A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery Book #3) by Dianne Freeman. Kensington Books, 2020. 288 pages. ****

Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, married the man of her mother's dreams and she is determined that her sister will not do so. While Frances' husband was dashing and handsome, he was also feckless and a philanderer.  When Lily insists that the wedding to Leo must happen sooner rather than later, Frances needs a venue far away from prying eyes. Risings, George Hazleton’s family estate in Hampshire, is a perfect choice, and soon Frances, her beloved George, and other guests have gathered to enjoy the estate and get to know each other. When a series of accidents occur, Frances is thrown into the role of sleuth and left wondering if someone is conspiring to stop the wedding. Mr. Treadwell, Leo's best man, seems to have his eye on Lily and has his own reasons for staying so close. Throw in the mother of the bride who is disappointed in the choice of groom and chaos ensues.

This lighthearted mystery filled with danger and romance is delightful!  This is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the other two. Dianne Freeman has captured England in the late 1800s. A time when wealthy American mothers were marrying off their daughters to impoverished, but titled British aristocracy. The upstairs - downstairs descriptions were reminiscent of Downton Abbey complete with snobbery and humor. The mother of the bride tries right up to the wedding day to convince her daughter to marry better than Leo. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy the strong female characters of Frances and Aunt Hetty.

I received an ecopy for a review.

Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, won both an Agatha Award and a Lefty Award and was nominated for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America. She spent thirty years working in corporate accounting and finance and now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband split their time between Michigan and Arizona.
For more information about Dianne Freeman, https://difreeman.com/about/

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