Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery
by Shelley Noble
About the Book
Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
New Series
Setting – New York
Forge Books (October 16, 2018)
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 0765398710
ISBN-13: 978-0765398710
Digital ASIN: B078X2BSDR
From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble, Ask Me No Questions is the first in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series featuring a widow turned sleuth in turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City.
A modern woman in 1907, Lady Dunbridge is not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm.
From the decadence of high society balls to the underbelly of Belmont horse racing, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We meet Lady Dunbridge after mourning her husband’s death for two years. She and her “maid” and butler journey to Manhattan in 1907 where her friend Bev Reynolds will introduce her to all her high society friends. Right after they get off the ship gunshots ring out, she hears Bev scream, and chaos ensues. Getting through the crowd they find Bev’s husband dead in the arms of a floradora girl crying that he killed himself. The evidence doesn’t support that claim and the police set their sights on Bev as their main suspect. Lady Dunbridge may have just arrived but she knows her friend is not a killer. While making her introduction at all the dinners and balls she vows to keep her eyes and ears open to prove her friend’s innocence. Of course, she will do a bit of snooping too.
Ms. Noble has created an impressive amateur sleuth in Lady Dunbridge and teamed her up with excellent assistants in her “maid” Lily, and butler Preswick. Lily has many talents and Preswick does all he can to keep the both of them safe. All three are strong characters. The supporting cast includes Bev Reynolds, her staff, her husband’s staff, and their friends. They are a very eclectic group. Bev’s husband Reggie ran with a horse racing set and he seems to have owed everyone money. Bev friends are the elite set and the spouses of the men her husband seems indebted too. The author has really fleshed out these characters by the end of the story.
Solving the mystery takes us all around New York to the dinners and parties and out to the Reynold’s stable at Holly Farm where their horses are kept and trained. There is twist after twist after twist. I had my focus drawn to one character and then away and back again, yet the climax was surprising and exciting.
The author gives us so much detail throughout the whole story that every place came alive in my mind, The same with the people. Her words generated some wonderful imagery. She also kept true to the language of the time which I liked.
This series is off to an excellent start. The author has left doors open for future installments. I am excited to learn more about Lily and Lady Dunbridge and her life as she continues to live in New York.
About the Author
SHELLEY NOBLE is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of women’s fiction. )BEACH COLORS, WHISPER BEACH, LIGHTHOUSE BEACH,)
As SHELLEY FREYDONT she writes cozy mysteries.(CELEBRATION BAY FESTIVAL MYSTERIES, THE SUDOKU MYSTERIES) and the Newport Gilded Age Mysteries beginning with A GILDED GRAVE an RT Reviewer’s Choice nominee for Best Historical Mystery of 2015 and Macavity Finalist.
ASK ME NO QUESTIONS is the first of a Manhattan Gilded Age series and written as Shelley Noble.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, Shelley lives at the Jersey shore and loves to discover new lighthouses and vintage carousels.
Author Links
Website – Shelley Noble
Website – Shelley Freydont
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play IndieBound
Also by Shelley Noble
Written as Shelley Freydont
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I love books set in this era!
Sounds like a great book. I can’t wait to read it.
Thank you for your review on “Ask Me No Questions” by Shelley Noble. Sounds like a wonderful book and one that I would greatly enjoy having the opportunity to read.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
“Ask Me No Questions” sounds like a great start to a new series. I really enjoy reading about The Gilded Age and I’m looking forward to reading the book.
Sounds like a good read!
I like the cover
This sounds really good–I love the era it’s set in.
Congrats on the new release! Lady Dunbridge sounds like a fascinating character. Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t know Shelly Freydont wrote this series. I always have trouble finding her books…reaily enjoy them. Thanks for the giveaway
This sounds like a great book. I can’t wait to read it!