A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder

By Dianne Freeman

Book Overview

In Dianne Freeman's lighthearted mystery series set in Victorian England, the American-born Countess of Harleigh uncovers more deadly intrigue among the uppercrust...

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 fianc , 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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1496731603
• ISBN13: 9781496731609
• Release Date: July 2021
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.7" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Fun read

The characters are funny and likable, the writing is easy to follow and quick to suck you into the narrative. This is an easy and enjoyable read.

Light good reading

Lady Harleigh has become entangled in yet another mystery. This time she finds herself accused of murder and the center of a scandal that could ruin her put and end to her hopes of marriage! Another light, fun mystery set in 1899 London social circles. How will the Countess solve the case this time?