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Beatrice Hyde-Clare #14
A Wretched Folly: A Regency Cozy
Traveling to the ancestral Matlock estate with her husband, Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave, is finally able to confront her greatest the pinery. Forced to endure an endless parade of pineapple-inflected dishes early in her marriage, she has devised a scheme to sabotage the despised fruit, which she can now carry out at long last.
Good gracious, no. Bea does not really mean the plants any harm, and approaching the building on a summer morning, she is struck by how lovely it is, with its elegant portico and high arching windows. It is a shame, then, that she stumbles across a slain corpse almost immediately upon entering.
Devil it! A dead body is the last thing she wants to contend with! She’s in the country — nearly a hundred miles from London and her recent harrowing experience. Having proven to the beau monde that she is not guilty of multiple homicides, she is eager to put some distance between her and her reputation as the murder duchess. All she wants to do is enjoy some fresh air and ingratiate herself with her new staff, an effort that would not be aided by accusing the servants of lying — although they obviously are, which the constable will figure out quickly enough if he is not a dunderhead.
Oh, but maybe he is a dunderhead and maybe the drawing in the victim’s pocket actually is a treasure map to a lost viking horde and maybe the murder duchess is a little too set in her ways to allow a killer to go free — or strike again.
Good gracious, no. Bea does not really mean the plants any harm, and approaching the building on a summer morning, she is struck by how lovely it is, with its elegant portico and high arching windows. It is a shame, then, that she stumbles across a slain corpse almost immediately upon entering.
Devil it! A dead body is the last thing she wants to contend with! She’s in the country — nearly a hundred miles from London and her recent harrowing experience. Having proven to the beau monde that she is not guilty of multiple homicides, she is eager to put some distance between her and her reputation as the murder duchess. All she wants to do is enjoy some fresh air and ingratiate herself with her new staff, an effort that would not be aided by accusing the servants of lying — although they obviously are, which the constable will figure out quickly enough if he is not a dunderhead.
Oh, but maybe he is a dunderhead and maybe the drawing in the victim’s pocket actually is a treasure map to a lost viking horde and maybe the murder duchess is a little too set in her ways to allow a killer to go free — or strike again.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2026
189 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Messina
57 books670 followersLynn Messina is author of more than a dozen novels, including the best-selling Fashionistas, which has been translated into sixteen languages, and a series of Regency romance novels. Her essays have appeared in Self, American Baby and the New York Times Modern Love column. She lives in New York City with her sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 24, 2026
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: Traveling to the ancestral Matlock estate with her husband, Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave, is finally able to confront her greatest the pinery. Forced to endure an endless parade of pineapple-inflected dishes early in her marriage, she has devised a scheme to sabotage the despised fruit, which she can now carry out at long last.
Good gracious, no. Bea does not really mean the plants any harm, and approaching the building on a summer morning, she is struck by how lovely it is, with its elegant portico and high arching windows. It is a shame, then, that she stumbles across a slain corpse almost immediately upon entering.
Devil it! A dead body is the last thing she wants to contend with! She’s in the country — nearly a hundred miles from London and her recent harrowing experience. Having proven to the beau monde that she is not guilty of multiple homicides, she is eager to put some distance between her and her reputation as the murder duchess. All she wants to do is enjoy some fresh air and ingratiate herself with her new staff, an effort that would not be aided by accusing the servants of lying — although they obviously are, which the constable will figure out quickly enough if he is not a dunderhead.
Oh, but maybe he is a dunderhead and maybe the drawing in the victim’s pocket actually is a treasure map to a lost viking horde and maybe the murder duchess is a little too set in her ways to allow a killer to go free — or strike again.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Duke and soon-to-be father Damien has brought his duchess Beatrice to his ancestral estate for her confinement. Haverill Hall is also the source of Bea's culinary nemesis, the pineapple, a very very expensive and trendy comestible she loathes. There are, in her thoughts at least, opportunities to create that will end the beloathèd plants from existing while looking innocent of wrongdoing in her belovèd Duke's eyes.
Be real, Bea: he'd know anyway if something destroyed his pineapples in their pinery. Plus you've got bigger fish to fry. Like, why's there a dead guy in said pinery. Like, when's this baby coming. Like, what now when the pinery turns out to be cozy and charming. Not least, like who are all these people in Haverhill?
Damien, still furious about the ton's recent treatment of the woman he adores, is not blind to Bea's character. He doesn't love her anyway, he loves her as she is. It makes Duke Damien my hero. I really need to get stories about men who love and support their partners; his silly childish endearments would irk me were they not overmatched by his fondness and demonstrable care for her. It does, however, still cause him great anxiety that his Bea is suddenly wrapped up in another murder solving, only now while she is at the point of delivering her husband's much-desired heir. It's clear this is very much the motivation for how...helpful...everyone, from Kesgrave the slightly pedantic and overintellectual Duke to the staff are to Bea as she clearly has no smallest desire to be inactive and uninvolved in the world. The wretched, boring novel she's agreed to read instead of dashing about but that can't even make her fall asleep it's so pathetic, honestly sounds very like late-pregnancy frustration and severe tedium intolerance. She's not in London, she's got a murder of someone she is not interested in that she's mostly happy to let the constable deal with until she frankly gets involved mostly to keep herself from going mad.
When the corpse's identity becomes clear, it still feels like Bea is not really invested in solving his murder, but in working through some feelings she's got left over from events in Flora's A Highly Courageous Adventure (what a family her cousin is marrying into! unlike her husband, he's chock-a-block with terrible relatives) and Verity's A Lark's Regret (apologies matter, when harm's been done however careless instead of malicious it was). It was, if I'm honest, a matter of deepest indifference to me who killed the lazy, greedy git. Still and all Ma'at must be served or there is no point in promulgating a concept of justice. I'm not salty about the absence of same in the 21st century at all, nonsense whatever might you mean.
I don't at all recommend starting here because there are spoilers for multiple books in these series of intertwined Regencies. Begin at the beginning. Get these relationship-driven crime-solving stories in their proper order so you won't slap your forehead and/or purse your lips in annoyance like I did multiple times.
I'm giving four full stars, despite my deep conviction neither Bea nor I care in the least about this jerk's murder (and I suspect we're both eager to attend Mrs. Pomphrey's wake, sour old baggage she is) because Damien, Duke of Kesgrave, and his Duchess Beatrice, are so very obviously partners in what they both treasure as a friendship. That makes me feel hopeful and happy, so is worth four stars on the strength of that alone.
The Publisher Says: Traveling to the ancestral Matlock estate with her husband, Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave, is finally able to confront her greatest the pinery. Forced to endure an endless parade of pineapple-inflected dishes early in her marriage, she has devised a scheme to sabotage the despised fruit, which she can now carry out at long last.
Good gracious, no. Bea does not really mean the plants any harm, and approaching the building on a summer morning, she is struck by how lovely it is, with its elegant portico and high arching windows. It is a shame, then, that she stumbles across a slain corpse almost immediately upon entering.
Devil it! A dead body is the last thing she wants to contend with! She’s in the country — nearly a hundred miles from London and her recent harrowing experience. Having proven to the beau monde that she is not guilty of multiple homicides, she is eager to put some distance between her and her reputation as the murder duchess. All she wants to do is enjoy some fresh air and ingratiate herself with her new staff, an effort that would not be aided by accusing the servants of lying — although they obviously are, which the constable will figure out quickly enough if he is not a dunderhead.
Oh, but maybe he is a dunderhead and maybe the drawing in the victim’s pocket actually is a treasure map to a lost viking horde and maybe the murder duchess is a little too set in her ways to allow a killer to go free — or strike again.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Duke and soon-to-be father Damien has brought his duchess Beatrice to his ancestral estate for her confinement. Haverill Hall is also the source of Bea's culinary nemesis, the pineapple, a very very expensive and trendy comestible she loathes. There are, in her thoughts at least, opportunities to create that will end the beloathèd plants from existing while looking innocent of wrongdoing in her belovèd Duke's eyes.
Be real, Bea: he'd know anyway if something destroyed his pineapples in their pinery. Plus you've got bigger fish to fry. Like, why's there a dead guy in said pinery. Like, when's this baby coming. Like, what now when the pinery turns out to be cozy and charming. Not least, like who are all these people in Haverhill?
Damien, still furious about the ton's recent treatment of the woman he adores, is not blind to Bea's character. He doesn't love her anyway, he loves her as she is. It makes Duke Damien my hero. I really need to get stories about men who love and support their partners; his silly childish endearments would irk me were they not overmatched by his fondness and demonstrable care for her. It does, however, still cause him great anxiety that his Bea is suddenly wrapped up in another murder solving, only now while she is at the point of delivering her husband's much-desired heir. It's clear this is very much the motivation for how...helpful...everyone, from Kesgrave the slightly pedantic and overintellectual Duke to the staff are to Bea as she clearly has no smallest desire to be inactive and uninvolved in the world. The wretched, boring novel she's agreed to read instead of dashing about but that can't even make her fall asleep it's so pathetic, honestly sounds very like late-pregnancy frustration and severe tedium intolerance. She's not in London, she's got a murder of someone she is not interested in that she's mostly happy to let the constable deal with until she frankly gets involved mostly to keep herself from going mad.
When the corpse's identity becomes clear, it still feels like Bea is not really invested in solving his murder, but in working through some feelings she's got left over from events in Flora's A Highly Courageous Adventure (what a family her cousin is marrying into! unlike her husband, he's chock-a-block with terrible relatives) and Verity's A Lark's Regret (apologies matter, when harm's been done however careless instead of malicious it was). It was, if I'm honest, a matter of deepest indifference to me who killed the lazy, greedy git. Still and all Ma'at must be served or there is no point in promulgating a concept of justice. I'm not salty about the absence of same in the 21st century at all, nonsense whatever might you mean.
