Stolen Remains (Lady of Ashes #2) by Christine Trent

Being a female undertaker is a bit odd but it was totally unheard of in Victorian times.  Violet Harper had taken over her dead husband's business and she's doing very well at it.  However, when the Queen asks her to keep the body of the dead Viscount at his house for an unusual amount of time, it's not easy to keep the body from smelling.  We have refrigerated morgues; not so back then.

Kensington Books sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  This book is coming out now, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.  This series starts with Lady of Ashes, so you might want to grab them both.  This book can be read as a stand-alone.

Violet really doesn't want to do the Queen's request but you can't turn a Queen down.  It also helps her status as an undertaker so, like it or not, she will do what she's requested.  The Queen has her own agenda and this isn't going to help Violet. When the housekeeper is found hung and the Viscount's body disappears, Violet has no choice but to jump in and try to solve the case.  After all, she's being blamed for losing the body.

This story is steeped in Victorian times and customs of those days.  There are rich relatives who will inherit, an odd ex-soldier guy hanging around and no end of suspects.  This author amazed me with the "who dunnit" part of the story.  I won't give away the ending but I can say: "Things are not what they seem."

The story moves right along, the mystery is a good one, and Violet's life is still changing.  She has a nice new husband and they work well together.  He's doing his thing, she's doing hers.  Sounds just like hubby and I.  I'm sure the next book will be just as entertaining.  Why not give the Lady of Ashes a chance and read her story now?