Review - - A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice

A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice

by Manda Collins

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: April 22, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

A wallflower by choice, wealthy Lucy Penhallow would rather sit out the dancing all season than listen to false flattery from the fortune hunters who pursue her. But when she and her best friend’s brother witness a crime in progress, they’ll need to put every skill Lucy’s learned from reading detective stories to the test in their hunt for a missing woman. And if Viscount Gilford happens to be handsome as sin and clever to boot? Well, that's no hardship for her.

Viscount Gilford needs a wife to save him from financial ruin, and there’s only one heiress who’s off limits. So when he and Lucy find themselves inextricably linked in the tabloids, it’s a disaster. As their investigation progresses, their once unwelcome alliance becomes something more—a love match neither will give up. But there’s a killer watching their romance from the wings who’s only too happy to keep these meddlesome sleuths together . . . in the afterlife.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you enjoy a well-crafted mystery with your historical romance, do I have a book for you. This first book in Manda Collins' new Victorian series has all the twists, turns, banter, and heart-tugging romance I could want. 

She's a spinster by choice - opinionated, well-read (she leads a women only book club), and with plans that do not include a husband. Oh, and also an heiress. He's a viscount forced to wed for money and not happy about it. Newly returned from the Continent, he's horrified to discover the only woman who appeals is his sister's best friend. That's not going to happen! And yet, these two just can't seem to stay away from one another, thrown together time and again by events that unfold throughout the book along with those pesky feelings that keep getting stronger rather than going away.  

Collins does a superb job of weaving together the mystery and romance elements of this book. Everything unfolds organically and realistically as Lucy and Gilford team up to hunt down the villains and rescue Lucy's kidnapped friend. Working together, the two slowly begin to peel away their social layers and get to know one another on a new level. Their banter sparkles. The chemistry is undeniable. I adored Lucy and came to appreciate Gilford for the way he eventually adored her as well. I couldn't help but root for them the entire way. 

The mystery, once again, is one that kept me on my toes. Collins has a knack for that. There were more than a few points along the way where I was certain I knew the identity of the culprit only to have another viable suspect pop up around the next corner. She kept me guessing to the very end. I love when an author accomplishes that!

While A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice launches a new series, readers should be aware that characters from Collins' last series are liberally sprinkled throughout. It shouldn't detract from your enjoyment of this new book but it may very well cause you to want to learn more about the heroes and heroines from the Ladies Most Scandalous series. The four books in that series are: A Ladies Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Kate and Andrew), An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire (Caro and Val), A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes (Poppy and Joshua), and A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril (Jane and Adrian).  

If you enjoy twisty mystery, romance, lively banter, supportive friendship groups (male and female), family dynamics, and a heart-tugging HEA set in Victorian England, check out A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice by Manda Collins. I thoroughly enjoyed it.