I don't at all recommend starting here because there are spoilers for multiple books in these series of intertwined Regencies. Begin at the beginning. Get these relationship-driven crime-solving stories in their proper order so you won't slap your forehead and/or purse your lips in annoyance like I did multiple times.
I'm giving four full stars, despite my deep conviction neither Bea nor I care in the least about this jerk's murder (and I suspect we're both eager to attend Mrs. Pomphrey's wake, sour old baggage she is) because Damien, Duke of Kesgrave, and his Duchess Beatrice, are so very obviously partners in what they both treasure as a friendship. That makes me feel hopeful and happy, so is worth four stars on the strength of that alone.
March 23, 2026
Aha the ultimate slice of Bea et al
Another enjoyable peak at Bea, this time at Haverill, which in spite of her dread has turned out to be a place she can be quite comfortable in. Read this and you will see why.................
This is now the 14th Bea and I'm not one to stick to long series but hey I'm still here for the ride because with each wash and rinse, I continue to discover layers....
In fact, I'm quite looking forward to the next one.
An ARC gently provided by publishers/author via Netgalley
Another enjoyable peak at Bea, this time at Haverill, which in spite of her dread has turned out to be a place she can be quite comfortable in. Read this and you will see why.................
This is now the 14th Bea and I'm not one to stick to long series but hey I'm still here for the ride because with each wash and rinse, I continue to discover layers....
In fact, I'm quite looking forward to the next one.
An ARC gently provided by publishers/author via Netgalley
March 2, 2026
Beatrice and Damien have finally gotten to his country home. This moment has been a source of anxiety to Bea for several books now and what better way to make her feel at home than to have her discover a dead body in the famous pinery?
The mystery in this book is so well connected to history that I found myself searching for accounts of Edward II’s final days online. What a great imagination Lynn Messina has to weave a mystery around the story of Edward’s death.
Bea and Damien’s personal storyline was lovely. She is still insecure in her role and is intimidated by the ducal apartment. Damien’s response is so sweet and sensitive. The relationship is beautiful.
If you somehow jumped into the series here, you might not have picked up on the many, many references to earlier books. I found those moments charming!
The mystery in this book is so well connected to history that I found myself searching for accounts of Edward II’s final days online. What a great imagination Lynn Messina has to weave a mystery around the story of Edward’s death.
Bea and Damien’s personal storyline was lovely. She is still insecure in her role and is intimidated by the ducal apartment. Damien’s response is so sweet and sensitive. The relationship is beautiful.
If you somehow jumped into the series here, you might not have picked up on the many, many references to earlier books. I found those moments charming!
March 21, 2026
what a mystery!
What a mystery! It’s one of the few in this series where I didn’t even have a guess at the real killer by the end, and it weaves in such interesting historical facts. Really excellent, as usual from this author.
What a mystery! It’s one of the few in this series where I didn’t even have a guess at the real killer by the end, and it weaves in such interesting historical facts. Really excellent, as usual from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Mistress Messina, Potatoworks Press and NetGalley for the free advanced reading copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
3.55 stars rounded up
After the Duke and Duchess of Kesgrave spend a delightful week with Bea's cousin Flora at her intended's family estate, it's off to Cambridgeshire to the Duke of Kesgrave's estate Haverill Hall. Bea is terrified, anxious and trying to be on her best behavior lest her reputation as murder duchess follow her to the country. Kesgrave is FURIOUS with the ton for their treatment of his beloved while he was away and tries to ease Bea's anxiety in his usual pedantic manner. (The carriage door closes and you must use your imagination as to what follows). When they arrive, Bea is overwhelmed by meeting new relatives, servants and palatial rooms; not to mention a faint taste of pineapple in the roulade at dinner. She's determined to get a good look at the hated pinery so after a rainstorm, she sets forth walking around the house and into the warmth of the pinery which is quite charming and cozy... aside from the dead body lying on the ground with his mouth stuffed with dirt. Oh dear not again! After ascertaining Kesgrave does not know the identity of the victim, Bea is determined to allow the constable to solve this one without her. Bea gives in to her urge to just question the servants. She'll turn over the information to the constable if she discovers anything significant even if it means implicating the head gardener. Yet, the map she found in the dead man's pocket may contain a clue as to his motive for being on the estate in the first place. Treasure hunting, perhaps? The servants and her beloved husband are one step ahead of her making sure Bea has the information necessary but Kesgrave has a shortcut. They'll investigate together starting at the university. Meanwhile, there are sleepless nights with a poorly written novel, driving lessons, and worries over how many flowers are in unused rooms in the house to distract her. This story takes place after Flora's A Highly Courageous Adventure and Verity's A Lark's Regret and contains spoilers so read those first!
As a romance, this story gets 5 stars and a million squees! I highlighted passages on almost every page for the first few chapters, sighing and swooning along the way. I love the relationship between Bea and Kesgrave and it keeps me coming back for more. This couple has something special and I can't get enough of them. As a mystery, this story was a little lackluster for me. Bea doesn't begin her investigation right away and then when she does, it's largely research. When Kesgrave gets involved they go off on an academic trip investigating academics. There's a lot of history thrown at the reader and while I love history and learning new things, I know little about the Vikings and nothing about the Plantagenets or ancient Greek towers (excuse me - horologiums). I don't really care either. I did like how but did not like how she then allows Kesgrave I figured it out. It was kind of obvious at that point. At first I was deeply disappointed in the motive. However, the explanation makes more sense if it actually happened the way the murderer says it happened. Except that it sounds like It's a little confusing.
I love Bea, the Harry Potter of her family, the mousy spinster the ton is massively jealous of and loves to hate. Poor Bea is scarred after the incident with Mrs. Flimmer-Flam. She's forgiven Verity for Twaddle-Thum and can laugh about it but what Flimmer-Flam did was malicious and mean and now the ton believes Bea is the murder duchess. Kesgrave is on the war path, out for vengeance but that's beside the point. The damage has been done to Bea's fragile confidence and she fears what everyone in the country will think of her. She so wants to make a good impression as the Duchess and mother of the potential heir. Bea can't help but worry and feel anxious but she also knows Society will move on to something new soon if she doesn't solve another murder.
Bea has a lot of anxieties as usual. She just can't turn off her mind. I can relate! This time she's far more justified than ever. Being a Duchess comes with a LOT of baggage and a lot of responsibility. She never mentions it explicitly but her interactions with Kesgrave's cousins tell me a lot about the previous Duchess, i.e. La Reina. We know Kesgrave's parents were both narcissists and the last Duchess of Kesgrave anyone met was La Reina and so there are expectations of what Bea might be like on top of expectations of what she SHOULD be like. Also, they put Bea in the Duchesses's rooms. Oh ew! No thank you! Did she entertain gentlemen callers in her chambers? That's never stated but I would imagine she would have. The room is huge, overdecorated and causes Bea untold anxiety. I really don't blame her at all.
Bea is also worried about the arrival of the cherub and what it means for her. She's holding back a piece of her heart until she knows all is well. I do understand this concern and I would be terrified in her situation. Plus she has the trauma of knowing her parents were killed (while she was in the nursery?) before she was out of leading strings. It's given her a heavy outlook on life, knowing just how precarious life can be. To be fair to Kesgrave, he is well aware of this himself. His uncle tried to kill him and his grandmother's children and other grandchild all died untimely deaths. Kesgrave is the sole surviving descendant until the cherub arrives. I think if Bea brought up her concerns, Kesgrave would not pooh-pooh them. I think that will be a conversation they will have in future. It IS rude of Mrs. Pomphrey to ASSUME the baby is the future Duke. Does she want Kesgrave to die? I think it's a girl, as impudent and as smart as Bea to really give Kesgrave the runaround and humble him. I think he'd be a great girl dad. Bea, Verity, Flora AND the cherub could form their own all female detective agency. What better secret weapon than a female child to bat her lashes and have men admire her golden curls while spilling their secrets?
Back home in the country, Kesgrave is more relaxed and happier than Bea has ever seen him. She doesn't want to do anything to upset his happy frame of mind so she's going to stay out of the murder investigation for once. When Bea does begin her investigation, she worries because she feels like she's a pawn in a chess game because Kesgrave has anticipated her every move. Now I don't think that's very fair. He loves her for who she is and doesn't even want to try to stop her. There's no indication anyone has placed bets on how long she'd go without investigating. Marlow just made her job easier, that's all.
Kesgrave is the perfect man! He's patient, tolerant, accepting, trusting and has a great sense of humor. He's overcome a lot to be the man Bea knows and loves. He admits it. Like Darcy he needed an "impudent chit" to push him out of his complacency and in Kesgrave's case, ennui. His life was depressing until he ran into Bea in the library that night over Mr. Otley's body and she accused him of murder! While I resent Kesgrave referring to Bea in childish tones, he means it in a loving way. He's the most caring, devoted, selfless husband. (While still being a Duke). Kesgrave ALWAYS knows what Bea is thinking and feeling. He knows the right technique to assuage her fears and calm her anxieties. Who knew pedantry was a turn on? LOL!
