Murder in Westminster
A Riveting Regency Historical Mystery
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4.3 • 3 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Vanessa Riley, whose The Duke, The Lady, and a Baby was one of Oprah Magazine's 25 Must‑Read Black Romance Novels, cements her reputation as an innovative new voice in historical romance with this new historical mystery series. Perfect for fans of Bridgerton and readers seeking more diversity and authenticity, Murder in Westminster introduces the strong, capable Lady Abigail Worthing, who must unearth a killer to clear her own name.
Discovering a body on her property presents Lady Abigail Worthing with more than one pressing problem. The victim is Juliet, the wife of her neighbor, Stapleton Henderson. Although Abigail has little connection with the lady in question, she expects to be under suspicion. Abigail’s skin color and her mother’s notorious past have earned her a certain reputation among the ton, and no amount of wealth or status will eclipse it.
Abigail can’t divulge that she was attending a secret pro-abolition meeting at the time of the murder. To her surprise, Henderson offers her an alibi. Though he and Juliet were long estranged, he feels a certain loyalty to his late wife. Perhaps together, he and Abigail can learn the truth. . . . Abigail, whose marriage was not a love match, knows well how appearances can deceive—and how treacherous London’s high society can be. Yet who would have killed Juliet, and why? Taking the reins of her life in a way she never has before, Abby intends to find out—but she may uncover more danger than she ever imagined . . .
“Vanessa Riley deftly combines historical fact with an exhilarating story and a truly inclusive cast of characters. . . . A triumph: atmospheric, evocative, and utterly irresistible.”
—Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Emily series
“A fresh, unique take on the Regency. . . . Lady Worthing is an intrepid and unforgettable heroine. .”
—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries
“Vanessa Riley breathes new life into the genre.”
--Sherry Thomas, USA Today bestselling author of the Lady Sherlock series
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in Regency England, this lively series launch from romance author Riley (A Duke, the Spy, an Artist and a Lie) stars Abigail Carrington, the daughter of a Jamaican mother and a Scottish father. After Abigail, who has married a much older lord who spends most of his time at sea, and her cantankerous London neighbor, Stapleton Henderson, encounter each other outdoors one evening, they discover the strangled corpse of Henderson's estranged wife slumped against the fence dividing their properties. Abigail fears her race will make her a suspect, despite her slight acquaintance with the victim, and she can't reveal that she was on her way to a meeting of antislavery crusaders without compromising the group's secrecy. Instead, she resolves to solve the crime. The victim's many lovers are obvious suspects, but Abigail sees Henderson as a likely murderer, despite his attempts to persuade her otherwise. While the backstory introducing series characters sometimes feels clumsy and the modern language can be distracting, Riley offers a vibrant picture of the roles Black and mixed-race people played in Regency life. Fans of Bridgerton will enjoy this one. Agent: Sarah Elizabeth Younger, Nancy Yost Literary.
