The Spinster's Resolve

It is a truth universally acknowledged that spinsters make the best sleuths.

Who else has perfected the fine art of sitting quietly in the corner, sipping tea, and overhearing everything?Step into the world of Miss Grace Skye, where a fiery letter, a missing cook, and a dangerous conspiracy threaten to upend the quiet existence of an unassuming spinster—whether she’s ready for it or not.

After being thoroughly snubbed in the marriage mart for her pert opinions and mixed heritage (too English for India, too Indian for England—utterly exhausting), Grace has made peace with spinsterhood. Who needs a husband when you have books, tea, and the satisfaction of minding your own business?

Except—plot twist—her ancestral home is suddenly snatched away by a frail but wily old Duke (who probably has one foot in the grave and the other on a dance floor). Worse still, his delightfully evil steward storms in, hiking up rents, threatening tenants, and spreading fear.
But when young women start vanishing, it’s clear something far darker is at play.
Grace is done.Like any self-respecting spinster with a bone to pick, she pens a furious, blistering, no-holds-barred letter to the elusive Duke, demanding justice.

What could possibly go wrong? ( Everything.)

Instead of resolving matters, her letter ignites a chain of treachery, peril, and wildly unforeseen consequences. Days later, her beloved cook, Melissa, disappears without a trace—and Grace can’t shake the sickening suspicion that her strongly worded correspondence invited danger straight to their door.

Determined to set things right (and possibly prevent more kidnappings through sheer stubbornness), she embarks on a reckless quest for the truth. The only logical solution? Disguise herself as a no-nonsense old maid and do a little sleuthing.
Except… there’s one tiny problem. Before she can even begin, she crosses paths with the man of business, Gabriel Stone—maddeningly handsome, dangerously charming, and entirely too mysterious for his own good.

Friend or foe? She hasn’t the faintest clue.

👀 Unfortunately, the spinster who notices everything… has just been noticed by Gabriel Stone himself. Between dodging unwanted suitors, managing an estate she no longer owns, and keeping her younger sister from running off with the first charming rogue with a well-tied cravat, Grace barely has time for murder. But when danger comes knocking, time is running out.
Will she unravel the mystery before she’s the next to disappear?

Or will she lose her home—and her heart—to the one man she cannot trust?

My Review: 

I really enjoyed this Regency cozy mystery. This checked all the boxes for me. Not only did it have villains and plot twists, but it also had clean romance and humor. I loved all of the characters, beginning with Grace and her sister, to Gabriel Stone, to the endearing staff at the Skye ancestral home. The red herrings were placed at just the right points in the story and kept me interested in seeing if I was right about who was the nefarious villain. I especially liked the exciting conclusion of the case and recommend reading this book. I hope there will be more books to follow by the author.

Mild swear words, kidnapping

I received a complimentary copy of the book through BookSirens. All opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.