I’ll admit I was a tad nervous about this one after loving the author’s refreshingly original debut last year. Could Hannah Dolby overcome those dreaded second book jitters and deliver an equally enchanting follow-up?

Well, she could, and she most certainly did!

It was an absolute delight to be back in fin-de-siècle Hastings, with Lady Detective Violet Hamilton, in another whimsical, rambunctious romp involving murder, nefarious shenanigans, and some delicious will-they-won’t -they romance.

When local stalwart, Mrs Withers, is found dead on the beach after a society ball, Violet has reason to believe it’s no accident and seizes the opportunity to prove her worth as a detective. Her investigations land her in all kinds of scrapes, including almost drowning in the sea, risking her life on a funicular, and being threatened with an electric corset to help cure her ‘hysteria’.

At her side is fellow detective and fiancé, Benjamin Blackthorn, whose dark good looks she variously compares to those of Lord Byron and Robert Burns. Although theirs is ostensibly an engagement of convenience, the attraction and fondness between them is palpable and a titillating thread of the narrative.

It is Violet, though, who is undoubtedly the star of the book. Hopelessly unladylike and unwilling to be beholden to any man, she’s strong willed, fiercely independent, and has a total disregard for social conventions; the kind of character you want to champion at every turn.

Historical detail is a key feature of the narrative, vividly bringing to life the Victorian seaside setting and the social mores of the time, especially those regarding women. Having earlier this year read Elinor Cleghorn’s fascinating study ‘Unwell Women’, I appreciated seeing some of these shocking attitudes incorporated here.

There are many strands to this story, more so than in the first book, but it is still a light, easy and thoroughly entertaining read, and with a highly satisfying conclusion that sets things up nicely for another instalment.

The discovery of a local woman's body in the popular Victorian seaside town of Hastings and St Leonard's understandably causes a furore. And it is a mystery that Lady Violet Hamilton is determined to get to the bottom of.

Unfortunately, not everyone believes that being involved in a murder investigation is "a woman's place", but Lady Violet is a woman who doesn't know her place when it comes to society's dictates about women's roles, but can put her privilege to good use when it suits her!

This humorous and lively story not only pokes fun very effectively at the gender stereotypes of the day, it also introduces us to the delightful Lady Violet, an excellent protagonist for this very enjoyable read. It gets 3.5 stars.

Violet is ahead of her time. She's solving crime in 1897 Sussex! Even more unusual - she's working with her fiancé. Ben's the epitome of gentleman detective/antique dealer. He's also very protective of his younger siblings. Ben and Violet aren't exactly in a rush down the aisle and they are content to concentrate on their new business.

I'm a connoisseur of murder mystery and I do enjoy a trip through history. There is some genteel humour and the storyline kept me hooked. Violet is really likeable and where lots of women of this time are portrayed as twee and prudish - she's fun, smart, independent and lovable. I love the way she has become a big sister to Ben's brothers and sisters but doesn't attempt to be a mum to them.

Violet is also a champion of women - she knows they usually get the short end of the stick and are either ignored or blamed for the things going wrong around them. She's actually a great feminist character.

I would have loved a bit more humour if I'm being completely nit-picky but otherwise this was a great read.

"Be your own fiercest champion so that you can face your worst critics."

Set in the Victorian era, Lady Detective Violet Hamilton is once again on the case. This time around, she sets about getting to the bottom of a local resident's death and experiences several hindrances.

Hannah Dolby clearly writes with wit. Having absolutely loved the first book , this installment's storyline fell a little flat for me. I loved Benjamin and Violet being together and I did enjoy Violet's character and her escapades. However, I didn't really feel as invested in the actual story in this book as compared to the first one, as there seemed to be a lot of other things going on.

This is Book 2 of a series, which I didn’t realise when I requested it, so I was at a slight disadvantage. As whodunnits go, it was an average story, and enjoyable enough, but I didn’t like it enough to read any more in the series.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

The story is set in 1897 in Hastings and St Leonards. Violet Hamilton is no ordinary lady - she is a Lady Detective where Benjamin Blackthorn (fiance) is helping with typing invoices and, at the same time, he is teaching how to be a better detective. I love how feisty and strong Violet is and certainly is keen to have a go! Violet is keen on finding out why a local lady is found dead. This leads her to places where she really shouldn't go but along the way, she has help from her friends. I hope there will be a third book. I highly recommend this book.

“Any woman who breaks a mould, who is a pioneer for a new way of being a woman, will be more subject to censure than most. Don’t add your own voice to the melee. Be your own fiercest champion so that you can face your worst critics. And if you believe in yourself, in who you are and what you do, and follow through, you will find most people take you at your own accounting.”

Violet Hamilton is no ordinary lady. She is a Lady Detective who spends her time solving mysteries and unveiling scandals in the bustling seaside town of Hastings and St. Leonards, a popular spot for the Victorian middle classes. But when the body of a local woman is found on the beach, Violet’s efforts to investigate are blocked at every turn.
Is that because, as a woman, she can’t possibly be allowed to think or act for herself? Or is it because someone sinister has Violet in their sights?

