I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder
by Dianne Freeman
Series: Countess of Harleigh Mysteries #8
Series Rating:
Published by Kensington on June 24, 2025
Setting: Paris, France
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 304
Format: Audible Audiobook, ebook, Hardcover, Kindle
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon
In the latestUSA Todaybestselling, Victorian Era-set Countess of Harleigh Mystery from multi-award winning author Dianne Freeman, Frances Hazelton and her husband, George, uncover the secrets of backstage Paris to find out who’s acting the role of a killer to chilling perfection…
Frances and George are enjoying some well-deserved leisure time in Paris when an old acquaintance from London, Alicia Stoke-Whitney, seeks Frances’s help to investigate a personal matter. Alicia’s daughter is being courted by Carlson Deaver, a wealthy American shadowed by a very suspicious tragedy.
Less than a year ago, Carlson’s wife, a former actress, was murdered, her body discovered in one of the more dubiousquartiers in Paris. Though authorities guess it was a robbery gone wrong, no one was ever brought to justice. Until Daniel Cadieux, Inspector for the Sûreté, follows a startling new lead. None other Sarah Bernhardt, legendary icon of the Paris stage, receives a piece of jewelry stolen from the victim, along with an incriminating note:I know what you did.
It opens a new door for the Hazeltons’ investigation, as well. But not a soul believes that the Divine Sarah would become entangled in something so disreputable as murder—even if she and the late Mrs. Deaver did have a history of theatrical clashes. Amid questions of revenge, blackmail, scandals, and secrets, more poisoned pen letters follow, and suspects abound. Now it’s up to Francis and George to infiltrate the most elite social circles of Paris, and find a culprit before another victim faces their final act.
A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman is a charming historical mystery with lots of twists.
Will Frances and George figure out who killed Isabelle?
Our sleuths are Frances and George Hazelton. They are vacationing in Paris as part of their extended honeymoon. When they are called upon to assist the police with the investigation of the death of Isabelle Deaver, this is the eighth installment of Countess of Harleigh Mysteries, but the first one that I have read. I love a good historical mystery, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Ms. Freeman keeps twisting and turning things until the wonderful conclusion reveals the killer.
Frances and George Hazelton
What a wonderful couple. They are deeply in love with each other, and it shows in their daily tasks. Frances grew up in America but married a man with an English title. It was an unhappy marriage until she was widowed. However, she seems to have it right at least for her now. I am sure all of this was covered in past installments.
I like Frances. She is a wonderful daughter, sister, and wife. I especially appreciate the way she handles other women, giving them the opportunity to make decisions their own way while supporting their choices. George is such a wonderful husband for Frances. The two of them seem to have a wealth of respect for each other. I love the way they both share their ideas during the investigation.
The Mystery
It is a tale as old as time. The wife of a wealthy man was murdered, and then a highly accomplished actress who knew the victim was targeted for blackmail. But why? There are numerous events happening in Paris during this time frame. However, our honeymooning sleuths are primarily focused on murder. Then there is another actress murdered, are they connected? They were friends, and their lives were connected in numerous ways.
Four Stars
My rating for A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman is four stars. This is a remarkable story, with mystery and history. I found myself in Paris in 1900, enjoying the coffee and opera. The author truly brings the city to life. I recommend it.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman.
Until the next time,
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About Dianne Freeman
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. My mom introduced me to the works of Edith Wharton and Agatha Christie when I was quite young and I read them over and over. Thus, my love of mysteries and the late Victorian era.
There was no “aha” moment when I transitioned from reader to writer. I tinkered with writing most of my adult life. My real job was in corporate finance and I needed a creative outlet. It was a hobby, but one I really loved. I kept journals, wrote and sold magazine articles, and wrote two terrible romance novels that prompted me to improve my craft by attending writers’ conferences. I partnered with a friend from a conference to write a non-fiction book–Haunted Highway.
Work got busy, I got married, and I didn’t write for the next 14 years. When I retired, my first thought was to write again. But it had been so long, I didn’t know if I could still do it. After a few false starts, it all came back, and I was in the middle of my first mystery novel. Even though I’d ignored it for years, the desire to tell a story didn’t go away! Now, I am the USA Today Bestselling author of the Agatha and Lefty award-winning Countess of Harleigh mystery series. And I couldn’t be happier!
^ bio taken from the author’s website
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2025 Cloak and Dagger JEN
- 2025 Goodreads RC JEN
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- 2025 Six Shooter RC JEN
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