Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am thrilled to share my thoughts with you today about
Murder at Arleigh by Alyssa Maxwell!
Murder at Arleigh (A Gilded Newport Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
13th in Series
Setting – Rhode Island
Publisher : Kensington
Publication date : August 26, 2025
Hardcover Print length : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496753259
ISBN-13 : 978-1496753250
Kindle ISBN-13 : 978-1496753274
ASIN : B0DR9ZNCS8
Audiobook ASIN B0DW5M79D4
Audio CD ASIN : B0F41BWGTT
Reporter, sleuth, and new mother Emma Cross Andrews comes to the aid of a distraught wife who’s convinced her husband is trying to kill her . . .
April 1903: Emma and Derrick Andrews have been invited to the wedding of her cousin Reggie Vanderbilt and heiress Cathleen Neilson at the Bellevue Mansion, Arleigh. Their hosts are a popular young couple who are leasing the home for the summer—Harry and Elizabeth “Bessie” Lehr. Known for his practical jokes, Harry is the toast of parties, earning a reputation as the court jester of the Gilded Age. However, as Emma soon learns, behind closed doors he is dead serious.
Following the wedding, Bessie comes to Emma for help, insisting that her husband is cruel to her in private, telling her outright he married her only for her money and finds her repulsive. Divorce is unthinkable. Now she believes he is plotting to murder her and make it look like an accident: a broken balcony railing she might have leaned on, a loose stair runner that could have sent her tumbling down a staircase, faulty brakes in the car she uses . . .
Some would say being trapped in a loveless marriage is a fate worse than death. Not Bessie—she wants to live! Unsure if these situations are mere coincidences or add up to premeditated sabotage, Emma agrees to investigate and determine if Newport’s merry prankster is engaged in a cold-blooded game of life or death . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Emma Andrews’ cousin, Reggie Vanderbilt, is marrying heiress Cathleen Neilson at the Bellevue Mansion, Arleigh, and she and her husband, Derrick, have been invited to the ceremony. They are a little surprised by the venue, with summer residents Harry and Elizabeth “Bessie” Lehr hosting the affair. Harry does have a reputation for being a jokester, pulling the occasional prank, and even being called the court jester of the Gilded Age, but Emma sees a different side of him that day.
Bessie Lehr approached Emma after the ceremony to request some help. Her marriage to Harry has not been pleasant, and she tells Emma he has been downright cruel. He is always galivanting around with his friends and rarely spends any time with her at all. There have also been some strange happenings of late that have her questioning if he is trying to kill her, so that he will have free rein with all her money. She asks Emma to investigate before an “accident” sends her to her death.
The main characters in this series have truly grown since the beginning. New parents, Emma and Derrick, are trying to find the balance between work and home life with their daughter, Annamarie. Mary O’Neal (Nanny) their much more than a housekeeper, and Katie Dillion, much more than their maid of all work, are truly family and always on hand to help Emma, Derrick, and Annamarie any way they can. Many of the women of the Four Hundred find fault with the familiarity, but Emma truly doesn’t care. She does have a huge heart and a willingness to help those in need. She is smart as a whip and unstoppable with Derrick by her side. Derrick is a strong man who recognizes and appreciates his wife’s independence. They are both trusted by Detective Jesse Whyte, who has become a true friend of the couple. All these characters feel so genuine.
Ms. Maxwell has penned a complex mystery with more than one death and some close calls for Emma. It all keeps coming back to Bessie, Harry, and those they associate with, which means several visits to Arleigh in her efforts to get to the truth. Faced with several suspects, Emma and Derrick had their hands full. I enjoyed every twist and turn. I loved that I had no one pinned down in my thoughts before all was revealed.
The author does an outstanding job of blending history with mystery, including real people and places in her well-researched fiction. I am always excited to read the Author’s Note at the end of the book to read how everything ties together and the true history. The gorgeous covers set the scene for me at the start, but then her words take me away to each place and down each road, whether on foot, in a carriage, or a new-fangled motorcar. I can easily imagine Gull Manor after 13 books, and I am excited to see Emma and Derrick’s dream come to fruition on the land next door.
I anxiously await each new installment in this series and devour it far too quickly. Murder at Arleigh followed suit. With engaging characters and a stirring mystery, it’s a fantastic addition to this wonderful series. I highly recommend an escape to the Gilded Age with Emma Cross Andrews. Tag along as she endeavors to solve the mysteries. You will not be disappointed. Each can be read on its own, but for maximum enjoyment, you should start at the beginning.
Until next year, Ms. Maxwell.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About Alyssa Maxwell
Alyssa Maxwell is the author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries and A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mysteries. She has worked in publishing as a reference book editor, ghost writer, and fiction editor, but knew from an early age that she wanted to be a fiction author. Growing up in New England and traveling to Great Britain and Ireland fueled a passion for history, while a love of puzzles drew her to the mystery genre. She and her husband have make their home in South Florida. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the South Florida Fiction Writers.
Author Links
Facebook – Webpage – GoodReads – Facebook Sleuths In Crime – Instagram – Threads – BlueSky
Find the whole series HERE.
The first book, Murder at the Breakers, was made into a movie by Hallmark.
Also by Alyssa Maxwell
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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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”
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