Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Q uite by chance and somewhat unexpectedly, those who had accompanied Penelope and Barnaby from Mayfair to the Drunken Duck to witness the culmination of the search for Viscount Sedbury's murderer reconvened that evening in Lady Conningham's ballroom.

Stokes, of course, wasn't present, but her ladyship's ball was a select affair, and attendance by the likes of the Hales and the Adairs was virtually compulsory.

When, having reached the ballroom's foyer, Penelope and Barnaby approached their host and hostess, Lady Conningham welcomed them with near-rapturous delight. "My dears! We are all so relieved!"

The commissioner had been at pains to ensure that the news of Viscount Sedbury's murder had been reconfirmed in the evening news sheets together with the information that Sedbury had instigated a fight in a dockside area and had died as a result of injuries received, and his body tipped into the river. The public had been assured that due to the quick work of Inspector Basil Stokes, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Adair, the viscount's murderer had been apprehended, and Scotland Yard considered the case successfully closed.

Lord Conningham echoed his wife's sentiments. "Huge weight off so many shoulders, y'know?" He shook Barnaby's hand. "Well done!"

Barnaby and Penelope shared a laughing glance and, after exchanging a few words about their respective families, parted from the Conninghams and descended the stairs to join the throng of other guests.

They had barely gained the ballroom floor when Jonathon materialized from the crowd and, his face lit by a smile that was more relaxed and genuine than anything Penelope had previously seen from him, planted himself before them.

After the briefest of greetings, he said, "We thought you should know—m'father and I went back to the Drunken Duck this afternoon and met with Weatherspoon and settled the matter of restitution over Millie's death." A cloud passed over Jonathon's open face, then he cleared his throat and, raising his chin a trifle, stated, "We also set up a way for Weatherspoon to contact our solicitor in London directly, regarding all the other claims, of which we expect there will be many." He met Penelope's and Barnaby's eyes. "Sedbury was an unmitigated villain, and the family can't just bury the results. We need to set all right, or at least as right as we can."

Penelope smiled encouragingly. "That's commendable and also very wise. The burden of Sedbury's actions should not be a weight you and the others carry forward." She pointed at the black armband Jonathon wore. "Should I take it the family is not going into full mourning?"

Jonathon glanced at the band. "We decided we couldn't be that hypocritical—that false. M'father, Bryan, and I opted for armbands—it's at least an acknowledgment of a death in the family. Mama and Claude have opted to wear muted colors for a month, but none of us felt it appropriate to retreat from society." He smiled. "Not even for one night."

Barnaby nodded. "Impossible to mourn when, in fact, everyone is rejoicing."

"Exactly." Jonathon raised his head; his smile hadn't dimmed. "And of course, it's not just us."

"Indeed," Penelope said. "I seriously doubt that even the most censorious hostess will comment adversely. Too many in the ton know what Sedbury was like, and as you say, in the wake of his passing, society as a whole feels buoyed." Nonetheless, she made a mental note to check with her usual sources.

Barnaby, too, was smiling. "Now that you are your father's heir, what are your thoughts about taking up Sedbury's title?"

Jonathon shuddered. "No, thank you. Luckily, Papa has another I can use, and we've agreed I should simply be Viscount Hale." He smiled. "And without the bane of Sedbury hanging over my head, I might even be able to venture forth and find a bride."

Penelope beamed. "I predict you'll have no trouble finding a suitable young lady." In fact, she would make sure of it.

Faintly bashful, Jonathon shrugged, and with good wishes all around, they let him go.

Barnaby chuckled softly as they moved into the crowd. "So now you have another challenge before you."

"Pfft!" Penelope responded. "Finding a bride for him now will be more a matter of beating off the unsuitable hordes. Remind me that I must call on the marchioness before she and the marquess leave town."

As it transpired, Penelope didn't have to remember anything.

Ten minutes of wandering through the crowd, many of whom seized the chance to quiz them on the case, brought them face to face with the Rattenbys.

"My dears," the marchioness said as soon as the exchange of greetings was complete, "I want to most sincerely thank you for all your help in resolving this so-distasteful matter. Your assistance in dissipating the ominous cloud that has hung over the family and our children's futures for so long leaves us forever in your debt."

Rattenby nodded. "Quite so. I have to say I was deeply impressed by the dogged team effort that prevailed." His gray gaze was shrewd as it rested on Barnaby's and Penelope's faces. "You and Inspector Stokes have formed a formidable partnership, and for that, you are to be congratulated."

