“Wilde’s heroine is not only a useful woman but a highly entertaining one.”—Kirkus Reviews on And Dangerous to Know Fans of Jane Austen have fallen in love with this mystery series featuring Rosalind Thorne, a young woman adept at helping ladies of the ton navigate the darker corners of Regency England—while revealing Society’s most shocking secrets . . . Rosalind is pleased when she’s invited … secrets . . .
Rosalind is pleased when she’s invited to Cassel House to help her friend, Louisa, prepare for her upcoming wedding. But that’s not the only event on her agenda. The trip will also reunite Rosalind with Devon Winterbourne, the newly minted Duke of Casselmaine. Devon and Rosalind were on the verge of betrothal before the infamous Thorne family scandal derailed their courtship. Now Rosalind wonders if there’s a chance their love might reignite . . .
Devon is as handsome as Rosalind remembers and it’s clear the attraction they once shared hasn’t waned. But their time together is interrupted by one crisis after another—including an awkwardly timed request for help from Louisa’s friend, Helen Corbyn. The recent, untimely death of Helen’s brother, William, was ruled a suicide, but few believe he took his own life. Helen needs to know what really happened—especially since she’s engaged to the man some suspect of killing him . . .
While Rosalind desperately wants to help, she fears her efforts might cast a pall over Louisa’s nuptials, not to mention her reunion with Devon. But when another untimely death rocks the ton, Rosalind has no choice but to uncover the truth—before more people die . . .
“A complex, enthralling mystery that rivals those of Anne Perry and Agatha Christie.”
—New York Journal of Books
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When I discovered Darcie Wilde and Rosalind Thorne I was hooked. These historical mysteries are a must read. With intrigue, twists and turns that will keep you guessing and plenty of romantic tension, you won’t want to put this latest instalment down!
When Rosalind embarks for the Duke of Castlemaine’s estate, her plan is to discover if their love will reignite. When they are interrupted at every turn, by one crisis after another, can Rosalind uncover the truth before anyone else dies? Even if it threatens her future with Devon?
I particularly enjoyed how Rosalind and Devon’s moments played out in this adventure and I look forward to some more scenes between her and Adam Harkness in the next book.
A big thank you to Kensington Books for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #ALadyCompromised #Goodreads #BookBub
** This review can be found on NetGalley, Goodreads, BookBub
Wow! This book is amazing! It is intriguing, gripping, interesting, fulls of twists, and so much more. Whenever I picked up “A Lady Compromised”, I was whisked back in time to the Regency Era and put on my sleuthing hat to solve mysteries.
This is the fourth book in Darcie Wilde’s “Rosalind Thorne Mystery” series, but the first I have read. While the book definitely works as a stand-alone, I am so excited to now go back and read the previous books in the series. Ms. Wilde’s writing style is incredible, and she truly brings the past to life in an engaging and vivid way. Each scene and moment truly springs to life right off of the page, and the way she weaves history and historical fiction is seamless. Moreover, the pacing of her book feels just right. All of the puzzle pieces of the mystery come together in the right moment they need to, and I was hooked from the first page to the last.
In this book, Rosalind goes to the countryside to help with her friend, Louisa’s wedding, and to possibly see if she and Devon can deepen their relationship into something strong romantically. However, upon arriving, she is asked to help investigate the death of the brother of one of Louisa’s friends, Helen. Rosalind finds herself pulled into more than one mystery. Helping could put not only Rosalind in danger, but, others she cares about as well. With multiple suspects, secrets, and surprises, will Rosalind be able to figure out what is really going on? Will more tragedies strike? In addition, what will Rosalind do about the love triangle she is involved in? I do not want to spoil anything in this review, so, I will simply say, you will just have to read to find out.
If you enjoy historical cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book! It had me turning the pages to see what would happen next, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!
Thank you so much to Kensington Books for the review copy of this book, it is amazing! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Miss Rosalind Thorne is someone other women come to for help when they have nowhere else to turn. As she traveled to the country to help her friend, Miss Louisa Winterbourne, with her upcoming nuptials, she was contacted by Miss Helen Corbyn. Helen asked for a meeting to discuss a matter she needed help with, although she did not say what the matter was. Rosalind finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery she was not prepared for. To further complicate matters, she was invited to the country by the Duke of Casselmaine, Devon Winterbourne, with whom she was previously betrothed before the Thorne family scandal thwarted those plans. Now she must try to plan a wedding, see if there is anything left of her relationship with Devon, and try to solve a murder without completely disrupting her life.
Even though this is the fourth book in a series, I did not feel lost and was able to enjoy it as a stand-alone novel. The imagery of the pomp and circumstance, gowns, and lavish homes transported me to a time long ago. The characters were well rounded and the story, with all its twists and turns, was well thought out and unpredictable. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
‘Rosalind is pleased when she’s invited to Cassel House to help her friend, Louisa, prepare for her upcoming wedding. But that’s not the only event on her agenda. The trip will also afford Rosalind the chance to see Devon Winterbourne, the newly minted Duke of Casselmaine. Devon and Rosalind were on the verge of betrothal before the infamous Thorne family scandal derailed their courtship. Now Rosalind wonders if there’s a chance their love might reignite.
Devon is as handsome as Rosalind remembers and it’s clear the attraction they once shared hasn’t waned. But their time together is interrupted by one crisis after another–not the least of which is an awkwardly timed request for help from Louisa’s friend, Helen Corbyn.
Not long ago, the untimely death of Helen’s brother, William, was ruled a suicide, but few people truly believe he took his own life. Helen needs to know what really happened–especially since she’s engaged to the man some suspect of secretly killing William.
While Rosalind desperately wants to help, she fears her efforts might cast a pall over Louisa’s nuptials, not to mention her reunion with Devon. But when another untimely death rocks the ton, Rosalind has no choice but to uncover the truth before more people die…even if her actions threaten her future with Devon.’
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A Lady Compromised is the fourth book in Darcie Wilde’s A Rosalind Thorne Mystery series. Rosalind is off to the country and to explore the idea of marriage with Devon, but things to not go to plan. Almost immediately after her arrival she is recruited to look into the death of a neighbor, which appears to be a suicide.
I have adored this series so far. I love the dry and often satirical views of people maneuvering their way through the very rigid rules of society. The danger level in each book has been consistent, but that’s not to mean it has become predicable or anticlimactic. The harrowing situations in each book are unique and I’m invested every time. I’m especially curious to see what kind of danger she’ll face now that Russell Fullerton has set his sights on her. That epilogue was the perfect cliffhanger, I’m excited for the next book (but disappointed to have to wait a year. And Rosalind was quite the force to be reckoned with, now that she’s breaking out of that society lady shell that she has so carefully adhered to. A lot is changing here, but I’m excited for what that may mean for ther series moving forward.
I recommend this series if you enjoy cozy-style historical mysteries. I suppose you don’t need to, but I would recommend reading the books in order as a series rather than reading this book as a standalone. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and hope that it’ll have more Harkness,
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I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for sharing an eARC of A Lady Compromised with me. This is my honest review.
a series I have enjoyed since it first premiered and A Lady Compromised is a great addition! Rosalind’s creation of a place for herself and a way to survive following her family’s downfall is so clever and makes for such interesting plots. This new one comes as she and the Duke of Casselmaine try to figure out if there is anything left of their youthful romance and what the future holds for both of them. Rosalind taking on a new case is not helpful and causes a number of issues but in the end brings a horrible murderer to justice and rights a horrible wrong. I won’t tell you what happens between the two of them but I am very anxious to see what happens next for Miss Thorne! Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of #ALadyCompromised.
I had forgotten how extraordinarily complex and rich Darcie Wilde’s novels are! A Lady Compromised follows the pattern. Rosalind Thorne is thrust into an uneasy situation while visiting Devon, Duke of Casselmaine as an invited guest. Devon’s young cousin Louisa is getting married and has asked Rosalind to help her friend find the truth of her brother’s death. There are many conflicting stories circulating, not to mention stonewalling when the subject comes up. Rosalind’s main purpose for her visit is getting to know Devon again and trying to decide if they have a future together. Her subtle inquiries are shaking up the community further and jeopardizing her personal life. I almost needed a scorecard to keep track of who’s who among the numerous characters, but it is all well worth it! I look forward to the next installment of this series.
When Baronet’s daughter and amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne is asked to investigate what appears to be a suicide, she finds nothing is as it seems. Among the upper crust of society she discovers motives for bad deeds fueled by financial greed and social ambition.
A Lady Compromised is book 4 in Rosalind Thorne Mysteries by Darcie Wild, published by Kensington Books. This is the very entertaining and intriguing story about amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne as she is invited to help solve a mysterious case. The authorities have decided it was suicide, but the victim’s sister thinks he was shot as he was getting ready to duel. Rosalind’s investigation reveals a string of hidden secrets and cover-ups among upper class families. They consider themselves beyond reproach, which the investigation totally contradicts.
Main character is Baronet’s daughter and amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne. Her family has fallen on hard times following her father’s forger activity. She tries to hide this while assisting friends in need using her investigation skills and connections. She travels to opulent English country estates not unlike Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
Dowager Lady Casselmaine is a well developed and interesting supporting character who seems to have chosen a reclusive life. Her character goes through a development process from rather standoffish into a more amiable person who tries to open herself up to the world and live a better life. For this reason she is my favorite of this story.
The fly-on-the-wall perspective of the upper class lifestyle I found thoroughly amusing. I can’t remember having read anything with similar detailed descriptions of how dinner parties might feel for guests. The characters came alive and felt both relatable and realistic in this setting. My favorite part was descriptions of the Dowager Countess’ journey and development through the story. I also loved following Rosalind’s somewhat complicated and interesting past with her host.
I didn’t know much beforehand about duels, which played an important role in the plot. I very much enjoyed the descriptions of the secrecy surrounding it. Bad attitudes against foreigners and a notion that some people have “superior genes” made the plot stand out, and added drama. I found this a unique, surprising element I have not read about before.
I read this as a standalone, which worked perfectly. The ending left me curious and opens up for the next book. While this is the first cozy mystery I have read by Darcie Wilde, I would very much like to start from the beginning and read the whole series.
Anyone who enjoys the affluent country environments reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Jane Austin would love this. Fans familiar with Darcie Wilde’s works would too.
Similar authors to explore might be Andrea Penrose and Rosemary Simpson.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: A Lady Compromised is the entertaining and intriguing new installment in Rosalind Thorne Mysteries series. Amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne solves crimes in Jane Austin-like opulent English country environments. Somebody ends up dead in what appears to be a duel gone horribly wrong. Bad attitude against foreigners was a unique and surprising element adding drama to the story.
Rating: 5 stars / 5
Main reasons: unique plot, great characters
*** 3.5 Stars ***
Historical Mysteries are my favorite sub-genre and I am always looking for new-to-me authors and series to love. I found this series and wanted to give it a try even though I was coming into the series on the 4th book rather than starting at the beginning. This book can easily be read as a standalone and I don’t feel I missed much by not reading the first three books. I can also say that this book didn’t entice me to go back and read the first three books.
Rosalind Thorne, daughter of Baronet Sir Reginald Thorne, who is/was a forger, has lived in very reduced circumstances for the last several years. She has survived and supported herself by becoming ‘A Useful Woman’ in society. Basically, she helps ladies out of tangled situations. As she prepares to leave London for a two-fold mission – to help her friend Louisa Winterbourne prepare for her wedding – and to see if her former relationship with Devon, Duke of Casselmaine is still as warm as it once was. She wonders if she can leave all she has created for herself in London for the quiet country life of a duchess. Of course, decisions can never be simple, so a letter from Helen Corbyn arrives, asking Rosalind to help unravel the mystery of her brother’s death while she is visiting Louisa and Devon.
There are a great many secrets held within several families as well as family animosities and feuds. With suspects galore, Rosalind may not escape before a murder ends her life as well. Twisted and tangled relationships nestled within political issues of the time make Rosalind’s inquiries particularly perilous.
I am not a fan of love triangles and this series seems to have had one during the previous three books. It doesn’t appear that any of the relationships were secret and each of the men knew about the other, so I guess that is good. I believe this book was to ‘settle’ the triangle – and I suppose it did in that Rosalind made a choice to decline one of them for anything beyond friendship. However, it didn’t appear to me that she actually chose the other. Frankly, I like more romance in my mysteries that this one had – it was lukewarm at best.
Overall, it was a good mystery, but it was slower paced than I usually like, and without an active romance to shore it up, it fell flat for me. The author threw a lot of historical ‘facts’ at us about life during the period, but I’m not sure how much of it was totally accurate. For instance, Adam Harkness, Principal Investigator at Bow Street would not have been wearing a red vest. The Bow Street Horse Patrol was the only one who wore the red vests. Others at Bow Street wore regular clothing. I am happy to have read the story and to have met Rosalind, Devon, and Adam, but I wouldn’t re-read the book – nor am I sure that it enticed me to try the next book when it comes out.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.