ARC Review: Of Hoaxes and Homicide by Anastasia Hastings

Of Hoaxes and Homicide
Author: Anastasia Hastings
Series: A Dear Miss Hermione Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Minotaur Books (January 30, 2024)

Description: The second in the delightful Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings―when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, fielding questions from both irate housekeepers and heartbroken mothers is par for the course...

"Dear Miss Hermione―what is a mother to do?"

Sensible Violet Manville and her very ladylike half-sister Sephora are absolutely bored, thank you very much. Though neither of them would ever admit it aloud, they're missing the thrill of playing detective.

So when Violet receives a letter from "A Heartbroken Mother" sent to her alter-ego, the Agony Aunt known to the world only as Miss Hermione, her pulse can't help but quicken. The daughter in question has gotten caught up in a cult: the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. Rumors of human sacrifices, mystical doings, and a ghost in the ruined Alburn Abbey where the Children pray have gripped the public consciousness, helped along by a series of novels about the group, written by the mysterious Count Orlando, and clearly this girl has fallen prey.

Miss Hermione’s investigation soon collides with very real life when Violet discovers a surprising connection to the cult. With the dashing-but-frustrating Eli Marsh turning up and a member of the Children poisoned, Violet and Sephora―along with their ever-trusty housekeeper Bunty―may have more intrigue than they can manage.

My Thoughts: This story is the second in the Dear Hermione mysteries. It is set in England in 1885 and stars two very different sisters. Violet is the practical, scholarly one and Sephora is the young, flighty and romantic one. As the story begins, both young ladies are bored with their lives after the excitement of solving a murder in the first book. 

When Violet, who has taken over the role of agony aunt from her aunt, receives a letter from a despairing mother whose daughter has joined a cult, she is determined to investigate and bring the young lady home to her parents. 

Then Violet discovers that the missing young lady is Sephora's best friend Margaret who had entangled herself with the Children of Aed. Penny dreadfuls written about the cult speak of human sacrifices and other atrocities. Violet is determined to go to the cult to find Margaret and is equally determined to leave her flighty younger half-sister behind safe in London. But Sephora isn't content to stay out of the investigation and ends up trailing Bunty to all sorts of dodgy places and inserting herself in the investigation.

While Violet is dealing with being drugged and seeing a man die of poisoning and seeing Margaret "confess" to the crime, Sephora and Bunty are trying to learn more about the murder victim in London where he is something of a man of mystery.

This was an engaging story with great characters. I like that Violet learns to see her sister Sephora better and begins to treat her as an equal instead of a burden. I also liked that Sephora showed that she was more than a propriety obsesses, fashion obsessed young person. 

Favorite Quote:

My exhalation of despair should certainly have plucked at the heartstrings of all who heard it. Which of course explains why Violet, in the chair opposite of mine, a book open in her hands, never flinched. But then, I am convinced Violet doesn't have a heart. 

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