A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder

Written by Dianne Freeman

Narrated by Sarah Zimmerman

Agatha Award–winning author Dianne Freeman returns to Victorian England, as
the future Mrs. George Hazelton, American-born Countess of Harleigh,
encounters a young French woman with the shocking claim that she is the
rightful Mrs. Hazelton …
For Frances Wynn, widow to the late Earl of Harleigh, life has a cosmopolitan
flavor of late. No sooner has she sent her mother and daughter off on a shopping
trip to Paris than she and her fiancé, George Hazelton, are socializing with visiting
members of the Russian royal family. Yet amid this whirlwind, scandal also comes
calling when Inspector Delaney turns up outside Frances’s house with a young
French woman with a shocking claim: she is Mrs. George Hazelton.
As the future Mrs. George Hazelton, Frances assumes the woman is either lying or
demented. “Mrs. Hazelton,” aka Irena, makes other outrageous statements.
Among them, she insists that she is the illegitimate daughter of Russian royalty,
that she has been abducted and held for ransom many times, and that someone is
sending her threatening letters. When George arrives, he clarifies that he is
certainly not married to Irena—though he can confirm her royal parentage. But
even as he agrees to investigate whether Irena’s life is in danger, her claim proves
tragically true. Irena is found strangled in Frances’ garden.
To uncover a killer—and clear their own names—Frances and George must
determine which of Irena’s outlandish stories were based in fact, and who stood
to benefit from her death. And as the search reaches a shocking conclusion, they
may find that villainy lurks all too close to home …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705026106

Dianne Freeman

Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, won both an Agatha Award and a Lefty Award and was nominated for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America. She spent thirty years working in corporate accounting and finance and now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband split their time between Michigan and Arizona. Visit her at www.DiFreeman.com.

Reviews for A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder

[Janie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Did not figure out the villain in this one!! Many pieces to this puzzle which all fit nicely in the end. Hope there is another book in the works!

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Frances, Countess of Harleigh, is in the midst of preparations for her engagement party when a foreign woman arrives saying that she is married to Frances' fiancé, George Hazelton, Making all attempts to avoid scandal and to clear up the misunderstanding, George and Frances search for answers. The mysterious woman was mistaken and was married to another gentleman but before the error can be publicly corrected the woman is murdered.So much fun with the mistaken identity aspect and the inclusion of the royals, fun time!

[sheila · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Typical of author amusing love story and good mystery. Likable hero and lovable heroine.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

It's rare that I DNF a book, and I enjoyed the first three of this series, but I got 45 pages in and ... a big fat no.I'm never going to be able to suspend my belief enough to read about a spoiled rotten by-blow of the Russian royal family who baldly lies about being the MC's fiancé's wife so she can blackmail him into investigating someone sending her letters.In an age where a woman would be sent to a sanitarium for merely reading the wrong book, the idea that this silly child could successfully throw this tantrum and manipulate the main characters is beyond ridiculous.  I don't care that she does end up dead, it's a terrible, weak premise.

[cygnet81 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little slow

[thequietreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For Frances, Countess of Harleigh, the future looks bright as she plans for her wedding to Mr. George Hazelton. Matters come to a halt when a young lady arrives, claiming to be Mrs. Hazelton. Before they can clear up that misunderstanding, the young lady is found strangled to death in Frances' garden. Scandal erupts, and the race is on to clear all of their names.It has been a delight to follow this series from book one until now. Frances and George are one of my favorite couples in the historical mystery genre. They trust each other and they have learned how to work together. Even when they face the disapproval of society and the unexpected, they rely on each other to find the solution.The book is plotted and written very well. The mystery was enjoyable and kept me guessing. As always, the characters were the best part of the story. They were believable, and even the supporting cast was memorable.For readers looking for a fun historical mystery series, I would definitely recommend this. I received a free copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Irena Teskey arrives at Frances’ home with Detective Delaney after being arrested for causing a scene by throwing a rock at a couple of Russian dignitaries. She claims she is the wife of Frances’ fiancée and when George arrives, he recognizes Irena but says they are definitely not married. It’s decided she’ll stay with Frances when a friend of theirs arrives asking for help looking for Irena because he needs a divorce so he can marry a socialite. The next day Irena is found dead in Frances’ garden and more suspects start appearing while Frances and George try to prove their innocence irking the Detective Delaney for interfering in his case.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

