My first read from this series, and I liked it!

Amelia is a fun FMC. She’s humble, charming, intelligent, and tries to use her influence to make a difference in her world.

The setting is also fun, and the plot is entertaining enough. Sometimes the books set in this era feel so out of touch that I can’t enjoy them, but this book addresses poverty in a very satisfying way.

I may go back and finish this series out of curiosity to see how Amelia’s character (and relationship with Simon) has developed over time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for providing this ARC.

Winters is such a consistent author and this series is so lovely. 4.5 stars because this book went a step further by allowing our intrepid Lady Agony to solve the mystery with clues rather than happen upon the solution or villain in real time (which often leaves me frustrated and feels like the clues served no purpose). Bonus for having Amelia’s extended family around and having her friends Kitty and Oliver be a bigger part of the investigation. And of course Simon. Dear Simon whom we love!

A little more aunt Tabitha and little Winifred action would have made this a 5 star read. Given the ending and the changes coming in their lives as well as our MCs, spending a bit more time with them in the lead up to the climax would have felt like a nice payoff. I also wish we’d gotten some kind of closure on the folks Amelia met in the East End whose lives were impacted by the murders featured in the story. Perhaps in the next book, since Amelia feels like she might be interested in taking up the charity mantle women of her class often do - which so far she hasn’t really dipped her toes into.

I can’t wait to read more and hope Winters continues this series for as long as it makes sense for the leads!

With her potentially scandalous secret job as an advice columnist, Countess Amelia Amesbury has never lacked things to do. But rarely has she had her hands as full as she does right now!

Amidst the impending high society wedding of her sister and all the kerfuffle that that involves, she must also identify the killer of her friend the vicar, and deal with the blackmailer who is threatening to expose her as the somewhat dramatically named advice giver "Lady Agony".

A witty and entertaining cosy mystery this gets 3.5 stars, and is worth checking out.

delightful and fun semi-cozy historical murder mystery. the setting worked really well, the mystery was great, and the reveal was fun. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

First, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

This book deals directly with the fallout of events that occurred in the previous books of the series, so I would recommend against reading it as a standalone even though the murder mystery itself is contained within this book.

I always love visiting with Amelia, Simon, and the gang, and this book offers really delightful payoff in several of Amelia's relationships (platonic and romantic) and her personal growth, and the Victorian London setting is perfectly written to enhance the atmosphere without being distracting. The murder mystery isn't the most intricate in the series but it does the job of setting up motive, clues, and red herrings plausibly well. The second mystery (I won't name the type for spoilers), however, didn't seem entirely necessary for me; it seemed to function more as a plot device to advance certain personal relationships.

That leads me to my largest issue with this book; all of the fan-favorite cast of characters make an appearance, but given how large that cast has grown, it felt like most of them were being name dropped into scenes and given one or two lines for show rather than adding depth to the story. The portrayal of the secondary characters just felt a bit flat compared to previous installments.

3/5 stars. This is perfectly good murder mystery with a collection of beloved characters I would happily read again, but it just lacked some of the sharpness and sparkle of previous installments that made this series stand out. That said, I have every intention of picking up the next installment (if there is one)!

Murder in Matrimony is a thoroughly engaging Victorian cozy mystery featuring a sharp-witted, quietly rebellious heroine in Countess Amelia Amesbury. This installment brings all the elements fans of the genre love—an elegant setting, intriguing suspects, and a murder that disrupts a seemingly joyous wedding event.

Mary Winters has a talent for weaving period detail with character-driven storytelling, and Amelia’s keen observations and independent streak continue to make her one of the more memorable amateur sleuths in historical fiction. The pacing is steady, the dialogue crisp, and the mystery satisfying—complete with gossip, secrets, and a fair dose of social commentary.

While the outcome wasn’t too shocking, the journey getting there was full of entertaining twists and turns. I especially appreciated how Winters continues to develop Amelia’s character across the series without rushing any romantic threads or overstating her modern sensibilities.

A solid and enjoyable read—recommended for fans of Anna Lee Huber, Deanna Raybourn, and T.E. Kinsey.

I have decided murder mysteries are not my thing, despite how adorable I found the concept. Someone will love this!

Murder in Matrimony by Mary Winters is the fourth mystery in the Lady of Letters historical mystery series. This is a very enjoyable series and this book was no different. I really enjoyed the twisting and turning mystery and I liked that it took me a while to figure it out. I also really enjoy the wonderful characters in this series. They are quirky and smart and just a joy to read about. Amelia’s visiting family are such wonderful people to get to know and the ending of this book was amazing!! I hope this series continues on for a long time. Amelia and her friends are a great crime solving group!

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

Wow this was really fun!! This was the first in the series that I read, so I am definitely returning to the series for more.

This was one of my first reads that was historical and I fell in love with the characters and how the romance was more secondary than the forefront that it was for my usual reads. This was such a good cozy read and it was a such a good read that I couldn't put it down even if I wanted to!

This book was fine. It spent a lot more time recapping previous mysteries than I think necessary. There was also a lot more telling than showing, and characters relied more on archetypes than actual written development. That said, I like the evolution on the lead's thought process around how to actually help the poor, and the denouement had an exciting and unexpected twist.
It was a fun read, but there were timing issues and small plot holes that made it hard to relax into.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the mystery of this latest instalment (and possibly last book?) in this series more than some of the previous books. The author managed to connect two of the storylines in a way that made sense and provided a satisfying resolution for them both. I did think that the villain's motive for murder was somewhat weak/implausible, and that the "evidence" that Amelia finds that confirms the villain's identity was pretty flimsy. Nevertheless, it was fun spending more time with Amelia -- I really like her character, as she is assertive without being over-the-top, sensible without being strict, and grows over the course of the series in her ability to express her emotions. Her relationship with Simon is sweet, and I felt like we earned the romantic scenes between the two of them after the slow burn of the first 3 books (in fact, I could've used a few more of them in this book!). I'm not sure if there'll be any more in this series, as it kinda felt like the series wrapped up with this book, but if there are, I'd be happy to read more about Amelia's adventures!

I love these books!! They are enchanting, hopeful and playful. The characters are engaging. I feel this is a stand for women in that Victorian era. I hope there are more to come!!

Welcome back to Amelia’s Victorian era adventures as both columnist and investigator. A lively lighthearted romp complete with a boisterous family, preparing for her sister's wedding, and the murder of the local vicar. Add in a love interest and some fascinating characters, and you have this winning story!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected e-galley from Severn House via NetGalley. Pub Date Oct 07, 2025 ***** #goodreads #bookbub #librarything #netgalley
#MurderinMatrimony by @marywintersauthor #LadyofLettersMysteriesBk4 @severnhouseimprint
#historicalfiction #historicalmystery #cozymystery #historicalromance #family #Weddingmadness #murders #blackmail #amateursleuth #investigations #columnist #siblings #humor

The book the romance fans have been waiting for!! My favorite in the series so far! Double murders to solve, a wedding to plan, a blackmailer to find, action-packed investigating (with a welcome new addition to the Scooby gang) and the scenes we've all been craving between Amelia and Simon! I DARE you not to read this in one day. I couldn't put it down. 5 stars!! Can't wait for the next one.

When Amelia's impulsive sister Madge asks Amelia to plan her wedding (and pay for it all) in two weeks, Amelia can't say no (but she should've!). Plans go awry when her friend and confidante, Rev Cross is murdered, and she receives a mysterious clue from him in the mail. Suddenly she's investigating two murders while navigating a house full of wedding guests and hunting down whoever is threatening to expose her as Lady Agony. Her trusted confidantes Kitty and Simon are by her side and someone new is brought into the fold. All the gooey scenes between Amelia and Simon kept me glued to the pages.

If you're a fan of Victorian mystery-romance series (like those of Irina Shapiro, Cara Devlin, Deanna Rayborn, Katharine Schellman), this series is right up your misty London alley. Preorder it now, it publishes in October. Thank you so much to Severn House for the ARC!

