This wasn't as good as I'd hoped and at times the story dragged for me. I enjoyed the relationship between the characters and could see how it develops. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

*Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this eARC; the review is my own.*

I've been enjoying this regency murder mystery series and was quite happy when my request for the third book was approved so I could continue on with Dora and Jacob. Although I feel all three books in the series thus far have been pretty consistent, I felt a slight dip with the second book; however, The Wordsworth Key got things right back on track, and I'm excited to see where the series goes from here.

I really do like the friendship that has developed between Dora and Jacob as they've fallen in love with each other. Even Jacob's older brother Arthur resentfully observed it at one point, contrasting it with his own marriage. Although their relationship isn't quite where I'd like it to be yet, I've hope after this book that it will get there. Both Dora and Jacob are given the extra pushes they need to admit the depth of their feelings, and Jacob lays his cards on the table without Dora expressly rejecting them as she would have in the past.

Two new characters I thoroughly enjoyed were Derwent and Hartley, the young sons of Coleridge, who were mischievous but helpful. They reminded me a bit of Kir from The Elgin Conspiracy. I was not, however, a fan of Ruby, Arthur, or Lady Alice. I could have liked Lady Alice had she not set herself up as a potential match for Jacob, but at least that spurred Dora on a little bit. Arthur irritated me because he inserted himself into Jacob's business and tried to enforce his will (thankfully Jacob wasn't a pushover). And Ruby was just selfish. I know Dora accepted it and allowed it to be one of Ruby's strangely charming traits, but I did not like it or her.

In the end, I feel like this book helped move the overall story forward a bit, especially as it pertains to Dora and Jacob's relationship (thank you). The next book, The Austen Intrigue, is set to release in November of this year, and I look forward to reading it.

This book is part of a series and although it can be read as a standalone, I would prefer to read the other books in the series prior to this one, as I feel that it would’ve enhanced my overall enjoyment of the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Julia Golding for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Wordsworth Key coming out May 9, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve really enjoyed this series. I love the intrigue and adventure. This book didn’t quite feel like the other two books to me. I wasn’t into the story as much as I thought. I didn’t like some of the decisions being made. It felt a little too modern for a regency story. I’m not sure if this is the last book, but I’d still check out other books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for my copy in exchange for a review:

I started this series with book number 3 but I am now fully on board the Dora and Jacob train. I loved the chemistry between the two and their mystery solving abilities!

I really enjoyed unraveling the mystery and the writing was superb and I am now off to buy the first two books before re-reading this one for anything I missed the first time round

Having read the previous instalment, which left me rather underwhelmed, I approached this one with cautious optimism. While I must admit there is a slight improvement in pacing and intrigue, it still falls short of what I had hoped for.

What I truly longed for was a Regency romance imbued with suspense and clever plotting—not merely another reiteration of how scandalous it is for a woman to be independent and alone. The premise holds great potential, but the execution feels overly constrained by societal commentary, rather than driven by character or mystery.

A missed opportunity, in my view.

Historical mystery novels, especially the ones set in the Regency and Victorian era, are my favourite at the moment and I always enjoy discovering new series. The latest one is The Regency Secrets series by Julia Golding, which I easily read starting from the third book, The Wordsworth Key (I got my hands on the first two books, but I haven’t had the chance to read them, yet).

Set in 1812, the protagonists are Dora Fitz-Pennington, an illegitimate actress and forger, and Dr Jacob Sandy, the third son of a viscount and a physician, both turned into professional sleuths. Throughout the novel, not only they will have to investigate a theft and a murder, but also face their class differences and their feelings for each other.

The novel starts with Dora and Jacob taking a break from their London life and their investigations in the Lake District. However, first Jacob is called away to his family home while Dora helps a neighbour to find a manuscript that has been stolen and then, unexpected visitors keep turning up at their cottage. And when the theft is followed up by a murder, Dora and Jacob will have to say goodbye to their holiday and get deep into the investigation.

The Wordsworth Key is such a fun, delightful, and intriguing read. I liked the characters of Dora and Jacob and how their relationship develops and I love that the story features real historical figures of the times (like William Wordsworth). The mystery is well-developed and kept me guessing and there is also some family and romantic drama to keep the reader entertained. Highly recommended!

The Wordsworth Key is a fun Regency era mystery with vibrant characters who are simply made for each other (though society would think otherwise). Gentle Readers, this story is a delight. Side note: It is the 3rd in the series and I had a bit of catching up to do to follow what was happening. It has me eager to read the first two and hoping for another installment by Golding. Well done.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for the ARC.

Dora and Jacob are back with a new murder/mystery to solve .This time they have decided to take a break for London life and it's dramas and go to Jacob's cottage by Lake Windemere a place full of poets ,Wordsworth manuscript has been stolen and his sister Dorothy asks the pair to investigate before her brother finds out .A body has been found in London which may be connected .Set in 1812 this is a fast paced regency mystery with some great characters third in the series but can be read as a standalone great fun ! .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC

This ramped up the romance following the previous two books, as well as the trust Dora and Jacob have in each other.

There's no rest for the wicked in this regency romantic suspense adventure after a search for a missing poem intersects with a murder and a missing person investigation. Our intrepid pair must battle against not only family expectations but those of society as a whole, whilst they do their best to solve the puzzle pieces that have so rudely disturbed their well-earnt getaway.

As with the other books, this left me wanting just a little more oomph when it came to the relationship between the pair. However, that does keep me coming back, so maybe it's just a very clever use of angst and anticipation.

The discovery of a body in the Thames comes to the attention of Alex, a member of Dora and Jacob's detective agency. The couple are holidaying in the Lake District, but when a poet's manuscript goes missing, the intrigue deepens and the couple become involved in a dangerous mystery. I like the mix of historical persons and fictional characters, the Lake District setting, and the story's menacing undercurrent. Dora and Jacob are likeable and relatable characters, and their romantic connection adds to the story. It's a complex mystery with many characters, twists and an impactful ending.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Mysterious times at 1812 Lake Windermere!

Dora Fitz-Pennington (actress) and Dr. Jacob Sandys (son of a peer), what a great pair! Their enquiry agency is coming along nicely. Dora and Jacob have taken some time off at Windermere Lake. A place alive with poets, Wordsworth and Coleridge amongst others. Somehow Wordsworth’s opus works has been taken. Dora and Jacob have been asked by his sister, Dorothy Wordsworth, to quietly investigate.
Jacob though is called home belatedly by his brother Arthur to his father’s burial. Things are not sitting well in that quarter. The new Viscount it seems is a stubborn, unforgiving prig, wanting to bend his family to his will. Women have their place and Dora is definitely ‘out of place.’
Meanwhile a body with a shepherd’s crook thrust thru it is found in the Thames River, attached to a rope from the quayside. Alex Smith, associate of Dora and Jacob’s detective agency, takes a look and finds it imperative to let Jacob know what’s happening.
It seems all roads lead to the Lake District and that’s not a good sign.
I loved the exploits and youthful curiosity of two young Coleridge boys btw.
An excellent historical mystery / romance!

A One More Chapter ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Loved this! Dora and Jacob are fab and I can't wait to go back and read the previous instalments in this series.

Not my go-to genre, I certainly won't dismiss another book by this author.

Really enjoyable and an excellent story.

The third book in The Regency Secrets series, this historical novel opens in Billingsgate, London in July 1812 where a Thames river policeman Constable Goole and former army officer Alex Smith are standing over the body of Sir Richard Leyburn. The deceased has a shepherds crook forced down his throat, not an accidental death then! I wasn’t aware when I started reading that it was part of a series, however there are a number references to previous events that made me check, but it still reads well as a standalone.

Briefly, the Lake District August 1812, actress Dora and Dr Jacob Sandys are interrupted when they are swimming by a rider who has come to tell Jacob that his father Viscount Sandys is dead. Whilst at the family one he receives a letter from his employee Alex, who asks if Jacob can speak to Leyburn’s family, who live in Cockermouth, and see if he has any enemies who might have followed him to London. Meanwhile Dora has been visited by William Wordsworth’s sister and a Mr Barton, asking for her help in tracing a missing, believed stolen, manuscript that Wordsworth had lent to Barton. Things soon take a turn for the worse when a man goes missing and that’s only the start of it.

I did like the two main characters Dora and Jacob, both of whom are flaunting convention, Jacob is a member of the aristocracy, whereas former actress Dora has had a very different upbringing. They are perfect together. Their 19th century detective agency, with its diverse mix of employees is a very entertaining concept. The mystery in this cosy crime novel worked well and I didn’t guess the villain too soon. An enjoyable read.

If you're into cosy historical mysteries with a dash of poetry and a smart female lead, The Wordsworth Key is definitely worth picking up. It's the third book in Julia Golding’s Regency Secrets series, but you can enjoy it even if you haven’t read the others.
The story follows Dora Fitz-Pennington and Dr. Jacob Sandys—an unlikely but brilliant investigative pair—who are hoping for a quiet escape to the Lake District in 1812. But of course, peace doesn't last long. A precious Wordsworth manuscript goes missing, people start disappearing, and before long there’s a murder to solve. Dora and Jacob jump back into detective mode, uncovering secrets and chasing a killer who seems to have a grudge against the Romantic poets.
The writing is witty and full of atmosphere, and Julia Golding clearly knows her history. What’s great about this book is that it blends real literary figures—like Wordsworth—into a fictional mystery without feeling forced. The setting is lush, the pacing just right, and the banter between the main characters is sharp and fun.

This is my first in this series, and I can understand why people like it, but it didn't work for me.

Plot: Dora is an actress and Jacob an upper-class doctor in regency England. They connect and form a detective agency, and this is their newest mystery to solve. One of William Wordsworth's manuscripts has gone missing, and they are hired to find it. At the same time, there have been several murders. Are they all connected?

Positives: The setting is done well, and readers who like a romance/mystery will enjoy this. There are light references to diversity that many people will appreciate.

But this didn't outweigh the negatives for me. Most crucially, I just did not like the main characters or their relationship. I found them all shallow and uninteresting. The story came across as mostly a cozy-style mystery, but it's dotted with a few references to the couple's relationship, so it can't be read as such.

The mystery itself might have been ok, but I read this over a long period of time because I wasn't enjoying it, so I didn't follow everything quite so well. There seem to have lots of suspects and red herrings. Some of the dialogue went on for longer than I felt necessary. The diversity part felt like an homage to today's values rather than feeling realistic.

There's the requisite info dump at the end from the suspect who would never bother telling it over in real life, nor would he keep the protagonist alive long enough to tell it over.

I am an outlier opinion, so take this for what it is.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Julia Golding for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

The title of this novel really grabbed me, being both a fan of the Lake District and the Romantic Poets. If you agree, then you’ll probably enjoy the lovely scenery, the fact that the Wordsworth family have a very small part, and the plot features a missing Wordsworth manuscript.

For me, this novel was part romance and part crime. It started off really strongly as we were straight into the plot with a very intriguing murder. The location changed, and we got more into the romance storyline between Dr Sandys and actress Dora.

Although the romance soon hotted up, for me, the investigation stalled a little as we were introduced to different characters.

The crimes did keep occurring with some more exciting incidents, but I thought that there could have been more action in the middle section of the novel and cliffhangers to the ‘cosy crime’ storyline.

The romance part of the novel had plenty of conflict and excellent rapport between the two main characters.

Dr Sandys and Dora had a believable love story. I was carried along with their storyline. In terms of the crime plot, it came back together at the end with some tension in the ending and a little twist.

I recommend reading these books from the start as this was my first book in the series, and there was a lot of background detail I’d missed. One small note about accents – in my view, some of the words used by the locals sounded more Scottish rather than Cumbrian.

For regency lovers everywhere, this mismatched couple uses their particular set of skills to solve crime wherever they go, including on what is supposed to be a vacation. When they find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, it's only by their wits that they survive.

This is the third book in the series and while each mystery is fine to be read on its own the relationship development would be missed so they are best read in order. This time we are in the Lake District which is described to a T. The mysteries in this series always involve real people and this one involves Wordsworth and a group of young men who follow him. It starts off with missing poetry and then the twists and turns start and the body counts starts adding up. Although the pool of likely suspects are small the plot was so well written it keeps you guessing This series is becoming a guilty pleasure for me. Can't wait for more. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC. Great plot, love the character development, great cliff hanger. Looking forward to more.