Hannah Dolby writes a witty, humorous mystery novel that will make you chuckle on one page and giggle at the next, before you break out in hysterical laughter. The romance is subtle and charming as Violet insists on keeping control of her life. Between the food, fashion, and way of life, there is a lot to learn and plenty that will surprise you in the historical details.

With a compelling character at the centre, this is a worthy sequel that sees the growth and evolution of Violet as a lady and a detective. It is apparent Violet has many more adventures to encounter with Benjamin as an equal partner, and I can’t wait to join her on them.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Aria & Aries.

I absolutely loved being back with Violet at the seaside solving crimes!

I adored the first book in this series and was so excited to continue on with these delightful characters and was not disappointed! The mystery and all the little bits and pieces that were connected to it, kept me guessing throughout and had me hooked right to the end of the story. I loved that we saw even more independence from Violet in this book and the development of certain relationships, particularly with her father.

I did want more Benjamin but I am just greedy! I thought it was interesting that he seemed a little more protective over Violet, now that they’re properly into their engagement, but he still trusted her and let her have her freedom.

Just another wonderfully written, funny and intriguing mystery from Hannah!

How to Solve Murders Like a Lady by Hannah Dolby is an absolute delight of a book. I loved the first book in the series, No Life for a Lady, when I read it last year, the main character, Violet felt almost like a friend by the end of the tale, and I really hoped that the book would mark the beginning of a series. It was, Violet's adventures in detection and romance continue here and I did not think it would be possible to like this book any more than the first, but somehow I did. I was smiling to myself and giggling in delight at every exchange between Violet and her love interest/ fellow detective/ furniture restoring fiancé Benjamin, while at other times being angry on Violet's behalf about the attitudes and treatment she faced from the more conservative elements of society including her own father.
There is a sold mystery plot at the heart of the book, it is well crafted and held my interest as Violet tries not only to uncover the murderer of Mrs Withers, a not particularly likeable acquaintance with a penchant for striking hats, but also clear Benjamin's name as he is accused of murder. I enjoyed this aspect of the book but what really made me love it was the developing relationship between Violet and Benjamin, there is a sweetness and softness to it that is both beautiful and comforting, but there is also a playfulness and humour in the way it is written that is simply joyous.
Once again I am left hoping for more books in this series, I am always going to want to spend more time with these characters, and I feel like there is plenty more of their story to be told, it's really only just beginning after all.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A charming sequel to Hannah Dolby’s ‘No Life for a Lady’.
Our lady detective Violet Hamilton is back, as we follow her adventures with her fiancé Benjamin.
Lots of recaps during the first few chapters, helped me remember the characters and what had happened previously.
An easy read, full of warmth and humour as Violet tries to solve a murder as well as coming round to the idea of getting married.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having loved the first in this series, I couldn't wait to get into the second!

Violet Hamilton is making progress in her desire to be a lady detective; however, when a murder takes place locally her intentions to investigate are thwarted at every turn. Why does everyone insist on treating her like a piece of fine china when she is more than capable of solving even the most despicable crime? Or is she being protected from something more sinister?

The first in this series was a wonderful read and my high hopes for this second novel were easily met. Violet is a brave woman, with ambitions well before her time. I love her character which is beautifully crafted; at a time when women were meant to be seen and not heard she is a breath of fresh air with a mind of her own. Yet again, Hannah Dolby has created a terrific read and I look forward to reading much more about Violet's plans and adventures. A solid 5* read and one I'm very happy to recommend.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy cia NetGalley, this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

The second book in a series is always a tough nut to crack and unfortunately this book didn’t quite work for me like No Life For A Lady did.

We follow Violet Hamilton again who is now a full time lady detective working alongside her fiancée Benjamin, when a local resident is found dead she makes it her mission to find out what really happened.

As with the first book I loved the characters of Violet and Benjamin, but unfortunately the mystery this time just wasn’t as good and the supporting characters lacked a multi-dimensional feel. By the end I was skimming the pages and didn’t really care who had ‘dunnit.’

It`s 1897 and Violet is a lady detective trying to solve mysteries for the middle classes. A body of a lady she knows is found on the beach but no one is willing to let her help and her fiancée has had to go away so he can`t help and ladies are not supposed to do the work she is trying to do as everyone keeps telling her.
Violet is a very strong willed lady and full of humour and it`s a very enjoyable book to read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first. It can be read as a stand alone book, as it reminds you of everything you need to know from the first book, which is helpful as it was a long time since I read the first. Set in the 1890s, when women were expected just to get married, have children and run a household, the language, the settings, and the personalities are very evocative of the time.

Violet was born a lady, but when her mother disappeared when she was younger, she decided she wanted more out of life than marriage to a man she found boring, and who didn’t share her values. Her father would set her up with ‘suitable’ men and Violet would dispatch them very quickly. When Violet decided that she wanted to be a Lady Detective, and solve the case of her missing mother, she came across Benjamin, another Detective in town, and she found she enjoyed his company and working together. In order to continue doing so, they became engaged so it wasn’t as scandalous them spending time alone together. When the town busybody Mrs Withers is discovered dead after a ball, in mysterious circumstances, Violet feels she has to investigate. She and Benjamin test their detective skills, their friendship – and perhaps more.

This book is amusing, and Violet sweeps you along with her enthusiasm. The relationships are interesting, and very evocative of the time. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Hastings and St Leonards in the 1890s.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6527288606

Violet Hamilton #2

Violet Hamilton is no ordinary lady, She is a Lady Detective, who spends her time solving mysteries and unveiling scandals in the bustling town of Hastings and St. Leonards, a popular spot for the Victorian classes. But when the body of a local woman is found on the beach, Violet's efforts to investigate are blocked at every turn. Is that because, as a woman, she can't possibly be allowed to think or act like herself? Or is it because someone sinister has Violet in their sights.

Set in 1897. The pace is slow in this well-written mystery. Violet is engaged to Benjamin, the detective we met in the first book. Violet is a Lady Detective who's trying to prove herself worthy in a man's world. We get a lot of information, reminding us of some of the key points from the first book, No Life For A Lady. There is some humour to this story, and I like that Violet is not like any other lady sleuth I've read about in the past. A lot of research has gone into this book about the era it was written about. I also felt there was some information we could have done without, it was as if it was put in to bulk the book out. This is a good cosy murder mystery and I hope there's more to come in this series.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Aria&Aries and the author #HannahDolby for my Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Violet Hamilton is a Lady Detective working with her fiancé in 1897 Hastings.
When the body of a highly opinionated local woman is found on the beach after a ball, Violet and Benjamin feel it only right to find out the truth. Violet must get past the Victorian thinking that women are too delicate to deal with the more dangerous and gruesome side of life and discover what’s really going on.
What follows is a glorious story of guts, ambition and a fantastic cosy crime mystery.

Having spent many a holiday in Hastings and St. Leonards the description of the town and the seafront are spot on. I’ve stayed at the Victoria Hotel and an Air BnB right next to what was the Queens hotel. Many an afternoon has been spent exploring the old town which I’m sure hasn’t changed since Victorian times. So I can picture it all in my mind perfectly.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading this book and cannot wait for further books in this series.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

A really fun story following the antics of Violet, an inspiring Lady Detective at a time when ladies should just sit and embroider.

It was a great second book in the series but can easily be read alone as there are lots of recaps during the first few chapters.

It moved at a nice pace, the characters were great and there was lots of humour and mysteries to be solved. I can't wait for book 3!

How to Solve Murders Like a Lady is the second novel about Lady Detective Violet Hamilton, now fiancée to detective and furniture restorer, Benjamin Blackthorn.

Violet is, again, an absolute delight. Eager to hone her skills as a detective and get into a 'real' detective case, she is bristling with enthusiasm. In the popular seaside town of Hastings and St Leonards, it's not long before she finds a case; a local woman found murdered on the beach.

Violet's attempts to investigate are hampered at every turn, but are her opponents just conservatively resistant to the idea of a young woman being a detective or are their motives more sinister?

The novel is a wonderful portrayal of a feisty and charming young woman bursting with energy. She's also bursting with some hitherto unknown feelings, especially when in proximity to her equally charming fiancé. It's all very thrilling for her. And for the reader.

The novel is funny, engaging, well paced, with a great cast of well-rounded characters, lots of twists and turns and great dialogue. I enjoyed it just as much as the first in the series, and I am still so utterly charmed by Violet that I am unable to find a single thing wrong with this novel.

How to solve murders like a lady by Hannah Dolby is the sequel to No life for a lady. I enjoyed this first one, so I was excited to see how the story continues.
Violet is now engaged to detective and furniture repairer Benjamin but is hesitant to marry him as she wants to continue her career as a lady detective. She just doesn’t want to prove that she is capable not just to herself but the people around her. Benjamin is a patient man and will not push her until she is ready. She investigates a woman, (Mrs Withers) a very judgemental woman who is found dead on the local beach after a local ball.
At first this was a bit of a slow start for me, but it became an interesting read. I liked the sense of humour in it and the character Violet trying to prove herself in a male dominated world. 4 stars from me.

I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was looking forward to rejoining Violet in a follow-up adventure. Very soon, though, I started to wish I hadn’t.

The things that I didn’t like about the first book were out in full force. Violet has her moments of being embarrassingly naive, which very quickly became grating, and the mystery plot wasn’t strong or coherent enough to carry the book. I really liked the clear story and character arc (and how they were intertwined) in the first book, and that was lacking here.

My favourite thing about the first book though, which thankfully was also my favourite thing about the second, is Violet’s relationship with her parents. Her mother especially is such a great character, and I loved the scenes where they interact. I particularly liked how Violet’s relationship with her father evolved in this book. They have a very complex relationship between the three of them and it’s also fascinating to see it play out.

I can’t see myself continuing on with this series, but I hope that there is more character development and maturity from Violet as the series continues.

I received a free copy for an honest review.