They would have politely demurred, but the marchioness leapt in to say, "As I told Gerrard"—she clasped her husband's arm—"paying restitution is all very well and should definitely be done, but that's in the nature of putting the past to rest, and we should, in all thanks, also do something, take some positive step, that will impact the future." The marchioness arched her brows inquiringly. "I've been told, Penelope, that you have interests in various charities, and I wondered if you could direct us toward one that might suit our purpose."

Penelope didn't have to think. "Actually"—she shot a glance at Barnaby—"Barnaby's lads' network was instrumental, critically so, in solving the Sedbury case, and I believe the time has come to discuss setting up a foundation, one that would encourage the brightest lads to further their development by underwriting their employment in, for instance, the police force or the inquiry agency business." She looked at the Rattenbys. "We have excellent contacts in both fields, and some of the lads have the potential to go far. They really are quite bright."

Rattenby was nodding, and the marchioness looked eager.

Regarding his wife with a faintly fascinated smile, Barnaby admitted, "Assistance with their living expenses for their first years of employment would go a long way to encouraging them to pursue further advancement."

Rattenby gave a more decisive nod. "By all means, let's pursue that tack. Perhaps we can call on you in the coming days, before we return to Gloucestershire."

They made arrangements to meet the next week, then parted, and Barnaby guided Penelope on.

"That was an excellent idea," Barnaby murmured, his eyes dancing. "Have you been incubating it for long?"

Smiling brightly, Penelope admitted, "Only since this case. The lads were such a help, it seems foolish not to advance your network onto a more formal footing."

Soon after, through the crowd, they spotted several of her usual sources gathered on long sofas at the end of the room. Knowing that a report would be expected, she and Barnaby dutifully presented themselves to the older ladies and meekly submitted to their inquisition.

When the exclamations and congratulations came to an end and Penelope inquired as to how the Hales' rejection of mourning was being received, Lady Osbaldestone was quick to reassure her, "No need to worry on that score. Everyone else is so relieved, we're all quite happy to see the family regaining their feet, as it were."

Horatia confided, "We're hoping to convince Georgina Hale that she should join us in London more often."

Relieved that, on the social front, all was well, Penelope and Barnaby moved on.

The strains of a waltz rose over the guests' heads, and after exchanging a glance, they made their way to the dance floor.

Once they were revolving, circling the cleared space, Barnaby surveyed the other dancers, then dipped his head to tell Penelope, "Look ahead. Three couples on."

He waited for her reaction and wasn't disappointed.

"Great heavens!" She leaned back in his arms to peer around the intervening pairs at the couple in question. "That really is Charlie! He's waltzing! I've never been sure he could, much less would."

"It seems," Barnaby said, equally amused by her comments and by seeing his friend circling rather carefully with Claudia, "that he merely needed the right encouragement."

"I did wonder." Penelope settled in Barnaby's arms and fixed her gaze on his face. "Do you think he's truly taken with Claudia? Because she's so…well, managing, I wasn't sure that she hadn't merely conscripted Charlie for the duration, as it were, so that via him, she could remain involved in the investigation, and that once we solved the case, she would calmly bid him goodbye, and that would be the end of it."

His gaze returning to Charlie and Claudia, Barnaby smiled. "That doesn't appear to be the case. If anything, they seem equally smitten. I believe we can reasonably expect an invitation in due course."

Penelope beamed. "Wonderful! And for once, I didn't have to prod anyone." She glanced at the crowd around them. "Lady Conningham will be ecstatic, and so will Mrs. Hastings! They're quite good friends, which is another nice touch."

"Indeed." Barnaby gathered his wife closer as they went through the turn and, knowing her as he did, wondered what she would do next regarding Charlie and Claudia.

Sure enough, when the music ended and the dancers halted, Penelope all but towed him across to where Charlie and Claudia stood.

They exchanged delighted greetings, then supper was announced, and with the bulk of the guests, the four of them moved into the supper room. By dint of superior strategy, they secured a table for four in one corner and settled to nibble on the delicacies provided, sip champagne, and catch up with the ramifications of the revelations gained at the Drunken Duck.

"I cannot adequately describe," Claudia said, "the depth of the relief that everyone in the family is feeling. Aunt Patricia was so affected, she actually cried. What with being constantly in town, I believe she'd sensed for longer than anyone that Sedbury had gone quite beyond the pale, and she'd been so worried he would do something that would bring the entire family down, but of course, she felt helpless to do anything about it."

Charlie put in, "Even your uncle described the event—Sedbury's death without any ensuing scandal—as having lifted a pall from not just your family but his household as well."

