Murder in Masquerade

A Lady of Letters Mystery, Book 2

By: Mary Winters

Narrated by: Ella Lynch

Extra, extra, read all about it! Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury finds herself playing the role of sleuth when a night at the theatre turns deadly.

Victorian Countess Amelia Amesbury’s secret hobby, writing an advice column for a London penny paper, has gotten her into hot water before. After all, Amelia will do whatever it takes to help a reader in need. But now, handsome marquis Simon Bainbridge desperately requires her assistance. His beloved younger sister, Marielle, has written Amelia's Lady Agony column seeking advice on her plans to elope with a man her family does not approve of. Determined to save his sister from a scoundrel and the family from scandal, Simon asks Amelia to dissuade Marielle from the ill-advised gambit.

But when the scoundrel makes an untimely exit after a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Amelia realizes there’s much more at stake than saving a young woman’s reputation from ruin. It’s going to take more than her letter-writing skills to help the dashing marquis, mend the familial bond, and find the murderer. Luckily, solving problems is her specialty!

©2024 Mary Winters (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Delightful Read

This is an entertaining new series that is bound to entertain lovers of cozy-historical mysteries. In this second outing, as Amelia and Simon investigate a murder that could have serious repercussions for Simon's family, we get a clearer picture of who they are as individuals that proves both touching and amusing, and I particularly enjoyed the humor woven into the story. I am still picturing Amelia scaling a tree in her voluminous skirts and crinolines. This is a solid mystery with lead characters who are both strong and vulnerable and a cast of other likeable and well developed characters who enhance the story. I look forward to visiting with these characters again soon.

One oddity in this series is the absence of a police presence. Obviously, in a murder mystery set in Victorian London, there is a police force, but there are nothing more than passing references to it. I actually kept thinking there would be some interaction with one or more detectives in this book given the nature and certain aspects of the murder. I am of two minds about this. First, it removes a certain level of angst that usually exists between the police and amateur sleuths, making it easier for Amelia and Simon to investigate in any way they see fit. On the other hand, it does require more of a suspension of reality than is normally required, even in cozy mysteries. All in all, while I kept expecting the police to make a significant appearance in both books, particularly this one, I did not really miss that element. The book focused on the characters and the story without worrying about the technicalities that the presence of a police interaction would add, and I find I am strangely okay with that in this series.

Once again, Ella Lynch did a wonderful job of voicing these characters.

The characters were likeable.

Well written and an easy read. I'm hopping there will be a third book in the series.

a fabulous second novel

I absolutely adore this new series. I hope there are so many more to come.