Andrea Penrose Knihy

Londýn, 1. pol. 19. století za vlády Jiřího IV. Hrdiny tohoto detektivního příběhu jsou nekonvenční hrabě Wrexford a odvážná karikaturistka Charlotta Sloanová. Hrabě je sice velice inteligentní vědec, ale z nudy se chová značně nezodpovědně. Zaplete se do slovní přestřelky se zbožným reverendem Holworthym, který ho veřejně obviní ze zhýralosti. Jejich vrcholnou slovní bitvu si vezme na mušku umělec, skrývající se pod pseudonymem A. J. Quill. Když je ale duchovní nalezen zavražděn, podezření padne na hraběte. Hrabě Wrexford zjistí pravou totožnost umělce a společně vytvoří oboustranně výhodnou alianci. Hrabě Wrexford a mysteriózní paní Sloanová se vrhnou do uzavřeného světa londýnských intelektuálů, aby chytili do pasti nebezpečného protivníka...

he murder of a shipping clerk . . . the strange disappearance of trusted friends . . . rumors of corruption within the powerful East India Company . . . all add up to a thrillingly dark mystery . . .

"When Lord Wrexford discovers the body of a gifted inventor in a dark London alley, he promptly alerts the watchman and lets the authorities handle the matter. But Wrexford soon finds himself drawn into the murder investigation when the inventor's widow begs for his assistance, claiming the crime was not a random robbery. It seems her husband's designs for a revolutionary steam-powered engine went missing the night of his death. The plans could be worth a fortune ... and very dangerous in the wrong hands"--Amazon.com

Charlotte Sloane's secret identity as the controversial satirical cartoonist A.J. Quill is safe with the Earl of Wrexford, but sharing the truth about her background has cast shadows on their relationship. When her cousin is murdered and his twin brother is accused of the crime, Charlotte turns to Wrexford for help in proving the young man's innocence. Determined to track down the real killer, their investigation leads them on a dangerous chase through Mayfair's glittering ballrooms and opulent drawing rooms. Was her cousin murdered over a romantic rivalry, or staggering gambling debts? Or could the motive be far darker and involve the clandestine scientific society that claimed both brothers as members? -- adapted from jacket

The murder of a shipping clerk . . . the strange disappearance of trusted friends . . . rumors of corruption within the powerful East India Company . . . all add up to a dark mystery entangling Lady Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford in a dangerous web of secrets and lies that will call into question how much they really know about the people they hold dear—and about each other . . . When Lady Cordelia, a brilliant mathematician, and her brother, Lord Woodbridge, disappear from London, rumors swirl concerning fraudulent bank loans and a secret consortium engaged in an illicit—and highly profitable—trading scheme that threatens the entire British economy. The incriminating evidence mounts, but for Charlotte and Wrexford, it’s a question of loyalty and friendship. And so they begin a new investigation to clear the siblings’ names, uncover their whereabouts, and unravel the truth behind the whispers. As they delve into the murky world of banking and international arbitrage, Charlotte and Wrexford also struggle to navigate their increasingly complex feelings for each other. But the clock is ticking—a cunning mastermind has emerged . . . along with some unexpected allies—and Charlotte and Wrexford must race to prevent disasters both economic and personal as they are forced into a dangerous match of wits in an attempt to beat the enemy at his own game.

One advantage of being caught up in a whirl of dress fittings and decisions about flower arrangements and breakfast menus is that Charlotte Sloane has little time for any pre-wedding qualms. Her love for Wrexford isn't in question. But will being a wife -- and a Countess -- make it difficult for her to maintain her independence -- not to mention, her secret identity as famed satirical artist A.J. Quill? Despite those concerns, there are soon even more urgent matters to attend to during Charlotte and Wrexford's first public outing as an engaged couple. At a symposium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a visiting botanist suffers a fatal collapse. The traces of white powder near his mouth reveal the dark truth -- he was murdered. Drawn into the investigation, Charlotte and the Earl learn of the victim's involvement in a momentous medical discovery. With fame and immense fortune at stake, there's no shortage of suspects, including some whose ruthlessness is already known. But neither Charlotte nor her husband-to-be can realize how close the danger is about to get -- or to what lengths this villain is prepared to go

Responding to an urgent plea from a troubled family friend, the Earl of Wrexford journeys to Oxford only to find the reclusive university librarian has been murdered and a rare manuscript has gone missing. The only clue is that someone overheard an argument in which Wrexford’s name was mentioned. At the same time, Charlotte—working under her pen name, A. J. Quill—must determine whether a laboratory fire was arson and if it’s connected to the race between competing consortiums to build a new type of ship—one that can cross the ocean powered by steam rather than sails—with the potential to revolutionize military power and world commerce. That the race involves new innovations in finance and entrepreneurship only adds to the high stakes—especially as their good friend Kit Sheffield may be an investor in one of the competitors. As they delve deeper into the baffling clues, Wrexford and Charlotte begin to realize that things are not what they seem. An evil conspiracy is lurking in the shadows and threatens all they hold dear—unless they can tie the loose threads together before it’s too late . . .

The upcoming marriage of the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane promises to be a highlight of the season, if they can first untangle -- and survive -- a web of intrigue and murder involving the most brilliant scientific minds in Regency London . . .

Though Charlotte Sloane's secret identity as the controversial cartoonist A.J. Quill is safe with the Earl of Wrexford, she's ill prepared for the rippling effects sharing the truth about her background has cast over their relationship. She thought a bit of space might improve the situation. But when her cousin is murdered and his twin brother is accused of the gruesome crime, Charlotte immediately turns to Wrexford for help in proving the young man's innocence. Though she finds the brooding scientist just as enigmatic and intense as ever, their partnership is now marked by an unfamiliar tension that seems to complicate every encounter.

The murder of a brilliant scientist threatens to overshadow a wedding, compelling Wrexford and Charlotte to dive into a dangerous conspiracy. As they unravel the mystery, they must confront risks that could jeopardize everything they cherish. This installment of the Wrexford & Sloane Mysteries combines intrigue and romance, showcasing the duo's determination to uncover the truth amidst escalating tensions.