Useful Woman Mystery #01: The Secret of the Lost Pearls

Useful Woman Mystery #01: The Secret of the Lost Pearls
Darcie Wilde
RRP:
NZ$ 59.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 47.99
Hardback
h210 x 139mm - 304pg
27 Dec 2022 US
International import eta 7-19 days
9781496738011
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
Beyond the glittering ballrooms and elegant parties of Regency London lurk all manner of unexpected dangers. In Darcie Wilde' s captivating mystery series inspired by the novels of Jane Austen and written with the wit of "Phoebe Waller-Bridge' s cheeky asides in Fleabag" (Bookpage), no one is better equipped to help ladies who find themselves wronged than "useful woman" Rosalind Thorne. . . Rosalind Thorne may not have a grand fortune of her own, but she possesses virtues almost as prized by the haut ton: discretion, and a web of connections that enable her to discover just about anything about anyone. Known as a "most useful woman," Rosalind helps society ladies in need-for a modest fee, of course-and her client roster is steadily increasing. Mrs. Gerald Douglas, nee Bethany Hodgeson, presents Rosalind with a particularly delicate predicament. A valuable pearl necklace has gone missing, and Bethany' s husband believes the thief is Nora, Bethany' s disgraced sister. Nora made a scandalous elopement at age sixteen and returned three years later, telling the family that her husband was dead. But as Rosalind begins her investigations, under cover of helping the daughters of the house prepare for their first London season, she realizes that the family harbors even more secrets than scandals. The intrigue swirling around the Douglases includes fraud, forgery, blackmail, and soon, murder. And it will fall to Rosalind, aided by charming Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, to untangle the shocking truth and discover who is a thief-and who is a killer.

#01: Secret of the Lost Pearls, The

Praise for the Rosalind Thorne Mystery Series "Compelling period drama. " -Kirkus on A Counterfeit Suitor "Meticulously crafted. . . Rosalind is an empathetic, perceptive lead, and her relationships with her caring friends add much to the book' s appeal. A plot as complex as a Chinese puzzle box will keep readers turning the pages. Wilde offers a fascinating, richly detailed look at Regency society. " -Publishers Weekly on A Counterfeit Suitor "A well-researched story, the narrative is fast-paced with spot-on dialogue. . . An absolute delight. " -Historical Novel Society on A Counterfeit Suitor "Wilde writes about high society social codes the same way Phoebe Waller-Bridge makes cheeky asides in "Fleabag. "" -Bookpage on A Lady Compromised "Complex social networks spark an equally complex puzzle. " -Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW for A Lady Compromised "Wilde does a good job balancing accurate period detail with a look at such matters as the difference between attraction and compatibility, and the weight of family obligations. Lovers of Regency mysteries and smart female sleuths will be eager for more. " -Publishers Weeklyon A Lady Compromised "Wilde' s description of people, places, and events create an immersive experience for the reader. . . A Lady Compromised portrays the outwardly straight-laced mores an complicated social connections of the country gentry vividly through a varied cast of characters. " -Mystery Sceneon A Lady Compromised "Wilde delivers an intriguing, well-researched novel that sweeps readers into the not-so-quiet hills of the 19th-century English countryside. " -Historical Novels Reviewon A Lady Compromised "Rosalind is a great character, sharp-witted, intelligent, and independent-minded. She has often been compared to Elizabeth Bennet, as is natural, because the series is clearly inspired by Jane Austen' s novels, but I think a closer parallel would be to Anne Elliot in Persuasion. " -Aunt Agatha' s Bookstore on A Lady Compromised "A Lady Compromised is a complex, enthralling mystery that rivals those of Anne Perry and Agatha Christie. " -New York Journal of Books "Rosalind carries the soul of Sherlock Holmes in the world of Elizabeth Bennet, and it' s a hard combination to beat. " -BookPage on And Dangerous to Know "Wilde has a sure hand on the reins of her prose, which results in a fast-paced and enjoyable story. " -Historical Novel Society on And Dangerous to Know "Wilde smoothly mixes historical figures and events into a plot that' s sure to keep readers turning the pages to see what happens next. Regency fans will be charmed. " -Publishers Weekly on And Dangerous to Know "The Regency frame is skillfully woven through a story that features surprising plot twists and an engaging subplot concerning Rosalind' s dilemma over whom to marry-Harkness or a duke who will allow her to reclaim her past. " -Booklist on And Dangerous to Know "Impressive. . . Wilde brings the haute monde of early 19th-century London to vivid life, and the characters she peoples it with are complex individuals whose basic decency, or lack of it, is carefully hidden behind a facade of manners and propriety. " -Publishers Weekly on A Useful Woman "Wilde has done a masterful job of recreating the tone and language of Austen' s England. . . Rosalind is a spirited, sympathetic heroine. . . Wilde has given her just enough modern sensibilities to make her relatable but never oversteps in a way that divorces from the realities of the time. . . Here is a mystery with a nice balance between the salacious and the sad, the gratifying and the tragic. " -Criminal Element on A Purely Private Matter
Darcie Wilde is the award-winning author of stylishly adventurous historical mysteries and romances, including the Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, a Regency-set series inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, as well as the Regency Makeover Trilogy. She has also written, under the name Sarah Zettel, Locus and Philip K. Dick Award-winning novels, including Fool' s War, a New York Times Notable Books of the Year selection. She lives in Michigan and can be found online at DarcieWildeRomance. com.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9781496738011
Published: 27 Dec 2022
Published In: United States
Imprint: Kensington Publishing
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Format: Hardback
Height: 210mm
Width: 139mm
Pages: 304

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