Bea seems to think Kesgrave is still a little conceited and has no idea of his own importance, he just takes it for granted. He is, but he's a duke and Bea is there to humble him with her teasing. They're so adorable when they banter and Kesgrave needs that to put him in his place. He needs to be shaken out of his calmly ordered complacency and in return, he'll do ANYTHING to make Bea happy even if it means going against tradition. While they haven't discussed the cherub's upbringing, Kesgrave knows he doesn't want his children to be raised as unhappy as he was. His children will have two loving parents devoted to each other and to their family.
The servants are hilarious. I love how Bea brings her "Berkley Square auxiliary rotation office" footmen with her and how even Haverill Hall servants are eager to help her out. I agree with Kesgrave that Marlow secretly wants in on the action but isn't a man of action so he contributes the only way he knows how. Jenkins is a worrywart but he helps too.
Here we meet the Dowager's relatives who live at Haverill Hall. Mrs. Pomphrey is the de facto mistress of the house. I was confused, thinking she was the housekeeper. She makes all the arrangements, directs the servants, loudly voices her opinions on everything and makes plans - without Bea's consent - to introduce Bea to local society. Mrs. Pomphrey is as pedantic as Kesgrave but it's not charming when she does it. She seems awful but they do reach a truce - briefly. Mrs. Pomphrey is even rude to her own cousin. The other two elderly relatives, Mr. Ludders and Mrs. Gunn, are much nicer and allow Bea to use their first names right away. Sophia seems lovely, with a twinkle in her eye. She enjoys sparring with her cousin Elmira. There's history there and it's probably a familiar routine. Sophia also enjoys playing cards and has enough of a sense of humor to enter into Bea's plans for Lady Abercrombie's visit! Chester isn't home very often but he seems kind.
The Dowager didn't come along. I was surprised she didn't come to welcome Bea to her new home and help smooth the transition. Verity won't come yet but she's been invited and will probably eventually visit, according to "the gossip columnist" Mistress Messina who chronicles all the adventures of Bea, Verity and Flora. I'm still waiting for Bea and Verity to team up because I miss the days when Bea was sneaking out of the house in Russell's clothes pretending to be everyone under the sun, spending the Duke's money with him running after her. That was fun and I think this investigation should have been Verity's. She would have had a blast Twaddling among the pompous academics, laughing at them behind their backs. The two sisters-in-law could run circles around ALL the men in their orbit, not just the ones who love them.
At first Bea wants to defer her investigation to the local constable. After all, Kesgrave hired the man so he can't be so stupid as all that. Well, he is a country constable and other reports of him make him seem lazy and not smart enough to fully investigate a murder. He never does figure out ANYTHING- not even the identity of the dead man. Of course, he doesn't have all the information.
The chief suspect for the murder of the mystery man is Kingston, the head gardener. He was seen thrashing an elderly man with a cane trespassing on the grounds a few weeks back. Did the man come back? Was there another trespasser intent on digging up the grounds? It seems easy to blame Kingston. He's known for his temper and for being very particular about what he grows and how. But Bea doesn't think he's a killer. That's too obvious. Kingston does provide a clue, along with the map Bea found in the pocket of the dead man.
The clues don't add up for Kenneth Easton-Williams, president of the Chisentowe Historical Society and Archive. While he is eager to promote the village and raise its importance in the history of the country, he does not believe in rumors of a Viking hoard buried at Haverill Hall. One coin was found nearby once long ago and suddenly everyone becomes a gold digger. The Society members are methodical about their search and share information. If they find a hoard, they'll split it. Yeah right... So did one member kill another because of something he found or was believed to have found? Bea found hairpins at the murder scene. Plain, ordinary hairpins, such as a housekeeper might wear, perhaps? Mr. E-W's housekeeper wants to be a member of the Society but alas - no females allowed. How much does she know? Did she double cross a member and kill him? Did he promise her riches if she helped steal information for a man who claimed cared for her? I find her suspicious but Bea does not. At least not right now. What about John Ernest Poke, Easton-Williams's manservant and the Society's recording secretary? He doesn't get paid for his role in the Society but is privy to their private information. Would he be willing to betray another member for Viking treasure or whatever it was they were after?
The victim turns out to be He sounds like an unpleasant man: lazy, unmotivated except for greedy, selfish reasons and someone who barely did his job. He even had a falling out with his own brother over a job opportunity! Who is the brother? Where is he? Does he have an alibi for Monday? But why now and why at Haverill Hall? I think the brother is not on the top list of suspects. Servant, Timothy Watkins, seems shifty. He's underpaid but doesn't seem to be overworked but may be greedy. He's reluctant to let the Duke and Duchess in and can't provide much information. He claims he hasn't seen his employer in a few days and has a ready excuse for his actions. He's one the constable should be taking a closer look at.
There are three graduate students who might be suspects or witnesses. Algernon Little is a nervous sort. He lives in a narrow room beneath a staircase, implying he needs money. However, he doesn't seem to be a liar or intelligent enough to cover up what he does know. He doesn't seem to know much. Mr. Richard McDonald is a bit wealthier. He has an actual set of rooms and is fanboys his professor. He claims to be a true scholar, seeking knowledge for knowledge's sake but not so much willing to share until pressed. Joseph Rice is a young gentleman. He supposedly works little and produces no scholarship, much like his professor. Yet he wants to enjoy the finer things in life. The sleuths get the most information out of him. All three young men claim they have alibis for the estimated time of the murder but of course those will have to be checked. I wouldn't put it past Rice to HIRE someone to do the dirty work though.
While this mystery wasn't super twisty and thrilling, I enjoyed catching up with Bea and Kesgrave. I love them both so much and even more when they sleuth together. I do, however, miss the days when she was running around in disguise and he was running after her. I guess now we have Verity for that and I can't wait for her next adventure.
3.55 stars rounded up
After the Duke and Duchess of Kesgrave spend a delightful week with Bea's cousin Flora at her intended's family estate, it's off to Cambridgeshire to the Duke of Kesgrave's estate Haverill Hall. Bea is terrified, anxious and trying to be on her best behavior lest her reputation as murder duchess follow her to the country. Kesgrave is FURIOUS with the ton for their treatment of his beloved while he was away and tries to ease Bea's anxiety in his usual pedantic manner. (The carriage door closes and you must use your imagination as to what follows). When they arrive, Bea is overwhelmed by meeting new relatives, servants and palatial rooms; not to mention a faint taste of pineapple in the roulade at dinner. She's determined to get a good look at the hated pinery so after a rainstorm, she sets forth walking around the house and into the warmth of the pinery which is quite charming and cozy... aside from the dead body lying on the ground with his mouth stuffed with dirt. Oh dear not again! After ascertaining Kesgrave does not know the identity of the victim, Bea is determined to allow the constable to solve this one without her. Bea gives in to her urge to just question the servants. She'll turn over the information to the constable if she discovers anything significant even if it means implicating the head gardener. Yet, the map she found in the dead man's pocket may contain a clue as to his motive for being on the estate in the first place. Treasure hunting, perhaps? The servants and her beloved husband are one step ahead of her making sure Bea has the information necessary but Kesgrave has a shortcut. They'll investigate together starting at the university. Meanwhile, there are sleepless nights with a poorly written novel, driving lessons, and worries over how many flowers are in unused rooms in the house to distract her. This story takes place after Flora's A Highly Courageous Adventure and Verity's A Lark's Regret and contains spoilers so read those first!
As a romance, this story gets 5 stars and a million squees! I highlighted passages on almost every page for the first few chapters, sighing and swooning along the way. I love the relationship between Bea and Kesgrave and it keeps me coming back for more. This couple has something special and I can't get enough of them. As a mystery, this story was a little lackluster for me. Bea doesn't begin her investigation right away and then when she does, it's largely research. When Kesgrave gets involved they go off on an academic trip investigating academics. There's a lot of history thrown at the reader and while I love history and learning new things, I know little about the Vikings and nothing about the Plantagenets or ancient Greek towers (excuse me - horologiums). I don't really care either. I did like how but did not like how she then allows Kesgrave I figured it out. It was kind of obvious at that point. At first I was deeply disappointed in the motive. However, the explanation makes more sense if it actually happened the way the murderer says it happened. Except that it sounds like It's a little confusing.
I love Bea, the Harry Potter of her family, the mousy spinster the ton is massively jealous of and loves to hate. Poor Bea is scarred after the incident with Mrs. Flimmer-Flam. She's forgiven Verity for Twaddle-Thum and can laugh about it but what Flimmer-Flam did was malicious and mean and now the ton believes Bea is the murder duchess. Kesgrave is on the war path, out for vengeance but that's beside the point. The damage has been done to Bea's fragile confidence and she fears what everyone in the country will think of her. She so wants to make a good impression as the Duchess and mother of the potential heir. Bea can't help but worry and feel anxious but she also knows Society will move on to something new soon if she doesn't solve another murder.
Bea has a lot of anxieties as usual. She just can't turn off her mind. I can relate! This time she's far more justified than ever. Being a Duchess comes with a LOT of baggage and a lot of responsibility. She never mentions it explicitly but her interactions with Kesgrave's cousins tell me a lot about the previous Duchess, i.e. La Reina. We know Kesgrave's parents were both narcissists and the last Duchess of Kesgrave anyone met was La Reina and so there are expectations of what Bea might be like on top of expectations of what she SHOULD be like. Also, they put Bea in the Duchesses's rooms. Oh ew! No thank you! Did she entertain gentlemen callers in her chambers? That's never stated but I would imagine she would have. The room is huge, overdecorated and causes Bea untold anxiety. I really don't blame her at all.
