A BRIDE'S GUIDE TO MARRIAGE AND MURDER

A honeymoon in 1900 London is sidetracked by murder.

Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh, plans to marry lawyer George Hazelton now that they’ve cleared his name in a strange case in A Fiancée’s Guide to First Wives and Murder (2021). Unfortunately, her house is full of relatives, including her mother, who’s driving her to distraction. The couple are supposed to leave for France for their honeymoon until a long-running feud between two American millionaires ruins their plans. Unfortunately, Frances’ brother, Alonzo, is quite taken with Madeline Connor, a daughter of one of the ruthless businessmen. Even more unfortunately, both families are invited to the wedding. Madeline is courted by Viscount Daniel Fitzwalter, heir of the Marquis of Sudley, and her father favors his suit. At a reception after the wedding, tensions flare, and when Connor is found dead in his study in the house next door to the reception, Alonzo is arrested by Frances’ old friend Inspector Delaney. Since George represents Alonzo, the pair realizes that their honeymoon must be put on hold until they can vindicate Alonzo by solving the case. Connor has a raft of enemies, a put-upon wife and a furiously unhappy daughter. And of course the other wedding guests have to be counted as suspects. On top of the murder, Frances’ mother suspects her husband of having an affair. When the Marquis of Sudley is also murdered, the dashing duo find themselves in double trouble.

The Victorian backdrop perfectly sets off this amusing and challenging romantic mystery.