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The Body in the Garden
The Body in the Garden: A Lily Adler Mystery | Katharine Schellman
London 1815. Newly widowed Lily Adler returns to a society that frowns on independent women, but she's no stranger to the glittering world of London's upper crust. She's back in town and eager to have a renaissance with friends, particularly with Lady Serena Walter--from their school days--determined to create a meaningful life for herself even without a husband. She expects scandal, gossip, and secrets. What she doesn't expect, as she's visiting Lady Walter is a dead man laying in her garden. Lily happened to overhear the man just minutes before he was shot- young, desperate, and attempting blackmail. When she finds out Lord Walter bribes the investigating magistrate to drop the case, Lily is worried, and becomes the only one with the key to catching the killer. Aided by Navy Captain Jack Hartley and heiress from the West Indies Miss Ofelia Oswald, Lily sets out to discover whether her friend's husband is mixed up in blackmail and murder. The unlikely team sets out to conceal their investigation behind the whirl of London's social season, but the deceased knew secrets about people with power. Secrets that the powerful have desire and influence to keep hidden. Now, Lilly will have to uncover the truth, before she becomes the killer's next target.
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BookmarkTavern
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Pickpick

Widowed Lily Adler is just trying to get back into society when a young blackmailer is found murdered at her friend‘s ball. And she is desperate to see justice done.

This was a really sweet cozy mystery. All of the characters felt fleshed out, the setting was well done, & the pacing was great. I did predict the culprit, but the mystery kept me guessing on motives. Definitely going to put a hold on the next one! 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

random_michelle I've read all of the books in this series most of her Nightingale Lounge series.

What I love most is all the inclusion she has--and that gets stronger as the series progresses.
1mo
BookmarkTavern @random_michelle I hadn‘t realized it was the same author! 😅 I love that series! I‘m looking forward to more of this one! I‘ve already got Silence in the Library on hold. (edited) 1mo
random_michelle I ended up buying the whole series because I enjoyed it so much. I especially like Hartley--I haven't found a lot of books that address the fact that many of the first English colonists tended to take Indian wives--at least until women started to go to India as well.

This is one of only three series I can think of off the top of my head that has a significant character who is a child of one of those unions. :)
1mo
73 likes3 comments
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actualdisneyprincess
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I loved “Last Call at the Nightingale,” so I was really excited to see this when another patron returned it. I‘m only about twenty pages in, but I‘m already thoroughly enjoying it! 💖 #thebodyinthegarden #katharineschellman

Just_reading Lovely pic! I just got finished with this one and I enjoyed it as well! 1y
actualdisneyprincess @Just_reading aww thank you! I‘ll be so sad when the decorations come down! 😂💖 1y
13 likes2 comments
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MissHel
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Here‘s my read for Self Care Sunday while I actually cook for myself (why does being an adult require making or acquiring food EVERY DAY?!)

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Preciouz29
Pickpick

Quite a pleasant read!

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ScientistSam
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this historical mystery, though it didn't leave a long-term impression as I catch up on my reviews months later. In all fairness, that may be more a question of pandemic memory than a fault in the book.

I would read the next book in the series.

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BookishMarginalia
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#CurrentlyListening the first #LilyAdler #Regency mystery — it‘s entertaining so far

ChasingOm Oh, that sounds delightful! 3y
BookishMarginalia @chasingom It really is! 3y
81 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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SaraRosett
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The Body in the Garden is another of my Covid escape reads.

Set in 1815, it features young widow Lily Adler, who is returning to society.

Taking a break from the whirl of a first ball, she escapes to the garden where she hears a shot...and finds a dead body.

I enjoyed the Regency setting and the diverse cast in this book. 🔎 🌸🔎
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#amateursleuth #crimefiction
#cozymystery #ilovecozies #mysterybooks

15 likes1 stack add
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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

This book definitely needs a second edit, so many typos. The mystery was interesting. I really liked Lily, Jack and Miss Oswald. They are all interesting main characters who try to solve mysteries. I read a lot of Victorian historical mystery‘s with women solving crimes, but this another good one. It‘s not dark. Just a widow trying to seek out justice and getting into mischief.

Last book for my quarterly #GetTBR
Book 8 finished #BookSpinBingo

Laughterhp 2 library books finished for #AwesomeAugust Readathon (1 was audio) 4y
54 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Laughterhp
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I love me a new historical mystery! I‘m glad I finally have time to get into this book.

Had a fabulous day off doing some cleaning, walking the dog, playing some video games (did all this listening to an audiobook), and finally laying in the hammock reading.