Bea is also worried about the arrival of the cherub and what it means for her. She's holding back a piece of her heart until she knows all is well. I do understand this concern and I would be terrified in her situation. Plus she has the trauma of knowing her parents were killed (while she was in the nursery?) before she was out of leading strings. It's given her a heavy outlook on life, knowing just how precarious life can be. To be fair to Kesgrave, he is well aware of this himself. His uncle tried to kill him and his grandmother's children and other grandchild all died untimely deaths. Kesgrave is the sole surviving descendant until the cherub arrives. I think if Bea brought up her concerns, Kesgrave would not pooh-pooh them. I think that will be a conversation they will have in future. It IS rude of Mrs. Pomphrey to ASSUME the baby is the future Duke. Does she want Kesgrave to die? I think it's a girl, as impudent and as smart as Bea to really give Kesgrave the runaround and humble him. I think he'd be a great girl dad. Bea, Verity, Flora AND the cherub could form their own all female detective agency. What better secret weapon than a female child to bat her lashes and have men admire her golden curls while spilling their secrets?
Back home in the country, Kesgrave is more relaxed and happier than Bea has ever seen him. She doesn't want to do anything to upset his happy frame of mind so she's going to stay out of the murder investigation for once. When Bea does begin her investigation, she worries because she feels like she's a pawn in a chess game because Kesgrave has anticipated her every move. Now I don't think that's very fair. He loves her for who she is and doesn't even want to try to stop her. There's no indication anyone has placed bets on how long she'd go without investigating. Marlow just made her job easier, that's all.
Kesgrave is the perfect man! He's patient, tolerant, accepting, trusting and has a great sense of humor. He's overcome a lot to be the man Bea knows and loves. He admits it. Like Darcy he needed an "impudent chit" to push him out of his complacency and in Kesgrave's case, ennui. His life was depressing until he ran into Bea in the library that night over Mr. Otley's body and she accused him of murder! While I resent Kesgrave referring to Bea in childish tones, he means it in a loving way. He's the most caring, devoted, selfless husband. (While still being a Duke). Kesgrave ALWAYS knows what Bea is thinking and feeling. He knows the right technique to assuage her fears and calm her anxieties. Who knew pedantry was a turn on? LOL!
Bea seems to think Kesgrave is still a little conceited and has no idea of his own importance, he just takes it for granted. He is, but he's a duke and Bea is there to humble him with her teasing. They're so adorable when they banter and Kesgrave needs that to put him in his place. He needs to be shaken out of his calmly ordered complacency and in return, he'll do ANYTHING to make Bea happy even if it means going against tradition. While they haven't discussed the cherub's upbringing, Kesgrave knows he doesn't want his children to be raised as unhappy as he was. His children will have two loving parents devoted to each other and to their family.
The servants are hilarious. I love how Bea brings her "Berkley Square auxiliary rotation office" footmen with her and how even Haverill Hall servants are eager to help her out. I agree with Kesgrave that Marlow secretly wants in on the action but isn't a man of action so he contributes the only way he knows how. Jenkins is a worrywart but he helps too.
Here we meet the Dowager's relatives who live at Haverill Hall. Mrs. Pomphrey is the de facto mistress of the house. I was confused, thinking she was the housekeeper. She makes all the arrangements, directs the servants, loudly voices her opinions on everything and makes plans - without Bea's consent - to introduce Bea to local society. Mrs. Pomphrey is as pedantic as Kesgrave but it's not charming when she does it. She seems awful but they do reach a truce - briefly. Mrs. Pomphrey is even rude to her own cousin. The other two elderly relatives, Mr. Ludders and Mrs. Gunn, are much nicer and allow Bea to use their first names right away. Sophia seems lovely, with a twinkle in her eye. She enjoys sparring with her cousin Elmira. There's history there and it's probably a familiar routine. Sophia also enjoys playing cards and has enough of a sense of humor to enter into Bea's plans for Lady Abercrombie's visit! Chester isn't home very often but he seems kind.
The Dowager didn't come along. I was surprised she didn't come to welcome Bea to her new home and help smooth the transition. Verity won't come yet but she's been invited and will probably eventually visit, according to "the gossip columnist" Mistress Messina who chronicles all the adventures of Bea, Verity and Flora. I'm still waiting for Bea and Verity to team up because I miss the days when Bea was sneaking out of the house in Russell's clothes pretending to be everyone under the sun, spending the Duke's money with him running after her. That was fun and I think this investigation should have been Verity's. She would have had a blast Twaddling among the pompous academics, laughing at them behind their backs. The two sisters-in-law could run circles around ALL the men in their orbit, not just the ones who love them.
At first Bea wants to defer her investigation to the local constable. After all, Kesgrave hired the man so he can't be so stupid as all that. Well, he is a country constable and other reports of him make him seem lazy and not smart enough to fully investigate a murder. He never does figure out ANYTHING- not even the identity of the dead man. Of course, he doesn't have all the information.
The chief suspect for the murder of the mystery man is Kingston, the head gardener. He was seen thrashing an elderly man with a cane trespassing on the grounds a few weeks back. Did the man come back? Was there another trespasser intent on digging up the grounds? It seems easy to blame Kingston. He's known for his temper and for being very particular about what he grows and how. But Bea doesn't think he's a killer. That's too obvious. Kingston does provide a clue, along with the map Bea found in the pocket of the dead man.
The clues don't add up for Kenneth Easton-Williams, president of the Chisentowe Historical Society and Archive. While he is eager to promote the village and raise its importance in the history of the country, he does not believe in rumors of a Viking hoard buried at Haverill Hall. One coin was found nearby once long ago and suddenly everyone becomes a gold digger. The Society members are methodical about their search and share information. If they find a hoard, they'll split it. Yeah right... So did one member kill another because of something he found or was believed to have found? Bea found hairpins at the murder scene. Plain, ordinary hairpins, such as a housekeeper might wear, perhaps? Mr. E-W's housekeeper wants to be a member of the Society but alas - no females allowed. How much does she know? Did she double cross a member and kill him? Did he promise her riches if she helped steal information for a man who claimed cared for her? I find her suspicious but Bea does not. At least not right now. What about John Ernest Poke, Easton-Williams's manservant and the Society's recording secretary? He doesn't get paid for his role in the Society but is privy to their private information. Would he be willing to betray another member for Viking treasure or whatever it was they were after?
The victim turns out to be He sounds like an unpleasant man: lazy, unmotivated except for greedy, selfish reasons and someone who barely did his job. He even had a falling out with his own brother over a job opportunity! Who is the brother? Where is he? Does he have an alibi for Monday? But why now and why at Haverill Hall? I think the brother is not on the top list of suspects. Servant, Timothy Watkins, seems shifty. He's underpaid but doesn't seem to be overworked but may be greedy. He's reluctant to let the Duke and Duchess in and can't provide much information. He claims he hasn't seen his employer in a few days and has a ready excuse for his actions. He's one the constable should be taking a closer look at.
There are three graduate students who might be suspects or witnesses. Algernon Little is a nervous sort. He lives in a narrow room beneath a staircase, implying he needs money. However, he doesn't seem to be a liar or intelligent enough to cover up what he does know. He doesn't seem to know much. Mr. Richard McDonald is a bit wealthier. He has an actual set of rooms and is fanboys his professor. He claims to be a true scholar, seeking knowledge for knowledge's sake but not so much willing to share until pressed. Joseph Rice is a young gentleman. He supposedly works little and produces no scholarship, much like his professor. Yet he wants to enjoy the finer things in life. The sleuths get the most information out of him. All three young men claim they have alibis for the estimated time of the murder but of course those will have to be checked. I wouldn't put it past Rice to HIRE someone to do the dirty work though.
While this mystery wasn't super twisty and thrilling, I enjoyed catching up with Bea and Kesgrave. I love them both so much and even more when they sleuth together. I do, however, miss the days when she was running around in disguise and he was running after her. I guess now we have Verity for that and I can't wait for her next adventure.
March 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
A Wretched Folly is the fourteenth instalment in Lynn Messina’s Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, and as someone who has been following Bea’s escapades from the very beginning, returning to this world still feels like slipping into a very witty, very murder-prone pair of slippers.
Now the Duchess of Kesgrave, Bea arrives at the couple’s enormous country seat, Haverill Hall—150 rooms (or thereabouts) of intimidating grandeur—with a healthy dose of imposter syndrome. Four months pregnant and thoroughly sick of being known as The Murder Duchess, she is determined to embrace her new role and, ideally, settle into a life blissfully free of corpses. After all, she’s left London behind—the city where dead bodies seemed to appear in her orbit with alarming regularity.
Naturally, that plan lasts about five minutes.
Because Bea quite literally stumbles across a dead body in the pinery, among the pineapples she already distrusts on principle. Determined to behave like a respectable duchess for once, she resolves to leave the investigation to the (apparently competent) local constable and occupy herself with more suitable pursuits: Gothic romances, redecorating, and even learning to drive.
Predictably, that resolve proves… fragile.
The charm of this series has always been the characters, and they remain its greatest strength here. Kesgrave is back in full form after his absence in the previous book, and he continues to be the perfect husband for Bea—fiercely supportive, perpetually impressed by her mind, and delightfully exasperating in his ability to anticipate her every need. Their dynamic remains one of the most enjoyable parts of the series: affectionate, humorous, and full of fierce loyalty.
Bea herself remains wonderfully complex. Despite her formidable deductive mind and sharp observational skills, she is still vulnerable to self-doubt and acutely aware of how others perceive her—particularly now that she must inhabit the very public role of duchess. Watching her navigate both her insecurities and the intimidating sprawl of Haverill Hall makes her feel refreshingly human. It’s genuinely lovely to see a cosy mystery heroine who is clever without being flawless.
