Let us Talk of Many Things; of Books and Queens and Pirates, of Mystery and Kings...

Monday, 29 June 2026

Rachel's Random Resources Book Tour of: A Blighter Is Bumped Off by Helen Golden

Rachel's Random Resources
Book Tours

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About the Book

A Blighter is Bumped Off

The only thing worse than a persistent suitor? A dead one on your lawn.

London, 1892. Alice, Duchess of Stortford, has returned to town determined to enjoy her first Season as a wealthy widow. But instead of balls, flirtation, and whispered gossip, she finds herself besieged by ambitious bachelors—none more persistent than the insufferably smooth-talking Miles Fonthill. When Alice firmly refuses his sudden proposal, she assumes the matter is settled.

Instead, he turns up dead in her garden.

The police are happy to call it a tragic accident. Alice is less convinced.

Why was Miles climbing over her garden wall in the middle of the night? Why had he become so determined to win her favour? And what did he really want?

As Alice begins to dig into Miles’ final days, her search leads her into the glittering heart of London society, where old loyalties run deep, secrets are guarded fiercely, and reputation matters more than truth. But when whispers of the mysterious Order of the Golden Key begin circling dangerously close to her own late husband’s name, Alice realises this death may be far more complicated than one unwelcome suitor meeting an unfortunate end.

And if someone is willing to kill to keep their secrets…this Season may prove positively deadly.

Perfect for fans of feisty female sleuths, Victorian High Society, and secret scandals, all served with a dash of humour and a cup of tea.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blighter-Bumped-Duchess-Stortford-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FWC6CBLC

https://www.amazon.com/Blighter-Bumped-Duchess-Stortford-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FWC6CBLC

About Helen Golden

Helen Golden spins mysteries that are charmingly British, delightfully deadly, and served with a twist of humour.

With quirky characters, clever red herrings, and plots that keep the pages turning, she’s the author of the much-loved A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, following Lady Beatrice and her friends—including one clever little dog—as they uncover secrets hidden in country houses and royal palaces. Her new historical mystery series, The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries, is set in Victorian England and introduces an equally curious sleuth from Lady Beatrice’s own family tree—where murders are solved over cups of tea, whispered gossip, and overheard conversations in drawing rooms and grand estates.

Helen lives in a quintessential English village in Lincolnshire with her husband, stepdaughter, and a menagerie of pets—including a dog, several cats, a tortoise, and far too many fish.

If you love clever puzzles, charming settings, and sleuths with spark, her books are waiting for you.

Follow Helen Golden

Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/helengolden_author

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/helengoldenauthor

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@helengoldenauthor

https://twitter.com/HelenGoldenAuth

My thoughts

This was the first in this series that I've read.

It was interesting to travel back in time to London in 1892... very well depicted and created. The characters too, were an interesting bunch to meet, although the social expectations of the time made me thankful to be alive now, not back then! I liked Alice, Duchess of Stortford, and cheered when, as a widow, she turned yet another (rotten) suitor down...

Although perhaps, one turning up as dead as a doornail in her garden was a tad extreme... :-)

I do wonder if she'd have been best to go along with the conclusion of the police (an accident), but then, that would have made a very short and rather dull mystery story! :-)

As it is, Alice sets out to investigate, and the story really takes off with one question after another to be solved by a variety of elusive answers.

Full of secrets to be uncovered and inspected - and resolved - Alice enters back into society and meets with a host of nice and not so nice people.

I rather enjoyed the fun, although as with any ongoing series I'd suggest starting at the beginning to fully appreciate the characters, the time and place.

**** 4 stars

https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/

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cosy mysteries : historical fiction
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Friday, 26 June 2026

My Coffee Pot Book Tour Guest: Anna Belfrage Queen of Shadows

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Wander through worlds real and fictional,
meet interesting people, visit exciting places
and find good books to enjoy along the way!

About the Book

Book Title: Queen of Shadows

Author Name: Anna Belfrage

Publication Date: May 21st, 2026

Publisher: Timelight Press

Pages: 400

Genre: Historical Fiction, Medieval Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

She should have stayed in the shadows—but Leonor de Guzmán yearned for the sun

Castile in the 1330s is a place of constant turmoil. King Alfonso must contend with the incursions from the Muslim Marinids eager to reclaim Al-Andalus while struggling with repeated rebellions against his firm rule.

