A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde

 

I learned about the 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series by Darcie Wilde late last year through an article I'd read on Book Riot's website which highlighted ten different historical mystery series worth the read. I love both historical fiction and mystery novels... And the 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series falls into both genres (as well as all of the others mentioned in the Book Riot article) and appealed to me for this very reason.

Then in December 2020, I discovered that independent bookstore, Murder by the Book, was hosting a virtual author event on their Facebook page featuring Darcie Wilde discussing the latest release in the 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series... So, I decided to watch this live, virtual author event and enjoyed it.

With this backstory in mind, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde and narrated by Sarah Nichols in 2021. 

A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde is the first novel in 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series and I really enjoyed this novel quite a bit. The writing for A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde is well done. I thought the storyline was well paced, thought out, and enjoyable. I liked the main character, Rosalind Thorne, very much. She's wise, sensible, and likable. I liked most of the other characters in this novel as well... Although one of the characters I did find to be quite annoying!

The mystery aspect of A Useful Woman was also very good. I kept trying to guess whodunnit and why until near the very end. I also enjoyed reading about what what life was like for a 19th century London lady of certain means and how she has to navigate high society while following proper social etiquette to fit in with the upper crust. A Useful Woman balanced learning about what life was like in 19th century London and adding in a mystery quite nicely. So kudos to Darcie Wilde for a great first novel in a series.

I highly recommend A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde. I have recently downloaded the second novel in the 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series, which I look forward the listening to later this month.

Listening time for A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde is 10 hours, 3 minutes. The narration by Sarah Nichols was alright... Not bad, not great in my opinion.

Below is the plot summary for A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde from Audible:

Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, this new mystery series set in 19th-century London introduces the charming and resourceful Rosalind Thorne, a woman privy to the secrets of high society - including who among them is capable of murder.

The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society's most influential women, who rely on her wit and discretion. So when artistocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in London's most exclusive ballroom, Almack's, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer from a list of suspects that includes Almack's powerful patronesses and her former suitor Devon Winterbourne, now Lord Casselmain.

Torn between her old love and a growing attraction to a compelling Bow Street runner, Rosalind must unravel the mysteries surrounding Jasper's death, and the mysteries of her own heart as well.

I am giving A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!