What do you think?
Rate this book
Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates #4
A Body Among the Roses
1920’s London
Rosemary Lillywhite has had a lot on her tea tray: murder, intrigue, and two men vying for her affections.
When her mother, Evelyn, calls and pleads with her to help put on a garden club fete, Rosemary begrudgingly agrees, never imagining that another murder investigation awaits her in the sleepy country village of Pardington. Or, that Evelyn has invited one of her suitors to the party.
When a body is found among the rose bushes, Rosemary must bail her mother out of a jam—all while trying to juggle two men, the budding relationship between her brother and her best friend, and Evelyn’s imminent nervous breakdown.
Book four in The Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates series.
Are you ready to escape to the roaring twenties? For fans of Beth Byers, Leighann Dobbs, and Lee Strauss.
A light, cozy mystery with no swearing, graphic scenes, or cliffhangers.
Rosemary Lillywhite has had a lot on her tea tray: murder, intrigue, and two men vying for her affections.
When her mother, Evelyn, calls and pleads with her to help put on a garden club fete, Rosemary begrudgingly agrees, never imagining that another murder investigation awaits her in the sleepy country village of Pardington. Or, that Evelyn has invited one of her suitors to the party.
When a body is found among the rose bushes, Rosemary must bail her mother out of a jam—all while trying to juggle two men, the budding relationship between her brother and her best friend, and Evelyn’s imminent nervous breakdown.
Book four in The Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates series.
Are you ready to escape to the roaring twenties? For fans of Beth Byers, Leighann Dobbs, and Lee Strauss.
A light, cozy mystery with no swearing, graphic scenes, or cliffhangers.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2020
379 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Emily Queen
32 books100 followersEmily Queen is a writer of historical fiction, including the Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates cozy mystery series. She lives in Maine, USA with her cat, dog, and too many books to count.
Oh, and if you’re not careful, she might kill you off in one of her novels…
Oh, and if you’re not careful, she might kill you off in one of her novels…
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 28, 2020
2.75 stars rounded up
Rosemary Lillywhite is pressed into service by her mother who needs Rose to make up the numbers for a charity garden party. Rose can't bring Vera because Vera is already on the guest list as Freddie's plus one. Rose declines to invite anyone as her old friends have lost touch partly because of Rose's widowhood and partly because they're too shallow for her. Upon arriving at the family home, Rose discovers her mother is frantic over party planning, feuding with Vera and the younger branch of the Society for the Protection of Euphorbia Villosa, her childhood schoolmates, are mean and shallow. Rose overhears them plotting to overthrow her mother and the older generation, prompting a fight between mean girl Queenie and Rose's mother's friend Beryl. When Queenie turns up dead in the garden during the party, Rose's mother insists Rose solve the case. The Inspector is more than willing to hand the case over to Max but as Queenie appeared to be poisoned and poison is a woman's weapon, Max leaves it to Rose to socialize with her old frenemies in order to solve the mystery.
This story went in a completely different direction than I expected- twice. It turned out to be a simple, straightforward mystery. I guessed whodunit pretty early on. It was a hunch and I wasn't positive. There are a few red herrings that distracted me but I ended up being correct. The romance subplot isn't as romantic as I would have liked. Rose has pretty much made up her mind about which suitor she loves but still isn't ready for a new relationship. Vera and Freddie are still annoying but in a different way now.
I had to lower my rating of this book due to numerous errors. There's more than the usual typo/grammatic mistake and historical error. First, Mrs. Woolridge would not be hosting a "traditional high tea." High tea is workingman's supper and Mrs. W is too hoity-toity for THAT! What the author MEANS is garden party with afternoon tea. The kind with little sandwiches, scones and pastries. Second, and the biggest error, is a giant editing mistake that changes the story. Vera goes off with Freddie and Rose and her sister Stella stay behind to gently question a suspect over tea. The point-of-view shifts between Rose and... VERA! A huge passage is from Vera's point-of-view. Little Nelly even shows up and it's Rose who deals with him. His mother is silent and apparently not even in the scene.
