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The Official Blurb
“England, 1865: Newspaper columnist Lady Katherine Bascomb finds herself the subject of speculation when her latest article leads to an arrest in the murders plaguing London. The English believe women ought not to write about such vulgar things as crime, and a particularly attractive detective inspector is incensed that she’s interfered with his investigation. To escape her sudden notoriety, Katherine heads to the country-only to witness a murder upon her arrival.
Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham is appalled when Lady Katherine entangles herself in one of his cases-again. Her sensationalist reporting already nearly got him kicked off the police force, and he’ll be damned if he permits her to meddle a second time. Yet, her questions are awfully insightful, and he can’t deny his attraction to both her beauty and brains. As the clues point to a dangerous criminal, the two soon realize their best option is working together. But with their focus on the killer lurking in the shadows, neither is prepared for the other risk the case poses-to their hearts.”
Book Review: A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhemby Manda Collins
Historical romance with a serial killer twist? Say less.
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem promises intrigue, danger and enemies-to-lovers tension set against the backdrop of 1865 London. And while it delivers on concept, the execution lands a little more … polite than pulse-pounding.
The Setup
Lady Katherine Bascomb is not your typical society lady.
She’s:
✔️ a widow
✔️ a newspaper owner
✔️ and the writer behind “A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem”
So naturally, when a serial killer dubbed the Commandments Killer starts terrorizing London, she decides to investigate.
Because of course she does.
Alongside her best friend Caro, Katherine begins interviewing witnesses and digging into the case herself. This causes a scandal and, more importantly, seriously irritates Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham.
Andrew is:
✔️ competent
✔️ annoyed
✔️ very much not interested in a society lady meddling in his case
Which makes him the perfect enemies-to-lovers setup.
The Plot Thickens
Andrew is pulled off the case. A new inspector swoops in. An arrest is made.
And it is … absolutely the wrong guy.
Meanwhile, Katherine heads to her friend Valentine’s country estate and (because this is a romance novel with a murder plot) the killer seems to follow.
Katherine and Andrew are forced to work together, combining her curiosity and his experience to solve the case before things escalate further.
Spice Level: Poblano → Jalapeño 🌶️🌶️
This one leans more tame than fiery.
Think:
💋 tension
💋 buildup
💋 light intimacy
It’s there but it’s not the main event.
💭 What Worked
The premise is solid.
A lady journalist investigating a serial killer in 1865 London? Love that.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is there and has potential, especially with:
✔️ clashing priorities
✔️ mutual frustration
✔️ underlying attraction
And this line? A standout:
“She was unable to say more but needed to let him know she was not a fragile flower.”
We love a heroine who isn’t afraid to communicate her needs.
😬 Challenges
This one just … didn’t quite hit.
The writing felt a bit stilted, which made it harder to fully sink into the story. For a historical romance, I was also really missing those lush details — the gowns, the settings, the atmosphere.
Give me the textures. Give me the drama. Give me the fashion.
Instead, it all felt a little flat.
The mystery itself was also fairly predictable. I saw the reveal coming a mile away and even the slight twist didn’t quite elevate it.
📝 Final Thoughts
This is one of those books that falls squarely into “it was fine.”
Not bad. Not amazing. Just … fine.
If you’re looking for:
✔️ a lighter historical romance
✔️ a tame murder mystery
✔️ something easy and not overly complex
this could be a nice fit.
But if you want high tension, rich detail or a twist that actually surprises you, this one may leave you wanting more.
And honestly … that’s all I’ve got.
If you want to hear more of my thoughts on the book, you can listen to the podcast episode on your favorite podcast streaming service. Or click here for our in-house podcast player. I share some fun anatomy references as well as my Romantic Reminder. You can also find out if I won the episode Boobie Prize. Want to read the book for yourself? You can get it here:
I also have a cocktail recipe that pairs perfectly with this book, The Improper Lady.
Have you read A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem? Let me know your thoughts on this book in the comments!
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