Of Hoaxes and Homicide

A Dear Miss Hermione Mystery

By: Anastasia Hastings

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Hardcover | 18 January 2024

At a Glance

Hardcover
304 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.6 x 14.5 x 2.9

Hardcover

$47.25

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The second in the delightful Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings--when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, fielding questions from both irate housekeepers and heartbroken mothers is par for the course...

"Dear Miss Hermione--what is a mother to do?"

Sensible Violet Manville and her very ladylike half-sister Sephora are absolutely bored, thank you very much. Though neither of them would ever admit it aloud, they're missing the thrill of playing detective.

So when Violet receives a letter from "A Heartbroken Mother" sent to her alter-ego, the Agony Aunt known to the world only as Miss Hermione, her pulse can't help but quicken. The daughter in question has gotten caught up in a cult: the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. Rumors of human sacrifices, mystical doings, and a ghost in the ruined Alburn Abbey where the Children pray have gripped the public consciousness, helped along by a series of novels about the group, written by the mysterious Count Orlando, and clearly this girl has fallen prey.

Miss Hermione's investigation soon collides with very real life when Violet discovers a surprising connection to the cult. With the dashing-but-frustrating Eli Marsh turning up and a member of the Children poisoned, Violet and Sephora--along with their ever-trusty housekeeper Bunty--may have more intrigue than they can manage.

Industry Reviews

Praise for the Dear Miss Hermoine mystery series:

"Delightful . . . The book's thrilling denouement evokes the shocking revelations of Wilkie Collins, the social acuity of Jane Austen and the comic melodrama of Oscar Wilde."--The Wall Street Journal

"Highly recommended series debut for fans of cozy sub-genre."--Mystery Tribune

"[The] characters add to the charm of this welcome new series."--The Akron Beacon Journal, "Book Talk" column

"[A] witty series launch...Hastings imbues her endearing lead with sufficient depth to make the plot plausible. Allison Montclair readers will be eager for the sequel."--Publishers Weekly

"A series of surprising revelations leads to a shocking conclusion. The first in a series steeped in Victorian mores offers a dashing heroine and an impressive pile of red herrings."--Kirkus Reviews

"Satisfying... includes tricky plot twists and a beautifully described Victorian setting."--Booklist

"An entertaining historical mystery."--Library Journal

"The writing is crisp and witty, and the plot wonderfully intertwined with all the characters, with nothing superfluous."--Historical Novel Society

"Funny at times, this series debut is also an adventurous and thoughtful look at a time when women's lives were on the brink of change. And it's a puzzling whodunit to boot."--First Clue Newsletter

"A delightful and engrossing first entry in the Dear Miss Hermione series. With an intriguing mystery, a dash of familial turmoil, and a blossoming romance, Of Manners and Murder is great fun from start to finish. I eagerly await Miss Hermione's next escapade!"--Ashley Weaver, author of the Amory Ames and Electra McDonnell series

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