In the fourth Lily Adler Mystery by Katharine Schellman, it’s 1814 and Christmas is approaching in Hertfordshire, England. Lily is excited about escaping London and enjoying the Christmas Ball that Mrs. Grantham hosts each year. It’s a chance for the neighbors to come together and celebrate, and it is also a chance to settle some scores in MURDER AT MIDNIGHT.

Widowed Lily Adler is attending the party with her brother-in-law, Sir John Adler, along with his mother and Mr. Matthew Spencer. Lily is looking forward to reconnecting with her old friend, Captain Jack Hartley, but when they meet, something is bothering Jack. Lily soon learns Jack’s younger sister, Amelia, is the center of gossip and scandalous accusations. Amelia will not reveal to her parents or her brother what really occurred between her and the handsome Gregory Edison one night at the vicarage. When a snowstorm blows in and strands the guests at Mrs. Grantham’s, it promises to be an interesting night. When day breaks and a maid in the poultry yard screams, Lily knows something bad has happened. The dead man in the snow is Gregory Edison and Amelia looks like the prime suspect. Lily believes Amelia is innocent. As the snow continues to fall, the guests realize they are trapped with a murderer, and Lily must use her observant nature and deduction skills to uncover the real motivation and person behind the young man’s murder.

MURDER AT MIDNIGHT is filled with atmosphere and intrigue. It has heavy snow, housebound guests, dark hallways, secret comings and goings, suspicious servants, and a murderer on the loose. The plot is well-written and tightly woven and includes blackmail, forbidden relationships, a jewel thief, secret identities, financial scams, and so much more. Lily is a formidable sleuth as she tracks down clues and interviews suspects alongside the magistrate, Sir John Adler. She observes everything and misses no detail. With several men vying for her affection, Lily is enjoying her freedom and weighing her options. There are moments of quiet contemplation and moments of high drama, and the mystery twists and turns, ending in a harrowing showdown with the guilty.  As the merriment of the season is juxtaposed with the seriousness of murder, MURDER AT MIDNIGHT is a fun, intriguing mystery that will delight readers this holiday season.