A Scandal in Mayfair

I knew who the murderer was rather early. It was obvious early who wasn’t who they said they were. But the small faint to a different killer was well done. It didn’t tie everything up well enough for me to follow it. But it means it was a well done and unique mystery. Mrs. Adler is a wonderful character with great friends.

Enjoyed characters, well developed and likeable. Great storyline and mystery. Good dialog and descriptive telling of story as it developed and reached its resolution

Lady Lily Adler is approached by a debutante who fears her fortune is being stolen by her uncle. Lily finds the girl not totally credible, and her scheming fiance even less so.When their request for Lily to burgle the maiden's house is refused, the fiance threatens to destroy Lily's reputation, and that of a dear friend. Lily and three loyal friends try to find evidence of the uncle's guilt and end up embroiled in a vile stew of murder and intrigue going back to the Napoleonic Wars.The truth eventually comes to light; the innocent are exonerated and the villains unmasked in a tale that travels from the heights of Regency society to the depths of Seven Dials slums. Katherine Schell man has penned another superior historical novel with well drawn characters.😚

A Scandal in Mayfair is a novel in the Lily Adler Mystery series. Something I failed to realise before I requested it, and yet it was really easy to pick up the storyline and history as each mystery serves as a standalone story.Lily Adler is Mayfair’s resident private investigator - something that is a well kept secret to society and known only by a few select people. Discretion is the word and the reason for her success.A desperate young woman seeks out Lily’s help and leads to Lily and her good friend Jackie investigating a murder. Someone knows Lily’s secret, and the threat of blackmail hangs over her as she rushes to try and find the killer.Agatha Christie crossed with Bridgerton, and without the spice, A Scandal In Mayfair was an entertaining and easy read for mystery lovers.

The delightful Lily Adler returns for her third mystery in A Scandal in Mayfair. As A Lady of Quality she offered discreet assistance to several people. Receiving a new request for help, she agrees to meet Sarah Forrest, who arrives with her fiancé, Mr. Clive. Sarah’s father recently died. While she was promised an inheritance, her uncle Martin Forrest was given control of the estate. He has removed her from her home, forced her to live with her aunt with a meager allowance and refuses to provide a dowry. She would like Lily to access the house and steal the will. When Lily refuses, Clive, who she encountered on a previous enquiry, threatens blackmail. He will socially ruin her and her friend Lady Carroway by revealing their investigations, an unacceptable pastime for women. Attending a ball at Forrest’s home, she discovers information for Sarah but not the will. The next day she is summoned to Forrest’s home to discover that he has been murdered. The police are holding Clive, who asks for her help to prove his innocence.Lily is a widow, whose husband Freddie died of an illness. His best friend was Jack Hartley, who has befriended Lilly, watched over her and assisted her in her investigations. When he was injured during her previous enquiry she realized how much he meant to her. Lily saved his sister from scandal and she now lives with her, so she sees Jack frequently. As he assists her once again they have finally realized what their friends already know, that they belong together. Lily has worked with Bow Street Inspector Simon Page in the past. She is surprised when his young niece presents her with a second mystery. Her neighbor has been growing poisonous plants and she is afraid they may be used in a murder. Lily soon finds a connection between the two cases that puts her and Simon’s family in danger. Katharine Schellman gives you characters who are easy to love as well as an entertaining mystery that keeps you guessing. Fans will enjoy this entry in the series, while new readers will be looking forward to Lily Adler’s turn. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book.