Death at the Manor - (Lily Adler Mystery, a) by Katharine Schellman (Hardcover)

About the Book

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to spending the autumn away from the social whirl of London. When she arrives in Hampshire with her friends, the Carroways, she doesn't expect much more than a quiet country visit and the chance to spend time with her charming new acquaintance, Matthew Spencer. But something odd is afoot in the small country village. A ghost has taken up residence in the Belleford manor, a lady in grey who wanders the halls at night, weeping and wailing. Half the servants have left in terror, but the family seems delighted with the notoriety that their ghost provides. Intrigued by this spectral guest, Lily and her party immediately make plans to visit Belleford. They arrive at the manor the next morning ready to be entertained--only to find that tragedy has struck. The matriarch of the family has just been found killed in her bed. The dead woman's family is convinced that the ghost is responsible. Lily is determined to learn the truth before another victim turns up--but could she be next in line for the Great Beyond?

Book Synopsis

The tortured spirits of the dead haunt a Regency-era English manor--but the true danger lies in the land of the living in the third installment in the Lily Adler mysteries, perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn.

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to spending the autumn away from the social whirl of London. When she arrives in Hampshire with her friends, the Carroways, she doesn't expect much more than a quiet country visit and the chance to spend time with her charming new acquaintance, Matthew Spencer.

But something odd is afoot in the small country village. A ghost has taken up residence in the Belleford manor, a lady in grey who wanders the halls at night, weeping and wailing. Half the servants have left in terror, but the family seems delighted with the notoriety that their ghost provides. Intrigued by this spectral guest, Lily and her party immediately make plans to visit Belleford.

They arrive at the manor the next morning ready to be entertained--only to find that tragedy has struck. The matriarch of the family has just been found killed in her bed.

The dead woman's family is convinced that the ghost is responsible. Lily is determined to learn the truth before another victim turns up--but could she be next in line for the Great Beyond?

Review Quotes

Praise for Death at the Manor
"Schellman ably interweaves appealing developments in Lily's personal life, a classic locked-room puzzle, and a nuanced look at period society. Regency lovers will be enthralled."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Schellman transports readers to Regency-era England and tantalizes them with a traditional whodunit."
--Kirkus Reviews

"An exceptionally good read."
--New York Journal of Books

"A clever addition to the Lily Adler series with a twist on the classic locked door murder mystery."
--Seattle Book Review

"Skillfully written, smoothly narrated, and with a gentle balance of mystery and growth."
--Historical Novels Review

"Clever, fun, and a simply great read from first page to last."
--Midwest Book Review

"A pleasant cozy mystery, effectively combining the traditional amateur sleuth and locked-room mystery to splendid effect."
--Gumshoe Review

Praise for the Lily Adler Mysteries:
"The Body in the Garden is a perfect London crime novel and a masterful debut; fast-paced, expertly researched, and intricately plotted. I actually gasped when I got to the end!"
--Alex Grecian, New York Times bestselling author

"[An] elegant, excellently-paced, and thoroughly engrossing mystery."
--Ashley Weaver, author of the Amory Ames Mysteries

"Fans of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily mysteries will want to set aside space on their bookshelves for the adventures of widowed amateur sleuth Lily Adler."
--Greer Macallister, bestselling author

"Worthy of Rex Stout or Agatha Christie."
--Library Journal, starred review

"Sensitive handling of class and race issues common to London in the early 1800s give the story depth."
--BookPage, starred review

"Schellman does a brilliant job bringing historical accuracy and clever characters to life."
--San Francisco Book Review, 5-star review

"The mixed-race identities of her partners in crime solving and the methods through which they navigate London society add richness to the tale beyond mere Regency-era tropes."
--Booklist

"Schellman's colorful detective trio and skillful use of historical fact will appeal to fans of Catherine Lloyd."
--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Katharine Schellman is a former actor, one-time political consultant, and currently the author of the Lily Adler Mysteries. A graduate of the College of William & Mary, Katharine currently lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her family and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering.