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

Praise for Julia Golding:

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

'Who can resist a smart, resourceful and independent Regency heroine? Prepare to fall head over heels' Good Housekeeping

‘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’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

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.