Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder - (A Miss Morton Mystery) by Catherine Lloyd

About the Book

While attending a house party in the countryside, lady's companion to the wealthy widow Mrs. Matilda Frogerton, Lady Caroline Morton finds things not as they seem when an elderly family member is murdered and attempts to solve the crime with an unexpected ally.

Book Synopsis

Bridgerton and Downton Abbey meet a mystery perfect for fans of Agatha Christie in the debut of a new Regency set series, when drastic circumstances compel Lady Caroline Morton to make an upstairs downstairs switch to become a lady's companion, whose duties will soon entail solving a murder . . .

The options for the penniless daughter of a deceased earl are few indeed in Regency England. So, following the suspicious death of her father, the Earl of Morton, and the discovery that she and her much younger sister have been left without income or home, Lady Caroline takes a post as a lady's companion to the wealthy widow Frogerton.

Just as Caroline is getting accustomed to her new position, her aunt, Lady Eleanor Greenwood, invites her and her employer to a house party in the countryside to celebrate her youngest daughter's birthday. Mrs. Matilda (Matty) Frogerton sees this as an opportunity to introduce her own rather wild daughter, Dorothy, to the ton, and Caroline is eager to see her sister, who as a child lives with their aunt.

But all is not well at the Greenwood estate. For one thing, Lady Caroline's former fiancé, Lord Francis Chatham, is a guest and refuses to speak to her. Far worse, after a series of troubling harassments of the staff, an elderly family member is found stabbed by a knitting needle.

As Caroline and an unexpected ally--Mrs. Frogerton--attempt to solve the chilling crime, they discover the culprit may be leaving bizarre clues as to who will be next in the nursery. But they must make haste, for this heartless killer is engaged in anything but child's play . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder:

"Smart and colorful sleuthing trio." --Publishers Weekly

"A charming cross between a Regency romance and a well-constructed detective story with a surprising denouement." --Kirkus Reviews

"Social injustices, prejudices, and all things Regency, including the appropriate flowery narrative, may be hard pills for present-day readers to swallow, but are era appropriate and well researched in this superb series debut. Caroline is an absolute gem of a heroine, whom readers will surely come to love as she bravely maneuvers through polite society to gather evidence and determine whodunit. Regardless of the unresolved ending, fans of historical mysteries and uncompromising women protagonists will find Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder impossible to put down." --Mystery Scene Magazine

"Utterly engrossing." --Historical Novel Society

About the Author

Catherine Lloyd is the acclaimed author of Regency-set historical mysteries, including the Kurland St. Mary Mystery series and the Miss Morton Mysteries. Born just outside London, England into a large family of dreamers, artists, and history lovers, she holds a master's degree in history from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. She currently lives with her family in the UK and can be found online at Catherine-Lloyd.com.