As for the mystery itself, it was… fine. I suspected the culprit fairly early on, even if the motive took a little longer to reveal itself. But in truth, the puzzle is only part of the appeal of these books. Messina’s real strengths are her writing, humour, and relationships, which continue to make this series such an enduring delight.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
A Wretched Folly is the fourteenth instalment in Lynn Messina’s Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, and as someone who has been following Bea’s escapades from the very beginning, returning to this world still feels like slipping into a very witty, very murder-prone pair of slippers.
Now the Duchess of Kesgrave, Bea arrives at the couple’s enormous country seat, Haverill Hall—150 rooms (or thereabouts) of intimidating grandeur—with a healthy dose of imposter syndrome. Four months pregnant and thoroughly sick of being known as The Murder Duchess, she is determined to embrace her new role and, ideally, settle into a life blissfully free of corpses. After all, she’s left London behind—the city where dead bodies seemed to appear in her orbit with alarming regularity.
Naturally, that plan lasts about five minutes.
Because Bea quite literally stumbles across a dead body in the pinery, among the pineapples she already distrusts on principle. Determined to behave like a respectable duchess for once, she resolves to leave the investigation to the (apparently competent) local constable and occupy herself with more suitable pursuits: Gothic romances, redecorating, and even learning to drive.
Predictably, that resolve proves… fragile.
The charm of this series has always been the characters, and they remain its greatest strength here. Kesgrave is back in full form after his absence in the previous book, and he continues to be the perfect husband for Bea—fiercely supportive, perpetually impressed by her mind, and delightfully exasperating in his ability to anticipate her every need. Their dynamic remains one of the most enjoyable parts of the series: affectionate, humorous, and full of fierce loyalty.
Bea herself remains wonderfully complex. Despite her formidable deductive mind and sharp observational skills, she is still vulnerable to self-doubt and acutely aware of how others perceive her—particularly now that she must inhabit the very public role of duchess. Watching her navigate both her insecurities and the intimidating sprawl of Haverill Hall makes her feel refreshingly human. It’s genuinely lovely to see a cosy mystery heroine who is clever without being flawless.
As for the mystery itself, it was… fine. I suspected the culprit fairly early on, even if the motive took a little longer to reveal itself. But in truth, the puzzle is only part of the appeal of these books. Messina’s real strengths are her writing, humour, and relationships, which continue to make this series such an enduring delight.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 1.5 stars
Rating explanation: a combination of skipping portions of it, coming to the conclusion that I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone I know, and enjoying some portions of it.
To be completely honest, this style of writing and storytelling is simply not my cup of tea.
At first, I appreciated the detail that the author went into to describe what the characters were interacting with and what they were seeing, thinking, feeling, etc. That really brought the book alive for me because it read like I was right there with Bea and Damien and the other characters. But after a while, I started to skip over the long descriptions and inner monologues of the characters. It became repetitious and slowed the pacing of the book.
In terms of the plot, to me, it wasn’t as intriguing as I was expecting it to be. There wasn’t a moment when I thought, “oh, that was very clever and interesting, I wonder what happens next.” Even the part where Bea encounters the crime scene, I wasn’t instilled with any curiosity. There were also times when memories or previous conversations and characters were mentioned that drew my attention away from the main story. So in that way as well, the story lost my curiosity.
In terms of the characters themselves… Bea… was a little too… much for my liking. She’s driven and smart, aware, observant, and many other good qualities. But she is also indecisive and sometimes inconsiderate of her own husband which kind of took away from their otherwise very warm and loving relationship. And my respect for her as a character. Meaning, it made me indifferent to her storyline and development because she was like that throughout the book.
Damien, like Bea, has many good qualities as well, and their dynamic made reading the book enjoyable and sometimes funny. Like when he calls her a brat. I would have liked to see them work together more outside of the investigation and more on what he was involved with before the case opened. The responsibilities that he was trying to get her involved in, I wish I read more through that portion of their relationship.
All in all, I’m grateful that I read this book. I definitely wouldn’t read it again but now I know what style of writing isn’t for me.
No discredit to the author, the talent you have for writing is unmistakeable. This book, in particular, just didn’t capture my attention the way I was expecting it to.
Rating explanation: a combination of skipping portions of it, coming to the conclusion that I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone I know, and enjoying some portions of it.
To be completely honest, this style of writing and storytelling is simply not my cup of tea.
At first, I appreciated the detail that the author went into to describe what the characters were interacting with and what they were seeing, thinking, feeling, etc. That really brought the book alive for me because it read like I was right there with Bea and Damien and the other characters. But after a while, I started to skip over the long descriptions and inner monologues of the characters. It became repetitious and slowed the pacing of the book.
In terms of the plot, to me, it wasn’t as intriguing as I was expecting it to be. There wasn’t a moment when I thought, “oh, that was very clever and interesting, I wonder what happens next.” Even the part where Bea encounters the crime scene, I wasn’t instilled with any curiosity. There were also times when memories or previous conversations and characters were mentioned that drew my attention away from the main story. So in that way as well, the story lost my curiosity.
In terms of the characters themselves… Bea… was a little too… much for my liking. She’s driven and smart, aware, observant, and many other good qualities. But she is also indecisive and sometimes inconsiderate of her own husband which kind of took away from their otherwise very warm and loving relationship. And my respect for her as a character. Meaning, it made me indifferent to her storyline and development because she was like that throughout the book.
Damien, like Bea, has many good qualities as well, and their dynamic made reading the book enjoyable and sometimes funny. Like when he calls her a brat. I would have liked to see them work together more outside of the investigation and more on what he was involved with before the case opened. The responsibilities that he was trying to get her involved in, I wish I read more through that portion of their relationship.
All in all, I’m grateful that I read this book. I definitely wouldn’t read it again but now I know what style of writing isn’t for me.
No discredit to the author, the talent you have for writing is unmistakeable. This book, in particular, just didn’t capture my attention the way I was expecting it to.
March 23, 2026
Thanks to Bookfunnel and the author for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.
This series is the coziest of cozy mysteries for me and I love Duchess Bea and Kesgrave. This is closed door romantic as the young married couple embark on their marriage together, as Bea trepidatiously explores her new life as a duchess and a mother-to-be, but delighting her loving and (closed door) passionate relationship with the Duke. He seems to delight in her intelligence, as well as their mutual attraction and love, something he likely never expected to have in his life, as we have learned in the past books. I love their love.
But of course, she is not known as the Murder Duchess for nothing. In fact, she is hoping to leave that behind in London as she and Kesgrave travel to his seat in Kent. Bea finds herself intimidated by the massive size of the Matlock country estate, struck by insomnia as she contemplates the sheer massiveness of her new bed chamber, and trying to navigate around the established residents of the estate, including an array of opinionated relatives who live there. Then there is her nemesis.... the pinery - the source of her pineapple everything.
As she seeks to confront the pinery herself shortly arriving, she finds herself facing, yet again, death. But this time she decides she will not be the Murder Duchess, and allows the local constable take the lead on the investigation. Afterall, he was selected by her dear Kesgrave, thus he must be more than acceptable in competency. Except Bea, being Bea, cannot help but notice things that others do not, and her curiosity piqued, starts to investigate. Kesgrave, being Kesgrave, and knowing Bea, is her loving enabler as they explore the history of the region and delve into the mystery of the body in the pinery.
Afterall, it is a good distraction from being intimidated by the massivity of the ducal estate, and her anxiety about impending motherhood.
A reliable and lovely cozy mystery, and continue to love Bea and Kesgrave's dynamic.
4.25 stars out of 5
This series is the coziest of cozy mysteries for me and I love Duchess Bea and Kesgrave. This is closed door romantic as the young married couple embark on their marriage together, as Bea trepidatiously explores her new life as a duchess and a mother-to-be, but delighting her loving and (closed door) passionate relationship with the Duke. He seems to delight in her intelligence, as well as their mutual attraction and love, something he likely never expected to have in his life, as we have learned in the past books. I love their love.
But of course, she is not known as the Murder Duchess for nothing. In fact, she is hoping to leave that behind in London as she and Kesgrave travel to his seat in Kent. Bea finds herself intimidated by the massive size of the Matlock country estate, struck by insomnia as she contemplates the sheer massiveness of her new bed chamber, and trying to navigate around the established residents of the estate, including an array of opinionated relatives who live there. Then there is her nemesis.... the pinery - the source of her pineapple everything.
As she seeks to confront the pinery herself shortly arriving, she finds herself facing, yet again, death. But this time she decides she will not be the Murder Duchess, and allows the local constable take the lead on the investigation. Afterall, he was selected by her dear Kesgrave, thus he must be more than acceptable in competency. Except Bea, being Bea, cannot help but notice things that others do not, and her curiosity piqued, starts to investigate. Kesgrave, being Kesgrave, and knowing Bea, is her loving enabler as they explore the history of the region and delve into the mystery of the body in the pinery.
Afterall, it is a good distraction from being intimidated by the massivity of the ducal estate, and her anxiety about impending motherhood.
A reliable and lovely cozy mystery, and continue to love Bea and Kesgrave's dynamic.
4.25 stars out of 5
March 13, 2026
In the fourteenth outing for Beatrice Hyde-Clare, we find her arriving at the Matlock estate with the duke. She's been dreading this a long time but she has also resolved to embrace this new world, and she is going to stay away from solving murders as she doesn't want to fulfill the role of the murder duchess. Her plans don't work as intended and the first morning she finds a body in the pinery on the estate. But she's not going to involve herself this time. Obviously, her resolve doesn't last as long as she would like.
