“[An] outstanding series launch. … Hamilton expertly balances the page-turning detection with the story of a hypocritical society where women, whether they are scullery maids or orphans, rarely get to make their own decisions.”–Publishers Weekly(starred review) Scandal and slayings among Regency London’s elite The shocking murder of Sir Henry Claybourne leaves Regency London shaken and … shaken and horror-struck. But for genteel spinster Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, the crime slices far too close to home. Just hours before the knight’s death she held a dagger to him, threatening him to stay silent as she rescued a scullery maid he had procured for his pleasure.
Did the man–or woman–who murdered the knight know of her visit? Her secret identity at risk, her reputation and life in jeopardy, Emmeline must solve the crime or face scandalous exposure and ruination, or worse–the hangman’s noose–for a crime she did not commit.
“Hamilton’s novel will appeal to fans of Anne Perry’s Charlotte and Pitt mysteries.”–Booklist
“A simply riveting and compulsive page-turner of a read from cover to cover. A deftly scripted mystery with more twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster.”–Midwest Book Review
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I read this book in about five hours. I could not put it down. The way the author described the characters was very picturesque. The book was full of surprises and yet it all came together. Women trying to make it in a man’s world without being too bold was very unique. I would recommend this book to anyone who especially likes mysteries and thrilling adventures.
This is the first non-cozy mystery that I’ve read by this author, and I was not disappointed. I love her cozy mysteries; this is written with the same care and fine eye for details that Victoria Hamilton’s other novels share. It took a few minutes to become accustomed to the narrator, and there were times I wasn’t sure who the speaker was. Overall, however, it was clear and easily.
Emmeline is one of a group of ladies who work together to rescue young girls who are working in homes where the man of the house makes unreasonable demands. We get to watch her rescue a girl from Sir Henry Claybourne’s home and catches him a breath away from harming the girl. Emmeline then delivered the girl to where she would have a better, safer position, then went home.
The next morning brought the news that some crazed woman entered the Claybourne home, grabbed the young girl, then disappeared with her and the silver. It is also thought that the woman is responsible for the bloody death of Sir Henry later that night. Emmeline and her friends are horrified at the murder, and she is equally horrified that she could be discovered as the woman who made the first trip but didn’t steal the silver. Nor did she return and murder Sir Henry. She began to investigate on her own to protect herself and learned just how heinous the current conditions for working-class women were.
I was stunned when I realized – and it was confirmed – who one of the bad guys was and how deeply rooted the effects and betrayal were and just how he minimized his behavior. The end was stunning, and even though I rarely like cliffhangers, it leads skillfully into the next novel. The author deals with very sensitive subjects in a manner giving dignity to those effected by the crimes. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy Regency-era mysteries set in England.
From a thankful heart: I won an audiobook of this novel from the author; a review was not required.
DNF at 60%, and not for lack of trying.
The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder had a slow start, not for a lack of interesting things happening. But because I didn’t feel like we got to really know the main character very much I wasn’t interested or invested in what was happening to her and the things that were concerning her.
This book focuses on men of the upper classes using their power and money to abuse those vulnerable to them. Mostly pedophilic men raping the young women in their employ. This is a very dark subject matter and it was jarring to find this to be focus of a cozy mystery. It didn’t seem fitting for the genre. Plus they are fighting for this horrible cause and all the characters are so casual about it.
I was so disappointed by this book for a few reasons. Partially because it didn’t seem very in keeping with the time period and partially because it was so dreary and slow-paced without even an enjoyable main character to make the reading worth it. But mainly because I have read the 3-part mystery series from when she was writing under the name ‘Donna Lee SImpson,’ The Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, which she recently republished under Victoria Hamilton. I loved that series, so when I found she had started a new mystery series I was looking forward to starting this book. But this new book doesn’t hold any resemblence to her past writing. I didn’t find the characters engaging or intruiging and although the premise was good, I wasn’t invested. In all honesty I found the main characer to be distinctly unlikeable.
I have tried several times to get into this book, but I simply can’t. The author again and again summarizes what you’ve already read so that you know where the mystery stands, but it was just so repetitive and I was bored. I did not feel a connection for any of the characters, I didn’t like Emmeline. She was very modern for a woman of her time and she had a very dim view on life. Choosing to fight the battles she does, her outlook is understandable. But… I’m not here for it.
I will not be finishing this book and am upset that I purchased it. This is the first of a series, but I will not be continuing with the series and I do not recommend it to others.
** 1.5 stars rounded up **
I love this author’s Vintage Kitchen Mysteries series so I couldn’t wait for this new series to start. The book blurb sounded great – just the new historical mystery series for which I’d been looking. Sadly, it turned into the longest three-hundred-sixty pages I’ve ever read. At several points, I almost marked it as DNF, but I did slog on through to the end.
