Series: Rosalind Thorne Mysteries
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: December 27, 2022
Publisher: Kensington
Source: Publisher
Genre: Romance / Historical / Regency / MysteryThis captivating Regency-era mystery inspired by the novels of
Jane Austen is perfect for fans of Andrea Penrose, Lauren Willig, and
Deanna Raybourn, as readers venture beyond the glittering ballrooms and
elegant parties of Regency London to the dark side of the city and its
unexpected dangers.
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, née 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.
The Secret of the Lost Pearls is the 6th installment in author Darcie Wilde's serious one source is calling Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, while another is calling it the Useful Woman Mystery series. Take your pick. This story is set in the Regency era circa 1920. Timeline wise, it has been a month since King George III died, and the country is in mourning until the new King can be coronated. Series protagonist Rosalind Thorne is a lady of quality in
reduced circumstances who makes her living as a “useful woman” – one who
helps wealthy women with their personal problems.
Charming and
resourceful, she is a woman adept at helping ladies of the ton navigate
the darker corners of Regency England—without revealing Society’s most
shocking secrets. This series is catnip for readers who love Regency mysteries by authors such as Andrea Penrose, Alyssa
Maxwell, Deanna Raybourne, and Lauren Willig. Also appeals to readers
who love Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Conan Doyle, as well as their
and the modern sequels, and those who want to explore the historical
setting as well as the lives of the characters.
Mrs. Gerald Douglas, née 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, a Man named Cantrell, 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. The family is a mess with a father who seems to be occupied elsewhere, a mother who is controlling, three sisters who all have secrets, and a wife who is trying to keep her family from falling apart. Rosalind, aided by
charming Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, as well as lady's maid Amelia McGowan, to untangle the shocking
truth and discover who is a thief—and who is a killer. At times, this story does have narratives from various characters including Adam who is apparently Rosalind's love interest in this story. Adam hasn't exactly been given levity when it comes to making mistakes that apparently happened in another story.
Rosalind Thorne is an excellent main character with wit, intelligence,
and a heart of gold with a feistiness that makes her solve the crime.
Societal problems and murder/mystery are included with questionable
relations, family, and possible theft. She has her finger on the pulse of the London society, and has made some important contacts and friends along the way. Some of those friends play key roles in determining the outcome of this story. I would say that this is a standalone, but I am not one to recommend going back and trying reading the books in order as they were released.
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