Description

What an exciting beginning to an intriguing new series! If you’ve ever been fascinated by glimpses into a novelist’s world, you’ll thoroughly appreciate this charming tale of literary misadventure. In a dynamic pairing between the daring “Killer Queen of Romance” and a respectable police detective, there’s suspense, humor, and romance—all woven seamlessly together. Carolyn Miller, bestselling author of the popular Regency Brides and Regency Wallflowers series, calls this thrilling story “definitely worth diving into!”

In nineteenth-century Cincinnati—the infamous Queen City—corruption is rampant, and shadows hide sinister truths. However, Lydia Pelton refuses to remain silent. Under her pen name, E. A. Dupin, Lydia crafts captivating crime novels, using her fictional characters to deliver justice and expose societal wrongs. But fiction suddenly collides with reality when a serial killer chooses to bring Lydia’s stories viciously to life. Four murders have occurred so far, and shocked citizens turn their blame toward Lydia herself.

Amidst rising chaos, police officer Abraham Hall is tasked with unraveling the chilling connection between Lydia’s imaginative words and the horrific crimes rocking the city. Though wary of working alongside the controversial novelist dubbed the “Killer Queen of Romance,” Abraham realizes he desperately needs Lydia’s insight to solve the case. Yet collaborating with the fierce and independent Lydia quickly proves just as complicated as managing his growing attraction to her.

As secrets slowly unravel, Lydia and Abraham must race against time and their own conflicted hearts to stop the murderer—and discover an ending far better than either of them dared to imagine.

Erica Vetsch, bestselling author of the Of Cloaks & Daggers series, praises it as filled with “Danger, mystery, hidden identities, villains, heroes, and gallantry—all the exciting elements you’d expect in a dime novel, but so much better!”

Bonus feature: Discussion Questions included in the book.