ARC Review: Tell Me No Lies by Shelley Noble

Tell Me No Lies
Author: Shelley Noble
Series: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Forge Books (November 5, 2019)

Description: Miss Fisher meets Downton Abbey in Tell Me No Lies, part of the critically acclaimed Lady Dunbridge Mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble.

Rise and shine, Countess, you’re about to have a visitor.

Lady Dunbridge was not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s come to New York City, ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm. The social events of the summer have been amusing but Lady Phil is searching for more excitement---and she finds it, when an early morning visitor arrives, begging for her help. After all, Lady Phil has been known to be useful in a crisis. Especially when the crisis involves the untimely death of a handsome young business tycoon.

His death could send another financial panic through Wall Street and beyond.

With the elegant Plaza Hotel, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the opulent mansions of Long Island’s Gold Coast as the backdrop, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.

My Thoughts: The second Philomena Amesbury, Dowager Countess of Dunbridge mystery sees her settled in a suite at the new Plaza Hotel along with her maid and butler. Her bill is being footed by a mysterious organization who wants to use her to investigate various things. She calls her contact Mr. X and he is a total man of mystery and master of disguises.

This case begins when she is called in by some new friends to help them figure out what to do about the murder of a young man who was a suitor for their daughter and a guest at her debut party. Parry Fauks is the heir to a company but also a man who wants to be in charge now. He and many others are looking for get rich quick schemes in the volatile stock market. Suspects for his murder could be his business associates or it could be a more personal crime since he has a bad reputation among young society ladies.

Phil is busy investigating even though she is being discourage by Detective Sergeant John Atkins. But Phil is the one who has access to the high society venues where the answers might lie and Atkins needs her. So does the mysterious Mr. X but Phil isn't at all sure what he wants her to do.

When a second murder happens, the case gets even more complex. Phil, her faithful maid Lily, and butler Preswick have to use all the skills they have gathered from their study of books on criminal investigation and detective stories to solve this crime and save the reputation of a young lady.

I enjoyed the setting. I like Phil who is a woman of privilege but little money. I like that she is finding a new purpose for her life solving crimes. I liked the way that history was woven into the story.

Favorite Quote:

"Tell me exactly what he said."

She told him. "It sounds like someone doesn't want me looking into Perry Fauk's murder."

"That someone would include me."

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