A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder. Dianne Freeman

      

       PRAISE FOR A LADY’S GUIDE TO GOSSIP AND MURDER

      “Lovers of acrostics and word-puzzles will find much to enjoy in A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder and will undoubtedly look forward to Lady Frances’s next Lady’s Guide adventure.”

       —Criminal Element

      “A perfect summer read whether on the beach or poolside accompanied by a glass of frosty lemonade.”

       —New York Journal of Books

      “Includes some clever surprises.”

       —Mystery Scene

      “Diane Freeman handles class disparity with care and has created a world that readers will want to explore in more depth as the series continues.”

       —BookPage

       AND PRAISE FOR A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER

      “Dazzling. . . . Fans of witty, lighthearted Victorian mysteries will be enthralled.”

      —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

      “This lighthearted debut tale of mystery, love, and a delightful sleuth will leave you wanting more—which is presumably just what Freeman had in mind.”

       —Kirkus Reviews

      “This debut is engaging to the end.”

       —Booklist

       Books by Dianne Freeman

      A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER

      A LADY’S GUIDE TO GOSSIP AND MURDER

      A LADY’S GUIDE TO MISCHIEF AND MURDER

       Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

      A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder

      Dianne Freeman

      KENSINGTON BOOKS

       www.kensingtonbooks.com

      All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

      Table of Contents

      Praise Also by Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24

      KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

      Kensington Publishing Corp.

      119 West 40th Street

      New York, NY 10018

      Copyright © 2019 by Dianne Freeman

      To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

      This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, or events, is entirely coincidental.

      If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

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      First Kensington Hardcover Edition: July 2019

      ISBN-13: 978-1-4967-1692-7 (ebook)

      ISBN-10: 1-4967-1692-2 (ebook)

      ISBN-13: 978-1-4967-1691-0

      ISBN-10: 1-4967-1691-4

      First Kensington Trade Paperback Edition: July 2020

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Printed in the United States of America

      This book is dedicated to Dan—because I’m a very lucky lady!

      Acknowledgments

      Turning a manuscript into a book is the work of a dedicated and passionate team. I’d like to give thanks to everyone who was part of the Countess of Harleigh team. Melissa Edwards, my agent, for finding the perfect match for my manuscript. To John Scognamiglio for being that perfect match and for his good humor