ARC Review: The Secret of the Lady's Maid by Darcie Wilde

The Secret of the Lady's Maid
Author: Darcie Wilde
Series: A Useful Woman Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Kensington (December 26, 2023)

Description: Inspired by the works of Jane Austen, this charming mystery series set in Regency London features Rosalind Thorne, a young woman with a talent for helping ladies of the ton with their most pressing and delicate problems . . .

Rosalind Thorne’s quick wits and discretion have proved invaluable to London’s haut ton. Success has at last brought her financial stability and a new home, which she shares with her best friend, Alice Littlefield. But now trouble has infiltrated Rosalind’s sanctuary, and the reputations in danger include her own.

Alice has formed a tender attachment to Amelia, the maid in their employ, and her affection is returned. But before meeting Alice, Amelia was involved with Cate Levitton, daughter of a well-respected family. The scandalous liaison caused the Levittons to banish Cate to the house of her widowed cousin. Amelia has no expectation of seeing Cate again—until she stumbles upon her in the marketplace, looking deathly ill.

The women bring Cate to their home with the help of Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, who deduces that Cate’s sickness may in fact be arsenic poisoning. But who had motive, or means? As Rosalind and Adam work side by side, their suspicions grow—as does the bond between them. Rosalind knows that both her blossoming relationship with Adam and her increasing independence would be frowned upon by society. Poison, politics, jealousy and jewel thieves combine in Rosalind’s most complex case yet. But to solve this dangerous puzzle, Rosalind must also decide where her heart and her future lie . . .

My Thoughts: Rosalind Thorne has made a place for herself solving problems for the haut ton and now has some financial security. The problem she's trying to solve this time is the most complicated that she has ever faced. Cate Levitton has run away from home and found herself at Rosalind's home after collapsing in the park. 

Cate's previous relationship with Rosalind's maid Amelia was the cause of Amelia losing her job. Now she has shown up dying of arsenic poisoning and lying about nearly everything. She won't say why she left home. When Rosalind goes to investigate, she finds a very dysfunctional family situation. Her aunt is the one with all the money in the family which fosters all kinds of resentment in Cate's oldest brother who is a jealous man. The younger of Cate's brothers tries to make peace between all parties but his efforts usually make situations worse instead of better. Her fiancé is her aunt's protegee and isn't really interested in Cate. In fact, he's having an affair with Cate's sister-in-law. And all of them are lying and keeping secrets about something. 

While Rosalind is trying to untangle all the lies and secrets, her love Adam Harkness is having his own issues as a Bow Street Runner. He feels that the Runners are more interested in doing the political thing instead of the right thing concerning a group of men accused of treason. He's facing pressure from his colleagues as he tries to find out the truth about the treason plot. He has also been approached by a radical Member of Parliament who has offered a life-changing reward for finding one of the conspirators which his colleagues don't want found. 

This story had a lot of viewpoint shifts and had a nicely twisty plot. I liked the look at the culture of the time period and sympathized with the tough decision Rosalind had to make. 

Favorite Quote:

"Let me tell you what I know, Adam Harkness. Those in power plan to stay there. They're not going to tolerate tuppeny-hapeenny revolutionaries. And you may have stood before the king, he may have praised your name, but if the men in charge decide you've betrayed them when they've been so very condescending to you, no Member of Parliament is going to be able to save your righteous ass."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.