The Matter of the Secret Bride (Rosalind Thorne Mysteries #8) Darcie Wilde -- Blog Tour Review

About the Book

Jane Austen meets Fleabag in Regency London, as a resourceful young woman with a talent for helping ladies of the ton with their most delicate and pressing predicaments finds herself facing a task of royal proportions. Literally.

King George IV is petitioning Parliament for a divorce from his queen on the grounds of her adultery. But rumor has it that the king secretly married Maria Fitzherbert—long before he married the queen. Now Mrs. Fitzherbert has been robbed—and she’s frantically calling on Rosalind for help.

Because what those thieves took is proof that she and King George did really marry. That single piece of paper could destroy Mrs. Fitzherbert and her family—or it could prove the king guilty of bigamy.

Rosalind races to investigate. With her is ex-Bow Street officer, Adam Harkness, with whom Rosalind shares a complex and rapidly intensifying bond. But a case of theft soon turns to murder . . .

Josiah Poole, a disreputable attorney specializing in helping debtors—and who was seen entering Mrs. Fitzherbert’s house—is found brutally murdered. Mrs. Fitzherbert has debts. Could she have staged the theft, and employed Mr. Poole to sell the marriage certificate? Or is the truth even more complicated? Mrs. Fitzherbert’s daughters have secrets of their own. And Poole himself had no shortage of enemies.

With suspicious coincidences mounting, and more danger encroaching, Rosalind and Adam must move quickly to unravel a history-making mystery that might just lead them straight to the palace itself . . .

GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author

Darcie Wilde is the award-winning author of stylishly adventurous historical mysteries and romances, including the Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, a Regency-set series inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, as well as the Regency Makeover Trilogy. She has also written, under the name Sarah Zettel, Locus and Philip K. Dick Award-winning novels, including Fool's War, a New York Times Notable Books of the Year selection. She lives in Michigan and can be found online at DarcieWildeRomance.com.

Review

Author Darcie Wilde took her writing inspiration from Jane Austen.   A story with mystery and secrets to be solved, including a secret wife of King George IV.  Filled with not only the solving of a mystery, but plenty of action, the backstory of this tale will capture the attention of readers with Miss Rosalind out to solve the mystery while still navigating high society.  Although a bit slow at first, this story is one that readers will likely end up enjoying if they stick with it.

Series: Rosalind Thorne Mysteries
Genre: mystery, thriller, historical, Regency, romance
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication date: December 24, 2024
Number of pages: 458

Books in the series:
1-A Useful Woman
2-A Purely Private Matter
3-And Dangerous to Know
4-A Lady Compromised
5-A Counterfeit Suitor
6-The Secret of the Lost Pearls
7-The Secret of the Lady’s Maid
8-The Matter of the Secret Bride

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.​