The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne

Mary Higgins Clark Award Winner: A curious-minded woman investigates the murder of an obsessive collector in this "delightful" historical whodunit (Christian Science Monitor).
One of Publishers Weekly's Top Ten Fall Mysteries
One of Christian Science Monitor's Ten Best Books of the Month

London, 1703. In a time when the old approaches to science coexist with the new, one elite community attempts to understand the world by collecting its wonders. Sir Barnaby Mayne, the most formidable of these collectors, has devoted his life to filling his cabinets. While the curious-minded vie for invitations to study the rare stones, bones, books, and artifacts he has amassed, some visitors come with a darker purpose.


For Cecily Kay, it is a passion for plants that brings her to the Mayne house. The only puzzle she expects to encounter is how to locate the specimens she needs within Sir Barnaby's crowded cabinets. But when her host is stabbed to death, Cecily finds the confession of the supposed killer unconvincing. She pays attention to details—years of practice have taught her that the smallest particulars can distinguish a harmless herb from a deadly one—and in the case of Sir Barnaby's murder, there are too many inconsistencies for her to ignore.


To discover the truth, Cecily must enter the world of the collectors, a realm where intellect is distorted by obsession and greed. As her pursuit of answers brings her closer to a killer, she risks being given a final resting place amid the bones that wait, silent and still, in the cabinets of Barnaby Mayne.


"A must-read series debut for fans of Tasha Alexander's and Deanna Raybourn's historical whodunits." —Booklist

"Hart is bound to become a household name for readers who love clever and fair whodunits." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)


"Engrossing characters and lush setting, enshrouded within a murder mystery brimming with compelling curiosities, make this a stunning read." —Historical Novels Society
Minneapolis Star Tribune's Summer Reading List * One of The Washington Post's Five New Thrillers & Mysteries for the Beach * One of Amazon's Best of the Month * One of LitHub's Five Books You May Have Missed This Month