A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins (Lady’s Guide 1)

BIGGEST THANK YOU to @readforeverpub and @hachettebooks for the opportunity to read the new mass market paperback edition of this book.

This was the book I reached for while I was grieving. I wanted to slip into something light and different. What better than a Victorian-era romance + murder mystery.

Lady Katherine Bascomb wants to help the women of England by writing a column in her newspaper about the different issues that affect them. The topic she starts with is the currently rampaging Commandments Killer, who has targeted men and women, alike. Her investigation bumps her into the Detective Inspector on the case, Andrew Eversham, that is, until her column gets him removed from it. When she stumbles across another of the killer’s victims on a trip out in the country, the two agree to work together to solve the case.

I epically loved that Manda dedicated this book to Murderinos, being one herself. It was just delightful.

I cannot get over the style of sex scenes in mass-market romances, all poetic and vague. You all know I’m here for thrusting and sweat. This book had the former, not the latter, but what can we do? Also, I did get a little lost keeping track of all the side characters at this country weekend trip, but the primary characters and the mystery elements were strong and clear.

Looking forward to An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire, book 2, out Nov 16th, 2021! This one follows Caro, Kates BFF and column co-author, and Valentine, Kate’s OTHER BFF. -Ford