Rose is still sweet and a bit naïve. She's trying to figure out what she wants and is moving forward. I'm glad to see some character growth. I really relate to Rose's feelings about being back home and confronting the mean girls. I don't think she's hypocritical in her thoughts towards the mean girls. There's shallow and then there's mean. She doesn't look down on them specifically because they've chosen to marry and have families in their hometown but more because they don't want to broaden their horizons and experience new things. They're comfortable in their hometown where they can be the Queen Bee and wannabes. Vera is crazy about Freddie and willing to settle down now. I don't have a problem with Vera being with Freddie AND wanting to travel to the ends of the earth and be an actress and such. Why can't she do all those things? Children in their society are typically left to the care of a nanny anyway. Freddie is still maturing and he will need to escape now and then to keep from growing staid and boring until they're both ready to fully grow up. I think they're working on it.
We get to know Rose's family better. We haven't seen them since the first book. Mr. Woolridge is sweet and more perceptive than his wife gives him credit for. Rose's older sister Stella is like him. Kind, simple and caring. Her son, Nelly, is a hooligan and needs boarding school ASAP! (and a new name) He's getting too old for a nanny and his elderly nanny can't keep up with him. Mrs. Woolridge is a horrible mother! She's selfish, cruel and manipulative. What she did to Vera was unconscionable! That's not acting out of love, that's acting out of selfishness. If I were Vera, I'd expect Freddie to fight for me and if not, I'd run far, far away. Fortunately, Vera is strong and able to stand up for herself. Desmond is still hanging around waiting for Rose to make up her mind. He doesn't really know her that well but hopes to develop a better relationship. Teddy Barton is still very much interested in Rose. They're both kind but I don't see Rose belonging to that world anymore. She's better suited to Max, if he can stand up to his own mother and quit the force so they can be private detectives together. Personally, I think Rose should be single for awhile longer until she meets someone perfect for her or stay single forever.
There are lots of new characters here. I liked Mrs. Shropshire, who owns the tearoom in the village. Normally I hate nosy gossips but she seems to be the heart of the village. She's a motherly sort of woman, more than Mrs. W. I also really liked Beryl, who *gasp* does her own gardening! She's tough, no-nonsense and tells it like it us. I felt super sorry for Miss Amelia, the nanny. I knew there had to be more to the story and just because she's pretty doesn't mean she's "no better than she should be." It sounds dreadful to be pretty in a society where women didn't have many rights and were constantly being harassed by men. I'm sure she'd be proud of the women of the #MeToo generation for standing up for themselves.
The rest of the new characters are the mean girl, Queenie (Cole) Baker and her wannabes. Queenie is a classic mean girl type straight out of the movie. Line up Rachel McAdams to play her LOL! Queenie is mean-spirited, spiteful and vindictive. Everyone says she has her own demons but they don't elaborate other than the fact she seems to love children and is unable to have them. Queenie has a not-so-secret vice her minions try not to think about. It could have killed her. The question is: who didn't want Queenie dead? Beryl isn't the type to kill. She speaks her mind. It's cowardly to kill someone like Queenie rather than call out their behavior. Is the murderer her husband? He seems genuinely fond of her but you never know. She could have had dirt on him and he killed her to save his reputation. Was it Queenie's cousin Fanny who goes along with Queenie and never bothers to check Queenie's rudeness? Fanny could stand to inherit a lot of money which she seems to need. Fanny seems like the weak one of the group. She goes along but doesn't really feel in her heart that her cousin's spite is correct behavior. I almost feel sorry for her but not quite. Olive Adams is nasty. She seems to be #2 in the group and perhaps she murdered Queenie so she could take over as mean girl supreme. Minnie Kitteridge also doesn't have a mind of her own and was one of Queenie's minions. She seems rather vapid. Elise (Carlyle) Fletcher might be the nicest of the mean girls. She's awful to her son but she's not so awful to Rose. ONE of them had to have killed Queenie or perhaps all of them were in on it. I don't really care. They're all so awful and their feelings towards the older women in power are considerably shocking and scary. They won't rest until Queenie is dictator and I think it backfired on Queenie.
On to the next!
Rosemary Lillywhite is pressed into service by her mother who needs Rose to make up the numbers for a charity garden party. Rose can't bring Vera because Vera is already on the guest list as Freddie's plus one. Rose declines to invite anyone as her old friends have lost touch partly because of Rose's widowhood and partly because they're too shallow for her. Upon arriving at the family home, Rose discovers her mother is frantic over party planning, feuding with Vera and the younger branch of the Society for the Protection of Euphorbia Villosa, her childhood schoolmates, are mean and shallow. Rose overhears them plotting to overthrow her mother and the older generation, prompting a fight between mean girl Queenie and Rose's mother's friend Beryl. When Queenie turns up dead in the garden during the party, Rose's mother insists Rose solve the case. The Inspector is more than willing to hand the case over to Max but as Queenie appeared to be poisoned and poison is a woman's weapon, Max leaves it to Rose to socialize with her old frenemies in order to solve the mystery.
This story went in a completely different direction than I expected- twice. It turned out to be a simple, straightforward mystery. I guessed whodunit pretty early on. It was a hunch and I wasn't positive. There are a few red herrings that distracted me but I ended up being correct. The romance subplot isn't as romantic as I would have liked. Rose has pretty much made up her mind about which suitor she loves but still isn't ready for a new relationship. Vera and Freddie are still annoying but in a different way now.
I had to lower my rating of this book due to numerous errors. There's more than the usual typo/grammatic mistake and historical error. First, Mrs. Woolridge would not be hosting a "traditional high tea." High tea is workingman's supper and Mrs. W is too hoity-toity for THAT! What the author MEANS is garden party with afternoon tea. The kind with little sandwiches, scones and pastries. Second, and the biggest error, is a giant editing mistake that changes the story. Vera goes off with Freddie and Rose and her sister Stella stay behind to gently question a suspect over tea. The point-of-view shifts between Rose and... VERA! A huge passage is from Vera's point-of-view. Little Nelly even shows up and it's Rose who deals with him. His mother is silent and apparently not even in the scene.
Rose is still sweet and a bit naïve. She's trying to figure out what she wants and is moving forward. I'm glad to see some character growth. I really relate to Rose's feelings about being back home and confronting the mean girls. I don't think she's hypocritical in her thoughts towards the mean girls. There's shallow and then there's mean. She doesn't look down on them specifically because they've chosen to marry and have families in their hometown but more because they don't want to broaden their horizons and experience new things. They're comfortable in their hometown where they can be the Queen Bee and wannabes. Vera is crazy about Freddie and willing to settle down now. I don't have a problem with Vera being with Freddie AND wanting to travel to the ends of the earth and be an actress and such. Why can't she do all those things? Children in their society are typically left to the care of a nanny anyway. Freddie is still maturing and he will need to escape now and then to keep from growing staid and boring until they're both ready to fully grow up. I think they're working on it.
We get to know Rose's family better. We haven't seen them since the first book. Mr. Woolridge is sweet and more perceptive than his wife gives him credit for. Rose's older sister Stella is like him. Kind, simple and caring. Her son, Nelly, is a hooligan and needs boarding school ASAP! (and a new name) He's getting too old for a nanny and his elderly nanny can't keep up with him. Mrs. Woolridge is a horrible mother! She's selfish, cruel and manipulative. What she did to Vera was unconscionable! That's not acting out of love, that's acting out of selfishness. If I were Vera, I'd expect Freddie to fight for me and if not, I'd run far, far away. Fortunately, Vera is strong and able to stand up for herself. Desmond is still hanging around waiting for Rose to make up her mind. He doesn't really know her that well but hopes to develop a better relationship. Teddy Barton is still very much interested in Rose. They're both kind but I don't see Rose belonging to that world anymore. She's better suited to Max, if he can stand up to his own mother and quit the force so they can be private detectives together. Personally, I think Rose should be single for awhile longer until she meets someone perfect for her or stay single forever.
There are lots of new characters here. I liked Mrs. Shropshire, who owns the tearoom in the village. Normally I hate nosy gossips but she seems to be the heart of the village. She's a motherly sort of woman, more than Mrs. W. I also really liked Beryl, who *gasp* does her own gardening! She's tough, no-nonsense and tells it like it us. I felt super sorry for Miss Amelia, the nanny. I knew there had to be more to the story and just because she's pretty doesn't mean she's "no better than she should be." It sounds dreadful to be pretty in a society where women didn't have many rights and were constantly being harassed by men. I'm sure she'd be proud of the women of the #MeToo generation for standing up for themselves.
