The secret of the lady's maid / Darcie Wilde.

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Title:

The secret of the lady's maid / Darcie Wilde.

Author:

Wilde, Darcie, author.

ISBN:

9781496738035

Edition:

First Kensington hardcover edition.

Physical Description:

410 pages ; 22 cm.

Series:

A useful woman mystery ; 7

Rosalind Thorne mystery ; 7.

Abstract:

"When the daughter of a well-respected family is being poisoned, Rosalind Thorn and Bow Street officer Adam Harkness work together to solve this dangerous case that is rife with politics, jealousy, jewel thieves--and a romance between them that would be frowned upon by society"-- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Women private investigators -- England -- Fiction.

Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction.

Jewelry theft -- Fiction.

Poisoning -- Fiction.

Man-woman relationships -- Fiction.

Femmes détectives -- Angleterre -- Romans, nouvelles, etc.

Meurtre -- Enquêtes -- Romans, nouvelles, etc.

Vol de bijoux -- Romans, nouvelles, etc.

Relations entre hommes et femmes -- Romans, nouvelles, etc.

Geographic Term:

London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction.

Londres (Angleterre) -- Mœurs et coutumes -- 19e siècle -- Romans, nouvelles, etc.

Genre:

Detective and mystery fiction.

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library	Adult Mystery Fiction Book Hardback	120791003103107	F WIL	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

The resourceful and intrepid Rosalind Thorne, a heroine after Jane Austen's heart, has a scandalous mystery to solve within Regency-era high society, in the latest novel in this nationally bestselling historical series. Ideal for fans of Andrea Penrose, Lauren Willig, and Deanna Raybourn.

Rosalind Thorne's quick wits and discretion have proved invaluable to London's haut ton . Success has at last brought her financial stability and a new home, which she shares with her best friend, Alice Littlefield. But now trouble has infiltrated Rosalind's sanctuary, and the reputations in danger include her own.

Alice has formed a tender attachment to Amelia, the maid in their employ, and her affection is returned. But before meeting Alice, Amelia was involved with Cate Levitton, daughter of a well-respected family. The scandalous liaison caused the Levittons to banish Cate to the house of her widowed cousin. Amelia has no expectation of seeing Cate again-until she stumbles upon her in the marketplace, looking deathly ill.

The women bring Cate to their home with the help of Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, who deduces that Cate's sickness may in fact be arsenic poisoning. But who had motive, or means? As Rosalind and Adam work side by side, their suspicions grow-as does the bond between them. Rosalind knows that both her blossoming relationship with Adam and her increasing independence would be frowned upon by society. Poison, politics, jealousy and jewel thieves combine in Rosalind's most complex case yet. But to solve this dangerous puzzle, Rosalind must also decide where her heart and her future lie . . .

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Wilde follows up The Secret of the Lost Pearls with another lively, well-researched mystery centered on intrepid amateur sleuth Rosalind Thorne. In 1820 London, Rosalind and her dear friend Alice Littlefield have recently moved in together, and Alice has developed feelings for the pair's maid, Amelia. At Amelia's previous place of employment, she'd fallen in love with her employer's daughter, Cate Levitton. While fetching supplies for Rosalind and Alice at a local market one morning, Amelia stumbles into Cate, who appears to be on death's door, and brings her back to Rosalind and Alice. With the help of police officer Adam Harkness, Rosalind's love interest, the two friends determine Cate has been poisoned. As the group digs into potential foul play, Adam works to uncover a government spy instigating treason in Westminster, only to find out that the poisoning and the treason may be linked. The setting is immersive, with dim coffee shops, cows in Hyde Park, plenty of fog, and thorough explanations of London policing. A few moments of clunky and anachronistic dialogue aside, Wilde maintains steady momentum all the way to a satisfying conclusion. Fans of Andrea Penrose and Anna Lee Huber will be pleased. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (Jan.)

Kirkus Review

A complicated web of interlocking relationships spells trouble for a Victorian problem-solver. Rosalind Thorne makes her way in a male-dominated society by helping the ladies of London's haut ton resolve all sorts of domestic dilemmas. Most recently, Marianna Levitton has sought Rosalind's help finding her niece, Cate, who disappeared from her house in Bath after a sojourn there. Marianna doesn't know that Cate's been living upstairs at the house Rosalind shares with writer Alice Littlefield ever since her niece was brought there, obviously sick, by Amelia McGowan, their housemaid. The presence of Cate, Amelia's onetime paramour, upsets the deepening relationship between Amelia and Alice and puts Rosalind in a precarious position with Marianna and Beatrice, Cate's mother. While Rosalind tries to sort out the Levittons' domestic affairs, Bow Street runner Adam Harkness hopes to make her an offer of marriage by earning the reward offered for the capture of the fugitive George Edwards, a key figure in the Cato Street uprising. In between the two quests stand Jack Beachamp and Francesca Finch, a pair of miscreants who see fit to meddle in both family conflicts and matters of national importance. Fitting together all the pieces holds the key not only to solving the intricate puzzle but to finding a path forward in Rosalind and Adam's life together. Wilde moves deftly between the personal and political in a complex tale of love and betrayal. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.