If you love Agatha Raisin’s spark and Nancy Drew’s inquisitive nature, The Emily Mansion Old House Mysteries are your next unputdownable read! Some secrets are better left buried. And some are of historical importance and should definitely be dug up, dusted off, and put in a museum. When historical researcher Emily Mansion unearths a mysterious love letter, dating from the Victorian era, she is intrigued by a cryptic set of clues that point to a lost legacy hidden beneath the flowers of Larch Hall. The problem is… she’s not the only one doing a little digging. It’s a race against an unknown adversary to solve the clues and find the treasure before a valuable piece of history is lost forever. *Five short and sweet English mysteries for light and easy reading!* 1. The Lavender of Larch Hall 2. The Leaves of Llewellyn Keep 3. The Snow of Severly Castle 4. The Frost of Friston Manor 5. The Heart of Heathley House Buy The Emily Mansion Old House Mysteries and start your cozy adventure today! *Please note, the first edition of this series was previously published under the The Emily Haversson Old House Mysteries*
Ruby Loren was born and raised in East Sussex, England. She writes cozy mysteries, paranormal mysteries, and stories about rockstars. Her books are designed to take you away to a little slice of a different world, often set in a rural corner of South East England. Full of ideas, she is always busy writing her next bestseller!
Ruby is the author of the Madigan Amos cozy mysteries, a funny, twisty series that stars zookeeper, Madigan Amos, and is set in Sussex. She has many other cozy mystery series under her belt, including the Blooming series, the Emily Haversson Mysteries, the Hayley Argent Mysteries, and the Holly Winter Mysteries, all set in England.
The themes of her books range from cunning, twisty plots, to slightly silly, humorous mysteries, designed to make you laugh. Her books are perfect for readers, who love to get a know a character, and like to look on the lighter side of life.
Ruby still lives near Brighton, in East Sussex, with her fox-fighting, bird-murdering cat, Jasper. When she’s not writing, she’s travelling the world with her musical duo, Rumours, playing electric guitar and singing lead vocals.
To find out more about Ruby and pick up 3 free books, visit her website: www.rubyloren.com
So it is with a heavy heart that I must say Emily Mansion Mystery Series was a let down to me. Having read Ruby Loren's other cozy series I just couldn't get my head around this series. The character's were flat. The plot (in each book) was good but wasn't given enough attention due to the time constraints of the book's "short story" format I suppose.
These five books were not of the same caliber as the author's other cozy series which was the biggest let down for me. Instead of reading a great series I was left wishing for what could have been based on the exceptional writing Loren has entertained me with previously.
There was witty banter and humorous situations throughout these cozy mysteries. They were clean, sweet, and fun to read and I recommend them to cozy mystery enthusiasts.
These mysteries need to be read in order to make the most of the underlying romance time frame. I was given an advance copy of this book from the author. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own.
The Lavender of Larch Hall Rating: 4 stars
• Larch Hall was a high class hotel. Emily was hired as a historical researcher to evaluate old historical documents that were on site. She found a love letter with clues to a possible buried treasure, somewhere in the gardens of Larch Hall. • This was a fun romp through the gardens with some twists and turns I did not expect.
The Leaves of Llewellyn Keep Rating: 3 stars
• Hayden, Sean, and Dan were teenagers breaking into the keep on Halloween to see ghosts and artifacts. They claim they saw a headless ghost. • Emily's quest is to check to find historical data to dispute the presence of a Ghost. • I knew what would happen in this one, once I met the other characters in this story.
The Snow of Severly Castle Rating: 4.5 stars
• Mr. White was dying, but he wanted the live for one more Christmas to be with Jake, Lily, and George, his grandchildren. • Damien is Emily's new assistant and they are at Severly Castle to discover the traditions of Christmases past, so thet can use them during Christmas present. • This cozy mystery had more twists and turns than the previous ones and was not so predictable. This was my favorite mystery.
The Frost of Friston Manor Rating: 4.5 stars
• Emily is hired to look into the family tree of Amelia Friston. Amelia wanted to pass on her wealth to someone in the family, if she had any family. • This mystery was pretty straight forward. But this story had a lot of caring and sweetness to it that I enjoyed.
The Heart of Heathley House Rating: 4.5 stars
• Emily and Damien are hired to determine the significance of some historical documents found at Heathley House. • I enjoyed this cozy mystery. It was a fun read and it had a little more romance. This novella defined Emily's and Damien's relationship.
THE LAVENDER AT LARCH HALL Emily Mansion and Christian Goldwell Historical researchers were hired. Mainly dusty papers of grocery bills clothing, and love letters. Until one that was an unusual love letter hinting something was buried beneath lavender. An intriguing cozy mystery of what it could be after this period of time. THE LEAVES OF LLEWELYN KEEP. Emily has to find proof is this place haunted or not. Ghost hunters are determined it is. Good fun mystery, of how does one find proof of a ghost or ghosts or not reside there. The Snow of Severly Castle We have an isolated Scottish Castle, with hidden secrets beneath its design. It’s Christmas, a time of magic and old legends. Fun story, with some unusual moments. THE FROST OF FRISTON MANOR Emily uncovers more about Amelia’s ancestors than she may want to know. Hidden secrets not treasures become known. People start coming claiming they are part of the family and money. Delightful, amusing of what people do with the mention of money. THE HEART OF HEATHLEY MANOR Emily comes across old documents, within are Secrets. They need paying visitors, will secrets in restoring the gardens,not be possible. Good cozy mystery to figure out what will happen. They all deal with restoration, the mystery is different of what Emily finds. All were enjoyable and Emily was a good character for these stories. Given Arc for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
When you begin the first book in this series, you will love the character of Emily! She is a bright, dedicated, single historical researcher who loves to investigate the treasures in old houses! In each of the short novellas, Emily finds herself in the middle of danger throughout these books while finding hidden treasures for each of her clients in each of the these old homes. In each of the books you will meet some real characters. But alas, poor Emily is a very bad judge of men. In each of the books, there are some twists and turns that the author is famous for which guide you in one direction right into a dead end! In these books you will be intrigued by everything from clues hidden in the lavender bushes to trying to find an heir to disproving the existence of ghosts in one of the mansions. This is a fun series with lots of mystery, good mix of characters, twists and turns and a very fast read since once you finish the first book you want to start the next one right away! I have read all of Ruby's series to date and this one is just as terrific as all her series! I received and ARC from the author but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own
1. The Lavender of Larch Hall - 5 stars Emily Haversson is a keen, single historical researcher. Research occasionally resulting in astounding finds. Unpredictable twists and turns.
2. The Leaves of Llewellyn Keep - 4 stars Another good attempted murder (Emily's) mystery. Emily is a good character with surprisingly poor skills at judging the quality of attractive men. However, Mr. Bumble is a great judge as to whether the job is done.
3. The Snow of Severly Castle - 5 stars Great story. Full of surprise and mystery. As usual, Emily's wonderful character shines through. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.
4. The Frost of Friston Manor - 5 stars Delightfully campy story. Emily is wonderful as usual. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.
5. The Heart of Heathley House - 5 stars Delightful mix with of Emily Haversson with some of the cast from the Blooming Series. Many wonderful characters. Plenty of twists. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.
I received a copy of this book as a gift. I am leaving my honest review.
This is a collection of five short mysteries connected with the work of a roving historical researcher in England and Scotland. They are charming, suitable for everyone, and easy to read – the pages turn themselves.
There are five very different old houses here and five very different mysteries. They are not murder mysteries, but such things as buried treasure, dubious ghosts and long-lost relatives. A refreshing change, I thought. (There are a couple of unsolved murders back in the past, but solving them is not the focus.) One of the mysteries is Halloween related, one Christmas related.
I particularly enjoyed the way the independent, likeable heroine loves her work and handles its challenging aspects. Her cat is quite a character too, maybe a little bit psychic and certainly enigmatic (like all cats). There is a romantic side to the stories, and I have a theory that one of Emily's matchmaking relatives is a witch who cast a spell to give her stars in her eyes, because really there are just not that many drop-dead gorgeous men around. A fun read.
This collection of five books has a lot going for it: great value; fun and original stories; believable, recognisable and interesting characters and finally great locations, which are really well described. I am not going to describe the story in each book, the blurb does that perfectly adequately, but what I will say is that Emily has great adventures in each location, and that the books should be read in order to follow Emily's ongoing romantic situations. Ruby Loren has produced some classic mystery stories, with series like the Diana Flowers Floriculture stories, the Madigan Amos Zoo adventures and this series sits very well alongside those, I hope that she writes more about Emily. I received an advance copy of the book from the author, but have voluntarily written this honest review.
Emily Mansion Old House Mysteries: Book 1 - 5 — Ruby Loren June 9-July 19(?), 2022
This is a set of the first five books in this series. As per usual, I will briefly describe them here and have a large review under each book separately.
#1: The Lavender of Larch Hall (Introduction + 9 titled chapters + Epilogue) June 9, 2022 This was the first book in the series and I enjoyed that it followed Emily, a historical researcher as she navigated people's old books and records and discovered a mystery. I liked her cat, Mr. Bumble who seems to know when a case is solved, and that her sidekick, Christian, though uptight as he seemed, was just as good as her. I didn't see the ending coming, but I believe it sets up a good series. 4 stars.
#2: The Leaves of Llewellyn Keep (Introduction + 8 titled chapters) June 12, 2022 In this second book, Emily needs to find a new assistant and it follows the interview process and then the first case, which involves more hijinks and sluething. Naturally, the new assistant, Damien, even though totally out of his realm, finds the case and work exciting. (This one was kind of Halloweeny.) four stars
#3: The Snow of Severly Castle (Introduction + 10 titled chapters) July 13, 2022 In the third book, Emily and Damien (YES! this one survives atleast to one more book,) are sent to investigate Christmases past at the castle while the grandfather bring back all his children to celebrate one last Christmas. However, this time, Emily is trying to save her own life, as a mysterious figure from the Christmases of long ago seem to haunt the castle looking for it next victim. But a new love interest, Jake may be The One? 4 stars.