1899 Irena Hazelton has turned up at the home of her husband George, fiance to Frances, Countess of Harleigh stating that she is of Russian royalty, and that her life is in danger. Soon she is found dead in Frances's garden. How many suspects can there be for someone recently arrived in town, or what motive is there to kill this annoying female. Inspector Delaney, with amateurs Frances and George investigate.
Overall an enjoyable cosy historical mystery
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[barbararogers-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Goodness Gracious Me – I do believe I’ve become addicted to Countess of Harleigh and George Hazelton! Each book in the series seems to get better than the last and I come to appreciate the intrepid duo and their cast of friends more and more. I had hoped we’d have a wedding in this one, but we fell just a tad short in our timing, so, surely the next book will either contain the wedding or it will have already happened and we’ll be off on – perhaps an adventurous honeymoon. Who knows? Either way, I can’t wait.Things are all abuzz in London with the visit of Duke Michael Mikhailovich and his wife, Sophie, Countess de Torby who are members of the ruling Romanov family of Russia. While it isn’t a state visit – since Mikhailovich is exiled from Russia – Prince Albert still wants to fete them. So, it was with a heavy heart that Frances, Countess Harleigh, canceled her trip to Paris to purchase a gown for her engagement ball. Still, she’ll have a lovely Parisian gown, but it will be chosen by her 8-year-old daughter and her mother who is still making the trip. Frances has hardly seen her mother and daughter off when Inspector Delaney shows up at her door with a young woman, Irena Teskey, in tow. This young woman insists she is the wife of George Hazelton. OMGoodness! Frances doesn’t believe it for a minute and can’t wait for George to arrive and straighten it all out. Too bad the whole thing is witnessed by Alicia Stoke-Whitney. Will the woman keep it quiet? This could be a huge scandal because gossip spreads like wildfire among the ton – whether it is true or not.When George denies it, the young woman keeps insisting it is true. She also insists someone has sent her threatening letters and someone has been following her. Oh! And by the way, she is under arrest for throwing a rock at the Russian duke. Yes, Irena is quite a piece of work. She’s spoiled, immature, petulant, whiny, and maybe just a tad barmy as well. Yet, when she turns up dead – In Frances’s garden – perhaps there was something to her story after all.Now, Frances and George not only have to prove George wasn’t married to Irena – they have to prove he didn’t murder her. Putting all of the pieces together and solving the puzzle of Irena’s background and who murdered her will not be easily done. Even if George can convince everyone he wasn’t married to Irena – he really can’t convince anyone he didn’t murder her. There are suspects aplenty because it seems everybody who encountered the young woman was soon ready to strangle her. There are many red herrings, false trails, and questionable characters, but through it all, Frances’s belief in George never wavers. She’s willing to face down the ton and any gossip in support of George. She’s steadfast and unwavering. What a great female lead character.While there is a serious murder mystery to be solved and a heart-fluttering romance, there are also some light moments. One of my favorite lighter moments was Frances’s first ride in a motor car. The descriptions are delightful and her reactions are priceless. Her verdict is, of course, that those things will never replace a horse and buggy.I can definitely recommend this book because it is a wonderfully well-written, perfectly paced, and well-delivered story. The characters are delightful and you will come to like them more and more each time you meet them. Of course, the villain is unexpected and the motive, while not totally unexpected, is still a surprise. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[rafram-951185 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder is book 4 in A Countess of Harleigh Mystery series by Dianne Freeman, published by Kensington Books. The story is set in London 1899 when a French woman turns up on Frances, Countess of Harleigh’s doorstep claiming to be her fiancée George Hazeldon’s wife. She is later found dead in Frances’ garden and these developments may have a detrimental effect on Frances’s and George’s reputations and future marriage. With her usual energy and force Frances meddles in police investigation with the help of her fiancée. Both use their social skills and contacts to avoid a massive scandal.Main character is Frances, Countess of Harleigh who is like a dog with a bone when it comes to mysteries and who has no problems taking risks. She seems a person with a zest for life who deals effectively with whatever is thrown her way. I love that about her.Supporting character is the Hon. George Hazelton. There seems to be plenty of mystery related to his background, which I’m sure will gradually be revealed in future books. He seems attentive to Frances and has the makings of a good Victorian husband. What I enjoyed the most about this story is that it reads like a sitcom. It stands out with the particularly funny start when George’s alleged wife turns up. The plot and characters are catching and keep me fascinated all the way through to the totally surprising ending. I loved how the murder victim’s mysterious background and her connections to Russia included a lot of drama and surprise elements to the story. The drama of investigating the murder understandably took center stage, but we are still able to sense the connection between Frances and George. How they function as a couple in the stressful situation when his alleged first wife turns up. In short this is an unputdownable book I thoroughly enjoyed.The lighthearted dialogue and writing kept me entertained and I will recommend this book to anyone who likes a funny and easy read suitable all year round. It is part of a series, but no actual need to read it in order because each story stands perfectly on its own. I did, however, get curious about how Frances came to be a Countess. -Maybe you will too. But I also look forward to seeing what the next book in the series will be about. Similar authors to explore might be Anna Lee Huber or Katharine Schellman.Thank you to #Kensington Books, #Dianne Freeman and #NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.Conclusion: A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder is the unputdownable new mystery where Frances solves the murder of a woman with connections to Russia who claims to be George’s first wife.

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

cozy-mystery, turn-of-20th-century, London, amateur-sleuth, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, family-dynamics, friendship, scandal, situational humor*****The murder victim was a real prize. She had a gift for hyperbole, lying, and using people. The publisher's blurb gives a nice overview and hints that it might be best to read at least one earlier book in the series. The relationships among the characters is as complex as the sleuthing itself.Great characters well drawn and plenty of misdirections and red herrings to keep me reading straight through to the end. Loved it!I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!