It’s 1922, and Mabel Canning has been hired through Miss Kerr’s Useful Women Agency to serve as personal secretary to Lady Emma Fellbridge at Fellbridge Hall, in England. Lady Emma is organizing a suffragette conference at her home and has invited women who have fought so bravely over the last many years. Mabel is delighted to return to Fellbridge because it is close to her home village of Peasmarsh. Before passing away from the Spanish flu, Mabel’s dearest friend was the daughter-in-law to Lady Emma,so Mabel has many memories of visiting Fellbridge Hall.

At the time of this story, some women 30 years of age and over had the right to vote with a list of restrictions. The women convening for the conference are to decide what are the next best steps to continue the fight for equal voting rights for all women.

Unfortunately, Mabel has barely finished checking in all the women for the conference when one of the lead suffragette’s is found murdered in her bed. Is the killer someone at the conference? While Inspector Tolly from London has his hands full with crime in the city, Lady Emma begs Mabel to begin the investigation. And it wouldn’t be a solid mystery if another body didn’t appear. Can Mabel solve the mystery before it’s too late?

This was a fun entry into the series because it took Mabel and friends outside of London and her lovely little flat. While I missed those details, I enjoyed seeing Mabel flourish in a new to us setting. It was also delightful to see her father in his home and store. I appreciated all my favorite characters from the previous books were a part of this story too. I did so love the epilogue but I’m a little worried that means it’s the end of the series…

🌟🌟🌟🌟
How did I just discover this series? If you like cozy mysteries AND historical fiction, this series is for you!
Murder of a Suffragette is book four in Marty Wingate's “London Ladies' Murder Club” series. In this story, Wingate highlights the suffragette movement in 1922. When the leader of the suffragettes is murdered, it’s up to Mabel to figure out who did it before it’s too late.
I devoured the book in just a few hours. I can’t wait to go catch and read the rest of the books. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#MurderofaSuffragette #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInEngland

The first three installments of the London Ladies Murder Club series were delightful cozies, but the fourth book, Murder of a Suffragette, left me a bit disappointed. From the get-go, the story seemed to drop me right into the action without the usual build-up or context. I even checked twice to see if I'd missed a prologue.

The story takes place in 1922, and instead of the familiar backdrop of London, we’re whisked off to a manor house near Mabel's home. English women over 30 now have the right to vote, but there's still a fight for equal voting rights for all women. Suffragette stalwarts have gathered to choose a new leader and plot their next move – until one of them ends up dead. Mabel, ever the curious investigator, finds herself in the middle of a mystery once again.

There’s a lot of the familiar cast returning, from Mabel's love interest Park, to her London neighbors Cora and Skeff, and of course, the lovable dog Gladys. We also get some fresh faces, like Mabel’s father and Mrs. Chandekar, who raised her. And if you loved Augustus, the mischievous boy from earlier books, he’s back too.

While I appreciated the historical tidbits about the suffrage movement (did you know suffragists and suffragettes aren't the same thing?), the mystery itself felt a bit underwhelming. It seems like the series is wrapping up, and though I’m sad to see it go, I wish it had concluded on a stronger note. A decent read, but missing the spark of the earlier books.

I'm always so disappointed when a book I've been eagerly anticipating doesn't work, doubly so in this case as the London Ladies' Murder Club series has proven a big hit for me.

Unfortunately this time Mabel and Co's case didn't click. From the start I felt like this story wasn't one written with the same love and affection that shone through in the first three books. The characters fell flat, as did the mystery and the situation overall felt forced and didn't flow.

With the epilogue it seems that this is the closing part to this short but overall fantastic series. It's closed on a dud for me but I did love seeing how everyone's individual story closed with well deserved happy endings all round and the first three books hold up as favourites in the cosy historical mystery genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital review copy of "Murder of a Suffragette" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

I’m a fan of the author and have read other books in the series so was looking forward to Murder of a Suffragette. I enjoyed this a bit more than other books in the series as the author becomes more comfortable with the character and setting and really gets into her stride. Mabel is a great character. I’ve liked her since the first book and she goes from strength to strength. The introduction of her family was delightful. I enjoyed the way the plot develops and the fact I didn’t know who the killer is until the author wanted me to know. I’d recommend this.

I thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy of “Murder of a Suffragette.” All opinions and comments are my own

The anguish, agony, and personal consequences of the fight to get women the vote in the early days of the 20th century in the UK is key to the events in “Murder of a Suffragette,” the fourth in the “Ladies’ London Murder Club” series by Marty Wingate. Before Mabel Canning, who runs the Private Investigations Division of the Useful Women agency, can find out what’s behind the going’s on, and most importantly, who, two women, both involved in the “Deeds, Not Words” movement, will be dead.

Characterization is key to the author’s style, and there’s plenty of that to go around in the book. And that means there’s plenty of suspects to wonder about, always a plus for readers. Mabel also has the advantage of having her Ladies’ Murder Club members and the eye-catching Park Winstone to assist with figuring out all the whys and wherefores, since Inspector Tollerton has given her the go-ahead to conduct a murder investigation after the first victim is found dead.

It takes a while, and we do get a second victim, but eventually Mabel has it all well in hand. And justice is served, for someone who really deserves to be caught. After that we have a big finish, with everyone eating at Mabel’s father’s house. It’s a wonderful end to a delightfully put together story with standout characters and plenty of imagination to keep readers thinking throughout. There’s news on a personal front that should make people happy, too. Now, on to more “work” for the “Ladies’ London Murder Club” and the Useful Women agency.

1920s, amateur-sleuth, situational-humor, pet-dog, verbal-humor, secrets, lies, cozy-mystery, series, friends, friendship, historical-fiction, historical-figures, historical-research, investigation, journalist, murder, family, local-law-enforcement, Scotland Yard, private-investigators, ex-cop, closed-circle-mystery*****

If you haven't met them before, Mabel Canning (snoop) is the leader of the London Ladies’ Murder Club along with Cora (milliner) and Skeff (journalist) and all three are also employees of the Useful Women Agency and are aided by WPC Hildy Wardle. This time Mabel is to act as private secretary to Emma, Lady Fellbridge at Fellbridge Hall in the village where Mabel grew up. Emma is having a meeting of a number of women she marched with For women's suffrage and Mabel is to keep things organized. Good luck with that! They aren't even there for more than a few hours when the first one is suffocated in her bed. There aren't enough local constables, so Mabel asks a friend from Scotland Yard to step in. Lots of interesting characters and sidelines into personal histories baced up by some solid investigating and a lot of fun and mischief. Delightful!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected advance review copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!
#MurderOfaSuffragette by @martywingate #LondonLadiesMurderClubBk4 #NetGalley @bookouture #UsefulWomenAgency

(Rounded up from 3.5 stars)
The fourth book in this historical mystery series takes place in the spring of 1922. Instead of the usual London location, this time Mabel has been hired to work at a manor house near where she grew up, in Sussex, to help the lady of the manor with a multi-day gathering of suffragettes.

(For those who aren’t familiar with this part of British history, in 1918 the Representation of the People Act was passed which allowed women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification to vote. It wasn’t until 1928, that all women over the age of 21, regardless of whether or not they owned a home, were given the right to vote on the same terms as men.)

Mabel is a “modern woman”, single and in her 30s, but now she has a serious romance going on with Park Winstone, a former London police officer who is now employed doing something-or-other in diplomacy. They live in the same apartment building (flat block?) in London. Mabel has also made great friends with two women who live together in the same building, Cora and “Skeff”, who have also been invited to this suffragette gathering. Skeff is a journalist while Cora prides herself on her creative millinery. Hats were a big thing back then, for both men and women. In fact, a bowler hat plays a part in the murder mystery this time, as does Park’s dog, Gladys. Mabel’s previous successes in private investigations wind up coming in very handy once again.

Mabel has an interesting “talent” - when she looks at someone’s handwriting, she hears music. And each person’s handwriting makes Mabel think of different sorts of music. Very interesting! This particular talent played a part in the investigation, helping Mabel identify different samples of handwriting.

While I definitely enjoyed this one, it felt a bit slower than the other books. Perhaps it was because all the action took place in one location (the manor house and the nearby village) and not in London; perhaps it was because there were so many women to keep track of. I did enjoy getting to meet Mabel’s father and Mrs. Chandekar finally. I was also happy to have 8-year-old Augustus pop up again and for more than a short interlude.

Even though this book is the fourth in a series, I think it would work fine as a standalone.

NOTE: I recently saw the Broadway musical, Suffs, and so I knew a bit more about this time in history and about the difference between suffragists and suffragettes. We all need to learn more about these brave women!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Plot

Mabel is back on the case, this time investigating after there is a murder at a suffragette conference at Fellbridge Hall. All of the guests seem to have secrets to hide, so who killed fellow suffragette Annie Harkin and how long before the killer strikes again? The help of the London ladies club is needed once again, before Mabel ends up as one of the victims.

Review

The plot of this novel really impressed me, not only did it deliver on the twists and turns of the murder investigation, but the details (both backstory and present details) were woven together really well and brought colour and life into the story. I could easily imagine this cast of characters sitting in the dining room of Fellbridge Hall in the 1920’s era. It had the feeling of a classic mystery novel of the time with Mabel’s investigative style. I have to say that she gets stronger with every book – she has become a much more assured amateur detective. There were many characters in this novel and it would have been easy for all those voices to overwhelm the plot, but overall they each added a little extra intrigue to the story. Oh and the ending, I can’t spoil it for you, but if you loved the previous books, you’re going to enjoy this one! 4.5 stars

Read my review of the previous book in the series by Marty Wingate, A Body At The Dancehall.

This is book 4 in the series is another well paced story that moves along at a good speed that hold the interest of the reader. The mystery is another well plotted one with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end with red herring galore. Another highly entertaining read. Can't wait for the next one to see where we go next. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Marty Wingate for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder of a Suffragette coming out October 28, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love this series! I thought this one had an interesting topic with the suffragette movement. It was definitely an exciting time in history for women. I loved the mystery! Mabel is a really strong, intelligent character. I love that each book has a different event or focus. Mabel is definitely coming into her own as a detective. I think the book was quick-paced and fun. I’m definitely excited for the next book!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys British cozy mysteries!

My foggy post-COVID brain is a good tool to judge if a book is a page-turner or if it will take more time to be involved and enjoyed.
This was a book that got me hooked from the beginning, and I was more than happy to catch up with Mabel and her gang of friends.
The novel takes us into the world of suffragettes and the women who fought for the right to vote and to be their own person. It's a story that mixes past and present, an excellent historical cozy with a darker undercurrent which I found particularly intriguing.
The characters are as fleshed out as usual, and the historical background is well researched and vivid.
There's a big surprise at the end of the book, and I hope it marks the beginning of a new phase or closure. In any case, I can't wait to read more stories featuring Mabel, Gladys, and the other lovely characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC; all opinions are mine.

Marty Wingate’s Murder of a Suffragette is the fourth book in her London Ladies' Murder Club Book series – and it’s another highly enjoyable read. Mabel Canning works for the Useful Women Agency and her latest assignment is to act as private secretary to Lady Fellbridge. Fellbridge Hall is in the village where Mabel grew up and Lady Fellbridge (Emma) was the mother-in-law of her late friend, Edith. This means that Mabel will be able to pop home and see her father and introduce him to her beau, Park Winstone. Although no reason is given for Park being there too, we have to assume he’s simply taken the opportunity of Mabel working near home to join her and to be introduced to her father. Emma is hosting a meeting of several long-time suffragettes (who believed in action) and suffragists (who believed in constitutional or peaceable change) and Mabel has the unenviable task of trying to organise the gaggle of women.

As one might expect in books that have “Murder” in the title, one of women doesn’t make it to tea-time on the first day. There are also some murderous attacks. The women were going to vote for a leader: is someone trying to eliminate rivals? Or is it an outsider who doesn’t like suffragettes (or, indeed, doesn’t like women at all)? And – completely unrelated to the previous sentences – there is a major character called Doctor Finlay! I know I’m showing my age, but for those of us who remember BBC TV in the 1960s, Dr Finlay’s Casebook was mandatory viewing on, I think, Sunday evenings. Ah, who remembers Janet, the housekeeper, telling the good doctor, “Ah, Dr Finlay, your kidneys are in the oven.”? I have just discovered, thanks to Internet, that Barbara Mullen, who played the very Scottish Janet McPherson, was born and lived in Boston until she was 20. What a great actress!

It is lovely that all the members of the London Ladies’ Murder Club are in the book: Skeff, the journalist and her partner, Cora, the milliner; Hildy Wardle, the WPC; Park Winstone and, of course, his dog, Gladys. Oh, and those of you who have followed the series since Book One, you will delighted to know that the Just William of this world, Augustus Malling-Frobisher III, foists himself upon Mabel for a large part of the book. And we are introduced to local PC Ned Cowley, who bravely (and unprompted) confesses what he did to his Sunday School teacher Mable Canning eleven years earlier…

If you appreciate costume, you will relish the way the author always – but always – slips in descriptions such as Mabel wearing “… a belted number with a scalloped tunic over the skirt and quire a reasonable neckline for company. Its colour, a sealing-wax red, seemed to suit her brown hair…”

I don’t like the adjective “cosy” when applied to murders. Real murders are unbelievably distressing and awful for everyone associated with them in any way. However, I do accept that some books are, indeed, “cosy”, regardless of the subject matter, and this is one of them. If you’ve followed the series – and I strongly recommend that you read them all, in order - it’s a hug in a book. It achieves this by showing us a set of likeable characters who have previously restored order (i.e. they have solved mysteries and brought the guilty to justice, thus making our world a safer place). They care for each other and so we know, that if one of them is in jeopardy, the others will save them. Unlike the Harry Potter books, we cannot imagine a world without one of them. When we read about them, we feel secure and comforted.

#MurderofaSuffragette #NetGalley.

4 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining; with a little happy surprise!

1922
Mabel Canning is the acting secretary of Lady Fellbridge and is organizing the suffragette meeting on the estate. Many women who had been in the movement attended the event. Everything seems well until Annie Hatkins, Lady Fellbridge’s best friend and a leading suffragette is murdered in her bed.
As Mabel (with help from her beau Park and her friends, Cora and Skeff) starts to investigate the crime, she realizes the truth lies somewhere in the past during the peak of the suffragette movement. Can Mabel find out what happened and expose the killer before more lives are lost?
The story comes in Mabel’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
The fourth book of the series should work as a standalone read but I’d recommend reading at least the previous book if not all. The story takes place in the FMC’s hometown (village) with local characters and her friends from the city.
After reading a few books that have the suffragette background, I found that there was still more to learn about the movement. There are two types of protestors – Suffragettes and Suffragists. While the former was actively engaged in the movement (marches, protests, and even being jailed), the latter chose peaceful methods (lobbying, NGOs, etc.) to get what they wanted. Both worked for the same cause but in different ways.
Lady Fellbridge’s estate is where the major events take place. The Hall has a history and the design is quite complicated. We do get enough to have a vague idea but I felt a rough map (the one mentioned in the story) would have helped.
Inspector Tolly seems to have finally given up. Likely that he realized it’s easier to let Mabel do her sleuthing. It saves him work, after all! I’m glad that Constable Wardle (Hildy) gets a bigger role. Being a woman constable is not a small thing.
The mystery is actually good. It took me a while to figure out who the killer was. Though I still didn’t know the reason, but suspected a little (overactive imagination and all that). The reveal did make sense and tried up with the rest of the details.
We finally get to meet Reg Canning and Mrs. Chandekar in this book. She is an absolute darling! (Apparently, her first name is Moti. So, Moti with a hard t sound would mean fat; Moti with a soft t sound, Mothi, would mean a pearl. I presume it’s the latter but I did wonder the first time I saw the name. Unfortunately, some people write Moti even for pearl, so that might have led to that spelling in the book.)
The surprise element is the little mischievous kid from the previous books. He is very much present in at least 30-40% of the book and brings a lot of smiles and chuckles.
The way the book ended makes me wonder if this will be the last in the series. We are at the brink now. It could end and would make sense, or it could continue and offer more cases I’m okay with either, though I would like to read at least another three books to see how Mabel handles the new responsibilities.

To summarize, Murder of a Suffragette is a steady-paced entertainer with some danger, mischief, and drama. It is a lighthearted read that tackles a few important topics.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

As much as it makes Mabel Canning’s father worry about her when she’s on her own in London, it’s clear from this fourth entry in the utterly charming London Ladies’ Murder Club that her home, the tiny village of Peasmarsh and its surrounds, are better off if Mabel is in London.

Not because of Mabel herself, but rather because she seems to have a fortunately unfortunate knack for finding herself in the midst of murder investigations. Peasmarsh’s population is much too small to survive the number of deaths that Mabel and her ‘club’ become involved with on the regular!

As this case is a, well, case in point. Mabel has returned to the Peasmarsh area to serve as the personal secretary to Lady Emma Fellbridge at nearby Fellbridge Hall. Lady Emma has known Mabel all of Mabel’s life, and Mabel was a frequent guest at the hall as her dearest childhood friend was Lady Emma’s daughter-in-law until the Spanish Flu took her much too soon.

Lady Emma was one of the heroines of the suffragette movement, and has convened a meeting of her fellow campaigners at Fellbridge Hall to consider the next phase of their work. At the time this story takes place, 1922, women 30 years of age and over who were property owners or householders, or married to men who were either of the above, or occupiers of rental property over a certain rate, or university graduates had the right to vote, while men could vote from age 21 with considerably fewer restrictions. These women, who once chained themselves to gates and went on hunger strikes in prison, are determined to continue the fight for equality into a new generation.

Mabel and her ‘Murder Club’ have arrived at Fellbridge Hall under the auspices of Miss Kerr’s Useful Women’s Agency for which Mabel works and of which her ‘Murder Club’ is an active part. She’s not expecting for the club to be active at the suffragette meeting – but that’s exactly what happens when one of the suffragettes, in fact, one of the women in contention to become the next leader of the movement, is murdered.

Mabel has more experience with murder investigations than the local police do – and Detective Inspector Tollerton of the Met is just far enough away in London and snowed under with urgent cases in the metropolis to leave Mabel temporarily in charge. Somewhat to his own surprise – and even occasional chagrin – Tolly is forced to leave Mabel leading the investigation, seconded by WPC Hildy Wardle, several members of her Murder Club, and two local constables who desperately need someone to give them orders.

When a second suffragette is murdered, and Mabel herself is attacked twice, she’s certain that she’s on the trail of a murderer – but the clues are misleading at best and confoundingly conflicting at worst. She’ll need the wits, and the skills, of every single member of the London Ladies’ Murder Club to catch the killer – before he strikes again.

Escape Rating A-: I’ve been looking forward to reading this latest entry in the London Ladies’ Murder Club since the minute I finished the previous book, A Body at the Dance Hall. And it absolutely was worth the wait! My one regret about having finished this book is that I don’t know for certain that there will be a next book in the series – or when that MUCH hoped for book will be published. (I have my fingers crossed!)

I’ve fallen for this series because I’ve taken to Mabel Canning as the protagonist. The charm of the series rides very much on her shoulders – and it’s just terrific to follow the investigation from inside her thoughtful, intelligent head.

What makes this series work for me is that Mabel does an excellent job of straddling the line between being a woman of her own time and not ours, while still having a realistic amount of agency to go about her business – which in Mabel’s case is investigating murders.

She does have to reckon with the attitudes towards women’s roles and women’s place, but because of her particular era, just post-World War I, she’s part of a time when things were still in flux because of the war – and because the war killed a generation of young men leaving many women without the prospects of marriage even if they wanted it.

The series does not shy away from the fact that some didn’t, including Mabel’s friends Skeff and Cora, as well as, it turns out, both Lady Emma and the first victim, Annie, even though the earlier generation did follow tradition – at least to all outward appearances. And it’s the degree to which lip service was given to those outward appearances that creates one of the sets of misunderstood clues and red herrings that makes this particular case so juicy.

Another part of the series that works particularly well is the way that it dives into women’s experiences and women’s history. In this particular case, the suffragette movement, its sister movement, the suffragists, and the contention between the two. Suffragettes were the considerably more militant arm of the movement – while suffragists preferred to conduct their campaign via entirely legal means. There existed tension between the two as well as an acknowledgement that some women switched from one to the other (and back and again) over time.

Voting rights for women on the same terms as men was finally granted in 1928, but at the time of this story the fight was not yet won. The question before the gathered women centered on just who would be the best person to lead that fight. The strong personalities of many of the women involved made leadership of the movement a possible motive that Mabel was forced to consider – no matter how much she wished it was not.

Part of what makes Mabel such a fascinating protagonist is the way that she navigates her world, and the push and pull of loving her father and wanting to remain in his good graces – he’s a good man and has been an excellent father – but still NEEDS to live her own life on her own terms gave this entry in the series a very personal touch as well.

Her father wants her to be safe – but he recognizes that safe on his terms is not what his daughter was built for. It was wonderful to see a supportive father-daughter relationship in a female-led historical mystery – as opposed to the more usual situation, where dear-old-dad has often been the impetus for his daughter’s flight from conventionality in one way or another. If not several.

In other words, there are a LOT of reasons why I enjoy the London Ladies’ Murder Club series and this entry is certainly an excellent example of why. I did figure out WHOdunnit a bit early, although the WHYdunnit took a bit longer. I’m here for Mabel Canning, and I hope you will be too. If you haven’t discovered her yet, start with A Body on the Doorstep to see just how the London Ladies’ Murder Club got its start!

Fellbridge Hall, England: Mabel Canning is thrilled to be helping Lady Emma Fellbridge organise a suffragette conference. Peasmarsh village is only a stone’s throw from the hall so Mabel gets tome to spend with her father & Mrs Chandeker. But when all the women are settled in the sprawling country mansion leading suffragette Annie Harkin is found murdered in her bed. As the guests clamour for justice for Annie, young police officers Ned and Ted arrive but the suffragettes swiftly vote for Mabel and her pals to take control. When it comes to solving mysteries, there’s nobody equal to the London Ladies’ Murder Club! Inspector Tollington has quite a few cases on the go so isn’t adverse to Mabel, Park, Cora, Skeff & of course Gladys, who steals every scene she’s in, investigating under the watchful eye of WPC Hildy Wardle. Then another body is found.
The fourth book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Mabel & co. The I love dynamics in the group as well as the deepening relationship between Park & Mabel. We also get to meet Mabel’s father & ayah. Another very well written cosy mystery which flowed well & the characters had depth. There were twists & turns as well as red herrings. I actually guessed who the villain was but had no idea as to why, so more of a lucky guess. The reasons are gradually revealed. I loved the epilogue & hope it wasn’t a finale as the London Ladies’ Murder Club still has plenty of mileage.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Ms. Wingate had me hooked from the first page in this next installment of the London Ladies Murder Club. I enjoyed watching Mabel wrangle the women at Fellbridge Hall for the suffragette and suffragist reunion. The Hall is near Mabel's home village of Peasmarsh. In fact, Mabel's best friend was married to the second son of the Fellbridge family. Lady Emma has opened the Hall for her fellow suffragettes and suffragists to gather together to pick a new leader for the movement.

Cora, Skeff, Park and Gladys are also here. Cora and Skeff are attending the reunion meeting and Park and Gladys are here to meet Mabel's family. But before the meetings can begin one of the attendees is murdered. Mabel and her friends must put on their sleuthing caps to find the villain. The plot moved swiftly with numerous twists and turns, suspects within the Hall as well as a couple of characters who made appearances from outside of the Hall and the red herrings scattered throughout kept me on my toes and turning the pages. A truly enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this 1920s novel that continues the series about a young woman making her living working for an employment bureau that sends women out to do various jobs. Mabel, our heroine, has already solved several murders that happened when she was on a job. She works with the help of a couple of other lady friends and the man who has become her love interest along with an adorable and heroic dog, Gladys.

The plot revolves around the murder of a suffragette at a gathering of suffragettes plotting how to gain suffrage for all women, not just older women with property. Mabel and her group of friends chase down clues as they try to prevent other suffragettes from being murdered.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I missed the first books in this series (how?) but no matter- Wingate has written a fun historical cozy that works just fine as a standalone. Yes the title tells you the plot, Mabel is thrilled to be involved with the suffragette movement and to meet others but unfortunately, someone has committed murder. She, along with her pals will fun the villain. This has nice period detail and characters that might well make you smile. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

A supporter of the women’s right to vote cause, Mabel is excited that she’s been asked to help organize and run a conference for suffragettes. But just as the women are getting settled, one of the guests is found murdered in her bed. The country police officers don’t seem to be up to the task, so Mabel and her friends take the investigation into their own hands.

I have greatly enjoyed all of Marty Wingate’s books, including those in this series. I rarely read consecutive books from one series in the same year, let alone four books in just ten months, but this series is so much fun, I just couldn’t resist. Every time I read Mabel’s name, it brings to mind my grandmother’s sister, and I still can’t decide if that’s good or bad :)

I like Mabel and her friends, but Gladys (the dog) steals the show – and the investigation! – quite often. They all work well together and put their various skills to use in a multitude of different ways. WPC Wardle has come to appreciate Mabel’s insights and information, even though some of her superiors still aren’t sure a woman should be wearing a police uniform.

The victim was discovered before we got to know much about her, so everything we learned was from other sources. Some of those sources were questionable, so it was hard to discern whether the information gathered was reliable or not. Each of the other women at the conference had a possible motive for the murder, but one character caught my eye relatively early in the course of the investigation. I didn’t much like this person, so I was thrilled when my suspicion proved to be correct, even though the motive made me angry.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series when it’s released, if for no other reason than to learn how the events at the end of this book affect things going forward.