London, 1885. A day in my life?

Oh, dear reader, that is no easy subject to address! My life, you see, has been turned upside down in recent days. My Aunt Adelia has left for the Continent with her paramour, and before she did . . .

Well, before she did, my life was vastly different.

Back then, I spent my days in a most agreeable fashion, learning all I could about the great metropolis where my half-sister, Sephora, and I found ourselves. We’d lived all our lives in the far corners of the world with our father who had a position with the Foreign Office, but on his death, Adelia took us into her home. Ah, in those days, I spent my mornings at museums, my afternoons in reading rooms. I explored London so that I might discover all I could about its culture and history. To me, there is nothing as bracing as learning new things, and I reveled in my adventures.

That is, until Adelia decided she was off. It was then, right before she left the house for Charing Cross, that Adelia told me she had a secret–Adelia was Miss Hermione, the celebrated Agony Aunt whose advice column is read and discussed throughout the Empire! This in itself was an astonishing revelation, but there was more to come. While she was away, Adelia wished me to take over the role of Miss Hermione.

I protested. Who would not? I reasoned, and cajoled, and begged my aunt to consider all she asked and how eminently unqualified I was for such a task. What did I know about offering advice about lost loves or fashionable clothing? How could I advise a woman on the best ways to entertain when to me, the finest form of entertainment is a good book? Alas, Adelia’s mind was made up. My fate was sealed, and I was left picturing how I’d spend my days answering letters that were as mundane as they were monotonous. The first letter I received, however, was from a woman named Ivy who not only told me she feared for her life but sent me pictures of the people she thought wanted to do her harm.

It was only natural, of course, that I travel to the village where the letter was posted. After all, this was one instance where I had advice aplenty to offer. Papa had taught me to shoot. He had taught me to defend myself. He’d believed with all his dear heart that women were every bit as capable and intelligent as men, and he had encouraged me to use those gifts of deduction and reasoning with which I’d been blessed. I had to do what I could to help Ivy.

If only I’d known what awaited me there in the idyllic countryside. No sooner did I arrive than I found myself at Ivy’s funeral, surrounded by those people she suspected wanted her dead. Every one of them insisted Ivy’s death was an unfortunate accident, but I knew better. I knew there was a killer at work, and that I had to do all I could to find justice for Ivy.

A day in my life? I have not had a dull moment since. But then, it seems when you represent the most celebrated Agony Aunt in the Empire, manners—and murder—are all in a day’s work!

Of Manners and Murder, A Dear Miss Hermione Mystery Book #1
Genre: Historical
Release: February 2023
Format: Print, Digital, and Audio
Purchase Link

Of Manners and Murder is the first in the delightful new Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings.

1885: London, England. When Violet’s Aunt Adelia decides to abscond with her newest paramour, she leaves behind her role as the most popular Agony Aunt in London, “Miss Hermione,” in Violet’s hands.

And of course, the first letter Violet receives is full, not of prissy pondering, but of portent. Ivy Armstrong is in need of help and fears for her life. But when Violet visits the village where the letters were posted, she finds that Ivy is already dead.

She’ll quickly discover that when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, both marauding husbands and murder are par for the course.

About the author
Anastasia Hastings is a penname for Connie Laux who over a thirty-year career, has published 65 novels in a number of different genres and under a number of names. She began her career writing historical romance, and has also written contemporary romance, YA, and a children’s book. More than fifteen years ago, she set her sights on writing in her favorite genre, mystery, and since then has published 30+ mysteries for Minotaur and Penguin Random House.

She is a Sherlock Holmes devotee and a Victorian England aficionado. Connie learned to love mysteries at an early age thanks to her dad who was a Cleveland Police detective who not only introduced her to the Holmes stories, but took her along on his days off in search of stolen cars. Connie lives outside of Cleveland with her husband, David, her Airedale, Eliot Ness, and the newest member of the family, Tequila, a Russell Terrorist . . . er . . . Terrier.

All comments are welcomed.