⭐⭐⭐ 3‑Star Review: Marriage and Matrimony by Mary Winters
Review by Kaylea Alonzo

Premise & Atmosphere
Marriage and Matrimony sets the stage for a tense, emotionally charged romance tangled with a chilling murder mystery. Winters builds intriguing tension around a wedding—or something dangerously resembling one—and hints at dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. The promise of heartfelt romance combined with a whodunit premise definitely grabbed my interest.

Strengths

Atmospheric tone: Winters does a nice job conjuring a cozy‑yet‑creepy autumnal setting, perfect for fans of romantic suspense.

Concept: The fusion of wedding-day romance and mystery is engaging, offering potential for love and intrigue to collide—a setup with real promise.

Where It Fell Short for Me

Pacing: The narrative moves unevenly. The initial buildup is slow, and key plot points felt underdeveloped by the point where I stopped reading.

Connection with characters: I found it tough to fully connect with the leads. Their emotional arcs seemed rushed or lacking depth, making it harder to root for them.

Mystery execution: At this stage, the mystery felt somewhat predictable or thin. The clues aren’t yet intriguing enough to sustain that “can’t‑look‑away” tension.

Overall Impression
Marriage and Matrimony has a solid underlying concept and a moody, atmospheric vibe that will appeal to readers of cozy autumn romances and romantic mysteries. However, in its current form—and admittedly, without completing the full manuscript—some character development, pacing, and mystery layering feel incomplete.

If you're drawn to slow‑burn romantic suspense and don’t mind a narrative that takes its time, you’ll likely find aspects to enjoy here. That said, if you crave fast‑paced tension and deeply emotional character dives, this one might not resonate as strongly.

I was absolutely hooked for this book. I plan to go back and read the first 3 from the series.
Lady Amelia Amesbury leads a double or perhaps triple life. A Countess, the advice columnist, Lady Agony and, she investigates murder on the side. In Murder in Matrimony amongst the chaos of organising her younger sister’s whirlwind wedding, she has to deal with her own blackmailer and the sudden death of her friend and the man who was to officiate the wedding, Mr Cross.
In this charming cosy mystery, Mary Winters has created a heroine who will appeal to lovers of Lady Eleanor Swift, Ginger Gold and Cleopatra Fox. In the marvellous tradition of such mysteries, Lady Amelia has a cohort of friends who offer the various talents needed to solve the mysteries. The characters are placed within a plot that provides enough clues to lead the reader to a solution which is expertly presented by Lady Amelia in the well-crafted climax. To add to the reader’s enjoyment there is romance in the air.
The latest in the Lady of Letters series, Murder in Matrimony is a welcome addition to the cosy mystery library. 5/5

Murder in matrimony is the fourth book in the Lady of letters mystery series.

Amelia's life is once again disrupted by Madge that will be marrying her Captain Fitz, but starting to plan the wedding turns perilous when Amelia's priest friend is found dead - or better, murdered.

While planning for the happy event, Amelia investigates the murder and stumbles upon another mystery, her relationship with Simon deepens and her family join her London home.

As usual I found the characters brilliantly crafted, but the ending sounded like a goodbye, I hope that is not the case and we will have more adventures of Amelia and her friends to read!

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

I started reading this book because I was truly drawn to the plot. It’s also part of a series, and I’ve been looking for something like this for a while. I read about a third of the book, but it was very difficult for me to continue. Since English is my second language, I found the writing style quite hard to follow. The author did an excellent job capturing the era through her language, but it made the book less accessible for me. I plan to give it another try when it’s translated into my native language.

The latest in Amelia’s adventures as both agony aunt and investigator is an enjoyable read with a few different plot points that all get addressed by the end. Amelia ends up looking into the murder of the local vicar, and by extension other crimes among the poorer residents of London. As always, she is aided by her friends, including potential suitor Simon. A side mystery that seems like it will drive much of the plot is actually resolved quickly and perhaps a bit too conveniently. The main mystery is well done, however, and balanced by goings-on with Amelia’s large and boisterous visiting family. There are some lovely personal developments, and everything is nicely resolved. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.