A Useful Woman

Rosalind Thorne Mysteries #1

by Darcie Wilde

Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, this new mystery series set in 19th-century London introduces the charming and resourceful Rosalind Thorne, a woman privy to the secrets of high society—including who among the ton is capable of murder...
 
The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society’s most influential women, who have come to rely on her wit and discretion.
 
So, when artistocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in London’s most exclusive ballroom, Almack’s, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer from a list of suspects that includes Almack’s powerful patronesses and her former suitor Devon Winterbourne, now Lord Casselmaine.
 
Torn between her old love and a growing attraction to a compelling Bow Street runner, Rosalind must not only unravel the mysteries surrounding Jasper’s death, but the mysteries of her own heart as well...

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Regency

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Darcie Wilde is a pseudonym for Sarah Zettel, author of mysteries, science fiction, romance and Young Adult fiction, including the New York Times Notable Book Fool’s War and the bestselling Rosalind Thorne mysteries A Useful Woman. She also writes under the names Delia James, Sarah Zettel, Jennifer Hawkins C. L. Anderson and Marissa Day.

Darcie writes her classically styled (not to mention stylish) mysteries as well as adventurous romances from a university town in a certain northern-midwestern state that has been known to bear some passing resemblance to a mitten. When not writing, she’s reading, cooking, hiking, swimming, climbing things, embroidering other things, raising her rapidly growing son and trying to convince her cat — Buffy the Vermin Slayer — not to do any further damage to the furniture.

Reviews

[Christmas Carol ꧁꧂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy gifted by the author, posted to me by Sarah C one of the moderators of the Jane Austen Group. Thanks very much for that.

This book isn't Heyerish (a definite point in it's favour - most of GH's imitators turn out very shoddy work!) but it does contain two things that pop up often in Heyer's Regency works- the very exclusive social club Almack's

As has often been mentioned in Regency works, Almack's wasn't comfortable or even attractive, served bad refreshments and the patronesses were crashing snobs. But well done to these women for making their Assemblies the most sought after events of the London Season.

and the predecessor to the modern police force, the famous (or infamous) Bow St Runners.

Welcome to the world of Rosalind Thorne a gentlewoman who, through no fault of her own, is now impoverished. Rosalind is managing to eke out an existence with her wits, charm, discretion - and because the ladies of the Haut Ton find her "a useful woman."

When the aristocratic but unscrupulous Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in suspicious circumstances, Rosalind finds herself involved in that most ungenteel of occupations - *gasp* solving a murder and fighting an attraction to an astute and attractive Bow St Runner. Adam Harkness.

I've mentioned the two main pluses for me above. The others were some signs of very solid research and the fast paced ending.

I'm neutral on Rosalind as I found her character (till close to the end) quite bland. But Rosalind probably had to suppress all distinctive personality traits to pick her way through all the social traps & petty humiliations in London Society.

Definite flaws: This book sagged badly in the middle and I had to force myself to keep going.

The speech is often quite modern or sometimes just plain odd like;

Mother had already scented that something was wrong.

A few anachronisms. The most jarring for me was the Lady reporter friend of Rosalind's. Alice appeared more like a character from a Hollywood movie about the late nineteenth century. I've never read any account of the Regency world that suggested journalists as we know them existed.

But I still enjoyed this example of a Regency Whodunnit- far more than the single offerings I have read by Ashley Gardner and Stephanie Barron

I'm looking forward to Miss Thorne's next adventure.

Edit; The lovely Ms Wilde has just been on the jane Austen Group for a Q&A session. Ms Wilde says the Regency era most definitely did have female journalists but they were working around marriage, children & were very underpaid compared to their male counterparts.

I stand corrected. :)

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Useful Woman had a bit of a ponderous start and was in serious danger of getting bogged down in too many details of propriety and drawing room niceties. The Regency era is one of my comfort settings, but something needs to happen within that setting for me to stay interested, and that needs to happen pretty quickly. Here, it did set the stage for the tightrope that Rosalind is walking, but I wish the touch had been a bit lighter and the action had started sooner.

Thankfully, a murder did change all that. Once Rosalind focused on plumbing the depths of the currents around her, watching her try to hold together her own social position as well as that of her friends and charges was much more interesting. Who knew what could be hiding under that veneer of respectability? I found the answer satisfyingly shocking in the end.

I loved the premise of Rosalind as an unprotected woman trying to stay acceptable to the ton after her father's financial disaster years ago. I loved her cleverness at eking out a living from them, and her strength under that intense pressure. I definitely want to see more of the characters who appreciate her intelligence instead of using her while forcing her to hide it. One in particular was very intriguing...

I do have one more minor quibble. I was irritated a couple times when Rosalind realized something about the mystery and it was not shared with the reader. She suddenly knew what had happened, but I had to stay in the dark until the end. I appreciate the suspense that kept me in, but I would rather have followed her thought process more. That's one reason I like to read mysteries, so I can be working it out in my own mind. If I don't have all the same information the sleuth has, I can't do that.

Still, I felt this was a strong start to a new historical mystery series, especially as it's the first mystery by this author. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment. I just hope we don't dwell on the correct order of paying compliments for too long before the next murder breaks.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosalind Thorne is an impoverished gentlewoman who makes a living being useful to members of the haut ton. Once she had it all- family, fortune and love; then it all went away when her father ran off, leaving behind a mountain of debts. Rosalind's Mama was unable to cope with the situation so Lady Blanchard, Rosalind's godmother, stepped in to help. Rosalind owes everything to Lady Blanchard and now Lord Blanchard is being transferred to Koningsberg, Rosalind needs to find her own way. When the imperious Lady Edmund commands a favor from Rosalind, it sets in motion a chain of events Rosalind never expected. First Lady Edmund's daughter Honoria announces her engagement to Devon, the Duke of Winterborne, Rosalind's former love. Then Rosalind discovers Honoria's brother son, Jasper Aimesworth, lying dead on the floor of Almack's ballroom. Bow Street is called in to investigate and Adam Harkness is on the scent of a scandal that involves several members of Rosalind's world and the hallowed assembly hall, Almack's. Rosalind knows the truth is difficult to accept but the mystery must be solved and the murderer brought to justice. Can she go where Bow Street can not and discover the truth that may ruin everything she's ever known?

