Regency Murder and Marriage Series by Claudia Stone

After an unsuccessful season in London, Miss Mary Mifford has returned to the village of Plumpton determined to be the most upstanding spinster the Cotswolds have ever seen. Not even the arrival of the elusive Duke of Northcott can distract Mary from her plan; until the local rector is found bludgeoned to death and Mary is named as the prime suspect... moreAfter an unsuccessful season in London, Miss Mary Mifford has returned to the village of Plumpton determined to be the most upstanding spinster the Cotswolds have ever seen. Not even the arrival of the elusive Duke of Northcott can distract Mary from her plan; until the local rector is found bludgeoned to death and Mary is named as the prime suspect. When Northcott offers to assist Mary in finding the culprit, she does not think for a second that his motives have anything to do with marriage - but as the list of suspects grows longer, Mary and the duke grow closer and closer, and she begins to wonder if she is not such a determined spinster after all.Henry William Lockheart, Sixth Duke of Northcott, has returned to his ducal seat, determined to attend to the estate he has neglected since his father's death. Nothing shall distract him from his plan, he thinks, until something - or rather someone- does.Miss Mary Mifford is hardly the ideal candidate to be his duchess - given her lack of wealth and connections, along with the bothersome fact that she is the prime suspect in a murder - but Henry is smitten. Determined to help the young lady, Henry throws himself into investigating the death of the rector, Mr Parsims, hoping to clear her name.With a long list of suspects, Henry suspects that the task might be difficult; though it might prove easier to solve a murder than to convince an earnest spinster that she should be his bride...A Death, A Duke, And Miss Mifford is the first book in the Regency Murder and Marriage Series, by Claudia Stone. A light, witty, and fun read this story is sure to delight fans of Regency Romance and Cozy Mysteries alike. less

All Emily wants is to survive her first season in London. She doesn't anticipate another lady failing to survive it - and being blamed for her death...The only ambition Miss Emily Mifford holds for her first season in London, is to endure it without completely humiliating herself; a difficult task when one has a mother with no sense of propriety, and one’s own unfortunate habit of saying precisely the wrong thing... moreAll Emily wants is to survive her first season in London. She doesn't anticipate another lady failing to survive it - and being blamed for her death...The only ambition Miss Emily Mifford holds for her first season in London, is to endure it without completely humiliating herself; a difficult task when one has a mother with no sense of propriety, and one’s own unfortunate habit of saying precisely the wrong thing.After clashing publicly with the odious Lady Hardthistle, Emily soon learns that there are worse things than being embarrassed - like being accused of murder! When the belligerent baroness is found strangled to death at a ball, the finger of blame points at Emily. Keen to exonerate herself, Emily sets out to solve the mysterious murder, with a little help from a very handsome - and highly conceited - marquess.Frederick Chambers, Sixth Marquess of Highfield thought he would never meet a woman captivating enough to distract him from his own reflection, until he meets Miss Mifford and is instantly besotted. When the object of his affections is accused of murder, Freddie is desperate to help - for what could a lady love more than a white knight to dash to her rescue?The mystery of who murdered Lady Hardthistle, however, is not as easily solved as he first imagines. A double-crossed young-buck, a cheated squire, and a lady's maid set to inherit a fortune; the list of people who wished the baroness dead is lengthy indeed...As Freddie and Emily work together to try solve the mysterious murder, Freddie finds himself falling madly in love with Miss Mifford. Can he help to clear her name? And, more importantly, can he convince her to become his marchioness? less

As the youngest of four girls, Miss Eudora Mifford has spent her whole life attempting to catch up with her older sisters. From solving murders to finding husbands, they are always one step ahead—leaving Eudora trailing behind in a perfectly respectable but dreadfully unremarkable existence.So, when she quite literally stumbles over a dead body, Eudora knows this is her chance to finally make her mark. Unfortunately, no one else seems to agree... moreAs the youngest of four girls, Miss Eudora Mifford has spent her whole life attempting to catch up with her older sisters. From solving murders to finding husbands, they are always one step ahead—leaving Eudora trailing behind in a perfectly respectable but dreadfully unremarkable existence.So, when she quite literally stumbles over a dead body, Eudora knows this is her chance to finally make her mark. Unfortunately, no one else seems to agree.When a cantankerous viscount is murdered at a house party and the guests find themselves snowed in, Eudora seizes the opportunity to prove herself capable of solving not one, but two, murders!The only person willing to indulge her investigation is Lord Robert Delaney—a man with absolutely no interest in solving murders, but a keen interest in courting her.Robert Delaney, Baron Bloomsbury, accepted an invitation to Plumpton Hall for one to make Miss Mifford his wife. If that means chasing down clues and interrogating suspects, then so be it. With three possible culprits—a brooding son in dire need of an inheritance, a much-gossiped-about wife, and an old Oxford rival with an axe to grind—there are plenty of mysteries to unravel.But the real question can Robert assist Eudora in solving a murder and convince her to become his bride? Or will she remain far too distracted by crime to notice the most important clue of all—that he’s hopelessly in love with her? less

