Cpra Harrison sets Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens at a house party with Edward Bulwer-Lytton whose estranged wife is in attendance. During this Summer of Secrets Rosina, the wife, has been freed from the asylum her husband arranged to sequester her in(as many Victorian husbands were able to do) and someone is murdered. Whodunit? Rosina? A boy afraid of losing his dog? The host? Lush surrounding and dark doings. A Victorian mystery weekend.

The books in this series are always entertaining and engrossing, this one was no exception.
I liked the mix of fiction and historical facts, the solid mystery and the character development.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Summer of Secrets is the best-plotted yet of these volumes. Several times, I though I had everything figured out, but then would discover—via Collins and Dickens—a gap in my theory that I hadn't anticipated. Set on the estate of a wealthy lord, this mystery is built around an amateur theatrical, directed by Dickens, and raising funds for a recent widow and her children. The amateur cast (two professional actresses are added in at the last minute) includes a group of well-know writers, articsts, and publishers. Relationships among all of them are mostly cordial, but each with its underlying tensions.

This is a great title to start with if you're cusious about historical mysteries or the Dickens/Collins sub-genre, but it will also please readers who have already been enjoying such books.

I received a free electronic review copy of this book from the publisher; the opinions are my own.

Cora Harrison takes an interesting theory about the author Charles Dickens and turns it into a clever whodunnit with Wilkie Collins as its narrator. The novel, set at the country home of Lord Bulwer-Lytton, brings a host of historical writers, illustrators, and playwrights together to relax and produce an amateur play. There are some truly unpleasant characters among the guests and staff, and its no surprise when murder occurs, but Dickens and the younger Collins have their hands full sorting out how and why it happened.



I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Severn House for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Summer of Secrets.” All opinions are my own.

Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens return as amateur detectives in “Summer of Secrets.” And who else do we find but Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton at the center of the story, along with his very unhappy wife and a host of other characters. Collins and Dickens are at the Bulwer-Lytton estate to put on a play, working with people both real and fictional. Much of the book is taken up with the life of Rosina Bulwer-Lytton and her travails (the real history is a case study in unhappy marriages), and this will figure prominently in the story. Since there’s a play, there are actors, and there’s plenty of them around, too, including an actress that Mr. Dickens knows rather well from his past. (An author’s note at the end of the book will explain about the real-life inspiration for this character and her relationship with Charles Dickens.)

Lady Bulwer-Lytton does a lot of threatening, and gets threatened. And pretty soon a despicable person is dead – but who was the actual target? Collins and Dickens set out to find out, of course.

Lots going on in this book, among a bunch of not very appealing people. Lord Bulwer-Lytton probably the worst of the bunch; the author makes a point of this, and also points out how immensely popular a writer he was. How overlooked he is now, even to the point of having a satirical modern namesake writing contest.

Collins and Dickens spend a lot of time going back and forth interviewing and deciding they know who did the shooting; all very good reasoning, but is it correct? Eventually Scotland Yard is called in, which means we get a visit from Inspector Field, the friend to Mr. Dickens and Mr. Collins. He’ll add a little more gravitas to the scene. Although these landed gentry, these upper-class people, guilty or not, can’t be suspected of the crime. It’ll be covered up, most likely. The author makes this very clear. And much of the book seems to be more about Dickens and his son, who’s also been a guest, than the solving of the murder. Not sure that I cared very much about that part of the story at all.

It’s left to Mr. Collins to turn true detective. Luckily, he can get advice from Mr. Dickens along the way, and thus lay out the details of the perfect crime. And since we are dealing with “authors,” the epilogue talks of the publication of Mr. Collins’ masterpiece, “The Woman in White,” and how its inspiration came from this murder. I enjoyed “Summer of Secrets,” and enjoyed visiting with Mr. Collins and Mr. Dickens once again.

At Knebworth House, the family seat of Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the great and the good of the literary and theatre world gather to rehearse an amateur performance of his play The Lady Of Lyons. The play is being directed by the great Charles Dickens.
In a mystery narrated by Wilkie Collins, Cora Harrison has cleverly blended a cast of real people into a fictional murder mystery. Here are all the tropes of those splendid Victorian novels which are still so popular today.
A perfect mystery for all lovers of classic crime novels.

