Murder at Midnight - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Murder at Midnight (A Lily Adler Mystery #4) by Katharine Schellman

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Ashley Weaver, when a body is found shot to death after an unexpected snowstorm, Lily Adler quickly realizes that some people will stop at nothing to bury their secrets this holiday season.

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to returning to Hertfordshire to spend time with the family of her late husband. She is also excited that Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, will be visiting his own family after a long voyage at sea. With winter quickly approaching, Lily is most excited at the prospect of a relaxing and enjoyable Christmastide season away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London.

At a neighborhood ball, she soon becomes reacquainted with a friend of her late husband, Peter Coleridge, a wealthy man who not only manages Irish investments, but also a fund that most of the locals of Hertfordshire take part in. There, she also learns Jack’s sister, Amelia, is the subject of much of the neighborhood gossip—although Amelia refuses to explain if there is any truth to it. For a brief moment, Lily wonders if she ever really left London.

When a snowstorm forces several guests, including both the Adlers and the Hartleys, to stay the night, Lily quickly deduces that all is not well this holiday season. In the morning, a maid discovers the body of a guest in the poultry yard, shot to death—and he is the same man that is scandalously linked to Amelia.

Lily accepts the offer to assist in the investigation, but will she find more than what she bargained for the more she digs? Or will she herself be buried deep within the snow?

Genre: Mystery - Historical

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed the previous books in the series and couldn't wait to see what Lily was up to this time.

My Impression: I do love a house party mystery and a house party mixed with a blizzard that strands everyone there longer than they planned to be is even more fun.  I also really enjoyed getting to spend ore time with the Adler and Hartley families.  We've seen Lily Adler and Jack Hartley from the beginning and seeing her in-laws and his family was really fun.

The victim was rather awful and if Jack's sister wasn't caught up in a scandal involving him than a number of people would have been easy suspects.  Lily's reputation as a detective proceeds her and she is quickly pulled into the investigation.  I really enjoy how Lily investigates.  She's very smart and logical, good at analyzing situations quickly but not afraid to think outside the box.  I also really like her relationship with her family and her love interest Matthew.  

The mystery kept me guessing and I loved the snowed in setting.  It gave a closed in feel mixed in with all the gossip and politics of a London ballroom.  I really enjoyed the mystery from beginning to end and especially enjoyed visiting Lily's world.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would!  I've enjoyed all the books in this series and a book in another series I've read by this author and am looking forward to reading more by her.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy historical mysteries with a strong female lead this is a series I'd recommend.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *