The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews ~ a Review

by MK French

The Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women. Newspaper editor Miles Quincy starts to question the school’s intentions, so Penelope “Nell” Trewlove is tasked to distract him. It's supposed to be an easy mission, but Nell finds Miles too fascinating to resist and her visit to London coincides with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters. The two are soon caught in a compromising situation, and agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death.

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

November 2025; Berkley; 978-0593639313
audio, ebook, print (416 pages); Victorian romance

The Marriage Method is the second book in the Crinoline Academy series. It definitely helps to have read Rules of Ruin first, since this one follows soon after the end of the first. We get enough of a background to start here, but go read that one, then come back to this one. It's more fun that way, promise. 

Miles at first has a weakness for stray cats, and one of them in his work office sets up the disastrous meeting that could put Nell's reputation at risk. He insists on helping her rather than ignoring her predicament, and agrees to be partners, especially when her search for a missing potential student dovetails with his search for who killed the gossip columnist. There's a tie to the noble class, and Nell uses her trained skills outside of the Academy for the first time. It intrigues Miles, who has a tendency to compartmentalize work and any emotional attachments in separate boxes. He even visualizes it that way, too. The two question others in their different styles, getting information and growing closer all the while.

I enjoyed the book and finding out more about Nell. We saw her as Effie's friend before, but now we know her story and the hurts she buried about being left behind, struggling to feel needed by others. Miles is incredibly organized and takes notes on what he hears and sees; of course, the two very controlled people will have something in common. Both need to do something worthwhile with their lives and help others, and want to take care of those they care about. I liked seeing them get to know each other, and work together for a solution not only to the disappearance, but to the murder as well. They complement each other, working to get their happily ever after. 

Buy The Marriage Method 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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