The Body in the Garden by Katharine Schellman

She’s very aware of her place in society, but at the same time she has her own mind and has a bit of a rebellious streak and wants to live on her own terms. While there were a few moments when Lily’s righteousness and stubbornness were a bit annoying, for the most part, she is a lovely character. There’s just enough information to make place the reader in the right mindframe, but not too much that it feels like information overload. Her glittering description of the party at the Walters gives us a crash course in decor, fashion and etiquette.

The author, Katharine Schellman easily transports the reader into the early 1800s in London. But when Lord Walter bribes the investigating magistrate to drop the case, Lily realizes it’s up to her to catch the killer. Lily overheard the victim just before he was shot but she’s willing to leave the matter to the local constables. What she doesn’t expect is the dead body in the garden. It has been two years since her beloved husband, Freddy died and Lily is determined to make it on her own, even though her kind in-laws advise her to find someone new.Īt a ball thrown by her oldest friend, Lady Serena Walter, Lily expects the scandal, gossip, and secrets. She’s only 26 but isn’t ready to marry again. Lily is no stranger to the glittering world of London’s upper crust but but returning to a society that frowns on independent women is harder than she thought. *** Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Wanting to create a meaningful, independent life for herself, Lily navigates London’s high society and all its demands with gentle determination.Īcquired: from the publisher via NetGalley Set in London in the early 1800s, the series follows a young widow, Lily Adler. The Body in the Garden is Katharine Schellman’s debut novel and the first book in a new mystery series.

The Body in the Garden by Katharine Schellman