#4: The Frost of Friston Manor (Introduction + 9 titled chapters) July 13, 2022 Emily and Damien are asked to help an older lady find out the mystery of her parents and find out if she had any relatives to inherit her home and fortune. Ms. Friston takes an immediate liking to Damien, much to his chagrin. The murder in this story is from way back. 3 stars.
#5: The Heart of Heathley House (Introduction + 9 titled chapters) July 19, 2022 (?) In the fifth book, the pair are tasked with find historial information on Heathley House that was once famous for gardens that were tragically arsoned. The head gardener seems entranced with Emily, but Emily is still thinking about how Damien and her are growing closer. The murder again is from long ago, but just as exciting. 4 stars.
These were all very quick reads. The first story was great and then the following three that were decent, but not top notch like #1, then #5 was on standard with book #1. If there are more in this series, I plan to read them. If you don't have a lot of time but want to get some fun, escapism reading in, these are the books to read.
I received an ARC from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion. These books are delightful. There is no violence, no profanity, and no explicit sex but do have a good mystery and a touch of romance. Just what the doctor ordered! These cozy mysteries are light, easy reading and a great way to escape from everyday drudgery. They aren't deep, classical literature, and you may even find them easy to put down. But when you do pick them up again, Emily's adventures will brighten your day. I highly recommend them.
I was enchanted with these books so it did not take me very long to power through the entire set of Emily Mansion Old House Mysteries! Emily's profession of historical researcher was very fascinating. Who knew it could also prove so terrifying? I like the characters and the plots are well written. Mr. Bumble, Emily's cat is also an important character - and very smart! If you are looking for something different in cozy mysteries, you should read these books!
Quirky, witty and quintessentially british in its humour. This quintet of books follows Emily Mansion (FMC) a historical researcher as she discovers mysteries about whatever house shes hired to investigate. Each book is short and sweet read but i really liked that. Theyre not my usual type of books that i enjoy reading but all in all these 5 books are a pretty good read
Five fascinating stories, just loved them. Following Emily Mansion, a historical researcher, as she tackles unsolved mysteries is a treat. She is a likeable heroine and her cat is quite a character too.
These five mysteries are all puzzling, enigmatic with a nice dose of humour plus a hint of romance. All different and all entertaining. Worth a read.
This is an intriguing and exciting series of historical mysteries! Emily get hired to research a wide variety of things and definitely uncovers more than she bargains for! I love her cat, Mr. Bumbles. He is a remarkable feline! I enjoyed reading this series and had a lot of fun experiencing the adventures along with Emily!
What a treat! Five mysteries by Ruby Loren, who never fails to deliver a great read. As always, the plots are tight and multi-layered and the characters well-developed. The words flow across the pages, making these books most enjoyable. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
Emily Mansion is a historical researcher who is hired by the owners of various places like old houses and castles to find out any and all obscure history. The books are fairly lighthearted and not too long a read for each story. She starts out with one assistant, who doesn't work out, but she finds the right man in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
A quirky collections of mysteries built around a historical researcher. Each presented as if these experiences were a bit unusual in a researcher's life. Add a bit of misplaced romantic thoughts and you has a strange mixture that keep you reading right to the last page! overall a great addition to the cozy mysteries genre!
I made it until about halfway through the 3rd story before I called it quits. The men in each story were more handsome than the one before and she fell for each one. Such a good premise (historical researcher travels to old estates), so poorly executed. The positive: no profanity or sexual situations.
Emily Mansion is a fun book series. You will travel through different mysteries and historic places to uncover mysteries that are old and treasures that any museum would love to own. An enjoyable series that I highly recommend to all mystery lovers. Try it today, you will be glad you did.
I loved this book collection which I received as an ARC. With interesting characters, intriguing plot lines, humour and a bit of romance, these stories kept me entertained until the very end. I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys a good read, especially cosy mystery fans.
I liked the novella format for these pandemic times, when it is difficult to focus and hang on to long, complicated story lines. The writing and editing were good, for the genre, and I enjoyed the escapism of these cozies. Not great literature, but excellent and undemanding leisure time reading.
Loved these stories and I recommend them to anyone who likes mysteries! I especially like the accounts of stories about old mansions and castles. What a fun job this would be.
The premise of the story is good. Researching history is always a way to capture my attention. However that’s as far as it went. Same story just different locations. Books 1-5 is a misnomer. These are short stories not books.
This was an enjoyable series. They were quick easy reads. Emily is likable and I found her job interesting, I wish a little more detail was in that area. Each of the mysteries was good and kept me interested. The characters and setting were good. I will check other books by this author.
Liked the flow of the stories, liked the character development and the interactions between them, but the overall mystery and sleuthing could have Been more involved and fleshed out. Enjoyed the book
I enjoyed learning about being a historical researcher. Glad Emily found her love and could enjoy family get togethers. Looking forward to future editions.
Disappointing. They all followed the same outline. First the murder and then later the story and solving the murder. Not much imagination as to style. By the third book, I was bored.