"I think," Claudia said, "that we'd all grown so accustomed to the pressure, to the weight of Sedbury's threat, that having that suddenly removed has left us all feeling light and airy and rather giddy." She smiled at Charlie. "You know what I mean."

Penelope watched Charlie readily nod and smiled to herself. Barnaby had been right in thinking wedding bells featured in Claudia and Charlie's future.

Charlie turned to Penelope and Barnaby. "Here, I say, as the original prime suspect, I want to thank you both for steering our ship through this case. I'm truly grateful you were there for me to appeal to. I don't know what I—or Stokes, for that matter—would have done without you."

Penelope smiled, and smiling, too, Barnaby replied, "You're very welcome, and we enjoyed the challenge."

Penelope quipped, "Do feel free to bring any future accusations and crimes to our door."

Claudia shuddered. "I sincerely hope to never be involved in a murder investigation again."

Penelope shared a smile with Barnaby and made no comment.

Charlie said, "I was talking with Napier earlier, and he, too, was hugely relieved to learn that the Sedbury case is closed. He pointed out that there's no saying how many Sedbury blackmailed over the years and knowing that the threat of his continued malevolence has been permanently removed will, in all likelihood, be a huge blessing to a large number of our peers."

With a proud smile for Charlie, Claudia said, "Lord Napier and Charlie have suggested that the family consider donating Sedbury's whip collection to a museum."

"Or perhaps the Jockey Club," Charlie said, faintly coloring under Claudia's regard. "Some place like that where the collection will be appreciated."

"Given the collection is of whips, the Jockey Club might be best." Penelope looked at Barnaby.

He nodded. "And if you do decide on approaching the Jockey Club or the British Museum, do remember we have connections at both, which might be of some help."

"Thank you." Claudia looked a touch relieved. "We'll likely take you up on that. I'll tell Jonathon—Papa put him in charge of the dispersal of Sedbury's possessions."

With supper consumed, they rose and strolled back into the ballroom. At Penelope's suggestion, she and Claudia parted from the men and went in search of the ladies' withdrawing room.

Once in the corridor and away from any interested ears, Penelope asked, "What are your plans? Will you remain in London or accompany your parents on their return to Rattenby?"

Claudia met Penelope's eyes, then drew breath and said, "I wanted to ask—you're in a position to advise me—would Charlie Hastings be considered a suitable match for me?"

Penelope could barely contain her delight. "He would, indeed. The Hastingses might not carry a title—or at least, his branch don't—but the family is ancient. Indeed, they're every bit as much a part of the fabric of English nobility as the Hales or the Adairs."

Claudia exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness. I suddenly wondered if I was…well, drawing him along a path that ultimately couldn't lead anywhere."

Penelope pressed Claudia's hand. "Speak to your mother. I'm sure she'll be encouraging."

"I'm hoping to be able to invite Charlie to visit Rattenby next month," Claudia confided. "We have quite good shooting, and a shooting party might be the right sort of event to introduce him to the wider family."

"An excellent notion," Penelope concurred. "I know he's quite a good shot."

They'd reached the withdrawing room and had to pause their confidences while there were other ladies around. But when they were on their way back to the ballroom and once again alone, Claudia said, "I've been waiting for years to find a suitable gentleman, but with Sedbury hovering, I never felt able to step forward. It seems quite ironic that it was Sedbury's murder that brought me and Charlie together."

Penelope smiled and nodded. "Ironic, indeed. In the best way."

Smiling in faintly bemused fashion, Claudia shook her head. "While I've been hoping to find a husband, until I met Charlie, I'd never met a man with whom I could imagine living a future life, but Charlie… I find him restful yet entertaining and, overall, rather absorbing."

"That's a very good recommendation," Penelope said as they stepped back into the crowded ballroom. "Now, where are our men?"

The men in question, being more than experienced enough not to stand still and invite others to approach them, had been idly strolling around the perimeter of the large room. They'd discussed this and that, but being such old friends, they were also comfortable sharing long silences.

Breaking one such silence, Charlie confided, "With Claudia, you know, I can see the path she and I are strolling amiably along, and I understand where that path inevitably leads. Yet despite that knowledge, to my astonishment, I don't feel like fleeing." He tipped his head to glance at Barnaby and met his eyes. "That's telling, isn't it? It says something, y'know?"

Barnaby had to work to mute his smile. "I do, indeed." Unable to resist, he clapped Charlie on the shoulder. "Good luck, old man, and I fully expect to shortly be saying ‘Welcome to the club.'"

