Murder in Berkley Square by Vanessa Riley
Lady Worthing Mysteries #3
Historical Mystery
September 24, 2024, by Kensington Books
ARC

Review by Angela

It’s Christmas and Abigail Carrington Monroe, aka Lady Worthing, has just received a letter from her estranged, absent husband informing her that he won’t be coming home for the holidays. This is not a surprise to Abby, but the other contents of the letter are, and now she must make some decisions about her life and well-being going forward. As for Christmas, she has decided to brave the winter storm with her maid and cousin, and head over to her aunt’s house for the festivities. Their escort will be her neighbor, Stapleton Henderson.

Commander Stapleton Henderson has been invited to a men’s only dinner party hosted by Lord Duncan but intends to drop by and give his regrets on the way to Cheapside. Unfortunately, the snowstorm forces the travel party to stop and take shelter at Lord Duncan’s, interrupting his annual “Night of Regrets” planned for certain members of Berkley Square. Before Abby can even make it into the front door, she discovers body, bloody and frozen, in the snow. When more guests begin to die in strange ways, Abby realizes something sinister is going on, and every person trapped in the house is in danger.

I really enjoyed this installment in The Lady Worthing Mysteries. Readers will learn more about Lord Duncan’s backstory, and what led up to the annual “Night of Regrets” parties, there is finally some movement in Abby’s stagnant marriage to Lord Worthing, and it feels like she is finally ready to make some changes in her life. Her relationship with Stapleton continues to evolve, and their friendship seems to be more solid than ever, I think there is finally the realization that they both care for each other a great deal.

The mystery is well done. The investigation takes place almost entirely in Lord Duncan’s home, while a blizzard is raging outside. The other guests, all suspects, are a mix of important people, who all seem to be terrible in one way or another. There is a sense of danger to Abby’s small party, that lends a feeling of urgency to the solving of the mystery. An old nursery rhyme appears to be what Abby needs to piece together the clues and find the killer, and I was right there with her trying to figure out which lines pertained to which guests. Abby continues to be involved in the abolitionist movement and talk of the recent events in Haiti and Martinique is a theme that runs throughout the novel.

All in all, another satisfying entry into the series. I really enjoy the character and relationship development with each new release. I love the diversity. The ending left me on the edge of my seat, ready for the next installment.

Final grade- B