This book is described as Jane Austen inspired, but it's more inspired by Georgette Heyer's world of the haut ton. The only thing in common it has with Austen is the heroine, who is an impoverished spinster. The story is a lot darker than Jane Austen's "light, bright and sparkling" romances. It's darker than even Heyer's romances, more like one of her mysteries without the humor.

The mystery is clever and complicated. I never guessed what was going on at all. I only guessed who just before Rosalind did. However, the mystery took a long time to set up and didn't get really interesting until after the halfway point. What I didn't like about the story is the switching of point-of-view between Rosalind and other characters. After being inside Rosalind's head for awhile, the switch is jarring. The end sets up the next story.

The historical details are OK but sometimes the story felt late Victorian or Edwardian. I really liked the quotes from period sources about Almack's. The biggest error may be Rosalind living alone. Alice, as girl reporter, gives the story a more Edwardian/WWI feel. I'm not sure there were female reporters like Alice in the Regency period. I'm also not sure Alice would be so pragmatic about losing her family fortune. More realistically, she would be a companion or governess. Mourning customs were less strict in the Regency than they would be later on in the Victorian period. There are a few errors in styles/forms of address towards the end of the book.

The characters are kind of flat for most of the novel. I liked Honoria better than Rosalind. She has a temper and speaks her mind- very modern and unladylike for the period. I'm not sure how accurate that makes her but I found her honesty refreshing. I also felt really bad for her because of her horrible Alva Vanderbilt type mother and also for the loss of her brother, the only family member she liked or who cared about her. I also liked Alice. She's eager for a good story but also a good friend to Rosalind. She seems to care more for her friend than anyone else in the novel. Rosalind is just a little too demure for me. For most of the book, she secretly resents her father's criminal activities and the defection of her elder sister but the only thing she can do to change her situation is act demure and toady to the haut ton to make them think her ideas are their own. She is in a precarious situation. Rosalind tries too hard to please everybody. She still harbors a tendre for a man she would never have been allowed to marry even before her father ran off. As the story progresses, her character develops and I expect she'll be a little different on her next case. Jasper seemed like a kind young gentleman. He was sensitive and caring; not as rakish as some of his peers.

Lady Blanchard is a complicated character. She's kind to Rosalind and she appears to respect the other Lady Patronesses but it seems like she doesn't really care for them. She enjoys her position in society as a lady patroness of Almack's but she's also the most caring of all of them. She loves Rosalind but she's only willing to stick her neck out so far to help Rosalind. She doesn't always do what is right but that makes her a more accurate woman of her time than the younger ladies in the book. Her husband, Lord Blanchard, is also confusing. He seems a kind man, a doting husband and godfather, but he turns on Rosalind when it matters most and is more worried about his own reputation than hers.

I have mixed feelings about Devon as Rosalind's love interest. My feelings about his changed as the story progressed and Rosalind began to see things more carefully. I don't think he and Rosalind would have been allowed to marry in the first place. He knows the rules as well as she does but he doesn't seem to care about her reputation, making a scene and being alone with her in public. I don't see Adam as a potential love interest either. Though some of the story is from his point of view, he's hard to figure out. He seems old beyond his years and is close-mouthed. He opens up a bit to Rosalind and is the only one who truly sees her for the woman she really is.

I would definitely give another book in the series a try to see how Rosalind develops and how her relationship with Adam works. I just wish there was more humor to balance the heavy story.

[Sheri South · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor Jane Austen! Underappreciated in her own time, she now finds her name attached to almost any book that (a) is set in Regency England, and (b) that doesn't contain sex scenes. This book matches both of those criteria, but Austen didn't write mysteries, and she never mentioned Almack's or the Bow Street Runners. Still, publishers' marketing departments know the Austen connection, no matter how tenuous, sells books, so I wasn't expecting an Austen clone.

A good thing, too, because it wasn't even close. In spite of the reviews praising the author's wit, I didn't really find any humor in this book. (Still, humor is a subjective thing, so maybe it's just me.) Austen certainly would have known better than to call a duke "Lord Casselmain" (a duke is never "lord" anything. Ever.) or to call a countess "your grace" (she's "your ladyship" or "my lady"; it's the dukes and duchesses who are "your grace.")

But I can overlook title errors--by mentally demoting the "lordly" duke to a marquess or earl, for instance--if I'm enjoying other aspects of the story sufficiently. Sadly, A Useful Woman is v-e-r-y s-l-o-w, so much so that it took me almost three weeks to finish it; I just didn't care whether I picked it up again or not. Much of this is due to the lack of character development. It's an interesting proposal the author puts forward, that people in society conceal their real selves from the world, but it makes for wooden characters. The heroine, Rosalind Thorne, is a mystery herself: we're told repeatedly that she is disgraced in the eyes of Society due to her father's running into debt and then abandoning Rosalind and her mother to face his creditors alone, but then we have various characters seeking out Rosalind to ask her to "use her influence" to help them do this, that, or the other thing. I found myself wondering how much "influence" a disgraced woman might be expected to have.

Then, too, there were occasional word choices that jerked me out of the story. A particularly ubiquitous one turned up every time a female character went up or down stairs. In each case, she "grabbed her hems." I had a mental image of the female in question stooping down, clutching the lower edge of her skirt, and standing up with it, flashing any and all gentlemen who happened to be present!

As for the mystery, its pace picked up in the last hundred pages or so. Some of Rosalind's deductions seemed a bit far-fetched, more like lucky guesses; certainly there seemed to be little evidence for her to base her conclusions on. And one clue just seemed plain wrong: it's not a spoiler to say that a major issue turns on whether the murdered gentleman had a wager with another man that he could get into Almack's without a voucher or ticket. (Not during one of the exclusive Wednesday evening assemblies, but apparently at some unspecified time.) The most casual research would have shown that other assemblies and balls were held at the Almack's assembly rooms, that they were available to rent for that very purpose, so that particular aspect of the mystery didn't make sense.

Regency readers who have been charmed by Georgette Heyer's version of Almack's and its patronesses, including the powerful yet charming Sarah "Sally" Jersey--jestingly dubbed "Silence" by her friends in recognition of her lack of that particular characteristic--will be appalled by how it and she are presented here. Thankfully, I got this book from the library, so I'm not out any money for it, but I doubt I'll be back for the next book in the series.

[Abigail Bok · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb for this book does it a disservice. Using the phrase “inspired by the novels of Jane Austen” raises a series of expectations that A Useful Woman is destined to disappoint. That’s unfortunate, because it’s quite a good novel for what it really is.

What it is, is a historical mystery. There are the usual romanceus interruptus elements that you find in mystery fiction today (but no marriage plot), there is mayhem, there are unanswered questions, there is an investigation, there is peril and an ultimate resolution. There is even some social comedy, though it is subservient to the plot and not an end in itself. Others have called the novel Heyeresque instead of Austenesque because it focuses on the Regency Marriage Mart, Almack’s. But again, it’s not a marriage plot story and doesn’t have a lot of humorous characters put in for pure amusement, such as you would find in Georgette Heyer’s novels.

Once I had gotten over focusing on what this book is not (didn’t take too long), I settled in to enjoy a well-conceived, well-written mystery novel. Rosalind Thorne is the daughter of a disgraced gentleman who maintains a tenuous position in polite society by making herself useful when life’s little peccadilloes threaten social disaster. She is a fixer of scandals, a manager of ambitious strivings, a taste maker. As such, she lives always on the knife edge of banishment from the only world she knows. I sympathized and empathized with her, admired her self-control and her ingenuity as she navigates this perilous course.

There is a murder, and not just Rosalind’s godmother but also the estranged love of her life seems to have some connection to it. The sister of the victim is virtually engaged to said love-of-her-life, and she asks Rosalind to investigate. It seems the only people who wish Rosalind well are the ones most likely to suffer from her inquiries. This is an elegantly constructed plot that really draws the reader into sympathy with the heroine’s difficulties—material, ethical, emotional.

I appreciated the wealth of research about life in London in the Regency, the many telling details that the author uses to make a larger point. (I never felt the author was throwing in factoids to show off.) The author deftly uses the intricate social rules of the haut ton to drive the plot; the dialogue is admirable for its elegance and restraint. I loved the use of de Quincey’s tongue-in-cheek essay “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts” in the chapter epigraphs (though that’s an anachronism; the essay wasn’t published till 1827).

I am a bit of a purist about period language, so I did not love the many modernisms that slipped into the narrative; they jarred me out of the novel’s spell. There were also a few odd rookie errors, such as people addressing a duke repeatedly as “Lord Casselmain” instead of “Your Grace.” (Perhaps he could have been a viscount instead?)

But on the whole, this story took hold of my imagination on various levels and held me tight till the end. Some books start out strong and lose steam; others start in deceptive meekness and build to the end. I am happy to say that A Useful Woman is one of the latter. Am looking forward to the further adventures of Rosalind Thorne!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an all-around fabulous surprise. It did the job of setting up a new series, offering up a cunning mystery plot, challenging characters, and the history came alive in this one. It was one of those books where I started it late at night with the whole 'I'll just read one or two chapters' chestnut and ended up finishing half in one sitting. And then the next day, I was in a feverish need to get back to the story. Was this some exciting pulse-pounding thriller? Nope, but it was straight up good stuff for the historical romantic suspense lover. And this was just the beginning to the ongoing series.

The book opens with Rosalind Thorne's lovely fairytale like life coming to a shattering end and then picks up a few years later when this lady with a spine of steel has picked up the pieces and has gone on with her life forging something new. Once a member of the cream of society and headed toward her own happy and easy life, now she is looked on warily by most as on the fringe, but regarded highly as the woman who can be of the most use. Rosalind lives hand to mouth and only by her wit and the help of her few friends does she get by.

Things take an interesting turn when suddenly she is drawn into an intrigue to help her godmother one of the esteemed Patronesses of Almack's, encounters the man she thought once would be hers set to marry her worst enemy in society, and also called upon by that same antagonistic woman to solve her brother's murder. Rosalind reluctantly agrees to help discover the truth and even more reluctantly chooses to partner with a Bow Street Runner. Meanwhile, her godmother's husband and her former love interest try to warn her away from her quest and she is caught up in feelings of attraction to two different men. As she follows the trail of the murderer, Rosalind is no longer sure of anything.

I loved how this book did a great job of not only setting up the world of this series, but also some ongoing character and relationship plots while delivering a nice teaser of a mystery. Rosalind is a great heroine and I loved having both her and Harker and a few other minor characters narrating the story. Rosalind has been through so much, but she refuses to give in and quit. People try to shame her and force her to feel bad for her family's tarnished rep and her own reduced circumstances, but she keeps her chin up and doesn't let it beat her. Seeing her vulnerable and yet also indomitable moved me powerfully. I get the feeling that there is so much more to come after this introductory book to the series.

The mystery's solution didn't elude me for the whole story, but it was of sufficient challenge that I could appreciate it. I loved being along with Rosalind and Harker as they worked the case. Harker is working class and Rose is a lady so the class distinctions added a bit of something to how they had to divvy up detecting responsibilities.

There are also a gaggle of fantastic secondary characters that I hope to encounter frequently in this series. I love how they span the gamut of society and types of relationships with each other. So colorful and interesting.

And the historical backdrop was proof that the author did her homework and the world of the story felt authentic from how society behaved toward someone like Rosalind, the significance of Almack's and the Season, the pursuits of the upper level of Society along with the situation of the working class and the poor. Customs, fashions, dialogue, activities, all was done well.

So, in summary, I can enthusiastically push this one at anyone who loves historical settings for their romantic suspense, strong heroines, and lots of colorful characters to support her.

My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Useful Woman is the first in a new series of mysteries set in the Regency period featuring Rosalind Thorne, a young lady of good birth who, through no fault of her own has fallen upon hard times. Even though it's a murder-mystery, it's a very gentle and rather "polite" story, which I suppose befits the time in which it is set. There are no gritty looks at real life or characters with ISSUES, so the book might suit someone looking for a change of pace from the current trend for grisly, tortuous plots and tormented protagonists as well as fans of historical mysteries in general.

Darcie Wilde has written a number of historical romances, but the emphasis in this book is firmly on the mystery and there is no romance to speak of. There are hints that point towards one for our heroine in the future, and we are made aware that she struggles to deal with the presence in her life of her former beau; but otherwise this is very much a historical mystery with nothing on the side.

The book opens a few years before the main story begins, revealing how Rosalind, in confident expectation of an offer from Devon Winterbourne, the second son of the Duke of Casselmain, has her hopes dashed when her father reveals that he is in debt up to the eyeballs, and then does a midnight flit accompanied by her older sister, Charlotte. Since then, Rosalind's mother has died, and had not been for the support of her godmother, Lady Blanchard, she would have been completely alone. She was taken in by the Blanchards for a short while, which is when she first began to use her knowledge of the workings of society to help its harried matrons compile guest lists, make seating plans and arrange social occasions, and generally act as a kind of social secretary while also knowing the right ears into which to drop choice tidbits of gossip. Her family situation means that she is no longer regarded as part of the highest echelons, but her usefulness means that she is still welcomed almost everywhere.

The plot of A Useful Woman revolves around that bastion of good ton, Almack’s club. Anyone who reads Regencies on a regular basis will be familiar with it; to be granted a voucher to attend the regular assemblies was essential for any young lady with pretentions to good standing in society and bent on making a good marriage. The rules of admission were complex and depended entirely upon the goodwill of the lady patronesses, any one of whom could veto entry to the club. Quite a lot of the first part of the book is devoted to explaining the rituals surrounding Almack’s and its importance in Regency society, and some of it is quite repetitive. The book is fairly slow to start, which is, I suppose due to the fact that, as the first in a series, there is a fair amount of scene setting to be done.

The story opens as one of the patronesses, Lady Blanchard, is on the point of announcing her resignation as she will be accompanying her husband abroad on his new diplomatic posting. Such a juicy piece of gossip could not be kept a secret for long, and Lady Aimesworth wastes no time in approaching Rosalind and asking her to put in a good word for her with Lady Blanchard. Knowing there is no love lost between these two ladies, Rosalind nevertheless mentions to her godmother that Lady Aimesworth is angling for the position of patroness, expecting Lady B to immediately dismiss the idea. When she doesn’t, Rosalind is not a little surprised, but her questions remain unanswered when their tête-á-tête is interrupted.

The start of the season is fast approaching, and all the hopeful debutantes are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the vouchers that will launch them into society. But when Jasper Aimesworth is found murdered in Almack’s ballroom, the cats are well-and-truly set among the pigeons and Rosalind must use her position as the person everyone talks to and relies on to try to find out the truth. In this endeavour, she is eventually joined by Principal Officer Adam Harkness of Bow Street, a man whose charm and handsome features mask a mind like a steel trap and the determination to uncover the truth no matter the cost.

I had a few problems with the mystery in that it feels rather convoluted towards the end, and the ending is a little rushed. I also found some of Rosalind’s thought-processes made unexpected leaps; I’m not a great reader of mysteries, but when I do read them, I prefer those in which the reader is allowed to make the connections at the same time as the protagonist. There were a couple of times here when I read Rosalind’s thoughts and then wondered how she’d reached a particular conclusion, which briefly took me out of the story. But those issues are balanced out by the strength of the writing and by the way Ms. Wilde so fully and skillfully immerses the reader in the customs and manners of the times. There is a diverse and well-drawn set of secondary characters, ranging from those of the haut-ton, like the waspish Lady Jersey to Rosalind’s two friends Alice and George Littlefield who, like Rosalind, are former gentry and who now have to work for a living. Rosalind is an engaging and sympathetic heroine whose position as an outsider makes her vulnerable, but who is nonetheless determined to hold her head up high even when others disparage her and remind her that her position in society isn’t what it once was.

All in all, A Useful Woman is an enjoyable, easy read and one I’d certainly recommend to fans of historical mysteries. The author’s research into the period has obviously been extensive, Rosalind Thorne is a unique and relatable heroine and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next book in the series.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A USEFUL WOMAN
(Rosalind Thorne Mysteries: #1)
Written by Darcie Wilde
2016; Berkley (384 Pages)
Genre: series, fiction, mystery, cozy, romance

RATING: ★★★1/2

Rosalind Thorne, a daughter of a baronet, is dreaming of her future with the man she loves when one night her mother and her return home early from a party. Her older sister is quickly packing and fleeing into the night. It seems her father is in financial trouble and has chosen to abandon his wife and youngest daughter to runaway. After her mother passes away, Rosalind must take on work to survive in 19th Century England. She gets a job managing the affairs of wealthy women and becomes known for her discretion.

Five years after Rosalind's father had disappeared things are starting to settle down for her when she is summoned back into her godmother, Lady Blanchard's life. When she goes to Almack's to pick up her godmother for dinner, she discovers the body of Jasper Aimesworth - an aristocrat who's sister, Honoria is to marry Rosalind's almost fiance, Devon. Now Rosalind finds herself helping Honoria in her brother's death, but also being around Devon. If she is not careful, Rosalind might be in danger herself before she can be outed from the Ton for good.

Until the murder of Jasper Aimesworth much of this novel reads like a historical romance. There is nothing wrong with a historical romance if that is how the novel is supposed to be marketed. From the synopsis you get the idea that this is a historical mystery with a dash of romance since it is set in Regency Era and has "Jane Austen-inspired" as a tag line. It takes awhile for this novel to start in general as we get a bit too much description of Regency days. The mystery and cast of characters are also latecomers. Once I let go of "historical mystery" I found myself enjoying the book more. A historical romance with a dash of mystery, for me, worked better. Wilde was trying to bring in a bit of Austen's wit but it didn't quite work at times. YET, I finished the novel and did like it. I am curious to see what Wilde has in store for book 2...as there is potential and hopefully a fun love interest.

***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***

My Novelesque Blog

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, because it felt like it was written specifically for me. It includes everything I could possibly want: a tall heroine! a murder mystery! historical detail about Regency London! exciting potential romances that go nowhere (yet)! In fact, this book is so concerned with etiquette (at the expense of the romance/mystery) that I'm not sure who I would recommend it to, besides me. I am excited to devour the next six books.

What I really loved about the writing was the detail about life in Regency London, which never felt too intense or forced. I've read a million books that have scenes at Almack's, but I've never actually read a description of the layout of the assembly rooms or learned how the vouchers work. This gets dropped into the narrative as necessary exposition instead of info dumping. For example, Rosalind has to explain the system to the Bow Street Runner working the case, or she's waiting for Lady Blanchard and looking around at the entrance of Almack's.

I also liked the mystery, particularly because I haven't read anything that deals with the Bow Street Runners and because the business of detection is naturally so different in the early 1800s. It's also obvious that social class almost completely protects and insulates the powerful from any kind of repercussions, and Rosalind really leans into that tension as she decides to help resolve the questions that Honoria has about Jasper's death.

There were only two really discordant notes for me:

- Rosalind asks Lady Blanchard if Jasper is her son, and once she denies it they both move on. This seemed insane given what a huge accusation this is, especially since she's wrong. It seems like this is such an intrusive question that it would have damaged the relationship more obviously. I suppose Lady Blanchard's guilty conscience makes it less damaging.

- I love the idea of Adam and Rosalind in the future (don't get me wrong!) but the idea that they get close enough to kissing seemed a little intense. I mean, I'll take it! I was just surprised.

[thefourthvine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THIS is more like it. I’ve been floundering around in the world of historical mysteries, reading wildly ahistorical cozies in which all the characters sound and act like poorly-trained time travellers from the year the book was written. This is a book that uses the actual historical setting for mystery purposes.

Rosalind is a useful woman, a gently-raised woman whose family has fallen on hard times (well, her father ran up a ton of debts and absconded, leaving his wife and one of his daughters behind to face the music). She lives on the fringes of high society, surviving on her knowledge of manners and the Ton and her intelligence. Which perfectly positions her to solve a murder in that most revered of environments, Almack’s.

My only real objection to this book is the love V (it is NOT a love triangle), which is very obviously set up as a choice between her old life (high society) and her new one (detection and crime and a lower class). I am old and tired, and every time I encounter a Which One Will She Choose? It Matters More Than Anything Because Relationships Are Destiny, I grow older and more tired. (I will say, though, that in this setting, it makes more sense than in any modern one.)

And, hey, bonus: no woman had to die to make this mystery! A major win, all the way around.

[Tracie Banister · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about this book on a forum of Historical Romance readers and thought the premise was intriguing, so I decided to give it a whirl. The protagonist of A Useful Woman isn't your typical Regency Era heroine who's a starry-eyed miss attending balls and hoping to snag the perfect titled husband. Rosalind Thorne has no hopes of a good match as she's broke and her family name's been disgraced by her profligate father. Forced to make her own way, Rosalind is now a social secretary to various high society matrons, and she's very good at it because she's observant and detail-oriented. When she discovers the bloodied body of a young aristocrat on the floor of the revered Almack's ballroom, she finds herself drawn into the investigation. Her godmother, along with the other Almack's patronesses, are fearful of a scandal and would like the whole matter swept under the rug while the sister of the deceased is determined to see justice done. Rosalind follows a trail of clues, not sure if she even wants to know the identity of the murderer since most of the suspects, including a former flame, are dear to her. Amidst all the deception and conspiracies, will Rosalind be able to unmask the killer, or will she be the next victim?

This was a solid start for a new mystery series, and I really liked Rosalind. She was a tough cookie, who made the best of her circumstances without complaining or feeling sorry for herself, and she was in an interesting position of being caught between two worlds where she was associating with lords and ladies as well as people who worked in journalism and law enforcement. I will confess that I was more intrigued by the burgeoning love triangle between Rosalind, her first love Devon, who's now out of her reach because he's a duke, and Adam, the charismatic Bow Street Runner who enlists her help in solving the murder than I was in the mystery aspect of the book. I liked both men so much I don't even know which one I want Rosalind to end up with! The mystery did pick up for me in the final act when Rosalind has a very harrowing face-to-face with the killer.

I'm curious to see where the author goes with this series and how the triangle develops, so I will certainly check out the next book.

[Cheryl James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of the Rosalind Throne Mysteries!

This book was very entertaining and engaging. The characters were well put together and the narrator was great. The story was not easy to keep up with so i really had to pay attention and focus on what was being said but that made it more interesting to me. The ending was not expected and totally unpredictable. Moving on to book two.

Oh and the book cover definitely got my attention💛

[steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This read like it should be a television or movie plot. It was very interesting, well done and I liked the mystery and the setting of the whole story among the Almack ton. I really liked Honorio and I hope her "friendship" with Rosalind is expanded on in future books. Didn't really feel close to Rosalind, she was hard to get a read on even though she was the main character hence the 3 star rating. I already have book 2 checked out from the library though and I'm reading it next.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.

Rosalind Thorne is a woman that lives on the edges of the ton. She was once a debutante on the verge of making a match. That life was destroyed when Rosalind’s father abandoned her and her mother because of some shady business dealings. Due to her constrained circumstances Rosalind had to make herself useful, and in that, she maintains her position in society.

Normally, Rosalind helps woman organize parties or assists in a strategic retreat from prying eyes. The ladies of the ton depend on Rosalind to help them manage distressing situations. However, Rosalind has never once before had to manage the inconvenience appearance of a dead body. When the body of Jasper Aimesworth is found in the hallowed halls of Almack’s, Rosalind finds herself reluctantly drawn into a murder investigation. And this investigation uncovers some uncomfortable truths about her benefactress while forcing Rosalind to confront her past and acknowledge that she has changed in the years since she was a fresh-faced debutante. [Read more...]

A Useful Woman is a traditional Regency mystery. The historical detail incorporated into this novel is well done as is the dry wit employed in the author’s writing style. Rather than being a graphic, gruesome mystery, A Useful Woman instead focuses on the intricacies of social life for those of the upper classes. Rosalind as a character is unique because she operates on the fringes of society. She’s welcome, but Rosalind is no longer truly a part of the upper echelons. However, that proves to be a good thing in a murder investigation. Unlike Adam Harkness, the Bow Street Runner who is the principal officer investigating Jasper’s murder, Rosalind has connections in the ton. The majority of those in society are unwilling to even address the topic of the murder with Mr. Harkness, yet with one of their own, many are more than willing to indulge in a bit of gossip. The social positions of Mr. Harkness and Rosalind set the stage for what could be a profitable partnership and a bountiful premise for a mystery series.

What I didn’t quite like about A Useful Woman is that I found it a little bit slow to start. The traditional style and the focus on societal conventions, while interesting, didn’t always compel me to continue reading. I really enjoyed the characters of Rosalind and Mr. Harkness, but I was disappointed that Mr. Harkness didn’t enter the narrative until a third of the way into the book. The contrast between Rosalind and Mr. Harkness is fantastic and it made Rosalind a more interesting character because it was when she was interacting with him that Rosalind started to really consider her place in society and it’s advantages and disadvantages. Meeting Mr. Harkness also forces Rosalind to consider just how much she has changed over the years. Rosalind is no longer content to be a debutante focused only on marriage and social niceties; she has a brain and wants to use it. Fortunately, Mr. Harkness is happy to put Rosalind’s brain to work.

For those that were expecting romance in A Useful Woman (the author is a historical romance author, after all), you may be somewhat disappointed with the book. While there is a promise of a romance; Rosalind is confronted with her old suitor Devon Winterbourne and with the intriguing Bow Street Runner, Mr. Harkness. At the end of A Useful Woman it’s not clear where that romance is going to go with either character, but I certainly have developed firm opinions of where I want it to go. In my mind, one of these men treat Rosalind as an equal and one of them is determined to shelter Rosalind from the harsh realities of life (rolls eyes).

A Useful Woman is a promising series opener that introduces readers to a rich historical world and a practical and curious woman. I enjoyed the character of Rosalind immensely and I will certainly be back for more when the next installment comes around.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

I really loved this witty, Agatha-Christie-style mystery set in Regency England. Rosalind is a wonderful, resourceful heroine, the setting is just beautifully done, and I kept sneaking moments to read this book when I should have been working on my own book or packing up my house for an upcoming move. It was just so much fun! I loved all the different women scheming and maneuvering within the bounds of civility, and I LOVED the way Rosalind's own arc ended in this novel - it was just perfect.

I'm giving this book 4.5 stars instead of 5 only because I had a couple of tiny personal nitpicks - I didn't quite buy her ex's reasoning in one climactic scene (and yes, that is totally subjective! you may be fine with it), and I also wished that the Bow Street runner's PoV had been brought back into the narrative a few more times to feel more balanced with the rest of the story - but honestly, that's all down to personal preference, not any kind of objective measurement!

And the most important thing to know is that if Book 2 were out now, I would buy it IMMEDIATELY!

[Susan in NC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if it was the time and place or just the book, but I haven't read such an engrossing historical mystery in a long time!

Wilde takes the rigid, unforgiving, exclusive rules of Regency society and uses them to create a gripping murder plot at the glittering center of the ton's universe, Almack's Assembly Rooms. I hope Wilde has several more puzzles and plots dreamed up for our heroine, Rosalind Thorne, as she shows great promise; she is brave, extremely clever, socially adept, knows everyone and goes everywhere - but the fascinating part is, because of a painful family scandal she is neither fish nor fowl, servant or fully accepted young lady of the ton. She has scraped by using her natural gifts for organization, planning social events, helping with remodeling drawing rooms, entire wardrobes, even reputations. It's all about keeping scandal at bay and keeping up appearances, and Rosalind's personal experience and natural gifts make her a natural at handling sensitive matters for the doting mamas and hostesses of the ton.

She's doing a good job of managing and manipulating social situations for her various masters, and in exchange she is still invited to ton affairs, if not a full participant. She scrapes by financially and is lonely with no one but her loyal and wise housekeeper Mrs. Kendricks and one of her oldest friends, Alice Littlefield, as close confidants; her godmother, Lady Blanchard, has also recently come back into her life, asking for help managing a graceful exit from London society. Rosalind knows something is behind the request, but even she is shocked at the intrigue, lies and manipulations bubbling up below the social veneer...

It was amazing how Wilde created so much tension and excitement in such a dignified, decorous setting - indeed, she used it brilliantly to ratchet up the tension! She even managed to set up Rosalind's potential next adventure and a romantic triangle, all the while serving up a convoluted, knotty puzzle with several red herrings. Highly recommended.

[Andree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was super into this. I keep stumbling across it, and so decided to read it today.

I keep wanting historical mystery series where women, instead of just ignoring the constraints and conventions of their time, are forced to operate within them. This is definitely one of those. I mean, I'm sure it's not 100% accurate, but it's accurate enough. It's accurate by historical fiction standards, and there was nothing glaring. Choices are well justified. There are certain things the characters just don't do. At no point did I roll my eyes.

And I am super into it. I just really liked Rosalind Thorne, and how this went. Also, really like the relationships between the women in this, both friendly and not. I don't even mind that thismight be setting up a love triangle of sorts. Which is a bit gasp!, but it makes sense within the narrative and from a character standpoint. Also, I'm not entirely sure it's going to come into play, in the end. HARD TO SAY.

I just jumped on the ride on the first page, and didn't get off until the end. May have already bought the sequel.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did really appreciate that, as Andree said, this is a historical have to work within the conventions of their time.

But ultimately the writing annoyed me. I didn't ever understand well enough why Rosalind and Honoria didn't like each other or why Devon dropped Rosalind I'm rooting for the other guy and there too much, "Something about what he said made her think of something" and "A niggling thought at that back of her mind." I don't mind not figuring things out, but I hate when characters hint at the things that the reader doesn't have enough information about.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

What bliss! A new series recommended by a GR friend. A Regency mystery with a wonderful new leading lady, a bow street runner, the lord she was once secretly engaged too. A body in Almack’s ballroom is just the beginning!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, LOVED this book!!

This is a fabulous Regency story, with addicting characters, a clever, engrossing plot, the drama of "the ton" in all its ridiculousness, oh, and lest we forget - a murder!

I am totally and completely in love with the character of Rosalind! She is what Elizabeth Bennet would be if she were "ruined" and had to live by her wits to stay a marginally proper "lady". Rosalind is incredibly smart and resourceful, and completely without compunction about using the nonsense rules of society to make her way successfully in a world that is petty, unfair and completely hostile to the less fortunate. Rosalind truly beats them at their own game, and watching her do that makes for a fantastic read!!

The supporting characters are just as entertaining and interesting as Rosalind, and they add to to enjoyment of this book greatly. Honoria especially, is an absolutely delightfully irascible and utterly inappropriate "lady" who one simply cannot help but cheer for.

The romance potential for Rosalind is set up but not requited in this book, but no doubt that will be explored in future books. Future books which I cannot WAIT to be published, so that I can inhale them as happily as I did this one.

If you love Jane Austen, but wish her heroines had more chutzpa, and less concern for society's rules, this is the book for you!! Regency setting, but characters that are absolutely anything BUT conventional. Highly recommended!

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this books suffers from being a bit too muddied by too many regency details. A lot of times I found myself focusing too much on things like etiquette and drawing room details then the actual mystery. Also, Rosalind didn't react like I thought she would to a lot of situations so I kept second guessing my own interpretations of events and conversations.

[*The Angry Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

it feels so good to actually enjoy a book - rather than reading for reading’s sake.

i enjoyed the pacing, the complexity, and all of the questions left wide open at the end. Book 2 is on my nightstand ready for tomorrow.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting concept - Rosalind is a high society fixer who helps ladies of the ton with all sorts of strategizing when it comes to the ton. From consulting in guest lists to outfitting debutants, she’s in society while working with society.

In the prologue, we learn that Rosalind’s father was a peer who ran from debt, taking Rosalind’s older sister with him. Rosalind’s mother died soon after, leaving Rosalind alone and with the skills of a newly-debuted girl.

This book centers around a murder at Almack’s. The inner workings of the place are interesting. Later, Rosalind realizes that the murder is related to a scheme to forge high-coveted vouchers for Almack’s, but it’s not completely clear how she discovered this. She found money and promissory notes in a lock box…perhaps the forged vouchers were in there as well, but I recall being confused because they were mentioned.

The personal storyline is interesting…Rosalind was in the cusp of being engaged to Devin, the second son of a Duke, when her father ran. In the five years between the prologue and main story, Devin’s father and brother have died, making him the Duke, and Rosalind’s status puts her well below him (though he said he was waiting for her, which doesn’t make sense to me). There’s a nice love triangle forming between Rosalind, Devin, and a Bow Street _____ (not runner, but one step up?). I do think the relationship with the Bow Street man was forced to advance, though. They spent almost no time together, but they are suddenly fighting feelings for each other? Hm.

There were just a few moments of unclear action, but this was an otherwise super fun read!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my doubts after the patently absurd introduction but this was actually quite a fun novel. I have quite the weakness for Regency cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint. (Even if it did throw in a love triangle and borderline insta-love which...sigh.)
The story follows Miss Rosalind Thorne, who hangs on the outskirts of society doing odd jobs and keeping scandals at bay in exchange for social currency and a network of favors bestowed and owed. When she discovers a dead body at Almack's, the patronesses put her in charge of hushing it up. But the murdered man's sister has other ideas, and when you throw in a former fiance and dedicated Scotland Yard officer, further secrets are bound to get uncovered.
The book reminded me of A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder but the characters in A Useful Woman appealed to me more. Despite a desire to veer into the absurd and a perchance for romantic entanglements that made me arch an eyebrow, the book does a fairly good job with historical accuracy and keeps things going at a fast pace. I will definitely be reading the next one in the series.

[Verity W · Rating 2 out of 5]

****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review****

This just did nothing for me. I nearly gave it 1* but I'm feeling nice this morning.

I'm used to outlandish plots that stretch credibility of what might have occurred, but this just went too far for me. I can some times get past crazy like this if the characters are totally engaging, but this was slow to pick up for me and I never got past my sense of "Huh? What's this?". It's a shame, because I like Regency romances, I like Cozy Crime, I like Regency crime but this just didn't work for me.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the publisher billed this historical mystery as "Austenesque," it really wasn not.

However, it was a delightful reading experience and I will happily read the next book in the series.

[High Plains Library District · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I should open by mentioning one thing – the fact that I’m writing an enthusiastic review for a mystery is no small thing. Mystery is one of the most popular genres among readers, but for some reason it’s not a genre that I often enjoy. In fact, I rarely even read them, and when I do I don’t always finish. Fortunately for me, A Useful Woman had one thing that was bound to make me notice it: the setting. It takes place in London during the 1800s, with all the trappings we have come to expect from the world of Jane Austen. There are empire-waist gowns, impoverished gentlewomen, hackney cabs, matchmaking mamas, exclusive ballrooms, dukes, scandals… the whole nine yards. Of course, this is a mystery, so there’s also a dead body. It’s discovered in Almack’s, in the most exclusive society ballroom in London, but no one seems to know how it got there.

The heroine, Rosalind Thorne, is a lady in hard times who has managed to keep a place in society based on her usefulness. She is tolerated by the fashionable because she is skilled in party planning, matchmaking, and hiring the best household staff. And since she has a connection to Almack’s, she’s also the best choice to look into the murder. Discreetly. Her investigation will take her from stately manor houses to London clubs to the Bow Street runners, and it was those details that kept me entertained. Rosalind is resourceful and charming, and it’s hard not to root for her. There’s also a strong romantic theme. Rosalind feels caught between the leisurely life of the aristocrat and the useful life of the commoner, and she has two potential love interests who reflect that conflict: an investigator from Bow Street, and the aristocrat, now a duke, who she lost when her family slipped into scandal.

This is a great choice for anyone who likes a light historical mystery without sex, violence, or bad language. It’s also a great choice for regency romance fans who enjoy, or at least don’t mind, a hint of mystery in their reading.

If you like the idea of this book, but wish it had more Austen, try Death Comes to Pemberley. The murder mystery comes after the marriage of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, giving Janeites a fun glimpse into the (hopefully) happily-ever-after of Austen’s most famous couple.

For a cozy historical mystery in a different time frame, but with the same delightful main characters and sense of fun, try Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody series. The first book is Crocodile on the Sandbank.

Or, if you’d like to pull the romantic side of the story to the forefront, you could try Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series. It begins with Wicked Intentions, and the whole series has a theme of mystery and suspense behind the steamy romance.

-Meagan

[Jacqie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading about the Regency era, knowing going in that it's likely not going to be very historically accurate. Most stuff published these days is frothy ballroom romances, rakes and reformers, highwaymen and heroines.

"A Useful Woman" departs from this standard by trying to be far more historically accurate in how gender roles really worked at the time, at least within the nobility. Rosalind Thorne has been abandoned by her wastrel father, sister who ran off with father, and a mother who died of the following reality. She hangs on at the fringes of the noble set by being a sort of fixer, useful in helping to plan parties, smooth over embarrassments, help her friends in finding just the right dress. She's somewhat sheltered by her godparents, with whom she has lived since her father's absconding, but is keenly aware that she's just barely within the realm of acceptability.

Rosalind is not especially spunky or high-spirited. She's demure, never lets herself shine to the detriment of her friends, and depends upon her utter inoffensiveness to remain in her social stratus. This plays a bit against tropes but is probably pretty realistic in what a young woman would have to do to survive- offending one of the great ladies would be a sure ticket to social disaster and poverty.

A lot of the plot revolves around Almack's, one of the great triumphs of marketing of the era, known for its cheap refreshments and impeccable standards for its members. It was THE place to find a marriage partner that would be accepted by the upper classes.

The very reality of the book makes it, not grim, but vaguely depressing. There is a lot of attention paid to manners and subtle social signals are explained over and over again. It's almost a sociological study of the English nobility as much as anything.

The body count is low, surprisingly so! I think the author takes care to give Rosalind a realistic reason to investigate, and until the very end, with the ball, the flight in the carriage, and the rather violent denoument, the pace is slow. I was interested in the author's research, but I wonder if it comes through too much at the expense of the story's pace. There's also the dreaded love triangle, which I fear persists into the second book.

While I'm not grabbing the next book as fast as I can, I wouldn't mind reading more about Rosalind if I was in the mood for some gentle historical fiction.

[Critterbee❇ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is billed as a 'Regency Mystery,' and it is that, but also features a touch of romance.

Rosalind Thorne is barely hanging on to the fringes of the ton, after being disgraced through no fault of her own. Her father's scandalous actions and cowardly escape from London left Rosalind with crippling debt, the care of her overwrought, unstable mother, the loss of being able to marry her love, and more than enough shame to overwhelm most people.

Rosalind decides to hang on to society, and contrives to make herself useful as a means of supporting herself. Having a patroness of Almacks as her godmother is a stroke of luck, and does much to help preserve her reputation and society's acceptance. She transforms herself into a 'Useful Woman,' skilled in helping others arrange events and navigate society's hurdles. She is smart, and at times questions whether society is worth caring about or not, however there are a lot of moving parts to her life which make everything more complicated.

In this series introduction, Rosalind stumbles into a situation featuring a suspicious death at Almacks. Loyalty pulls her in conflicting directions, but she realizes that the truth must be discovered.

The characters in the book are entertaining and diverse, including her former love, a frenemy from her school days, a captivating bow street runner, the patronesses of Almacks, haughty members of society and fallen former members of the ton.

The pacing of this book is steady, but never boring. I was hooked early on, and the mysterious plot was satisfying. The ending tied up the mystery, while leaving many things open for further development in future books. I want to know more about her relationships with her 'former' love Lord Casselmain, the Bow Street Runner, Honoria, her sister Charlotte, her godparents, and her other friends and acquaintances. Highly recommended.


**eARC Netgalley**

[Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A Useful Woman turned out to be so much better than I thought it would be. I hate starting out with that sentence, but in this case it’s the absolute truth. One of the employees of my favorite book store recommended it to me, and I bought it when it first came out. Then the book sat on my bedside table for weeks before I finally decided to start it – I think the cover is what put me off the book. Thankfully, A Useful Woman was a very fun and clever read. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in two days when things were very busy around my house.

The novel takes place in London during the Regency era when high society rules were governed by the ton. Rosalind Thorne’s family has had a fall from grace, and she has managed to barely maintain her position in society with the help of her godmother, Lady Blanchard. As the story progresses, Rosalind becomes involved in a murder investigation and resourcefully sets about trying to solve it.

While the plot and characters are well developed and authentic, my favorite part of the novel was all of the historical references. Sarah Zettel, writing as Darcie Wilde, clearly did her research, and the Regency streets of London came alive as I read this novel. Almack’s and its inning workings are a large part of this story, as well as White’s, the bow street runners, the Hue & Cry, and many other historical details. I felt this added so much to the story.

A Useful Woman is beautifully written mystery with witty characters, and I am ready for the next installment!