Charlie grinned rather foolishly. "Well, then. Onward we go."

Later, when he and Charlie had been found by their respective ladies just in time to join the couples on the dance floor in another waltz, Barnaby looked into his wife's shining eyes. "It seems Charlie and Claudia are inching toward a declaration."

Penelope's smile was reminiscent of a cat that had devoured an entire jug of cream. "They are." She sighed deeply. "And I couldn't be happier for them. I predict they'll make an excellent match."

Barnaby smiled and kept them whirling.

A few revolutions later, Penelope sighed again, this time with even deeper satisfaction.

Barnaby looked into her face and cocked an inquiring brow.

She smiled in obvious contentment. "It's so lovely when cases turn out just right."

Two days later, Barnaby and Penelope were enjoying a leisurely breakfast when the doorbell rang. Both tilted their heads, listening, and heard a familiar voice greet Mostyn, then, seconds later, Stokes walked in.

Smiling, he nodded to them both. "Good morning, you two."

Occupied with a mouthful of eggs, Barnaby nodded.

"And to you," Penelope returned and waved Stokes to the third chair at the table.

He drew out the chair and sat before the third place setting Mostyn had got into the habit of laying just in case Stokes turned up. Stokes eyed the platters, then helped himself.

Penelope waited, curious as to what had brought him there. If it had been a case, he'd have said by now, so…

After savoring his first mouthful and thanking Mostyn, who had hurried in to fill his coffee cup, Stokes turned his gaze on his hosts. "I cannot convey with sufficient emphasis how sincerely relieved and, indeed, happy the commissioner is with the outcome of the Sedbury case. Apparently, the marquess has heaped laurels on all our heads and impressed on the commissioner that, despite the case having more to do with those who live on the docks than those who inhabit Mayfair, the contributions made by the pair of you and your supporters were crucial to our joint success."

Stokes met their gazes. "When appealed to for my opinion, I echoed the marquess's accolades." His smile deepened. "You may now expect to be called upon with even greater frequency, and I've been informed that, henceforth, I should consider drawing you in as consultants even if the case has no connection to higher society."

Barnaby arched his brows. "Is that so?"

Stokes nodded.

"How intriguing," Penelope said, her tone indicating that she was already scheming.

Stokes waved his fork. "The commissioner suggested that any, in his words, twisty case would, in his view, be a candidate for your attention." Stokes looked across the table and smiled. "So how do you feel about making yourselves available on a wider basis?" He reached for his cup and took a sip, watching them over the rim.

Penelope looked at Barnaby, read the naked interest in his eyes, and let her very real enthusiasm show.

She turned her gaze on Stokes. "With the obvious contingency of family demands, I'm sure we can manage to make time should you have more twisty mysteries to solve."

Stokes lowered his cup, and his smile broke slow and deep. "Excellent." He set down the cup. "In that case…"

Dear Reader,

When writing a novel, occasionally, I have the title in mind from the start. More frequently, the title suggests itself as the story take shape as being the obvious description for that particular book. Such was the case here, with Dead Beside the Thames being the first point known about the murder, but also the crucial, critical clue to solving the murder.

Villains, I might add, take just as much, if not more, time to develop than the storyline. Indeed, you can't have one without the other, and quite often, learning the character of the villain requires deep diving into the psychology of the darker soul. Again, that was especially the case here, in creating a villain everyone who knew him despised.

I must admit I'm having a ball following the fresh cases that are arising—or more accurately, that my imagination dreams up—to confront and challenge Barnaby, Penelope, and Stokes. I hope you enjoyed the latest installment. If you feel inclined to leave a review here , I would greatly appreciate it.

My next release will be another investigative foray with Barnaby, Penelope, and Stokes, when the trio are simultaneously called upon by Salisbury City Police and Henry, Lord Glossup, of Glossup Hall in Dorset, to solve the puzzling mystery of a lady who lives in a tiny village who has been discovered strangled in her own front parlor. Henry has been accused of the murder, but while the evidence is both weak and circumstantial, in this case more than any other, the local gossips will have their day.

Information about earlier volumes in THE CASEBOOK OF BARNABY ADAIR series— Where the Heart Leads , The Peculiar Case of Lord Finsbury's Diamonds , The Masterful Mr. Montague , The Curious Case of Lady Latimer's Shoes , Loving Rose: The Redemption of Malcolm Sinclair , The Confounding Case of the Carisbrook Emeralds , and The Murder at Mandeville Hall and The Meriwell Legacy —can be found following, along with details of my other recent release.