I decided to return 2 of my library books without reading them because I‘m so overwhelmed by all the books I still need to read for August! And I hate when I‘m overwhelmed by books.

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bookishdawg
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Pickpick

Finished this last night to wrap up a 4-corners #bookspinbingo for July 👍🏻 This is my second read from the Book Riot TBR service and it was spot-on for me. British setting, strong female lead with great supporting characters and an unpredictable ending. Perfect!

Just_reading Lovely photo! 😍 1y
11 likes1 comment
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Jen2
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Pickpick

So fun!!!

Texreader Indeed! 4y
100 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Laughterhp
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Got my picks from #GetTBR @bookriot - The recs are all over the place just like my reading tastes. 😂

They all sound really good, but I‘m probably most excited for the tagged book.

Now to see if my library or a library nearby has them for curbside pickup!

Sweettartlaura I love when I get my picks ♥️. I‘ll be reading my latest next week 👍🏻. But I might read one of yours, too 🤔😜 4y
55 likes1 comment
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Verity
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Panpan

Not for me. Don‘t know why it didn‘t work for me, but it just didn‘t. Too much going on maybe

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Verity
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Latest library book!

20 likes3 stack adds
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Crazeedi
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Mehso-so

Thanks to #crookedlanebooks and #netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC, (publication date 4/7/2020)
Set in the early 1800's, Lady Lily Adler is a widow who just moved back to London to try to begin living again. But when she witnesses a murder in her friends garden while attending a soiree, and the police refuse to investigate ⬇️

Crazeedi she feels she must find the killer. There is a lot of social encumbrances and restrictions in this time period, so they seem so frivolous when reading the story. The plot was very good, but I was distracted with all the manners that had to be observed 4y
79 likes1 comment
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Amie
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Pickpick

#netgalley #arc

Overall I enjoyed this book. I had trouble keeping the characters straight because they had very similar names (Harper, Harlowe, Hartley). I really enjoyed the main character Lily, as well as her friend Miss Oswald. I will be interested in reading more about their adventures.

robinb I really enjoyed this one as well! 😊👍 4y
45 likes1 comment
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yvo_about_books
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Of course I get bitten by the flu bug in the middle of a freaking heatwave! 🤦‍♀️🥵🤒 I've been feeling shitty since Monday, and I do hope it will go away soon... At least no more fever, so I'll be spending the afternoon in bed with a new story. 📖🐱

9 likes1 stack add
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robinb
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“That night at the Carroways‘ ball, Lily decided there was nothing more ridiculous than trying to maintain a social life while solving a murder.” - Lily Adler

*Quote subject to change upon publication.*

Couldn‘t resist sharing some of the dry humor from this book...also includes some wonderful banter. 😊

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robinb
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Pickpick

It‘s been a minute since I was so taken with a new mystery series, but I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel! Lily, a young grieving widow returns to London from her in-laws, restless and questioning a future that is not what she had envisioned. A murder that she almost witnesses draws on her sense of justice and her keen intelligence to be solved, and with the aid of several old and new friends, she uncovers a scheme involving government ⬇️⬇️

robinb corruption and multiple villains.

Lily is a wonderfully drawn character, a rarity (as seen by society in 19th-century London) of being exceptionally intrepid, fair-minded and strong-willed. And her supporting cast are also “misfits” in one way or another and very interesting in themselves. ⬇️⬇️
4y
robinb I found this to be a very well-written and engaging story, and I will definitely be along for the ride in Lily‘s further adventures! 4.5/5⭐️

#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks
4y
Crazeedi Nice review, I wasn't as taken as you. I think the social restrictions put me off, I got tired of all the fussiness 4y
See All 6 Comments
robinb @Crazeedi Yes, the restrictions are pretty harsh and ridiculous at times for that period 🙄...totally agree! I guess I‘m just used to reading about them as I do read A LOT of books set in this time/location. 4y
Crazeedi @robinb I do too, just seems like this one really overdid the description, imo. The story itself was very good I thought 4y
robinb @Crazeedi 😊😊 4y
52 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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robinb
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Up next, the first in a new series set in early 19th century London about an independent, aristocratic widow who...what else?! Solves mysteries, of course!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤷🏻‍♀️
Count me in! 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

#NetGalley
#CrookedLaneBooks

Crazeedi Hmmm sounds good!!! 4y
robinb @Crazeedi 👍 so far, so good! 😊 4y
53 likes4 stack adds2 comments