The rest of the new characters are the mean girl, Queenie (Cole) Baker and her wannabes. Queenie is a classic mean girl type straight out of the movie. Line up Rachel McAdams to play her LOL! Queenie is mean-spirited, spiteful and vindictive. Everyone says she has her own demons but they don't elaborate other than the fact she seems to love children and is unable to have them. Queenie has a not-so-secret vice her minions try not to think about. It could have killed her. The question is: who didn't want Queenie dead? Beryl isn't the type to kill. She speaks her mind. It's cowardly to kill someone like Queenie rather than call out their behavior. Is the murderer her husband? He seems genuinely fond of her but you never know. She could have had dirt on him and he killed her to save his reputation. Was it Queenie's cousin Fanny who goes along with Queenie and never bothers to check Queenie's rudeness? Fanny could stand to inherit a lot of money which she seems to need. Fanny seems like the weak one of the group. She goes along but doesn't really feel in her heart that her cousin's spite is correct behavior. I almost feel sorry for her but not quite. Olive Adams is nasty. She seems to be #2 in the group and perhaps she murdered Queenie so she could take over as mean girl supreme. Minnie Kitteridge also doesn't have a mind of her own and was one of Queenie's minions. She seems rather vapid. Elise (Carlyle) Fletcher might be the nicest of the mean girls. She's awful to her son but she's not so awful to Rose. ONE of them had to have killed Queenie or perhaps all of them were in on it. I don't really care. They're all so awful and their feelings towards the older women in power are considerably shocking and scary. They won't rest until Queenie is dictator and I think it backfired on Queenie.
On to the next!
May 11, 2020
2 1/2 stars. A fairly typical historical mystery set in this time period. The murder doesn't happen until a good ways into the story.
What attitude some of the characters had towards what was going on between Vera and Rosemary's mother. Many of the characters advised being neutral in the acrimonious interactions. That's all right in some cases, particularly if both parties are engaged in the arguments or actions towards one another. But I think someone should call a person out if they are acting as a bully. Grant you, it should be Rosemary's brother who says something but allowing such behavior unchecked is as if you think it is all right. That why people get away with such behavior because no one calls them on it and sometimes a person really isn't aware of how awful they are being. Sometimes it isn't possible to say something. But Rosemary's mother's behavior and some of the other characters responses really turned me off of the story.
So not an impartial critique but I'm not presenting that here. This is my independent emotional response to the story. It is well written and the characters aren't cookie cutter even if some of the relationships are stereotypical.
What attitude some of the characters had towards what was going on between Vera and Rosemary's mother. Many of the characters advised being neutral in the acrimonious interactions. That's all right in some cases, particularly if both parties are engaged in the arguments or actions towards one another. But I think someone should call a person out if they are acting as a bully. Grant you, it should be Rosemary's brother who says something but allowing such behavior unchecked is as if you think it is all right. That why people get away with such behavior because no one calls them on it and sometimes a person really isn't aware of how awful they are being. Sometimes it isn't possible to say something. But Rosemary's mother's behavior and some of the other characters responses really turned me off of the story.
So not an impartial critique but I'm not presenting that here. This is my independent emotional response to the story. It is well written and the characters aren't cookie cutter even if some of the relationships are stereotypical.
March 27, 2025
I listened to this book on audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. It puts you in the mood with the British accent and she did a nice job reading the audiobook.
I’ve listened to one other book in this series, so I was familiar with the different characters. Things move along with the murder and figuring out who did it. I enjoyed the plot very much and the writing was very easy to get into. I also like the roaring ‘20s as a setting historically. This is definitely a cozy mystery!
I am a volunteer on the review team for the audiobooks for this author. This review is completely my own opinion.
I’ve listened to one other book in this series, so I was familiar with the different characters. Things move along with the murder and figuring out who did it. I enjoyed the plot very much and the writing was very easy to get into. I also like the roaring ‘20s as a setting historically. This is definitely a cozy mystery!
I am a volunteer on the review team for the audiobooks for this author. This review is completely my own opinion.
March 19, 2025
Audiobook: I enjoyed the fourth book in this series as much as the first three books. I loved the setting. I admired the descriptive phrases which the author used to paint a picture of life in a small village in the 1920s. I admired Rosemary's intelligence. I understood Rosemary's frustration with her mother's interference in her life and in her brother's life. I was entertained by the convoluted mystery. I enjoyed Caren Naess' narration, and her performance was a pleasure to hear. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions about this audiobook.
September 12, 2022
Normally I rate the books with stars and don’t write reviews. However, this one was off the rails, especially towards the end of chapter 14. Vera is off spending the day with Freddie. Rosemary and her sister Stella are questioning a suspect when suddenly Stella is replaced with Vera. How did the editor miss this?? When a item that could be a “murder weapon” suddenly appears and everyone’s talking about it, I had to go back to see when it was first introduced. Couldn’t find it. All this and the downright mean and nasty so-called high society women was all quite jarring. Not a favorite.
