Preview
  • A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

  • Countess of Harleigh Mystery Series, Book 2
  • By: Dianne Freeman
  • Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman
  • Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (928 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

By: Dianne Freeman
Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Though American by birth, Frances Wynn, the now-widowed Countess of Harleigh, has adapted admirably to the quirks and traditions of the British aristocracy. On August 12th, each year, otherwise known as the Glorious Twelfth, most members of the upper class retire to their country estates for grouse-shooting season. Frances has little interest in hunting - or birds or a second husband - and is expecting to spend a quiet few months in London with her almost-engaged sister, Lily, until the throng returns.

Instead, she's immersed in a shocking mystery when a friend, Mary Archer, is found murdered. Frances had hoped Mary might make a suitable bride for her cousin, Charles, but their courtship recently fizzled out. Unfortunately, this puts Charles in the spotlight-along with dozens of others. It seems Mary had countless notes hidden in her home, detailing the private indiscretions of society's elite. Frances can hardly believe that the genteel and genial Mary was a blackmailer, yet why else would she horde such juicy tidbits?

Aided by her gallant friend and neighbor, George Hazelton, Frances begins assisting the police in this highly sensitive case. Too many suspects may be worse than none at all - but even more worrying is that the number of victims is increasing too. And unless Frances takes care, she'll soon find herself among them....

©2019 Dianne Freeman (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    638
  • 4 Stars
    235
  • 3 Stars
    51
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    648
  • 4 Stars
    163
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    588
  • 4 Stars
    193
  • 3 Stars
    58
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Clean and interesting mystery/love story

After accidentally getting started on a very explicit historical romance (and I’m not a prude but I don’t want to read that stuff), I love this series. I think it is an amazing gift for a narrator to seamlessly move back and forth between accents, and this narrator does a good job of it. I recommend and will continue the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Love these books, storylines are great and keeps you guessing and intrigued hope the author continues writing the books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Love this series!

Enjoyed this book thoroughly almost as much as the first. I will continue to listen/ read this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting Intrigue and Great Characters

Dianne Freeman did her homework on the Victorian England. Her knowledge of the time period keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire book. Intertwining great characters with a unique storyline makes the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries a “must read” for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. And Sarah Zimmerman is a fabulous reader/narrator. She easily flows between dialects and character voices professionally so the listener doesn’t get confused. Her voice is perfect for audiobook listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoying these

Overall I like this series and will pick up the next one when it’s out. I love that it leaves out the typical angst and misunderstandings of romance. This clean story is part mystery, part budding romance, and the two main protagonists get along well. I’m used to Sarah Zimmerman as a narrator, so I don’t mind her odd cadence and sentence endings that carry any of the following: reluctance and hesitance, an uptick, or a down tick. (She’s seems to have improved since book one.) It’s unusual for sure, but easy to get used to and overlook once I get bonded to the story. She doesn’t distinguish between some voices well, as they have similar cadence quirks and not much tonal distinction. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying these interesting characters and decent mysteries. The story easily allows you to understand who is who anyway. I like all the characters, including the real detective. The involvement of Frances and the storyline can be unrealistic in some spots, but it’s fiction after all, where suspension of reality is acceptable. Pick this one up and enjoy it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A really entertaining listen

The story is a bit Bridgerton, a bit Jane Austen and all entertaining. The narrator makes the story even more entertaining. Superbly done on all accounts.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A fun and entertaining mystery

Checks all
The boxes of a fun little mystery. Writing is full of suspenseful surprises and chuckles.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable romcom romp with mystery included

Loved the characters, the humor and the plot. Very entertaining. I will be looking for more of these. O and the narrator does an excellent job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a fun listen.

Such a fun listen. The story is gentle enough to relax to, while still keeping your brain engaged.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect

The narrator is AMAZING! The story is also perfect. It doesn’t have any spicy scenes but there is some romance in there. I absolutely love the entire thing and I highly recommend anyone who loves Jane Austen mixed with Agatha Christie to read this series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful