A Discerning Woman

Tabitha & Wolf Historical Mystery #6

by Sarah F. Noel

It seems Christmas will be anything but peaceful this year!Tabitha and Wolf are hoping to spend a quiet Christmas at Glanwyddan Hall, the Pembroke estate in Wales. However, before they even leave London, they receive unsettling news of disturbing pranks happening on the estate. Is this just some local youthful mischief, or is something more sinister afoot? Moreover, why is the dowager countess so determined that they not cancel their visit? With the dowager guarding a secret, Tabitha and Wolf are thrust into a desperate quest to uncover the truth. As danger looms, they must navigate treacherous paths to safeguard their loved ones.

Will Tabitha and Wolf reveal the malevolent force lurking in the shadows before it's too late?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2024

Reviews

[Doris Brase · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Quiet Christmas in tbe Country, lol.

As usual the wnderful characters bring to life the traditions of the landed, but often absent, gentry. Tabitha and Wolfe with the rest of the family make a trip to the country estate of the Pembrokes. Now Wolfe's to run and assume the duties of the local lord. However, mysterious happenings cloud the trip. Then, an old friend is found murdered and the investigation begins. Full of humor and excitement, it's hard to put down. I couldn't.

[Stephanie Pâquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the mystery in this one, and the Dowager duchess managed to surprise me 😯
As for Tabitha and Wolf: this is a slowburn done right. Their little moments together are beautiful ❤️

[Ka · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, Tabitha and Wolf head off to Wolf's country estate in Wales, which he hasn't visited since he was 14. At the time, he was just the poor spare cousin visiting his grandfather, so everyone looked down on him. The Dowager Countess (DC) also hasn't visited it for a few decades as she too has bad memories of the place, but for some reason, she insists that they spend Christmas there. She also insists on coming along with them, and they bring along the rest of their menagerie, including: Bear, Rat, Melody, Lord Langley (LL), Lily (DC's granddaughter), Tobias (the DC's godson), Melody's dog Dodo, and various servants.

SUMMARY AND THOUGHTS ON THE PLOT, FOR MY MEMORY WHEN I READ THE NEXT BOOK:
I finished this a few weeks ago, but let's see what I can remember! I guess the most important things for the future will be:

Ultimately, the DC admits she got some letters threatening to reveal a secret from her past unless she brought Wolf and Tabitha to the estate. It turns out that this is the first place her husband beat her and then she cheated on him with his brother and that is how she got Jonathan (Tabitha's douchebag ex-husband who fell down the stairs, and Wolf's cousin). Also, the DC drugged her husband at the time with some kind of magical potion she got from her lady's maid (at the time), who got it from her witch granny. Not that the DC believes in magic, but she does have to admit that it did seem to work (I think she also had a potion for herself to make sure she had a boy, so that her husband would stop wanting to have sex with her, and that also apparently worked).

In case it's unclear, the "secret" here is mainly that the DC cheated a single time on her douchebag husband who not only punched her in the face, but also cheated on her constantly by molesting maids or whatever, but you know how it is, ladies are supposed to be models of virtuousness or something. Luckily, presumably the old earl and his brother look similar and thus Jonathan is easy to pass off as legit, especially because he also beat his wife.

ANYWAY. You might be asking, "I thought someone is always murdered in these books?" and indeed, Wolf's childhood female friend, who was married to the local blacksmith, is murdered a few weeks before they arrive, allegedly by her husband. Conveniently, she is the daughter of the DC's old maid, who has now taken up her granny's local witch mantle and has also gone blind. Wolf decides to investigate the murder as the husband is an unlikely culprit and he wants justice and such.

In the course of this investigation, Wolf goes to the local village to interview a suspicious local delinquent boy who has been linked to the murderer. Rat secretly goes too, as he feels that the kid will run to tell the murderer as soon as possible after Wolf's visit, and he plans to follow the kid to find out who the murderer is. He doesn't tell anyone as he thinks they'd stop him (very likely, but they'd also probably agree that his idea to follow the kid is a good one, so this is just a bad decision on his part, which is forgivable as he is only 9 years old or whatever).

The DC goes to see her old maid, to make sure she wasn't the one who sent the threatening letters (which she did not), and the old blind witch reads some tea leaves by smell or something and deduces that "a child is in danger". This is because Rat and the local delinquent kid were both captured by the murderer, who turns out to be a local rich girl who is obsessed with Wolf and literally insane (apparently, her mom was already carted off to the asylum). She sent the letters to get the DC and Wolf to come to Wales, but she doesn't care about the DC, only about Wolf. She met him as a kid and is convinced they are destined to be, and she is annoyed that Wolf is so obviously besotted with Tabitha.

This evil lady had in fact planned to go riding with Tabitha the previous day and was planning to take Tabitha to see the view from a local high cliff, which is not at all suspicious, but Wolf came along with her on the visit, and the woman was forced to scrap her incredibly obvious plan to murder her perceived rival.

Wolf et al come to rescue Rat just in time from the lady's minion and Rat's ankle is injured in the kerfuffle, but he is otherwise unharmed. The lady is taken away by the police, the innocent blacksmith is released, the DC has to confess her crime to Wolf and Tabitha, and the two of them finally admit their feels for one another and start making out secretly any time they are alone in a room. The end!

[Janet Denise Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MOVING HISTORICAL MYSTERY DRAMA, 5 STARS

Sarah F Noel gives us readers another 5 STARS winner with. Book 6 of her entertaining storyline in the Series: Tabitha & Wolf Historical Mystery Series plus provides a really good BLURB. She gives us great characters as usual with most carried over from
previous books.