I'm such a fan of the Gaslight Mysteries and Summer of Secrets is no different. Charles Dickens PLUS Wilke Collins? Sign me up!

This makes me excited for the adventures to come and rushing to by the Jane Austen series from Cora Harrison.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

1856 Collins and Dickens are guests of Dickens' friend Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton at his home, Knebworth House, where they are presenting a play for charity. The peace is disturbed by his estranged wife, Lady Rosina.
But soon Collins and Dickens find themselves investigating a murder. But who was the intended victim and what secrets will be exposed.
Another entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its well-developed and likeable characters. A good addition to the series which can be read as a standalone story
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cora Harrison's Summer of secrets is an elegant Victorian murder mystery brilliantly narrated by a young Wilkie Collins. Taking place in Hertfordshire during the month of August, this delightful novel brings together a colorful cast of literary and artistic characters on the estate of Lord Edward Bulwer Lytton, a renown writer and playwright, for the rehearsing and staging of one of Bulwers' plays, under the direction of Charles Dickens. Then one participant is murdered...
Part whodunit, part comedy of manners, the novel also highlights the disadvantages (financial and sexual) facing Victorian women especially in the upper classes and artistic world of mid 19th century England, the enduring inequalities within their married life and the power held by men over their homes and marriages. Finally the novel grapples also with issues of legitimacy and being born outside of wedlock, recurrent themes throughout Collins and Dickens' "oeuvres." Summer of secrets was a very compelling work of fiction that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Severn House

I felt that the author’s approach to prove her point of view was bold and fascinating. It was well presented with historical facts interspersed with an amazing mystery story.

The author’s choice of combing the personalities of a young Wilkie Collins and an older Charles Dickens in order to present her belief about Dickens was brilliant.

My thanks to Severn House Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC of Summer of Secrets.

‘I blame my new-found profession for my next move.’

August 1856, Knebworth House, Hertfordshire. Charles Dickens and his protégé Wilkie Collins are spending summer at the home of Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton. A charity performance of ‘The Lady of Lyon’, one of Lord Edward’s most successful plays is planned. But disaster strikes at the dress rehearsal when a man is shot dead in the centre of the stage. Who shot him and why?

Wilkie Collins, our narrator, and Charles Dickens investigate. They quickly find that nothing is straightforward. The dead man was standing in for Lord Edward: was he shot by mistake? Lord Edward’s estranged wife Lady Rosina is present (and suspected) but the more Collins and Dickens dig, the more possible suspects and motives they uncover. Knebworth House is full of secrets, at least twenty years of secrets.

This is a wonderful mystery, full of red herrings and possibilities. I now need to seek out the first two in this series. While I have read quite a few of Ms Harrison’s other novels, I have not previously encountered this series. Recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

My thanks to Cora Harrison, Severn House Publishers, and net Galley for the ARC of Summer of Secrets. The story I read was not the one I expected but I enjoyed it very much. I understand there are other stories involving Dickens, one of my absolute favourite writers, and Wilkie Collins. A very unusual premise. I loved Wilkie's narration and would be very happy to read the others.

A Murder At Knebworth....
A murder at the magnificent Knebworth House gives Dickens and Collins just cause for consternation. Coming amidst the performance of a play, the two writers come amateur sleuths are compelled to investigate. With misdirection and red herrings aplenty, a satisfying read which is a worthy addition to this engaging series.

Readers whose knowledge of Dickens ends with A Christmas Carol have a lot to learn in Cora Harrison's Summer of Secrets.

This is the third murder collaboration undertaken by Dickens and young protege Wilkie Collins. Dickens is staging a play at the country estate of Edward Bulwer-Lytton, one of many characters who pop up in an online search, actual friends and collaborators of Dickens.

If these are real people, could any of them have shot Bulwer-Lytton's secretary? Surely not Dickens' son Charlie, defending his first love. Or Bulwer-Lytton's estranged wife. One red herring after another leads to a surprise ending..