The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst by Katie Lumsden

A single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife - so why choose her?

Katie Lumsden’s first novel - The Secrets of Hartwood Hall - was a fantastically addictive Gothic mystery where nothing was as it seemed. This second novel has the feel of Jane Austen, witty and full of gossip. In this comedy of manners where class and family reputation is everything, scandal is just around the corner. Amelia Ashpoint is comfortable with her life as it is. She and her brother Diggory live at home with their wealthy father and younger sister Ada in their newly built mansion in the county of Wickenshire. Summer 1841 at the start of marriage season, Amelia is 23 and her father has decided he wants to secure a husband for her. He has his hopes for Mr Montgomery Hurst, the most eligible bachelor in their social set and the owner of stately home Radcliffe Park. At previous dinners and dances, he has sought Amelia for his dance partner and they can chat comfortably together at dinner. Their easy manner has been noted in society. However, at the next society ball there is intrigue and shock. Mr Hurst has been secretly engaged elsewhere, to an unknown widow with three children. Their friends are appalled but Amelia feels nothing but relief. She has no interest in marriage at all. It seems society has big expectations for Amelia, but her heart lies in a very different direction.

There’s so much to like in this Regency tale and Amelia is the centre of the centre of that. She’s an intelligent young woman who really knows her own mind and accepts who she is. She also knows where her heart lies but knows it can never be made public. It’s interesting to watch her slowly realise that she’s no longer a girl but is considered a grown-up and their are expectations on young women to marry. She imagined spending her days at the family home with her father, never having to marry and never realising what her father knows. He isn’t going to be here forever. He’s becoming anxious about making sure she is settled, because the truth is all of them will have to marry. The house and estate will go to her brother and whoever he chooses to marry will become the mistress of Ashpoint Hall. Ada is still a girl but there won’t be room for Amelia. If only everyone could have as simple and happy a marriage as the new Mrs Hurst. When Amelia visits Radcliffe she is heartened by their easy manner with each other and the very natural relationship he seems to have built with his new stepchildren. Everyone around Amelia, including her best friend Clara and even her brother Diggory, appears to understand an unwritten rule - it’s time to find a mate.

The author portrays Wickenshire society beautifully, detailing how much traditional country society has changed. The differences can be seen in the village’s gentleman’s club The Lantern where one floor is for those deemed gentlemen and downstairs is for tenants and tradespeople like the foreman of the Ashpoint Brewery Mr Lonsdale and military men like Major Alderton. The Ashpoints are not aristocracy themselves, in fact Ashpoint Hall is relatively new despite it’s grandeur. They may be new money, but the fact they have so much money qualifies them as acceptable in polite society. The Earl and Countess of Wickford are the pinnacle of county society, so when they have a ball, they invite everybody, including the Major and Mr Lonsdale, but they can only get away with this behaviour because they’re aristocracy. If anyone else invited such men to a soirée it could reflect badly on the host. However, the author shows very strongly that just because someone is viewed as a gentleman it doesn’t mean they behave as one. Amelia’s brother Diggory is horrified to find that his best friend Alistair, Viscount of Salbridge and heir to the current Earl, has a guilty secret. His behaviour shows he has no regard for those reliant on him for their wages, the roof over their head, or even for a woman’s honour. This discovery leads to such a parting of the ways that Diggory starts to frequent downstairs at The Lantern. The usual downstairs clientele would be considered beneath him normally, but he’s growing up quickly and making his own life choices. Ever since he decided to propose to Lady Rose he’s started a steep learning curve, working every day in the brewery and preparing to take over from his father. He’s also keen on showing Lady Rose’s parents that his intentions are serious, realising that men are not born with integrity and honour. Money is also no guarantee of a man’s good character. Falling in love has set Diggory on the path to be a better man, also abstaining from drinking and the dangerous levels of gambling that have been the norm for him and the Viscount.

