Murder in Berkeley Sqyare by Vanessa Riley

 

Shades of Bridgerton here adding the beginnings of mixed race and black origin people in society, and the somewhat grudging acceptance of these folks in the community.

Lady Worthing and her cousin are visiting family over the Christmas holidays and accompanied by their friend Stapleton get stranded in Berkeley square due to a huge snowstorm. They did not expect to get embroiled in a series of murders meticulously planned and enumerated in a sequence decimating the eight members of the group one by one. The murders set in rhymes is detailing the manner in which each person will die.

Set in Regency England with its own strictures on what women could and couldn’t do, Lady Worthing has to work as speedily and surreptitiously as possible to save herself and her friend.

There are plenty of stories behind each character - the abolitionist movement, the lucrative slave trade, the revolt in Haiti all add interest to the book. 

Sent by Kensington Publishing for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.