When Alfonso needs respite, he finds it in the arms of his Leonor—the most beautiful woman in the realm. But while he may love Leonor over all others, his lawful wife, Maria of Portugal, is tired of being constantly displaced by the fair Leonor.

Leonor loves her man. She gives him healthy sons, a place to be himself. But she is only a mistress, even if Alfonso treats her like a queen. Leonor’s enemies watch and hate.

Flying too close to the sun comes at a high price. How much will Leonor’s love cost her?

Based on the true story of Alfonso XI and his complicated relationships to wife and life-long mistress

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://myBook.to/QofS

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Author Bio:

Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with three absorbing interests: history, romance and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as two equally acclaimed medieval series; The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England, and The Castilian Saga ,which is set against the medieval conquest of Wales. She has also published a time travel romance, The Whirlpools of Time, and its sequel Times of Turmoil, and is now considering just how to wiggle out of setting the next book in that series in Peter the Great’s Russia, as her characters are demanding. . .

All of Anna’s books have been awarded the IndieBRAG Medallion, she has several Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choices, and one of her books won the HNS Indie Award in 2015. She is also the proud recipient of various Reader’s Favorite medals as well as having won various Gold, Silver and Bronze Coffee Pot Book Club awards.

“A master storyteller” “This is what all historical fiction should be like. Superb.”

Find out more about Anna, her books and enjoy her eclectic historical blog on her website, www.annabelfrage.com where you will also find her post about Alfonso and Leonor:

Author Links:

Website: www.annabelfrage.com

X: https://twitter.com/abelfrageauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabelfrageauthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/annabelfrageauthor

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/abelfrageauthor.bsky.social

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/anna-belfrage

Amazon Author Page: http://Author.to/ABG

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6449528.Anna_Belfrage

read an excerpt

Excerpt 1:

They’d been so young, she and Alfonso. Sí, he’d bedded plenty of women before her, but in matters of the heart they were both utter innocents. He knew a lot about lust and desire. She did not. Neither of them knew about love, about the absolute joy and devastating pain it could bring.

Rarely did they meet over the coming months. When they did, they danced like moths around a flame. She did not think he set out to do more than seduce her, but during those first few months, something happened, and what had begun as a constant, aching desire had converted into something else, a sense of destiny, of fate.

Leonor grimaced. That sensation had faded quickly when he wed María, late in 1328. To this day, she could recall the pain, the desolation, that had her bedridden for days after he rode off to celebrate his nuptials. At the time, she’d been blind to his pain, angry with him for betraying her. Now, she knew he’d had no choice. He had to wed so as to strengthen the alliance with Portugal. Of course, one could question if that had been a wise decision; Alfonso made no secret of who had his heart, and the relationship with his father-in-law was a thorny, dangerous thing.

Leonor sighed. Loudly did King Afonso of Portugal complain about the treatment of his daughter—so enraged he openly supported Don Juan Manuel and his fellow rebels—just as loudly did some of the Castilian nobles grumble about the lack of a second legitimate son, especially given Infante Fernando’s frailty. At some point . . . No, no, she did not want to think about it! She tightened her hold on her babe, causing him to utter an indignant wail.

“Mistress?” Alma lifted Sancho out of Leonor’s arms and shushed him.

“It’s nothing. Nothing.” Nothing? Her soul howled in despair. He is mine! Only mine! But he wasn’t—not entirely. Most would say he was María’s. He would say she had his heart, but María had a right to demand he do his duty.

Sometimes, she wished she didn’t love Alfonso. Sometimes, she wondered what her life would have been like if she’d never met him, this force of nature that so easily dominated whatever room he entered, who rode as well as he fought, who was loud and boisterous but also thoughtful and caring.

A man easily dismissed as volatile and headstrong, who excelled at keeping his own counsel and rarely revealed just what his intentions were before acting upon them.

A man ruthless enough to assassinate those he considered threats, but with endless patience and gentleness towards those he loved.

As if her thoughts had conjured him, Alfonso was suddenly at her door. He was bareheaded, his light brown hair ruffled and messy. He brought with him the scents of forest and sea, of water and sun. Tucked into his belt was his falconer’s glove, and one of his favourite hounds came padding after him.

“A good day?”

“Very.” He leaned against the doorjamb and smiled at her. “Even better now.”

Six years on, and he could still make her blush just by the tone of his voice.

“Alma?” She did not look away from her man. “Take Sancho to his nurse.”

“Sí, Doña Leonor.”

The young girl darted off, clutching her charge to her chest.

Leonor patted the bed. “Come here, my love.”