Amelia also has to grow up a lot throughout the novel. The subject of a woman’s honour and her marriageability are the strongest theme in the novel. It’s clear that societies like Wickenshire are in flux. Amelia has been insulated by her father’s money, so up until now the reality of a woman’s choices in life haven’t touched her. It is only her money that makes Mr Hurst a possible mate, otherwise he would be completely out of reach. Meanwhile, some titled families are beginning to find themselves financially unstable, meaning they are having to cast their nets wider to find suitable marriage partners. Where once only a title would do, families might need to consider new money and potential grooms may have to support the whole family or maintain a huge mansion. This could be good news for Diggory and Lady Rose, who is horrified to find her parents in dire straits and in a hurry to find her a husband. If Diggory doesn’t secure his bride, anyone reasonably respectable might do! For Amelia it’s her best friend Clara’s potential suitors that shock her the most as she’s always assumed they were of the same mind. However, Clara’s family don’t have the financial stability of the Ashpoints so she doesn’t have the luxury of turning down good offers, even if it isn’t her inclination to marry. Amelia grows up and gains a lot of perspective listening to her friend’s dilemma, realising how lucky she is to have a family who can support her for life and a fledgling writing career to fall back on should her father’s plans come to nothing. When rumours start to spread about Mrs Montgomery Hurst, Amelia realises how even a whiff of scandal can ruin a woman and how polite society shuns those who stray from the accepted conventions. Could there be a way for Amelia to use her position to still the gossiping tongues and sway polite society to accept the family? This is also a timely reminder that her own single status could be the cause of gossiping tongues.

I loved this wonderful homage to Austen. It has everything: characters of all classes; light comedy; smart social events; a dissection of Regency love and the marriage market. The author then brings in themes that we might consider more modern, such as infidelity, domestic abuse and LGBTQ+ relationships too. Just as Sarah Waters did with the Victorian novel, Katie uses the format of a Regency novel to show us that these types of relationships did exist when Austen was writing. It’s a form of writing back; she’s placing people and themes that were not included in literature of the time back into their historical context and exploring how they might fit in that time period. It gives us a richer and more varied sense of how society might have been, touching on subjects that didn’t really start to appear until Queen Victoria was on the throne. It was only a few decades later that the Brontë’s wrote about more complex relationships: Jane Eyre’s love for a married man’ Anne Brontë’s Tenant of Wildfell Hall escaping from an abusive and violent marriage or Emily Brontë’s slightly incestuous and abusive relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff. These are very different novels though with a darker tone. Katie has instead taken all the lightness and wit of Austen, making it such a pleasure to read, but brining darker and more complex themes under the surface. The opening scene of chaos as the Ashpoint family get ready for a ball while Ada sobs at the unfairness of having to stay at home, is reminiscent of the Bennett sisters in a similar situation. For Austen, the comedy of Mrs Bennett’s nerves, the preposterous Mr Collins and Mr Elton as well as the romance of the storylines disguised more complex themes of a woman’s place in society and their inability to inherit, not to mention the awful fate of an unhappy marriage. Upon the death of their father, girls were often left at the mercy of distant male relatives and had no say over their own fate. Our heroine Amelia simply wants to achieve the best outcome for herself, knowing she doesn’t want to marry. All she wants is to live in her childhood home, write her books and to enjoy the company of her brother’s family when he inherits. Most of all she wants to have the personal freedom that characters like Lady Rose and her friend Clara sadly can’t have. You’ll keep turning the pages, hoping she can achieve it.

Another great work of historical fiction by this author, so glad to be approved for another read. A great representation of society and class.

An entertaining ‘period’ drama that would be great on TV. Let’s not mistake it for authentic historical fiction though: The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst is set in the mid 19th century, but does not really immerse the reader in that period. Instead, it’s a bag-of-Allsorts, mish-mash of Georgian/Victorian/Edwardian/modern social and cultural mores, values, attitudes and behaviour.

The author’s love of classic British literature shines through, and I loved that. But if you set out to beg comparison with the greats, you’re setting a very high bar indeed. I’m afraid I spent so much time comparing it, that all I wanted to do was go back to Austen, Gaskell, etc. and enjoy the real thing. Still, I enjoyed the read. I don’t know how to express the literary-appreciation equivalent of ‘the costumes are lovely!’ but that’s kind of where I was…

A brilliant book with a great community of characters each with their own stories. I love how you really feel sucked into the pages like you are living amongst these people. Would highly recommend!!

I loved this novel! It’s really different from her previous book but I feel like this would be a fabulous Sunday night cosy drama. It’s about society’s expectations and how to over come them. Read it and enjoy!

