Of Manners and Murder: A Dear Miss Hermione Mystery

(Hardback)

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Description

"The Matter is far from settled, Miss Hermione. In fact, it has grown grave." 1885; London, England. When Violet's Aunt Adelia decides to abscond with her newest paramour, she leaves behind two volatile nieces, one dedicated housekeeper, and a mailbox full of trouble. After years of penning the replies of the most popular Agony Aunt in London, Miss Hermione, Adelia is giving up her authorial pursuits to go all-in on love. And unforunately for her elder niece, Violet, Adelia has left the fate of Miss Hermione in her hands. And of course, the first letter Violet receives is full not of prissy pondering, but of portent. Ivy Armstrong is in need of help like no other: strange accidents have been happening to and around her, and she confides to Miss Hermione that she fears for her life-and even sends along helpful newspaper sketches of her suspects. Violet, as a woman stymied by the repressed feminine lifestyle of her era and wedded first and foremost to good sense and good books, is determined to help Ivy. But when she visits the village where the letters were posted, Willingdale, she finds an unpleasant surprise waiting for her: Ivy is already dead, and one of her mourners may also be her murderer. With a sassy and snobbish sister, Sephora, to care for, a murder to solve, and her own complicated feelings for a certain caddish Eli Marsh to corrall, Violet is almost too busy to dole out advice to the British. Almost.

Reviews

"Delightful . . . The book's thrilling denouement evokes the shocking revelations of Wilkie Collins, the social acuity of Jane Austen and the comic melodrama of Oscar Wilde."--The Wall Street Journal

"Highly recommended series debut for fans of cozy sub-genre."--Mystery Tribune

"[The] characters add to the charm of this welcome new series."--The Akron Beacon Journal, "Book Talk" column

"[A] witty series launch...Hastings imbues her endearing lead with sufficient depth to make the plot plausible. Allison Montclair readers will be eager for the sequel."--Publishers Weekly

"A series of surprising revelations leads to a shocking conclusion. The first in a series steeped in Victorian mores offers a dashing heroine and an impressive pile of red herrings."--Kirkus Reviews

"Satisfying... includes tricky plot twists and a beautifully described Victorian setting."--Booklist

"An entertaining historical mystery."--Library Journal

"The writing is crisp and witty, and the plot wonderfully intertwined with all the characters, with nothing superfluous."--Historical Novel Society

"Funny at times, this series debut is also an adventurous and thoughtful look at a time when women's lives were on the brink of change. And it's a puzzling whodunit to boot."--First Clue Newsletter

"A delightful and engrossing first entry in the Dear Miss Hermione series. With an intriguing mystery, a dash of familial turmoil, and a blossoming romance, Of Manners and Murder is great fun from start to finish. I eagerly await Miss Hermione's next escapade!"--Ashley Weaver, author of the Amory Ames and Electra McDonnell series

Author Bio

ANASTASIA HASTINGS has, over a thirty-year-career, published over sixty novels in a number of different genres and under a number of names-Miss Hermione would approve. Anastasia lives outside of Cleveland with her husband, David, and her Airedale, Eliot Ness, who is a ribbon-winning show dog when he's outside and a couch potato when he's home. Of Manners and Murder is the first in the Dear Miss Hermione mystery series.