Barnaby, Penelope, Stokes, Griselda, and their families, friends, and supporters continue to thrive. I hope they and their adventures solving mysteries and exposing villains will continue to entertain you in the future just as much as they do me.

Enjoy!

Stephanie.

For alerts as new books are released, plus information on upcoming books, exclusive sweepstakes and sneak peeks into upcoming novels, sign up for Stephanie's Private Email Newsletter

The ultimate source for detailed information on all Stephanie's published books, including covers, descriptions, and excerpts, is Stephanie's Website

Stephanie can also be followed on Amazon through her Amazon Author page. Click here to follow her.

Goodreads members can join the discussion of Stephanie's books at the Fans of Stephanie Laurens group.

You can email Stephanie at [email protected]

Or find her on Facebook

COMING NEXT:

MARRIAGE AND MURDER

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair #10

To be released in March, 2025.

Five years ago, Henry, Lord Glossup, was suspected of murdering his late wife. Although he was exonerated and the true murderer caught, Henry has been accused of murdering a lady again, in the same fashion. He appeals to Barnaby and Penelope for help, as does Stokes who, having been the inspector in charge of the previous case, is tasked with solving the current one. The investigators soon establish that the evidence implicating Henry is flimsy and circumstantial, and his alibi is easily verified. But that leaves them, along with the sister of the deceased, to unravel the tangled puzzle of who strangled Viola Huntingdon and was it the secret admirer she referred to only as ‘H?'

Available for pre-order by December, 2025.

RECENTLY RELEASED:

The eighth volume in

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair mystery-romances

THE MERIWELL LEGACY

#1 NYT-bestselling author Stephanie Laurens returns with her favorite sleuths to unravel a tangled web of family secrets and expose a murderer.

When Lord Meriwell collapses and dies at his dining table, Barnaby and Penelope Adair are summoned, along with Inspector Basil Stokes, to discover who, how, and most importantly why someone very close to his lordship saw fit to poison him.

When Lord Meriwell dies at his dining table, Nurse Veronica Haskell suspects foul play and notifies his lordship's doctor, eminent Harley Street specialist Dr. David Sanderson. In turn, compelled by a need to protect Veronica who is at Meriwell Hall as David's behest, David calls on his friends Barnaby and Penelope Adair for assistance.

However, as the fateful dinner was the first of a house party being attended by the local MP and his family, the Metropolitan Police commissioners also consider the Adairs' presence desirable, and consequently, Barnaby and Penelope accompany Stokes to Meriwell Hall.

There, they discover a gathering of the Meriwell family intended to impress the visiting Busseltons so that George Busselton, local MP, will agree to a marriage between his daughter and Lord Meriwell's eldest nephew, Stephen. But instead of any pleasant sojourn, the company find themselves confined to the hall and grounds while Stokes, Barnaby, and Penelope set about interviewing everyone and establishing facts, alibis, and the movements of those in the house.

To our investigators' frustration, while determining the means proves straightforward, and opportunity reduces their suspect list, motive remains elusive, and their list of suspects stays stubbornly long.

Then the killer strikes again, but even then, the investigators are left with the same suspects and too many potential reasons for the second death.

What did the killer hope to gain?

More importantly, will he kill again?

At last, the investigators stumble on a promising clue, yet following it requires sending to London for information, and their frustration builds. As the clock ticks and they doggedly forge on, they uncover more and more facts, yet none allows them to identify which of their prime suspects is the murderer.

Will they get the breakthrough they need, one sufficient to exonerate the innocent?

When the answer arrives, they discover that the Meriwell family legacies are more far-reaching than anyone realized, and that the crimes involved and the motivation for the murders is far more heinous than anyone imagined.

A historical novel of 78,000 words interweaving mystery and murder with a touch of romance.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Buy & Read THE MERIWELL LEGACY

RECENTLY RELEASED:

A FAMILY OF HIS OWN

Cynster Next Generation Novel #15

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens returns to the quintessential question of what family means to a Cynster in this tale of the last unmarried member of the Cynster Next Generation and the final mission that opens his eyes.

Toby Cynster is not amused when informed that his new mission is to be his last in the shadowy service of Drake, Marquess of Winchelsea. Courtesy of Toby being the last unmarried Cynster of his generation and the consequent martial obsession of his female relatives, he will be given no more excuses to avoid society and, instead, expected to devote himself to finding a suitable bride. But Toby sees no point in marrying—thanks to his siblings, he has plenty of nephews and nieces with whom to play favorite uncle, and he has no thoughts of establishing a family of his own.

