I guessed the culprit right away, but had fun exploring the how and why.

I don’t miss Susan. And I don’t feel bad about saying that. I’m not a fan of love triangles, personally, and we’re still hovering in that direction. I’m voting that Inspector Ross takes the lead and Dr. Harris is friend zoned.

I’m eager for the next one!