Most Popular Books by Deanna Raybourn

Receiving a warning from a mysterious baron after suffering a home invasion, Veronica Speedwell accepts the baron''s shelter and teams up with an ill-tempered naturalist when her host is subsequently murdered.

Veronica and Stoker discover that not all fairy tales have happy endings, and some end in murder, in this latest historical mystery from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn. Lord Rosemorran has purchased a wax figure of a beautiful reclining woman and asks Stoker to incorporate a clockwork mechanism to give the Rosemorran Collection its own Sleeping Beauty in the style of Madame Tussaud’s. But when Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open to insert the mechanism, he makes a gruesome discovery: this is no wax figure. The mannequin is the beautifully preserved body of a young woman who was once very much alive. But who would do such a dreadful thing, and why? Sleuthing out the answer to this question sets Veronica and Stoker on their wildest adventure yet. From the underground laboratories of scientists experimenting with electricity to resurrect the dead in the vein of Frankenstein to the traveling show where Stoker once toured as an attraction, the gaslit atmosphere of London in October is the perfect setting for this investigation into the unknown. Through it all, the intrepid pair is always one step behind the latest villain—a man who has killed once and will stop at nothing to recover the body of the woman he loved. Will they unmask him in time to save his next victim? Or will they become the latest figures to be immortalized in his collection of horrors?

A bride mysteriously disappears on her wedding day in the newest Veronica Speedwell adventure by the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey series. Lured by the promise of a rare and elusive butterfly, the intrepid Veronica Speedwell is persuaded by Lord Templeton-Vane, the brother of her colleague Stoker, to pose as his fiancée at a house party on a Cornish isle owned by his oldest friend, Malcolm Romilly. But Veronica soon learns that one question hangs over the party: What happened to Rosamund? Three years ago, Malcolm Romilly’s bride vanished on their wedding day, and no trace of her has ever been found. Now those who were closest to her have gathered, each a possible suspect in her disappearance. From the poison garden kept by Malcolm’s sister to the high towers of the family castle, the island’s atmosphere is full of shadows, and danger lurks around every corner. Determined to discover Rosamund’s fate, Veronica and Stoker match wits with a murderer who has already struck once and will not hesitate to kill again.…

A princess is missing and a peace treaty is on the verge of collapse in this new Veronica Speedwell adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated author Deanna Raybourn. January 1889. As the newest member of the Curiosity Club--an elite society of brilliant, intrepid women--Veronica Speedwell is excited to put her many skills to good use. As she assembles a memorial exhibition for pioneering mountain climber Alice Baker-Greene, Veronica discovers evidence that the recent death was not a tragic climbing accident but murder. Veronica and her natural historian beau, Stoker, tell the patron of the exhibit, Princess Gisela of Alpenwald, of their findings. With Europe on the verge of war, Gisela''s chancellor, Count von Rechstein, does not want to make waves--and before Veronica and Stoker can figure out their next move, the princess disappears. Having noted Veronica''s resemblance to the princess, von Rechstein begs her to pose as Gisela for the sake of the peace treaty that brought the princess to England. Veronica reluctantly agrees to the scheme. She and Stoker must work together to keep the treaty intact while navigating unwelcome advances, assassination attempts, and Veronica''s own family--the royalty who has never claimed her.

The “wickedly clever and devilishly amusing”* Veronica Speedwell returns for a rousing adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey Mysteries. London, 1887. At the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task—saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Ramsforth, accused of the brutal murder of his mistress, Artemisia, will face the hangman’s noose in a week’s time if the real killer is not found. But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems, and unmasking her true identity is only the first of many secrets Veronica must uncover. Together with her natural-historian colleague, Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer. From a Bohemian artists’ colony to a royal palace to a subterranean grotto with a decadent history, the investigation proves to be a very perilous undertaking indeed... *SusanElia MacNeal

A royal scandal’s connection to a brutal serial killer threatens London in this new Veronica Speedwell adventure from New York Times bestselling and Edgar® Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn. Autumn 1888. Veronica Speedwell and her colleague Stoker are asked by Lady Wellingtonia Beauclerk to stop a potential scandal so explosive it threatens to rock the monarchy. Prince Albert Victor is a regular visitor to the most exclusive private club in London, and the proprietress, Madame Aurore, has received an expensive gift that can be traced back to the prince. Lady Wellie would like Veronica and Stoker to retrieve it from the club before scandal can break. Worse yet, London is being terrorized by what would become the most notorious and elusive serial killer in history, Jack the Ripper—and Lady Wellie suspects the prince may be responsible. Veronica and Stoker reluctantly agree to go undercover at Madame Auroreʼs high-class brothel, where a body soon turns up. Secrets are swirling around Veronica and the royal family—and it is up to Veronica and Stoker to find the truth, before it is too late for all of them.

"Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave." These ominous words are the last threat that Sir Edward Grey receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, he collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests. Prepared to accept that Edward''s death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that her husband was murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers damning evidence for herself, and realizes the truth. Determined to bring the murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward''s demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

While investigating a man claiming to be the long-lost heir to a noble family, Veronica Speedwell gets the surprise of her life in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn. London, 1889. Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau Stoker are summoned by Sir Hugo Montgomerie, head of Special Branch. He has a personal request on behalf of his goddaughter, Euphemia Hathaway. After years of traveling the world, her eldest brother, Jonathan, heir to Hathaway Hall, was believed to have been killed in the catastrophic eruption of Krakatoa a few years before. But now a man matching Jonathan’s description and carrying his possessions has arrived at Hathaway Hall with no memory of his identity or where he has been. Could this man truly be Jonathan, back from the dead? Or is he a devious impostor, determined to gain ownership over the family''s most valuable possessions—a legendary parure of priceless Rajasthani jewels? It''s a delicate situation, and Veronica is Sir Hugo''s only hope. Veronica and Stoker agree to go to Hathaway Hall to covertly investigate the mysterious amnesiac. Veronica is soon shocked to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past. To help Sir Hugo discover the truth, she must open doors to her own history that she long believed to be shut for good.

Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that’s their secret weapon. They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they''re sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire—it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller by New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn. Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills. When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they’ve been marked for death. Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman—and a killer—of a certain age.

Come back to the intriguing world of Lady Julia Grey in the beloved historical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn. Despite his admonitions to stay away, Lady Julia arrives in Yorkshire to find Brisbane as remote and maddeningly attractive as ever. Cloistered together, they share the moldering house with the proud but impoverished remnants of an ancient family—the sort that keeps their bloodline pure and their secrets close. Lady Allenby and her daughters, dependent upon Brisbane and devastated by their fall in society, seem adrift on the moor winds, powerless to change their fortunes. But poison does not discriminate between classes…. A mystery unfolds from the rotten heart of Grimsgrave, one Lady Julia may have to solve alone, as Brisbane appears inextricably tangled in its heinous twists and turns. But blood will out, and before spring touches the craggy northern landscape, Lady Julia will have uncovered a Gypsy witch, a dark rider and a long-buried legacy of malevolence and evil. Previously published. Don’t miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn! Book # 1: Silent in the Grave Book # 2: Silent in the Sanctuary Book # 3: Silent on the Moor Book # 3.5: Midsummer Night (novella) Book # 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling Book # 5: The Dark Enquiry Book # 5.5: Silent Night (novella) Book # 5.6: Twelfth Night (novella) Book # 5.7: Bonfire Night (novella)

Readers everywhere have fallen for New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn''s intrepid amateur sleuth and socialite, Lady Julia Grey. Not to mention her devastatingly handsome partner in crime, Nicholas Brisbane. Midsummer Night is the long awaited novella of their wedding, a dashing—and potentially deadly—affair not to be missed… Midsummer in Victorian England—an auspicious time for a wedding. Brisbane has taken charge of the music. Julia has, perhaps mistakenly, allowed her sisters to choose the dress. And Belmont Abbey is overflowing with guests awaiting the blessed day. What could go wrong? Combine the close-knit chaos of village life, pagan traditions bursting through staid Victorian conventions, and the congenial madness that tends to swirl around Lady Julia''s family and you get an unforgettable wedding. But add in a dangerous past nemesis who has come to wish them not-so-well, and their day to remember just might take a fatal turn… Don''t miss a single tale in the Lady Julia Grey series—or Deanna Raybourn''s latest stand alone novel, A SPEAR OF SUMMER GRASS.

Veronica must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar® Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn. Veronica’s natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months, and their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before him with his brother, Tiberius (Lord Templeton-Vane), he is lured back home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very special dinner party. Tiberius has received a cryptic message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners—that he too should get his affairs in order. Realising he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate. As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past amongst the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for.

Join Lady Julia Grey on her next investigation in book 2 of the acclaimed historical mystery series only from New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn. Fresh from a six-month sojourn in Italy, Lady Julia returns home to Sussex to find her father’s estate crowded with family and friends. Much to her surprise, the one man she had hoped to forget—the enigmatic and compelling Nicholas Brisbane—is among her father’s houseguests…and he is not alone. Not to be outdone, Julia shows him that two can play at flirtation and promptly introduces him to her devoted, younger, titled Italian count. But the homecoming celebrations quickly take a ghastly turn when one of the guests is found brutally murdered in the chapel. Lady Julia resumes her unlikely and deliciously intriguing partnership with Nicholas Brisbane, setting out to unravel a tangle of deceit before the killer can strike again. Previously published. Don’t miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn! Book # 1: Silent in the Grave Book # 2: Silent in the Sanctuary Book # 3: Silent on the Moor Book # 3.5: Midsummer Night (novella) Book # 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling Book # 5: The Dark Enquiry Book # 5.5: Silent Night (novella) Book # 5.6: Twelfth Night (novella) Book # 5.7: Bonfire Night (novella)

New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn, takes readers into Africa during the height of British colonialism, to meet a man as wild as the land he loves in this prequel novella... Kenya, 1918 Ryder White is Canadian by birth but African by choice. He is more at home in the wilds of the savannah, shooting and sleeping his way across the continent, than amongst the hedonistic colonists of Kenyan society. In a landscape where one false move can cost a man his life, Ryder’s skill as a guide is unparalleled, but only the rich or royal can afford his services. When a European prince hires Ryder to help him hunt an elusive leopard Ryder thinks it’s just another well-paying job with yet another spoiled voyeur. But this perilous journey is full of dangers that may change Ryder forever.... Ryder returns in A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn, where he encounters a woman from a very different world, to explore beauty and darkness and what is truly worth fighting for. Originally published in 2013

From New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn. A husband, a family, a comfortable life: Theodora Lestrange wants nothing to do with it all. With a modest inheritance and the three gowns that comprise her entire wardrobe, Theodora leaves Edinburgh—and a disappointed suitor—far behind. She is bound for Rumania, where tales of vampires are still whispered, to visit an old friend and write the book that will bring her true independence. She arrives at a magnificent, decaying castle in the Carpathians, replete with eccentric inhabitants: the ailing dowager, the troubled steward, and her own fearful friend, Cosmina. But all are outstripped in dark glamour by the castle''s master, Count Andrei Dragulescu. Bewildering and bewitching in equal measure, the brooding nobleman ignites Theodora''s imagination and awakens passions in her that she can neither deny nor conceal. His allure is superlative, his dominion over the superstitious town, absolute—and he is determined to bring Theodora under his sway. Before her sojourn ends—or her novel is complete—Theodora will be forever changed. For obsession can prove fatal… and she is in danger of falling prey to more than just desire. Previously Published.

Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London. But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane''s private enquiry business. Among the more unlikely clients: Julia''s very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved—if eccentric—family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation. It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust. Shocked to find their investigation spun into salacious newspaper headlines, bristling at the tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall. For Bellmont''s sake—and more—they''ll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets, the kind men kill to keep….

From New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn, rediscover the beloved Lady Julia Grey mystery stories, and be swept up in a Victorian world of intrigue in the first three novels, together in a value box set. Silent in the Grave The darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives threatening letters from an unknown source. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home. Determined to bring her husband’s murderer to justice, the late Sir Edward’s wife Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward’s demise, following a trail of clues that lead her to ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival. Silent in the Sanctuary Fresh from a trip to Italy, Lady Julia returns to Sussex to find her father’s estate crowded with family and friends. Much to her surprise, the one man she had hoped to forget—the enigmatic and compelling Nicholas Brisbane—is among the houseguests. But the homecoming celebrations quickly take a ghastly turn when one of the guests is found brutally murdered. Lady Julia resumes her unlikely and deliciously intriguing partnership with Nicholas Brisbane, setting out to unravel a tangle of deceit before the killer can strike again. Silent on the Moor In Grimsgrave Hall, Nicholas Brisbane has inherited a ruined estate, replete with uncanny tenants and one unwanted houseguest: Lady Julia Grey. Lady Allenby and her daughters, dependent upon Brisbane and devastated by their fall in society, seem adrift, powerless to change their fortunes. But poison does not discriminate between classes, and a mystery unfolds from the rotten heart of Grimsgrave. Lady Julia may have to solve this particular one alone, as Brisbane appears inextricably tangled in its heinous twists and turns. But blood will out, and before spring comes, Lady Julia will have uncovered a long-buried legacy of malevolence and evil. Don’t miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn! Book # 1: Silent in the Grave Book # 2: Silent in the Sanctuary Book # 3: Silent on the Moor Book # 3.5: Midsummer Night (novella) Book # 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling Book # 5: The Dark Enquiry Book # 5.5: Silent Night (novella) Book # 5.6: Twelfth Night (novella) Book # 5.7: Bonfire Night (novella)

Return to the gilded Jazz Age as one woman grapples with secrets and treasures long buried in this tale of grand adventure from New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn. On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat’s wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing—she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father’s quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems. With only her lady’s maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels under cover—east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. As danger abounds, Poppy finds herself in the sights of those who will stop at nothing to recover a fabled ancient treasure. Torn between allegiance to her kindly employer and a dashing, shadowy figure, Poppy will risk it all as she attempts to unravel a much larger plan—one that stretches to the very heart of the British government, and one that could endanger everything, and everyone, that she holds dear. Previously Published.

Don’t miss any of the Lady Julia Grey stories! Experience the mystery and romance of New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn’s adored Victorian mysteries with three novellas, together in one collection for the first time. Midsummer Night Belmont Abbey is overflowing with guests awaiting Lady Julia and Nicolas Brisbane’s wedding day. Combine the close-knit chaos of village life, pagan traditions bursting through staid Victorian conventions, and the congenial madness of Lady Julia’s family, and you get an unforgettable wedding. What could go wrong? But add in a dangerous past nemesis who has come to wish them not-so-well, and their day to remember just might take a fatal turn… Twelfth Night The eccentric March family have assembled at Belmont Abbey to perform the Twelfth Night Revels for their sleepy English village. But when an infant is found abandoned, and the only lead is the local legend of a haunted cottage, Lady Julia and Nicholas take up the challenge to investigate. When the source of the mystery is revealed, they’ll be faced with an impossible choice—one that will alter the course of their lives forever. Bonfire Night Nicholas Brisbane has inherited a country house—but only if he and his family are in residence from All Hallows’ Eve through Bonfire Night. Neither Lady Julia nor Nicholas is likely to be put off by local legends of ghosts and witches, and the eerie noises and strange lights that flit from room to room simply intrigue them. Until a new lady’s maid disappears, igniting a caper that will have explosive results… Don’t miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn! Book # 1: Silent in the Grave Book # 2: Silent in the Sanctuary Book # 3: Silent on the Moor Book # 3.5: Midsummer Night (novella) Book # 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling Book # 5: The Dark Enquiry Book # 5.5: Silent Night (novella) Book # 5.6: Twelfth Night (novella) Book # 5.7: Bonfire Night (novella)

Members of an Egyptian expedition fall victim to an ancient mummy’s curse in this thrilling Veronica Speedwell novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries. London, 1888. As colorful and unfettered as the butterflies she collects, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell can’t resist the allure of an exotic mystery—particularly one involving her enigmatic colleague, Stoker. His former expedition partner has vanished from an archaeological dig with a priceless diadem unearthed from the newly discovered tomb of an Egyptian princess. This disappearance is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events that have plagued the controversial expedition, and rumors abound that the curse of the vengeful princess has been unleashed as the shadowy figure of Anubis himself stalks the streets of London. But the perils of an ancient curse are not the only challenges Veronica must face as sordid details and malevolent enemies emerge from Stoker’s past. Caught in a tangle of conspiracies and threats—and thrust into the public eye by an enterprising new foe—Veronica must separate facts from fantasy to unravel a web of duplicity that threatens to cost Stoker everything...

Experience New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn''s adored Victorian mystery series and be carried off by adventure in this first-time digital collection including a bonus novella! DARK ROAD TO DARJEELING: Book 4 After eight idyllic months in theMediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put theirinvestigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia''s eccentric family, theyhurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly-widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on theCavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband''s family, Jane is consumed withthe impending birth of her child—and with discovering the truth about her husband''s death.Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next? THE DARK ENQUIRY: Book 5 Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned fromabroad to London. But merging their respective households leaves little room for thenewlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane''s private enquiry business. Among the moreunlikely clients: Julia''s very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane tosecrecy. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her family, Julia soon picks upthe trail of the investigation. It leads to the exclusive Spirit Club, where the alluringMadame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. Fromthis eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of murder, espionage and blackmail… Bristling atthe tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall. ForBellmont''s sake—and more—they''ll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets: the kind menkill to keep… Don’t miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn! Book # 1: Silent in the Grave Book # 2: Silent in the Sanctuary Book # 3: Silent on the Moor Book # 3.5: Midsummer Night (novella) Book # 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling Book # 5: The Dark Enquiry Book # 5.5: Silent Night (novella) Book # 5.6: Twelfth Night (novella) Book # 5.7: Bonfire Night (novella)

Get swept up in a Victorian world of intrigue in these Lady Julia Grey mystery novellas from New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn. Silent Night After a year of marriage—and numerous adventures—Lady Julia and Brisbane hope for a quiet, intimate Christmas together—until they find themselves at her father’s ancestral estate, Belmont Abbey, with her eccentric family and a menagerie of animals. Nevertheless, Julia looks forward to a lively family gathering—but amongst the celebrations, a mystery stirs… Midsummer Night Midsummer in Victorian England—an auspicious time for a wedding. Brisbane has taken charge of the music. Julia has, perhaps mistakenly, allowed her sisters to choose the dress. And Belmont Abbey is overflowing with guests awaiting the blessed day. Add in a dangerous past nemesis who has come to wish them not-so-well, and their day to remember just might take a fatal turn… Twelfth Night To mark the passing of another decade, the March family have assembled at Belmont Abbey to perform the Twelfth Night Revels. But before Lady Julia and Brisbane can take to the stage, an abandoned infant is found nestled in the helm of St. George. When the pair take up the challenge to investigate, they’ll be faced with an impossible choice—one that will alter the course of their lives…forever. Bonfire NightDuring the autumn of 1890, a solicitor arrives with a strange bequest: Nicholas, it seems, has inherited a country house—but only if he and his family are in residence from All Hallows’ Eve through Bonfire Night. Neither Lady Julia nor Nicholas is likely to be put off by local legends of ghosts and witches, until a new lady’s maid disappears, igniting a caper that will have explosive results… Previously published

SILENT IN THE GRAVE; "Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave." These ominous words are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home. Determined to bring her husband''s murderer to justice, Lady Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward''s demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, Lady Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths... SILENT IN THE SANCTUARY; Fresh from a six-month sojourn in Italy, Lady Julia returns home to Sussex to find her father''s estate crowded with family and friends including Nicholas Brisbane. But the homecoming celebrations quickly take a ghastly turn when one of the guests is found brutally murdered in the chapel, and a member of Lady Julia''s own family confesses to the crime. Certain of her cousin''s innocence, Lady Julia resumes her partnership with Brisbane, setting out to unravel a tangle of deceit before the killer can strike again. SILENT ON THE MOOR; In the face of protests from her conventional, stuffy brother, Lady Julia decides to pay a visit to the mysterious detective Nicholas Brisbane, to bring a woman''s touch to his new estate. But Grimsgrave is haunted by the ghosts of its past, and its owner seems to be falling into ruin along with the house. Confronted with gypsy warnings and Brisbane''s elusive behaviour, Lady Julia scents a mystery. It''s not long before her desire for answers leads her into danger unlike any other that she has experienced and from which, this time, there may be no escape.

Paris, 1923 The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even among Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather''s savanna manor house until gossip subsides. Fairlight is the crumbling, sun-bleached skeleton of a faded African dream, a world where dissolute expats are bolstered by gin and jazz records, cigarettes and safaris. As mistress of this wasted estate, Delilah falls into the decadent pleasures of society. Against the frivolity of her peers, Ryder White stands in sharp contrast. As foreign to Delilah as Africa, Ryder becomes her guide to the complex beauty of this unknown world. Giraffes, buffalo, lions and elephants roam the shores of Lake Wanyama amid swirls of red dust. Here, life is lush and teeming—yet fleeting and often cheap. Amidst the wonders—and dangers—of Africa, Delilah awakes to a land out of all proportion: extremes of heat, darkness, beauty and joy that cut to her very heart. Only when this sacred place is profaned by bloodshed does Delilah discover what is truly worth fighting for—and what she can no longer live without.

''Tis the season for mystery in this fan-favorite Lady Julia Grey Christmas novella from New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn. After a year of marriage—and numerous adventures—Lady Julia and Brisbane hope for a quiet, intimate Christmas together—until they find themselves at her father''s ancestral estate, Bellmont Abbey, with her eccentric family and a menagerie of animals. Nevertheless, Julia looks forward to a lively family gathering—but amongst the celebrations, a mystery stirs. There are missing jewels, new faces at the Abbey, and a prowling ghost that brings back unwelcome memories from a previous holiday—one that turned deadly. Is a new culprit recreating crimes of the past? And will Brisbane let Julia investigate—? Previously published Don’t miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn! Book # 1: Silent in the Grave Book # 2: Silent in the Sanctuary Book # 3: Silent on the Moor Book # 3.5: Midsummer Night (novella) Book # 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling Book # 5: The Dark Enquiry Book # 5.5: Silent Night (novella) Book # 5.6: Twelfth Night (novella) Book # 5.7: Bonfire Night (novella)

An amateur sleuth and her detective husband inherit a country house where a maid goes missing in this mystery novella set in Victorian England. It’s the autumn of 1890, and almost a year has passed since—much to their surprise—Lady Julia and her detective husband, Nicholas Brisbane, became parents. Just as the couple begins to adapt, a solicitor arrives with a strange bequest. Nicholas, it seems, has inherited a country house—but only if he and his family are in residence from All Hallows’ Eve through Bonfire Night. Neither Lady Julia nor Nicholas is likely to be put off by local legends of ghosts and witches, and the eerie noises and strange lights that flit from room to room simply intrigue them. Until a new lady’s maid disappears, igniting a caper that will have explosive results . . . Previously published. Don’t miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by New York Times–bestselling author Deanna Raybourn!

New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn transports readers to a magical New Year''s Eve party in 1914, where two guests will discover the passion of a lifetime in this prequel novella… Notorious socialite Delilah Drummond won''t be deterred by the war. Instead, she decides to throw the event of the year, and she''s handing out invitations with an eye for wanton fun and wild abandon. There is the dashing explorer and archaeologist Gabriel Stark, a man at a crossroads in his life. Brilliant and restless, he''s just committed to a secret enterprise that forces him to play a public role very different from the man he truly is. And then there is the charming if flighty Evangeline Merriweather. Evie has dreamed her whole life of adventure. Little does she know, she''s about to get more than she bargained for. Especially after her vivacious Aunt Dove acts as fairy godmother, if a saucy one, providing a scandalous gown and a whisper of jasmine on her skin…. Evie will shake cool Gabriel to his core, but just how far are they willing to take love at first sight? One seductive night will change Evie forever. Watch for her next adventure, in the City of Jasmine.

London, 1887. Veronica Speedwell intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime. But fate has other plans. When Veronica thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, he offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker - a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. When the Baron is murdered, Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth.

An amateur sleuth and her detective husband probe the mystery of an abandoned baby and eerie legend in the Victorian English countryside in this novella. To mark the passing of another decade, the esteemed—and eccentric—March family have assembled at Bellmont Abbey to perform the Twelfth Night Revels for their sleepy English village. But before Lady Julia and her handsome, sleuthing husband, Nicolas Brisbane, can take to the stage, a ruckus in the stable yard demands their attention. An abandoned infant is found nestled in the steel helm of St. George. What’s more, their only lead is the local legend of a haunted cottage and its ghastly inhabitant—who seems to have returned. Once again, Lady Julia and Nicholas take up the challenge to investigate, and when the source of the mystery is revealed, they’ll be faced with an impossible choice—one that will alter the course of their lives . . . forever. Previously published. Don’t miss the complete Lady Julia Grey mystery series by New York Times–bestselling author Deanna Raybourn!

After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia''s eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband''s family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child—and with discovering the truth about her husband''s death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next? Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.

"London, 1889. Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau Stoker are summoned by Sir Hugo Montgomerie, head of Special Branch. He has a personal request on behalf of his goddaughter, Euphemia Hathaway. After years of traveling the world, her eldest brother, Jonathan, heir to Hathaway Hall, was believed to have been killed in the catastrophic eruption of Krakatoa a few years before. But now a man matching Jonathan''s description and carrying his possessions has arrived at Hathaway Hall with no memory of his identity or where he has been. Could this man truly be Jonathan, back from the dead? Or is he a devious impostor, determined to gain ownership over the family''s most valuable possessions-a legendary parure of priceless Rajasthani jewels? It''s a delicate situation, and Veronica is Sir Hugo''s only hope. Veronica and Stoker agree to go to Hathaway Hall to covertly investigate the mysterious amnesiac. Veronica is soon shocked to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past. To help Sir Hugo discover the truth, she must open doors to her own history that she long believed to be shut for good"--

Set against the lush, exotic European colonial outposts of the 1920s, New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn delivers the captivating tale of one woman who embarks upon a journey to see the world—and ends up finding intrigue, danger and a love beyond all reason. Famed aviatrix Evangeline Starke never expected to see her husband, adventurer Gabriel Starke, ever again. They had been a golden couple, enjoying a whirlwind courtship amid the backdrop of a glittering social set in prewar London until his sudden death with the sinking of the Lusitania. Five years later, beginning to embrace life again, Evie embarks upon a flight around the world, collecting fame and admirers along the way. In the midst of her triumphant tour, she is shocked to receive a mysterious—and recent—photograph of Gabriel, which brings her ambitious stunt to a screeching halt. With her eccentric aunt Dove in tow, Evie tracks the source of the photo to the ancient City of Jasmine, Damascus. There she discovers that nothing is as it seems. Danger lurks at every turn, and at stake is a priceless relic, an artifact once lost to time and so valuable that criminals will stop at nothing to acquire it—even murder. Leaving the jewelled city behind, Evie sets off across the punishing sands of the desert to unearth the truth of Gabriel''s disappearance and retrieve a relic straight from the pages of history. Along the way, Evie must come to terms with the deception that parted her from Gabriel and the passion that will change her destiny forever….

“Much like fine wine, battle-hardened assassins grow better with age.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age. After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone...literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers. Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next. Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.

"Chocolate for a Woman''s Soul" for the Post-MillenniumIn Scribbling Women and the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them, twenty-eight romance fiction writers reveal their real-life stories of how they met, wed and love—and are loved and supported by—their spouses and life partners. At times whimsical and laugh-out-loud funny (Jacquie D''Alessandro''s "Donny & Me?", Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick''s "Soul Mates for a Thousand Lifetimes"), at others poignant and bittersweet (Elf Ahearn''s "A Lost Friend, A Movie Star, A Man to Love Forever"), all unfailingly inspiring (Lisa Renée Jones''s "Unexpected Treasures"; Deanna Raybourn''s "Once in a Blue Moon"), each essay celebrates that most powerful and sacred of human bonds: love.Happily Ever After isn''t only the stuff of romance novels and fairy tales. It is every woman''s birthright.All net proceeds from sales of the anthology are donated to Win (www.winnyc.org).