1815 London. As the theatre crowd are leaving the opera in Covent Garden the Marquess of Vessey's lost term mistress, Mrs Pike, is shot. Twenty-two years previously the wife of Vessey died. Atlas is convinced that his former brother-in-law Vessey killed his wife Phoebe. Phoebe being Atlas's older sister. So he takes the opportunity to investigate hoping to prove Vessey guilty of this murder.
I enjoyed this well-written mystery with its cast of well-developed characters. Hopefully the series will stay more mystery than romance to keep my interest.
A NetGalley Book

( )

Atlas Catesby has had a pleasant evening at the opera with Lady Lilliana but it ends viciously when Atlas witnesses the murder of a woman outside Covent Garden. He later determines that the woman was the mistress of his former brother-in-law, Marquess of Vessey, who he blames for his sister's death many years earlier. Atlas is determined to lay the blame for this death at Vessey's feet so that he can re-connect with his nephew, Nicholas. But how can he prove it?

Atlas searches to find all the connections to the victim hoping to find the motive for the murder.

The characters have grown in depth and the backstory of Atlas' sister gives more of an insight to his character as well.

Hoping for more! ( )

Murder at the Opera: An Atlas Catesby Mystery is the 3rd in an excellent series. I think this is my favorite with all the excitement and action. There are so many who could have motives for murder that the reader is kept guessing. Well crafted story and characters. I hope to read many more books by this author. ( )

Really enjoyed this book. Atlas Catsby,while attending the opera with Lady Roselyn and her brother the Duke, witness the shooting of a woman when exiting the theater. Mrs. Pike, the victim, was the mistress of Atlas' brother-in-law and he is then asked by a minister, who claims to be her betrothed, to find out who killed her.. Atlas is happy to investigate because he believed that Vessey murdered his sister 20 yrs ago and got away with it because he is a Duke. Lots of suspects, Atlas meets his estranged nephew and plenty of miscommuication with Lady Roselyn about their future before the case is solved and the couple decide on their future. ( )

Series: Atlas Catesby #3
Publication Date: 12/10/19
Number of Pages: 283

This is a very well-written, well-plotted, page-turning, adventurous romance and mystery with wonderfully well-developed characters. There are twists and turns aplenty and you are always wondering – right to the end. You will think you know who the villain is – but, you can’t be sure. My only complaint is that is has been over a year-and-a-half since the last book. I definitely hope we don’t have to wait that long for the next book.

Solving the murder of Mrs. Wendela Pike turns out to be bittersweet for Atlas Catesby. If you read the earlier books, you are aware that Atlas has been haunted by the murder of his sister, Phoebe. Twenty years ago, her husband pushed her down the stairs and eleven-year-old Atlas, who was in the house at the time, was sure it was a deliberate act. Now, that same husband, Malcolm Lennox, the Marquess of Vessey, is involved in another murder. You see, Mrs. Pike is the long-time mistress of the Marquess. Atlas would love for the Marquess to be guilty – but – that would hurt his nephew Nicholas, and Atlas is only just getting to know him – so – bittersweet.

There are actually several suspects – the Marquess had several children with Mrs. Pike, could it be one of them? Then, there is the vicar who says he was betrothed to Mrs. Pike – could he have done it? Was she involved with someone besides the Marquess? Could it be Atlas’ nephew, Nicholas, who murdered her? Then, of course, there is the Marquess himself. Yes, there are lots of twists and turns and more suspects than you can shake a stick at. Just buckle your seatbelt and hang on for the ride.

Atlas is still, of course, besotted with Lilliana and their romance is softly and unobtrusively woven within the mystery. As always, Lilliana helps with the solutions and constantly confounds Atlas by insisting on going places he doesn’t want her to be. It is too bad Atlas is still feeling that he, the fourth son of a baron, isn’t good enough for the daughter and sister of a duke. He probably just needs a big shock to get him moving – maybe he’ll get it.

It was fun visiting with all of the returning characters. I thoroughly enjoyed Jaimie and it was nice to see how he’s growing and adapting as Atlas’s Valet. Of course, we couldn’t have a book without Atlas’s best friend, the Earl of Charlton and Lilliana’s brother, the Duke of Somerville.

I can definitely recommend this book and this series. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )