A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder: A Countess of Harleigh Mystery by Dianne Freeman

Image provided by Kensington Books.

    It’s always exciting when I find a series I just fall into.  A series where once I finish one book, I immediately reserve the next.  This is what has been happening with the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries.  I hope it continues.

    Life has been pretty good for Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh.  A few months ago, she helped solve a murder.  Since then, she has been living happily independent, in her own home, surrounded by family.  Her main concern is with her sister, Lily.  Lily is pushing for marriage, but Frances would like her to take a little more time.

    It’s not that Frances doesn’t like Leo Kendrick, the man who has captured Lily’s affections.  She just doesn’t want Lily to rush into marriage.  Repeating the mistake she herself did.

    Lily being Frances’ sole concern does not last long.  A friend of hers, Mary Archer, is found murdered.  To make the situation even more difficult is Frances has been trying to set Mary up with her cousin Charles Evingdon.  It is on the very day Charles tells Frances he no longer wants to see Mary that Frances finds out Mary has been killed.  This is not a good coincidence of events.

    The close connection between Mary and Charles makes Charles an immediate suspect.  Frances, however, has a hard time seeing Charles as a killer.  Plus, hand-written notes were found at Mary’s house, full of secrets people may not want to get out.  It is very possible Mary was blackmailing someone and was killed for it.                        

    Even more questions arise when it is discovered Mary’s murder is connected to the death of newspaper editor Mr. Norton.  He was also murdered, but the method was different.  Frances has to wonder why these two seemingly connected people were murdered in such different ways.

    To figure out what is going on, Frances works with George Hazelton, her neighbor and brother of her best friend, Lady Fiona Nash.

    In the eyes of the world, it probably seems Frances works for George versus with him.  George is able to work in a more official capacity due to a position he holds in his profession.  Frances, in turn, does whatever George allows her to do.

    In reality, that is not the case at all.  While yes, George can investigate officially, they are truly working together.  In fact, it is Frances who takes the lead.  While George is out performing some parts of the investigation, Frances is busy conducting her own.  She does this with the help of Lily’s friend, Charlotte “Lottie” Deaver.

    Lottie is from America, as are Frances and Lily.  Out in society, Lottie has quickly gained the reputation as a klutz.  The same in Frances’ household.  But Lottie also has a great mind.  A mind perfect for helping on the case.

    There is a lot going on in this book, and it’s all connected, even when it seems it isn’t.  While at first it may seem Frances’ Aunt Hetty helping Frances’ brother-in-law, Graham, with his finances would have nothing to do with the case, it actually does.  Then there is Lottie’s love of the gossip page of the newspaper.  It offers a big clue as to what happened to Mary.  There are a lot of clues in this book.  Clues that lead to a much bigger mystery than what first appears.

    While Frances investigates, she must also deal with Lily’s engagement party.  It is an event she does not want to happen, at least not so soon.  The case helps her avoid dealing with it, a behavior that upsets Lily.  Angry at Frances’ inattention, Lily says things to Frances that makes Frances question herself and her life.

    Frances is also trying to understand her feelings for George.  He has proposed before, but they did not seem like serious proposals.  Frances also isn’t ready to give up her independence and enter into another marriage.  Her growing feelings conflict with this, though, making Frances question what she truly wants.

    With this case solved, I am interested to see what kind of case Frances will run into next.  She is a very good investigator, and knows how to use other people’s knowledge and expertise to move a case forward.  I look forward to seeing where her investigations, and relationship with George, go next.