In this book we find Bea struggling with the grandeur of the Matlock estate. She isn't sleeping and even the size of the bedroom is overwhelming her. There's a lot of adjustment and she feels she needs to face it all head on. After all, this is her husband's childhood home. By comparison, solving murders is quite easy. I like the way this book really highlights Bea's struggles. We don't see a lot of the duke in this book, but his role is still quite important. Aside from the earliest books in the series, Bea is the main crime solver, and her husband is there to help things along. He seems to take a lot of pride in her abilities. I do ponder this notion of murders following her everywhere there. It's getting quite absurd how often she ends up in this situation. In fact, the women (in this and the connected series) all seem to attract murders. Not just crime but murders.
In any case, there's a lot of high-strung emotion in this book and there's a sense of good feeling by the end as some of Bea's worries are lifted and she can move on with things in whichever way she chooses. We are introduced to a few new characters, including the cranky head gardener, and a couple family residents at the estate. This was again highly enjoyable, and I look forward to further adventures from this and the associated series.
Thank you to Book Whisperer and Netgalley for the free advanced reader copy. I have provided my feedback voluntarily.
In this book we find Bea struggling with the grandeur of the Matlock estate. She isn't sleeping and even the size of the bedroom is overwhelming her. There's a lot of adjustment and she feels she needs to face it all head on. After all, this is her husband's childhood home. By comparison, solving murders is quite easy. I like the way this book really highlights Bea's struggles. We don't see a lot of the duke in this book, but his role is still quite important. Aside from the earliest books in the series, Bea is the main crime solver, and her husband is there to help things along. He seems to take a lot of pride in her abilities. I do ponder this notion of murders following her everywhere there. It's getting quite absurd how often she ends up in this situation. In fact, the women (in this and the connected series) all seem to attract murders. Not just crime but murders.
In any case, there's a lot of high-strung emotion in this book and there's a sense of good feeling by the end as some of Bea's worries are lifted and she can move on with things in whichever way she chooses. We are introduced to a few new characters, including the cranky head gardener, and a couple family residents at the estate. This was again highly enjoyable, and I look forward to further adventures from this and the associated series.
Thank you to Book Whisperer and Netgalley for the free advanced reader copy. I have provided my feedback voluntarily.
March 13, 2026
A Wretched Folly: A Regency Cozy by Lynn Messina was the first book by this author that I've read. It also happens to be the 14th book in her Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries series. I was intrigued by the fact that a woman during the Regency period could be involved in solving murders and even more so in this book because Bea, the main character, had already solved numerous murders! Bea, also known as the Duchess of Kesgrave, is definitely a unique character and works together with her husband, the Duke of Kesgrave, to solve the murder of an unknown man found on their property. The conversations between this unusual couple can be educational as well as entertaining. I also appreciated how the author was able to write about the "passion" that the Duke and Duchess had for each other without the need to include any explicit details about their intimacy. I gave 3 stars primarily because there were quite a few references to previous murder cases and people involved from the earlier books in this series that didn't mean anything to me because I had not read them. I would not consider this a "stand alone" novel as I perhaps would have appreciated more of the characters' conversations if I knew who, and what, they were talking about. I recommend this book for readers of the Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries series. I received an ARC of this book from Book Whisperer via Book Funnel but all opinions are my own.
March 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.
Beatrice Hyde-Clare is married to her Duke and is expecting their first child. So it is time for her to finally visit the Duke's country estate. Getting out of the city also gives her some opportunity to ignore her recent moniker as "the murder Duchess" and give the publicity from their latest crime solution to die down.
When she arrives, she is overwhelmed by the sheer size of the house and constantly gets lost, much to the amusement of the staff, who are much too well trained to make that apparent. But when she is served a dish with the hated pineapple as an ingredient, Bea determines something must be done. She doesn't really intend to destroy the precious plants, but merely to get a look at them - and then she finds a body with its head buried in the pot of an upturned pineapple plant!! So her reputation is once again in play. But much to the delight of her husband, and the consternation of her compatriots in crime-solving, she opts to allow the Duke to turn the investigation over to the local constable. But when he appears not to be up to the job, Bea and Kesgrave begin to investigate on their own. In doing so, they of course solve the mystery of not one but TWO murders, as well as uncover a little known historical fact.
These are fun books to read, as you don't have to think too much, but they ARE true murder mysteries and the ending is always satisfying.
Beatrice Hyde-Clare is married to her Duke and is expecting their first child. So it is time for her to finally visit the Duke's country estate. Getting out of the city also gives her some opportunity to ignore her recent moniker as "the murder Duchess" and give the publicity from their latest crime solution to die down.
When she arrives, she is overwhelmed by the sheer size of the house and constantly gets lost, much to the amusement of the staff, who are much too well trained to make that apparent. But when she is served a dish with the hated pineapple as an ingredient, Bea determines something must be done. She doesn't really intend to destroy the precious plants, but merely to get a look at them - and then she finds a body with its head buried in the pot of an upturned pineapple plant!! So her reputation is once again in play. But much to the delight of her husband, and the consternation of her compatriots in crime-solving, she opts to allow the Duke to turn the investigation over to the local constable. But when he appears not to be up to the job, Bea and Kesgrave begin to investigate on their own. In doing so, they of course solve the mystery of not one but TWO murders, as well as uncover a little known historical fact.
These are fun books to read, as you don't have to think too much, but they ARE true murder mysteries and the ending is always satisfying.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a read that leaves you feeling happy. Again. So, what else is there to add?
The blurb says it all: The two graces are frolicking among the multitudes of flower arrangements in Haverill Hall (where, again, oh praised be the head gardener! the peonies are still in bloom in mid-July) and in the countryside, as they stumble upon a Matlock-family unrelated body.
So, a mystery-sprinkled honeymoon is off to a good start. The poor dears have been denied one so far (honeymoon, that is), as you know, and now we are invited for the ride (in a carriage with four ponies)! But more importantly, the story is an essential addition to the BHC universe, to be told and re-told long after the cherub has graced us with its presence.
The moral undertone, if one is inclined to search for one after the earlier installments’ forays into, e.g., museums and journalistic ethics, is the working morale of the scientific community members in the 19th century. Or does the discussion apply to a time nearer to the present.. ?
On another sidenote, there are no noticeable dairies in the Cambridgeshire, nevertheless, Haverill Hall does not seem to run out of cheese in this setting. Positioned in the summer and published in spring, no frosty temperatures will come to the rescue of your melting heart. Best enjoyed with a scoop of ice or a supplementary slice of cheese.
Let’s hope, Bea comes up with more opportunities for chaos and disruption to bestow on her august husband in a very near future.
Thanks netgalley for the arc. Opinions are my own.
The blurb says it all: The two graces are frolicking among the multitudes of flower arrangements in Haverill Hall (where, again, oh praised be the head gardener! the peonies are still in bloom in mid-July) and in the countryside, as they stumble upon a Matlock-family unrelated body.
So, a mystery-sprinkled honeymoon is off to a good start. The poor dears have been denied one so far (honeymoon, that is), as you know, and now we are invited for the ride (in a carriage with four ponies)! But more importantly, the story is an essential addition to the BHC universe, to be told and re-told long after the cherub has graced us with its presence.
The moral undertone, if one is inclined to search for one after the earlier installments’ forays into, e.g., museums and journalistic ethics, is the working morale of the scientific community members in the 19th century. Or does the discussion apply to a time nearer to the present.. ?
On another sidenote, there are no noticeable dairies in the Cambridgeshire, nevertheless, Haverill Hall does not seem to run out of cheese in this setting. Positioned in the summer and published in spring, no frosty temperatures will come to the rescue of your melting heart. Best enjoyed with a scoop of ice or a supplementary slice of cheese.
Let’s hope, Bea comes up with more opportunities for chaos and disruption to bestow on her august husband in a very near future.
Thanks netgalley for the arc. Opinions are my own.
March 19, 2026
I still say what is not to like about Bea and Kesgrave?! I love the fact that this man absolutely adores her (and she deserves to be adored), but he is willing to let her lead him into things that most Dukes would have no part of.
Once again Bea finds a body, but she had promised him that she would not investigate. Firstly, she is at his country home (can it be called a home when it has 100+ rooms?) But after she was humiliated back in London, Kesgrave has become very protective. And lets not forget the cherub. So they do their best to let the authorities handle this body. But it starts to grate on Bea and her husband knowing his wife as he does, helps her figure out who the culprit is and identify the unknown body.
I have read all of this series and own all of the books and each time, I find myself loving this very unique couple and the adventures they get involved in. And let's not forget their staff. After some real hesitation about managing a large staff, she finds that a few are always willing to help her out. Whether it is being sent off to look into things or like Marlowe( their very reserved and correct butler) who looks for books to be set aside for her to review. Bea is quite unique, because she doubts herself many times, but Kesgrave knows that she is good at figuring things out and supports her in any way that he can.
Once again Bea finds a body, but she had promised him that she would not investigate. Firstly, she is at his country home (can it be called a home when it has 100+ rooms?) But after she was humiliated back in London, Kesgrave has become very protective. And lets not forget the cherub. So they do their best to let the authorities handle this body. But it starts to grate on Bea and her husband knowing his wife as he does, helps her figure out who the culprit is and identify the unknown body.
I have read all of this series and own all of the books and each time, I find myself loving this very unique couple and the adventures they get involved in. And let's not forget their staff. After some real hesitation about managing a large staff, she finds that a few are always willing to help her out. Whether it is being sent off to look into things or like Marlowe( their very reserved and correct butler) who looks for books to be set aside for her to review. Bea is quite unique, because she doubts herself many times, but Kesgrave knows that she is good at figuring things out and supports her in any way that he can.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Her Outrageousness can’t help herself!
Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave has much to cope with. They're off to Kesgrave’s ancestral hall, Haverhill, she’s pregnant, and she wants to appear, well Duchessley! She’s avoided the moment for as long as she can.
Now they’re enroute to Haverhill Hall the moment of Duchiness will begin. Scary! No more murder duchess, no more Her Outrageousness. Bea is behaving herself.
The scale of Haverhill Hall is overwhelming. Bea has problems finding her way around. Then there’s the size of the ducal bedroom. That freaks Bea out.
When Bea trips over a body in the Pinery! her efforts not to get involved are masterly, until she can’t help herself. Bea become involved.
The relationship between Kesgrave and Bea is absolutely lovely. Watching their interactions is joyous. Kesgrave’s anger over Bea having been the brunt of society’s rumor and scorn is palpable. If he could annihilate all involved he would. He cares deeply for Bea. They are a perfect foil for each other.
Yes, they follow up on the murder. Yes Bea solves it.
A sincerely gorgeous read, despite the murder.
A Book Whisperer ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave has much to cope with. They're off to Kesgrave’s ancestral hall, Haverhill, she’s pregnant, and she wants to appear, well Duchessley! She’s avoided the moment for as long as she can.
Now they’re enroute to Haverhill Hall the moment of Duchiness will begin. Scary! No more murder duchess, no more Her Outrageousness. Bea is behaving herself.
The scale of Haverhill Hall is overwhelming. Bea has problems finding her way around. Then there’s the size of the ducal bedroom. That freaks Bea out.
When Bea trips over a body in the Pinery! her efforts not to get involved are masterly, until she can’t help herself. Bea become involved.
The relationship between Kesgrave and Bea is absolutely lovely. Watching their interactions is joyous. Kesgrave’s anger over Bea having been the brunt of society’s rumor and scorn is palpable. If he could annihilate all involved he would. He cares deeply for Bea. They are a perfect foil for each other.
Yes, they follow up on the murder. Yes Bea solves it.
A sincerely gorgeous read, despite the murder.
A Book Whisperer ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
March 14, 2026
This just might be my second favorite in the series. (The first of course is my favorite as this is when Beatrice and Damien met)
The Duke and Duchess finally make it to the ancestral home. Beatrice is still recovering from the scandal in the previous book, and four months pregnant she is determined to behave as a proper Duchess.
I love the descriptions of the estate, especially the pinery. Pineapples at this time were quite expensive and a status symbol, but Beatrice doesn't actually like them. She goes to the pinery , a particular kind of hot house for growing them, thinking possibly to destroy them, but of course she finds a dead body.
This book is a little different from previous ones because the many peripheral characters haven't arrived yet, so Beatrice and Damian spend a lot of time together, and they are just adorable.
The mystery deals a great deal with history, especially the Plantagenets, and I found it all fascinating, though some might not. I went through a Plantagenet phase in high school, so I particularly enjoyed this.
Beatrice tries very hard not to help solve the murder, because she thinks Damien wants her to be less involved. Read the book to see how that turns out!
Thanks to NetGalley and the Book Whisperer for the EARC. This is my honest review.
The Duke and Duchess finally make it to the ancestral home. Beatrice is still recovering from the scandal in the previous book, and four months pregnant she is determined to behave as a proper Duchess.
I love the descriptions of the estate, especially the pinery. Pineapples at this time were quite expensive and a status symbol, but Beatrice doesn't actually like them. She goes to the pinery , a particular kind of hot house for growing them, thinking possibly to destroy them, but of course she finds a dead body.
This book is a little different from previous ones because the many peripheral characters haven't arrived yet, so Beatrice and Damian spend a lot of time together, and they are just adorable.
The mystery deals a great deal with history, especially the Plantagenets, and I found it all fascinating, though some might not. I went through a Plantagenet phase in high school, so I particularly enjoyed this.
Beatrice tries very hard not to help solve the murder, because she thinks Damien wants her to be less involved. Read the book to see how that turns out!
Thanks to NetGalley and the Book Whisperer for the EARC. This is my honest review.
March 24, 2026
“A Wretched Folly” by Lynn Messina is book #14 in the famous Beatrice Hyde-Clare Series.
In this installment, Bea is traveling to her husband's ancestral home and trying to escape from the gossip around her for being "the Murder Duchess," and she, of course, immediately stumbles over a body. She is torn between the pull to investigate and her desire to focus on being a duchess and new mother-to-be.
Naturally, her outrageousness can’t stay out of the murder investigation. She is having struggles adjusting to her new home and expectations, and finds herself questioning the townspeople to dig into the history of the area. She is joined by her husband in this investigation, and they work together to solve the murder and keep their sanity in their new roles.
Bea and Damien’s relationship is beautiful. She is still insecure in her role and is intimidated by the ducal estate. Damien’s response is so sweet and sensitive. He always knows what Bea is thinking and he knows the right technique to assuage her fears and calm her anxieties.
“A Wretched Folly” is a great addition to the series. As always, it’s great to see Bea and Damien work together to get to the truth and solve the mystery.
In this installment, Bea is traveling to her husband's ancestral home and trying to escape from the gossip around her for being "the Murder Duchess," and she, of course, immediately stumbles over a body. She is torn between the pull to investigate and her desire to focus on being a duchess and new mother-to-be.
Naturally, her outrageousness can’t stay out of the murder investigation. She is having struggles adjusting to her new home and expectations, and finds herself questioning the townspeople to dig into the history of the area. She is joined by her husband in this investigation, and they work together to solve the murder and keep their sanity in their new roles.
Bea and Damien’s relationship is beautiful. She is still insecure in her role and is intimidated by the ducal estate. Damien’s response is so sweet and sensitive. He always knows what Bea is thinking and he knows the right technique to assuage her fears and calm her anxieties.
“A Wretched Folly” is a great addition to the series. As always, it’s great to see Bea and Damien work together to get to the truth and solve the mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley.
3 ⭐
Bear in mind, this is the first book of the series I am reading. The first quarter of the novel had irregular pacing and felt like a recap of the end of the previous book and a catch-up of what happened in the interim. It also suffers from purple prose, which gave me the impression that the author really wants us to know this novel takes place in 1800s England.
The main character, Bea, spent the majority of the first third of the novel waffling about whether she should investigate the murder or leave it to the local constable. Much of this inner monologue felt repetitive. When Bea finally begins her investigation, the novel becomes enjoyable, and the pace gets faster.
There is a sweetness in Bea and her husband’s relationship, but it verges into infantilization in some of the descriptions that I didn’t care for.
The investigation was fun and I appreciated that it progressed at a steady speed. The conclusion felt a bit rushed. Overall, I finished the novel because the latter half was captivating. I wouldn’t read any of the other books in the series because of the writing style and mismatched pacing.
3 ⭐
Bear in mind, this is the first book of the series I am reading. The first quarter of the novel had irregular pacing and felt like a recap of the end of the previous book and a catch-up of what happened in the interim. It also suffers from purple prose, which gave me the impression that the author really wants us to know this novel takes place in 1800s England.
The main character, Bea, spent the majority of the first third of the novel waffling about whether she should investigate the murder or leave it to the local constable. Much of this inner monologue felt repetitive. When Bea finally begins her investigation, the novel becomes enjoyable, and the pace gets faster.
There is a sweetness in Bea and her husband’s relationship, but it verges into infantilization in some of the descriptions that I didn’t care for.
The investigation was fun and I appreciated that it progressed at a steady speed. The conclusion felt a bit rushed. Overall, I finished the novel because the latter half was captivating. I wouldn’t read any of the other books in the series because of the writing style and mismatched pacing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave, is getting ready to visit her cousin Flora, mostly for moral support. After spending some time with her, Bea and the Duke head out to his estate in Haverhill Hall. Bea is terrified to return after the ton previously accused her of murder and other atrocities. As Bea starts to feel comfortable in the estate, she stumbles upon a dead body. Something she dreaded from previous encounters with dead bodies and the reaction of the ton. Bea decides to let the police do their work so she can stay out of public gossip. But, the need to solve the murder doesn't last long. Bea, with the help of her husband Damien will get to the bottom of this murder.
First time reading this series and I quite enjoyed it. I mostly liked Bea and Damien's relationship. He is very caring of her and dotes on her. She is so brilliant, observant, strong willed and can solve murders while pregnant. I really liked all the historical references that made me go search for further information on them. Overall a great, cozy, fun, and informative reading experience.
Thank you Netgalley and Book Whisperer for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
First time reading this series and I quite enjoyed it. I mostly liked Bea and Damien's relationship. He is very caring of her and dotes on her. She is so brilliant, observant, strong willed and can solve murders while pregnant. I really liked all the historical references that made me go search for further information on them. Overall a great, cozy, fun, and informative reading experience.
Thank you Netgalley and Book Whisperer for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While it is the 14th book in the series, there are 2 other side series (Verity & Flora), making this the 22nd book in the world of Bea, the Murder Duchess. All 3 series are mentioned in this book, so unless you've read them, it could be confusing. The focus of this story is that Bea is traveling to her husband's ancestral home and trying to escape from the gossip around her for being "the Murder Duchess," and immediately stumbles over a body. She is drawn to investigating, but also trying to remove herself and focus on being the new mistress and impending new mother. She is having struggles adjusting to her new home and expectations, and finds herself questioning the townspeople to dig into the history of the area. She is joined by her husband in this investigation, and they work together to solve the murder and keep their sanity in their new roles. This book focuses on the death of Edward II and his possible secret history of escaping death.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Wretched Folly is another delightful addition to Lynn Messina’s Beatrice Hyde Clare series. This time, Bea, Duchess of Kesgrave, arrives at Damien's grand country estate while quietly wrestling with anxiety about meeting the expectations of running such a large household and the uncertainties of impending motherhood. Her plans for a peaceful visit end the moment she discovers a body in the estate’s pinery, pulling her right back into the world of amateur sleuthing.