Miss Sarah Hughes has long accepted her fate as the dustiest spinster on the shelf in Plumpton—until a local landowner is found dead, and suspicion falls on her father.Determined to protect her family, Sarah is drawn into village gossip, family secrets, and one extremely inconvenient a fake courtship with the Earl of Ashford.Lord Lucian Deverell never intended to fall in love again... moreMiss Sarah Hughes has long accepted her fate as the dustiest spinster on the shelf in Plumpton—until a local landowner is found dead, and suspicion falls on her father.Determined to protect her family, Sarah is drawn into village gossip, family secrets, and one extremely inconvenient a fake courtship with the Earl of Ashford.Lord Lucian Deverell never intended to fall in love again.But when a fiercely clever farmer’s daughter rescues him from a matchmaking ambush, he offers his help in her investigation—and finds himself unexpectedly smitten.Between confusing clues, flaring tempers, and the well-meaning meddling of Mrs Mifford, Sarah and Lucian must uncover the truth. And Lucian must also convince Sarah that his courtship is no longer fake—but very much in earnest and he wants her as his bride.This delightful cozy mystery Regency romance is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. less

Miss Flora Bridges is well accustomed to village gossip—but while whispers of witchcraft she can endure, accusations of murder are quite another matter.When the trustee of her newly inherited fortune, the pompous Sir Ambrose Quill, turns up dead, every eye in Plumpton turns on her. The only bright spot in the chaos is the distractingly handsome naval captain determined to keep her out of trouble—though he may prove even more dangerous to her heart... moreMiss Flora Bridges is well accustomed to village gossip—but while whispers of witchcraft she can endure, accusations of murder are quite another matter.When the trustee of her newly inherited fortune, the pompous Sir Ambrose Quill, turns up dead, every eye in Plumpton turns on her. The only bright spot in the chaos is the distractingly handsome naval captain determined to keep her out of trouble—though he may prove even more dangerous to her heart.Captain James Thorne came to Plumpton to unmask a swindler, not to fall for a woman accused of murder. But the moment he meets Miss Flora Bridges, he’s caught between duty and desire. And the more time he spends with her, the more determined he becomes to protect her name…and claim her heart.From poisoned port to whispered love potions, village gossip to matchmaking mamas, A Captain, a Corpse, and Miss Bridges is a witty Regency mystery brimming with charm, romance, and just a touch of magic. less

Miss Charlotte Mifford is facing another Christmas — and birthday — as an impoverished spinster living on the charity of her relatives.When a tall, dark, and exceedingly handsome French Comte arrives in the cosy village of Plumpton, Charlotte sensibly assumes he would never look twice at a woman like her.But when the annual Christmas Pudding Contest turns unexpectedly — and quite literally — poisonous, the Comte gallantly offers to help Charlotte clear her aunt’s name... moreMiss Charlotte Mifford is facing another Christmas — and birthday — as an impoverished spinster living on the charity of her relatives.When a tall, dark, and exceedingly handsome French Comte arrives in the cosy village of Plumpton, Charlotte sensibly assumes he would never look twice at a woman like her.But when the annual Christmas Pudding Contest turns unexpectedly — and quite literally — poisonous, the Comte gallantly offers to help Charlotte clear her aunt’s name.It is simply good Gallic manners, she tells herself… even as her treacherous heart suggests otherwise.Gabriel, Comte de Roche, is accustomed to stares.Tall, dark, and (if he may say so) a touch terrifying, he rarely inspires anything but wary admiration. Hoping for a peaceful holiday with an old friend after retiring from a life at sea, he instead finds himself drawn into a murder investigation, a riotous Cotswolds Christmas, and an unexpected infatuation with a relentlessly cheerful Englishwoman — one who does not seem to realise, in the slightest, where his attentions are leading.As Twelfth Night approaches, they must uncover who murdered Plumpton’s postmaster… and Gabriel must realise that being big and brawny does not make a man brave — not unless he can voice the truth beating in his heart.This is the seventh book in the fun, cosy, and romantic Regency Murder and Marriage series. It may be read as a cheerful Christmas standalone or enjoyed as part of the series as a whole! less