Mostly Murders

Many thanks to Parkerville Press and NetGalley for this ebook. Book 1 in the Lady Diviner series.

Diamonds or cream tea? Miss Elinor Avely contemplated this difficult choice in the abstract as she stood in her new sitting room, holding two invitations in her hands.

Miss Elinor Avely is a jewel diviner who can sense the presence of precious stones. Unfortunately this has led to a humiliating misunderstanding in London, prompting Elinor and her mother and brother to leave the city and take refuge on the coast of Devon. But the Avely family’s self-imposed Devon exile soon proves even more eventful and awkward than their London experience, and before long Elinor has befriended a miniature spinster vampire, rescued two stranded French ladies of the aristocracy, and run right into Lord Beresford, a gentleman with whom Elinor has a brief but embarrassing past acquaintance.

The Lady Jewel Diviner is a witty, clever and whimsical Regency era paranormal mystery. The writing is delightful with amusing banter, romantic complications, quicky characters, charming chapter titles and a mix of paranormal elements ranging from humans with magic abilities to vampires and selkies.

Elinor is independent, feisty and not at all interested in Lord Beresford even though he is an eligible bachelor with a fine figure, deep grey eyes, tousled brown hair, and intelligent, wry humour. All of which unfortunately also comes with a highhanded, brusque manner, which is enough to infuriate any lady of good breeding who happens to be concealing a magical ability, harbouring a miniature vampire in her reticule, attempting to secretly uncover the whereabouts of a stolen treasure, and ensuring that her hotheaded younger brother doesn’t make an enemy out of the entire local population of fishermen.

All in all, The Lady Jewel Diviner is an engaging and lighthearted cozy read, and highly recommended for readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, cozy paranormal mystery and cozy historical fiction with strong-minded, forward thinking women, colourful characters and funny complications.

Cozy fantasy – Cozy paranormal mystery