Wolf & Tabitha along with the people they have been begun seeing as their extended family. That would be Wolf & Tabitha, Melly, Bear, Lord Langley, Rat, the Dowager, Lady Lily, & the Viscount the Dowager's Godson. Of course, this includes personal lady maids for each woman, valets for the men except Bear, Kelly's Nurse, & the Butler, Housekeeper, along with some additional other servants needed for the Hal! In Pembrokeshire. The Estate that Wolf inherited with his title.

There has been a murder at the town's blacksmiths before they all arrive and with some bikinis that go overboard that include the burning down of one of his barns, Wolf concludes it is all connected in a bizarre sort of way.

As they go about preparing for Christmas & other things the reader finds out some new things are in store for Lily & Tobias, that the Dowager has some deep secrets we would have never guessed at, & A mystery guest shows up to spend time with them.

All in all Tabitha & Wolf just get closer that is a delight to read.

RECOMMEND














We have Wolf & Tabitha plus the people the they

[Cynthia Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discerning Women

This series is a delightful literary romp that keeps me burning the midnight oil with the enthusiasm of a caffeine-addicted bookworm. The characters are so brilliantly crafted, they practically leap off the page and into your living room for tea. The dowager? A prickly porcupine in human form, sharp enough to cut glass with her wit. Bear, the gentle giant who could probably crush you with a hug but would rather offer a warm cup of cocoa. Rat, a precocious little fellow who's lived a thousand lives before hitting puberty. And sweet Melly - so clever she could probably solve world peace before bedtime. Each book is a page-turning adventure that makes sleep feel like an optional extra. Seriously, who needs rest when you've got storytelling this addictive?

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family loyalty through love, never mind the blood and bone part, is the best we can hope for. I have yet to read a bad adventure in this series. This time, the main characters find themselves in the beauty of Wales, facing old mostly bad memories for the Earl, with a few exceptions. The plot is easily followed and the premise is finding out who killed the blacksmith's wife and why. The answers created danger for the boy, Rat and consternation for the Dowager Pembroke. All is well in the end though. I most assuredly recommend this book and the entire series.

[Carôle Ceres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m definitely getting into the stride of these stories; everyone is coming into their own. I like “Rat” it’s a pleasure to see him develop.


One annoying thing about the story: given how the “family” have now progressed as Enquiry Agents together, I don’t understand why NONE of them (from the youngest to the eldest) do not confide in each other, given that they’re all investigating the same thing ! It’s tedious.

Otherwise, this was one of their better investigations. I’m only sorry that the author chose an innocent victim. That spoiled the narrative.

[Tilda Renza jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

What started out as a well written and interesting story was thwarted by the ending. The fact that the culprit's reason behind their misplaced antagonistic actions is a misplaced childhood vengeance proved to be a churlish and sophomoric attempt to wrap up the otherwise interesting story. I was sorely disappointed that the author did not find a more suitable motive.
I was terribly disappointed in the childish reasoning behind the villian's intent. To me, it was like a petulant child not getting their way and not at all like a well thought out, logical explanation of the events.

[Tracie Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this entire series and I hope they never end (hint, hint)
The characters are lovely and lovable. The chemistry between Wolf and Tabitha is so sweet.

The Dowager gets on my last nerve but I guess that is her job.
I liked that it was revealed that there was a time in her life that she was not perfect.

The stories are very well written and I like the mystery in each book. Hard to put the books down!!

Thank you Sarah F. Noel for the great entertainment!

[Gale Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! We find out something about the dowager
Countess' hidden secret from her past. Apparently someone else had known of the secret and began sending letters demanding that she return to the small town where there was one of the other properties her family owned was. They found that a woman who was Wolf's friend as a child had been murdered. She was also related to the dowager's secret indirectly. Thus started another one of their investigations. Don't miss this one!

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Love this series! This adventure occurs in Wales, at the country residence of the Pembroke family! Wulf spent summers here until his grandfather died and has not returned in 15 years. Their assorted family, including children and pets will spend Christmas here. Strange events, nasty pranks, and murder await them all!

[Nancy T Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas in Wales…

A long overdue visit to Wales brings back many memories. But new pranks are something else & then there’s a murder. Lots of secrets are hidden in the past & a few in the present. Everyone bands together in search of a missing child. And Dodo is one of the winners.

[Julie Carithers Overstreet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Tabitha & Wolf mystery

I just love Tabitha & Wolf. Another great mystery that will keep you turning the pages!! If you haven't read this series, you don't know what you're missing!!!

[Barbara DeLorean · Rating 2 out of 5]

dowager

If it wasn’t for the dowager, I would give a 5 star review. Everyone else is a pleasure, but the dowager is not.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An historical mystery series that I would recommend and have quite enjoyed.

[Dora Suasnavar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I couldn't put the book down, I was surprises about the Dowager's secret, as well as who the murderer was. Can't wait for the next book.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the characters, even the Dowager Countess, who adds annoyance but also colour to the books. She is sometimes so absurd that I have to laugh out loud.

[Lisa Grush]

This is a fun and engaging series, that develops characters well.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the dowager more acceptable. A twist or two before the culprit is revealed.

[Stacie Lorenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

This is the best one yet! Great villain, wonderful pace, excellent character development! Can’t wait for the next one! 😊

[Michelle Hyland · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to describe this book?
It was okay nothing spectacular.
The start of this series really engrossed me but I have found that as the series progressed the books have engrossed me less.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noël au Pays de Galles. Toute la tribu se déplace, alors même que des incidents se trament.
Cet épisode dévoile des secrets enfouis, que certains s’amusent à déterrer.
Toujours aussi passionnant.