1812 London

Up-and-coming novelist Jane Austen joins forces with London's most esteemed investigative duo – the infamous Dora Fitz-Pennington and disgraced son of a Viscount, Jacob Sandys – to solve the brutal murder of a French count and his opera singer wife. The killer took his own life immediately after the crime – but who sent him and why?

As they find themselves swept up in London's shadowy underworld, can Dora and Jacob uncover the truth without jeopardising national security, and with the promises they made to each other still intact? And will their unique love story end up in the pages of one of Austen’s novels?

'One of the best historical mysteries of the year. I loved it!' Vanessa Kelly, bestselling author of The Emma Knightley Mysteries

'A rip-roaring, helter-skelter adventure careening breathlessly through Regency society … an uproarious delight' Historical Novel Society

'Golding’s deft touch and clear affection for Austen’s voice make this a genuinely clever, witty piece of historical fiction' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This series has just been such a delight to read … I'll be clamoring for the next book!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Golding’s prose has just the right amount of Austen charm … The dialogue sparkles, the setting feels spot-on … I didn’t want to put it down.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A delightful, gripping and intense mystery that I absolutely loved' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The perfect cozy mystery to curl up with on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It’s charming, clever, and just twisty enough to keep you turning the pages' ⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A clever and engaging historical mystery that keeps readers guessing. I thought this was so quaint and cosy. I loved this!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wonderfully entertaining just like every book in this series has been! Such great characters and wonderful writing' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Praise for Julia Golding:

‘I won't lie, I picked this book up because of the cover – absolutely stunning…it was a perfect read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book was so good, I couldn't put it down’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Simply delicious! This book is absolutely glorious…in the midst of a lot of Regency retellings, it stands out … There is a wry wit throughout which balances beautifully with the dark themes’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book is absolutely fantastic!!! I was so caught up in reading it that I missed lunch, and it was past time to start dinner. Only the rumbling of my stomach made me put it down for a quick meal, after which I resumed my reading’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Starts with a bang, never really pauses for breath, and has two main protagonists who are instantly likeable and easy to cheer for!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A roller-coaster ride with plenty of twists’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What a compelling read! I found it a captivating, dynamic and enthralling book that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The writing of this book was exquisite … I was hanging on to every last word’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Julia Golding is a multi-award winning writer for children and young adults. She also wrote the Jane Austen Investigates detective series for Young Adults which has been optioned by an LA based production company for a possible TV series, and runs a podcast called What would Jane do? where she and her podcast partner, Katy Macfarlane, a Regency re-enactor, look at social issues with a Jane Austen lens.