Historical mysteries are my very favorite sub-genre – but I always want a romantic relationship in them. In this book, I can’t imagine there ever being a romantic relationship because I’ve never read a more unlovable or unlikable heroine in my life. I’ve liked some villains more than I liked this heroine. Emmeline St. Germaine is absolutely eaten up with rage and hate – she hates men (yes, hates is the correct word – unless you know a stronger one), she detests the monarchy, she doesn’t believe in God, she is bitter and she is a first-class shrew.
According to this tale, every female in England has been preyed upon, sexually abused and exploited – and – every male in England is a sexual deviant who abuses females – women and children. To me, Emmeline has some really sick reasoning – for instance – at the beginning of the book – she’s going to rescue a young scullery maid – she wants to time it so she catches the perpetrator in the act, but before any real damage has been done. Say what!!! It is okay if the little girl is abused, assaulted, and scared to death as long as the penetration hasn’t actually taken place.
While the book was supposedly set in the Regency period, the only indications of that were mentions of the king’s madness and the profligate prince regent. Nobody obeyed any of the social norms and the group of women who were so downtrodden and under the thumbs of the male population certainly seemed to do whatever they wanted when they wanted.
The only person I even remotely liked in the book was Dr. Woodforde. I am sure he is supposed to be the love interest, but given the way Emmeline speaks to him and treats him, I fail to see how he could possibly love her. If he does, he is definitely a masochist because she speaks to him worse than a dog.
The set-up for the next book puts the setting in an insane asylum. Frankly, I think that might be a good place for Emmaline.
I’m sorry to say that I cannot recommend this book.
This mystery takes place in 1810 and centers around the sexual abuse of young girls. It also deals with the subjugation of women (which I suspect will continue to be a central topic if the heroine, Emmeline St. Germaine, blazes her way through more stories in the series).
She’s incredibly fiery and brave and determined, and she keeps on fighting abuse and injustice through the many twists and turns of the story, as more and more ghastly stuff is revealed. Not an easy read but definitely a worthwhile one.
Well done.
With so much in the news recently about human trafficking, this is a very timely story.
We have a group of (somewhat) privileged woman who want to help those less fortunate.
The social restrictions of the time allow them little autonomy, so they have to act clandestinely .
The insights into the lack of control over ones life if they are born femail, is brought home clearly.
The clever ways to work around it are inspiring.
Sadly, even the seemingly supportive males show their ingrained attitudes while trying to help.
A GENTLEWOMAN’S GUIDE TO MURDER by Victoria Hamilton
The First Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder
Regency England may be remembered for its romances and lovely people living a life of frivolity and indulgence. But, that was the life of members of the ton. In reality, life was harder and much darker, especially for those on the lowest rungs of the service ladder. Miss Emmeline St. Germaine is a woman with a mission, as well as a double, if not triple, life. In public she’s a proper, if unmarried woman. As The Rogue, she writes articles for a newspaper, bringing light to scandalous gossip and social injustices. But her most dangerous role is that of The Avengeress, who ventures out to save young girls and boys from abuse. After rescuing a young maid about to be raped by her employer, she’s stunned when the man is found brutally slaughtered the next morning. With the majority of the public blaming The Avengeress, Emmeline determines to find the real killer, before she’s exposed…and found guilty of murder!
Victoria Hamilton does not shy away from the gritty reality of life tackling sexual assault and pedophilia in her first Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder mystery! Yet these atrocities are dealt with tact and not sensationalized.
I enjoyed my first entry into Regency England with Miss Emmeline St. Germaine. She’s doing what she can to be a free and independent woman, fighting for the betterment of society at a time when upperclass women were thought of as nothing more than adornments while women of lower classes were meant to be used and abused. Sadly, this remains somewhat of a reality even today, 200 years later!
The author has a firm grasp of life during this time period, providing a myriad of small details that are intrinsic to the mood and spirit of the novel and not extraneous fluff or an overt history lesson. Emmaline’s work as the Rogue, sharing gossip and rumours with broad hints as to the real people involved, was a standard practice of the time. Clothing details showing class distinction as well as how the different classes met and mingled are all integral particulars to the story. The characters are all multidimentional with deep backstories simmering under the surface. Vivid descriptions are haunting, especially the subtle changes seen in those being abused.
A GENTLEWOMAN’S GUIDE TO MURDER is a smart historical mystery that isn’t afraid to deal with difficult subject matter. A truly heroic heroine graces its pages engaging in a fight to be her own person, a fight that women continue to this day.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.