But then the mission takes an unexpected turn, leaving Toby to escort the irritatingly fascinating Diana Locke plus the three young children of a dying Englishman from Vienna to England.

Diana is no more enthused about their journey than Toby, but needs must, and forever practical, she bows to events and makes the best of things for her godchildren's sakes. She's determined to see them to safety in England and does her best to ignore her nonsensical and annoying awareness of Toby.

But then their journey becomes a flight from deadly pursuit, and their most effective disguise is to pass themselves off as a family—the sort of family Toby had been certain he would never want. Through a succession of fraught adventures, Toby, Diana, and the children lean on each other and grow and mature while furthering their ultimate aim of reaching England safely, and along the way, Toby and Diana both learn what having a family actually means to them, individually and together, and each discovers the until-then-missing foundation stone of their future lives.

A classic historical adventure romance that sprawls across Europe to end in the leafy depths of the English countryside. A Cynster Next Generation novel. A full-length historical romance of 108,000 words.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Buy & Read A FAMILY OF HIS OWN

PREVIOUSLY RELEASED IN THE CASEBOOK OF BARNABY ADAIR NOVELS :

Read about Penelope's and Barnaby's romance, plus that of Stokes and Griselda, in

The first volume in

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair mystery-romances

WHERE THE HEART LEADS

Penelope Ashford, Portia Cynster's younger sister, has grown up with every advantage - wealth, position, and beauty. Yet Penelope is anything but a typical ton miss - forceful, willful and blunt to a fault, she has for years devoted her considerable energy and intelligence to directing an institution caring for the forgotten orphans of London's streets.

But now her charges are mysteriously disappearing. Desperate, Penelope turns to the one man she knows who might help her - Barnaby Adair.

Handsome scion of a noble house, Adair has made a name for himself in political and judicial circles. His powers of deduction and observation combined with his pedigree has seen him solve several serious crimes within the ton. Although he makes her irritatingly uncomfortable, Penelope throws caution to the wind and appears on his bachelor doorstep late one night, determined to recruit him to her cause.

Barnaby is intrigued—by her story, and her. Her bold beauty and undeniable brains make a striking contrast to the usual insipid ton misses. And as he's in dire need of an excuse to avoid said insipid misses, he accepts her challenge, never dreaming she and it will consume his every waking hour.

Enlisting the aid of Inspector Basil Stokes of the fledgling Scotland Yard, they infiltrate the streets of London's notorious East End. But as they unravel the mystery of the missing boys, they cross the trail of a criminal embedded in the very organization recently created to protect all Londoners. And that criminal knows of them and their efforts, and is only too ready to threaten all they hold dear, including their new-found knowledge of the intrigues of the human heart.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Buy & Read Where the Heart Leads

FURTHER CASES AND THE EVOLUTION OF RELATIONSHIPS CONTINUE IN:

The second volume in

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair mystery-romances

THE PECULIAR CASE OF LORD FINSBURY'S DIAMONDS

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens brings you a tale of murder, mystery, passion, and intrigue – and diamonds!

Penelope Adair, wife and partner of amateur sleuth Barnaby Adair, is so hugely pregnant she cannot even waddle. When Barnaby is summoned to assist Inspector Stokes of Scotland Yard in investigating the violent murder of a gentleman at a house party, Penelope, frustrated that she cannot participate, insists that she and Griselda, Stokes's wife, be duly informed of their husbands' discoveries.

Yet what Barnaby and Stokes uncover only leads to more questions. The murdered gentleman had been thrown out of the house party days before, so why had he come back? And how and why did he come to have the fabulous Finsbury diamond necklace in his pocket, much to Lord Finsbury's consternation. Most peculiar of all, why had the murderer left the necklace, worth a stupendous fortune, on the body?

The conundrums compound as our intrepid investigators attempt to make sense of this baffling case. Meanwhile, the threat of scandal grows ever more tangible for all those attending the house party – and the stakes are highest for Lord Finsbury's daughter and the gentleman who has spent the last decade resurrecting his family fortune so he can aspire to her hand. Working parallel to Barnaby and Stokes, the would-be lovers hunt for a path through the maze of contradictory facts to expose the murderer, disperse the pall of scandal, and claim the love and the shared life they crave.

A pre-Victorian mystery with strong elements of romance. A short novel of 39,000 words.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Buy & Read The Peculiar Case of Lord Finsbury's Diamonds

The third volume in

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair mystery-romances

THE MASTERFUL MR. MONTAGUE

Montague has devoted his life to managing the wealth of London's elite, but at a huge cost: a family of his own. Then the enticing Miss Violet Matcham seeks his help, and in the puzzle she presents him, he finds an intriguing new challenge professionally…and personally.

Violet, devoted lady-companion to the aging Lady Halstead, turns to Montague to reassure her ladyship that her affairs are in order. But the famous Montague is not at all what she'd expected—this man is compelling, decisive, supportive, and strong—everything Violet needs in a champion, a position to which Montague rapidly lays claim.

But then Lady Halstead is murdered and Violet and Montague, aided by Barnaby Adair, Inspector Stokes, Penelope, and Griselda, race to expose a cunning and cold-blooded killer...who stalks closer and closer. Will Montague and Violet learn the shocking truth too late to seize their chance at enduring love?

A pre-Victorian tale of romance and mystery in the classic historical romance style.

A novel of 120,000 words.

Click here to read an excerpt

Buy & Read THE MASTERFUL MR. MONTAGUE

The fourth volume in

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair mystery-romances

THE CURIOUS CASE OF LADY LATIMER'S SHOES

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens brings you a tale of mysterious death, feuding families, star-crossed lovers—and shoes to die for.

With her husband, amateur-sleuth the Honorable Barnaby Adair, decidedly eccentric fashionable matron Penelope Adair is attending the premier event opening the haut ton's Season when a body is discovered in the gardens. A lady has been struck down with a finial from the terrace balustrade. Her family is present, as are the cream of the haut ton—the shocked hosts turn to Barnaby and Penelope for help.

Barnaby calls in Inspector Basil Stokes and they begin their investigation. Penelope assists by learning all she can about the victim's family, and uncovers a feud between them and the Latimers over the fabulous shoes known as Lady Latimer's shoes, currently exclusive to the Latimers.

The deeper Penelope delves, the more convinced she becomes that the murder is somehow connected to the shoes. She conscripts Griselda, Stokes's wife, and Violet Montague, now Penelope's secretary, and the trio set out to learn all they can about the people involved and most importantly the shoes, a direction vindicated when unexpected witnesses report seeing a lady fleeing the scene—wearing Lady Latimer's shoes.

But nothing is as it seems, and the more Penelope and her friends learn about the shoes, conundrums abound, compounded by a Romeo-and-Juliet romance and escalating social pressure…until at last, the pieces fall into place, and finally understanding what has occurred, the six intrepid investigators race to prevent an even worse tragedy.

A pre-Victorian mystery with strong elements of romance. A novel of 76,000 words.

Click here to read an excerpt

Buy & Read THE CURIOUS CASE OF LADY LATIMER'S SHOES

The fifth volume in

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair mystery-romances

LOVING ROSE: THE REDEMPTION OF MALCOLM SINCLAIR

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens returns with another thrilling story from the Casebook of Barnaby Adair…

Miraculously spared from death, Malcolm Sinclair erases the notorious man he once was. Reinventing himself as Thomas Glendower, he strives to make amends for his past, yet he never imagines penance might come via a secretive lady he discovers living in his secluded manor.

Rose has a plausible explanation for why she and her children are residing in Thomas's house, but she quickly realizes he's far too intelligent to fool. Revealing the truth is impossibly dangerous, yet day by day, he wins her trust, and then her heart.

But then her enemy closes in, and Rose turns to Thomas as the only man who can protect her and the children. And when she asks for his help, Thomas finally understands his true purpose, and with unwavering commitment, he seeks his redemption in the only way he can—through living the reality of loving Rose.

A pre-Victorian tale of romance and mystery in the classic historical romance style.

A novel of 105,000 words.

Click here to read an excerpt

Buy & Read LOVING ROSE: THE REDEMPTION OF MALCOLM SINCLAIR

The sixth volume in

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair mystery-romances

THE CONFOUNDING CASE OF THE CARISbrOOK EMERALDS

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens brings you a tale of emerging and also established loves and the many facets of family, interwoven with mystery and murder.

A young lady accused of theft and the gentleman who elects himself her champion enlist the aid of Stokes, Barnaby, Penelope, and friends in pursuing justice, only to find themselves tangled in a web of inter-family tensions and secrets.

When Miss Cara Di Abaccio is accused of stealing the Carisbrook emeralds by the infamously arrogant Lady Carisbrook and marched out of her guardian's house by Scotland Yard's finest, Hugo Adair, Barnaby Adair's cousin, takes umbrage and descends on Scotland Yard, breathing fire in Cara's defense.

