The Mystery of Albert E. Finch: A Victorian Book Club Mystery

Set in 1892, Hutton’s light and easy third Victorian Book Club mystery (after 2021’s The Sign of Death) finds Lady Amy Lovell, amateur sleuth and author of mystery novels (under a male pseudonym, of course), marrying Lord William Wethington, her wealthy and utterly besotted sweetheart. At the happy couple’s wedding breakfast, held on the outskirts of Bath at Amy’s great-aunt’s manor house, Alice Finch, one of the 50 or so guests, is poisoned. Two Bath police detectives, who disdain Lady Amy’s interference in criminal matters, hastily conclude that the culprit is Alice’s husband, Albert, who stands to inherit a great deal of money from her death. Amy does not concur. The newlyweds put their honeymoon on hold as they attempt to ferret out the truth. Among those providing comic relief are Amy’s grumpy father; Othello, a Shakespeare-quoting cockatoo; and Amy’s much-loved dog, Persephone, though the main draw is the amusing banter between Amy and William. Cozy fans will have fun. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (Jan.)