Dianne Freeman’s debut novel, the first in the Countess Harleigh mystery series, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, is a witty romp of a Victorian mystery.

The second in the series, A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder, is just as delightful. Frances (Lady Harleigh), the heroine, has progressed in her emotions as a newly-widowed lady. The independence she fought so hard to gain in book one, is pleasing to her, but she finds that her next-door neighbor is looking better all the time. There is an understated, though smoldering, chemistry between the two that is about to burst into flame. Frances is surprisingly perspicacious, and her struggles with propriety and her journey to independence are gratifying. The mystery is well-plotted and full of twists concerning the death of a friend and the suspicion that she was blackmailing the aristocracy. Freeman does an excellent job of capturing London in the heyday of the late nineteenth century with its culturally ingrained social mores.

*******************

Both of the Countess Harleigh mystery series are available through Amazon:

A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder

A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder

*******************

An excerpt from A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder

I made some comforting response and after extending my sympathy, excused myself from the two of them. I glanced around the room for my cousin, taking note of the faces in the thinning crowd. It was time for us to leave as well. One did not want to impose on the grieving family, however much one might wonder about their grief. And I still must pay a call on Graham. I caught a glimpse of Charles across the room, but before I could reach him, I was stopped by Hugo Ridley.

“Lady Harleigh, we meet again.” He stepped into my path and took my hand in greeting.

“Indeed, Ridley, you keep popping up everywhere.” I frowned. “This time it’s such a somber occasion.”

“Somber?” His brows drew together. “Why, I would call it tragic myself. And you should take note of it. A woman living alone in this city is completely vulnerable to such an attack. I’m surprised Mrs. Archer’s fate has not sent you back to Harleigh House.”

I repressed a sarcastic snort. To some degree, he was speaking the truth, however much it might irk me. That said, neither marriage nor living with my in-laws had provided me with any security in the past, and as it came with so many other problems, I’d rather risk living alone.  

“Do you believe her death was due to some random attack then?”

He shrugged. “What else could it be? Mrs. Archer was a middle-aged widow. I hardly think she had connections with anyone of a criminal bent.”

Middle-aged? I ground my teeth behind a closed-lipped smile. She was only a few years older than I. A man would consider himself in his prime. At forty-something, Hugo likely still did so. Men. At least he wasn’t blaming Mary for her own murder. 

I bit back my annoyance and pressed on. “Were you well acquainted with Mrs. Archer?”

“A bit. More so with her husband. And of course, the elder Archer, her brother-in-law.” His face split with a grin. “One must always be on good terms with one’s banker, you know. I wouldn’t want to miss out on any good investment advice, and Archer is always on to the latest scheme.”

Hmm, was he indeed? Perhaps Graham should talk to the man. Perhaps I should. 

I made a show of perusing the room. “Does it seem to you the guests are divided into two camps?” He followed my gaze. Once I noticed, the division was obvious. Mary’s sister and her husband held court on one side of the room, with the Archers on the other. How had that come about? Perhaps there was something to Archer’s theory that Mary, and in this case her family, looked down on him.

Ridley’s gaze returned to mine. “It’s the age-old prejudice, old family versus new money. I would place a bet on the new money to win.”

“In this case it appears Mr. Archer does a great deal of winning. I should speak to him about investing my funds.”

“You might. But remember, the greater the reward, the higher the risk.”