A Scandal in Mayfair

A Scandal in Mayfair (2024) Katharine Schellman (Lily Adler #5)

Set in London in 1817

After receiving a letter begging “A Lady of Quality” to help her discover if her uncle is stealing her inheritance, Lily is blackmailed by the girl’s beau to seek out the will that supposedly left the inheritance to the uncle rather than her.

Lily, Ofelia, Amelia, and Jack have to decide if they want to help the young woman–and how to deal with the blackmailer. And now that Jack is back on land for good, Lily has to decide how she feels about him.

The storm had ended with a murderer caught, but not before Jack had taken a bullet in one shoulder. He had escaped the infection that his family feared could end his life.

I continue to like not just the characters in the series, but their interactions, and the importance of propriety in the lives of women at that time.

That made Jem’s expression grow alarmed. “You ain’t thinking of doing nothing illegal, are you?” he demanded.

“No, I wish to learn how to pick locks for highly respectable reasons,” Lily said with a straight face.

Well, propriety, except for lock-picking.

We also again meet Simon Page and his niece and nephew.

“It has a great many other names, but in his Natural History, Pliny the Elder called it wolfsbane because he said it came from the saliva of Cerberus.” Fanny hesitated, then added in a serious whisper, “My Aunt Judith would not approve of my saying saliva.”

“Well, I promise not to tell,” Lily replied, not knowing what else to say.

I continue to thoroughly enjoy this series.

Characters: Lily Adler, Captain Jack Hartley, Amelia Hartley, Serena Lady Walter, Simon Page, Lord Ned Carroway, Lady Ofelia Carroway, Henry Francis Clive, Miss Sarah Forrest, Mrs. Mannering, Martin Forrest, Miss Mary Waverly, Mrs. Carstairs, Jem, Anna, Mr. Hawes, Constance du Varnier, Fanny Andrews, George Andrews, Mrs. Carver, Judith Page, Dr Ivey, Mrs. Ivey, Louis Carver, Sir Nathaniel Conant

Cover designed by Nicole Lecht

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Rating: 8.5/10

• Browse the archives:
  
• Dead Man’s Ransom » »
• « « The Rook, Audiobook