Monday, February 17, 2020

The Body in the Garden

The first in a new series by Katharine Schellman features Lily Adler. In The Body in the Garden, young widow Lily returns to London to reestablish her household after the death two years before of her husband Freddie. (The Body in the Garden will be released on April 7 by Crooked Lane Books.) 

Life in London society is different for a widow and Lily wants to try to do something useful without having to rely on a man. At a ball thrown by her friend Lady Walter, Lily finds herself in the garden overhearing an argument. In what sounds like someone demanding blackmail she tries to make her way back to the house when she hears a shot. 

Rushing back to the garden she discovers a young man dead on the grass. To avoid any scandal brought to his family, Lord Walter bribes the local police magistrate not to investigate. This does not sit well with Lily and she worries her friend's husband might be involved in the murder. Along with a charming navy officer Captain Jack Hartley, a friend of Freddie's, and a mysterious heiress from the West Indies, Ofelia Oswald, she sets about to solve the murder.

Lily soon learns Miss Oswald was acquainted with the deceased young man Augustus Finch from her home island. As she discusses the case case with Ofelia, Lily feels she is holding back some vital information. Jack refuses to trust Ofelia and that causes some friction. 

Through her diligent investigating, Lily discovers treason in the highest places during in 1815 and puts herself at risk to confront the killer. 

An excellent start to a new series and I look forward to more of Lily Adler's adventures. 

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