December 11, 2024
It's amazing how bad scandal and fervor can be in small town politics. Or at least in who chairs what society. The accusations and finger pointing in this book rivals the House of Lords with a contentious bill. The main characters are beloved to me and I find that the adventures Rosemary and her friends have are wonderful, except for the discovery of bodies. The plot is straightforward and the premise is finding out who killed the wicked woman who delighted in causing chaos and why. I definitely recommend this book.
January 21, 2020
Entertaining!
Rose Lilywhite is involved in another murder investigation at her parents’ home in the country. All the family is there and her mother is being her usual unreasonable self—-I do not like her mother and am tired of her dramatics and selfishness. Rose,
Vera, Freddie, and little Nelly are fun and funny. Murdered woman and her close friends are all unpleasant people. Not as good as previous books.
Rose Lilywhite is involved in another murder investigation at her parents’ home in the country. All the family is there and her mother is being her usual unreasonable self—-I do not like her mother and am tired of her dramatics and selfishness. Rose,
Vera, Freddie, and little Nelly are fun and funny. Murdered woman and her close friends are all unpleasant people. Not as good as previous books.
October 3, 2024
Fun as Always
Book four in the Mrs. Lillywhite series is as enjoyable as the earlier books are. The action is back in Pardington where Rosemary's mother has assembled her children and friends to make up the numbers for her garden party. Of course, there's a murder and no shortage of suspects. Hyjinks ensue with witty dialogue, occasional hysterics, and interference from an unexpected quarter. Definitely a well-written, fast-paced romp and a quick, satisfying read.
Book four in the Mrs. Lillywhite series is as enjoyable as the earlier books are. The action is back in Pardington where Rosemary's mother has assembled her children and friends to make up the numbers for her garden party. Of course, there's a murder and no shortage of suspects. Hyjinks ensue with witty dialogue, occasional hysterics, and interference from an unexpected quarter. Definitely a well-written, fast-paced romp and a quick, satisfying read.
April 11, 2021
Mrs. Lillywhite Goes Home
Rosemary and Vera go back to their parents homes where they grew up. Rosemary has a few suitors and Vera gets closer to Rosemary's brother to the utter despair of Evelyn!( Rose's mother). Of course a murder mystery ensues.All the suspects grew up with and went to school with Rose and Vera. Just what you expect from this series.
Rosemary and Vera go back to their parents homes where they grew up. Rosemary has a few suitors and Vera gets closer to Rosemary's brother to the utter despair of Evelyn!( Rose's mother). Of course a murder mystery ensues.All the suspects grew up with and went to school with Rose and Vera. Just what you expect from this series.
July 21, 2021
A band of "mean girls" all grown up, led by Queenie, comes to a fete thrown by Rosemary's mom. Queenie ends up dead, and Rosemary and her friends try to solve the case. Clues abound as do theories, all the while tensions swirl between Vera and Rosemary's mom Evelyn. Then there's Max. All works out in the end, as one would expect.
July 28, 2022
Who doesn't like a Quiet Day in the Country?
I found this book quite funny. I loved the exaggerated, I hope, preservation ladies characters. It is truly, English ladies at their worst.
I found this book quite funny. I loved the exaggerated, I hope, preservation ladies characters. It is truly, English ladies at their worst.
March 13, 2020
What will she do, what will she say
The entire series was a fun read. I just had to find out if Rosemary would pick Des or Matt.
The entire series was a fun read. I just had to find out if Rosemary would pick Des or Matt.
October 14, 2020
Editing errors
Good story but troubled with editing errors where a scene starts with one character who suddenly becomes another. Kindle edition
Good story but troubled with editing errors where a scene starts with one character who suddenly becomes another. Kindle edition
April 9, 2021
Good but I liked her other books better.
July 3, 2023
finally
Progress in the romances. Lol. Can’t wait to see what book 5 has in store. I definitely recommend this series.
Progress in the romances. Lol. Can’t wait to see what book 5 has in store. I definitely recommend this series.
April 2, 2022
Another enjoyable read
March 31, 2025
A Body Among the Roses: A 1920s Murder Mystery (Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates, Book 4), my fourth read from author Emily Queen. An enjoyable well-written, 4-hour 13-minute/198-page historical mystery, the fourth book in the Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates Series and a Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals read/listen. “I received a complementary Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Caren Naess' narration again adds to the enjoyment of the read/listen. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews