Lady Rample and the Dastardly Duke: A 1930s Historical Cozy Mystery

Ophelia, Lady Rample only wanted to enjoy the fun of a country house party. Some champagne, witty conversation with friends, and perhaps a few laughs at the expense of her fashion-challenged and eccentric but lovable Aunt Butty. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently, yes.

When the insufferable Duke of Mowbray arrives at the crumbling Yorkshire manor, he insults the other guests, terrifies the servants, and makes it abundantly clear he'd rather be anywhere else. So when an accident during a croquet match puts him out of commission, more than one person breathes a sigh of relief. Except Lady Rample is certain this was no accident, and a murder shortly after proves her suspicions correct.

Unfortunately for her investigation, the suspects are plentiful:

* A fortune-hunting widow with three dead husbands in her past

* A harridan of a mother desperate to marry her daughter to a title

* A debt-ridden host with everything to lose

* A timid young woman who trembles whenever the duke's name is mentioned

* A sherry-loving vicar's wife with secrets of her own

With her eccentric Aunt Butty causing delightful chaos, her clever friend Phil by her side, and her handsome American jazz musician boyfriend offering long-distance support, Lady Rample must navigate a maze of lies, debts, and buried scandals. But as she closes in on the truth, the killer grows desperate. And in a house where everyone has something to hide, the most dangerous secret might be the one Lady Rample is about to uncover.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series, and anyone who loves jazz-era historical mysteries with a touch of humor and plenty of tea.

Lady Rample and the Dastardly Duke is Book 14 of the Lady Rample Mystery series by USA Today Best-Selling Author, Shéa MacLeod. Each book can be enjoyed as a standalone, but they're even better when read in order.