4.5 stars

Absolutely adored this new historical cozy mystery by Mary Winters! When I saw the darling cover, I was immediately intrigued. The story is clever, witty, and fun with a hint of romance. The characters range from charming, and endearing to snooty and downright vicious. The mystery kept me guessing with a variety of suspects and red herrings. Perhaps the most charming aspect is the advice given in the Lady Agony column which the author explains in the afterword is based on actual Victorian agony columns.

After the death of her husband, Countess Amelia Amesbury decides to help out her friend who runs a Victorian London penny paper by secretly writing a lady’s advice column under the pen name of Lady Agony. What she doesn’t anticipate is a murder investigation when one of her readers asks for advice, believing her mistress was murdered. Determined to discover the truth when the maid ends up murdered too, Amelia enlists help from her deceased husband’s best friend, the handsome marquis, Simon Bainbridge. When she’s not doling out advice as Lady Agony, attending society functions, and searching for a killer, Amelia’s also trying to prepare for her adopted daughter Winifred’s first piano recital. Can she manage all her responsibilities and protect herself and her family when she becomes the target?

Loved Amelia and Simon! From lavish ballrooms to the seedy London docks, this story takes the reader on a wild ride as they search for clues. All their interactions were filled with delicious romantic tension. I can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses. The mystery is intriguing and kept me guessing. I enjoyed the complex backstories of both Amelia and Simon which add an interesting dimension to the story. It’s a delightful, fun read I thoroughly enjoyed. Looking forward to more A Lady of Letters Mysteries.

When I wasn’t able to read, I listened to the audiobook version of the book. It was fantastic! The narrator did a fabulous job distinguishing each of the characters. Her voice created the perfect tone for this book. She brought out the witty dialogue in such a way that I found myself grinning while listening.

Definitely recommend, especially to historical and cozy mystery fans. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley but also purchased the audiobook version. All opinions are my own and my review is completely voluntary. ( )

This is the first book I’ve read by Mary Winters and it definitely won’t be the last. The mystery was excellently done and the protagonists were likable and relatable. The story was also blessed with a number of excellent supporting characters that I hope we’ll get to spend time with in future books. The premise of the series is unique, interesting, and well thought out. Who better to learn the secrets of the people of London than someone who is anonymous and gives free advice?

Lady Amelia Amesbury guards her secret ferociously. As a widowed countess and guardian of Winifred, a lovely ten-year-old girl, she cannot afford for others to become aware that she is Lady Agony. She doesn’t care about her own reputation, but she has to think of Winifred’s future, and the ton would punish Winifred to get back at Amelia.

Amelia receives a letter telling Lady Agony that the writer has witnessed her employer being murdered and asking Lady Agony to meet in the park. Amelia decides to meet the person because if the claim is true, they need help. Except, when Amelia arrives, the letter writer is dead – murdered. Amelia knows she must uncover the murderer because she couldn’t be the one to report it to the police as they would quickly uncover her Lady Agony identity.

Simon Bainbridge, a marquess and heir to a duke, quickly becomes ensnared in the investigation – and perhaps becomes ensnared by Amelia as well. Simon is tall, handsome, and intelligent, and quickly comes to believe and trust Amelia.

Simon and Amelia know they must be getting close to identifying the murderer when Amelia begins getting threatening letters. Can they keep Amelia safe and still find the murderer? Should she just give up the investigation?

There are many suspects and many red herrings dropped along the path to the murderer’s identity. You will probably suspect who the murderer is (I did), but you won’t be sure until the very end when all is revealed.

I recommend this book because it is well-written, has an excellent mystery, and has the potential for an excellent romantic sleuthing team. I did find myself puzzled by a number of things, but I’m not as familiar with the Victorian period norms as I am with Regency. One thing that puzzled me is what happened to Amelia’s husband’s title. There is no mention of the title dying with her husband – and there is no mention of the new title holder. Maybe it will be cleared up in future books. Should you choose to read this book, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )