MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT - Mary Winters

Widowed Countess Amelia Amesbury could sit back and enjoy the life that her title entails, but as someone who has always seen herself as being clear-headed and helpful, she's taken on the role of 'Lady Agony' - an advice columnist in Victorian England. Many of the letters she receives revolve around a woman's propriety of the era and in which Amelia's responses sometimes defy modern convention and sometimes it falls right in line with convention - keeping readers on their toes.

When Amelia gets a letter for Lady Agony in which the writer asks for advice in following a suspected murderer, she knows that she must help investigate - that she may be the writer's only true hope, and help. She enlists the assistance of an acquaintance - a handsome marquis - and her best friend.

It doesn't seem too dangerous in theory, but the more Amelia and friends learn about the murder and potential killer, the more dangerous it becomes.  Her secret about being the advice columnist Lady Agony may soon be revealed. Can she protect her name, and her life?  And what of Simon Bainbridge - the marquis helping in the investigation?  How can a socialite like Amelia, who advises others on their love lives, not know whether there's any flirting going on between the handsome man and herself?

I'm generally not a fan of the cozy mystery, but with the clear connection to the popular Bridgerton books and series, I was intrigued enough to request this.

The mystery itself is nicely done here, but still it takes a back seat to the historical setting and the more fun parts - the ever-so-proper budding romance and the advice column.  Each chapter begins with a letter to Lady Agony and her response and of course the chapter includes actions that are in some way mirrored in the advice column missive.

I liked the character of Amelia, though I never felt I understood quite who she was that she was able to write this column and have the leisure to track a murderer.

There's no shortage of books in the cozy category, but this is definitely better than most that I've read. It's great for that long commute or sitting at a beach.

Looking for a good book? Murder in Postscript is a cozy mystery by Mary Winters set in Victorian England with a prim and proper countess writing an advice column as well as tracking down killers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

3-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

Murder in Postscript

author: Mary Winters

series: Lady of Letters #1

publisher: Berkley

ISBN: 9780593548769

paperback, 320 pages

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