The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace ~ a Review

by MK French

Jo Jones lost her job, her mother, and her marriage all within the space of one year, so she moves to an estate in North Yorkshire. She's not sure if people don't like her because she's autistic or from New York. When the moody town groundskeeper is found shot to death in the estate, she's the prime suspect. A family portrait vanishes, revealing a connection to the dead body and to Jo's family history. Jo works with a Welsh antiques dealer, the local detective, and the Irish innkeeper's wife, to clear her name and find the missing painting. Along the way she discovers secrets about the town and herself, and must solve the mystery before the killer strikes again.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

February 2024; Hanover Square Press; 978-1335014030
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); mystery

When we meet Jo, she's an outsider due to growing up in the United States, and she is terribly blunt to everyone. About a third of the way she explains it as autism, and she certainly has poor eye contact, a lack of social skills, and going down the rabbit hole into special interests, which had served her well as an editor. We follow her investigative efforts to discover the identity of the woman in the portrait and learn about her family history as the local team searches for Sid's killer. It's a murder mystery in the present as well as a mystery regarding the Ardemore family, and why the massive house was abandoned.

It was an enthralling mystery, keeping me up late to finish the book and find out what happened in both mysteries. 

Buy The Framed Women of Ardemore House at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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