Brides, Blackmail, and Murder

Victoria Parker Regency Mysteries #3

by Jennifer Monroe

After solving the murder of Captain Rummings, Miss Victoria Parker is ready to resume her daily life in London. That sentiment is short-lived, however, when her friend Laura Grant is tasked to create a chapeau for the darling of the gossip columns. Miss Louisa Brooks is beautiful, rich, and engaged to a baron, and her patronage could make Laura’s shop the talk of the ton…

And talk they do – when the bride-to-be collapses dead in the millinery.

When the constable places Laura at the top of his list of suspects, and with the real murderer on the loose, Victoria sets out to save her friend’s life and reputation. The task proves daunting, for the list of people who find the baron’s fiancée disagreeable is long, and rumors of her tumultuous past cast a shadow over the inquest.

As James has been tasked by his brother to escort a young debutante around London, Vicky fears for the smile he now wears, leaving her to face her challenge alone. But as the clock draws closer to midnight, Vicky must not only save Laura, but also the new relationship with James – lest she risk both of those for whom she cares fleeing London, never to return.

A cozy, romantic Regency murder mystery that will keep you guessing til the end.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction

163 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2021

About the author

Jennifer Monroe writes sweet Regency Romance you can’t resist. Her stories are filled with first loves and second chances with dashing dukes and strong heroines. Each turn of the page promises an adventure in love and many late nights of reading.
Not sure where to start? Download my free ebook, A Lady’s Promise, from my website and have it delivered to your inbox today!

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Reviews

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Can't Make Someone Love 💘 You

SWEET CLEAN Regency Romance💕 and Murder Mystery💀
This is The third Victoria Parker whodunit novel by Jennifer Monroe 📚and it is masterfully written! It will keep you guessing until the end!

A woman of The ton is murdered in a London Hat shop by the prick of a poisoned hat pin! Victoria 's💃📑 accounting firm just happens to be next door to the hat shop and the hat shop owner, Laura, is her friend. Victoria💃📑 gets involved in her third murder💀 investigation in order to clear Laura's name!I

There are numerous suspects who would have been happy or had motive to see the very disagreeable and unlikable woman die.💀

James🐺, Victoria's assistant and frontman in her accounting business, is also her long suffering love💕 interest. They have a falling out over Vicky's inability to commit💔.

ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook with KU.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Victoria Parker resumes her daily life in London. Her milliner friend Laura Grant is tasked to create a hat for Miss Louisa Brooks but when Miss Brooks arrives to try her hat she falls down dead. When Constable Howe places Laura at the top of his list of suspects, and with the real murderer on the loose, Victoria sets out to save her friend’s life and reputation. The task proves daunting, for the list of people who find the baron’s fiancée disagreeable is long, and rumours of her tumultuous past cast a shadow over the inquest. James has been asked by his brother to escort a young debutante around London, Vicky fears for their future.
Another well written murder mystery there aren’t too many suspects but all seem to be hiding something, which makes Vicky’s task harder plus she’s distracted by James’ interest in another woman. I love the way Vicky gently questions suspects & makes them relax so that they unburden themselves to her. This is my favourite of the series so far
I read this in the boxset, which I voluntarily read

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! This is book three in the series and is every bit as engaging as the first two. James’s brother has come to town to spend time with the woman with whom he has become romantically involved. However, she has brought her sister with her and Benjamin has asked James to accompany him to keep her entertained. Meanwhile, a client of Vicky’s friend is murdered, and Vicky must help clear her friend’s name before she is hanged for a murder she did not commit. While James is off entertaining another woman, Richard Kent appears and helps Vicky with her case. Once again, we are teased by the character of Richard Kent. Who is he really? Is he actually as bad as his reputation, or is that a smoke screen? How does he find his information and how does he always show up at the right time to assist Vicky? This story is another turning point for Vicky and James’s relationship ... and their anguish, frustration, jealousy and heartache is deeply felt by the reader. This is a very clever whodunit that will keep you guessing until the big reveal.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[HeatherG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria Parker, Vicky to her friends, is back in London after solving another murder. She and James have settled into their old friendship roles because Vicky is still too afraid to fully pursue a relationship with him. When James' brother comes to town and requests his assistance in escorting two women around town, Vicky is torn. She is afraid she will never be able to admit to loving him as he deserves and yet she does. So she is forced to encourage him to pursue what could make him happy. When a woman suddenly dies in her friend's hat shop, it provides the perfect distraction from the trouble with James. While she investigates this murder, a man from the previous two stories shows up yet again pushing James and Vicky further apart.
As with the previous two books, you are left to constantly question who the killer is. In addition, you question just who Richard Kent is and when will Vicky quit being so wishy-washy. Is she really going to give up on the chance of a relationship with James because she is afraid to be hurt? Is she really that weak? This part of the book is extremely frustrating, but the mystery part of the book keeps you moving forward.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Victoria Parker’s friend, Laura Grant, put at the top of the constable’s suspect list when Miss Louisa Brooks, her client, collapses dead in the millinery. Victoria must save her friend’s life and reputation, but so many people did not like Miss Brooks, the baron’s fiancée, so her task is much more difficult. With James escorting a young debutante around London at the request of James’ brother, Victoria has misgivings. Is her relationship with James in danger from this other woman? Will her worry distract her from solving the case that will save her friend Laura’s life?

