A BRIDE'S GUIDE TO MARRIAGE AND MURDER (Countess of Harleigh Mystery #5) by Dianne Freeman will be published on June 28th 2022 by Kensington Books.
Much to her surprise, Frances Wynn's wedding George Hazelton goes flawlessly. And, aside from a little tension between some of the guests, the following reception at France's former husband's brother's home is perfect as well. Frances and George are about to slip away from the reception for their honeymoon in France when the police crash the party with the surprising announcement that Frances's brother-in-law's next door neighbor was brutally murdered. To make matters worse, Frances's brother, Alonzo, was found standing over the victim with the murder weapon in hand. The victim is Mr. Connor—an unlikable man who has made numerous enemies and used underhanded tactics to get ahead in business. He is also the father of Alonzo's love interest. The honeymoon is put on hold so that Frances and George can help prove Alonzo's innocence.
A BRIDE'S GUIDE TO MARRIAGE AND MURDER is a great addition to the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. It's good to see Frances and George finally married and settling into their life as a couple. I also enjoyed the introduction to Frances's father and brother. The Wynn family has been slowly introduced throughout the series, and each family member adds a new dynamic to the story. I can't wait to see what shenanigans the extended Wynn family gets up to next.
As in the previous novels, Freeman brings to life London in the late 1890s through the descriptions of places, fashion, and day-to-day life. The novel is full of twists and turns, and there are plenty of believable suspects.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.