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A review by sarah_moynihan
A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder by Dianne Freeman
4.0
'For Frances Wynn, widow to the late Earl of Harleigh, life has a cosmopolitan flavor of late. No sooner has she sent her mother and daughter off on a shopping trip to Paris than she and her fiancé, George Hazleton, are socializing with visiting members of the Russian royal family. Yet amid this whirlwind, scandal also comes calling when Inspector Delaney turns up outside Frances's house with a young French woman with a shocking claim: she is Mrs. George Hazelton.
As the future Mrs. George Hazelton, Frances assumes the woman is either lying or demented. Mrs. Hazelton, aka Irena, makes other outrageous statements. Among them, she insists that she is the illegitimate daughter of Russian royalty, that she has been abducted and held for ransom many times, and that someone is sending her threatening letters. When George arrives, he clarifies that he is certainly not married to Irena--though he can confirm her royal parentage. But even as he agrees to investigate whether Irena's life is in danger, her claim proves tragically true. Irena is found strangled in Frances' garden.
To uncover a killer--and clear their own names--Frances and George must determine which of Irena's outlandish stories were based in fact, and who stood to benefit from her death. And as the search reaches a shocking conclusion, they may find that villainy lurks all too close to home...'
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4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.
A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder is the fourth book in Dianne Freeman's Countess of Harleigh Mystery series and is a historical mystery.
Ugh, I honestly adore the dynamic between Frances and George. They're such a good investigative team and couple. In this book, their relationship and engagement are put to the test when a woman arrives claiming to be Mrs. George Hazelton. Trust tested and they have to face gossip and disapproving public opinion.
I loved how the mystery unfolded in this book. Clues came together at the perfect pace, so that it didn't give things away too early. There some tense moments and some danger, our characters are put into some fairly uncomfortable situations, but the banter and wit carries throughout without being too much. The wit is one if the key characteristics of this series and I adore it, I hope there will be several more book to come.
I recommend this book and the series as a whole. You don't necessarily have to read them together and in order, this could serve as a stand-alone. But I think one would enjoy them more read in order. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and whatever mystery they'll face next.
_____
I would like to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for sharing an eARC of A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder with me. This is my honest review.
As the future Mrs. George Hazelton, Frances assumes the woman is either lying or demented. Mrs. Hazelton, aka Irena, makes other outrageous statements. Among them, she insists that she is the illegitimate daughter of Russian royalty, that she has been abducted and held for ransom many times, and that someone is sending her threatening letters. When George arrives, he clarifies that he is certainly not married to Irena--though he can confirm her royal parentage. But even as he agrees to investigate whether Irena's life is in danger, her claim proves tragically true. Irena is found strangled in Frances' garden.
To uncover a killer--and clear their own names--Frances and George must determine which of Irena's outlandish stories were based in fact, and who stood to benefit from her death. And as the search reaches a shocking conclusion, they may find that villainy lurks all too close to home...'
___________________________________
4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.
A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder is the fourth book in Dianne Freeman's Countess of Harleigh Mystery series and is a historical mystery.
Ugh, I honestly adore the dynamic between Frances and George. They're such a good investigative team and couple. In this book, their relationship and engagement are put to the test when a woman arrives claiming to be Mrs. George Hazelton. Trust tested and they have to face gossip and disapproving public opinion.
I loved how the mystery unfolded in this book. Clues came together at the perfect pace, so that it didn't give things away too early. There some tense moments and some danger, our characters are put into some fairly uncomfortable situations, but the banter and wit carries throughout without being too much. The wit is one if the key characteristics of this series and I adore it, I hope there will be several more book to come.
I recommend this book and the series as a whole. You don't necessarily have to read them together and in order, this could serve as a stand-alone. But I think one would enjoy them more read in order. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and whatever mystery they'll face next.
_____
I would like to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for sharing an eARC of A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder with me. This is my honest review.