MURDER AT MIDNIGHT

Who slew the lowlife lothario?

Widow and sometime sleuth Lily Adler is in Hertfordshire to attend a gathering celebrating Christmas 1816, hosted by her former brother-in-law Sir John Adler and his mother, Lady Adler, who makes no secret of her wish that Lily would marry the courtly Matthew Spencer, who’s also in attendance. While not anxious to remarry, Lily admires him and does not dismiss the idea. Her failure to object may surprise series fans, since the gathering also includes Capt. Jack Hartley, a supporting character in Lily’s earlier mysteries. Dashing Jack, the closest friend of Lily’s husband, Freddy, has been her confidant ever since Freddy’s death. The large gathering is abuzz at a scandal involving Jack’s sister, Amelia, and a reported indiscretion in the garden during a dance at the vicar’s home. Amelia’s complete silence on the matter does nothing to still the wagging tongues. The gentleman in question is also a guest who, after heavy snow requires everyone to spend the night, suffers the destiny foreshadowed in Schellman’s title, transforming Sir John instantly from genial host to stern investigator. In his capacity as a magistrate, he assigns Amelia to his protective care. Convinced of Amelia’s innocence, Lily begins her own investigation as discreetly as possible. After presenting a dauntingly large cast in her opening chapters, Schellman adroitly thickens the plot with juicy secrets and sinister backstories. The subplot of Lily’s two suitors provides a blithe contrast to the dark mystery.

A plummy period whodunit with a colorful collection of suspects.