This was a delightful mystery that I enjoyed from start to finish! The story line was well-paced and the characters were intriguing. Grab this exciting story and see if Victoria can once again save the day and if she can reclaim James!

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of Saw That Coming

Another delightful, although at times frustrating, read. Vicky needs to come to grips with her past so she can move on with her present. Richard Kent is once again mysteriously entwining himself into her life. James is pushed into the arms of another woman. What? Oh, and the murder that happened next door with her dear friend accused of doing it - such a busy intriguing story! I had an idea who the murderer might be, but no idea of why or how. Another good story by this author.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written story in the Victoria Parker Regency Mysteries series, this is the third book. Miss Louisa Brooks dies while she is in Laura Grant's millenary shop. It is now up to Victoria to prove Laura is not the murderer. Victoria will also have other things she must handle at the same time, and James is one of them. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Settling your past

Vicky's friend has a hat shop that's the scene for murder! James has a new friend which to me is more interesting and intriguing then any part of the story! Vicky says goodbye to her past and let go of fear! This mystery of killed a vile controlling woman the suspects are many and the clues all point in different directions! The personal romance issues get resolved and with a sigh of relief and off to the next adventure! I love this series!

[Brangela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous

I give this installment of the series my highest rating. First the mystery itself was stupendous. I had no idea! Second the journey the author took me on was exciting and suspenseful, each chapter drew gasps because new information erased all my previous theories. Third and most heartwarming was the romance between Vicky and James. Very relatable. Psychological abuse is real. Finally what about Mr. Kensington? What a fantastic read!

[J Shu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5. In this complicated tale, Vicky's next door business neighbor is suspected to be the murderer of a famous lady at her hat shop. Vicky investigates to try to clear her friend. Just who is blackmailing whom and why? And what about the relationship between Vicky and James? I am still amazed at the separation between classes and men's perceptions of women in London at the time these stories take place.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victoria involves herself in solving a mysterious death to help her good friend, Laura. Things get really complicated with James and Victoria's relationship. James is asked to escort his brother's fiance's sister around town. Victoria forms a friendship with a mysterious gentleman who always seems to have information for her. James gets very upset and makes a decision that will make Victoria reconsider how she wants their relationship to progress. But first she has a murder to solve.

[Kety · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic mystery that will kept reading until the end..
Wonderful characters... plots... and mystery...
A lady murdered in a shop.. A young woman suspected of murder...
Danger... misgivings... distraction... and a mystery...
A book for all that love Mystery

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[fred jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable clean romantic mystery. I am enjoying this series of books. They are well written, have a good atmosphere and storylines. Some of the dialogue is a little cliche but overall well worth reading. I hope for more in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marjorie F Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

once again Victoria the book is a fun jaunt into finds the answers

The book is an enjoyable jaunt into Victorian England. The murder that occurred had many possible suspects. Woven into the story were other themes of love and friendship. The result is a clever mystery solved by a likable hero. The series is a treat to read.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and entertaining whodunit. Keeps you hooked until the end. Lots of twists and turns with plenty of drama thrown in. Interesting and entertaining characters. Good whodunit.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan Waters]

This series is an excellent light read...

I find Jennifer Monroe's Victoria Parker's mysteries thoroughly enjoyable for a light read. The mysteries are well crafted and keep me guessing.

[Doris Brase · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hat trick

It takes Vicky a long time to get to the name of the murderer, but get there she does. And she does it while battling
her personal emotions and her relationship with James.

[Claudia Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series! It's another quintessentially English cozy, where Victoria must prove her friend's innocence, while her romance with James continues apace.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series.
When Louisa Brooks dies in Victoria's friend Laura Grant's hat shop, Vicki steps in to help find the murderer. She is also dealing with her feelings for James and running the accounting firm.
This was an interesting, enjoyable story that kept me guessing who the killer was until the end.