Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva Huntford, are preparing for a wedding, but it may not be the happy occasion everyone hopes for . . . Since the Great War, the Renshaw family fortune has suffered. Now Julia Renshaw is under pressure to marry for money—and has settled for Gilbert Townsend, a viscount and wealthy industrialist. He is decades older than Julia, and it’s clear to her … is decades older than Julia, and it’s clear to her sister, Phoebe—and to Eva, who has been like a surrogate mother—that this is no love match. Nevertheless, the wedding takes place—and in a hurry.
At the reception aboard the groom’s yacht, there appears to be tension between Gil and several guests. The bride is also less than pleased to discover her honeymoon will be more crowded than expected—with Gil’s pretty secretary, among others, coming along. Worse, that very night, Julia is injured during a hot-tempered outburst on her new husband’s part . . .
The next morning, Gil’s body is found in the water—and Phoebe and Eva must discover who pushed him over—before the Renshaws’ social standing is irreparably stained by Julia’s arrest for his murder . . .
“Maxwell, who always puts an interesting spin on her country-house mysteries set between the great wars, delivers once again in this tale of love, hate, revenge, and country houses in peril.” —Kirkus Reviews
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“A Murderous Marriage” earns 5/5 Soggy Nuptials…Clever and Engaging!
When I need a “Downton Abbey” fix, I know exactly where to go…A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery by Alyssa Maxwell. And the newest book…Wow! I’ll have my tea in the library, Carson! Oops, I was channeling my inner Lady of the Manor…
I was totally engaged…Lady Phoebe Renshaw’s sister Julia is preparing to go down the aisle and marry the much older viscount Gilbert Townsend. Grams is demanding, younger sister Amelia is excited, Julia’s impatient, and Phoebe…made one last move to shake some sense into Julia. She loves Theo, he loves her, Grams objections be damned when a life a happiness is at stake. But, Julia knows Gil’s age may work against him, and then she’d be able to do what she pleases…ok, she’ll regret saying that. After the “I do-s,” photographs, and reception marked with family tensions and a seemingly impatient groom, Phoebe finds her sister with an injured hand and her new husband in the water dead! Perfect set up for an entertaining murder mystery with lots of suspects who themselves need a bite from Karma, dysfunction galore, and navigating upper class mores and rules. I’m not a fan of the third-person narrative, but Alyssa does well leading me through the drama along with sharing thoughts, vivid descriptions, and entertaining banter. I love the relationship between Lady Phoebe and her lady’s maid Eva. From different classes, each has a close connection. Completely thrilled!
Read 11.18.2020
After the excellent narrator from the first book, the narrator for this one was a huge letdown. She was just awful. I am so hoping that the next book has a better one [as it will be the THIRD narrator in 3 books that had audio].
The story was good, if a bit too long. The killer was a surprise, but not really the why because it is kind of spelled out for you earlier. Still, overall, it was a good read and I do love the characters, even Julia [who is not a favorite of mine typically].
Lady Julia Renshaw marries Viscount Gilbert Townsend to fulfill her duty to her family. That same evening, she confides to her sisters that she might have made a mistake. Nonetheless, she steels herself and returns to the yacht where she and her husband will spend their honeymoon. Gil is nowhere to be seen. Believing him to be on deck for a breath of fresh air, she goes to bed. In the morning, he’s still missing. And then his body is found. The police interview witnesses who say Lady Julia mentioned that her husband would meet an untimely end. They take her into custody, leaving it up to her sister, Lady Phoebe and her maid, Eva, to track down the culprit. Plenty of suspects abound, from the best man to the groom’s sister to his nephew, wedding photographer and overly bossy secretary. Can the intrepid pair expose the killer and exonerate Lady Julia from all blame? It’s fascinating to see how these two different heroines use their unique skills and social positions to gather information. “A Murderous Marriage” is a delightful historical mystery with the added bonus of a detecting duo.
The fourth in this series, this book did not disappoint. Good plot, engaging characters,
A MURDEROUS MARRIAGE by Alyssa Maxwell
The Fourth Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery
A wedding should be a happy event, but that’s not the case in the Isle of Wight. Everyone knows it’s not a love match between Lady Julia Renshaw and the viscount forty years her senior. Despite her sisters protestations that she can and should walk away, Julia marries Gil Townsend to ensure the coffers of the family home are full. The nuptials seem a hasty occasion with the reception on board the yacht named after the groom’s first wife. An overly familiar secretary, an angry sister of the groom, a concerned best man, and unpleasant weather add to the dismal affair. When the groom goes missing the following morning and is soon found drowned, suspicions fall on the new bride. When her sister, Julia, is taken to the police station, Phoebe knows she can’t just stand idly by. It’s up to Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva, to prove Julia’s innocence and find the real murderer.
A MURDEROUS MARRIAGE looks at familial obligation and its ramifications. Julia marries to help her family and nearly destroys it as well as herself.
I really enjoyed this historical mystery which also serves as a reminder that single women didn’t have the freedom I presently enjoy. I love the relationship between Eva and, not only Phoebe, but Julia as well. While Eva is a maid, her standing is much closer to one of the family and her thoughts and assistance looked to and depended upon. The characters here are a wonderful mix, with many suspects evidencing nasty behavior. While I admire Phoebe’s independence and Eva’s intelligence, my favorite character in this fourth Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery is Hetta, Lady Julia’s new maid. There’s more than meets the eye with this Swiss woman with limited English skills and I find her a fun and delightful new character.
A MURDEROUS MARRIAGE is an engaging historical mystery that illustrates the importance of family and duty by both the upper and working classes in 1920 England.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
A MURDEROUS MARRIGE, the fourth book in the lovely Lady and Lady’s Maid series, is the best yet in the series. Great period detail, authentic characters, and a solid mystery come together to make a really enjoyable read.
This installment finds Lady Phoebe’s sister Julia in the hot seat after her husband of one day is found dead. Sure that she is innocent, Phoebe and her maid Eva set out to find the real culprit and clear Julia’s name. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, all with good motives. I suspected each one at one point or another. I did figure out whodunit, but his/her motive came as a surprise.
I like Phoebe and think she is a realistic, intelligent amateur sleuth. Eva is my favorite character, brave and smart. The Renshaw family is well represented within these pages, and I enjoyed Phoebe’s grandfather.
Author Alyssa Maxwell has created a wonderful historical mystery series, and I adored A MURDEROUS MARRIAGE. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
A Murderous Marriage is the fourth book in the A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery series.
Lady Julia Renshaw is getting married to Viscount Annondale and her sister, Lady Phoebe, doesn’t feel that this is going to be a marriage made in heaven, as the Viscount is several years older than Lady Julia and most likely not in love in him. The marriage is more of a marriage of convenience, the Renshaw’s have had difficulties making ends meet and Lady Julia has agreed to the marriage to help her family.
The wedding will take place aboard the Viscount’s yacht with family members and a few close friends. After the wedding and reception, everyone has retired to their cabin. A few hours later Lady Julia arrives at her sister’s room in the hotel where she’s staying with a nasty cut on her hand. She says a picture had fallen and the glass broke and she got a got picking up the glass. They return to the yacht and the Viscount is nowhere to be found. Soon, he is found floating near his yacht. The constables soon look to Lady Julia as the murderer and arrest her. The way Lady Phoebe sees it is that there is no shortage of suspects. The Viscount sister, his personal secretary, the best man and his estate’s vet. Since the police don’t seem to be interested in taking their blinder off, Lady Phoebe and her Lady’s Maid Eva set off to clear Lady Julia’s name.
Another well told and plotted story from Ms. Maxwell and an interesting cast of characters.
I am looking forward to the next book in this interesting series.
I sat on the edge of my seat, reading, reading, reading, dying to know who did it!!!! I love Alyssa Maxwell’s style of writing. Her descriptions are unbelievable. I feel I’m there in the story as one of the guests and can see the décor, admire the style of dress, and smell the promise of a murder to come followed by a round of questionable suspects. I highly recommend this series.