What truly elevates this installment is the warm, intuitive partnership between Bea and Damien. Their chemistry, support, and seamless teamwork add heart to every twist of the mystery. Messina balances the cozy intrigue with historical detail and a touch of humor, making the whole experience charming and thoroughly satisfying. Blending humor, heart, and a deftly woven murder plot, this latest adventure delivers a charming and thoroughly engaging read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
What truly elevates this installment is the warm, intuitive partnership between Bea and Damien. Their chemistry, support, and seamless teamwork add heart to every twist of the mystery. Messina balances the cozy intrigue with historical detail and a touch of humor, making the whole experience charming and thoroughly satisfying. Blending humor, heart, and a deftly woven murder plot, this latest adventure delivers a charming and thoroughly engaging read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thank NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for an advance reader copy of A Wretched Folly. All opinions and comments are my own.
I like the Beatrice Hyde-Clare books, I do. But the pages and pages of moaning about her surroundings and circumstances are wearing very thin. And you get a whole lot of that in A Wretched Folly. It almost overshadows which is a rather clever plot of historical fact (and fiction) and the depth to which someone will go to ensure their scholarly reputation.
Luckily the Duke and Duchess continue their great relationship, and the cherub is well on its way, which for fans of their series is a plus. I also appreciated all the historical background and information that binds the story together.
Everything is resolved at the end, of course, and the “murder duchess” can consider it a job well done. But a little less carping wouldn’t go amiss.
I like the Beatrice Hyde-Clare books, I do. But the pages and pages of moaning about her surroundings and circumstances are wearing very thin. And you get a whole lot of that in A Wretched Folly. It almost overshadows which is a rather clever plot of historical fact (and fiction) and the depth to which someone will go to ensure their scholarly reputation.
Luckily the Duke and Duchess continue their great relationship, and the cherub is well on its way, which for fans of their series is a plus. I also appreciated all the historical background and information that binds the story together.
Everything is resolved at the end, of course, and the “murder duchess” can consider it a job well done. But a little less carping wouldn’t go amiss.
March 21, 2026
Look…I should ding a half a star for the mystery that got a little convoluted with the history of the kings of England….but, also, the murders are pretty much secondary for me at this point. I could just follow Bea and Damien around all day and listen to them talk and be perfectly content for nothing at all to happen. Kesgrave explaining the source of all this boundless happiness at a home that has no happy memories? The sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. I think I re-read that exchange four times. And every thought about the cherub! Oh…my heart is full.
I can hardly wait for this house party. Even the teaser of the duke’s invite to Verity’s household has me salivating. Is it possible the Whole Gang could be present??? Sigh. Next season they need to befriend the Harlow girls and their coterie of misfit friends for a true delight!
I think I could read fifty of these books. Keep them coming!
I can hardly wait for this house party. Even the teaser of the duke’s invite to Verity’s household has me salivating. Is it possible the Whole Gang could be present??? Sigh. Next season they need to befriend the Harlow girls and their coterie of misfit friends for a true delight!
I think I could read fifty of these books. Keep them coming!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Damien and Bea, the Duke and Duchess of Kesgrave are on their way to Damien’s country estate. Bea is naturally feeling apprehensive, due to the size of the property and probable expectations. It isn’t long before Bea discovers a body but is determined not to get involved. Of course, this will be an extremely unlikely outcome. What I love about this book is the relationship between Bea and Damien, not only do they love each other deeply but the way they consider each other’s thoughts and feelings. Bea is often surprised by how Damien knows what she is thinking and has provided for her when she knows what she wants. The murder was quite involved but the culprit was uncovered. Again I loved how the two worked together to get to the truth. This was a very entertaining read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The witty Duchess, Beatrace, is at it again, desperate to remove herself from the wagging tongues in London, after all being known as the Duchess murderess is not quite the thing! Off she goes to the countryside to visit Matlock, known for its beautiful Pinery, look that one up! I wish that I had one in the 21st Century! However, instead of escaping murder, she finds a body in guess where? A witty, cozy mystery, perfect for Spring, even though it is 30 degrees! I thoroughly enjoyed Beatrice's antics, and the dunderhead was enough to make me smile. What more do you want? I highly recommend it. Thank you BookWhisperer for the Arc, I always give my truthful opinion. I did enjoy it. Thank you.
carolintallahassee
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March 16, 2026I was first introduced to Lynn Messina's works through the Verity Lark series and fell in love with her depth of characters, witty dialogue and interesting mysteries. From Verity I sampled the Flora Hyde-Clare series and now am working through the Beatrice Hyde-Clare volumes though I have just started with A Wretched Folly. Messina does a great job of crossing over her characters across the series so you get a very full picture of the culture of the time period and especially so much language used at the time that has fallen out of usage. And the mysteries each "investigator" sets their mind to solving keep the reader guessing throughout. I wholeheartedly recommend these three series especially if you are a lover of Victorian and Regency historical fiction.
March 17, 2026
I confess that at first I did find A WRETCHED FOLLY a bit too twee*, the stilted language a bit much, but then I warmed to Bea and her Duke and found the mystery of the eight-sided room intriguing, so I continued reading.
My initial *** evaluation mirrored the book Bea selected for bedtime reading: “if it was as tedious as she expected . . . she should nod off quickly.” I raised it by an additional star as the plot developed, kindness and respect were shown to those who don’t always get either, and justice was served. “It took a little longer than usual, but we got there in the end.”
*twee, cute and quaint A nibling taught me that term and it fits.
Nibling: niece or nephew, the offspring on one’s sibling, a useful term that I hope to see widely recognized.
My initial *** evaluation mirrored the book Bea selected for bedtime reading: “if it was as tedious as she expected . . . she should nod off quickly.” I raised it by an additional star as the plot developed, kindness and respect were shown to those who don’t always get either, and justice was served. “It took a little longer than usual, but we got there in the end.”
*twee, cute and quaint A nibling taught me that term and it fits.
Nibling: niece or nephew, the offspring on one’s sibling, a useful term that I hope to see widely recognized.
March 20, 2026
5+ stars
Book 14, and Bea finally visits the Duke of Kesgrave's ancestral home, an enormous sprawling "castle" that anyone could easily get lost in. She brings her worries about how his family and the servants will receive her, along with her desire to destroy the dreaded pinery. Four months into her pregnancy, she doesn't let anything stop her when there's a murder to solve.
This is, by far, one of the best series I've ever read. Every time a new book drops it's a holiday for me. Bea and Damien's adoration for each other, their intelligent and witty debates, the historical details, the excellent prose...I can't do it justice in a review. Thankfully, there's no discernible end to the series
Book 14, and Bea finally visits the Duke of Kesgrave's ancestral home, an enormous sprawling "castle" that anyone could easily get lost in. She brings her worries about how his family and the servants will receive her, along with her desire to destroy the dreaded pinery. Four months into her pregnancy, she doesn't let anything stop her when there's a murder to solve.
This is, by far, one of the best series I've ever read. Every time a new book drops it's a holiday for me. Bea and Damien's adoration for each other, their intelligent and witty debates, the historical details, the excellent prose...I can't do it justice in a review. Thankfully, there's no discernible end to the series
March 2, 2026
In this latest book in the series, Bea and the Duke travel to the Matlock estate. Bea has been struggling with the size and grandeur of the estate and her upcoming motherhood.
When she discovers a body in the pinery, she vows to Damien, the Duke to not get involved in the investigation. However, Bea being Bea can't help becoming involved.
The storyline was interesting, had a lot of historical references to Edward II and the Plantagenet dynasty, and some humorous moments.
As usual, the chemistry is fun and loving between Bea and Damien as they work to solve the murder.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions.
When she discovers a body in the pinery, she vows to Damien, the Duke to not get involved in the investigation. However, Bea being Bea can't help becoming involved.
The storyline was interesting, had a lot of historical references to Edward II and the Plantagenet dynasty, and some humorous moments.
As usual, the chemistry is fun and loving between Bea and Damien as they work to solve the murder.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is now the 14th instalment of the Beatrice Hyde Clare murder mysteries. It is a well grooved series and a reader can know what to expect. The prose is thoughtful and enters into the mental machinations of the characters, in particular of Bea. She is now a duchess and expecting her first child, she is trying to move away from the epithet of the Duchess of murder. However, when a body is found outside the greenhouse growing pineapples in her new h9me she is compelled to investigate. The story is intriguing as it delves into the shaky past of one of England's most infamous kings, making this Botham informative and entertaining read.
March 13, 2026
A Wretched Folly by Lynn Messina has Beatrice visiting her husband’s ancestral estate. She plans to avoid the pinery, before deciding to have a look around yet as she leaves the area she finds a dead body. What trouble follows. For one so determined to avoid any kind of investigation she is soon in the thick of it. Bea and Kesgrave research Vikings, ancient towers and more. So a bit of history in this story before the guilty are caught. Bea and Kesgrave have the kind of marriage that we all can appreciate so their adventure makes good reading. A Wretched Folly is the fourteenth Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries.
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