Author: Katharine Schellman
Series: A Lily Adler Mystery
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (July 13, 2021)
Description: Regency widow Lily Adler didn't expect to find a corpse when visiting a family friend. Now it's up to her to discover the killer in the charming second installment in the Lily Adler mysteries.
Regency widow Lily Adler has finally settled into her new London life when her semi-estranged father arrives unexpectedly, intending to stay with her while he recovers from an illness. Hounded by his disapproval, Lily is drawn into spending time with Lady Wyatt, the new wife of an old family friend. Lily barely knows Lady Wyatt. But she and her husband, Sir Charles, seem as happy as any newly married couple until the morning Lily arrives to find the house in an uproar and Sir Charles dead.
All signs indicate that he tripped and struck his head late at night. But when Bow Street constable Simon Page is called to the scene, he suspects foul play. And it isn't long before Lily stumbles on evidence that Sir Charles was, indeed, murdered.
Mr. Page was there when Lily caught her first murderer, and he trusts her insight into the world of London's upper class. With the help of Captain Jack Hartley, they piece together the reasons that Sir Charles's family might have wanted him dead. But anyone who might have profited from the old man's death seems to have an alibi... until Lily receives a mysterious summons to speak with one of the Wyatts' maids, only to find the young woman dead when she arrives.
Mr. Page believes the surviving family members are hiding the key to the death of both Sir Charles and the maid. To uncover the truth, Lily must convince the father who doesn't trust or respect her to help catch his friend's killer before anyone else in the Wyatt household dies.
My Thoughts: Lily Adler is settling into her life in London when her father pays an unexpected visit. She and her father don't get along. He doesn't respect her and much favors his godson Frank Wyatt. He sends Lily to pay a call on his friend Sir Charles since he doesn't approve of Sir Charles' recent wedding to a younger woman.
Lily calls and finds the new Lady Wyatt an unexceptionable lady. However, she also finds herself present when some money is discovered to be missing. At first a servant is blamed but Lily quickly realizes that the money was actually stolen by Sir Charles' nephew Percy which leads to an embarrassing moment for an outsider.
When Lily arrives the next morning to ride with Lady Wyatt, she comes upon a difficult situation again. This time she learns that Sir Charles has been found dead in his library. Since it looks like murder, Simon Page from the Bow Street Runners is called in but the Wyatts don't want to cooperate with his investigation.
Mr. Page knew Mrs. Adler from an earlier case and drafts her to do some investigating since she is of the correct social class and would be welcomed by the Wyatt's when he would not. It also helps that the Wyatt's were neighbors in the county and Mrs. Adler is familiar with them.
When a young maid also dies, Lily, Simon and Lily's friend Captain Jack Hartley are all very busy trying to find out who committed the murders.
This was an entertaining Regency mystery with interesting characters. I really like Lily Adler's determination to solve the crime but also her worries that her life as an investigator could hurt her socially. I liked the way she stood up to her father's bullying.
Favorite Quote:
Favorite Quote:
Simon cleared his throat. "I should have learned the last time not to argue with you."She patted his hand. "Everyone learns not to argue with me eventually. Except my father. That man will never learn."
I liked this story very much. Especially the characters, even Lily's father, despot though he was.
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