Publishers Weekly
09/07/2020
Collins (One for the Rogue) kicks off her Lady’s Guide series with this quippy Victorian romance, which sees a sweet relationship bloom during the hunt for a serial killer. Lady Katherine Bascombe, a happily widowed London newspaper owner, chafes at sexist restrictions on women’s speech, leading her to devote a column to informing women of criminal activities in their city, most notably the actions of the mysterious, biblically inspired Commandments Killer. But with her amateur sleuthing into the murders, she accidentally gets principled detective Andrew Eversham kicked off the case, and his pompous replacement promptly arrests an innocent man. The case is considered closed—until, on vacation in the countryside, Katherine stumbles upon a body apparently killed by the Commandments Killer. Andrew is called back into the fold to investigate and soon they are tackling the mystery together, and their sparks of attraction are fed by respect for each other’s intelligence. They both have baggage—Andrew distrusts the upper classes and Katherine is traumatized by her marriage—but the real threat to their love comes when the killer makes things personal. Both romance and mystery fans will find this a treat. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
"A delectable mystery that reads like Victorian Moonlighting (with a good heaping of Nancy Drew's gumption). Collins writes with a brisk whimsy, her diverting characters popping off the page . . . adroitly threading the needle of her darkly amusing sense of humor, genuine suspense, and a deep sense of connection. The novel truly sings, however, when it comes to its themes of violence against women . . . . The book bursts with pointed commentary on misogyny, particularly when directed at women's power and sexuality. But ultimately, it celebrates a cultural love affair with true crime as a way for women to exert some semblance of control over the chaotic (rarely random) violence that can dot our lives. . . . A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem is wickedly smart, so engrossing it'd be a crime not to read it immediately."—Entertainment Weekly
"Part Victorian romance and part cozy mystery . . . [an] utterly charming read."—Popsugar
"Smartly plotted, superbly executed, and splendidly witty."—Booklist
"A fun and flirty historical rom-com with a mystery afoot!"—SYFY WIRE
"Manda Collins smoothly blends romance and an English country-house whodunit . . . The twists and turns of the plot will keep readers guessing, but Kate's independent attitude and the interesting friends she gathers around her bring the story to vivid life."—Bookpage
"Collins blends historical romance and mystery with characters who embody a modern sensibility . . . the protagonists and setting of this first in a promising new series are thoroughly enjoyable."—Library Journal
"Both romance and mystery fans will find this a treat."—Publishers Weekly
"[Manda] Collins is a delight! I read A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem waaay past my bedtime, absorbed by its spot-on period detail, the well-crafted characters, and of course the intriguing mystery. Brava!"—Elizabeth Hoyt, New York Times bestselling author
"When I pick up a Manda Collins book, I know I'm in for a treat. With compelling characters and a rich Victorian setting, A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem weaves mystery and romance into one enthralling tale."—Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author
"Mystery, romance and an indomitable heroine make for a brisk, compelling read."—Madeline Hunter, New York Times bestselling author
"With wicked smart dialogue and incredibly strong characters, Manda Collins reminds me why I love historical romance so much. Witty, intelligent, and hard to put down, you'll love A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem."—Rachel Van Dyken, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"A go-to for historical romance."—Heroes and Heartbreakers
"Manda Collins writes sexy and smart historical romance, with a big dash of fun."—Vanessa Kelly, USA Today bestselling author
"Sexy, thrilling, romantic . . . Manda Collins makes her Regency world a place any reader would want to dwell."—Kieran Kramer, USA Today bestselling author
Library Journal
10/01/2020
In Victorian England, Katherine Bascomb has the audacity to enjoy being a widow. Free from the restraints of an arranged marriage, she has control of her late husband's vast newspaper empire. Katherine and Caro, her new cohort in crime reporting, decide to get the female perspective from crime scenes of a serial killer and discover an eyewitness Scotland Yard failed to interview. When an innocent man is arrested, Katherine comes face to face with DI Andrew Eversham, the man whose career her column might have destroyed. Thrown together at a country estate house party after another murder, Katherine and Andrew begin to untangle their sudden attraction to each other and the motivations of a murderer. VERDICT Librarian Collins (One for the Rogue) blends historical romance and mystery with characters who embody a modern sensibility. While the ending seems a little too neatly resolved and coincidental circumstances abound, the protagonists and setting of this first in a promising new series are thoroughly enjoyable.—Nicole J. Suarez, Frankfort P.L. Dist., Frankfort, IL
Kirkus Reviews
2020-10-27
A newspaper columnist and a detective search for an elusive killer and find love in the process in this historical romance/murder mystery mashup.
Lady Katherine Bascomb, newspaper owner since her late husband's death, starts a new column called “A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem.” There’s a killer on the loose, and Scotland Yard doesn’t seem to be doing their due diligence. Kate publishes the column to provide information to women, who are often left in the dark on these subjects, but it has the unintended side effect of getting Inspector Andrew Eversham kicked off the case. He blames Kate for ruining his career. Then, when Kate discovers a body, Eversham is sent to investigate. Despite misgivings about each other, they decide to work together to solve this case, which could be connected to the other killings. Their passion for justice leads to amorous passion, but their blossoming love is put at risk as the case becomes increasingly dangerous. While there are interesting aspects to both romance and mystery, neither feels fully developed. In the beginning, more attention is given to the mystery plot, so when the leads abruptly shift from enemies to lovers, it doesn’t feel quite believable—there hasn't been enough building chemistry. The gradual revelation of clues to the mystery, including some exciting twists and turns, creates intrigue, but the eventual wrap-up, while neat, isn’t entirely satisfying.
Entertaining elements don’t add up to a captivating whole.