Hugo discovers Inspector Stokes has been assigned to the case, and after surveying the evidence thus far, Stokes calls in his big guns when it comes to dealing with investigations in the ton—namely, the Honorable Barnaby Adair and his wife, Penelope.

Soon convinced of Cara's innocence and—given Hugo's apparent tendre for Cara—the need to clear her name, Penelope and Barnaby join Stokes and his team in pursuing the emeralds and, most importantly, who stole them.

But the deeper our intrepid investigators delve into the Carisbrook household, the more certain they become that all is not as it seems. Lady Carisbrook is a harpy, Franklin Carisbrook is secretive, Julia Carisbrook is overly timid, and Lord Carisbrook, otherwise a genial and honorable gentleman, holds himself distant from his family. More, his lordship attempts to shut down the investigation. And Stokes, Barnaby, and Penelope are convinced the Carisbrooks' staff are not sharing all they know.

Meanwhile, having been appointed Cara's watchdog until the mystery is resolved, Hugo, fascinated by Cara as he's been with no other young lady, seeks to entertain and amuse her…and, increasingly intently, to discover the way to her heart. Consequently, Penelope finds herself juggling the attractions of the investigation against the demands of the Adair family for her to actively encourage the budding romance.

What would her mentors advise? On that, Penelope is crystal clear.

Regardless, aided by Griselda, Violet, and Montague and calling on contacts in business, the underworld, and ton society, Penelope, Barnaby, and Stokes battle to peel back each layer of subterfuge and, step by step, eliminate the innocent and follow the emeralds' trail…

Yet instead of becoming clearer, the veils and shadows shrouding the Carisbrooks only grow murkier…until, abruptly, our investigators find themselves facing an inexplicable death, with a potential murderer whose conviction would shake society to its back teeth.

A historical novel of 78,000 words interweaving mystery, romance, and social intrigue.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Buy & Read The Confounding Case of the Carisbrook Emeralds

The seventh volume in

The Casebook of Barnaby Adair mystery-romances

THE MURDER AT MANDEVILLE HALL

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens brings you a tale of unexpected romance that blossoms against the backdrop of dastardly murder.

On discovering the lifeless body of an innocent ingénue, a peer attending a country house party joins forces with the lady-amazon sent to fetch the victim safely home in a race to expose the murderer before Stokes, assisted by Barnaby and Penelope, is forced to allow the guests, murderer included, to decamp.

Well-born rakehell and head of an ancient family, Alaric, Lord Carradale, has finally acknowledged reality and is preparing to find a bride. But loyalty to his childhood friend, Percy Mandeville, necessitates attending Percy's annual house party, held at neighboring Mandeville Hall. Yet despite deploying his legendary languid charm, by the second evening of the week-long event, Alaric is bored and restless.

Escaping from the soirée and the Hall, Alaric decides that as soon as he's free, he'll hie to London and find the mild-mannered, biddable lady he believes will ensure a peaceful life. But the following morning, on walking through the Mandeville Hall shrubbery on his way to join the other guests, he comes upon the corpse of a young lady-guest.

Constance Whittaker accepts that no gentleman will ever offer for her—she's too old, too tall, too buxom, too headstrong…too much in myriad ways. Now acting as her grandfather's agent, she arrives at Mandeville Hall to extricate her young cousin, Glynis, who unwisely accepted an invitation to the reputedly licentious house party.

But Glynis cannot be found.

A search is instituted. Venturing into the shrubbery, Constance discovers an outrageously handsome aristocrat crouched beside Glynis's lifeless form. Unsurprisingly, Constance leaps to the obvious conclusion.

Luckily, once the gentleman explains that he'd only just arrived, commonsense reasserts itself. More, as matters unfold and she and Carradale have to battle to get Glynis's death properly investigated, Constance discovers Alaric to be a worthy ally.

Yet even after Inspector Stokes of Scotland Yard arrives and takes charge of the case, along with his consultants, the Honorable Barnaby Adair and his wife, Penelope, the murderer's identity remains shrouded in mystery, and learning why Glynis was killed—all in the few days before the house party's guests will insist on leaving—tests the resolve of all concerned. Flung into each other's company, fiercely independent though Constance is, unsusceptible though Alaric is, neither can deny the connection that grows between them.

Then Constance vanishes.

Can Alaric unearth the one fact that will point to the murderer before the villain rips from the world the lady Alaric now craves for his own?

A historical novel of 75,000 words interweaving romance, mystery, and murder.

Click here to read an excerpt

Buy & Read The Murder At Mandeville Hall .