Welcome to the Summer of 1841 in Wickenshire, a county that thrives on gossip and whose most eligible bachelor announces his engagement to a stranger, much to the disappointment of Miss Amelia Ashpoint’s father who had his sights on Mr Montgomery-Hurst for his daughter.

The joy of the book for me is Kaitie's writing. The story a homage to Gaskell and Austin captures my love for observing society with wit and charm.

As we are introduced to the inhabitants of the county of Wickenshire we find a diverse society, with all the classism, society values and gossip. The character of Amelia is witty in her observations as she navigates her fathers wishes for her to marry.

The twist and turns made me intrigued and the observations of class and morality, especially with the newly rish Industrial families and workers and their place in society as it changes around them.

I really loved this book and highly recommend to lovers of Regency and Victorian fiction. Thank you Katie, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the eARC. A beautiful hardcopy now adorns my shelves.

I really wanted to enjoy this because I love books marketed as Jane Austen like but I don’t know, I think there were too many important characters to focus on.

The Trouble with Mrs. Montgomery Hurst by Katie Lumsden is a delightful historical novel set in the early 20th century. The story centers around Mrs. Montgomery Hurst, a woman who finds herself navigating the complexities of societal expectations and personal desires. Lumsden paints a vivid picture of the era, capturing the nuances of social class and gender roles with both wit and sensitivity.

The novel excels in its character development, particularly in its portrayal of Mrs. Hurst, who is both relatable and complex. Her struggles with societal norms and her quest for personal fulfillment drive the narrative forward. The book is imbued with humor and charm, yet it does not shy away from exploring deeper themes of identity and social change.

Lumsden's writing style is engaging and immersive, making the historical setting come alive through detailed descriptions and a rich, evocative atmosphere. The plot is well-crafted, balancing romance, drama, and social commentary in a way that keeps the reader invested from start to finish.

Overall, "The Trouble with Mrs. Montgomery Hurst" is a captivating read that offers both an entertaining story and thoughtful reflections on the role of women in early 20th-century society.

The county of Wickenshire is socially divided between County and Town. The minor nobility look down on the new money and the new money is unsure on how to proceed. Amelia's father is brewery owner, probably the richest man in the area, and he wants Amelia to marry well. Amelia doesn't want to marry, her love is completely different. Her brother Diggory is in love with Lady Rose, but he's been warned off by her brother, he's 'not suitable'. Then Mr Hurst turns up with a mysterious new bride, a older widow with children.
This is a pleasant enough comedy of manners which does a good job of playing homage to Austen and Gaskell, however it is a lot lighter in weight and a little more knowing. I couldn't really get the balance with the modern mores on display.

A sweet little historical small-town romance with superb character portrayal. I’ll be looking out for future work from this author!

💬 My Bookish Thoughts

After admiring the beautifully illustrated map of South West Wickenshire (I do love a map in a book!), we are introduced to 23-year-old Amelia Ashpoint at the start of the marriage season, as her family prepares for a grand ball.

This witty novel, set in the mid-19th century, is a delightful comedy of manners with everything you’d expect: sharp wit, class tension, scandal, gossip, and a fiercely independent female lead who challenges societal norms.

One of the joys of this book is uncovering the secrets nestled in the storyline. Katie Lumsden manages a large cast of characters with finesse, reminding me of Jane Austen’s work. I particularly appreciated the 'Dramatis Personae' at the beginning—a lifesaver for my menopause memory, thank you, Katie!

Amelia is a brilliantly crafted FMC—funny, independent, flawed, loyal, and wonderfully feisty. I’m already missing the townsfolk of Wickenshire and am eagerly hoping for more installments.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, or if you’re looking to fill the void Bridgerton has left, I highly recommend The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Michael Joseph, and Penguin Random House for the gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏼

This is an utterly stupendous novel and a perfect evocation of not just the era, but writers at the time. Due to the time in which we live, the author was able to explore themes with more depth than Victorian authors ever could; Lumsden's appreciation of Victorian literature is present in most lines and this very much feels like an homage to Trollope, Gaskell and Austen (as I believe the author intended). Amelia Ashpoint is a witty character, no one is safe from her biting remarks, yet her love story might be the most doomed of any other character within the novel. We get to see how love was really no match for money in this time, so that the novel felt more realistic and less romantic than its predecessors. Yet, this is not a tragic story by any means, this is a beautiful comedy of manners in which one truly feels as though they become close friends with most of the characters and wished them well. I would be most interested to hear how the characters are getting on in future, even if that were just a line or two in a later novel from this truly tremendous author.

.4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/07/30/review-the-trouble-with-mrs-montgomery-hurst-by-katie-lumsden/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: A Love Letter to Austen

I really enjoyed this story. It manages to combine some more modern themes and sensibilities with a perfectly executed comedy of manners amidst a profusion of gossip and a splendour of bonnets and bickering.

The story is set in the fictional county of Wickenshire and revolves mostly around the exploits of a young woman called Amelia Ashpoint. As you would expect from a novel set in this period (late Regency/early Victorian) the more prominent families spend their time worrying about money, future prospects for their sons/daughters and keeping up appearances.

As the story begins we immediately discover that one of the more desirable bachelors of the neighbourhood is about to marry – and not to one of the local young ladies. Imagine the consternation when it’s discovered that this new lady has not only been previously married (shock, horror, *gasp*) but also has three children. The indignation is real!

Anyway, I’m not going to delve deeper into the plot. Suffice to say that there are enough twists and turns to this one to delight and perplex readers aplenty.

What I loved about this. Virtually everything to be honest. It’s really entertaining, the writing and pace are excellent, it feels like a period novel without being too fusty and it made me smile and sometimes cringe a little.

The characters are really well drawn. Amelia gave me Emma vibes with her constant interfering and usually ill conceived plots and statements. I don’t think she came across as nearly as witty as she and everyone else believed but even so I liked and was rooting for her. There are a collection of characters from Earls to brewery managers, all with their own motivations and the story really brought to life the strict etiquette of the period that was so very restraining whilst at the same time demonstrating how some of these norms were perhaps starting to relax a little.

I loved the country and Manor House setting, the insertion of many small dramas that kept the place alive with gossip and the constant behind doors attempts at match making. And this is all delivered alongside some much more weighty themes that are inserted with a wonderfully light touch.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of manners. It’s a step away from the fantasy, horror and mystery that I often enjoy and was a lovely change of pace. Highly recommended for Austen lovers.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 beribboned stars

Katie Lumsden has done it again, this time with an Austen-esque novel full of gossip and scandal. The inhabitants of Wickenshire are shocked when the eligible Mr Hurst brings home his new bride, but she is not what they expected. Brimming with vibrant characters, including a villain you'll love to hate, my favourite was Amelia, a headstrong young woman who is resisting her family's desire for her to settle down. I love how Katie Lumsden writes in a style which is so true to the classics but with a fresh modern twist, making this a thoroughly engaging and entertaining read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy.

A homage to Cranford and Jane Austen, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst follows a diverse set of characters over the course of a few months in the fictional town of Wickenshire where the status quo is shaken following the announcement that eligible bachelor Mr Hurst is to marry not just a stranger but a widowed stranger with three children. Everyone is intrigued from the great and good to the self made to the townsfolk and the newly wed couple find themselves the source of a great deal of speculation. This forms the backdrop to a season where alliances are made, lovers are joined and separated and fortunes tumble. Witty and knowing this is an interesting read.

A light hearted, witty, clever, Jane Austin style period drama and romance. There is a delightful cast of characters who are introduced through a range of social events and interactions. The social protocols of the period are woven into the story which revolves around relationships; some are open, some secret, some longed for, some are for the sake of propriety, and some are purely for wealth. A picture is painted of a society governed by rules and formal etiquette with boundaries increasingly crossed as the story progresses as more people behave ‘as they wish and not as they ought’.

The short chapters help to maintain the flow of the story with chapter headings to hint at what is to unfold. I was hooked by the characters and storylines from the first page and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.

In a small, close-knit community in 1841, the arrival of a newcomer can really cause a stir – and that’s what happens when Mr Montgomery Hurst brings his new wife home to Wickenshire. Mr Hurst was one of the county’s most eligible bachelors, so everyone is curious to see what sort of woman has tempted him to marry at last. The new Mrs Hurst, however – a widow in her thirties with three small children – is not what they are expecting. It seems to the people of Wickenshire that she is not quite respectable and gossip quickly begins to spread as they speculate about her past and her previous marriage.

One person who doesn’t care too much about the gossip is Amelia Ashpoint. Amelia’s father owns a brewery, making the Ashpoints one of the richest families in Wickenshire, yet they are still not regarded as equals by the older families whose wealth and titles have been passed down through the generations. At twenty-three, Amelia is expected to marry soon, but what she really wants is a career as a writer and the freedom to be with the person she truly loves. Meanwhile, Felicia Elton, ‘the great beauty of Wickenshire’, is also under pressure to find a rich husband. With her looks and accomplishments, it shouldn’t be a difficult task, but for some reason nobody seems interested in marrying Felicia and she’s beginning to think she’ll have to settle for the first man who asks.

In The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst, Katie Lumsden tells the stories of Amelia Ashpoint, Felicia Elton and the Hursts, as well as several of their other friends and neighbours, all of whom occupy different positions on the social ladder. At the top there’s the Earl and Countess of Wickford and their dissolute son, Lord Salbridge; lower down, the town families who have made their money through trade and industry; and lower still, people such as Mr Lonsdale, the foreman at the Ashpoint brewery, and Monsieur Brisset, Felicia’s piano teacher. With so many unwritten rules of society and boundaries that can’t be crossed, it seems that nobody in Wickenshire is free to live and love as they choose and it’s easy to see why someone who doesn’t conform, like Mrs Hurst, can become the subject of rumour and slander.

Although the book is set in the early 1840s, at the start of the Victorian era, it has the feel of a Regency novel and there’s an obvious Jane Austen influence in both the writing style and the plot. The worldbuilding is strengthened by the inclusion of a map at the beginning and a list of characters giving their age, address and occupation. It was all so immersive that I really didn’t want to have to leave Wickenshire behind when I reached the end of the book! Because it’s a modern novel, though, Lumsden is able to explore topics that an author like Austen couldn’t (or at least not so explicitly). For example, one of the main characters is a lesbian and her story really helped me to appreciate how difficult it must have been to have no romantic interest in men in a world where it seemed that a young woman’s whole purpose in life was to find a husband. However, her story didn’t go quite the way I had predicted – and neither did the stories of several of the other characters. Some got happy endings, some didn’t and others just had to make the best of things, which I found very realistic.

In case you can’t tell, I loved this book and I think I preferred it to Katie Lumsden’s previous one, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, which borrows from the Brontës rather than Austen. I would like a sequel so we can catch up with the residents of Wickenshire again and see how they are getting on, but I suspect this is probably intended as a standalone. Either way, I’ll be looking out for whatever Katie Lumsden writes next.

I really enjoyed this book. Modelled as an Austenesque regency comedy, I particularly enjoyed the different characters and aspects of life in a Shire town. Lots of characters, but easy to follow. Multiple strands combine to make interesting and engaging episodes throughout. Easy writing style makes you enjoy the characters and their escapades. I would happily think about these characters again, and wonder how I would have dealt with the variety of challenges they faced.

A strong contender for regency novel of the year for me - so far. My favourite genre! 4.5*

This is an excellent read. At its centre is a young woman heading for spinsterhood. She belongs to a family who made their money in trade and therefore never gained the social standing their achievements deserved. The book then weaves its way through village life, introducing characters and developing their story. In doing so the book unpacks some thoughtful issues, most notably the power of gossip and how it affects society. Then there is the problem of status and how the upper class look down on those who have to work despite their talents and integrity. And quite significantly the power of money and how some problems can be soothed by throwing some pounds at them. There is however more to the book than that making this a powerful exploration of personal and social life.

Katie Lumsden’s The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is brimming with wit, charm, and social intrigue. Set in the summer of 1841, the novel captures the essence of Regency and Victorian-era manners and gossip.

Lumsden’s characters are vivid and intriguing. The novel’s rich descriptions transport readers to the lush settings of Wickenshire, evoking a desire to delve deeper into the historical backdrop. I armed myself with Google Images to really see what Lumsden had created. The range of personalities and convincing situations add depth to the narrative, making it a wholesome and meaningful read.

The novel’s engaging plot and well-drawn characters left me eager for more, hoping for follow-up books to continue their stories. This book is a must-read, promising a journey filled with heartbreak, hope, and the timeless dance of matchmaking and gossip.